Have u ever wonder what you can do if you can read minds? Not sure? Well then think about the movie “What women wants”, where Mel Gibson uses his mind reading ability to work his way up in his work and also to the women he likes. Interesting stuff here you can do, right? However, this is just a small part of the possible usage of mind reading in a non-harmful manner. In fact, there are some who felt that what Mel Gibson’s character did was rather unethical. If we were to implement this mind reading technology to the society, we must first understand the possibility of any abuse in the technology, and whether we have any ways to minimize the abuse.
Firstly, the most common type of abuse will be the use of the technology for personal gain. This will be unfair to people who do not have the use of the technology. In this case, if the technology were to be implemented to individual use, there will be a need for new definition to the ways of life. For example, criteria for promotion will be re-written such that it is fair for everyone. Also, the implementation of the technology for individual use must be strictly control with proper terms of conditions and legistrations. If not, there should not be any distribution of the technology to prevent abuse of the technology.
Next, the technology may be use by an organization that has no proper control on the extent the technology usage. For instance, an organization may use the technology to steal passwords, codes or personal information and use it to access your bank accounts, your secured files or even to threaten you. Therefore, strict controls must be carried out on any organization with the technology. This may mean the involvement of government, police or even independent watchdog to keep the situation in check and observed that there is no unethical abuse.
In conclusion, extensive rules must be set-up on the technology usage. In fact, government, magistrate and scientists must come up with a set of regulation on the use of the technology. Also the technology must be “well control”, meaning no circulation of the technology without any authorization. Just like what you had heard in the movie “Spiderman”, ‘With great power, comes great responsibility’; we must be prepare to minimize any unethical abuse if we were to implement the technology to the society.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Summary 2
In the past, the cost of using solar module in energy industries is about 4 times more expensive than the use of fossil fuel. While prices have dropped since the early 1980s, the solar module itself still represents nearly half of the total installed cost of a traditional solar energy system.
Currently, much of the solar cells are made from the same material used in manufacturing integrated circuits and computer chips. And high demand for circuits and chips causes the cost of solar energy to increase and to the extent whereby consumers shunned away from solar energy due to the high cost.
Hence, there is a shift in the research to finding new materials for solar module. Using a single layer of plastic sandwiched between two conductive electrodes, the new type of solar cell is can be mass-produce at lower cost. Also, recent tests on the new solar cells show a record efficiency for energy gather from sunshine and lifespan of the solar cell. This is a critical step towards the use of solar energy and researchers predicted that mainstream use of solar energy will just be a few more years
Read the full article here:
Click Here
Currently, much of the solar cells are made from the same material used in manufacturing integrated circuits and computer chips. And high demand for circuits and chips causes the cost of solar energy to increase and to the extent whereby consumers shunned away from solar energy due to the high cost.
Hence, there is a shift in the research to finding new materials for solar module. Using a single layer of plastic sandwiched between two conductive electrodes, the new type of solar cell is can be mass-produce at lower cost. Also, recent tests on the new solar cells show a record efficiency for energy gather from sunshine and lifespan of the solar cell. This is a critical step towards the use of solar energy and researchers predicted that mainstream use of solar energy will just be a few more years
Read the full article here:
Click Here
Evidence showing Global Warming is occuring
Over the last decades, many worldwide phenomena have been occurring. For example, rise in temperature, drastic weather condition, lose of low lying island to the sea, melting of glaciers, loss of natural habitat and many more. At the same time, there have been rise in the amount of greenhouse gases, deforestation activities and agriculture productivity. Is this a mere coincidence or is there a relationship between the human activities and the phenomena. To find out which is the case, we will need to study any evidence engineers and researchers from other filed of studies can find.
In science, environmentalist have studied that the phenomena is caused by greenhouse effect. The green house gas produced by human activities traps most of the sun radiation, which was supposed to be reflected back to space. Hence there is a rise in the global temperature. This theory is also supported by satellite’s data on the earth temperature and the emission data of greenhouse gases recorded since decades ago.
Again in science, biologist found that the there has been an increasing loss in natural habitat of corals. Corals are marine organisms that are sensitive to environment changes. According to Seth (2006, March 30), a science writer, researchers have studied that colonies of corals that have been growing over the century died due to the rise in sea temperature. Many coals attractions that were once filled with beautiful and colorful corals have become rock like structures. It is just like lush forest turning into a dead desert.
Over at the social science sector, geologists have observed many effects caused by global warming. Drastic change in weather has become more frequent over the world. For example, Australia has suffered its worst drought season in the year 2006. According to a news article from Guardian (2006, Nov), many farmlands became arid and reservoirs become depleted. The drought had made the Australians realize that something has to be done to reduce the greenhouse effect.
One other area that was affected by global warming was business. For example, Cameron Highlands in Malaysia has been a popular destination, for the past five decades, when the temperature was pleasantly cool. However, over the last decade, temperate has risen. At the same time, large deforestation occurred around the area. The trees which were able to trap moisture to keep the air cool were removed, thus causing the temperature rise.
The different disciplines of studies have shown many evidences of global warming occurring in Earth. We cannot ignore the fact that the loss of corals, drop in business and drastic weather change has nothing to do with global warming. The number and damage of the effects have been increasing so much that it have become hard for us to deny the existence of global warming.
In science, environmentalist have studied that the phenomena is caused by greenhouse effect. The green house gas produced by human activities traps most of the sun radiation, which was supposed to be reflected back to space. Hence there is a rise in the global temperature. This theory is also supported by satellite’s data on the earth temperature and the emission data of greenhouse gases recorded since decades ago.
Again in science, biologist found that the there has been an increasing loss in natural habitat of corals. Corals are marine organisms that are sensitive to environment changes. According to Seth (2006, March 30), a science writer, researchers have studied that colonies of corals that have been growing over the century died due to the rise in sea temperature. Many coals attractions that were once filled with beautiful and colorful corals have become rock like structures. It is just like lush forest turning into a dead desert.
Over at the social science sector, geologists have observed many effects caused by global warming. Drastic change in weather has become more frequent over the world. For example, Australia has suffered its worst drought season in the year 2006. According to a news article from Guardian (2006, Nov), many farmlands became arid and reservoirs become depleted. The drought had made the Australians realize that something has to be done to reduce the greenhouse effect.
One other area that was affected by global warming was business. For example, Cameron Highlands in Malaysia has been a popular destination, for the past five decades, when the temperature was pleasantly cool. However, over the last decade, temperate has risen. At the same time, large deforestation occurred around the area. The trees which were able to trap moisture to keep the air cool were removed, thus causing the temperature rise.
The different disciplines of studies have shown many evidences of global warming occurring in Earth. We cannot ignore the fact that the loss of corals, drop in business and drastic weather change has nothing to do with global warming. The number and damage of the effects have been increasing so much that it have become hard for us to deny the existence of global warming.
Waste disposal scheme: Zero Waste vs Land Filling
There are many waste disposal schemes and each has its own advantages and disadvantages over one and other. Here, we will be comparing zero waste and land filling. Land filling is a cheap method to dispose waste; it is also a very simple process as it just requires setting some land aside for the waste. On the other hand, it requires lots of space and overtime, it will corrode the land with harmful substances. Compared to land filling, zero waste is a more tedious method. Zero waste requires a large cooperation between the people, government, and company. And it requires a long time before a result is obtained. However, it is environmentally friendlier and less space consuming. Furthermore, zero waste creates new business opportunity. These are some comparison and contrast between zero waste and land filling.
In the context of Singapore, one needs to look at the characteristic of the land to determine which disposal scheme is suitable. Singapore is a small country so zero waste will be a better choice since it is less space consuming than land filling. Also, zero waste helps solve waste disposal problem permanenttly rather than pushing aside the problem like land filling. Next, Singapore is located at the equator. The temperature and weather makes her a good location to breed pest and vectors-mainly bacteria and diseases carrying organism like mosquito and animals. Land filling will provide an even ideal location for this organism. Also, the waste may undergo chemical reaction, to produce harmful substances to the atmosphere or to the land. Hence, the land becomes unsuitable for development without any treatment being done. Lastly, with Singapore’s efficient government and knowledge based economy, zero waste schemes can function easily to give a quick and good result. Henceforth, the most suitable disposal scheme for Singapore is zero waste schemes.
In the context of Singapore, one needs to look at the characteristic of the land to determine which disposal scheme is suitable. Singapore is a small country so zero waste will be a better choice since it is less space consuming than land filling. Also, zero waste helps solve waste disposal problem permanenttly rather than pushing aside the problem like land filling. Next, Singapore is located at the equator. The temperature and weather makes her a good location to breed pest and vectors-mainly bacteria and diseases carrying organism like mosquito and animals. Land filling will provide an even ideal location for this organism. Also, the waste may undergo chemical reaction, to produce harmful substances to the atmosphere or to the land. Hence, the land becomes unsuitable for development without any treatment being done. Lastly, with Singapore’s efficient government and knowledge based economy, zero waste schemes can function easily to give a quick and good result. Henceforth, the most suitable disposal scheme for Singapore is zero waste schemes.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Synosis
Here is the summary of the article I read regarding technology:
Many engineers work at their forefront of their occupation. For Peter Brett, a professor of biomedical engineering at Aston University, extensive knowledge is needed to develop medical innovations. The innovations have to be compatible and safe, on top of maintaining its basic uses. The head of engineering at the Diamond synchrotron, Jay Kay, explains that precision is very important to keep machinery workable. A functioning synchrotron will require fine tuning at nano-metric level.
In order to maintain airworthiness for battle, Mark Hunt, a RAF squadron leader, states that it is important for his planes to be made available for flight. Planes are flown in drastic climate condition and require precise tests and maintenances before they are fit to fly. Hunt feel that engineering is not just a great help in his work, but also the key to life opportunities.
Read the full article here:
Click Here
Here are some interesting facts from the site:
Engineers’ feats
1698 Thomas Savery patents the basic steam engine
1712 Thomas Newcomen develops a working atmospheric steam engine
1769 James Watt patents a steam engine with a separate condenser
1803 Richard Trevithick builds the first steam locomotive to undertake practical work
1825 George Stephenson runs Locomotion, the first passenger steam locomotive, between Stockton and Darlington
1847 Institution of Mechanical Engineers founded
1860 Jean-Joseph Etienne Lenoir develops the first successful internal combustion engine
1863 The world’s first underground railway, the Metropolitan Line, opens in London
1903 The Wright Flyer becomes the first heavier-than-air machine to fly in a sustained, controlled way with a pilot onboard
1937 Frank Whittle invents the jet engine
1953 John Gibbon develops the heart-lung machine
1954 The world’s first nuclear power station opens in Obninsk, near Moscow
1961 Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human being in space
1983 The world’s first maglev train begins operating in Birmingham
1991 Opening of Delabole, the UK’s first wind farm
Many engineers work at their forefront of their occupation. For Peter Brett, a professor of biomedical engineering at Aston University, extensive knowledge is needed to develop medical innovations. The innovations have to be compatible and safe, on top of maintaining its basic uses. The head of engineering at the Diamond synchrotron, Jay Kay, explains that precision is very important to keep machinery workable. A functioning synchrotron will require fine tuning at nano-metric level.
In order to maintain airworthiness for battle, Mark Hunt, a RAF squadron leader, states that it is important for his planes to be made available for flight. Planes are flown in drastic climate condition and require precise tests and maintenances before they are fit to fly. Hunt feel that engineering is not just a great help in his work, but also the key to life opportunities.
Read the full article here:
Click Here
Here are some interesting facts from the site:
Engineers’ feats
1698 Thomas Savery patents the basic steam engine
1712 Thomas Newcomen develops a working atmospheric steam engine
1769 James Watt patents a steam engine with a separate condenser
1803 Richard Trevithick builds the first steam locomotive to undertake practical work
1825 George Stephenson runs Locomotion, the first passenger steam locomotive, between Stockton and Darlington
1847 Institution of Mechanical Engineers founded
1860 Jean-Joseph Etienne Lenoir develops the first successful internal combustion engine
1863 The world’s first underground railway, the Metropolitan Line, opens in London
1903 The Wright Flyer becomes the first heavier-than-air machine to fly in a sustained, controlled way with a pilot onboard
1937 Frank Whittle invents the jet engine
1953 John Gibbon develops the heart-lung machine
1954 The world’s first nuclear power station opens in Obninsk, near Moscow
1961 Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human being in space
1983 The world’s first maglev train begins operating in Birmingham
1991 Opening of Delabole, the UK’s first wind farm
Sunday, October 12, 2008
EG1471 Writing Assignment 2
2. Based on Stephens’ article and your related readings do you think R&D should focus on coal-based CCS technologies or on other technologies which are not reliant on fossil fuels?
Research and Development (R&D) can speed up the advancement of a technology. The size of the technology, the cost of the technology or the power of the technology depends on R&D. However, there is a limit to the amount of money cycling in the world. Therefore, the amount of money going into R&D in every country is limited; one must prioritize the importance of each technology that will be researched on. In the context of two technologies, coal-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) and non fossil fuel technology, both technologies are used as the solutions to the increase in the demand of energy, rise in oil prices and increment in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which is the main cause of global warming. However, I feel that more focus should be placed on non-fossil fuel technology. In order to explain my choice, we will have to look into the advantages and disadvantages of each technology.
In CCS technology, the focus is on capturing the emitted CO2, transporting it and finally storing it away from the Earth surface. With CCS, energy industries can increase the usage of other fossil fuel such as coal that has the highest carbon intensity among fossil fuels. Steel and cement industries will also be able to increase their productivity without worrying about the CO2 emission. The result will be cheaper steel or cement product.
Currently, there are many positive results and tests showing that the CCS technology is ready to operate. In fact, Norway’s national oil company has already started putting the CO2 into empty oil reserves. There are also many big projects involving CSS technology announced by many industries such as British Petroleum (BP).
However, much of these projects and technology are still undergoing research. As mentioned in Stephens’ article (2006), much of CCS technology is performed at a small scale, like in laboratories, or has yet to be demonstrated in large scale power plant. Also, some theses have been made that the CO2 stored in the seabed may leak and cause the sea water to be acidic, hence, making the sea uninhabitable. The executive director of Stanford University’s Global Climate and Energy Project, Sally Benson (2007), said that scientists need to have a clearer picture of what will happen to the storage location when CO2 is pumped into it, how the storage location will keep the CO2 contained and the ways the stored CO2 can escape. More researches need to be done to allow us to make accurate prediction on any negative impacts based on researches that will arise from CCS technology.
On the other hand, we have non-fossil fuel technology that does not emit any CO2. Some of these technologies include solar panel, dam and nuclear power plant. On top of the absence of CO2 as a by-product, most of this technology uses renewable resources like sunlight to generate electricity for a much longer time than what non-renewable resources like coal can produce. One example is the solar cell technology.
Some critics claimed that non-fossil fuel technologies can be dangerous. Here they are referring to nuclear waste produced by the nuclear power plant. Nuclear power is only a small part of the technology and it is its by-product that poses a threat to life. Though there has not been any method to break down nuclear wastes to a non radioactive product, through R&D we may be able to achieve a solution.
On top of that, it is said that non-fossil fuel expensive and space consuming. This is true to a certain extent. Technology has never been a cheap product; it is through years of R&D that it becomes more affordable. The fact that technology such as solar cells and nuclear plants already have a much longer time of research than CCS technology means it will only get cheaper but even more advance with R&D. The U.S. Department of Energy (2001) reported that the cost of solar electricity has been reduced by 100 times over the last few decades and further research can reduce the cost even more. Beside that, researchers have developed methods to make solar cells to be as thin and flexible like plastic films. This means that we do not need to put aside land to capture solar energy.
In summary, we can clearly understand how non fossil fuels technologies are better than CCS in many ways; from becoming a source of infinite energy to reducing the deterioration of the effects of Global Warming. As the amount of money and time spend on R&D is fixed, we must evaluate and prioritize them according to their importance and advantages the technology can bring about. Why spend it on a technology provide only a temporary solution that does not solve the problem completely when you can spend it on a technology that deals with the problem directly. Furthermore, R&D on a technology existing for many decades will show an even better result than that of a younger one.
(825 words)
References:
Department of Energy (2001, March). Making Solar Energy More Affordable. Retrieved Oct 4, 2006, from http://www.er.doe.gov/accomplishments_awards/Decades_Discovery/20.html
Stephens, J.C. (2006). CCS: Research is not enough. The world energy book London: World Energy Council. (pp. 15-18)
Research and Development (R&D) can speed up the advancement of a technology. The size of the technology, the cost of the technology or the power of the technology depends on R&D. However, there is a limit to the amount of money cycling in the world. Therefore, the amount of money going into R&D in every country is limited; one must prioritize the importance of each technology that will be researched on. In the context of two technologies, coal-based carbon capture and storage (CCS) and non fossil fuel technology, both technologies are used as the solutions to the increase in the demand of energy, rise in oil prices and increment in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions which is the main cause of global warming. However, I feel that more focus should be placed on non-fossil fuel technology. In order to explain my choice, we will have to look into the advantages and disadvantages of each technology.
In CCS technology, the focus is on capturing the emitted CO2, transporting it and finally storing it away from the Earth surface. With CCS, energy industries can increase the usage of other fossil fuel such as coal that has the highest carbon intensity among fossil fuels. Steel and cement industries will also be able to increase their productivity without worrying about the CO2 emission. The result will be cheaper steel or cement product.
Currently, there are many positive results and tests showing that the CCS technology is ready to operate. In fact, Norway’s national oil company has already started putting the CO2 into empty oil reserves. There are also many big projects involving CSS technology announced by many industries such as British Petroleum (BP).
However, much of these projects and technology are still undergoing research. As mentioned in Stephens’ article (2006), much of CCS technology is performed at a small scale, like in laboratories, or has yet to be demonstrated in large scale power plant. Also, some theses have been made that the CO2 stored in the seabed may leak and cause the sea water to be acidic, hence, making the sea uninhabitable. The executive director of Stanford University’s Global Climate and Energy Project, Sally Benson (2007), said that scientists need to have a clearer picture of what will happen to the storage location when CO2 is pumped into it, how the storage location will keep the CO2 contained and the ways the stored CO2 can escape. More researches need to be done to allow us to make accurate prediction on any negative impacts based on researches that will arise from CCS technology.
On the other hand, we have non-fossil fuel technology that does not emit any CO2. Some of these technologies include solar panel, dam and nuclear power plant. On top of the absence of CO2 as a by-product, most of this technology uses renewable resources like sunlight to generate electricity for a much longer time than what non-renewable resources like coal can produce. One example is the solar cell technology.
Some critics claimed that non-fossil fuel technologies can be dangerous. Here they are referring to nuclear waste produced by the nuclear power plant. Nuclear power is only a small part of the technology and it is its by-product that poses a threat to life. Though there has not been any method to break down nuclear wastes to a non radioactive product, through R&D we may be able to achieve a solution.
On top of that, it is said that non-fossil fuel expensive and space consuming. This is true to a certain extent. Technology has never been a cheap product; it is through years of R&D that it becomes more affordable. The fact that technology such as solar cells and nuclear plants already have a much longer time of research than CCS technology means it will only get cheaper but even more advance with R&D. The U.S. Department of Energy (2001) reported that the cost of solar electricity has been reduced by 100 times over the last few decades and further research can reduce the cost even more. Beside that, researchers have developed methods to make solar cells to be as thin and flexible like plastic films. This means that we do not need to put aside land to capture solar energy.
In summary, we can clearly understand how non fossil fuels technologies are better than CCS in many ways; from becoming a source of infinite energy to reducing the deterioration of the effects of Global Warming. As the amount of money and time spend on R&D is fixed, we must evaluate and prioritize them according to their importance and advantages the technology can bring about. Why spend it on a technology provide only a temporary solution that does not solve the problem completely when you can spend it on a technology that deals with the problem directly. Furthermore, R&D on a technology existing for many decades will show an even better result than that of a younger one.
(825 words)
References:
Department of Energy (2001, March). Making Solar Energy More Affordable. Retrieved Oct 4, 2006, from http://www.er.doe.gov/accomplishments_awards/Decades_Discovery/20.html
Stephens, J.C. (2006). CCS: Research is not enough. The world energy book London: World Energy Council. (pp. 15-18)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
いけん,意見,Ansicht, Thoughts so far..
Before I attended the EG 1471, I feel it will be hard to learn English back from basic. I thought it will be like correcting the wrong guess you made in a Sudoku puzzle. Nevertheless, I managed to learn many things such as the sentence structure, connective words and basic grammars.
However, I feel that I am still weak in my grammar. For example, when I am doing the text-editing exercises, I felt that either the passage contained mistake that I need to find or I could not find a single mistake out of it.
Hopefully, I will be able to sort this out as soon as possible.
However, I feel that I am still weak in my grammar. For example, when I am doing the text-editing exercises, I felt that either the passage contained mistake that I need to find or I could not find a single mistake out of it.
Hopefully, I will be able to sort this out as soon as possible.
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