Archive for October, 2008

Computers are here permanently and will pretty much guide the future of society. This fact mandates that children learn early to make effective use of a computer.

Nursery and Primary Schoolers and Computer Education

Computer education is important even in small countries like Cameroon and a recent 2 day seminar proved this. Attending this seminar were school officials from 10 of Cameroon’s provinces who voted to implement an extensive communication and information technology program for their nursery and primary school students.

This initiative was begun because educator’s began to realize that their children could not be productive as adults unless they were give the tools they needed to keep up with the computer-related technologies that now drive today’s world. Education topics will now include training on the different parts of a computer along with relavent software and how it is used. Along the way, children will be encouraged to adopt the same method of information filtration that computers use so effectively.

Cameroon schools are facing one big problem with this new initiative and that is a lack of computers. They simply do not have enough to get through the daily educational process let alone a new extensive computer training program. It has been decided that, until new computers can be purchased, the younger children will be taught about computers using only pictures and the actual computers will be reserved for the older children. All teachers, however, will be required to take a extensive computer technology training program.

Scottish experts have spent time studying video games and how they affect a child once they enter school. Their studies have shown that, especially mathematically, a child’s learning abilities are improved significantly by playing video games regularly.

This study consisted of 32 different schools and was conducted by Learning and Teaching Scotland. The study required the students that participated to play a video game, Nintendo DS, for a specific period of time each day for the duration of the experiment. This study was the second and a follow up to the one previous done in Dundee. Officials wanted to determine if the study would show any different or improved results.

At each school, the children were divided into two different groups. One group was allowed a certain amount of time each day to play video games. The other group were forbidden from any video game playing during the experiment. At the end of the experimental time, a test was given to all students to see how much they had progressed during that time. All of the children improved their scores, but the children who were allowed to play the video games showed a much higher rate of learning than did the one who were forbidden to play. The children who played the video games were also able to complete their tests much quicker than the ones who did not play. These results suggest that computer training through the use of video games may have more value than had been previously assigned.

Children are increasingly becoming better educated in personal computers and other components. This computer training will be very effective in preparing them to live in a mainly computer driven society. Who knows what kind of invention our children will be able to develop with their extensive knowledge of computers.

http://www.articlesbase.com/e-learning-articles/learning-made-easier-for-children-with-the-use-of-computer-training-603585.html

Years ago when gaming laptops first hit the market many serious gamers laughed at the whole notion of using a laptop for gaming. These first gaming laptops simply were not up to the power and performance of a gaming PC. No contest. A desktop computer simply gave you higher performance than a gaming laptop.

While that last statement is still probably true, the gap in performance has narrowed significantly in recent years. Laptops have increased in performance with the introduction of more powerful mobile dual processors or even quad processors enhanced with dual graphics cards via SLI technology.

As we go into fifth and sixth generation laptop technologies and platforms… the performance gap will soon be wiped out. Especially when you consider some gaming laptop specialists are actually giving you desktop components in a laptop. Same performance as a desktop only packaged in a laptop. However, calling these laptops is a bit of a stretch because you won’t be sitting with these heavy mutant creatures on your lap for any long periods of time.

Regardless, laptop specialists like Alienware, Sager and Rock in the UK, are turning out these computing monsters that can easily rival the gaming desktop PC. The only thing more shocking than all that raw power and performance is the price tag. You do have to pay a hefty price for all that style and performance.

The major drawback or disadvantage of going with a gaming laptop – there’s little room for upgrading. With a gaming PC, you can always upgrade to the latest technologies because there are usually slots open and space to expand… you can even upgrade to a larger monitor if you like.

However, with the gaming laptop the only things you can realistically upgrade are the RAM (memory) and the hard drive. In a gaming laptop everything is so compact and reduced in size to fit into such a small package, there’s little space for upgrading. Many serious gamers dismiss owning a gaming laptop for this very reason.

The other major reason is price since you can get more power and performance in a gaming desktop PC for a cheaper price than going with a laptop. Again, the gap is closing but it’s still no contest. While laptop prices are steadily falling, you can still get a better gaming rig at a lower price if you go the PC route. In addition, larger monitors are now at 24 or 25 inches on some desktop systems so laptops can’t compete with the display visuals if bigger is your thing.

Then the only other question that has to be asked:

Why are gaming laptops so bloody popular?

Mainly because of the “Cool” factor. Don’t laugh, these gaming rigs, especially those high priced monsters, are the essence of cool. They look spectacular and in our very shallow world looks do count. Just like many people who buy high performance sports cars more for the looks rather than for the performance; it is a matter of style over performance for them.

Then there is still the portability factor since laptops, even those 10 or 12 pound monsters, are still more mobile than a bulky PC Tower and Monitor. You can take all that “cool” style and design along with you, no matter where you go. Simply put, even though batter life is next to nil, a gaming laptop is mobile. You can take it with you and show it off.

So is it a matter of style over performance?

Not really, looks may be one factor why gaming laptops are so popular but without the high performance and extreme computing power, these systems would be dead in the water. For in the end, where gaming is concerned, performance is still king. Gaming laptops get the job done, perhaps not as cheaply as their desktop rivals, but you can usually play the latest games on these pimped-out monsters.

In the end, gamers want the performance first and the looks are secondary. But they will probably still ’show-off’ all that style nonetheless, to friends and to other gamers. Even so, with gaming laptops, it is more a matter of performance over style.

The great thing about today’s gaming laptops, you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. If you can afford the hefty price tag, you can have all that style plus all the performance you need, neatly packaged in your own gaming laptop.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/gaming-laptops-is-it-a-matter-of-style-over-performance-609399.html

Staying Private With Online Web Proxies

Today, there are many threats present on the Internet that could damage your computer system and could steal and abuse your personal information. With ever more viruses, Trojans, and various other threats appearing, the Internet it is becoming a very volatile and unpredictable. Simple antivirus products may not be enough to maximise your protection. It is not just viruses that pose a threat; hackers also cause lots of trouble for Internet users. There are steps that you can take like using a proxy website that will allow you to remain more safe online while your surf and will hopefully minimise any chance of your personal data being stolen.

The first thing you should make sure you do is to ensure the installation of a good, effective antivirus product on your computer or network. Always do your homework before parting with any cash though. Look on forums, newsgroups, yahoo answers and various other sites and you should soon be able to get an idea on whether a product is worth buying or not. Once you have purchased a good antivirus products make sure you get regular updates on it. When you connect to the Internet the updates may happen automatically, though with some products will require some manual input to get the updates installed. Updates once a month or even once a week is not good enough with all the threats on the Internet. Ideally, you should be looking at getting updates for your product twice or three times every week.

Having a good antivirus product installed with regular updates should give you some fairly good protection. If you want to remain more private when you browse then you should use a proxy website. There are many available on the Internet and you should have no problem finding one via Google or Yahoo. The proxy will act as an intermediary between your computer and the Internet and will handle all data requests that you make for you. This means that websites that you visit will not be able to trace you but will only be able to log the proxy details like its IP address etc.

You could try visiting a ninja proxy for some good reviews on some products and to find a good proxy for you to use. There are many out there so you may have to do some careful research before just using any old one you come across. If you can afford it, and want to take Internet privacy and protection to a whole new level then you could invest some money in a product that offers encryption as a feature. This will keep prying eyes away from your Internet activities and will keep them as private as private can be.

To summarise, if you want to maximise your protection from threats online then you should
1) Make sure you have a good antivirus product installed
2) Make sure you use a reliable proxy website. A ninja proxy is a good one to look at
3) Ideally, find a product which allows you to encrypt all of your Internet data so that it can be kept completely private and safe.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/staying-private-with-online-web-proxies-598383.html

 

Nascar And The FX Race Technology

With the coming of engineering in the 21st century, reality television has made the front seat. As more and more proficiencies are formulated to make TV more interactional and advanced, sporting events are not left far behind. Nascar has started the race F/X technology, which has enhanced the interest further amongst TV audiences. Well, the technology was primitively started by FOX, which started trailing the hockey puck on national television. The trick was hot, and it became an instant hit.

Nascar brought in a synonymous technology to track their cars. But tracking a puck on a hockey field and tracking a car moving at 200 mph on a racing circuit are two different matters entirely. In Nascar, the commentators talk about a car and then the car is spotlighted with a glowing halo around it. It looks incredibly cool on television. The statistical information about the car is also presented just above the car.

The Technology Behind The Trick
Race F/X uses a wide range of parameters to showcase their final product. GPS orbiters form an integral component of the Race F/X technology. They are used to dig up the cars as they move around the circuit. They work in tandem with an earth-based navigation system. The tracking is so accurate that the car is tracked up to 20 millimeters distance from its real position.

In-car sensing elements in the cars also play a important part in enhancing the telecasted event. They help the GPS locate the cars and also help the networks to collect as much statistical data about the car as possible. The info is highly detailed and contains minute contingents like RPM, acceleration, speed, fuel consumption, and even braking. This information is gathered at the speed of ten times a second. So you can rest assured that it is most recent information that you see on top of your favorite Nascar cars.

You Will Be In It
The day is not very far when you will be able to control the Nascar cars race F/X technology and you will be able to select and highlight the car that you want to follow. This will be done with the help of a set top box, Nascar says. A video game variation of Nascar is also on the advent. This will enable you to race your own virtual car on the racing circuit with the greats of racing. So the days are not far when your own car will be racing beside Jeff Gordon and you will be in your living room all the time. Now isn’t that cool?

This will propel Nascar racing into a entirely different realm altogether. So, get ready, get set, GO!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/nascar-and-the-fx-race-technology-603163.html

Boston Acoustics Horizon Series MCS130 System Mist Speakers

Boston Acoustics Horizon Series MCS130 System Mist Speakers
Binding: Electronics
Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics
Product Description:
200-Watt Amplifier / Dual 3.5" mid bass drivers and 1" soft dome tweeters surround speakers / 10" Powered subwoofer
List Price: USD 799.00
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
Average Rating:
Features: Includes - Three LCR speakers, Two surround speakers, and One powered subwoofer
Special Features: 5.1 sub / sat system
Brand: Boston Acoustics
Color: Mist
Model: MCS130 System Mist
Customer Reviews


Sound is impressive, very clear and loud....my friends want them too.
Very high quality of sound, the subwoofer makes no distortion at all. I never thought this set of speakers were so good.


Subwoofer the weakest link in this system
If I had paid more than I did, 300 euros, I would've been sorely disappointed.
The satellites do sound great, not as warm as my old Infinity bookshelves, but very full. They are a little flat, not dynamic and they don't fill my little 6 X 15 ft. room, but still, their range is good and pure.

However!
The subwoofer, no matter what settings I've used on my very nice Marantz SR5002 AVR, and no matter where I put the ugly beast, doesn't hold up. I'm going to put it on the market and look for another sub. It's boomy, and while it :may: fill in the lost lower frequencies, it's hit and miss. Plus, did I say it's boomy?
Sorry, but for me, "house shaking" does not equal a good sub.
Better heard and not felt, is my feeling. I feel this thing, but just hear "whoomp whoomp whoomp." Is that music, or a jack-hammer?!
My old subs, a passive set by Cambridge Soundworks did a great job for their 15-year life. I heard all the rich sounds, but never got jolted mid-song by a misplaced "bra-ooomp!!"
Another :little: problem is the transformer in the sub hums. I had to take it out and re-screw it on the outside of the panal on the sub; no biggie if you've got a soldering iron, but we shouldn'be be hearing the sub humming during quieter parts of movies, right?

My opinion? If you can get this for under 300, take it, keep the sats, and try and sell the sub for a few bucks to a starving student.


Amazing System
I recently purchased this speaker system for my family room to use with my Onkyo TXSR706 Silver . It looks and sounds amazing. I have tower speakers in my theater room and get just as much enjoyment out of this small system. I think it is the best possible speaker system for under 0.00.


Superior speaker system
These speakers are top of the line. Superior in every way. These are
not every day surround sound theater speakers. They are heavily made
and excellent quality. The sound is terrific. These are upper end
speakers and with an excellent receiver should give you a wonderful
listening experience for music or your surround theater. I am very
pleased by them, could not ask for better speakers.


Great speakers that bring your entertainment system to life...
I bought this system to enhance a new 46" Sony flat screen tv and Sony Home Theater Receiver. I have not been disappointed. This Boston Acoustic system has incredible bass, clear sound from all 5 speakers and just overall brings my living room to life no matter if I am watching sports on tv, movies on my dvd player or music from my home theater receiver. I highly recommend this set of speakers!

Product Information and Prices stored: March 11, 2010, 9:13

JBL Duet Speakers, White

JBL Duet Speaker System for Portable Music and PC - White (Pair)

JBL Duet Speaker System for Portable Music and PC - White (Pair)
Binding: Electronics
Manufacturer: JBL
Product Description:
The JBL Duet Multimedia system provides smooth and accurate sound for any portable music player or computer. With its incredibly easy set-up and use, Duet is a sophisticated approach to achieving great two-channel sound.
List Price: USD 59.99
Lowest Used Price: USD 29.99
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
Average Rating:
Features:
  • 2-channel speaker system for use with portable audio devices
  • Generates smooth and accurate sound for handheld MP3 players and CD players
  • Patent-pending TSR technology improves bass and lowers distortion
  • 60 Hz to 20 kHz frequency response; >70 dB signal-to-noise ratio
  • 12 watts total power (6 watts x 2)
Brand: JBL
Color: White
Model: 4951-DUET
Customer Reviews


WOW # 2
JBL Duet Speaker System for Portable Music and PC - Aluminum (Pair)All I have to is thatJBL has come up with the perfect speakers for the PC & labtop, I don't see the need for boombox type speakers for your PC the Duets sound perfect at any sound level for the price which I was pleasently surprised I did not expect such great sound, By the way I did not encounter any buzzing or humming from the Duets I should have gotten these sooner!


Awesome - but realize what they're for
I bought these speakers when I left for college, and they were the perfect size to fit on a desk, fill the room with music when I'm working out, etc. The sound quality is great, and its easy to set-up, and as important, disable: just plug them into and out of the headphone jack.

However, if you want to throw a loud party, get something bigger: After having them on full blast a few times, they started to get a static-sound at high volume (fine when lower though)

Still, I don't think there's anything better out there. I'd buy again.


Fantastic the positive rating well deserved
So many have given the details on these speakers, so I won't repeat it....I'm really glad I read the reviews and decided to spend just a bit more than planned, they perform as the 5 star reviews state. I have a new Mac Mini, and they are perfect for that. Only little nit pick is the on off vol knob is pretty slippery and hard to use, a piece of scotch tape fixed it fine. The sound is as good as my Bose wave set up.


JBL Duet Speaker System
Satisfactory for a basic computer system.

Quality of materials OK.

Sound OK - but don't expect spectacular sound.


JBL
Extremely happy with this purchase! Contacted seller with shipping question and actually received response same day. Made the purchase and speakers arrived in less than one week! Product were sold as advertised and I am happy to have decent sound from my Apple Mac Book Pro notebook.

Product Information and Prices stored: March 11, 2010, 9:13

Boston Acoustics SOUNDWAREB Soundware 4.5-Inch Indoor/Outdoor Coaxial Speaker (Black)

Boston Acoustics SOUNDWAREB Soundware 4.5-Inch Indoor/Outdoor Coaxial Speaker (Black)
Binding: Electronics
Manufacturer: Boston Acoustics
Product Description:
Soundware 4.5-Inch black indoor/outdoor coaxial speaker.
List Price: USD 100.00
Lowest Used Price: USD 49.99
Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon website at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.
Average Rating:
Features:
  • 2-Way Speaker With 4.5-Inch Woofer & .75-Inch Dome Tweeter
  • Versatile Design For Use Inside Or Outdoors
  • Weatherproof For Permanent Outdoor Installations
  • Sits Or Mounts At Any Angle¿Includes Brackets For Wall Or Corner Mounting
  • Can Blend In Or Stand Out
Special Features: Indoor / Outdoor; Weatherproof; brackets included
Brand: Boston Acoustics
Color: Black
Model: SoundWare Black
Customer Reviews


I'm happy
got these speakers to downsize from my old set. all in all I'm very happy with them. sound great but not much bass since they aren't big enough. with a subwoofer they're great. love the mounting brackets.


Cool design, poor sound
I bought a pair of these SoundWare speakers to replace the speakers that came with a JVC mini-stereo for my bedroom. These speakers had terrible sound. Just lots of muddy bass and not much else. I returned them and just used the speakers that came with the stereo.


Great buy!
Best deal I have Gotten in a long time and I got them at about half price!

Product Information and Prices stored: March 11, 2010, 9:13