[Technology Review] LINE Application

LINE is a popular communication application for iPhone and Android that enables users to make free calls and send SMS messages from anywhere in the world.  There is also a desktop program available for Windows and Mac OS X for those who wish to use it on their computer instead.  Though the application is extremely similar to other free call applications such as Skype, what makes LINE unique is its high range of customization in its user interface.  LINE offers users to download and pay for stickers, which are basically large and over dramatic emoticons of people, animals, and iconic characters from Evangelion and even some original sets.  Combine that with the stickers, and the options for user customization are endless!

Additionally, LINE also comes with a camera application that has better quality and filters than most preset smartphone cameras.  Similar to Instagram, it can take photos and allows users to personalize them with cropping, custom borders, and filters with more options for lighting.  However, unlike Instagram, LINE also allows users to decorate their photos with stickers, ranging from stickers with phrases like “cute” and alphabet letters, to stickers of characters and dazzling effects.  There is also a custom paint brush tool built into LINE, so user can use the touch screen to draw on photos or create a digital painting from scratch.  The beauty of these features is that users can edit their photos to be as simple or as detailed as they want with these tools.  The only downside of this is having to pay for preset sticker sets.  However, with enough artistic ability, people can easily decorate their photos with just as much flare if they download the free LINE brush and make custom edits.  There are also social media games available to play similar to those found on Facebook and the app store, so users never get bored while they’re on the go.

The cons of LINE as compared to other popular applications is that is still has yet to enable video calling, and many of the additional filters and add-ons have to be purchased.  Users can only send short audio and video messages and are limited in space.  Some users are fed up with the uselessness of the stickers, and if you don’t like sending or receiving emoticons, you may find them repetitive and annoying.  However, to balance its lack of video capability, LINE offers much more flexibility than FaceTime and overall is one of the most customizable apps to date.  From backgrounds, stickers, brushes, and photo effects, LINE’s store is constantly being updated and tries to provide something likeable for everyone.  Overall, as technology improves, LINE is predicted to eventually allow more video capability.

I would personally give the LINE application a 4/5, because it takes the most unique features of currently popular apps on the market and combines all of them to a single application set.  Of all of the free social applications that I’ve used, LINE offers the most customization.  It even allows users to post statuses and has a profile system that is similar to Facebook’s timeline layout so people can easily communicate with one another and customize their header image.  Unlike Skype, that is limited to just calling and SMS, or Instagram, that is limited to a preset amount of filters, LINE builds off of all of them and creates an app that contains all of the features that users desire to create social media and interact with others.  While I was in Japan, I used LINE very frequently to keep in touch with my friends and family back in the States.  I am grateful to find an application that is easily accessible, has a unique user interface, and that is usable by people of all ages.  Therefore, I would highly recommend this application to people who travel often and wish to use an app that can share media with an individual touch.

Last Day in Japan (DNP and Square-Enix)

DNPenguins, the official mascots of DNP.

Today was my last day in Japan, and though it felt bittersweet at times, overall it was a memorableday filled with some very insightful presentations.  Our group first visited Dai Nippon Printing (DNP), which presented us with a variety of futuristic technology.  First they showed us an interactive museum kiosk where we could zoom in and out to detail on artifacts from ancient Greece.  The kiosk also had a Q&A feature where you could access frequently asked questions and find answers.  Instead of listening to a tour guide or audio guide, people nowadays prefer information that is easily accessible in front of them.  Both of these features are extremely useful because they will attract much more attention to museums if they are adapted.  Additionally, DNP presented a new texture editing software and a route planner that could plan your subway route to the exact minute.  These inventions are extremely useful and should help attract more business to the places they are instituted.

The next place we visited was the world renowned Square-Enix HQ of Shinjuku!  This was the moment that everyone had been waiting for!  The atmosphere at SE was very relaxed and lively.  The employees were very welcoming and offered us some delicious chocolate snacks.  They also showed us video previews of current games that they’ve developed such as Dragon Quest X.  In the main presentation, Jacob Navok, Director of Business Development, outlined the ecosystem of videogames in the market and talked about the way that companies try to market games by adding DLC, virtual releases, and subscriptions.  By offering these different payment methods, gamers can get the full gratification out of what they’re paying for games abd even pay to skip levels, such as in games like Angry Birds.

Another amazing point that they talked about was the procedure they used to develop the tech demo for Agni’s Philosophy with Luminous Engine.  Though originally criticized for being off-kilter, what may people don’t realize is all the work that went behind it being developed in real time.  The 3D artists modeled the main female character’s hair off a real hair model that was professionally styled and unlike anything else, and the shading and pre-rendered like graphics took over a year to perfect.  The landscapes looked beautiful with the new particle systems they used, and when compared to pre-rendered images, they looked almost identical.  I look forward to seeing more real time capabilities being developed for the next gen consoles.

Navok giving an awesome presentation on games in the market!

Though my trip to Japan is coming to a closure, I can’t wait to catch up with friends, share some hilarious stories, and reflect on all of the unforgettable memories that I’ve made here.  I love the technology, the food, and the overall friendly atmosphere that Japan has.   Thank you to all of my colleagues and professors that made this trip possible!  I enjoyed traveling with all of you, and plan on coming back to Japan in the future.

Social Media & Blogging

Social Media involves creating and exchanging content between users and ranges between a wide amount of categories including blogs, forums, Wikis, and electronic mailing lists.  Blogs are personal, organizational, or genre-specific posts that are expressive and informative, and can sometimes be written like a personal journal entry.  Blogs were named after “weblogs” and can contain text, pictures, and a large variety of multimedia.  WordPress itself is an excellent example of a popular blogging platform!  Forums are discussion boards where users can make topics, also known as threads, and post replies on specific topics in a hierarchical format.  A Wiki is a site where users can create, edit, and contribute information to a specific topic.  What makes them different from blogs is that they are much more focused on the collaboration of users.  An email list is a group of people receiving a message from one source, otherwise known as a reflector.  Whatever your goal or purpose is, social media is sure to help you create, organize, and distribute information.

Game Console Analysis

Game consoles are basically specialized computers centered around their CPUs.  Some of the major pros to using a console as compared to a computer is that consoles load games faster, are less expensive, and allow multiple players.  The majority of current generation consoles have the ability to read discs and DVDs, but currently the PS3 is the only console that has Blu-Ray DVD support.  As technology improves, more games will have support for more realistic environments complete with textures, pixel and vertex shading, and increased memory bandwidth.  Game engines are often specific to their genre, but all require the basic requirements of user input from controllers and audio systems.  As for animation, a large number of games use a 3D rendering loop with multiple static images used in succession similar to how Hollywood uses different motion perspectives in their movies.  As game consoles become more complex, more input devices, such as guitars and dance pads in place of controllers will be implemented.  Additionally, improved graphics and wider online support will be available connecting players all across the world.

Smartphone Revolution

From analog to digital and now even 4G, cellphone technology has evolved tremendously from what it originally started out as.  1G phones were the first generation of wireless cellphone technology, but the major disadvantage to using them was the amount of noise and distortion that they caused over calls.  This problem was fixed when 2G digital phones were released that allowed improved call quality as well as SMS text messages.  3G phones introduced mobile internet, global roaming for travelers, and even backwards compatibility.  4G technology is currently the most advanced and has an IP packet switched network where voice, data, and streamed high-definition multimedia can be given to users at will.  Currently one of the most popular cellphone models is the smartphone.  What separates a smartphone from a regular phone is that users can run and install applications and take care of all of their computing needs on just one single device.  Smartphones are also fully customizable and users primarily use them for communication, browsing, and media.  As wireless technology continues into the fourth generation, more and more people will use smartphones to fully customize their user experience.