Ham Radio for Beginners

While knowledge of basic electronics and science is helpful for those interested in ham radio, it is easy for those new to the world of ham radio to figure it all out. Local ham radio clubs are often full of individuals eager to get others involved with ham radio and help teach them the ropes.

Interesting Facts About Ham Radio – Learn how amateur radio got started and the different ways they can communicate with this comprehensive overview of ham radio.

About Amateur Radio – Discover the various uses for a ham radio license to see if it’s an ideal hobby for you.

What is Amateur Radio? – Get a basic overview of ham radio, including why ham radio operators call themselves “hams.”

Communications Log – Keep track of your contacts with a handy communication log template.

Phonetic Alphabet Tables – Print out these phonetic alphabet tables and keep them handy because the phonetic alphabet is an important component of ham radio communication.

Omniglot: Morse Code – While knowing Morse Code is not required for enjoying ham radio, some operators prefer to communicate using the dots and dashes.

Exam and Certification Resources

To help keep track of ham radio operators and employ a list of experts for use in emergency situations, the FCC requires that ham radio operators receive an official license. This involves passing a special ham radio exam. Passing the exam requires understanding the basics of using ham radio in an emergency and demonstrating knowledge of FCC guidelines.

Find an Exam – You cannot adequately prepare for the licensing exam without knowing where to take it. The AARL helps those wanting to take the exam find one in the area.

AH0A Technician Class: Exam Study Guide – Prepare for the technician license exam with this comprehensive document covering basic operation, FCC rules and radio set up.

The No-Nonsense, Technician Class Study Guide – Learn about electrical principles, radio and magnetic properties and other operating procedures and materials used in ham radio operation.

Technician Test Self-Study Guide – Not only does the self-study guide present information that will appear on the licensing exam, it contains review questions to help test your knowledge.

Amateur Radio Exam Practice – Test your knowledge of ham radio operation by taking a technician or general practice exam.

Ham Radio Exam Study Tips – Do not stress about taking the licensing exam and, instead, follow some handy tips to make your studying successful.

U.S. Amateur Licenses – Ham radio operators can obtain different licenses; learn what they are and what is required to obtain each one.

FCC Form 605 – Every amateur operator must fill out FCC Form 605 in order to officially get started with the ham radio process.

FCC Universal Licensing System – Access all of the forms and services need to obtain and renew your license to operate a ham radio.

Help and Tips for Ham Radio Operators

Even veteran ham radio operators need help every now and then. Knowing the hot call signs and keeping up with the latest news can help all ham radio operators get the most out of their hobby. It can also help ensure their radios are up-to-date and they are ready to pitch in should a natural disaster strike.

AmateurLogic.TV – Watch videos on how to set up ham radio equipment and learn tips to improve your ham radio operation.

A Beginner’s Guide to Making CW Contacts – Learn how to find contacts that prefer to communicate using Morse code.

UALR Call Sign Database – Make sure your call sign information is up-to-date and find the call signs of other ham radio operators.

Amateur Radio Newsline – Keep up with the latest FCC regulations, product launches and other news in the world of amateur radio to make your hobby more enjoyable.

Radioactive Camping Tips – Take your ham radio camping, making sure you have the proper tent, stakes and power sources in advance.

72-Hour Kit – If you plan to use your ham radio skills to help in an emergency, make sure you are prepared to survive by preparing a 72-hour kit of food and other essential supplies.

Suggested Go-Kit Checklist – Have everything you need to pick up and go when disaster strikes by making sure you have everything on this go-to checklist.

Many people find that the data logger has a distinct advantage over other types of devices because it can be independently used without the aid of a computer, unlike most of the other data acquiring devices. Data loggers come in a wide rage of sizes and shapes. They also are available in a wide range of capabilities such as single channel functions to more powerful and larger devices that have the capability to maintain hundreds of new inputs.

How long will the charge of a data logger last?

Almost any data logger you purchase will be battery powered although some will also have a feature that will allow for an external power source. The life of the battery inside your data logger will depend on a number of different parameters that will include the sample rate along with the model you have chosen. A rule of thumb is the faster the device produces a sample rate the shorter life span the battery charge will be.

What is a data logger used for?

A data logger can be used for a wide range of reasons such as to comply with industry requirements, to help lower cost, to guarantee the quality of different products and also for certain research purposes.

Some examples of these things are:

1. For farmers who produce fresh fruits and vegetables a data logging device can produce accurate data of the temperature of the soil and its surroundings during the growth of their produce and during the transportation from the farm to the destination. This data will help to ensure that the quality of the produce is excellent.

2. Many companies might also use a data logging device to monitor the environment in their facilities to ensure that the heating, cooling and ventilation systems are working correctly. This monitoring will not allow the company to know when a problem in the system has occurred but also to lower the cost of their energy use.

There are many uses for device like this from monitoring the PH balance in your water to the temperature in your refrigerator. From the common man to a large corporation a data logger could be the answer to lowering your energy cost, raising the quality of your product and maintaining your business.

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Why Speech Recognition is Worth the Time Spent Training to Improve Accuracy

It should be repeated that training your computer to recognize and interpret correctly the sound of your voice is very much like developing a long relationship.  There will be times during the training process that you feel like it is not worth it or that all the training is a waste of time, but get through this frustration because in the end, the benefits offered by speech recognition software are great and you’ll find that the training was very much worth the effort and long training period required to improve accuracy.  Do not fool yourself into thinking that you speak great English and do not require extensive training.  Instead, expect the training process to improve the accuracy rates of your speech recognition software to take between 3 to 6 months, and for those of thick accents, perhaps as long as one year.

Several people have offered comparisons between Microsoft speech recognition and the popular commercial product called Dragon Naturally Speaking.  It appears at the accuracy rates are quite similar in terms of the time required to train the programs is also equivalent but there are minor variations that cause some people to prefer one speech recognition program over the other.  Certainly, it is a benefit that the speech recognition software offered by Microsoft comes standard on Cista whereas that offered by Dragon costs significantly more.  The choice is yours as to which speech recognition software you choose to use, but whichever  program you decide upon, do not fool yourself about this significant period of time required to adequately train your speech recognition software to have high accuracy rates and to work smoothly.

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First of all, Joomla is completely free. It is open source software, which means that as long as you agree to the terms stated on their website and use the software only as it is intended, you are welcome to develop your website without paying any upfront costs. There are many other development tools out there that cost an arm and a leg and after spending a couple of years experimenting, it seemed that they often had bugs and other issues. With that said, the fact that it is open source means it’s a project that people genuinely believe in. Therefore, the support forums on the main Joomla site are beyond compare and I’ve never had a question, basic or advanced, that hadn’t already been addressed somewhere. The one time I did have a statement to make, it was immediately replied to. People care about the success, failure and viability of open source and Joomla and products like it are often very well-maintained with a support team of volunteers.

Aside from being free and open source software, another element that makes Joomla the ideal content management system for your website is that it is incredibly easy to use and implement. If your web host grants you access to Fantastico, chances are it will be a one-click upload to get the initial framework onto your site. Even manual installation is a breeze and only minimal knowledge of basic PHP concepts and coding is necessary. Another aspect of this is that the documentation and support system made up entirely of volunteers is beyond compare so even if you have trouble with basic issues, chances are it’s addressed somewhere in the documentation for Joomla and if not, the forums will very likely cover what you need to know.

As a note on the ease of use of Joomla as your content management for a new or existing website, make sure you plan ahead and create a content map as well as spend the necessary time with the documentation. When you are setting up Joomla and preparing to look over your content, once you’ve made a detailed plan of action for your website, spend at least one entire day; preferably around 5-7 hours, reading through all of the documentation and getting a firm handle on how Joomla operates as a content management system. The last thing you want is to dive right in, get a great deal of content plugged in and the template just right only to find you have to start from scratch. While it’s easy to learn and use, you want to make sure you’ve dedicated enough time to preparation, including your website plan based on what Joomla as a content management system can do and learning how to effectively and efficiently work with it.

One begins to understand, at least on a superficial level, just how significant the potential of data-mining techniques is when one begins to monitor one’s own online habits. For the purposes of this assignment, I kept a log of all of the websites I visited in a single day, and even I was surprised by how much of a paper trail I was creating about myself. I was still more surprised by the fact that I could see how some of the information I was leaving behind with every keystroke was used to customize my online experience during my next visit to a particular site. Some of the sites that I visited on the day when I kept the log included the travel website www.expedia.com, the mega-online retailer,www.amazon.com, the movie rental site www.netflix.com, and the website for the bank where I have an account. In order to actually complete a transaction on all four of these sites, it is required that the user have an account. The account itself is free, but it does require the input of a significant degree of personal information: complete legal name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address, credit card number (along with expiration date and security code), and a variety of data that are promised to serve to create layers of security for the users (such as mother’s maiden name, name of high school attended, city of birth, and the like).

I already had an account on all four of these sites, but because of this assignment, I was much more conscious of how my personal information and my past purchasing or site-visit habits affected my current experience. On expedia, my credit card information automatically appeared when I began to make a travel reservation. On Amazon, a menu of “recommended books” that were customized to my interests based on past purchases and books I’d viewed during previous visits was displayed prominently on the main page. Similarly, on Netflix, a list of recommended movies appeared on the main page, movies that had been selected especially for me based on my history of rentals. On the bank website, the user page had been modified, and even if I had previously selected that I did not want my personal information saved, my user name popped up automatically. These were just three out of numerous examples of a single day online. If this was the case for what Icould see, I imagine that the amount of information about me that is used to customize marketing messages, generate spam, etc.

This exercise raised my consciousness significantly about the way in which my personal information is used and for what purposes. When I began to read more about this process of data mining, I realized that it is much more sophisticated and complicated than even these three experiences might suggest. As Han and Kamber explain in their book Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques, data miners collect vast quantities of information about every single visitor to the Internet, as well as users of other electronic media. Credit cards and debit cards also serve as means for retailers and marketers to capture consumer information and create customized pitches for buyers. When these data are collected using sophisticated software, they are then sorted into many different types of information categories. Large retailers, in particular, have become particularly adept at determining precisely what types of information are relevant and valuable to them; this information is then warehoused for future use, the future being, at times, astonishingly quick, as on Amazon.[3]

I feel uncomfortable with the fact that retailers collect such information about consumers. While I may very well like the books or movies that Amazon and Netflix recommend, and while the automatic appearance of my information may make my online experience faster, the fact that I do not retain control over whether I want these “conveniences” bothers me and makes me feel uneasy. While I am not generally an advocate of using the tool of legislation as a means of establishing and enforcing business values, standards, and practices, I am an advocate of businesses being more responsible so that such legislation is not necessary. I think that online users should have more choice about how their information is used, and I think that as a minimum standard of retailer behavior, online vendors—regardless of their industry—should have a prominently placed statement about how they use information and what privacy protections and options are available to users so that consumers can be more informed. I am also an advocate of consumers becoming more conscious about their own behavior and Internet use. Learning more about what data mining is, how it is used, and how to protect oneself from malevolent or intrusive data-mining practices is one step, and an empowering one, that can make a significant difference in this practice.

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[1] Herman Tavani, “Informational Privacy, Data Mining, and the Internet,” Ethics and Information Technology 1, no. 2 (1999): 137.

[2] Jianwei Han and Micheline Kamber, Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques (Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2006), xxi.

[3] Bette Ann Stead and Jackie Gilbert “Ethical Issues in Electronic Commerce,” Journal of Business Ethics 34, no. 2 (2001): 75.

The most popular speech recognition programs are Dragon Naturally Speaking and the tool on Microsoft Vista called simply Microsoft Speech Recognition and while both garner many claims about high levels of accuracy , this accuracy comes at a rather high price: extensive training to improve speech recognition and improve accuracy.

Why is Training Necessary or Important for Speech Recognition to Work?

The training process for speech recognition software is required so the computer can learn about the unique inflections and variations in your speech. Even if you speak like a broadcaster in perfect English, the software will not work perfectly out of the box. Everyone needs to train their speech recognition software, some more than others.  Training is one of the most critical components of using any speech recognition software.  By spending the right amount of time training the speech recognition software, even though it takes quite a long time to do, in the end it will save a great deal of time as you will not need to correct as many mistakes.  For those who are only using speech recognition software to take notes or to compose documents that do not require a high level of accuracy, the basic training offered within the core features of the software should be enough.

How Long Does it Take to Train Speech Recognition Programs?

If you have a thick Southern or other accent, you can expect your training to take far longer than it would for someone who sounds much like any of the news anchors we’re all familiar with.  By longer, this means you can expect training her speech recognition software to take several months.  Even with excellent English speaking skills and broadcaster-like pronunciation, adequate training generally will take around three months of constant use.  By constant use, this means that when using the software and training it, you correct mistakes made by the program using the methods the help section dictates.  For instance, in both Microsoft speech recognition and dragon naturally speaking, in order for the computer to learn from your mistakes, you must properly correct all errors.  Again, this can be a very time consuming process and this training can be very frustrating because so many of us are used to things working straight out of the box.  When you begin to use speech recognition software, it is important to look at the process as developing a relationship with both the software in your computer.  If you have the patience to perform the training necessary, the accuracy rates will allow you to compose documents far faster and will allow you the freedom to use a headset in your car or other places where you would not normally be able to type.

Generally speaking, if you speak standard American English and enunciate clearly while speaking using a quality headset microphone, over the course of three months of repeated use you can expect accuracy rates for your speech recognition software to be in the 90^th percentile.  By repeated use, this means nearly every day and always correcting errors using the suggested method by the software.  If you have an accent of any kind, the amount of training required to achieve high accuracy rates with your speech recognition software could take between six months and one year.  This is a very long time to spend training and the process of training speech recognition software can be incredibly frustrating, to point where you will feel like there’s no end in sight and the computer is not learning from your mistakes.  However, for those who what a ability to type because of carpal tunnel syndrome or other problems, this is a relatively short amount of time compared to the alternatives, such as paying a typist or slowly typing things out yourself.

Why Speech Recognition is Worth the Time Spent Training to Improve Accuracy

It should be repeated that training your computer to recognize and interpret correctly the sound of your voice is very much like developing a long relationship.  There will be times during the training process that you feel like it is not worth it or that all the training is a waste of time, but get through this frustration because in the end, the benefits offered by speech recognition software are great and you’ll find that the training was very much worth the effort and long training period required to improve accuracy.  Do not fool yourself into thinking that you speak great English and do not require extensive training.  Instead, expect the training process to improve the accuracy rates of your speech recognition software to take between 3 to 6 months, and for those of thick accents, perhaps as long as one year.

Several people have offered comparisons between Microsoft speech recognition and the popular commercial product called Dragon Naturally Speaking.  It appears at the accuracy rates are quite similar in terms of the time required to train the programs is also equivalent but there are minor variations that cause some people to prefer one speech recognition program over the other.  Certainly, it is a benefit that the speech recognition software offered by Microsoft comes standard on Cista whereas that offered by Dragon costs significantly more.  The choice is yours as to which speech recognition software you choose to use, but whichever  program you decide upon, do not fool yourself about this significant period of time required to adequately train your speech recognition software to have high accuracy rates and to work smoothly.

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Genetic research involves looking forward towards potential applications of knowledge and techniques to alter the genetic code, but it also looks back, and this is the subject of Chang’s article. Chang, writing about the “archaeology of genes” (para. 2), explains how scientists are examining the genetic composition of ancient proteins to determine how the function of genes and the proteins themselves have evolved over the course of hundreds, thousands, and even millions of years. Proteins, once they change shape, have difficulty performing their assigned functions, and as a result, an “evolutionary cul-de-sac” is created, rendering the protein obsolete (para. 6). Because proteins are a basic building block of life, learning more about how they have changed over time offers insight into the very mechanics of the evolutionary process.

As this fund of knowledge about the mechanics of evolution and genetic coding and functioning grows, so do the possibilities of using this information in new ways, and that is the subject of Broad’s article. Broad describes how a little known process called radiation breeding is used by geneticists to force spontaneous mutations upon certain crops, thereby resulting in increased genetic diversity and, in the best cases, in crop resilience, a benefit that is particularly promising for developing nations that rely upon monoculture for their subsistence economies. Though not as controversial as genetically modified foods, radiation breeding still raises some concerns, mainly that the process used is not “natural.” The scientist interviewed by Broad dismisses these concerns, however, saying that the work he and his colleagues do merely mimics the natural selection process; it simply does so in an accelerated time frame.

Pollack’s article also involves an examination of human intervention in genetic processes, this time in the very production of genes themselves. Pollack explains that the convergence of advanced technology and increased demand has made it possible for technicians to manufacture strands ofDNAfor the purpose of research. While there is concern that this process may lead to questionable applications of the technology, including selective breeding of people, current and anticipated use ofDNAstrand production holds out promise for the possibility of advancing the speed and efficacy of epidemiological research exponentially.

Finally, Wade reports on an issue that concerns most Americans: the role that genes play in determining our weight. Wade looks back and forward at the same time, examining how past generations’ behaviors and eating habits have influenced our current genetic make-up, including the genetic propensity for obesity. Brushing aside the fad-diet assumptions about the relative evil of carbohydrates versus fats versus sugars, Wade presents scientific evidence that seems to substantiate the claim that the introduction of starch to the human diet resulted in the accelerated production of the amylase gene, which, in turn, converts starch to sugar and sugar, of course, into weight. According to Wade’s interpretation of the research, this phenomenon helps explain some of the branching off among the species—especially between primates and humans—that has occurred over the course of evolutionary history.

The four articles are not only related to one another thematically in their treatment of the subject of genetic technologies and current research, but they are also related to one another in terms of their social relevance; the issues that the journalists present to the reader affect us all. First, the persistent arguments between people who believe in evolution and those who do not, for example, are challenged by the information and knowledge that is emerging through the kinds of research described here. The process of scientific experimentation is producing irrefutable information that supports an evolutionary model, irrespective of religious beliefs and philosophical preferences. The polemical debates between intelligent design advocates and evolutionists, then, must necessarily be tempered by the facts that science has brought to light. Indeed, there are new debates that genetic research raises, and this is also a matter that affects us all.

The discoveries that scientists are making require thoughtful engagement of the public regarding ethical, moral, and legal considerations about the limits of genetic technologies and modifications. As a society, we will eventually be called upon to decide how far we are willing to let science go to change natural evolutionary processes. Such decisions will be challenging, as the technologies that are evolving hold out promise and danger in equal measure. On the one hand, genetic modifications can improve our understanding of disease and of health, and can potentially diminish those variables that contribute to disease. The discoveries, particularly those described by Broad, also offer particular benefits to people living in developing countries and whose dependence upon agricultural production as a means of economic sustenance can become less vulnerable to the unpredictable forces of nature, many of which—such as climate—are caused by humans. On the other hand, the ethical implications of making disease-resistant people, animals, and plants may upset the balance of natural selection that genetics not adapted or interfered with by humans has traditionally been able to maintain. While scientists argue they are merely accelerating natural processes, they often fail to address what the negative or deleterious effects of such acceleration might be.

The discoveries described by all four authors are important because they represent the cutting edge of contemporary genetic research, and explain, in clear and accessible terms, how these discoveries affect all people. The shared premise among the researchers whose work is described in these articles is that if scientists can exert greater control over the outcomes of the “dice roll” that is genetic selection and evolution, humans will experience greater benefits and more predictability in many areas of their lives. The kinds of work that the researchers are conducting are still really only in their nascent stages, and there is a great deal more research that will need to be conducted in the future in order to understand the panorama of potential implications of the kinds of modifications that are being made, as well as discoveries that are shedding light on ancient genetic processes. As a media-consuming public, we have the responsibility to read articles such as those by Broad, Chang, Pollack, and Wade as critically and as objectively as possible. Setting aside our own personal beliefs about the evolutionary process, we must examine the assumptions, findings, and the applications that researchers report, as well as those that are implied but not stated in the research findings and in their analysis. Only then can we become thoughtful readers who can arrive at an understanding of the ways in which the kinds of research described in these articles affects us now and how it might affect us in the future.

References

Broad, W.J. (2007, August 28). Useful mutants, bred with radiation. The New York Times. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on October 29, 2007 from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/science/28crop.html?emc=eta1

Chang, K. (2007, August 21). Ancient protein tells the story of changing functions. The New York Times. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on October 29, 2007 fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/21/science/21prot.html?_r=1&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Pollack, A. (2007, September 12). How do you like your genes? Biofabs take orders. The New York Times. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on October 29, 2007 fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/technology/techspecial/12gene.html?emc=eta1

Wade, N. (2007, September 10). Study finds evidence of genetic response to diet. The New York Times. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on October 29, 2007 fromhttp://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/10/science/10starch.html?emc=eta1

An article from CIO magazine, “Strategic Systems: Beneath the Buzz” discusses the way the very term “strategic systems” is beginning to lose its meaning. Ever since the word came into popular usage in business and IT management circles it has come to be applied to many projects, almost just for the sake of using the term. Instead of projects being necessarily strategic, they are simply called such so it sounds efficient and practical-the fact is there is little attention being paid any longer to what it means. According to the article, “it’s imperative that IT and business leaders know what truly is strategic in order to focus scarce resources on really important, high-payoff initiatives.” In order to remedy this problem, the article sets out the redefine strategic systems and restate how they can be applied in practice as opposed to being simple rhetorical monikers.

The article defines strategy from a business perspective as “a comprehensive plan of action to achieve a goal.” With this definition in place, it puts the term in the context of a business and relates how strategies are important for businesses and how they help to achieve a particular set of goals. This is further broken down into a definition for IT and another for business with the common idea that competition drives strategy.

The article from CIO magazine also states that the strategies for IT are more complex than those for business and then looks at ways to create business value from different levels; product value, customer relationships, and cost variables. It lays these goals for strategic systems out in a “stair-step” model. In addition, the article examines strategic planning for the IT market by looking at operations management, efficiency, business effectiveness, customer relationships, and product value. As a whole, this article seeks to redefine what strategies are in an age of IT rather than simply business. The article closes with a plea to keep the use of “s-word” as something to be used only when the situation warrants it. This can be achieved through a closer examination of language and goals and is especially important in the IT environment.

According to Callahan (2003), the idea of adaptive optics was proposed in 1953, when a frustrated astronomer was motivated to find a way to mitigate the distorting effects that “light from stars, planets, and galaxies picks up while passing through the Earth’s soupy atmosphere” (p. 102). Distortions decreased the utility and descriptive capacity of photographs and visual impressions captured by sophisticated telescopes, blurring images, robbing them of crispness and clarity, and preventing astronomers from assessing their unique features. It was only 30 years later, however, when astronomers developed the sophisticated adaptive optical technology that permitted them to finally see images with a high resolution and unparalleled visual crispness (Callahan, 2003). It was ten more years before the federal government declassified the technology so that it could be explored by researchers (Philipkoski, 2003). One of the most compelling and moving images produced by the advance in adaptive optics technologies was a view of Titan, one of Saturn’s moons; images of Titan prior to adaptive optics were extremely poor and yielded little to no useful information for astronomers (Philipkoski, 2003). When images of the same moon and other planetary bodies were compared before and after the use of adaptive optics, the National Science Foundation immediately perceived the possibility of applying the theories and instruments of adaptive optics to the science of human vision and vision correction, and it began funding research to study this subject (Callahan, 2003).

Callahan (2003) explains that the eye’s “cornea, lens, vitreous fluid and other structures” can obstruct clear views of the retina, which sends images to the brain via impulses conveyed through the nervous system (p. 102). The adaptive optics technology used for taking clearer photographs of objects in space was refined so that specific instruments could be used for examining human vision. The specific application that was developed is a tool, the ocular aberrometer, which “measures imperfections in light reflected off the retina” (Callahan, 2003, p. 102). In many cases, the adaptive optic instruments are so tiny that they are as small as a speck of dust; they can even be inserted on a small microchip into existing equipment, such as fundus cameras, which are used to take pictures of the human eye (Olivier, 2003). The result is that vision doctors can determine where optical problems reside, as well as what the nature of the problems is and how the problems can be corrected. The adaptive optic technologies permit doctors to view the “living cells” that reside in the retina and are changing constantly (Miller & Thibos, 2003, n.p.). The technology is so precise that users can zoom in their instruments to be able to view individual cells (Philipkoski, 2003). Olivier (2003) adds that another benefit of the advanced optic technologies is that patients can actually see the interior of their eyes and get a first-hand peek at their problem, as well as visualize the proposed solution.

Adaptive optics led to the development of corrective vision surgery using lasers, a practice which has gained popularity in recent years, but the most current generation of adaptive optics technologies that are being used permit doctors to be even more precise in applying treatments that are customized to each patient’s specific needs, which are almost as diverse as individuals’ fingerprints. According to doctors who use the adaptive optics technologies pioneered by astronomers, patients who benefit from these tools can not only recuperate their original visual functioning, but exceed it, enjoying vision that is “sharper than 20-20” (Callahan, 2003, p. 102). Indeed, Olivier (2003) contends that it is not abnormal for patients to achieve “supernormal” vision ratios of “20/8” (n.p.). Another doctor adds that “in the next 20 years, eyeglasses and contacts will become as obsolete as whalebone girdles and buggy whips” (in Callahan, 2003, p. 102).

In addition to common vision problems that affect a large number of the population, such as near-sightedness or its opposite, some of the most promising applications of the adaptive optic technologies involve the potential early diagnosis and treatment of more serious and compromising diseases, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinopathy caused by diabetes (Olivier, 2003). If these technologies can indeed identify such illnesses in their early stages, it is likely that the prevention rate of more serious problems, including blindness, can be increased substantially (Miller & Thibos, 2003). At present, without these technologies, doctors have far fewer possibilities for diagnosing certain problems. In addition to the advantages that adaptive optic technologies provide with respect to zooming in on individual cells in hard to access places in the eye, the University of California, Santa Cruz (2002) cited another benefit of the technology, and that is that the instruments currently being used allow doctors to look at the eye as a three-dimensional structure. The instruments also permit intense magnification that is not possible with existing tools and techniques (University of California, Santa Cruz, 2002). As Miller and Thibos (2003) indicate, “In glaucoma… the actual disease is cells in the optic nerve dying, and… doctors can’t see that happening…. They can only see it after the cells are dead” (n.p.). Miller and Thibos (2003) go on to explain just how dramatic the difference is between diagnosis with adaptive optic technologies and without it: “It may take 10 years for changes in vision caused by glaucoma to show up” (n.p.) without the technologies.

As of 2003, the use of adaptive optics technologies were largely confined to five university research laboratories around the world, where clinical investigations have been examining different applications of the theories and instruments (Philipkoski, 2003). The findings of the investigative teams have been positive and researchers directly involved in the study of adaptive optics technologies are confident that the procedures will be approved for general clinical use within a short period of time. The primary obstacle to distribution at this point involves lowering the cost of the equipment (University of California, Santa Cruz, 2002). Future research, then, is likely to be directed in two main areas: (1) the development of functional but low-cost technologies, and (2) the application of those technologies to a variety of eye ailments, as well as other diseases of the human body.

References

Callahan, R. (2003). Astronomy technology to improve vision and eye disease diagnoses.International Journal of Humanities and Peace, 19(1), 102.

Miller, D.T., & Thibos, L. (2003). Major technical advance in astronomy improves diagnosis of eye diseases. Indiana University Press Release. Retrieved on May 10, 2007 from http://newsinfo.iu.edu/news/page/normal/717.html

Olivier, S.S. (2003). From stars to sight: Astronomy optics diagnose eye disease, aid vision. Advanced Biomedical Technology Research. [Electronic Version]. Retrieved on May 10, 2007 from http://doemedicalsciences.org/abt/optics/olivier.shtml.

Philipkoski, K. (2003, January 23). Getting a closer look at the eye. Wired. [Electronic Version].Retrieved on May 10, 2007 fromhttp://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2003/01/57332

University of California, Santa Cruz. (2002, June 24). Adaptive optics technology provides powerful tools for eye doctors. Science Daily. Retrieved on May 10, 2007 fromhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/06/020624072333.htm

“China is by far the world’s top coal producer and consumer, using about 42 percent of the world’s thermal coal for generating power and 48 percent of its metallurgical or coking coal for making steel. It uses more coal than the United States, Europe, and Japan put together” (Callick 2007). China is not renowned for its emphasis on human rights and efforts to curb pollution to minimize environmental and human health concerns, China’s membership in several multinational economic and other groups has required it to take matters of public health and environmental accountability seriously, especially as negative actions could damage China’s economy overall, from the economy in Hong Kong to the trickle down to other small rural provinces.

With these matters in mind, an Atlanta-based company called CoalTek is poised to have potential success in China as it offers a cleaner solution to solid fuels that does not deviate far from existing coal technologies and thus is almost immediately practicable at enormous benefit to the people of China as well as the country more generally.

As stated in their brief purpose declaration, Atlanta-based CoalTek (http://www.coaltek.com) has “developed and commercialized a cost-effective, preburn treatment process that physically and chemically transforms low-rank, mine-run coals into stable high BTU, clean coal fuel alternatives.” What is not stated on the company’s main page is of the utmost importance for China as a global leader in coal consumption and production, which is that this conversion process, which takes otherwise low-grade and nearly unusable raw coal, ends up being “at or below the world’s highest quality raw coals” costs.

In short, the company offers a coal that is clean-burning and that is roughly on par with the amount of money China or other potential markets would already be paying, thus for all purposes, this seems like a viable source to both curb environmental and health damage for the current and future generations while appeasing organizations China belongs to that strictly monitor these issues. Since China is by far the biggest consumer and producer of these coal products, it is natural that this would be a prime market for CoalTek and would benefit all levels of society as well as the governmental and private sector interests at stake.

Before discussing the unique political and legal aspects of China and the possibilities of expanding a business there, it should be noted that unlike many other nations, the state of these issues is often open to debate and is also constantly changing based on outside pressures to conform to more Westernized notions of what is and is not acceptable. This information on China can differ from day to day and is dramatically different than might have been reported even five years ago and is also highly context-dependent. In other words, while some aspects of the political or legal structure might be open and transparent in some situations, in contexts they are not at all, thus offering an actual presentation of China’s structure is fraught with as many questions as answers. Nonetheless, since China has had an increased emphasis in the last couple of years on opening up its system and aiming for greater fairness in political and legal spheres, it can be suggested that their system is cautiously open to new ideas from the West, particularly where energy is concerned, as it would be in this proposed introduction of CoalTek into the Chinese market.

Again, the shifting nature of China’s effectiveness in terms of freedom and fairness in legal and political matters, especially as they relate to transparency, which is a particular problem in the electoral process, cannot always be quantified for many commercial businesses entering the market, but for something as vital to the economic and public health of the country as energy, CoalTek’s potential to enter the Chinese market might be greater than that of other material businesses entering from Western markets.

The political and legal structure of China is significantly different from those in place in many developed Western nations, in terms of both the extent to which the government is involved in the lives of its citizens as well as the economy more generally. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is, despite relatively recent efforts toward an increased emphasis on democratization and liberalism, a mostly authoritarian state and the CCP exerts control over most private enterprises and owns a great share in the economy alongside (and often with great oversight of) other private business ventures, especially in urban centers. On a more localized level, each of China’s state is part of the National People’s Congress (NPC) which, in a loose structural sense, is akin to the United State Senate without the same level of transparent and completely fair elections by members of the states being represented, and which governs more province-oriented matters and answers directly to the CCP. In other words, while there is a congressional authority in China, it is a largely superfluous organization when it comes to major matters of national or international importance.

The legal system in China has at its very core the same values of the CCP at heart, despite the existence of the Chinese Constitution, which seeks to protect human rights and many processes and issues related to basic freedoms, but is not held to the same end-all status the United States Constitution, as an example, is in a court of law. In short, while there are several legal treaties that exist for China’s political governance system, these are not always the first indicator for whether a practice or correct or legal; in the end the ultimate discretion is given to party leaders, not the people, and not the Constitution or legal system. While there have been significant efforts to revolutionize this legal system and more generally, the authoritarian political structure, it is an ongoing process. Just as in the case with the energy sector and its negative environmental and public health impacts, however, international pressure seems to be the primary impetus to change, thus the Chinese Constitution is expected to undergo further revisions and more adherence as time goes on.

With these aspects of China’s political and legal structure in mind, it is accurate to suggest that while there are elections that are free, this is only in the sense that anyone can take part in elections and vote for whomever they choose, although this is generally only beneficial at the very local (village) level in terms of fairness and despite the outcomes of elections, the ruling party (the CCP) is always the undisputed victor. In short, despite the presence of elections themselves, the extreme lack of transparency into the election process renders election procedures in China almost useless as the voice of the people is generally not the sole foundation for who becomes elected. The National People’s Congress is comprised of individuals elected by each of the constituent states, however again, it is extraordinary rare that those elected offer any dissent to the ruling majority thus again rending the outcomes of Chinese elections questionable at best.

Although China has made significant strides in the past two decades to migrate from a strict government-controlled economy, these elements still exist, although this is an ever-increasing emphasis on becoming a market-based economy. These changes are evidenced by the relatively recent entry and maintenance of conditions to continue China’s membership to APEC and the WTO. Most of the structure in the Chinese economy is still based on the centrally-run system but due to pressure from international organizations and more importantly, based on the success of the increasing market economy that has made China the second largest economy in the world, the trend toward the free market approach continues to grow. Nonetheless, institutions such as the People’s Bank of China exert great control over businesses large and small, even if they are not state-run or sponsored and this institution can be seen in many ways as the economic branch of the CCP and governs nearly all procedural aspects of all businesses that are not managed by the state and a growing number of these private enterprises exist.

Without exception, China is a difficult market to navigate in the context of international business but with Coaltek’s alternative energy method that will both rely on existing coal technologies and infrastructure and will provide enormous environmental, public health, and economic benefits (which will come as a result of China not having to eventually use only high-grade coal and being able to use otherwise dead supplies through cleaning—not to mention the amount saved on public health and environmental cleanup efforts.) Given its dominance in world markets, especially as the dollar is no longer a reliable symbol abroad, China would be well-positioned to not only accept this technology from CoalTek on a functional level for provision of same-cost fuels, but it would also appease international watchdog and regulation groups and improve public health and already quit severe environmental problems.

References

Callick, R. (2007). All the coal in China. American: A Magazine of Ideas,1(4), 24-30.

China: Country Review. (2008) In CountryWatch [Web], New York: CountryWatch. Retrieved 10/11/2008 from http://www.countrywatch.com/login.aspx?err=5it=review.