Technology

‘What is the impact of social media on you?’

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By Chloe, Ella and Rosa

Social media is changing all the time, and we are all presented with a new ‘trend’ almost each week. Some of these ‘trends’ can be negative, whilst for others social media was seen as a way to keep in contact with family and friends during the recent lockdown. We spoke to teenagers from our school about the impact of social media on them.

Talking Technology

By Andrea T

During lockdown and in recent times, technology has been improving significantly and one of the new and improved pieces of technology is Augmented Reality also known as AR. This is an interactive experience where objects, both real and imaginary, can be imported virtually into your surrounding area.

Almost everyone can access this since all you need to use it is a device with a camera. You can access it on different apps and websites, such as the BBC and Wikipedia. There is a range of ways to use it. For example, students can use it to compare the things they are learning about and see real size comparisons. Another example is designers, who can use it to see how their designs will look before they create them. A popular app featuring AR is ‘Pokémon Go’ which has helped this new idea become mainstream. As well as this, during lockdown ‘twinkl’ had given people the opportunity to try out their AR app where you can choose different books to read that include scannable codes with which you can see aspects of the book. There are also more practical uses for it, a few brands and companies that have utilised this feature include ASOS with a virtual catwalk, Toyota with vehicle demos and other virtual mannequins and fashion uses. Although now becoming popular and having developments, the first idea of AR was created by Ivan Sutherland and it was originally used for test flights for pilots. As of now the AR industry is worth $15.3 million and in the US there are 83.1 million users monthly, for all purposes but commonly for gaming.

If you wish to try out these new features you can do so on the apps and websites mentioned above.

OCULUS

By Niall F

Oculus is a VR (Virtual reality) brand owned by Facebook. It is one of the most popular VR companies and was founded in July 2012. Oculus has made five VR headsets which are the Oculus Rift, Oculus Rift S, Oculus GO, Oculus Quest and (the newest) Oculus Quest 2.

The Oculus Quest and the Oculus Quest 2 are so popular because of the price. Oculus Quest 64GB: £399 Oculus Quest 2 64GB: £299

These Headsets are unique as they don’t need an expensive PC that would cost you about £700 - £2000 depending on the game that your running.

Oculus also has a feature called hand tracking where you don’t even need to use the controllers to play, you can just use your hands.

PS5 vs XBOX

By Jess C

Next Generation console wars. Xbox series X is being released on the 10th of November and the PS5 being released two days later on the 12th of November; the real question is which is better? PS5 or Xbox series X? With them both being incredibly powerful and extremely popular it can be hard to tell which next gen console is really the best. Both consoles run at 4K with 120fps with super fast loading times. The capability of these consoles are endless and they have more similarities than differences. One clear difference is the processing capabilities where Microsoft are said to have a slight advantage when it comes to sheer processing power. PS5 and Xbox both have similar characteristics with some parts being better than others. Exclusive games are also included with different consoles but Microsoft have also included a game pass which can be paid monthly or yearly with free access to multiple games. PS5 is seen to be slightly more popular though. All consoles have had limited stock and have sold out in most stores because of covid-19 restrictions and the popularity of each one. Both consoles are similarly priced with the Xbox series X priced around £449 and the PS5 also priced around £449. Xbox series X is also priced at £249 but with a few weaker characteristics and could soon be a threat to the PS5.

Left: Xbox S series and Xbox X series. Right: Sony's Playstation 5

THE 10 BEST VIDEO GAMES OF ALL TIME: in our opinion, anyway!

By Joseph F & Tom B

1) The Legends of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Since its release Legends of Zelda has earned wide recognition as one of the best video games of all time. It is known for its rich open world, advanced graphics, accessible combat system, and replay ability - all of which were revolutionary for the time.

2) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2- Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2’s superior level design is one of the reasons why the game holds up so well today, 20 years after its initial release. While might lack certain gameplay mechanics found in later releases, it has a classic arcade feel that makes it incredibly appealing to a wide audience.

3) Grand Theft Auto IV- There is something indelibly 'Rockstar' about GTA that's impossible to replicate. Part of it is the zany sense of humour and fast-but-loose playing style. Another aspect is the sheer variety of missions on offer and the eclectic radio soundtrack. (See also No. 8)

4) Soul Calibur- This weapon based fighting game is focused on the characters’ search for the legendary Soul Swords. Whether you are an avid gamer or simply s button basher, it’s a great game!

5) Super Mario Galaxy- Super Mario Galaxy has two major facets added to it that make the game so much more than its predecessors. The use of a spin move, and the use of planetoids as a common surface. These two concepts are tied together in a way that just makes so much sense when you think about it.

6) ) ROBLOX- ROBLOX is one of the world's most popular video games , offering tonnes of virtual worlds for players to explore.

7) Red Dead Redemption 2- As evidenced by gameplay, tone, sound design, art-style, voice-acting, world-building, and so much more,Red Dead Redemption is the most intricately handcrafted video game of all time. Most other video games don't even come close to the level of quality and detail present here, at least not open world games.

8 ) Grand Theft Auto V- See No. 3.

9) Minecraft- Minecraft is loved by gamers young and old and it’s popularity has led to a surge in successful gaming YouTubers who have millions of views for their Minecraft based content.

10) Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare- Modern Warfare provides the series greatest single-player campaign. One week since its release, and after much reflection, it's safe to say that 2019's Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is the best single-player campaign experience in the history of the series

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