Gadgets are what make life 'cool'. Gadgets are different from electronic devices in that they need not always be about being 'useful' per se. Sometimes gadgets just make life easy, and make using certain appliances and devices a lot simpler than it would have been without the gadget. When I think about the people who invent these über-cool things, I can picture some dude wearing loose beige-colored baggy pants and a cool blue T-shirt with a hooded shirt thrown over it; hair messy like he just got out of bed; sneakers on his feet; Nike sack over his shoulders. And what is in that sack? An assortment of all the gadgets mentioned below, and a lot more I guess! LOL.Gadgets sure are indispensable in today's world, a must to survive, and a prerequisite for college! Find below a list of cool gadgets for college students. The list does not end here though, so feel free to add your own 'WANTED' gadgets to the list!
Top 10 Gadgets for College Students
1. Laptop
This one hardly needs an explanation. A laptop is a must - even if you have a phone with Wi-Fi, a watch that allows you to browse mail (yeah they actually make those nowadays) or whatever. You do not want to be sitting with your phone to type out your thesis or to complete an assignment. Besides, everything is electronic these days. Gone are the days when students would carry notebooks and stationery to college. It's an e-world; and an e-world begins with computers and laptops.
2. Portable Hard Drive
Even if you have a laptop, not everything you want or need is going to fit in the limited storage space that a laptop offers. Portable hard drives are what you need in such cases. You can have different hard drives to store different kinds of data - music on one, movies on another, etc. Even if you do not have so much data to store, it is always a good idea to back up whatever data you have on the laptop, and a hard drive is a much simpler option to back it up rather than CDs, DVDs and all that.
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
How to Choose a Digital Voice Recorder
When it comes to electronic shopping, you start out with an idea, wade through millions of different options and models and end up with something you don't quite understand why you brought it in the first place. And this scenario happens with most gadgets, let them be tablet PCs and laptops or wireless headphones. What about the simple voice recorder? What started out as a box-like recording machine is now a pen or lighter-sized device, that can record audio and store it in a digital format. But in the sea of brands, prices and tech specs, how to choose a digital voice recorder that best suits your recording needs? Let's find out...
How to Select a Digital Voice Recorder?
To choose the best digital voice recorder, you need to be well-versed with what tech features the best voice recorder should possess. Below are some factors of a voice recorder that you should check out:
Recording Time and Quality
There is a hidden catch with recording quality, the longer you get to record something, the lower the audio quality. So if you record a 15 minute speech, the quality subsequently is very low. On the other hand, a 3 minute dialog can be recorded and played back at a very high quality. So the face-off is quality vs. quantity and the result is based on your needs. If you want long recordings and can do with low quality audio, then opt for longer recording duration. But if your recordings need to be used in meetings, presentations and products, and you cannot use low quality audio, then look for the longest recording duration with sound quality. Even transcribing audio-to-text requires a good recording quality. Some recorders allow you to select the level of recording quality, so you can fluctuate between high and low-level recording ability as needed. To increase the quality of your recordings, buy a recorder with an external microphone jack, so you can connect a microphone to the recorder and pick up high quality audio. For large gatherings and meetings, where a lot of noise is present, a microphone can enhance the recording's quality.
How to Select a Digital Voice Recorder?
To choose the best digital voice recorder, you need to be well-versed with what tech features the best voice recorder should possess. Below are some factors of a voice recorder that you should check out:
Recording Time and Quality
There is a hidden catch with recording quality, the longer you get to record something, the lower the audio quality. So if you record a 15 minute speech, the quality subsequently is very low. On the other hand, a 3 minute dialog can be recorded and played back at a very high quality. So the face-off is quality vs. quantity and the result is based on your needs. If you want long recordings and can do with low quality audio, then opt for longer recording duration. But if your recordings need to be used in meetings, presentations and products, and you cannot use low quality audio, then look for the longest recording duration with sound quality. Even transcribing audio-to-text requires a good recording quality. Some recorders allow you to select the level of recording quality, so you can fluctuate between high and low-level recording ability as needed. To increase the quality of your recordings, buy a recorder with an external microphone jack, so you can connect a microphone to the recorder and pick up high quality audio. For large gatherings and meetings, where a lot of noise is present, a microphone can enhance the recording's quality.
How Does a Water Jet Cutter Work?
Water jet cutters may be still alien to many of us. To me it wasn't known until a few weeks ago, when a telly series on cutting metal and other substances amazed me. Along with high-end cutting machines with razor-sharp cutting technologies, it surprised me when they showed something as liquid as water being used to cut the hardest of substances. Now this is some technology and after this I truly believed in the capacities of engineering and the human mind. Using water pressure to cut substances, was roughly practiced during the mid 1800's. But the concrete concept of using water pressure as a cutting tool was discovered by Dr. Norman Franz, who was an engineer in forestry, in the year 1950. This was founded as an attempt to find new options to cut trees. He studied the technology of 'ultra high water pressure' (UHP) to be used as a cutting tool. Later to cut high-end solid substances, abrasives were added with the stream of water, which would let them cut even metals, with ease. With advancements today, the water jet cutter has been used in many sectors for cutting, drilling and milling. With water jet cutters being a revolutionary tool in the industrial sector, a little insight into its work mechanism will be interesting.
How to Use a Digital Voice Recorder
The phonograph was the first instrument which was used for sound recording. It was used mainly for studying languages. The voice of the native speakers of a language was recorded and other non-native people learned the language and the pronunciation using the recorded voice. After some years, cassette recorder was used to record voices, though with low sound quality. Later, after the advent of digital voice recorders, voices are being recorded with better sound quality, file sharing and with more convenience in usage.
Digital Voice RecorderA digital voice recorder, functions almost same as that of a tape recorder, except that, it doesn't have a tape. As the recording and listening process is easy and quick, it is widely used by students, interviewers, academicians, journalists, etc., to record their voices and re-record them if they choose to. Digital voice files are incorporated to record the voice data. In a digital voice recorder, the voice data is stored in the form of discrete numbers, and the value depends on the air pressure involved during the voice modulations. But the input is a continuous stream of analog data. The analog signal is converted into digital signal by Analog-to Digital Converter (ADC). The output of the ADC is in the form of stream data consisting of 0s and 1s, which is stored in the memory and later converted to analog data. It is important to convert the digital data into analog data, because, we can hear only analog signals.
How to Use a Digital Voice Recorder
The digital voice recorder is a device which looks like a USB device, that records voice data. The three main components of a digital voice recorder are:
Microphone , to capture the sound waves
Amplifier, to amplify the incoming data
Recording Device, to record the voice data
Components Used in the Digital Voice Recorder
Now, you need to familiarize yourself with the buttons present in the digital voice recorder. Some of the commonly used buttons are play, stop, record, forward and rewind, menu. Some versions of the digital voice recorder, can also have some buttons combined, such as play/pause or record/stop.
Identify some other components such as microphone, USB, headphone jack, speaker, in your device.
The screen of the digital voice recorder will display the recording time left, indicator to show the recording process, location of the data file, battery life, etc.
Process of Recording the Voice
Choose, the location of the file, where you want to save it from the folders in the menu.
After choosing the file location, press the record button and start recording your voice through the microphone.
Ensure that the indicator in the display screen of your recorder, indicates the recording process.
Now you can go back to the file location and listen to the voice recorded, by pressing the play button.
By pressing the forward and rewind keys, you can control the action. You can also increase and decrease the volume by pressing the '+' and '-' buttons, respectively.
Digital Voice RecorderA digital voice recorder, functions almost same as that of a tape recorder, except that, it doesn't have a tape. As the recording and listening process is easy and quick, it is widely used by students, interviewers, academicians, journalists, etc., to record their voices and re-record them if they choose to. Digital voice files are incorporated to record the voice data. In a digital voice recorder, the voice data is stored in the form of discrete numbers, and the value depends on the air pressure involved during the voice modulations. But the input is a continuous stream of analog data. The analog signal is converted into digital signal by Analog-to Digital Converter (ADC). The output of the ADC is in the form of stream data consisting of 0s and 1s, which is stored in the memory and later converted to analog data. It is important to convert the digital data into analog data, because, we can hear only analog signals.
How to Use a Digital Voice Recorder
The digital voice recorder is a device which looks like a USB device, that records voice data. The three main components of a digital voice recorder are:
Microphone , to capture the sound waves
Amplifier, to amplify the incoming data
Recording Device, to record the voice data
Components Used in the Digital Voice Recorder
Now, you need to familiarize yourself with the buttons present in the digital voice recorder. Some of the commonly used buttons are play, stop, record, forward and rewind, menu. Some versions of the digital voice recorder, can also have some buttons combined, such as play/pause or record/stop.
Identify some other components such as microphone, USB, headphone jack, speaker, in your device.
The screen of the digital voice recorder will display the recording time left, indicator to show the recording process, location of the data file, battery life, etc.
Process of Recording the Voice
Choose, the location of the file, where you want to save it from the folders in the menu.
After choosing the file location, press the record button and start recording your voice through the microphone.
Ensure that the indicator in the display screen of your recorder, indicates the recording process.
Now you can go back to the file location and listen to the voice recorded, by pressing the play button.
By pressing the forward and rewind keys, you can control the action. You can also increase and decrease the volume by pressing the '+' and '-' buttons, respectively.
How to Distinguish Between Crystal and Glass
The fundamental idea is that, all crystals are glasses but all glasses are not crystals. The uses of glasses and crystals are numerous. We use crystal wares and glass wares in our houses, mostly for decorative purposes. Different types of spectacle glasses are widely used in our day-to-day life and we can even make jewelry out of crystals. Now, when we look into the differences between glass and crystal, some differences are visible to the naked eye and some can be found through experiments only. But before knowing how to identify glass from crystals, it is necessary to understand what is a glass and what is a crystal. Let's analyze it.
How to Become a Ball Boy/Girl in Tennis
Tennis is an amazing sport. You need great skill to be on the court in a Grand Slam. Not all of us have the expertise of a professional tennis player, but most of us dream to be a part of the action on the court, in a major event. Even if you lack the skills of a pro, you can make your dream come true by becoming a ball boy/girl. When you become a ball person you have the opportunity to be involved in a tennis match, you will be able to interact with the legends of the game, and if you observe keenly, you might also learn a few tricks to win a match.
How to Become a Ball Boy/Girl?
I have divided this section into 2 parts. The first part will tell you what you should have to become a good ball person, and the second part will tell you what you should do to become a ball boy/girl.
Essentials to Become a Ball Boy/Girl
Becoming a ball person is easy, if you have the following:
Love for the Game
If you do not love tennis, then you might get bored with your work after a few matches. You are not going to earn much, so when your job schedule turns out to be tiring, the only thing that will motivate you will be your love for the game of tennis. To become a successful ball boy/girl you should have a strong liking for the game, without it all your efforts to become a ball person are futile.
How to Become a Ball Boy/Girl?
I have divided this section into 2 parts. The first part will tell you what you should have to become a good ball person, and the second part will tell you what you should do to become a ball boy/girl.
Essentials to Become a Ball Boy/Girl
Becoming a ball person is easy, if you have the following:
Love for the Game
If you do not love tennis, then you might get bored with your work after a few matches. You are not going to earn much, so when your job schedule turns out to be tiring, the only thing that will motivate you will be your love for the game of tennis. To become a successful ball boy/girl you should have a strong liking for the game, without it all your efforts to become a ball person are futile.
Dangers of Technology Addiction
The subject of technology addiction is relatively new as compared to drug or gambling addictions. This leads to a heated dispute over whether we need to consider the fervent need for technology and the monotony that the lack of technology causes, as an addiction. There are several qualifications that a craving needs to be termed as an addiction.
What Makes an Addiction?
The human state survival works on a simple reward system. Every time you attain a biological requirement like food, sex or lactation, the body releases a neurotransmitter called 'dopamine' (in this case, into the brain) that helps us decide the approach to something to be rewarded. This means the phase of wanting something and getting it, and the eventual liking of it is controlled by dopamine. It is this that fuels an addiction. Once you start using a piece of technology (like video games) and eventually start to like it, release of dopamine in the brain creates a reward system for it, which creates an addiction for it. The same example works for cigarettes - nicotine induces a dopamine release, creating the craving for more. An important point here is that people who seek more satisfaction from things, actually are seeking more in terms of dopamine release, and therefore require a larger release of the neurotransmitter, which in turn requires you to pursue that thing even more.
What Makes an Addiction?
The human state survival works on a simple reward system. Every time you attain a biological requirement like food, sex or lactation, the body releases a neurotransmitter called 'dopamine' (in this case, into the brain) that helps us decide the approach to something to be rewarded. This means the phase of wanting something and getting it, and the eventual liking of it is controlled by dopamine. It is this that fuels an addiction. Once you start using a piece of technology (like video games) and eventually start to like it, release of dopamine in the brain creates a reward system for it, which creates an addiction for it. The same example works for cigarettes - nicotine induces a dopamine release, creating the craving for more. An important point here is that people who seek more satisfaction from things, actually are seeking more in terms of dopamine release, and therefore require a larger release of the neurotransmitter, which in turn requires you to pursue that thing even more.
Types of Cell Division
Before we get to the part about the phenomenon or types of cell division, let's take a closer look at the two basic types of organic cellular structures that exist in this world as we know it. A cell can be either prokaryotic or eukaryotic, based upon its structural makeup. Prokaryotic cells have a simple, very basic structure as they neither have cell nuclei nor are they equipped with cellular organelles enclosed within membranes. In other words, all genetic matter and other areas partaking in various cellular functions and metabolic activities exist in free states within the cellular boundaries. Eukaryotic cells, on the other hand, are the more evolved, hi-tech counterparts of prokaryotic cells. They have all things that prokaryotic cells lack - cell nuclei holding all the genetic matter of the cells inside them, separate membrane bound organelles that have exclusive and specific tasks assigned to them (such as mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, chloroplasts, etc.), etc.
As you must have guessed by now, the more complex an organism is in terms of its physical structure and physiological functions, the more it is likely to have a eukaryotic cellular structure. This fact is evidenced by the fact the simplest of all life forms such as bacteria and archaea belong to the prokaryotic domain of biological classification. Now that the particulars of the two basic cellular structures have been discussed, let's move ahead to the next segment and take a look at what the various different types of cell division are.
As you must have guessed by now, the more complex an organism is in terms of its physical structure and physiological functions, the more it is likely to have a eukaryotic cellular structure. This fact is evidenced by the fact the simplest of all life forms such as bacteria and archaea belong to the prokaryotic domain of biological classification. Now that the particulars of the two basic cellular structures have been discussed, let's move ahead to the next segment and take a look at what the various different types of cell division are.
How to Replace an ABS Wheel Speed Sensor
The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is one of the most significant parts in the safety package of an automobile. The main job of this technology is to prevent wheel lockup, at a time when momentary wheel rotation is actually needed for proper braking on slippery surfaces. The system functions using several components, out of which wheel speed sensors are one of the most prominent. It is the sensors that keep an eye on the speed of wheels and aid in releasing brake pressure during hard braking. The wheel speed is detected from the toothed wheel by the magnetic sensors, and sent to the ABS computer for brake and release action. If the ABS speed sensor goes bad, the braking will be a kind of irregular and abrupt when braking on low speeds. If you are considering this replacement as a DIY task, wear proper protective gear such as safety eye wear and gloves. Below is an explanation of how to replace an ABS wheel speed sensor.Since the sensors use battery power to function, replacing them firstly needs the battery connection to be disconnected. This can be done by disconnecting the negative terminal on the battery under the hood. Place wooden blocks or flat stones in front of every wheel to keep the car stable when doing this repair. In addition, also activate the parking brake. Lift the car using jacks and safety stands on the axle.As the ABS sensors are located behind the wheel assembly, you need to take out the wheel. Use a wrench and turn it counterclockwise on the lug nuts to remove the wheel off the hub. You might need to give a jerk to take the wheel off the assembly. The sensor would be a small black assembly on the hub. If you have just got the sensor changed and are experiencing ABS brake problems, a good idea is to clean the sensor. Clean the oil on the sensor and connectors with a cloth, fix the assembly correctly, and then see if the issue is resolved.
If you are sure about replacing ABS wheel speed sensor, you then need to take out the sensor's cable from the harness connector. The sensor would be joined to the hub by a small bolt which has to be removed. Ensure that you have the same sensor model like the old one to retain proper functioning of ABS. Take the new sensor and fix it on the appropriate place, by tightening the bolt on the assembly. Plug in the harness connector in the respective space on the new sensor.Make sure that there is no visible gap between the toothed wheel and sensor tip. However, the system works fine with a maximum of 0.04 inch gap between these two points. Reinstall the wheel assembly and tighten the nuts securely. Take the car off the jack stands slowly to rest on the ground. Do not forget to connect the negative terminal back on the battery, without which the ABS sensors won't work. During the replacement, you can even think about replacing the sensor cable as well. The total cost of the DIY project might come to around $50, just for the price of a new sensor and cable.Many a times, a simple cleanup of the sensor setup is more than enough to resolve ABS problems. For effective functioning of the system, do a periodical cleanup of the sensors on all wheels. The procedure for replacing ABS sensors on both front and rear axles is much the same as described in the above article. If you are not at all sure about the replacement, it is suggested to take professional help from an authorized service tech.
How to Make Algae Biofuel
The best way to go about understanding a how is to first get a good understanding of the what involved - that's one principle that I believe in and live by! Hence, before proceeding towards understanding how to make algae biofuel, let's take a closer look at what algae biofuel is all about. As the name suggests, this type of fuel is derived from algae and the method most commonly used is breaking down the alga's carbohydrate content via fermentation. This fermentation would result into biologically produced forms of the alcohols ethanol and butanol. Although it is gaining a lot of popularity these days as a potential alternative for traditional fossil fuels, this is so merely due to the fact that the doubled-edged sword of rapid depletion of traditional resources and ever increasing fossil fuel prices is hanging over the head of human civilization by a precariously thin thread.Other than that, algal fuel doesn't offer us much novelty value in terms of low polluting potential. You see, burning algal biofuel releases equally large amounts of carbon dioxide into the air as burning coal or petroleum based fuels do, as algae, being plant forms, need atmospheric carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. When you make fuel out of algae and burn it, this locked up carbon dioxide gets released into the atmosphere, undoing what algae did during its lifetime as a botanical life form. That being said, let's proceed towards finding out all about the algae biofuel extraction process.
Things We Can Do To Stop Global Warming
Global warming is caused due to the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that embraces the radiated heat and stores it, increasing the overall global temperatures to dangerous levels. The rising temperatures have caused the glaciers to melt, thus causing an increase in the sea level. Unpredictable weather and a strange change in climate patterns are also some of the effects of global warming. In fact, according to a recent study, over the past three decades our planet is said to be shrinking at a faster rate. Extreme climatic conditions like drought in some parts of the world while heavy rains in some others and record heat waves in most of the parts have send an alarming message to stop global warming. It is not that we are not trying to curb global warming; the governments of various countries and the UN (United Nations) have already started with their efforts to address the problem of global warming. They are doing their bit, and its time for us to address this sensitive problem on a personal level. Given below are a few things we can do to stop global warming.
Plant Mitosis Vs. Animal Mitosis
Microscopic cells are a vital component of all living organisms and each living body, whether plant or animal, is made up of several such cells which contribute towards carrying out basic life functions. In order to sustain life these cells need to reproduce from time to time, so as to keep their numbers constant. Over time, cells suffer from wear and tear and old age, and eventually stop functioning, so it is extremely essential for these cells to be present in large numbers and in a healthy state in order to sustain life.Cell division is something that has fascinated scientists for many years now, and the ability of these cells to create perfectly identical copies of themselves is truly something to be marveled at. Irrespective of all the wonders of technology around us, the fact remains that something as simple as cell division is a truly magical process. This cell division is what is known as Mitosis, and this is what keeps living organisms alive. Needless to say, the process of mitosis in plants and animals is very different, and this is why one needs to understand the complete difference between plant mitosis vs. animal mitosis.
What is MitosisThe cells inside plants and animals are known as Eukaryotes, and these are cells that are embedded and housed inside membranes. The most important membrane of this cell is the nucleus, and this is what distinguishes eukaryotes from prokaryotes, and the nucleus is also the component that enables cell division and mitosis. Mitosis is nothing but the division of one single cell into two genetically identical cells, and this is carried out for the sole purpose of continuing life. Mitosis is immediately followed by a process known as Cytokinesis, and both these processes together define the Mitotic Phase of the cell cycle in a living body. The various stages of mitosis are as follows.
* Interphase: Though this phase is not really a part of mitosis, it generally precedes the whole process of cell reproduction. It does so by preparing the cell for division and also provides it with all the necessary nutrients and proteins.
* Preprophase: This phase occurs only in plant cells, and it involves the creation of a bisecting line along the center of the cell, and this line shows where the cell will divide. This bisecting line is known as Phragmosome and it is made of cytoplasm.
* Prophase: In this phase the chromatin (which is the combination of the proteins and DNA of the nucleus) gets divided into two chromosomes which are still attached to each other, and each of these chromosomes start moving to opposite sides of the cell.
* Prometaphase: This phase precedes metaphase, and in this case the nucleus fragments start breaking and moving towards the chromosomes. The microtubules of the cell also slowly start attaching themselves to the chromosomes and this is a sign that the cell division has truly begun.
* Metaphase: The microtubules now get attached to the kinetochores on the chromosomes, and they start moving to opposite sides with renewed speed. The alignment between the chromosomes is equal, and the DNA distribution is exactly identical as well.
* Anaphase: In this phase the chromosomes get cleaved right through the center and they move completely to different sides of the cell. Many stages of elongation and bisection are carried out here for the chromosomes to be divided.
* Telophase: The last step of mitosis involves the actual splitting up of the chromosomes into two distinct parts, and the cleaning up and the strengthening of the membrane also occurs here. Upon the completion of this stage, the process of mitosis is completed, and the process of cytokinesis then begins.
Pros and Cons of Vegetable Oil as Fuel
As the issue of depletion of non-renewable sources is gaining momentum, researchers have started looking for other alternatives. There is a huge strain on gulf countries to produce oil in adequate quantities to satisfy the need of various countries of the world. Environmental concerns have also played an important part in establishing the need to look at other sources of energy, which are relatively less dangerous for the environmental health. Vegetable oil has emerged as strong contenders as an alternative fuel, however their use in commercial vehicles is still at an early stage.Vegetable oil can be used as an automobile fuel as there is a lot of waste that comes out from cooking and other agricultural products. Vegetable oils that are used as a fuel come under two categories - Straight Vegetable Oils (SVO) and Waste Vegetable Oils (WVO). As the name suggests, SVO is the oil that is available in the grocery stores and this oil can work in diesel engines after making some necessary modifications to the engine. WVO on the other hand, is the oil that has been used for cooking. The global food industry produces WVO in huge amounts, which when purified can be used as a fuel. There are numerous advantages of using vegetable oil as a fuel but there are some challenges involved before it can be used in automobiles on a large scale. Let us take a look at the pros and cons of vegetable oil as fuel.
How to Choose Wireless Intercoms for Homes
Tired of running errands around your house, are you? Are you looking for an electronic device which can help you directly communicate with visitors at the door? Then what you need to get installed is a wireless intercom system. Of the many wireless communication gadgets that abound the electronic market, ranging from cell phones, wireless routers, wireless doorbells and cordless phones, the gadget designed for easy and free intra-home or intra-office communication is a wireless intercom system. Through this Buzzle article, I provide you with a guide explaining how to choose wireless intercoms that ideally suit your requirements.
About Wireless Intercom Systems
Before talking about how to select a wireless intercom system, let me describe what this gadget can do for you. Designed to replace wired intercom systems used in homes and office, wireless intercom systems communicate over radio waves to offer short distance connectivity. A typical system consists of multiple transreceivers that provide voice communication facility. From a unit installed in your bedroom, you may call up your children in their bedroom or talk to anybody visiting at the door. Some of these systems offer video calling, which lets you make calls within your sprawling estate, while also functioning like a CCTV monitoring mechanism.It can not only save you time, but also provide practically free communication. For large estates, a wireless intercom system is an absolutely essential installation. They come in various types ranging from wireless door intercom systems to baby monitors. If you have decided to buy such a system for your home, the wireless intercom buying guide presented in the next section will interest you.
About Wireless Intercom Systems
Before talking about how to select a wireless intercom system, let me describe what this gadget can do for you. Designed to replace wired intercom systems used in homes and office, wireless intercom systems communicate over radio waves to offer short distance connectivity. A typical system consists of multiple transreceivers that provide voice communication facility. From a unit installed in your bedroom, you may call up your children in their bedroom or talk to anybody visiting at the door. Some of these systems offer video calling, which lets you make calls within your sprawling estate, while also functioning like a CCTV monitoring mechanism.It can not only save you time, but also provide practically free communication. For large estates, a wireless intercom system is an absolutely essential installation. They come in various types ranging from wireless door intercom systems to baby monitors. If you have decided to buy such a system for your home, the wireless intercom buying guide presented in the next section will interest you.
Earth's Crust Facts
Most of us know that the interior of the Earth is made up of four different layers; the crust, mantle, inner core and the outer core. You may also come across some sources which stress on the fact that the Earth's interior is made up of three layers; the crust, mantle and the core. (These sources further divide core into outer core and inner core.) Few of us are also well-versed with the fact that three of the four main layers of the Earth are in solid state, while the fourth one is in liquid state. Beyond this, however, our knowledge about the Earth's interior hits a roadblock; and this loophole is exposed when we try to get to the details of the subject. The crust, i.e. the outermost layer of the planet, happens to be one such less known attribute of our planet, and we will be stressing on the same from here on.
Interesting Facts about the Earth's Crust
In geological studies, the term 'crust' refers to the outermost layer of the planet or other celestial bodies such as natural satellites. In case of the Earth, it is the layer on which we live, typically characterized by the presence of gelogical landforms such as mountains, plateaus, seabed, etc. The Earth's crust is made of three types of rocks; igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks. It is the thinnest layer of the Earth, and typically forms mere 1 percent of the total volume of the planet. As you go through more of such Earth's crust facts given below, you will come across some of the most amazing attributes of our planet that you must have never heard before.
* In a broad sense, the Earth's crust is divided into two types - continental crust, which forms continents and continental shelves, and oceanic crust, which forms the surface of the oceans basins on the planet. While the continental crust is made up of felsic rocks or sial (rich in silicon and aluminum), oceanic crust is made up of mafic rocks or sima (rich in iron and magnesium).
* In terms of volume, the continental crust-oceanic crust ratio stands at 70:30, with the former constituting for 70 percent of the crust. The thickness of the Earth's crust varies from one region to another; with the thickness of continental crust ranging between 20-30 miles, and oceanic crust ranging between 3-6 miles on an average, and that explains the 70:30 ratio between the two.
* In regions like the Himalayas in the Indian-subcontinent and Andes in South America, the thickness of this layer exceeds 20 miles; and this can be attributed to crustal thickening as a result of igneous activity and tectonic over-thrusting during collision.
* As in case of the crust of planets like Mercury, Venus or Mars, or that of the Moon, even the Earth's crust is formed as a result of igneous processes, and that explains why it is richer in incompatible elements as compared to mantle.
* As we go deeper inside the crust, the temperatures begin to increase; and typically reach somewhere between 392°F and 752°F at its boundary with the mantle. The temperature rise is recorded to be somewhere around 50°F for every km in the upper crust; and from thereon the geothermal gradient becomes even steeper.
* The outer crust of the Earth is broken up into regions known as tectonic plates. The movement of these plates, which float on top of molten rock in the interior of the Earth, tends to trigger earthquakes and form mountains on the planet.
* The Earth's crust displacement theory, which highlights polar shift and states that a catastrophic shift of the Earth’s lithosphere in somewhere around 10,000 BC., triggered the formation of Antarctica, was put forth by Charles Hapgood.
* Interestingly, the crust happens to be the only layer of the Earth's interior which can be studied by drilling. Earth's core and mantle, on the other hand, are mapped by studying the behavior of seismic waves beneath the surface of the Earth.
* The deepest hole ever drilled in the Earth's crust, or the deepest artificial point on Earth, happens to be Kola Superdeep Borehole (KSDB-3) in the Kola Peninsula, in Russia, with a depth of 12,262 metres (40,230 ft).
* Even though the crust doesn't quite have direct influence on the lifeforms, it indirectly means a lot to all the species on the planet as several natural resources come from it. At the same time, the movement of crust is also known to play a crucial role in determining the topography of the planet.
Interesting Facts about the Earth's Crust
In geological studies, the term 'crust' refers to the outermost layer of the planet or other celestial bodies such as natural satellites. In case of the Earth, it is the layer on which we live, typically characterized by the presence of gelogical landforms such as mountains, plateaus, seabed, etc. The Earth's crust is made of three types of rocks; igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks. It is the thinnest layer of the Earth, and typically forms mere 1 percent of the total volume of the planet. As you go through more of such Earth's crust facts given below, you will come across some of the most amazing attributes of our planet that you must have never heard before.
* In a broad sense, the Earth's crust is divided into two types - continental crust, which forms continents and continental shelves, and oceanic crust, which forms the surface of the oceans basins on the planet. While the continental crust is made up of felsic rocks or sial (rich in silicon and aluminum), oceanic crust is made up of mafic rocks or sima (rich in iron and magnesium).
* In terms of volume, the continental crust-oceanic crust ratio stands at 70:30, with the former constituting for 70 percent of the crust. The thickness of the Earth's crust varies from one region to another; with the thickness of continental crust ranging between 20-30 miles, and oceanic crust ranging between 3-6 miles on an average, and that explains the 70:30 ratio between the two.
* In regions like the Himalayas in the Indian-subcontinent and Andes in South America, the thickness of this layer exceeds 20 miles; and this can be attributed to crustal thickening as a result of igneous activity and tectonic over-thrusting during collision.
* As in case of the crust of planets like Mercury, Venus or Mars, or that of the Moon, even the Earth's crust is formed as a result of igneous processes, and that explains why it is richer in incompatible elements as compared to mantle.
* As we go deeper inside the crust, the temperatures begin to increase; and typically reach somewhere between 392°F and 752°F at its boundary with the mantle. The temperature rise is recorded to be somewhere around 50°F for every km in the upper crust; and from thereon the geothermal gradient becomes even steeper.
* The outer crust of the Earth is broken up into regions known as tectonic plates. The movement of these plates, which float on top of molten rock in the interior of the Earth, tends to trigger earthquakes and form mountains on the planet.
* The Earth's crust displacement theory, which highlights polar shift and states that a catastrophic shift of the Earth’s lithosphere in somewhere around 10,000 BC., triggered the formation of Antarctica, was put forth by Charles Hapgood.
* Interestingly, the crust happens to be the only layer of the Earth's interior which can be studied by drilling. Earth's core and mantle, on the other hand, are mapped by studying the behavior of seismic waves beneath the surface of the Earth.
* The deepest hole ever drilled in the Earth's crust, or the deepest artificial point on Earth, happens to be Kola Superdeep Borehole (KSDB-3) in the Kola Peninsula, in Russia, with a depth of 12,262 metres (40,230 ft).
* Even though the crust doesn't quite have direct influence on the lifeforms, it indirectly means a lot to all the species on the planet as several natural resources come from it. At the same time, the movement of crust is also known to play a crucial role in determining the topography of the planet.
Temperate Forest Biome
The temperate forest biome, as its name suggests, is located in the temperate regions of the world i.e. the 'northern temperate zone' and the 'southern temperate zone' on the planet. It spans across the continents of North America, Europe and Asia in the northern hemisphere of the planet, and covers a significant portion of the South America and Australia in the southern hemisphere. Even with such vast expanse, temperate forest biome is not really as popular as the other biomes of the world, such as the rainforest biome or the tundra biome; and that is quite surprising considering that it is quite rich in terms of biodiversity.
Facts about Temperate Forest Biome
In a broad sense, the temperate forests are categorized into temperate deciduous forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forest and temperate rainforests. Discussed below are the general details of each of these temperate forest types found across the world.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Also referred to as the temperate broadleaf forest or temperate broadleaved forest, temperate deciduous forests are typically characterized by the presence of trees which lose their leaves every year as a part of survival adaptations. As with the other temperate forest types, even temperate forests have a temperate climate, with maximum temperature reaching 90°Fahrenheit in summer and 55°Fahrenheit in winter, and an annual precipitation of 35 to 60 inches. Other than the ability to shed their leaves and minimize transpiration, specially modified leaves which absorb sunlight as well as water help plants survive in the temperate deciduous forests. Species like oak, maple, elm, etc., are found in abundance in these forests.
Facts about Temperate Forest Biome
In a broad sense, the temperate forests are categorized into temperate deciduous forests, temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forest and temperate rainforests. Discussed below are the general details of each of these temperate forest types found across the world.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Also referred to as the temperate broadleaf forest or temperate broadleaved forest, temperate deciduous forests are typically characterized by the presence of trees which lose their leaves every year as a part of survival adaptations. As with the other temperate forest types, even temperate forests have a temperate climate, with maximum temperature reaching 90°Fahrenheit in summer and 55°Fahrenheit in winter, and an annual precipitation of 35 to 60 inches. Other than the ability to shed their leaves and minimize transpiration, specially modified leaves which absorb sunlight as well as water help plants survive in the temperate deciduous forests. Species like oak, maple, elm, etc., are found in abundance in these forests.
How to Update Android OS
Quick, which is the most popular operating system for mobiles and tablet PC's? Even a five year old will answer this easy-peasy question, it's the Android OS, represented by the little green alien looking thingi. The Android OS entered the mobile OS sphere and things have never been the same. And the Android OS platform just keeps getting better and better, with bugs and errors being fixed and lots of user-friendly features being added with every new release. The current and latest version is the Android 2.3 or Gingerbread but everyone is looking out for the new 2011 Android update, Ice Cream Sandwich. So, whether you are stuck in the caveman era with an Android version of 2.1 on your phone or gearing up for the Ice Cream Sandwich, below is an easy "how to update Android OS" explanation to make the process of upgrading, a piece of cake (or a piece of ice cream sandwich)
How to Fix a Frozen iPhone
Apple iPhone 4 is one of the most sophisticated gadgets ever launched. With a 1 GB A4 processor, 512 MB of eDRAM, 3.5 inch touchscreen display, 5 MP camera, 3G and WiFi connectivity, it's the best Apple device launched so far. What more could you ask for? It actually lives up to its slogan of 'This changes everything. Again.' It really does. Despite of all these features, at times the Apple iPhone 4 may freeze, when too many applications are opened at the same time. This is a problem that plagues the most powerful of laptop computers and iPhone is just a smart phone. However, even if your iPhone freezes, there is no reason to panic. It can be easily restored back to functionality. In this Buzzle article, I show you how to fix a frozen iPhone and bring it back to working condition, within a few seconds.
How to Fix a Frozen iPhone 4?
There are many reasons why the iPhone may hang up and stop responding to any actions on the touchscreen. The most likely reason for this problem is the opening up of too many applications at the same time. This tends to happen occasionally when you are parallel processing several applications at the same time. Here are four ways in which you can unfreeze the iPhone to normal working condition, within a few moments.
How to Fix a Frozen iPhone 4?
There are many reasons why the iPhone may hang up and stop responding to any actions on the touchscreen. The most likely reason for this problem is the opening up of too many applications at the same time. This tends to happen occasionally when you are parallel processing several applications at the same time. Here are four ways in which you can unfreeze the iPhone to normal working condition, within a few moments.
How to Watch Live TV on iPhone
One of the reasons why Apple iPhone is the preferred smart phone for most is its versatility. It's not only an incredible phone, but also a great camera and a complete entertainment center to listen to your favorite music, watch movies and play games. Besides this, it also provides the facility to surf the web through a 3G or WiFi connection. Now you can add one more feature to this list, which is live streaming TV! There is no need to switch on your PC or your TV to catch up with your favorite TV shows, if you have an Apple iPhone. In this Buzzle article, I show you how to watch live TV on iPhone and watch your favorites shows on the go.
How to Watch Live TV on Apple iPhone?
The seamless connectivity offered by WiFi technology and Internet, combined with the facility of inter-convertibility among various video formats, has actually made it possible to transmit live TV on mobile phones and other portable devices. There are several ways in which you can catch live TV action on your Apple iPhone and you will find them listed below.
Buy Channel Specific Apps
One of the easiest ways of watching live action on your iPhone is by purchasing and installing channel specific apps. These apps provide you with live broadcast of TV channels by streaming content over the Internet. One example of such an application is Sky Mobile TV, which lets you catch live action from all of the Sky sports channels for a fixed monthly subscription.The TV.com application, launched by CBS Interactive on App Store, lets you watch shows from CNET TV, CBS and other channels of the network absolutely free on your iPhone. You can find such iPhone apps to watch shows from most of the major TV networks. All you have to do is buy them using your iTunes account, install them and start receiving all television broadcasts through your WiFi or 3G Internet connection.
How to Watch Live TV on Apple iPhone?
The seamless connectivity offered by WiFi technology and Internet, combined with the facility of inter-convertibility among various video formats, has actually made it possible to transmit live TV on mobile phones and other portable devices. There are several ways in which you can catch live TV action on your Apple iPhone and you will find them listed below.
Buy Channel Specific Apps
One of the easiest ways of watching live action on your iPhone is by purchasing and installing channel specific apps. These apps provide you with live broadcast of TV channels by streaming content over the Internet. One example of such an application is Sky Mobile TV, which lets you catch live action from all of the Sky sports channels for a fixed monthly subscription.The TV.com application, launched by CBS Interactive on App Store, lets you watch shows from CNET TV, CBS and other channels of the network absolutely free on your iPhone. You can find such iPhone apps to watch shows from most of the major TV networks. All you have to do is buy them using your iTunes account, install them and start receiving all television broadcasts through your WiFi or 3G Internet connection.
Holographic Data Storage
Nowadays, blue ray DVDs and hard drives are types of computer data storage devices which have the most capacity. The information in all these devices is stored in the form of bits. Data is recorded and read one bit at a time, which makes data processing slow. Have you imagined a technology far more advanced than these mediums? One of such technologies that is considered to replace today's data storage systems is 'holographic data storage'. Read on, to get to know more about holographic data storage devices.
Holographic Data Storage Invention and Development
In the early 1960s, a scientist named Pieter J. van Heerden brought forth the idea of creating a holographic system for fast and large data storage. After some years, scientists working at RCA Laboratories, managed to record over 500 holograms in a lithium-niobate crystal and roughly another 500 images onto polymer material. Nevertheless, lack of cheap materials and the development of magnetic data storage components caused this idea to be put on hold.InPhase Technologies, in the mid-2000s, publicly announced its holographic storage device. However, in February 2010, the company business was stopped, as Colorado government took over its assets for not paying taxes on time. Recently, in April 2009, GE Global Research exhibited their holographic data storage device. It is believed that InPhase and Nintendo have entered a contract to come up with holographic data storage systems for video games.
Holographic Data Storage Invention and Development
In the early 1960s, a scientist named Pieter J. van Heerden brought forth the idea of creating a holographic system for fast and large data storage. After some years, scientists working at RCA Laboratories, managed to record over 500 holograms in a lithium-niobate crystal and roughly another 500 images onto polymer material. Nevertheless, lack of cheap materials and the development of magnetic data storage components caused this idea to be put on hold.InPhase Technologies, in the mid-2000s, publicly announced its holographic storage device. However, in February 2010, the company business was stopped, as Colorado government took over its assets for not paying taxes on time. Recently, in April 2009, GE Global Research exhibited their holographic data storage device. It is believed that InPhase and Nintendo have entered a contract to come up with holographic data storage systems for video games.
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