Tag Archives: technology

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

How social media can be negative & positive

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By: Seng Nhkum

Today many people use social media, and approximately 5.66 billion people globally use social media, representing about 68.7% of the world’s population. Some examples of social media are TikTok, Instagram, SnapChat, Facebook, and X. I think social media can be negative and positive and these are my reasons why.

First, a reason why I think social media can be negative is harassment and cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone is repeatedly creating harmful behavior using technology to threaten, harass, embarrass, or target another person. This can be negative for social media because although it’s easy to just block them they can still continue making accounts to harass you. Also, cyberbullying and harassment can lead up to damaging the person’s mental health and well being.

Another reason why I think social media can be negative is stranger danger. There are tons of people on social media which means lots of people you don’t know. Strangers can try to take advantage of you and manipulate you especially if you are still young. Strangers can take advantage of you like if the stranger knows about what you’re struggling with they could try to take advantage of that and try to manipulate you into doing something. Like what happens a lot is when a minor runs away from home to secretly meet with the stranger, which leads to a negative outcome because they don’t even personally know the person but still chooses to meet up with a stranger.

Then a reason why I think social media can also be positive is communication and awareness. Social media can spread news quickly and this leads to faster communication making communication more efficient. Also, social media can spread a lot of awareness about many things, for example like any social issues that are happening in the world, and this is positive because it shows people what things are happening in the world changing their perspectives on anything.

Lastly, another reason why I think social media can be positive is you can make a career off it making lots of money. Like many people called influencers, who post videos on social media, have made a career out of social media and being really famous while making tons and tons of money.

Overall, social media is negative and positive because it can put you in dangerous situations, but could also provide for you, or help you. Always use social media safety and use it wisely.

School Life, Tech/Games

Effects of phones on people’s education

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By: Chloe Rocha

The phrase “It’s because of your phone” is something that is commonly heard amongst adolescents. In some cases, that phrase can apply, but in others it is not necessarily accurate.

This phrase however, can apply to the education of kids during school. Cell phones have been something that is used in our day to day lives because they provide convenience and also connectivity. But at the same time they can also be proven to be a distraction while in the classroom.

There have been proven to be many negative effects of cell phone use while in the classroom, and according to an article by ‘Why Edify’, these are the top 10 reasons:

  1. Distraction
  2. Cyberbullying
  3. Academic dishonesty
  4. Social isolation
  5. Physical health issues
  6. Sleep disruption
  7. Privacy concerns
  8. Inequality
  9. Reduced physical activity
  10. Addiction

Distraction:

Decreased focus and attention in the classroom can occur because students become distracted by their phones, whether it be social media, or playing video games. These platforms are made by design to hook the user and keep them entertained. This can also be known as “doom scrolling” in some situations.

Cyberbullying:

In some cases students use their cell phone to send hurtful messages. Many adults don’t know how big of an impact cyberbullying can be and how frequently it is seen in classrooms. Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online, according to an article by Annapolis, MD. When these children experience cyberbullying by their own classmates, it can cause them to be fearful or anxious about going to class and in the long run can have harmful effects on their education.

Academic dishonesty:

It is a very well known fact that AI has been evolving and also becoming more frequently used during people’s day to day life. Specifically in class, students have become more reliant on using AI to guide them in their class work. A global survey, that was conducted by Statista, showed that 86% of students used AI in the year of 2024. Students may also cheat during exams or assignments, simply because they have access to the answers or the information on their phones.

Social isolation:

When students use their phones excessively, it can cause them to spend less time interacting face-to-face with their own peers. Face-to-face interactions are crucial during a child’s adolescence because it allows them to develop many crucial social skills. Some of these skills include empathy, effective communication, the understanding of nonverbal cues, peer dynamics, and forming a strong sense of identity.

Physical health issues:

When cell phones are used excessively, they can begin to cause physical health problems, such as poor posture, eye strain and many other health issues.

Sleep disruption:

Cell phone use before going to bed can cause disruptions to people’s sleep patterns. When sleep patterns are disrupted, it can lead to fatigue and also a decrease in their academic performance. Sleep is important because it improves your brain performance, your mood, and also your health.

Privacy concerns:

Students may share their personal information or photographs and this can raise concerns about their privacy.

Inequality:

In many classes, a digital divide can be formed among students because not everyone may have access to a cell phone. This can cause students to feel left out from their peers.

Reduced physical activity:

This issue applies to both in school and out. During school, cell phones can discourage students from engaging in physical activity during recess or during their breaks. Outside of school, when a child has access to a cell phone, they often don’t release their energy in a physical way, like going outside, instead they go on their phones while in the house.

Addiction:

As mentioned before, many apps on your phone are by design very addictive. Mobile apps can stimulate the release of dopamine and this leads to the formation of habits. Some very popular apps that you may use that are also addictive are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Youtube, and TikTok.

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Getting To Know/History

What is the EA-6B Prowler?

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By: Yohan Lee

The EA-6B Prowler is an Electronic Warfare aircraft and was built by Northrop Grumman. The Prowler uses an A-6 Intruder airframe and was used in the Navy and Marines.

What is Electronic Attack?

Electronic Attack is used for tactical jamming and is also called Electronic Warfare or EW. The EA in EA-6B Prowler stands for Electronic Attack. The Prowler can disrupt enemy radar and radio communications. What makes the Prowler unique is that it can jam ground signals like mobile phones, garage openers and most importantly, improvised explosive devices or IED. Since it can jam IEDs and prevent them from detonating it makes the troops on the ground much safer with a higher success rate on their missions. The Prowler was so powerful that the Pentagon made sure that no U.S. aircraft carriers went into battle without the Prowler. “Since the Prowler technology was so advanced, the Pentagon had the technology and pilots classified,” said Capt. David Woods.

History

During the Vietnam War there were many anti aircraft weapons and the U.S. kept losing planes to them so Northrop Grumman made the A-6B Prowler to have 4 seats instead of 2. There would be 1 pilot and 3 electronic warfare officers, or EWO.

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is known to be the home of Electronic Warfare. NAS Whidbey Island would receive the first EA-6B Prowler in 1971. The EA-6B Prowler was first put into squadron VAQ-129 for Fleet Replacement testing, then VAQ-132, or the Scorpions, for deployment. Then, later on, they would deploy the EA-6B Prowler to Vietnam in 1972.

But the first EA-6A was first brought to the Marines for Electronic Attack in December 1965. The EA-6A is an A-6 Intruder and unlike the EA-6B of having 4 seats, it has 2 seats. The avionics for Electronic Attacks were much smaller than the EA-6B Prowler. The Navy took 3 EA-6A from the Marines and made it into the EA-6B. Once the EA-6B Prowler was made, the Marines retired the EA-6A and serviced the EA-6B Prowler.

The Navy first retired the Prowler on May 27th, 2015 and transitioned the Prowler to the E/A-18G Growler which is an F-18F Super Hornet with more advanced jamming. The Marines retired their Prowler in March 2019 and also transitioned to the Growler. 

Not only was the Prowler deployed in the Vietnam War but it also was deployed in Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. The Prowler was also deployed in the Invasion of Grenada and Operation El Dorado Canyon. During Operation Desert Storm, 39 Prowler were deployed in the Gulf War and fired up to 150 HARM-88 missiles, and came back with no losses.

Avionics

  • AN/ALQ-218 Tactical Jamming System Receiver
  • AN/USQ/-113 Communication Jamming System
  • At the top of the tail is an antenna that receives radar and radio signals.

Armament

The Prowler can have up to:

  • 4x AGM-88 HARM Anti Radiation Missiles
  • 5x 300 Gallon External Drop Tank
  • 5x AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System External Pods
  • AN/ALE-43 Chaff Dispense System Pod
  • AN/AAQ-28 Litening Pod

Aircraft Specification

  • Length: 59 feet
  • Height: 16 feet
  • Wing Span: 53 feet
    • Wing Folded: 25 feet
  • Maximum Take off Weight: 61,500 pounds
  • Thrust: 11,200 pounds per engine 22,400 total
  • Airspeed: Max .99 or 659 mph / cruise .72 Mach or 481 mph
  • Maximum Range: 850 nautical miles
  • Service Ceiling: 40,000 feet
  • Crew: 4
  • Engine: 2x Pratt & Whitney J-52-P-408 Turbojet Engines

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Tech/Games

How “Brainrot” and “Doomscrolling” affect your brain

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By: Karl Salkowski

(Image credit: freerangestock)

Oxford has recently announced “brainrot” as the word of 2024. But what is brainrot? Well, the dictionary defines brainrot as “the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material considered to be trivial or unchallenging”.

The term brainrot is not a recent term. The word has been used for over 20 years. Originally, brainrot was used to describe the use of email. According to Theguardian.com, email’s “constant cognitive overload had a more negative effect than taking cannabis, with IQs of participants dropping an average of 10 points.” If email can have such drastic effects, it’s hard to imagine how damaging short form online content and electronic devices such as smartphones can be.

Over the past couple of years more and more information has come to light about the effects of consuming large quantities of short form content. Institutions such as the University of Oxford and Harvard Medical School have found that consuming this content in large quantities can shorten our attention spans, weaken memory, and mess with our cognitive processes.

According to Dr. Gloria Mark, a professor at the University of California, attention spans have drastically shortened over the past 20 years. In 2004 the average attention span was 150 seconds, by 2012 the average was 75, and by 2018 it was down to 47 seconds. This massive decline is partly due to the rise of social media.

According to Theguardian.com, the average Gen Z teenager in the UK has an average screen time of somewhere between 5 ½ and 6 ½ hours every day, with the average adult spending 4 hours online every day.

Doomscrolling is a somewhat newer phenomenon. Doomscrolling is defined as, “the excessive consumption of short-form videos or social media content for an excessive period of time without stopping.” The term began to gain popularity in 2020 partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Doomscrolling is a form of internet addiction. An estimated 31% of Americans doomscroll on a regular basis. This increases greatly among young people with an estimated 51% of Gen Z addicted. Social media plays a significant role, allowing users to infinitely scroll through short form videos uninterrupted.

Multiple medical institutions have found that doomscrolling can worsen depression and anxiety. Overall, doomscrolling and brainrot have contributed to worsening mental health among teens and adults. It might be time to put down your phone.

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Editorials/Student Voice, News, Tech/Games

The ban of TikTok

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By: Samson Belihu

Hello, and today I will be talking about the ban of TikTok that’s GOING to happen in the U.S.

You may ask why the U.S. government wants to ban TikTok. Well, let me tell you.

The main concern that the U.S. recognizes is that TikTok collects a lot of data on users, including location, browsing history, and even device details and since it’s owned by a Chinese company, critics worry that this data could be shared with the Chinese government. The government could then use that information for spying or to influence American politics. Though TikTok denies sharing data with China, U.S. lawmakers point to China’s laws that could force companies to cooperate with the government. Many of the lawmakers are politicians, particularly from the Republican Party.

Another worry is that TikTok could spread fake news or propaganda, affecting elections or creating social unrest. Though TikTok has taken steps to try and stop the spread of misinformation, many U.S. lawmakers still see it as a national security threat.

The push for banning TikTok mainly comes from conservative politicians like Senators Josh Hawley, Marco Rubio, and others, who argue the app is a threat to national security. They worry that TikTok could be used for spying or spreading fake news for the Chinese government.

TikTok has been told to either sell to an American company, create a new U.S. controlled TikTok, or make sure they store all data safely and away from China. If they don’t do one of those things, they could face a ban in the U.S. The owner tried to file an appeal to the Supreme Court, but failed due to the concern of the information that could potentially be sent back and forth.

In my opinion I find myself stuck between both of their sides.

If TikTok is a way to sell people’s info to the Chinese government I find that troublesome, but I also think TikTok has become a way for people to express themselves and find support, and if it’s banned all of it will be taken away. People’s lives have been changed for the better due TikTok

Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

AI hallucinations: Why and how AI makes mistakes

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By: Karl Salkowski

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

It is very well known that AI isn’t perfect; even simple questions can confuse AI, leading it to spread misinformation. These mistakes have become so common that they have earned their own moniker, “AI Hallucinations”.

Some of these famous “Hallucinations” include using glue to stick cheese to pizza, misspelling words, and the health benefits of eating rocks.

AI formulates answers based on data from all over the internet. There is no way to filter correct information from misinformation, so AI is trained on everything. When AI answers your question it attempts to replicate data it was trained on. AI makes observations on the data it was trained on and forms its answers based on the patterns it finds.

Along with the inability to tell correct and incorrect information apart, AI also has biases regarding race and gender. According to Bloomberg.com when AI was asked to generate pictures of people in different professions, the photos it generated showed harmful biases. For example, AI generated more photos of people with lighter skin tones in higher paying jobs, and more people with darker skin tones in lower paying jobs.

AI also generated more perceived men than perceived women in many high paying jobs including: engineering, architecture, CEO, Doctor, Lawyer, and Politicians. Out of the 100 images AI generated for the prompt “Engineer” only two were not of perceived men. 

There are large disparities between the images AI generates and the people in those careers. These images construct a distorted viewpoint of the world. According to Bloomberg.com, by 2025 30% of marketing materials by large corporations will be created using AI like this.

These mistakes and biases will reinforce a lot of these stereotypes. The misinformation AI spreads can undermine education and people’s world views if left unchecked. If people stay poorly informed on AI then there will be negative repercussions in society.

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Editorials/Student Voice, Tech/Games

Screen addiction in China

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By: Cleo Newton

Technology has been advancing faster than ever in the last couple years. With these advancements, the amount of teenagers developing screen addiction has also gone up. Because of this, there have been many policies set and many discussions taken place.

Two Israeli directors filmed a documentary called ‘Web Junkie’, this documentary talked about the screen addiction. They tell us that China is the first country to recognize screen addiction as a medical issue. According to the report, these teenagers spend an average of 6 hours online playing games a day. The parents of these children have tried many different things to try and help their kids with their screen addiction but it never got better. In the end, they sent their kids to a rehab center for screen addiction.

To help teenagers with screen addiction, China has opened over four thousand rehab centers managed by the military. Medical treatment, family therapy, and military exercises are included when treating internet addiction. Sending kids to these rehab facilities costs a lot of money. Every month costs double the average monthly salary. Many households can’t afford this and have to take out loans to meet these expenses.

According to the press (according to my Chinese packet), teenagers have received abuse in forms such as getting shocked or being hit in these rehab centers. This impacts their physical and mental health negatively, making them scared and hate more. As a result of this, some teens who come out of these rehab centers have either killed themselves or others.

There are reasons for the development of screen addiction though, the first is China’s one child policy (which ended in 2016), and the second is the strict education system. Because most families only have one child, that child feels a lot of pressure to “honor” their family. It’s typically the family that places this pressure on the kids to do good. On top of this, some of the kid’s parents fight a lot at home. I think that neglectful parents can also cause screen addiction as well as abusive parents.  Turning to video games has become a way to escape the burdens of life for many people.

As technology continues to advance and be used in day to day life, it becomes harder and harder to avoid the screens. I hope after reading this that you’ve learned more about screen addiction and its causes.

Clubs and Activities

Why you should join robotics

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By: Nathaniel de Sam Lazaro

Credit: Team 2823 the Automatons

On September 24, 2024 the robotics team had our first meeting. We had many new members join and check out the team, and overall it was a huge success. However, we are always welcoming new members and would love for more people to join (especially new freshmen). In this article I will explain some important details about the robotics team and why you should want to be a part of it.

Our robotics team is part of a larger organization called First Robotics Competition, or FRC. FRC is a worldwide competition with thousands of teams. Every year, these teams compete by designing robots to compete and win a game. The game is revealed at the start of each calendar year, and this begins “build season,” which lasts about two months before competitions start. Highland normally competes in two competitions, one is in Duluth and the other in Minneapolis. If the team does well enough in these competitions, we get to go to the world championships in Houston, TX.

In the fall, we prepare for the competition season and welcome new members to the team. This year, we are competing in the MiniTrials, which is a smaller early competition that takes place in the fall.  New members design a robot to compete in a smaller game, with older students serving as mentors. This allows new members to gain important skills ahead of the competition season this winter.

The robotics team allows students to gain useful skills in engineering, programming, business, and many other things. It helps you gain important skills of working on a team, being a leader, and solving problems. It is also loads of fun, and you get to go on the trip to Duluth for the competition and see your work pay off.

The robotics team meets every Tuesday, and often Thursdays and Saturdays in the woodshop, room 0154 after school. We hope to see you there, as we are always welcoming new members.