Is the Cloud for real?

My family and I, along with many other Mac enthusiasts, spent some time yesterday absorbing all the news from the Apple World Wide Developer's Conference in San Francisco. The most compelling was of course Apple CEO Steve Jobs unveiling the company's new iCloud service.

We've all been trained over the past 20 years to: "Save your stuff!" over and over again so your computer doesn't lose anything. It's going to take a little while to get used to the ability of Apple's apps to automatically save documents for you without having to think about it. And it will be even more amazing to see those same documents magically appear on your iPhone and/or iPad.

Don't plan on Microsoft's Office suite doing any of this any time soon...our office has been working on weaning itself off of Microsoft and moving towards Apple's iWork, not without some bumps in the road. But the iCloud service should make this transition a no brainer.

To be able to create documents, store images and music across your 'i' devices will be a revolutionary step towards freeing us from our desktops. I can't wait.

Virtual worlds boost healthier lifestyles?

I think most of us would consider ourselves big fans of technology. Smart phones, the internet, not to mention the internet on our smart phones, Facebook, Twitter.....the list goes on forever.

And although many people equate heavy gadget use with laziness, developers have tried to help people get in better shape through the use of technology. The Nintendo Wii was an innovative thing that got people moving and off the couch.

Since the Wii, there have been greater developments in activity-related technologies. So far these advancements have had positive impacts on helping people get in better shape and adding more physical activity to daily lives.

Researchers at Indiana University conducted a study to measure weightloss results from going to virtual gyms. The participants were split into two groups: one that physically worked out, and one that virtually worked out. They partnered with Second Life, an online world where people can interact with others. Both groups had specified amounts of time they needed to spend at the gym -- whether online or in real life. Over a 12-week period both groups lost similar amounts of weight, according to the researchers. And what is even more puzzling is that virtual-gym users seemed to have more behavioral changes towards healthier lifestyles.

I don't doubt the results of the study, but I hope that people don't take this news and go overboard on their reliance on technology. While the experience of being at a virtual gym may promote healthier eating habits, the person is also still sitting at a computer. I know very well that lives can become stressful and busy, but it is important to make time for activities. And with all the advancements in technology, people can combine physical activity with the virtual world -- heck, why not go to the virtual gym while up walking or at the real-world gym?