Linggo, Nobyembre 6, 2011

PSITS & PSITE 3rd Regional Convention

Philippine Society of Information Technology Students (PSITS) and Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators (PSITE) 3rd Regional Convention 
Notre Dame of Marbel University 
Koronadal, South Cotabato

Theme: Making IT in Region IIX Remarkable and Competent Through Excellent Education

September 23-24, 2011

One of the aims and objectives of the Philippine Society of Information Technology Students is to develop a harmonious relationship and unity among the members through conferences and, other activities with deals of creating a close inter-school environment. The society aims to establish an organization whose purposes are: to serve as education venue in issues regarding IT, to protect and preserve student’s solidarity and to embody the ideas of the organization in promoting academic excellence. It is with the motto “Students together in Information Technology.”

Last September 23-24, 2011 marked as the Third Annual Regional Convention of the organization which was held at the University Gym of the Notre Dame of Marbel University at Koronadal City. The convention was dubbed as “Sagupaan sa Dose: Making IT in Region XII Remarkable and Competent Through Excellent Education.” The said event was attended by fourteen schools namely; ACLC College of Marbel, Notre Dame of Tacurong College (NDTC), Notre Dame University (NDU), Notre Dame of Midsayap College (NDMC), Sultan Kudarat State University (SKSU), Holy Cross College of Information Technology (HCCIT), Mindanao State University of Maguindanao (MSU-Maguindanao), Notre Dame of Kidapawan College (NDKC), North Valley College Inc. (NVCI), Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges (RMMC), Stratford Int’l School of General Santos City, Holy Trinity College (HTC), Southern Baptist College (SBC) and the host school, Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU). 

There is a seminar on the first day of the convention and the following are the flow of activities for the second day of the convention:

Ø Programming 
Ø E-logo making 
Ø E-poster making 
Ø Quiz bee 
Ø Research Paper Presentation 
Ø Parlor games 
Ø Popstar 
Ø Search for Mr. and Ms. PSITS 2011

Seminar on Robotics presented and discussed by the RSA Automation and Robotics Training Manager, Mr. Rey S. Atienza Jr. As a preliminary of his lectures, he discussed to us the following latest news/gadgets in IT and their features. 

1. H2O as cooler of the RAM (random access memory)/CPU (central processing unit) 
2. 2 Terabytes Memory Card 
3. Anti-Laptop Theft using SIM Card 
4. Detachable Keyboard Laptop (replaces tablet keyboard) 
5. CPU as small as optical mouse 
6. Roller laptop (Rolltop) 
7. 50Gps (gigabyte per second) Intel Silicon Photonics Link 
8. iPhone5 (ultra thin, laser keyboard with holographic display) 
9. Mobile Charging Device (charges gadgets using sound waves) 
10. Silent Sound Technology 
11. Google TV 
12. Snoring Sensor 
13. A device for blind people to see 
14. 6th sense gadget 

A robot is a computer-controlled machine that is programmed to move, manipulate objects, and accomplish work while interacting with its environment. Mr. Atienza also explained to us the disciplines of robotics. He also gave us background about the anatomy of a robot. He said, in robotics, these things are to be considered: design, sensors/feedback, electrical power, brains. He also discussed the types of Robots namely; industrial robots, educational robots, mobile robots, and domestic robots. He told us the importance of IT in robotics and according to him; we need to just have a good background on the following programming languages namely; Visual Basic, Turbo C++ and Assembly Language Programming.

SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY

SOFTWARE FREEDOM DAY
“Smarter Communities Choose to be Free”
ULS Convention Hall, University of Southern Mindanao
Kabacan, Cotabato


The “Software Freedom Day” is celebrated every 17th day of September, Saturday all over the world. The said celebration was dubbed as “Smarter Communities Choose to be FREE” where they have showcased free and open source software. There were more than 400 teams in different countries are having this celebration. Due to some instances, the University of Southern Mindanao has organized this said occasion on the 19th day of September, Monday where students can attend.

The following are the activities in the said celebration:

Part I: Opening Program (9:00-11:00)
Invocation
Singing of the National Anthem
Welcome Address
Presentation of Participants
Rationale
Intermission Number
Introduction of the Guest Speaker
Message
Awarding of the Certificate of Appreciation to the Guest Speaker

Part II: Software Presentation (11:00 am-2:00 pm)
Presentation 1: What’s new with Linux Ubuntu?
Presentation 2: Sustainable Programming Productivity Using RoR (Ruby on Rails
Presentation 3: Building Sites Using WordPress
Presentation 4: Image Retouching Using GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program
Presentation 5: Web Development Using JOOMLA
Presentation 6: Enhancing e-Learning System through MOODLEWhat is “Software Freedom Day” all about?

The celebration of the “Software Freedom Day” is a public education initiative with the simple aim of increasing awareness of “Free Softwares” and its virtues, and encouraging its use. The said celebration was attended by the students of University of Southern Mindanao, Notre Dame of Midsayap College and the Notre Dame of Kidapawan College.

What is “Free & Open Source Software” (FOSS)?

By definition, open source software refers to a program in which the source code is available and that can be modified, allowing users to make the program perform the way a user or users needs it to operate or perform and is free of charge.

Open Source Software, is a form of software in which the original source code is openly available for users to examine and modify, and to use to run or to create computer programs. One of the best-known examples of open source software is Linux, which is widely used as an alternative to commercial operating system (OS) software. Open source software includes a license to use, modify, and redistribute the code. Commercially sold software products can be developed from open source software.

Open source software is considered distinct from free software, which is also open source but can be used for any purpose and without any costs or restrictions. Both open source software and free software are different from software provided for free (freeware) by commercial software manufacturers that do not allow access to the original source code.

A central features of open source software is that users can review the software, add features to it or hire programmers to add features, or fix errors known as bugs, rather than wait for the original software publisher or creator to release a “patch” or bring out a new version. With open source software, programmers—many of them nonprofessionals—contribute to the computing community by making their improvements and bug fixes available to other users.

What are the benefits of using “Open-Source Software”?

The following are the benefits of Open-Source Software:
o Virus free
o Free of charge
o Can be downloaded in the Internet
o Source code is available for modification making the user modify the program it on how he/she wants it to operate or perform tasks/processes