Archive for August, 2007
August 23, 2007
By Chris Marshall
Scientists have said that fears raised by the BBC programme Panorama about the safety of wifi are unfounded. Panorama reported on Monday (May 21) night that radiation levels from wi-fi in one school were up to three times the level of mobile phone mast radiation.
Sir William Stewart, chairman of the Health Protection Agency, said that there needed to be an urgent review of wifi safety after he provided the programme with evidence that that low-level radiation - from devices like mobile phones and wi-fi - did cause damage to people’’s health.
However, some experts in the scientific community have disagreed with Sir William. Professor Lawrie Challis, of Nottingham University, said: “Wi-fi seems unlikely to pose any risk to health.” Prof Challis, chairman of the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research (MTHR) programme management committee, said: “Wi-fi exposures are usually very small - the transmitters are low power and some distance from the body. They can be near to the body, however, when a laptop is on one’’s lap and my own view is that just as we encourage young children not to use mobile phones we should also encourage them to use their laptops on a table rather than their lap, if they are going online for a long time.”
During its investigation, reporters from Panorama visited a a school in Norfolk, with more than 1,000 pupils, to compare the level of radiation from a typical mobile phone mast with that of wi-fi in the classroom. Readings showed the height of wi-fi signal strength to be three times higher in the school classroom than the main beam of radiation intensity from a mobile phone mast.
Medical physics expert Professor Malcolm Sperrin told BBC News that the fact wi-fi radiation in a particular school was three times higher than a mobile phone mast was irrelevant, as there is currently no evidence of a link to any health effects. He said: “Wi-fi is a technique using very low intensity radio waves. Whilst similar in wavelength to domestic microwave radiation, the intensity of wi-fi radiation is 100,000 times less than that of a domestic microwave oven.
Furthermore, tissue can only be effectively heated by a wavelength that is closely matched to the absorption, and there are strict guidelines for ensuring such absorption peaks are avoided.”
The Health Protection Agency had previously said that sitting in a wi-fi hotspot for a year resulted in receiving the same dose of radio waves as making a 20-minute mobile phone call.
Prof Sperrin added: “Radio waves (wi-fi) and other non-ionising radiations have been part of our lives for a century or more and if such effects were occurring then damage or other untoward effects would have been recorded and studied. Research is still proceeding in this area at leading centres in many countries but evidence points to wi-fi transmissions being well below any likely threshold for human effects.”
Despite concerns about wifi and its effects on people’’s health being raised by the likes of Professor Olle Johansson, of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, and Professor Henry Lai, from Washington state university, Prof Sperrin was joined by Professor Will J Stewart, fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, in his defence of such technology.
Prof Stewart said: “Science has studied the safety of mobile phones for many years and the overwhelming body of evidence shows little cause for concern. As for wi-fi, although these devices operate at a modestly different frequency to mobiles they also operate at a lower power level over a much shorter-range. “Add to the fact that high-bandwidth wi-fi devices are less likely to be head-mounted and there really is no issue here. This is not to say that all electromagnetic radiation is necessarily harmless - sunlight, for example, poses a significant cancer risk; so if you are using your laptop on the beach make sure and get some shade.”
Prof Sperrin concluded his defence of wifi by saying that it was impossible to prove a negative and that there was no justification in discarding wi-fi until it could be proved unsafe. “The educational benefits from using laptops and having access to information far outweigh any unproven fears over the safety of wi-fi. I am more concerned about the heat laptops generate and the impact that could on sensitive parts of the body.”
About The Author
Guide2Broadband discusses broadband options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best broadband option for your home at http://www.guide2broadband.com
August 22, 2007
By Susan Jan
Magnets are available in various sizes and serve various purposes ranging from home to industrial uses. As magnets can stick to steel and iron, they are also used for promotional purposes.
Aside from their use in radio and television sets, magnets are also used in bulk loading and assembly line productions in the industrial world. Industrial magnets provide solutions to complex mechanized activities and come in all shapes and sizes - round, bars, rods, U-shaped, rings etc. Magnets in the industrial sector range from pulleys and separators to magnetic sweepers, fabrication and welding devices. All these can be custom-built to suit the needs of any particular industry. Bulk purchases are always advantageous and cost beneficial than individual purchases.
Owing to the varied sizes in which they are available, magnets are increasingly being used for advertising purposes. Advertising magnets are usually custom-made. The name and logo of the company along with the services and products offered form the main theme of advertising magnets. Depending on your budget the magnets can be put up on billboards or distributed among prospective clients.
Business cards are another common way to promote your services or products. Since paper business cards often get lost or are forgotten about, business card magnets help keep that company’’s service or product fresh in people’’s minds, as they are very visible on the refrigerators or on other magnetic surfaces and never get lost.
Business, promotional or advertising magnets should be made attractive and colorful so that they stand out from the crowd. With their increasing popularity, people are bound to receive a lot of promotional magnets that all get stuck onto the same board. You would definitely want yours to stick out and attract all the attention. All kinds of custom magnets can be ordered online at the various websites that offer such services.
Magnets can be used in a lot of ways at home such as for school projects. Refrigerators and iron cabinets are often adorned with magnetic stickers or small motifs. Refrigerator magnets can be bought from your local departmental store or from home-d
August 22, 2007
By Joseph Then
These days, almost everyone has a cell phone. They are like a big part of functioning from day to day. Most of us would not know what to do if we did not have our phone with us. Our lives are so busy these days and we have no time to stop and sit for a phone call. Cell phones make it so easy to talk as we go, no matter where we are going or heading off to. There are lots of different styles and plans for you to choose.
Cell phones are available for purchase in several different ways. You can buy a cell phone through a dealer. They usually are at a store of their own or within another store as a benefit for shoppers. You can go to them and ask questions that you need to know before you buy the right cell phone for you.
If you already know what kind of cell phone you want to buy, then you can purchase them a few different ways. You can order the one that you want online. There are different packages and you can decide which one is the best for you. You can get the one that you want, with the plan that is best for you. The best part about getting your cell phone online is that you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. With just a few clicks, you will be on your way to getting your cell phone delivered to your home, fast.
If you do not want to purchase a ”whole” package plan for a lot of money, then maybe a trac phone is the best choice for you. These cell phones allow you to pay as you go. You can purchase the trac phone of your choice and then you purchase the phone cards, which will give you minutes to use on your phone. You can buy so many minutes for a certain amount of money. The great part about this is that you do not have to worry about racking up a huge phone bill each month. You will pay as you go.
Cell phones make our lives a lot easier, but we also need to remember to use our cell phones wisely. We should never drive and talk on the phone at the same time. Pull over to the side of the road if you need to make a call or if you are receiving an incoming call. This will ensure that you are safe and that the other drivers on the road are safe too.
About The Author
For more about cellular phones and various reviews of different phones, please visit:
http://www.1-cellular-phones.info
August 21, 2007
By Kip Goldhammer
There are many reasons why TracFone has become so very popular among cell phone users today. This cell phone network provider, owned by America Movil, is the most popular prepaid wireless network service in the US. A prepaid network is that in which you have to charge up your cell phone by paying some amount beforehand, and then you can use your phone till the amount become zero. When that happens, you charge up again and continue using.
There are many advantages of using prepaid cellular networks like TracFone. Here we list a few of the most obvious ones:
- You save money with prepaid networks. This is because you pay up in advance and then you have to use your cell phone only as much as you have paid. With postpaid networks, users tend to get careless as they have to pay a bill at the end of the month. This difference is quite akin to having an economical debit card instead of a frivolous credit card.
- There are many less hassles in getting a TracFone prepaid card connection than in getting the postpaid cards. The documentation is pretty straightforward. You will need to submit some personal identification and some address proof. However, you will not have to give anything on your income or your credit card. Since you are paying in advance, TracFone providers do not much care about these identifying details.
- A TracFone is activated almost as soon as you charge the card at their center. Again, this is because TracFone does not need to verify details such as bank records and credit card records. Your activation is done right away.
- There is no monthly bill to put up with. Since it is a prepaid account, you have paid for your TracFone usage well in advance, and you do not have to pay bills on a monthly basis.
- Also, you are spared from all kinds of additional costs. Postpaid wireless providers will charge a fixed sum per month, which goes towards the rent of the service. Even if you haven”t used the cell phone at all during the month, you have to pay this rental amount. Since this rental amount is not present with TracFone, your total expense on the phone is significantly lesser.
In this way, a prepaid TracFone subscription becomes much more economical than some of the costlier postpaid ones. However, being cheaper does not mean that you have to put up with compromises. TracFone’’s services are impeccable, and they are compatible with GSM, TDMA and CDMA, which are the most popular technologies available today. Also, you get a whole range of bonus features, such as hundreds of thousands of free ringtone downloads that will play for you in both polyphonic and real sound versions.
About The Author
Get all your answers to your Tracfone Questions and more. Visit the prepaid wireless headquarters at http://www.getatracfone.com authored by Kip Goldhammer
August 21, 2007
By Andrew Impey
BYU-BYU: Wind Communication Interface
What is it?
A user-computer interaction where the user can use wind (that’’s blowing on the screen, not farting at it) to interact with a virtual environment and communicate by breathing or blowing toward their screens. The name comes from the onomatopoeic Japanese phrase used to describe a howling wind.
How does it work?
The system uses a network of fine mesh screens that let air pass through them, but also form a visual screen where images can be viewed. Sensors that light up when they are blown on can sense the direction and force of the air power applied. Small fans behind the mesh screen can blow air back for a reciprocal airy experience.
Reasons to want one:
It is said to add a tactile element to video communication, according to one of its creators, Masahiro Furukawa. He added, that it could be used to blow out birthday candles on a cake thousands of miles away or play games such as virtual air hockey - using this technology combined with visual images. It also has implications for deaf and blind people or those with limited limb use - as it delivers information directly to the skin.
Microsoft Surface
What is it?
A new fully interactive table surface. OK, sounds a bit dull, but seriously, it’’s perfect for restaurants, hotels, bars, shops and even the lounge. Drag and drop starters, drinks or shopping items into the ordering section and your waiter will do the rest.
How does it work?
The diner/drinker/shopper simply uses the interactive surface to drag menu/beverage/item choices to the order point on the table desktop - the food/drink/shoes are then brought straight to your table. You can also pay, tip and leave comments via the tabletop.
Reasons to want one:
Easy to use, can be applied to many table tops, cuts down on time waiting for services - simply touch the table to order an extra drink with your meal, no need for pushy restaurant staff. Perfect - we never need interact with a human being again.
GlowBots - emotional robots
What is it?
GlowBots are small wheeled robots, about the size of a coffee cup, that develop complex relationships between each other and with their owners. They develop attractive patterns that are affected both by user interaction and communication between the robots.
How does it work?
Each robot is equipped with eight infrared sensors, a camera, microphones, a computer, a bluetooth connection and a stack of LEDs. Each robot has a unique pattern of flashing lights. As the robots mingle they can sense each others” patterns. When two of them meet, they update their own display to incorporate a bit of what they”ve just ‘’seen”. Something similar happens if a person picks up a GlowBot, touches it, or makes a sound into its microphone. The GlowBot can subsequently share with its community what it has sensed.
Reasons to want one:
One: it’’s a robot. Two: flashing lights and pretty patterns. Three: they don”t have to be house-trained, groomed or neutered. The project was actually inspired by people who keep unusual and generally unpettable pets, such as snakes and spiders. It is hoped that the GlowBots can appeal to the type of person who doesn”t get too emotionally attached to their pets, preferring to admire their fine patterns from afar.
About The Author
Andy worked for four years studying ducks (no stop laughing, he really did). He went into his PhD thinking he was going to save the world (albeit from ducks) and now spends him time lovingly preening Null Hypothesis, the Journal of Unlikely Science!
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/
August 19, 2007
By Joe Camarda
You should know this by now: Computers can and do fail. And nasty viruses can take down your system by creeping through your antivirus software and firewall.
The problem is that you usually get no warning before it’’s too late. Puff! Your data is gone.
This has happened to more than a few businesspeople. In extreme cases, it has put companies out of business. And the worst part is this: It’’s completely avoidable. By backing up your data, you can retrieve all or most of what you lose.
Yes, yes, I hear some of you snickering about the hassle involved. Indeed, there is a hassle involved. But you owe it to yourself — and your business — to take stock of your backup plan (or lack thereof) by reviewing these tips. Most Important: Back up Your Customer Databases and Payroll Records
What’’s the heart and soul of your company? People have different opinions, but certainly your customer or client database has to rank high.
Inside one or two data files are all the nitty-gritty details including what they buy, when they buy, how they pay and so forth. Contact lists also are databases, and you might have yours combined with your customer list.
So, where would you be if you lost your database? How would you feel if you attempted to open your database and it wasn”t there? Not good, I”ll bet. So you should be backing up your database.
Also mission-critical for backups are your employee payroll records. You don”t want to lose the information that you have to report to the Internal Revenue Service. Your employees don”t want problems with the IRS, either. And they certainly don”t want to be paid late.
Here are a few options for backing up your data in the form of a hard copy:
* AIT Tape
* CD-R, CD-RW
* DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, DVD+R
* Flash Memory Card Products
* R/W Magneto Optical Disks & WORM
* 1/2″ Tape Cartridges
* LTO Ultrium Tape
* QIC 1/4″ Data Cartridge
* Jaz & Zip Disks
* DLT tape / SDLT Tape
* SLR / MLR Cartridges
For anyone who uses a computer on a regular basis, data backup is very important. When you backup your data, you are storing your files on a disk or drive separated from your primary computer. In this way, if anything occurs to your computer or damage comes to your file on the computer, then you still have your data in backup so that you can restore it onto your original machine or another machine. This allows you to keep your data even if great damage comes to your computer. No one wants to have their system crash and then discover that all of their data is gone because they made no backups.
There are many methods for backing up your data. All that is required is to store your information on a drive or disk separate from your primary computer. If you operate on a home LAN system, for example, you can transfer your files to the other computers on your network and in this way ensure that even if one computer fails you will still have your files on another computer. There are also online backup systems where you can store your data on an online server.
About The Author
Joe Camarda is an expert on data storage and backup methods. Find out more about his expertise at http://www.westcliffassociates.com
August 19, 2007
By Roberto Sedycias
An MP3 player review is an important resource for any potential buyer. It provides information on the product, having been tested by a range of people including experts and in a range of environments. The whole point of a review is that it allows the reader to get a well rounded outlook on a product before purchasing. Any basic MP3 player review should, therefore, give the reader clear information, considering the variety of users that may purchase the item and also the ways in which they may use it. The review is that meant to provide the best possible consumer information, and so the best type of review should give the reader the opportunity to make an informed choice about their purchase, and with confidence.
MP3 player reviews come in various styles. Some are simply tables with ratings clearly next to the criteria that are being considered. Others will consist of explanations and considerations of the various features, and also provide clear realistic examples to back up the opinion expressed. The best type of MP3 player review will provide both. This makes the review both easy to understand, will make the plus and minus points stand out, and also provide more in depth information on the device that catches the consumers eye. It will also have a clear and functional search facility that will narrow down the criteria that is most important to the buyer. This saves time and energy, and prevents unnecessary information being read.
Any review should consider a range of MP3 players within a range of price categories. The price should be clearly displayed as this is often one of the first criteria that will affect the consumer`s initial decision when choosing a product. It would be unfair to produce a review that enticed the buyer, only to show a price outside of the budget afterwards. The descriptions should place the MP3 player in the top, bottom or lowest end in terms of quality for the price category it fits. Consumers know that the higher priced models are probably the best in terms of quality and special features, but it is only the products within their price range that truly interests them.
MP3 player reviews should provide detailed information on the performance of the product, and compare it to others similar in both type and price. The sound quality should be tested thoroughly, with a range of music considered as the quality of sound will differ, for instance, with additional bass or a faster beat. The sound quality should also be tested in a variety of scenarios to ensure that most possible uses are considered; for instance, the sound quality when jogging may differ from the sound quality in a busy street. The sound should be tested through both MP3 player compatible speakers and headphones, as both are realistic possibilities.
The portability of the MP3 player is another major consideration. Size and weight can vary, and often matters a great deal to the buyer. Exact measurements should be provided where possible to give the clearest possible picture. In addition to this, the usability should be a major consideration. Some are more functional and easy to navigate than others. The buyer that is an MP3 player veteran will want a different product to that of a first time buyer.
Another consideration in any review should also be the durability, as potential buyers want to know that their chosen product is not only the best possible quality, but that it will also last. The battery life and the time taken to recharge is another important factor, and exact or average figures should be provided.
About The Author
This article can be accessed in portuguese from the Article section of page http://www.polomercantil.com.br/mp3-player.php
Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for http://www.polomercantil.com.br
August 18, 2007
By Bruce Walls
It is all to easy these days to comparison shop on the internet for almost everything that you need to buy. You can easily check out the best features list and compare the prices for the best buy. But for camcorders will it be the best buy and will you be making the wrong choice.
There is nothing better than a hands on approach to buying your digital camcorder. Doing your initial research online to weed out the poor camcorders is fine but at some stage you need to visit a store and actually handle the camcorders to see how they feel in your hand and see if they are easy to operate. Maybe you have long slender fingers or short fat ones and find using the controls difficult. Will you be able to find all the features and will you need to be a ”techie” just to use the basic menu commands.
If you find your propective new HDD camcorder difficult to operate then you can bet your life that other people will be in the same boat. We are not buying a $3000 pro-camcorder here but just a basic camcorder good enough to make videos for your website. If you find it difficult then look elsewhere and let the manufacturers worry about producing what customers really want.
Despite the fact that there is an industry that specialices in ”Usability Research” or ”User Centered Design” manufacturers still produce camcorders that get low marks in reviews. Maybe they don”t listen to the afore mentioned people or are confident that their camcorders will sell anyway. Here are a few things to look out for when handling a camcorder.
Tiny Buttons: Can be difficult to press the right button without touching another one. Best avoided unless you have tiny hands.
Confusing Icons: Check to see if the icons are industry standard and easily understood or are there strange looking ones that will not prompt you at all.
Menu Labyrinth: This can be a real problem for most people but do look to see that the main camcorder menu functions are easily found and accessible.
Speed: When you choose a menu item does it react quickly or is there a built in lag which can become tedious as you grow more confident and use different settings.
Idiot Proof: How easy is it to mess up and do something catastrophic like wiping out the memory card.
Do try out the camcorders but remember the more help you get from an assistant then the more obligated you should feel to purchase. Don”t assume that the camcorder will be easier to use after you have purchased it. If you can”t figure out how to operate it now then you might be in the same position in a months time.
Finally, don”t be seduced by the latest technology. Give it time and read reviews and let any improvements be made before committing to the technology. After all miniDV has been around over ten years and is still great technology for website video producers.
About The Author
Bruce Walls writes about using video on your website to increase traffic. You can read more at http://websitevideoguide.com
August 18, 2007
By Bruce Walls
MiniDV: Since its launch in 1966 miniDV has become the standard format for consumer and semi-professional camcorder users and is still the standard that other formats are judged by. The tape format produces the best picture quality and PCM stereo sound of CD quality and can record 60 minutes at the best quality.
MiniDV camcorders use tapes roughly the same size as a box of matches. This has enabled camcorder manufacturers, over the years, to reduce the size of the camcorders to their present ”pocket size”.
Recorded footage can be transferred from the miniDV camcorders by one of three different ways. Firstly as an composite analogue signal using composite AV leads, secondly as an S-video analogue signal and finally as a DV signal.
The DV signal is transferred using the DV-out port also known as a Firewire port, or IEEE1394 and also as i.Link and connected to your computer by a Firewire cable. When transferring your footage by this method there is no loss of quality in the picture and audio and this is what makes this format so popular.
Almost all miniDV camcorders have a DV-out port and better quality ones will have a DV-in port for transferring edited footage back to your camcorder. Although other formats are gaining in popularity miniDV still has plenty of life ahead of it yet and the camcorders are good value for money.
DVD: DVD is increasing in popularity and claiming a bigger slice of the market since its introduction in mid 2001. The main advantage of DVD camcorders is convenience. Record your footage to the disc, remove it and play it in your DVD player without the need for cables or connections.
DVD camcorders use 8cm discs in a variety of recordable formats. DVD-R is a single use disc, compatible with all DVD players and used by all camcorder manufacturers. DVD-RAM is a rewritable disc that offers in camera editing and supported by Hitachi and Panasonic. DVD-/+RW is another rewriteable format and is supported by Sony.
Originally there were disc compatibility issues with DVD players but most DVD players will now play a variety of discs and some camcorders offer multi format capability making them more flexible.
DVD camcorder performance has improved tremendously since its introduction but still has disadvantages. Discs can only record 18 minutes of best quality video and editing is not as easy as miniDV but for easy of use DVD format is a fine choice.
HDD: Hard disk drive is the latest format to be used in camcorders. Originally introduced by JVC but now promoted by other manufacturers. Hard drives are currently as large as 30GB and can store 35 hours in standard recording mode and up to seven hours in best quality mode.
HDD camcorders are yet to match the quality of miniDV camcorders but their performance is still impressive and no doubt will get better still. With virtually no moving parts HDD camcorders are very compact and could well replace miniDV as the main format.
One obvious failing with HDD camcorders is once the hard disk is full the footage must be downloaded or over written. This may not be a big problem unless you are on vacation for some time and away from your computer.
Memory Card: Camcorder manufacturers have been providing a digital stills function with their camcorders for some time now. The stills are recorded on a memory card of one sort or another which fit into a card slot in the camcorder. Cameras are now being offered that record video footage to memory cards
Memory cards are normally only 1GB so quickly fill up even though the video is stored in highly compressed MPEG4 format. A good supply of cards are required for any long recording. However this format is convenient for posting to the internet or sending via email. Due to the compression the picture quality is inferior to other formats.
As the video is stored to card or memory stick the memory card camcorders are generally the smallest type on the market and are suitable as a pocket camcorder. Ongoing developement has already lead to MPEG2 video format as used by DVD and HDD camcorders. The SDHC card has recently been developed offering sizes up to 32MB.
About The Author
Bruce Walls writes about using video on your website to increase traffic. You can read more at http://websitevideoguide.com
August 17, 2007
By Andrew Impey
The world is moving on from our beloved old clunky televisions to the young, snazzy LCD and plasma screens of the future. But since, in the words of Joni Mitchell, you don”t know what you”ve got til it’’s gone, we take one last loving look at how our old tellies worked.
Like the atomic bomb, the television is an example of ingenious science producing a wonderful product that has dramatically changed the world. Just like the a-bomb, its functioning is fascinating and its evils are opposed with gusto.
No one person can claim to be the sole parent of television. It is an example, rather, of expertise from many fields combining to create a collaborative product.
In any electrical circuit through which a current flows, there is a negatively charged end called the anode and a positively charged one called the cathode. In a standard television the cathode ray tube fires electrons from a cathode which are attracted by an anode towards a flat, phosphor-coated screen. Electrified copper windings create a magnetic field that steer the electrons towards a given place on the screen.
By modifying the voltage traveling through the copper windings, the magnetic field can be altered to guide electrons to any position of the screen. The voltage is changed so that the electrons systematically hit every area of the screen, moving the continuous beam in a pattern called ”raster scan”.
The electron beam travels across the screen similar to the way you would read a book: left to right, then quickly back, slightly down and so on over the entire screen. Then the process repeats itself.
The electron beam moves very quickly, and, in a progressive scan television, a relatively rare type of TV in which the entire screen is updated rather than only half, it manages to hit every portion of the screen 60 times per second. In most TVs, however, the electron beam incorporates a little speed reading known as interlacing and alternates between odd and even rows with each pass over the screen.
When the phosphors on the screen are hit by the electrons, they emit light. In a black and white television, there is only one type of phosphor, but in a colour television there are three different phosphors (emitting red, blue, or green light) and three separate electron beams, one for each colour of phosphor.
Depending upon which phosphors are illuminated, a picture is produced on the screen. As it is updated, the picture changes to give the illusion of motion and the glow of the world’’s beloved tube.
About The Author
Andy worked for four years studying ducks (no stop laughing, he really did). He went into his PhD thinking he was going to save the world (albeit from ducks) and now spends him time lovingly preening Null Hypothesis, the Journal of Unlikely Science!
http://www.null-hypothesis.co.uk/