One Way that We Could Change Society

We all know that we need a good eight hours of sleep each night. Whether you are an athlete that needs to store as much energy as possible, or an office worker that spends too much time looking at a computer screen, you still need that rest.

The big difference, is that many people don't really care about how they are sleeping, or whether they are getting enough of it. Athletes, however, watch their sleep patterns. They monitor each 90 minute cycle from the silicon bracelet that adorns their wrists. With that, the question is about whether we SHOULD care.

What if, in a world that runs this fast, we all started to watch our own sleeping patterns? What would lead from this? There would, no doubt, be some startling effects that might just change how we live, altogether. Let's look at the common traits that cause us to have poor sleep in this societal maze.

One - Diet

It is no secret that what we eat will make a difference to our moods and resting patterns. You only need to see a 5-year-old that has eaten a load of Halloween candy to prove that! What is the answer to this though? If we were only to eat vegetables, we wouldn't survive.

If we look at the bright side though, imagine a world that was mindful of their diet. Nothing but the nutrition that was needed. This would, though, be boring, it was okay not to have a load of sweet stuff when sugar was rare. Now though, we have a western addiction to such pleasures. 

We can't just stop at candy though, we also love drinks that hold less nutrition than a stone. Look at all the coffee that is being consumed! The caffeine claims its grip on humanity.

Two - Entertainment

We are bound by the laws of enjoyment! Watching TV, playing games, reading a good book, these are all factors that entertain us, and often, keep us awake.

How many of us stare at our phone screens at night, reading the latest gossip, or just looking at the release of new YouTube videos? This is a normal way to spend our final hours of the day, is it the right move for our sleeping patterns though?

Three - Social Lives

We all like to spend time with our friends or family, maybe not ALL, but as a society, we need companionship. With that, comes the interaction with other souls. Many believe that this social connection is a vital element in the course of human preservation. Even if you play online with friends, you are still socialising. Spending time with your buddies, in a virtual environment, can still trick your mind into receiving the needed chemicals to support you and your thoughts.

In a bar-dweller's, or gamer's lives, they all go through times where lack of sleep is apparent.

Four - Emotional Well-Being

All of these things, including the lack of sleep can set off a chain reaction in our general health. If this domino is knocked over, it begins a loop that is difficult to stop. Feeling 'down' is a common issue in society and effects each one of these in turn.

Diet becomes chaotic during stressful times. A grab for the ice-cream is a mainstay of modern culture. Entertainment is often derived from how we feel, we listen to certain types of music or watch particular movies. The sad feeling that entertainment can show us, becomes a friend in the dark. Our social status is affected the most. Our mood determines whether we want to see anyone, go out, or be human at all.

Turning the Dominoes Around:

At the start of this post, I asked the question about the effects that could be claimed from watching our sleep pattern. If we were to take sleep alone, and not look at changing the others to help us sleep, we would be turning the dominoes around, letting them fall the opposite way and thus, turn the process a full half-circle.

I'm not saying that this would be an interesting angle for humanity, it verges on 'Equilibrium' values. It could be the supply for an almost communist type of regime, keeping us all in-line. There might be a way around this? The only was to tell, would be to try it!

My prediction for this, would be that if we were ALL to watch our sleeping patterns, especially with a monitor of some sorts, we could change everything. This would be a stepping stone in a line of many.

Let's look at the prediction like this:

Sleep-Monitoring could lead to each of the issues, outlined above, to be rectified. The correct amount of sleep would lead to a happier self. A self that no longer needs those additional sweet treats or masses of caffeine. This would lead to a social goal that wants to find happiness in companionship, all from the fact that we are healthier and, in-turn, more confident. We may then find that the media will become more transparent and helpful to our progress. With less sadness, we would be less inclined to create disturbing news, or even stop using the word 'crisis'! (This is the buzz word of modernity, one that digs deep into our minds, it's a great way to scare-monger!)

The reverse domino effect could make a lot right, it could help us to achieve a cultural balance that sees everybody, happily, working in harmony. (How quaint!)

So there you have it, would sleep monitoring make a big difference to our society? What do you think? Leave your ideas in the comments below.

STEM and the Learning Cycle

How can STEM help to support the learning of children and adults?

I have been working in schools for more than ten years. I have noticed that the general thoughts regarding STEM, at least in the UK, is that it is a 'bit-on-the-side'. It bears no real importance in general learning as a whole. Split down into Maths, and then the other bits, it then becomes something important. Maths being the captain within a metaphorical ship's crew of four.

This brings me onto my point! Although Maths is of great importance, I am not sure that shunning the STE is such a good idea. In the past twelve months, Science has returned to being a core subject in UK Primary education. Engineering and Technology remain on the back burner, showing up in Design and IT across, but not exclusively in the classroom topic. As a nation, and I believe as a global society, we are short of people who can fill these skilled posts. We need to build! We need to create! We need to expand and become better humans!
I'm not saying that engineering will solve the ultimate issues that humanity is facing, but we can get close enough to make a difference!

Enough of this rant, less of the crumbs and more of the biscuit. We have been told that games are bad for us, they cause violence etc. Is this really true? There are many that argue every day of the year over this question. What is most apparent, is that games are fun and hold a hidden gateway to learning. We have many educational opportunities online, ones that are digitally ready for us and that children are eager to learn from. Why can't we extend this? The thought that a game can become a valuable asset to the classroom is a belief that I have long held. I want to find a way that children of all abilities can find this accessible.

As a teacher by profession, I notice that there are pupils that don't listen. They don't want to know the theory behind a number sequence, or the outcome of an experiment. However, show them a BBC Bitesize mini-game, and BOOM, they want a part of it.

Many might argue that this is due to the fact that they spend most of their time on screens, not going out, not interacting. What if interaction is the key? Mixing the concept of learning through a virtual environment could be the key to the gate. This was the purpose behind Bjarg.eu. I wanted to find a 'digital' approach to learning, helping people to 'Reach Their Peak!'
(Bjarg - Translation: https://glosbe.com/is/en/bjarg This tells you the rough translation from Icelandic, but is also said to be that of a mountain.)

I have been into Virtual Reality since the early 90s. I was obsessed with the launch of the VFX1. A headset that is somewhat crude by HTC or Oculus' standards. It was amazing, though it was not bought by many. The idea of the 'Virtual-World' died off very quickly. The release of movies such as The Lawnmower Man, tried to keep the dream alive, but alas, it wasn't to be. Once Oculus released the idea of a new wave of technology, I was on board. I pre-ordered my Oculus DK1 with pride.

One of my later forays into VR, was with a new system that hoped to make it big. It was called VRML, and was set to be used extensively online. It was a great idea and was easy to construct, it was not disimillar to '3D Construction Kit' that I used to build with on my C64. Look at VRML some more, the concept was interesting, but there was very little hype about it overall. There are still some that play about with it, though when did the term 'VRML' last show up in the modern era?

What am I leading to? I have claimed that the purchase of the DK1 was to follow up on this idea. What if the learning can still come from interaction? What if it is a digital pupil they are with, or maybe, a secondary 'real' person in the world with them. How about Autism? The dawn of the VR room will help this, many academic institutions are seeing to this as I type. Think about the possible formula:

My Model for VR in the New Learning:

I write now, in the hope that you might be a part of this. Someone who can supply ideas and be a part of a new way of using VR. One that can help us, rather than give the doubters more ammunition to slam the digital industries down.

I certainly don't believe that anyone will take the industry down, the matter is to big for even the strongest of politicians to effect. What about laws though? Where could they go with the obesity 'crisis'? They may use this as an excuse to outlaw games or even administer new rules for schools. We need to act now, with great effect, and with the an eye on drawing those that don't believe, to see a balance.

Nothing is ever 100% bad. We can be the ones to find the good and use it to support a better future.

Exploration - My Theory of the Future and Earth's Mere Mortals!

Where can we go now?

Besides the obvious exploration to space, where is there to go? I have long felt that I was born in the wrong era! I love the thought of exploration, seeing things first and being there to absorb the local cultures. Imagine sitting on the aft deck of the Beagle with Darwin, or with Scott in Antarctica? Okay, he did die, but what an adventure!

The story of exploration appears to be over! We know all, and have seen it too! With space getting slowly smaller, this looks to be the only sanctuary for the 'Scott-like' people that want that sort of thing. There is one other place though, the ocean! There are a handful of people that are trying new depths, but these, not unlike the space race, are playing a very expensive game. Granted, people of history's explorations, needed to be given the funds from wealthy benefactors. Most needed a passage too, whether is was by ship or over land on a horse! As a mere mortal, I can't afford to go into space, or research the Mariana Tench. What can I do to aid in new discoveries? Very little it seems.

Is this really true?

Exploration can come in many guises. We can look for new lifeforms in our solar system, dive to extraordinary depths to find a new species of venomous sea-snake, or simply explore the Internet. We have been doing this for almost twenty-five years now. I loved being a part of the Internet as it began in the UK. From 1993 onward became the dawn of a brand-new way of getting information, there was, of course, also other things people liked to look at. With a 14.4 modem at my side, I was hooked!
It took a while for the public to catch on, but look at it now! A mangled mess of perverseness and criminal activity. Well, not exactly, this is a tiny part of it. I remember that the news 'never' mentioned the good side of of the Web, this was in the late 90s, it always got under my skin, feeding the public with dread that wasn't always necessary!

What is my theory on this then?

Is domestic exploration really dead? To an extent, yes. Take, for instance, if I want to construct a new idea, I am under the pressure of it having gotten marginally harder to think of something fresh. If you are lucky enough to have that banging idea, it is relatively easy to get people to see it, though other, not so fresh ideas, cover up a lot of the greatness that many will eventually miss. If we think about all media at this moment in time, there are a lot of ideas that are simple rehashes! We are making more covered movies and films than ever before. I can't attribute this to the common plight of depression in society, but I do believe my theory can make a link to it.

As we are stuck in the realms of social media, dwindling the hours away, trying to be unique and let people know what we really think of the meal that we just ate, we are bound to a screen that is more often that not, indoors. We may feel that exploring is gone, but the overall problem is perhaps in our new societal values. I am certain, that with little money, there are still places you can be the first to see, things to create and ideas to coax too. Could you be the first to build a drive that powers a real hovering car? It is the man-in-the-shed that bolsters my theory. As a Brit, one thing that I am proud of, is the men-in-their-sheds! An evolutionary set of home-bound geniuses that created such delights as the wind-up radio and the Stylophone! These aren't big, I know, but in modern times, men around the world are in their sheds, they are creating elevators to the sky and building sources of fossil fuel from the sun!

I put it to you, that these people keep the gates open for exploration, take their side and invent! Invent that new technology that will once again take us to places that we have never seen. Be the person that helps prove the existence of ancient life on our moon. This is going to be fun!

Flight Sim 2016 - Tech Everywhere!

How did I spend that much?

I wasn't sure how to start this post. As you might know, I was at the flight simulator convention in Cosford yesterday. My daughter and I queued for five minutes, we were standing about thirty meters from the doors. I got my ticket ready for them to scan, I liked the fact that this was paperless and on my phone. One of the most pleasurable aspects was the excitement that my 5-year-old felt whilst standing there.

Upon entry, I was given my goody-bag. We then promptly shot to the Just Flight stand. This is when the spending began! I saw the prized Majestic Q400 - Pilot Edition sitting there at 25% off! Mine, I thought! I then looked at a copy of Traffic 360, this also became MINE! What a start, at £30, the Dash 8 was a bargain, I can't wait to get it up into the air now!

Further round, we found many fully-built setups. These ranged from yoke, quadrant and pedals like my own, but with extra switches and dials, to full sit-in cockpits, with moving rams for that 'real' feel! The most impressive was that of the full liner cockpit that was there, it didn't have a proper seat, but I watched as a gentleman filled in the details on the FMC (Flight Management Computer), this was insanely realistic, I was, to say, very impressed!

The show, in general, was like the old computer fairs that I attended as a youngster. People being super-eager for those components and updates. The main difference is that this was like the fairs of then, not now. The modern computer fair has become a much larger beast with so many more individuals now adorning machines to play about with. I can remember getting a bargain pack of 3.5" disks, that's 10 x 1.77mb's worth of hardcore storage, all for the cost of about £8. What a score!

I truly enjoyed this aspect though, it was busy, but it was nice to find so many eager simmers, people like myself, urging to sit and fly their computerised aircraft into the digital skies. You could see those mega-veterans, the ones that have been there for the past thirty years, remembering the times when it was lines on a screen. 'What's that? My god, it's a mountain!', remarked Mr. Johnson, sitting at his 386 computer, at the heights of technology at this time. I feel quite proud to be amongst these veterans, though there are some that have a longer service than I do.

I later went to the Flight Store tables. This cost me £130, I couldn't help but purchase some pedals finally! The chaps were charming and I managed to plough my J3 Cub into the runway as I was getting used to them last night. I would like to add that I asked my daughter if I should get them. She responded by saying, 'yes', and that I should hide them from Mummy in my back room. She had already spotted them before me, my little angel excitedly pointing at them with a grin before all of this! That's my girl!

After some time in the museum, we went back into Hanger 1. I then decided it was time to squeeze through to TrackHat. This was quite impressive. For the money, it was worth a try. It stems back to the AR days again. I used to have a battered augmented reality headset. Not sure what happened to that now I think about it. I will review this in a later Being-STEM supplemental.

All in all, it was a good day. I would like to have seen one of the lectures about X-Plane, but wasn't sure where they were at the time. One thing that made it's mark on me was the lack of FlyUK interaction. It would have been great to have met a few of my fellow VA pilots. There was a keen push for badges on the forums, some organisation for a people meeting up, but sadly, I saw none of these badges that would have helped guide me to my comrades of the virtual air. I had intended, had there been a lanyard involved, to wear a prepared label with my UKV number on it. I carried this with me, it sadly went unused due to lack of suitable locations for all to see.

One final mention must go to IVAO. They had an ATC (Air-Traffic-Control) setup and in full flow. This was really great. I wish now that I had spent a liitle more time with them.

Here's to next year, be sharp and 'just keep simming!'

Artificial Intelligence and the Great Question!

How can we use AI to our advantage?

I have been an avid follower of AI for over twenty years. I remember a lecturer at university asking this question: If you were to switch off a droid, one that has human characteristics, memory and even desires, would you be committing murder? Would it be a form of homicide? Digicide perhaps? This was a question that resonated with me, I was confused yet enthralled at the idea that one day we could have fake humans amongst us.

The idea about AI has been a human objective for a long time. From early works in the 1940s, the idea that a machine could help us was at the top of both our domestic and warfare goals. Alan Turing is like an idol to me, someone who was able to make machines work for him and the team at Blechley Park. What made him be a part of a somewhat strange technology? Earliest ideas come from the 30s, a prewar time that held promise but ultimately turned into a disastrous six years for many. Perhaps an earlier leap into an advanced thinking machine might have helped shorten the war. That's a topic for another time I reckon. There are many scientists now that are seeing AI as a demon. A way of destroying the human race and all that we have achieved. You might even think that it is a god-like complex that fuels this passion for the seemingly evil technology.

I am a believer that we can gain some good from this technology. There is this fear, however, that it will be used for the 'usual' individuals to find commercial success. To me, the evil is money! It is even driving wars now, this being through the need for oil and other prized materials. So, where can AI take us?

Let's first think about AI: Artificial Intelligence, the movie about a little boy searching for his identity after being dumped by his family. I, for one, would like to say that I loved this movie. It was captivating, and at the same time, full of questions that still haunt me now. Saying this, I loved Contact too, this was a major flop and i'm not sure if my opinion will really matter now that you know. Again, there were questions that drew me in to this rendition of a first contact situation that ultimately ended in a lot of confusion. What about AI, the movie, then? There is an abundance of problems in the new world that this picture is showing us. Androids are used for all sort of things, some are being used for a gladiatorial pleasure, others have been placed in the sex trade. This shows a very sad idea about how humans can't focus beyond their simple desires. Granted, these have been a part of us for a prehistoric amount of time!

What's in the film that gives us hope? There isn't a lot really, only the misguided love that David shows for his human family. I suppose there is a sense of belonging for Gigolo Joe. He resides in the city pleasing whoever is willing to pay. The biggest predicament that this movie delivers to us, comes from the fact that David is frozen for many years, long enough to move into a completely new age. This would mean that,although artificial, all of the memories would remain indefinitely. Is this a good or a bad thing? It can be seen as good because people would live on. All that the AI has learnt from its master will live into the next millennia. It can also be 'bad', as we may find that some memories are better left in the archives of nothingness. What if we had a memory from an AI unit that served in the Hitler Youth? I am sure we could find somebody who would make use of it!

This is a bit far fetched, even I think that we are drawn in by a dystopian future in every film that has the story to show it. The big question then, is about our connectivity with AI and how our technology will change because of it. I have come across a post from Engadget, on Twitter, that shows the new Google Home units. These are said to be a personal assistant of sorts; helping us to organise our lives with the notion that they will even cook for us one day.

My thoughts on AI are simple, we could use it for so many great things. What about companionship? The thought that a droid of some sort can be a friend to us is quite sobering. Imagine those that are lonely, elderly that sit at home all day without a partner to play draughts with. What about people who are ill? A Japanese company has created an exo-suit that can move patients around without affecting the human carer's physiology. What about dangerous situations? Chappie is a great movie, it shows us the perils that can be expected through his own robotic eyes. Like in many movies that are set in the future, the robots do the dirty work. They can deal with bullets flying past their heads, the AI would have to be highly advanced for it to suffer trauma.

Star Trek have always been great at the 'big question'. They often discuss the problems with AI and how it is implemented into their daily lives. The fact that one of the senior crew on the Enterprise is an android create an icon of hope. How does Data help the crew? His strength is very useful for starters. The franchise doesn't just introduce us to AI in the form of a robot, there is also the use of holograms. There are many questions put forward in Voyager. They tackle the morality of the Doctor's existence, and in one episode, vow to make him live with the consequences of his negative actions. Are they 'his' actions, or the code's?

The most notable use for this new technology can come in the form of technology itself. For many years, we have built cars with robots, we are even creating many other items via automated 3D printing. A computer does what it is told; the car is still welded and the electronic board is still etched, this is due to the code that was given to it. Why is AI any different? I suppose the arm that welds wont suddenly grow legs and jump on its human counterparts. Does this mean that as long as we don't give it legs, we'll be okay? I think we are jumping onto the scare train too easily, notice how it is the defence industry that messes up in The Terminator. They produce the first ones, the ones that are then used by the software to start a rebellion. If AI is kept domestic, I believe we will grow even more technological, we might become wiser in our achievements. With the human mind being so well evolved, imagine an artificial one at its side. After all, two heads are better than one. Should that be one head and one artificial head are better than one? Whatever, i'm not sure it's really going to matter that much.

What is your opinion on this? There is a reason to be scared of what AI will bring, but I think this can be addressed. Whatever you read or watch, they always display the worst case scenario and we often fall victim to paranoia. Can you think of a way that it can help us? When the time comes, I will say I told you so, either that, or I will croak a big sorry in my last breath as the Google Home unit impales itself strAIght through me. I only asked it to boil the kettle, the cheek of it!

Article about Google Home: On Twitter - https://t.co/ZaL1cmreH5

Fish Speak - Do they have dialect too?

Fish speak to each other in an accent.

Sitting and looking over my Twitter feed, I come across some very interesting news items. Today will see me write for Biology, a word that is surprisingly hard to type! It appears that some researchers found that fish have accents. This means that they belong in a certain area and are noticeable as different with other fish stocks. I suppose it's a bit like a Geordie (from NE England) standing in the middle of Swansea in South Wales. There accent would be noticeably different to that of the surrounding area.

Perhaps this fish will change taste, you'll be able to here the Dolphin population cheering as they drool over the thought of finally having a new flavour!

Saying that, do some stocks of fish, namely cod,  recognise other accents? Where they're from might be part of a fish's intelligence that we have yet to comprehend.

Where does this leave us? Unlike myself, you may love fish! If they are mixing into other territories, which the news is claiming is down to climate change, numbers will drop. This means that there may be less little fishies on your plate in the near future.

Take a look at the short video that Sky News has produced here:
http://news.sky.com/story/noise-pollution-leaves-chatting-fish-struggling-to-be-heard-10605985

This is quite a clear representation of things to come. Okay, maybe it isn't as drastic as the earth being hit by a huge pebble that has skimmed off around the pull of the mighty Jupiter, this could mean big changes! It will take us ever closer to
the almighty insect population for our feeding regimes.

In light of this, I have had another thought. Did the film industry foresee this event? Case in question: Shark Tale from Dreamworks Animation. They have shown us that fish have accents, many in fact. Who can forget the down to earth New York twang that is mixed with a Prohibition era mob-like dialogue. Now take Finding Nemo by Pixar, We have Marlon, who has a very husky accent, compare that to Dory's, they are very similar. Come to think of it, Mr. Ray's, voiced by John Ratzenberger, has a husky voice too, again, it sounds similar! Did Pixar see this coming and realise that the reef would only survive if they stay in their territories? A last thought is about Marlon and Dory travelling. The dentist's Aussie accent aside, they are different in that tank, explained by the fact they were taken from different areas. How far did the dentist travel to collect Nemo from the reef, was he the only fish that was collected. Nemo happens to be the only 'new fish' in this glass-walled prison?

To the point, will this really cause an effect? I love that we have a mix of people around us in this world, other cultures and beliefs can embrace your own and help you grow as a person. Maybe the fish will absorb the new culture that their southern brothers and sisters can offer. Perhaps we will see a new type of fish, one that harbours the dialect and accent of a South African with that of the brawn of fish from Antarctica endure.

Until next time, 'Just Keep Swimming'.

It`s All About the Game - Programming Thoughts

In the world of gaming, which genre is king? Are you a lover of the First Person Shooter (FPS), or enjoy a good puzzle on your smart phone? My own definition of gaming is simple, its `A leisure pursuit that sees you interact with a digital or physical object in order to attain positive stimulation.` This is a basic view of it, but I have been a gamer all of my life. The idea that gaming has to involve a controller or have taken millions of dollars to produce is nonsense.

I have made games in the past, one I even distributed on iOS. It was a test bed for what I could do at the start. I have never been an avid programmer; I have, though, always enjoyed designing them. By the time I had withdrawn from the iOS program, it had been played all over the world. Even in the digital era, it still feels like my `brain-baby` had made it to further climbs. For those that enjoyed playing my simple game, it still came under my definition! Does that make them a gamer, or just somebody bored on the toilet?
The most interesting aspect of this process was one of the Appstore comments that I received. It was from a guy in the UK that stated, and I quote, `That`s time that I will never get back, what a waste of a few minutes!` I of course apologised for miss selling my FREE game as the next Call of Duty. Needless to say, I think FPS may have become a bit of a monster and sees people become obsessed over trivial details and DLCs.

 (Screenshots of my 'basic' game, Patter Patter Rocket - 2013)


I suppose it is like a smart phone, people just can`t help mock those that like something different to them. I am an avid iOS user because it works for me. Over the decades that I have been tampering with electronics and building PCs, I know what I like! Good luck to you if you`re an Android user, I will even take my proverbial hat off to those that use a copy of Windows in their hands.

Anyway, let`s get positive now, sort of. The concept of programming is long and drawn out. I have had friends that could program a small platform game in a couple of hours, including graphics! I have been impressed by this. If you haven`t seen Indie Game : The Movie yet, I would recommend it. The story of Minecraft is amazing too! These documentary films give you an insight into the perils of the Gaming Industry as a standard. Poor Phil Fish (Poison) had it tough.

As a game designer, I have in the past taught the concepts of this side of the industry. This was to both children and college students, I was also paid to do it, awesome! There`s nothing better than being paid for that which you have a desire. I am always toying with ideas but never seem to get on with them. My current `light bulb` is about one that sprung on me one day, some time ago. The innovation that came with Pokemon Go has been amazing. Whether you like it or not, it has seen children and adults alike achieving the annual `reminded exercise goals` of the government happen within days. My idea had this goal, a way to get children moving more.

So, what is it? The idea is to produce an orienteering program that will produce a a quick course. This concept could be adapted and produced by somebody in a couple of days, not me though. I now realise that this blog has become about frustration and not sitting still.I guess that I am now though!

This blog is really a cry for more to follow their programming goals. Don`t be afraid to be different, your ideas are unique and deserve to be shared, bring `em on!

What do you play on? I have had most consoles over the years but have ALWAYS been a PC gamer. I think about the video cards that I have had in the past, the one I have now is only entry level but manages great with the 2gb of VRAM it holds. It, of course, pales to a new Nvidia 1080! Even early on, I used base level gaming boards, my 486 housed a `modern at the time` AGP (Advanced Graphics Port) card. I then had a 256mb ATi Radeon board which was great for playing the FPS games of the day, this was namely Medal of Honour or Quake. I did need to upgrade my memory for this, a move from 16mb to a whopping 32mb, Yeehaa! I am back with my PC now, as I have said before, I have been a Flight Simmer for more than twenty-five years! I have to have a PC for this, especially with a yoke in front of me.

Let me know you thoughts, what do you like? Are you an FPS snob? You`re welcome to spout if you like! I just love games, I seriously don`t care what I play it on!' If I had to pick, I would go for `Sandbox` or Open World, Fallout, GTA and Assassins Creed 2 (Yes, number 2 was epic!) to name a few. I just can`t get enough of the `second life`.

STEM Log Supplemental - Are the Borg substance addicts?

STEM Blog - Suplemental

The Borg Addiction Theory

Whilst sitting in my beloved chair that supports a once strong back, I was watching an episode of Star Trek Voyager. This episode, entitled 'Dark Frontier', was a two-part edition rolled into one. Early into the second part, the Borg Queen tells Seven to assist in the assimilation of an entire race, species 10026.

Once the queen receives the data that tells her that the whole planet has been assimilated, she states that she can feel their distinctiveness coursing through the Collective.

My theory is that...

With the idea that they 'like' the feeling of it running through them, is it not like that of substance addiction? If this is the case, what does that mean for the Borg? Are they just a bunch of species dragged together because the fore bearers need another fix?

Take an earlier encounter with the Borg, they make a heading for Earth at the time Zefram Cochrane created the first warp speed space craft and thus saw our 'First Contact'. What was this for? Was it because they wanted get some 'antique' fix? I don't think so! This was out of rage because humans are so reluctant to be assimilated. Imagine the fun of meeting a species that can fight you back, would the substance reward be that much more worth it?

Don't get me wrong; in terms of STEM, the Borg are an immense 'forced' bit of nature. The concept of cyborgs have always been interesting, what with robotics meeting biological matter. This theory, however, sees them in a different light to what has been seen prior.

What about rank?

The Borg Queen is put into her leading position for what reason? This indicates that the Borg have a logical process that puts the 'best of the catch' ahead of the runts. Maybe the least addicted personality or species takes the helm! Imagine a junkie drone in charge, they would just excrete the proceeds up the Borg's Wall of Munchies. (I'm not sure if they excrete, probably too inefficient for the Borg!) The very reason that they are a 'drone' shows that they are only good for one thing, getting more for the clever ladies in charge! (Maybe not, but still...)

The Draw of the Collective

You can't tell me that the need to be ONE is the only draw for the collective? Even Captain Picard has been seen to draw his thoughts back to his days as Locutus of Borg; his time as an addicted drone having long since dwindled in the passage of time. That 'distinctiveness' has become THE draw! The addiction takes effect from the moment the tubules pierce the neck of their reluctant victims, it makes you wonder if they will eventually fall apart in the pursuit of that next hit!

After Captain Janeway pulled Seven from the collective at the end of Season 3, she was very much like a victim of 'cold-turkey', flapping about needing to get back. With an extensive rehabilitation program, she was able to break free, or it seemed. Up to one year in, she would still have been swayed, putting all of the crew in danger.

The Hidden High

What if, stay with me here, what if the Borg Regeneration Booths are way to settle a 'trip'? Think about it, if the assimilation process is the proverbial needle, imagine the state of the collective at this time, it would be like chaos amongst the calm! What if the drones need to store these thoughts effectively? Seven is told by the queen to regenerate so that she can think more clearly, is this because her addition to the assimilation is so aggressive by its very nature?

In Summary

What do you think about this? I want to look into this deeper, what would the addiction of a forced race bring to their future? Will it make them stronger or simply weaker and more likely to fall at the feet of the pill? The pill should be addressed as 'Distinction', with a large 'D' stamped on it! Could it be that their failure to assimilate us has become the norm due to this desperation for that tasty human pill?

One other thought for now, if they are addicts, the drone embryos that are created in chambers will be born with it in their system, this makes for a near perfect soldier in the battle for a dose.

I am genuine lover of Star Trek and always look forward to seeing the Borg struggling to take on humanity. What are your thoughts? Though this is just a supplemental, I do like to question the unknown.

Thanks to the Memory-Alpha Wiki for some of the stranger spellings. Much appreciated.

What is Being-STEM about?

And so it begins...

Welcome to my blog about all things STEM. It is my love of Science and Technology that has driven me to become an online journalist for these subjects. I hope to find inspiring ways to pass on knowledge and give you the desire to find out more.

Why this blog?

When people know that there are thousands of jobs in Engineering waiting to be taken on and a severe shortage beckoning, it makes sense that I should do my bit to help the world not reach the engineer apocalypse. With this decline, fewer people are tending to go towards the sciences. What will we do if it reaches crisis point? Let's hope it doesn't.

So what's it all about?

Science: This covers the usual Chemistry, Biology and Physics. These lead us to understand more about the world around us and how it works. Without the sciences, we would be a lot less clearer on areas such as medicine, hygiene and our planet in the vastness of space.

Technology: So what do you want to know about this? This has to be the most commonly appreciated subject of the four. (There is a fifth that is often included, Art, this makes STEAM.) We can cover everything from robotics to gaming in this category. As an avid gamer for as long as I can remember, this is a topic that often comes up in my day-to-day life.

Engineering: The subject that gives us the skills to create buildings and vehicles. What's not to like with this? TOOLS! You've truly got to love them.

Maths: Numbers, numbers and more numbers. Oh, there are some letters too! This makes up all of them. Without Maths, we would have none of the above, but why? To name but a few, there is programming, schematics with geometry and what about simple measuring in Chemistry?

On with the show...

My blogs cover research and ideas from others that are involved with STEM subjects. Please look back and follow my blog. I look forward to any contact in the future.

This blog is from my own writing and opinion. It in no way wants to push other ideas away, listening to others is the foundation of my own learning and I thrive of this process.