Virtual Reality1 Essay Example For Students

Virtual Reality1 Essay Virtual Reality What it is and How it Works Imagine being able to point into the sky and fly. Or perhaps walk through space and connect molecules together. These are some of the dreams that have come with the invention of virtual reality. With the introduction of computers, numerous applications have been enhanced or created. The newest technology that is being tapped is that of artificial reality, or virtual reality (VR). When Morton Heilig first got a patent for his Sensorama Simulator in 1962, he had no idea that 30 years later people would still be trying to simulate reality and that they would be doing it so effectively. Jaron Lanier first coined the phrase virtual reality around 1989, and it has stuck ever since. Unfortunately, this catchy name has caused people to dream up incredible uses for this technology including using it as a sort of drug. This became evident when, among other people, Timothy Leary became interested in VR. This has also worried some of the researchers w ho are trying to create very real applications for medical, space, physical, chemical, and entertainment uses among other things. In order to create this alternate reality, however, you need to find ways to create the illusion of reality with a piece of machinery known as the computer. This is done with several computer-user interfaces used to simulate the senses. Among these, are stereoscopic glasses to make the simulated world look real, a 3D auditory display to give depth to sound, sensor lined gloves to simulate tactile feedback, and head-trackers to follow the orientation of the head. Since the technology is fairly young, these interfaces have not been perfected, making for a somewhat cartoonish simulated reality. Stereoscopic vision is probably the most important feature of VR because in real life, people rely mainly on vision to get places and do things. The eyes are approximately 6.5 centimeters apart, and allow you to have a full-colour, three-dimensional view of the world. Stereoscopy, in itself, is not a very new idea, but the new twist is trying to generate completely new images in real- time. In 1933, Sir Charles Wheatstone invented the first stereoscope with the same basic principle being used in todays head-mounted displays. Presenting different views to each eye gives the illusion of three dimensions. The glasses that are used today work by using what is called an electronic shutter. The lenses of the glasses interleave the left-eye and right-eye views every thirtieth of a second. The shutters selectively block and admit views of the screen in sync with the interleaving, allowing the proper views to go into each eye. The problem with this method though is that you have to wear special glasses. Most VR researchers use complicated headsets, but it is possible to create stereoscopic three-dimensional images without them. One such way is through the use of lenticular lenses. These lenses, known since Herman Ives experimented with them in 1930, allo w one to take two images, cut them into thin vertical slices and interleave them in precise order (also called multiplexing) and put cylinder shaped lenses in front of them so that when you look into them directly, the images correspond with each eye. This illusion of depth is based on what is called binocular parallax. Another problem that is solved is that which occurs when one turns their head. Nearby objects appear to move more than distant objects. This is called motion parallax. Lenticular screens can show users the proper stereo images when moving their heads well when a head- motion sensor is used to adjust the effect. Sound is another important part of daily life, and thus must be simulated well in order to create artificial reality. Many scientists including Dr. Elizabeth Wenzel, a researcher at NASA, are convinced the 3D audio will be useful for scientific visualization and space applications in the ways the 3D video is somewhat limited. She has come up with an interestin g use for virtual sound that would allow an astronaut to hear the state of their oxygen, or have an acoustical beacon that directs one to a trouble spot on a satellite. The Convolvotron is one such device that simulates the location of up to four audio channels with a sort of imaginary sphere surrounding the listener. This device takes into account that each person has specialized auditory signal processing, and personalizes what each person hears. Using a position sensor from Polhemus, another VR research company, it is possible to move the position of sound by simply moving a small cube around in your hand. The key to the Convolvotron is something called the Head- Related Transfer Function (HRTF), which is a set of mathematically modelable responses that our ears impose on the signals they get from the air. In order to develop the HRTF, researchers had to sit people in an anechoic room surrounded with 144 different speakers to measure the effects of hearing precise sounds from eve ry direction by using tiny microphone probes placed near the eardrums of the listener. The way in which those microphones distorted the sound from all directions was a specific model of the way that persons ears impose a complex signal on incoming sound waves in order to encode it in their spatial environment. The map of the results is then converted to numbers and a computer performs about 300 million operations per second (MIPS) to create a numerical model based on the HRTF which makes it possible to reconfigure any sound source so that it appears to be coming from any number of different points within the acoustic sphere. This portion of a VR system can really enhance the visual and tactile responses. Imagine hearing the sound of footsteps behind you in a dark alley late at night. That is how important 3D sound really is. The third important sense that we use in everyday life is that of touch. There is no way of avoiding the feeling of touch, and thus this is one of the technolog ies that is being researched upon most feverishly. The two main types of feedback that are being researched are that of force- reflection feedback and tactile feedback. Force feedback devices exert a force against the user when they try to push something in a virtual world that is heavy. Tactile feedback is the sensation of feeling an object such as the texture of sandpaper. Both are equally important in the development of VR. Currently, the most successful development in force- reflective feedback is that of the Argonne Remote Manipulator (ARM). It consists of a group of articulated joints, coiled by long bunches of electrical cables. The ARM allows for six degrees of movement (position and orientation) to give a true feel of movement. Suspended from the ceiling and connected by a wire to the computer, this machine grants a user the power to reach out and manipulate 3D objects that are not real. As is the case at the University of North Carolina, it is possible to dock molecules us ing VR. Simulating molecular forces and translating them into physical forces allows the ARM to push back at the user if he tries to dock the molecules incorrectly. Tactile feedback is just as important as force feedback in allowing the user to feel computer-generated objects. There are several methods for providing tactile feedback. Some of these include inflating air bladders in a glove, arrays of tiny pins moved by shape memory wires, and even fingertip piezoelectric vibrotactile actuators. The latter method uses tiny crystals that vibrate when an electric current stimulates them. This design has not really taken off however, but the other two methods are being more actively researched. According to a report called Tactile Sensing in Humans and Robots, distortions inside the skins cause mechanosensitive nerve terminals to respond with electrical impulses. Each impulse is approximately 50 to 100mV in magnitude and 1 ms in duration. However, the frequency of the impulses (up to a m aximum of 500/s) depends on the intensity of the combination of the stresses in the area near the receptor which is responsive. In other words, the sensors which affect pressure in the skin are all basically the same, but can convey a message over and over to give the feeling of pressure. Therefore, in order to have any kind of tactile response system, there must be a frequency of about 500 Hz in order to simulate the tactile accuracy of the human. Right now however, the gloves being used are used as input devices. One such device is that called the DataGlove. This well-fitting glove has bundles of optic fibers attached at the knuckles and joints. Light is passed through these optic fibers at one end of the glove. When a finger is bent, the fibers also bend, and the amount of light that is allowed through the fiber can be converted to determine the location at which the user is. The type of glove that is wanted is one that can be used as an input and output device. Jim Hennequin has worked on an Air Muscle that inflates and deflates parts of a glove to allow the feeling of various kinds of pressure. Unfortunately at this time, the feel it creates is somewhat crude. The company TiNi is exploring the possibility of using shape memory alloys to create tactile response devices. TiNi uses an alloy called nitinol as the basis for a small grid of what look like ball-point-pen tips. Nitinol can take the shape of whatever it is cast in, and can be reshaped. Then when it is electrically stimulated, the alloy it can return to its original cast shape. The hope is that in the future some of these techniques will be used to form a complete body suit that can simulate tactile sensation. Being able to determine where in the virtual world means you need to have orientation and position trackers to follow the movements of the head and other parts of the body that are interfacing with the computer. Many companies have developed successful methods of allowing six degrees of freed om including Polhemus Research, and Shooting Star Technology. Six degrees of freedom refers to a combination Cartesian coordinate system and an orientation system with rotation angles called roll, pitch and yaw. The ADL-1 from Shooting Star is a sophisticated and inexpensive (relative to other trackers) 6D tracking system which is mounted on the head, and converts position and orientation information into a readable form for the computer. The machine calculates head/object position by the use of a lightweight, multiply-jointed arm. Sensors mounted on this arm measure the angles of the joints. The computer-based control unit uses these angles to compute position-orientation information so that the user can manipulate a virtual world. The joint angle transducers use conductive plastic potentiometers and ball bearings so that this machine is heavy duty. Time-lag is eliminated by the direct-reading transducers and high speed microprocessor, allowing for a maximum update rate of approxim ately 300__h)_0*0*0*___measurements/second. Another system developed by Ascension Technology does basically the same thing as the ADL-1, but the sensor is in the form of a small cube which can fit in the users hand or in a computer mouse specially developed to encase it. The Ascension Bird is the first system that generates and senses DC magnetic fields. The Ascension Bird first measures the earths magnetic field and then the steady magnetic field generated by the transmitter. The earths field is then subtracted from the total, which allows one to yield true position and orientation measurements. The existing electromagnetic systems transmit a rapidly varying AC field. As this field varies, eddy currents are induced in nearby metals which causes the metals to become electromagnets which distort the measurements. The Ascension Bird uses a steady DC magnetic filed which does not create an eddy current. The update rate of the Bird is 100 measurements/second. However, the Bird has a sma ll lag of about 1/60th of a second which is noticeable. Researchers have also thought about supporting the other senses such as taste and smell, but have decided that it is unfeasible to do. Smell would be possible, and would enhance reality, but there is a certain problem with the fact that there is only a limited spectrum of smells that could be simulated. Taste is basically a disgusting premise from most standpoints. It might be useful for entertainment purposes, but has almost no purpose for researchers or developers. For one thing, people would have to put some kind of receptors in their mouths and it would be very unsanitary. Thus, the main senses that are relied on in a virtual reality are sight, touch, and hearing. Applications of Virtual Reality Virtual Reality has promise for nearly every industry ranging from architecture and design to movies and entertainment, but the real industry to gain from this technology is science, in general. The money that can be saved examining the feasibility of experiments in an artificial world before they are done could be great, and the money saved on energy used to operate such things as wind tunnels quite large. The best example of how VR can help science is that of the molecular docking experiments being done in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Scientists at the University of North Carolina have developed a system that simulated the bonding of molecules. But instead of using complicated formulas to determine bonding energy, or illegible stick drawings, the potential chemist can don a high-tech head-mounted display, attach themselves to an artificial arm from the ceiling and actually push the molecules together to determine whether or not they can be connected. The chemical bonding process takes on a sort of puzzle-like quality, in which even children could learn to form bonds using a trial and error method. Architectural designers have also found that VR can be useful in visualizing what their buildings will look like when they are put together. Often, using a 2D diagram to represent a 3D home is confusing, and the people that fund large projects would like to be able to see what they are paying for before it is constructed. An example which is fascinating would be that of designing an elementary school. Designers could walk in the school from a childs perspective to gain insight on how high that water fountain is, or how narrow the halls are. Product designers could also use VR in similar ways to test their products. NASA and other aerospace facilities are concentrating research on such things as human factors engineering, virtual prototyping of buildings and military devices, aerodynamic analysis, flight simulation, 3D data visualization, satellite position fixing, and planetary exploration simulations. Such things as virtual wind tunnels have been in development for a couple years and could save money and energy for aerospace companies. Medical researchers have been using VR techniques to syn thesize diagnostic images of a patients body to do predictive modeling of radiation treatment using images created by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and X- ray. A radiation therapist in a virtual would could view and expose a tumour at any angle and then model specific doses and configurations of radiation beams to aim at the tumour more effectively. Since radiation destroys human tissue easily, there is no allowance for error. Also, doctors could use virtual cadavers to practice rare operations which are tough to perform. This is an excellent use because one could perform the operation over and over without the worry of hurting any human life. However, this sort of practice may have its limitations because of the fact that it is only a virtual world. As well, at this time, the computer-user interfaces are not well enough developed and it is estimated that it will take 5 to 10 years to develop this technology. In Japan, a company called Matsu*censored*a Electric World Ltd. is using VR to sell their products. They employ a VPL Research head-mounted display linked to a high-powered computer to help prospective customers design their own kitchens. Being able to see what your kitchen will look like before you actually refurnish could help you save from costly mistakes in the future. The entertainment industry stands to gain a lot from VR. With the video game revolution of bigger and better games coming out all the time, this could be the biggest breakthrough ever. It would be fantastic to have sword fights which actually feel real. As well, virtual movies (also called vroomies) are being developed with allow the viewer to interact with the characters in the movie. Universal Studios among others is developing a virtual reality amusement park which will incorporate these games and vroomies. As it stands, almost every industry has something to gain from VR and in the years to comes, it appears that the possibilities are endless. The Future of Virtual Reality In the coming years, as more research is done we are bound to see VR become as mainstay in our homes and at work. As the computers become faster, they will be able to create more realistic graphic images to simulate reality better. As well, new interfaces will be developed which will simulate force and tactile feedback more effectively to enhance artificial reality that much more. This is the birth of a new technology and it will be interesting to see how it develops in the years to come. However, it may take longer than people think for it to come into the mainstream. Millions of dollars in research must be done, and only select industries can afford to pay for this. Hopefully, it will be sooner than later though. It is very possible that in the future we will be communicating with virtual phones. Nippon Telephone and Telegraph (NTT) in Japan is developing a system which will allow one person to see a 3D image of the other using VR techniques. In the future, it is conceivable that businessmen may hold conferences in a virtual meeting hall when they are actually at each ends of the world. NTT is developing a new method of telephone transmission using fiber optics which will allow for much larger amounts of information to be passed through the phone lines. This system is called the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) which will help allow VR to be used in conjunction with other communication methods. Right now, it is very expensive to purchase, with the head-mounted display costing anywhere from about $20,000 to $1,000,000 for NASAs Super Cockpit. In the future, VR will be available to the end-user at home for under $1000 and will be of better quality than that being developed today. The support for it will be about as good as it is currently for plain computers, and it is possible that VR could become a very useful teaching tool. Sources of Information Books and Periodicals Benningfield, Damond. The Virtues of Virtual Reality. Star Date, July/Aug. 1991 , pp. 14-15. Burrill, William. Virtual Reality. Toronto Star, 13 July 1991, pp. J1-3. Brill, Louis M. Facing Interface Issues. Computer Graphics World, April 1992, pp. 48-58. Daviss, Bennett. Grand Illusions. Discover, June 1990, pp. 36-41. Emmett, Arielle. Down to Earth: Practical Applications of Virtual Reality Find Commercial Uses. Computer Graphics World, March 1992, pp. 46-54. Peterson, Ivars. Recipes for Artificial Realities. Science News, 24 Nov. 1990, pp. 328-329. Peterson, Ivars. Looking-Glass Worlds. Science News, 4 Jan 1992, pp. 8-15. Porter, Stephen. Virtual Reality. Computer Graphics World, March 1992, pp. 42-43. Rheingold, Howard. Virtual Reality. Toronto: Summit Books, 1991. Tisdale, Sallie. Its Been Real. Esquire, April 1991, pp. 36-40. Various. Virtual Reality Special Report. San Francisco: Meckler Publishing, 1992. Companies Contacted: Ascension Technology Corp. P.O Box 527 Burlington, VT 05402 (802)655-7879 Polhemus Inc. P.O Box 560 Colchester, VT 05446 (802)655-3 159 Shooting Star Technology 1921 Holdom Ave. Burnaby, BC V5B 3W4 (604)298-8574 Virtual Technologies P.O. Box 5984 Stanford, CA 94309 (415)599-2331 VPL Research Inc. 656 Bair Island Rd. Third Floor Redwood City, CA 94063 (415)361-1710 Bibliography: .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 , .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .postImageUrl , .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 , .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:hover , .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:visited , .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:active { border:0!important; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:active , .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451 .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u51a62e8eddf264030b26b5794b1bf451:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Bomb That Saved Millions Essay We will write a custom essay on Virtual Reality1 specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now

CRM College Admissions Essay

CRM College Admissions EssayIf you want to improve your chances of getting into a college, you will need to write a great CRM college admissions essay. One way to ensure that your essay is persuasive is to know the right key words and how to use them. In addition, you need to make sure that your case studies are convincing enough to convince the readers to believe your stories.No matter how well the information in your case studies is written, it is useless if the reader cannot relate to your story. Even though your experience with a certain situation might be painful or humiliating, the reader needs to know that it can be learned from. You should never encourage people to lie or misrepresent their situations because this is how people get conned all the time.Just as important as knowing the key words to use is choosing the appropriate scenario. The way you phrase the cases and the way you use the keywords will determine whether your story is believable or not. For example, if you wr ote a case study about how a major manufacturer caused a chemical spill and destroyed a small town's groundwater, your credibility would be improved if you had used a more dramatic example of a crime in progress.When writing your cases, you need to keep in mind the tone of your story and the result you want to achieve. Although you will tell the reader what happened, your tone should be one of admiration and not of judgment. Your story can help others and it can also help the person reading it to feel better about their situation.You should always strive to use key words in each sentence that you use to describe a specific situation. However, since most people are not able to read in a big block of text on a computer screen, you may need to use bullet points to keep your point simple and concise. In addition, you can include some of the key words in your titles so that the reader knows where to go if they want more information.You can use case studies to address any problem in life. However, you will have to consider the type of problem that you are addressing when writing your essays. For example, if you wrote a case study about someone who is thinking about suicide because of financial problems, you should try to avoid using words like 'hopes'expectations' because this can cause people to see the world as unfair and hopeless.If you choose to include a case study or two in your CRM college admissions essay, make sure that you use them sparingly. Also, you should only use them if you think they are necessary or if you really know your audience well. Remember that most people hate reading about other people's problems, so only use them to give voice to a problem that you yourself know something about.Finally, keep in mind that the keywords that you choose should not be the same as the key words that you use to complete your case studies. The words are different, but they can sound the same. Therefore, when you write a case study that uses a key word such as 'fa ilure,' you should make sure that you are using a different word that does not have a negative connotation.

Deviance Research Paper Topics

Deviance Research Paper TopicsAs a researcher you need to choose deviance research paper topics that are meaningful and appeal to your audience. In addition, you need to keep in mind that there is no one right or wrong type of topic for a deviance research paper.This is because each paper has its own significance. Research paper topics need to be chosen so that they are suited to the situation that is presented in the research paper. The paper will be constructed based on the information gathered and what the researcher thinks will appeal to a particular audience.Therefore, when choosing deviance research paper topics you need to pay attention to the situation presented in the paper and to the target audience. You should also focus on the situation at hand and know the way in which the audience sees things.When writing your deviance research paper, it is important to write from the perspective of the researcher's viewpoint. For example, the audience may be viewing things from a moral standpoint. Therefore, your research paper topics should include morals or ethics.In order to get an idea about how you should structure the paper, it would be better if you take the most common issue and determine how it can be portrayed in a narrative. Then, you need to present the information in a manner that will appeal to a broad group of people. An example of a good research paper topic is religion or spirituality.Finding out the reactions of the audience can help you analyze the implications of your information. If you want to write an interesting and meaningful research paper, you need to find out the reactions of the audience and what they think about the topic. By doing this, you will be able to narrow down the areas that you need to research further.There are three ways by which you can determine the reactions that the audience has towards a topic and the possible positive effects that the information can have. You can survey the audience, talk to the audience or do a fo cus group. When talking to the audience, you should always ask questions that will have clear answers so that you can have a full picture of the situation.In order to determine the possible negative effects that the information has, you should talk to a few people to get a better understanding of the situation. Doing this can help you understand the audience and how they perceive the situation.

Sample AP Research Papers - How to Use Them

Sample AP Research Papers - How to Use ThemA sample of AP research papers are an excellent place to start for any student looking to enroll for a particular course, profession or degree. However, just by reading one of these papers, you will not be able to make the most of them. In fact, you might have missed some things that make the final version more valuable and important.For example, as you read through the paper, you will learn about the person's achievements, or accomplishments. By doing this, you will be able to come to terms with his/her accomplishments and be able to identify his/her strengths and weaknesses. This will enable you to make the most of the information and hence strengthen your own knowledge of the subject matter. For example, if you want to know how to market a product in the best possible way, reading an academic paper related to the topic may come in handy.The next aspect to remember is that in the end, research papers usually tell you about how the people w ho wrote the paper got their ideas. In other words, it gives details about how a certain individual came up with an idea. It also informs you about the ways in which an idea was able to affect other people.For example, if a paper talks about how one particular person managed to get rid of his fear of heights, then this will be an ideal place to find out about such information. If a paper tells you about how a person overcame his or her fear of being on public transportation, then this can be another place to look for such information. Since so much of the discussion focuses on people's experiences and capabilities, this is one place where you can find out such interesting details.Other than discussing and highlighting various ideas, research papers are also known for teaching other aspects of people's lives. Since so much of the information is about the lives of individuals, you can learn about the strategies, systems, psychology, and other such aspects of their lives. You can also get insights into how a particular person conducts himself or herself, and you can form your own opinions and values based on what you have read.So, if you find yourself stuck in a rut, looking for specific information, then take a look at a sample of AP research papers. They give you the raw materials to go on and learn more about the subjects you want to pursue further.For example, when you read a paper, you can learn about how the people behind the paper managed to find the right funding. And you can learn about how they were able to meet deadlines were met. All these are things that you can apply in your career, as well as in your academic field.So, you can get lots of benefits out of a sample of AP research papers. It can give you the right information, and a great source of guidance and expertise. Moreover, these papers are always updated, and you can read them and learn more about subjects you might not have come across before.

Rap Music on the Younger Generation Today Essay Example

The Effects of Hip Hop/Rap Music on the Younger Generation Today Essay Example The Effects of Hip Hop/Rap Music on the Younger Generation Today Essay The Effects of Hip Hop/Rap Music on the Younger Generation Today Essay The Effects of hip hop/rap Music on The Younger Generation Today The dynamic era of hip hop emerged in the 1970s through the streets of Bronx, New York City. Now twenty five years old and still counting, the world of hip hop is at a new level. Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, and Plies are just some of today’s biggest icons in the world of hip hop. Having record hitting tracks that jump off the charts, these rappers are definitely the image the younger generation looks up to. Though, having these amazing tracks, these same iconic figures are said to be the cause of our teenagers heading down the road of destruction. The effects of these lyrics on the teenage society are said to provoke violence, foul language, and enhanced sexual behavior. To begin, the effect of hip hop or rap music on the younger generation today has encouraged youth to become more violent and aggressive. Ever since the rise of rap music, teens have been turning to music to help solve their problems. However, this music cannot be helpful but very destructive. Encouraging raging acts of violence, these lyrics influence and damage the minds of children, teens and young adults. For instance, rapper Plies states, â€Å"Dont tell me shit about what them niggas said, Them niggas just raping, Fuck niggas be bluffing, Killers make shit happen,† in his track called Naan Nigga. The breakdown of these lyrics: It does not matter what another individual states about one, if a person is â€Å"real† one must make violent actions to prove your point in life. The effect of teens listening to music like this is shown in and out of school. More and more students are being arrested and taken to juvenile detention centers due to fighting or bringing weapons to school. For example, my junior year, a student brought a knife to school to threaten another student. During their verbal altercation in the courtyard, the student carrying the knife kept repeating, â€Å"Nigga I’m real, I’ll slit yo throat from ear to ear for talking shit,† while swaying the knife from left to right. In my opinion, this raging act of violence was definitely influence by the anger of music that is being listened to. Another effect from rap music is the usage of foul language. Hip hop music often carries with it a swagger, and way of expression that represents an aggressive culture. Rap lyrics in particular, most often carry the same type of theme and language, and mostly degrading to women and other things. Either way, it introduces teenagers who would have never been exposed to such grammar as the way of life and how to speak slang. From my own experience, I have definitely realized that rap music is not only targeting teens, but also children. For example, my six year old cousin was written up in school for rapping a Nikki Minaj song called â€Å"I Beez in the Trap† during school. She kept repeating the first three lines of the song, â€Å"Bitches aint shit and they ain’t saying nothing. A hundred mothafuckas can’t tell me nothing. I beez in the trap, be-beez in the trap. † Not understanding these lyrics at all, my cousin was only repeating what was seen and heard on the television and radio. For teens and even younger children listening to hip-hop music and watching hip-hop videos day and night, committing the lyrics to memory, the musics language is adopted to one’s way of expression. Finally, the effect of hip hop or rap music influences enhanced sexual behavior. Watching various music videos with sexy bikini models flaunting and moving all lower bodily assets (hip, thighs, and buttocks) to every beat would not only entice an adult man, but also a teenage boy wanting all the same situations himself. Also, teenage girls who watch these same hip-hop video images take on the viewpoints they present of women as their own image. Whether that image is of women being used as objects or to be desired by many. This sexual mindset is believed to lead to increasing unplanned pregnancies and sexually-transmitted diseases among teens. All in all, hip hop music today has a major effect on teenagers. Lyrics containing violence, foul language, and enhanced sexual behaviors definitely encourages the younger generation to portray the same image. Although, it is not the youth’s fault, it is the content that the music contains. Rap music should not be prohibited, but one must be mindful and watch one’s actions.

Critique and conclusion of context & rationale paper Essay

Critique and conclusion of context & rationale paper - Essay Example However, that alone is not the sole purpose of rainwater harvesting. Places which receive tremendous amount of rainfall every year have as much a reason for harvesting water as those living in the Sub-Saharan deserts. It is imperative to keep in mind that effective utilisation of water is the key to reduce droughts and floods at the same time. What comes to the rescue is effective design of methods that cater to the immediate requirement of a particular region. One of the best examples is the use of LifeStraw as a water purification method. â€Å"Lifestraw was created by Danish inventor Torben Vestergaard Feandsen. The product could be a lifesaver† (Fridell 58). It is nothing but a tube that one can use to suck water. The water gets purified when it passes through the levels of filtration. This kind of wonderful design is so portable and convenient to use that people do not actually have to set up any complex infrastructure for the same. Thomas Dickson in his book ‘Dansk Design’ has described the implications of LifeStraw on the formidable task of preventing water borne diseases. He says that this product helps in preventing diseases that include typhoid and cholera which result in the deaths of millions every year. Dickson has also presented an interesting point about the lifespan of the product. â€Å"The lifespan of one straw is about 700 litres of water, so with a consumption of two litres a day, the straw can last about a year† (Dickson 550). However, things change when there is a polar shift in the availability of water. In areas that receive very heavy rainfall throughout the year, a large amount of water is directly Rainwater 4 drained without even considering a reuse plan. Considering the damaging impact that a country can face due to a shortage of water, it becomes imperative to understand the importance of saving every drop of water that can be saved. And in doing so, it is an interesting fact to notice the diversities in d ifferent regions. If some places need to conserve water due to less rainfall, some have to do that to prevent water loss. Over the years, several designs have evolved which are tailor made for the particular environment. ‘Raincatch’ is one such example that serves as an easy water harvesting method. It resembles a raincoat with an enhanced collar that serves the purpose of catchment in a rainwater harvesting system. With the help of an inbuilt filtration system, water gets accumulated at the bottom part of the coat through which it can be sucked using attached tubes. This design is the result of an innovative thinking of two Copenhagen Institute of Interaction Design students. What is wonderful about this design is the practical approach coupled with the intention of harvesting rainwater. ‘Green Trace’ is another such example that proves how water can be saved without so much of an effort. It is a design consisting of a rectangular mesh that houses a non-wo ven fabric inside it. This fabric has water absorbing capabilities and it holds the seeds in between its sewing patterns. This entire mesh acts as an umbrella stand which captures all the water from a wet umbrella to be passed onto the seeds. The ultimate result is a gradual growth of plants that form a beautiful design pattern. This design, though very simple, is pretty helpful in optimising the use of water that otherwise may be wasted. It

Looking beyond the Irish Famine in OFlahertys Going to Exile Essay

Looking beyond the Irish Famine in OFlahertys Going to Exile - Essay Example According to Social Education (2000), the problems with the Irish potato crop were first reported in the Dublin Evening Post on September 9, 1845. During this time, the previously healthy green fields of potato plants turned black because potatoes were rotting underground. At first, the cause of the crop failure was unknown. It was later revealed that the blight was the result of a fungus known as Phytophethora infestans, which probably arrived in Europe from North America. There had been similar potato crop failures on the east coast of the United States in 1842 and 1843. The blight spread quickly through Holland and Belgium, arriving in Ireland in 1845, when it destroyed 30% of the potato crop. In 1846, 1848, and 1849, nearly the entire potato crop failed. Although the blight did not strike in 1847, people starved because they had eaten any unspoiled â€Å"seed potatoes† during the terrible winter of 1846-47. The British government decided not to provide replacement seed potatoes in 1847.The first official government response to the potato blight was to estimate damage to the crop. Police reported crop losses weekly. Experts also investigated the situation and suggested possible â€Å"remedies†, which were wishful thinking. At first, Br itish Prime Minister Sir Robert Peel purchased American Indian corn to help feed the hungry, and he set up small-scale public work relief projects. Later, the government and private charities set up food kitchens where they distributed soup, but such efforts were quickly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem. The situation for the Irish worsened when Peel and his supporters were replaced by a new government headed by Lord John Russell. Like most leading British thinkers and government officials at that time, he believed in laissez-faire economics. This theory held that government involvement in the economy (like aid to the hungry) would only increase problems like scarcity in the long run. Laissez-faire is a French phrase that means "leave it alone"; in other words, let market forces determine supply and price, with no government help or intervention. Thus, the British exported grain and livestock from Ireland to England (to pay for rent, tithing, and taxes) while the Irish pe ople were dying from hunger and famine-related diseases. There was also strong sentiment in England that Ireland was responsible for its own troubles and that local resources had to be used for relief ("A Brief History of the Potato in Ireland", 2000). As a result of the errors of the British Colonial Policies, the Feeney family had to make a choice to counteract the effect that the potato famine. Amidst the farewell party, however, the family masked to some degree the distress of the parents, who do not want their children to leave even though the parents realize that the departure of their children is a financial necessity. The father retreated to the barn for a time to hide his feelings, while the mother, to keep from crying, immerses herself in serving food and similar party necessities: The people were dancing, laughing and singing with a certain forced and boisterous gaiety that failed to hide from them the real cause of their being there, dancing, singing and laughing. For the dance was on account of Patrick Feeney's two children, Mary and