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Advantages and Disadvantages of an Exercise Heart Rate Monitor

Everyone knows what is an exercise heart rate monitor is. If you don’t, then just go outside and see what most exercisers are wearing on their arms or on their chests nowadays. These simple, yet extremely useful gadgets became very popular in the mid-90s, when most people wanted to make sure that they were really training effectively within their target heart rates. Nowadays, it is still an important part of any exerciser’s tool, although it has branched out more. Today, it is not only seen on people, but in exercise equipments as well.

Because these monitors are becoming popular among serious exercisers and health-buffs alike, they are now becoming more available (and much cheaper) right now. Aside from improving its innovative features, such as clocks, calories burned, targeted heart rates, speed, distance, and easy one-touch buttons, their features have also dramatically changed over the years. No more boring, black straps; no more box-typed designs. Now, they come in a lot of trendy colors designed to fit the aesthetic needs of the consumer. No wonder these gadgets have never lost their appeal even until now.

With all the things that it can do, what are the advantages and disadvantages of an exercise heart rate monitor?

Advantages:-

First, it can be a motivating factor in your workout. Nothing beats having a machine strapped on your arm reminding you that you need to run faster.

Second, it is a valuable tool in making sure that you are training on your target heart rate. While this sounds so simple, it is an important aspect for any patient who is suffering from heart disease, or someone recovering from an illness. This is because over training the heart can be very dangerous for these individuals.

Third, it helps an exerciser to be more in touch with their bodies and heart rhythms. There are some who have used these gadgets for so long now that they have become an expert on their heartbeats. In fact, they have become so good at it that they don’t even use their heart rate monitors anymore.

Fourth, you can record your progress, so you can make the necessary adjustments to your training.
Fifth, you can make sure that you are measuring your maximum and resting heart rates accurately. This can help you to stay within your normal training zone, which can help you avoid unwanted injuries and minor accidents from occurring during your workout.

Disadvantages:-

Sometimes, too much data can confuse, instead of guide you. Some people quit early on their training, because they feel intimidated with all the details.

Second, the monitors may be expensive, especially if you want it to be as accurate as possible.

Third, the beeps can be quite distracting, especially when you are on highways and other public places. Accidents sometimes occur because of this.

An exercise heart rate monitor can be an added bonus to anyone, although the level of improvement can be different, depending on each person’s situation. The best thing to do is … Read More

The Genesis of Computer Art-FORTRAN (Backus) a Computer Art Medium Creates a Mosaic Mona Lisa

Where did computer art, computer graphics and computer animation begin?

Written communication became sharable and pervasive once stone etchings were replaced with the mobility of paper and ink. Similarly once computer languages ​​advanced from machine or assembly code to third generation computer languages, only then did computer output advance from simple alphanumerical (maybe mosaic) printouts to graphics and images with smooth curves and realism.

Computer graphical output got its humble start when alphanumeric characters hammered on TTY and line printers to represent XY graphs and even mosaic images. It was crude, but allowed for a more effective analysis of mathematical and scientific solutions. Computer programming languages ​​like FORTRAN and BASIC made it easier to develop and program printers, plotters and CRT screens to display and print graphics and ultimately images.

The FORTRAN programming language – a personal and historic short review.

FORTRAN programming as an Art Medium?

So it was possible to create an alphanumeric printout picture of the famous Mona Lisa using FORTRAN print statements. This image of the Mona Lisa was done by printing and over-printing standard alphanumeric characters creating a mosaic art piece to form an image of that famous Leonardo da Vinci painting. Step back from this computer printout and you viewed a simple replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

Accomplishing this rudimentary computer art would be hours and days of tedious work involving the following steps:

1) You would need to take a copy of the original image and a grid (mapping to the 133 character width of a standard computer printout page) on a piece of transparency.

2) Place the grid transparency on top of the image and then fill in the grid cells over the image with alphanumeric characters that will depict a mosaic of the original image.

3) Highlight those grid cells that will be overprinted (bold type) to create shade and texture matching the original image.

4) Now you take each line of the grid and code it using FORTRAN print statements.

5) Like a brush to canvas the computer printout image of Mona Lisa will take form after many days of coding.

For a completed version of this process and a resulting computer mosaic of the Mona Lisa check out the Pisaca Web Albums images at: http://picasaweb.google.com/carl.chesal/MonaLisaComputerArtFortran

The search has begun for access to an 80 column punch card reader.

The FORTRAN code for the Mona Lisa Mosaic is on original 90-column punch cards. Getting access to an 80-column card reader could facilitate moving the Mona Lisa FORTRAN code from its analog state to a digital version. Using an online editor, I could once again deploy the power of FORTRAN to print copies of the ‘computer mosaic’ Mona Lisa. Then ‘Mosaic Mona’ would be available for the world to enjoy.

My infatuation with FORTRAN programming might have stemmed from the fact that both FORTRAN and I were coincidentally created in 1954. Thank you John Backus for FORTRAN.… Read More

The Light Of The Body Is The Eye: LASIK Gives You Back the Natural Vision

It’s adieu to the irritation caused by the contact lenses or the cumbersome glasses which keep falling off your face in a busy crowd! Millions of individuals across the globe have adopted LASIK surgery to get back their natural vision.

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a refractive surgery procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye (also known as the lens of the eye), using an excimer laser. During the procedure, computer-generated pulses vaporize a portion of the stroma, the middle-section of the cornea. The precise surgical process on the corneal tissue can cure any imperfections of the human eye, myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and/or astimagtism (an image distortion on the retina caused by faults in the cornea).

Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK was the first surgical procedure using laser to fix imperfections of the human eye. Over the years, LASIK has gained popularity as the operating procedure of choice for ophthalmologists. The major difference between the two procedures revolves around how the laser is used to sculpt the eye. In PRK, the topmost layer of the cornea is scraped to operate on the stroma. In LASIK, laser is used to cause an incision in the stroma and reshape the corneal tissue. Since LASIK treats the inner tissue of the cornea, there is lesser area to heal, lower risk of scarring and corneal haze, lesser post-operative pain and normal vision is revived within a small time period.

The LASIK procedure has become more popular as an effective cosmetic surgery option to get rid of the cumbersome glasses or contact lenses. Vocational reasons, such as for professionals in various sports, army, navy or pilots, acting or modeling, have also increased the popularity of this refractive procedure. This procedure also relieves individuals who are allergic to using contact lenses, resulting in watering and redness of the eyes. The simple LASIK procedure enables you to walk-in and out within a couple of hours from the surgical centre. Patients can resume normal life within 2 to 3 days of the refractive surgery.

There are however certain caveats to be considered before you go for your LASIK procedure. It is a big NO-NO for you if you are under the age of 18. Consider discussing any additional risks with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, suffering from diseases due to hormonal fluctuations, refractive instability and participate regularly in contact sports which cause regular blows to the face / eyes. Also, if you are on medications which might linger wound healing, such as immunodeficiency states (eg, HIV), give it a second-thought by discussing with your physician. Make an informed decision before proceeding for LASIK, considering that a minimum percentage of patients have suffered from unforeseen complications after the surgery.

Dr. RP Center for Opthalmic Sciences, AIIMS, New Delhi, was the first Government Institution in India to conduct excimer laser surgery in the country. Specialist LASIK surgery centers have sprouted in the … Read More

Different Types of Engineering Jobs

The engineering profession can be broken down into a number of subject areas. For most of these areas, each is its own bachelor’s degree. Civil engineering is the design of civil architecture. This includes the design of buildings, roads, drainage, landscaping, and other architecture. It is also concerned with the design of waterways and bridges. Civil engineers frequently receive basic training in surveying; surveying certifications can be earned as an associate’s degree or certificate program under civil engineering.

Mechanical engineering is often called general engineering. This degree includes an overview of statics and dynamics, material science, load analysis, and machinery design. When civil engineers design bridges, they may rely on mechanical engineers to design the trusses and supports, they also design heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, a specialty called HVAC.

Architectural engineers are a subset of civil engineers, designing buildings in accordance with building codes and safety standards. Environmental engineers, who design environmental systems or organic interfaces like living marshes, are a subset of civil engineering. Electrical engineers design circuits that carry electricity. This extends to power networks, electronic circuits, and microchips. Those engineers who design software for electronics and computers are called computer engineers. However they can also include programmers and those who write machine languages.

Industrial engineers are efficiency experts. Their training also covers probability, system modeling, system analysis, manufacturing plant design, and ergonomics. Industrial engineers are typified as the person with the stop watch measuring the cycle time of machinery operators working. However, industrial engineers are also trained in eliminating wasted time, effort and energy from any type of process. Before six sigma was a process improvement methodology, it was a quality standard for industrial engineers.

Drafting and Computer Aided Design has traditionally been a specialization within the profession. This is taught to most students, but those seeking to work as drafters can receive an associate’s degree in drafting and CAD from most engineering schools.

Biomedical engineering is the design of life saving devices and technologies. From the design of artificial joints to artificial organs, tissue graft methodologies to new laboratory equipment, this is the merging of medicine and mechanical design. Biomedical engineering degrees are typically earned with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a master’s degree in biomedical design or an additional one to two years of medical courses.

Chemical engineers design manufacturing processes and equipment to support those processes. This includes the design of chemical manufacturing plants and recycling methods. Petroleum engineers are a specialization of chemical engineers with training in oil and gas equipment design and support.… Read More

Better Customer Service With Hi-Tech Service Management Solution

Service management is growing important as the competition amongst businesses becomes more intense today with the advanced technology and easy availability of the Internet platform. Even small companies are reaping a host of benefits in implementing service management approaches such as software and procedures.

Features

There are many attractive features in advanced service management software. Such software uses technology that is based on HTML5 browser; hence, there is no necessity in installing the apps to allow easier swapping of devices without a long time in downloading upgrades. These procedures become automatic.

Software that is designed to handle service management can utilize intelligent SMS technology that is based on two-way threading; conversations and outbound messages are matched on appropriate responses.

Supervisors are able to track the progress of any job at any time through the built-in mobile workforce tracking feature in the software. Surveys can be conducted easily as they are readily configured on the mobile device. Hence, supervisors and managers can track the work in progress and the performance of the servicemen to enhance the assets as well as to generate helpful analysis and planning of any job.

There are dashboard metrics and reports provided for a deeper analysis of the mobile workforce productivity to ensure better customer service.

Enhanced customer service

Service companies have no choice but to provide the best of services to maintain their current scope of customers besides attracting new ones. Effective service management is a known approach to achieving the desired outcome. One of the means of effective service management is the implementation of the right software in the system as technology impacts the business operations today.

Such software to enhance the services of a company is proven to increase the number of tasks or appointments to 98% with a first contact while job resolution or confirmation is established on the first site visit with 95%. The increased service efficiency significantly impacts the customer’s satisfaction and their loyalty to the brand or company.

Service teams have the relevant customer information at their fingertips during the site visit to make a professional consultation that the customer would consent to the service immediately. Customer service teams become more equipped to be more insightful on customer needs and requirements. Quality service management is essential when a lot of field service is required. The field service team

provides better customer service with up-to-date information supplied by the company’s call center.… Read More