Top 7 Apps To Help You Communicate Better

Posted on 08. Oct, 2012 by admin in Communication & Consumer Technology

Many companies have come up with applications that make life easier for those who prefer to use phones with advanced features that aid communication. Since there are so many of them in the market, it would be good to choose the ones that have been perfected.

From my experience of using communication apps, the huge user base comes from the fact that if your friends are on it, you usually want to get it since that’s the only way that communication app has value for you. The following is a list of communication apps that have come of age and have proven to deliver whatever they promise.

1. Whatsapp

Formerly Whatsapp was a free application but it will now cost you slightly less than a buck but it is definitely worth it. It is the fastest growing app in the industry supporting a varied number of operating systems. Whatsapp on average does handle more than a billion messages, images, audio and videos.

After many bug fixes, Whatsapp is now almost flawless, and that for an application is worth noting. The customize button gives it a personal feel for each user. It supports phones for Android, Blackberry, Symbian, iOS, Windows phone and series 40 operating systems.

2. Google Voice

You can now call free for three hours straight, enjoy unlimited SMS and other features such as call blocking as fast as you want with Google voice. The other advantage is having all your calls, text messages and chats sent to your Google account, which works well for reference and memory. Google Voice works hand in hand with other Google apps such as Google+ and Google Talk. It supports palmweb, Android and iOS operating systems.

3. Skype

When Microsoft acquired this app in 2011, the world waited in bated breath to see what the geniuses at Microsoft would do with the app and they did not disappoint. Skype came from being a slow and inconsistent app to one that connected people all over the world fast.

You should be happy to know that it is free, for Skype to Skype calls and real-time due to its Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP). It relays voice phone calls at the touch of a button and file transfer. The main advantage Skype has to other communication application is that its VOIP is better due to its modification and use of a hybrid peer-peer system

4. Viber

Viber is a new application that seems to be putting Skype on their toes. It is an application that connects its users to the world. New improvements have seen addition of languages such as Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese and even Arabic. It offers free texts service, multimedia messaging with other Viber users on phones that support the application.

The other advantage is that Viber videos are High Definition (HD) quality and the good people at Viber have also not included advertisements in the app even if it comes free, this is an endearing feature. It supports phones with Android, Blackberry, Nokia, iOS, Windows phone and Bada operating systems. It has apps for specific phones but offers the same services. This is to make sure there no conflicts with the phones operations as were with Skype and the iPhone.

5. Conference Calleague

Now this is an app that means business. This app from the Windows Phone platform is designed for conference calling and can handle numerous meetings at the same time. Being a business communication app, it synchronizes with your calendar and contacts.

It is effective for managing conference calls, where you can add as many meetings or people you want, and to cap it all up, it works with the major communications networks notably Cisco webEX. In a new feature added, Conference Calleague lets you teach it how to find your dial in numbers among other new call features.

6. Tango

Tango is a free phone app that now supports computers too. You can make and receive phone calls, chat, send SMS, video calls, and multimedia messages. The app tell you who on your contact list is on Tango, these feature is very helpful as you can only use Tango features with other Tango users.

7. Facebook Messenger

This app made the tag line, ‘What’s on your mind?’ famous. Having recently listed on Wall Street, the company keeps on impressing its users. The Facebook Messenger app helps you connect with your friends on Facebook from your phone, and the chats are instant. However, the major drawback is that it only identifies users on Facebook and not on any other platforms.

This article has been written by Andrea, the webmaster over at BMOB.com which is a leading authority in the technology and gadget niche.

7 Benefits Of Using Portable Conveyors

Posted on 04. Oct, 2012 by admin in Engineering & Technology, Industrial Engineering

Conveyor systems are mechanical equipment used to move different materials from one point to another. They are useful when moving bulky or heavy materials, and allow for quick and efficient operation. They are popular fixtures in many industries and they come in different types, sizes and models.

Many players in the transport and construction sectors are now turning to portable conveyors as a convenient solution. Unlike the large immobile structures, the portable conveyors are proving to be very handy for most tasks in different locations or sites. There are several benefits when it comes to investing in the portable conveyors.

1. Portability

The fact that the conveyors can be moved to different locations makes them very efficient. These machines enable the movement of goods from one location to another with very little effort. The portable systems can be transported from one site to another with ease. This helps to increase productivity and efficiency in a business that has many functions.

The conveyors can be taken where they are needed by hooking them onto a truck, and they can be returned when the task is completed.

The conveyors can be taken where they are needed by hooking them onto a truck, and they can be returned when the task is completed.

2. Time saving

The systems are efficient in that they reduce the time it takes to carry out certain activities. The time it takes to move goods up a ramp, is much shorter than it would take manually or using other equipment. This machines help to cut down on production time, which helps to keep a business competitive. The faster goods are moved the easier it is to move to the next phase of production.

3. Flexibility

The portable conveyor is relatively lightweight and it can be used in places where a regular conveyor cannot reach.

People working in places like mines and confined areas, or on inclines, can use the conveyors with ease. The conveyor system is now being used in mineral extraction. Its simplicity and flexibility means that it can be used conveniently on its own or alongside other systems.

4. Affordable

Portable conveyors are more affordable than other types of conveyors. There are different models in the market and some are cheaper than others are. Those who need the equipment on a short-term basis can lease the conveyor for specific tasks, or for a specific period. This makes the system quite affordable even for those with small businesses. The cost of production is greatly reduced which enhances the profit margin of the business.

5. Plenty of options

The portable conveyors come in many different types made from various materials.  They also differ in cost depending on the material used, which means that there is equipment to suit every production budget. The most common conveyors are made from steel or different metallic alloys.

Those made from alloys are usually lighter and cheaper than other models. There are also some made of fabricated fiberglass instead of bearings, which has made them much cheaper and more readily available.

6. Maintenance

The cost of maintaining the portable systems is much lower than that of other systems. All the repairs can be performed with ease, without having to remove the belt. They can be washed and serviced conveniently, which means that production does not have to be halted for long as the service is carried out. This allows production to go on efficiently with minimal downtime. When used in the food industry, they help to maintain hygiene standards because they can be cleaned frequently and with ease.

7. Durability

The machines are light, yet they are also strong and durable and can last a very long time. When buying or leasing the equipment, it is important to consider the weight and materials used. A good quality machine will last for long, while enhancing efficiency. There are different vendors who stock the equipment and it is important to carry out research in order to find the best equipment, at the best price. A good dealer or vendor will also offer maintenance services to ensure the machine remains in good condition.

Like with all machines, it is important to ensure that the portable conveyor is serviced regularly. Oiling the movable parts will help to ensure that they function well. It is also important to ensure safety by following instructions carefully. The best conveyors come with safety features that allow them to be used effectively even in the harshest conditions. These are units that can be carried to any location and set up within minutes.

Chad is an expert when it comes to conveyor systems and different types of conveyor belts. However, his favorite has got to be the portable conveyors.  

The Science Behind What Makes A Car Engine Work

Posted on 04. Sep, 2012 by admin in Engineering & Technology

To many people, a car looks like a confused jungle of metal, plastic wires, tubes and other than knowing the basics, they have no other idea of how a car works. To add to the confusion, when buying a new car, new terminologies come to play, terms such as dual overhead cams, fuel injection and tuned ports. Here, you will find the fundamental idea of how the car engine works; details of how pieces join to complete the circuit to make the engine work.

(Photo credits: MyLifeStory)

The purpose of an engine is to convert gasoline into energy so that your car moves. The gasoline is burned inside the engine, and for that reason, the engine system of a car is known as an internal combustion engine. It is worthwhile to note that different types of internal combustion engines exist, diesel engines being one type and gas turbine engines being another. Each of the two has its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

External combustion engines also exist. These are usually found in the steam engines used in the old trains and steam boats. Coal, wood or oil is burned outside the engine to produce steam, and the steam in turn provides energy for movement. However, internal combustion is more fuel efficient and the internal combustion engines are smaller hence relatively easy to install.

Internal combustion

Hard as it is to believe, the science behind internal combustion engines is relatively simple. If a small quantity of high-energy combustible fuel such as gasoline is placed in a stable, enclosed and relatively small place, then ignited, a lot of energy will be released in gaseous form. This energy can be used to propel objects over a distance. In simpler terms, it is this gaseous energy that is harnessed and used in a particular way to provide motion.

Most cars use a cycle referred to as a 4-stroke combustion cycle, which converts the gasoline into movement. This cycle is also called the Otto cycle, a name given in 1867, in remembrance of its inventor, Nikolaus Otto. The 4 strokes are: the intake, compression, combustion and exhaust strokes.

Basic engine parts

The engine consists of cylinders, which in turn have pistons inside the cylinder that move upwards and downwards. Simple engines like lawn mowers have one cylinder, however, the majority of cars have four, six or eight cylinders. They have specific arrangement in multi-cylindered engines known as incline, flat or V arrangements.

(Photo credits: Mirko Junge)

Depending on the manufacturing cost, the characteristics, and the smoothness, the different engine configurations have their ups and downs. Detailed below are key parts of the engine you might want to know about.

1.       Valves

The valves serve the purpose of letting air and fuel by opening at the right time. These are known as the intake valves. The exhaust valves have to open at the right time to facilitate the elimination of the exhaust fumes. Both kinds of valves are always closed during combustion and compression to maintain a sealed combustion chamber.

2.       Spark plug

This is the part that provides the spark used to ignite the fuel and air mixture, for them to burn. The spark is usually timed to happen at the precise time for the fuel to be ignited.

3.       Piston

This is a metal piece that is cylindrical in shape, and has an upward and downward movement in the cylinders.

4.       Connecting rod

This part connects the crankshaft and the piston. The connecting rod rotates at either ends, enabling it to change its angle as the shaft rotates and piston moves.

5.       Piston rings

For the pistons to move down and up effectively, piston rings act as a source of sliding seal linking the Piston’s outer lining with the cylinder’s inner lining. The functions of the rings are:

• During compression and combustion, they keep the mixture of air/fuel and the exhaust fumes from making their way to the sump.
• They prevent leakage of oil from the sump into the engine’s combustion chamber, hence prevent burning and loss of the oil.

6.       Crankshaft

This is the part that controls the piston’s movements, in an upward and downward manner and in a circular motion.

(Photo credits: Ryan Frost)

7.       Sump

Containing some oil, the sump encloses the crankshaft. Oil collects at the base of the sump; hence the term ‘oil pan’ is sometimes used to define it.

As you can see, it is the combination of the above parts, together with the body of the car as the engine’s supporting and housing structure, which work in harmony to thrust the car forwards. Hope I have driven home these mechanical concepts well enough for you!

Byline

Chad loves cars and he often writes about car parts such as the outboard fuel injectors. His dream is to buy a solid solar car before he turns 35!

Think Twice Before You Dump That Old Cell Phone – Get Cash Instead!

Posted on 25. Jul, 2012 by admin in Communication & Consumer Technology

Are you looking to sell your old cell phone or iphone? When you get a new phone, you do not have any use for your old cell phone. So what can you do? Your best option is to sell your iphone for cash right away. The price of old technology drops quickly so the longer you hold on to that old ipnone of yours, the less you will get out of it. Sell your iphone, or any cell phone, right after you purchase your new one to retain the most value.
Most people sell their old iphones and cell phones on eBay. The biggest negative about eBay is that you do not know for how much your iphone will sell for. And if you set your price too high from the start, you have a risk of not selling at all but still being charged the listing fee.

There are many alternatives to selling your iphone and old cell phones. It is very time consuming to check all potential buyers because frankly, there is too many of them. This is where SellCell makes it easy for you to sell your iphone for cash. They compare multiple cell phone buyers and even display useful information such as their payment method, payment period, and BBB rating.

Scientists Reference of First Global Earthquake Hazard Map

Posted on 01. Aug, 2010 by admin in Earth Sciences, Educational Resources, Environment & Ecology, Nanotechnology, Physics, Popular Science

It took more than 500 scientists and seven years of research, but the first global earthquake hazard map is now complete. How come it took seven whole years? Well, for starters, the scientists had to contend with forces much greater than earthquakes. Try politics.

The above image shows the pattern of major fault lines throughout the Americas.

Unveiled in San Francisco at the American Geophysical Union, the map shows that about 15 per cent of the Earth’s land is in zones of high or very high hazard – which the researchers define as a 10 per cent chance or greater of violent shaking over the next 50 years. Less than half of the planet’s land is considered a low hazard. But coming up with the numbers once the data were in was the easy part, explains the co-ordinator of the international effort, Domenico Giardini of the Swiss Seismological Service in Zurich.

“The standards by which hazard is done is completely different from country to country. It depends on when it was done, what philosophy they adopted, the quality of data that was available. It was this lack of standards that until now has stalled any effort to look at the global seismic risk in a homogenous way,” says Giardini.

Giardini recalls particular problems. “There were political boundary problems. For example in the Near East, the difficulty of having Syria, Israel and then Jordan and Egypt working together was very difficult,” says Giardini, who also remembers that India and China had never worked together, nor had Turkey, Iran and the former Soviet Union. He recalls the difficulty that grew from the international set of criteria that had to be used – which meant scientists from some countries, in order to comply with the new global standard, had to recalculate their seismological data. “It was very difficult originally, this is why the project lasted so long,” he says, adding that once a consensus was reached and once the scientists got used to working together, “things started to fly.”

Researchers were surprised to learn how high the hazard of earthquakes is throughout the African Rift.

Much as you would expect, the map – which specifically predicts the probability of peak ground acceleration, or an earthquake that most likely damages low-rise buildings – highlights some infamous ground-shaking hotspots, such as southern California, Hawaii and Turkey. But, since for some countries this was the first-ever seismological hazard assessment, the map highlights some new earthquake zones. In Africa, for example – for which there was little data – the hazard is much higher than researchers would have thought. And finding that data was a little harder than they might of thought as well.

In the eastern part of Africa, along the African Rift, much of the historic seismic activity had occurred in unpopulated and undeveloped places. Giardini explains that the hazards we are familiar with are a measure of our memory. Unlike in heavily populated cities, though, memory is short in these kinds of barren regions. In the end, researchers had to go as far away as England to find historic data on past earthquakes in the African Rift. Similarly, some researchers even looked in the Bible to find out the history of earthquakes in the Middle East.

With the new map, which was launched by the International Lithosphere Program with support from the United Nations’ International Decade for Natural Disasters, every country now has information on its own hazardous zones. According to Giardini, the map will be useful for engineers, urban planners and insurers to help regulate codes of design and construction. What the map does not measure, however, is risk from earthquakes.

Seismologists make a distinction between hazard, which is the probability of ground shaking, and risk, which is the probability of damage or of casualties – a multiplication of the hazard by the vulnerability of the building. So Giardini cautions that just because you may live in a high hazard region is no reason to start packing your bags – after all, he says, there are very few completely safe places to live. Instead, cities can limit the impact of an earthquake.

“Now a society can live with earthquakes as it can live with volcanoes, but it has to be prepared for that. So in itself, the hazard can be high, but not necessarily the risk. If you live in a well-built house and your infrastructure is up to standards, then you can live with earthquakes,” says Giardini, who adds, that the difficult part is getting the entire world to achieve this.

Building Pyramid in This Era : Experts Opinion

Posted on 17. Jul, 2010 by in Civil Engineering, Experiments & Research

The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids at Giza without access to so much as a pulley. But while a modern-day pyramid builder has access to all sorts of fancy machines and materials, he or she wouldn’t make much change to the ancient form. It’s already a fairly good shape from an Engineering standpoint.

Lets get the ideas of some experts ( Say -Structural Engineer, Architect, Historian – for building a monument like that: (more…)

Technology-Infused Classrooms Challenge both Teachers and Students

Posted on 15. Jul, 2010 by admin in Educational Resources, Engineering & Technology

Using technology for teaching and learning is no longer new. Educators have embraced hardware and software with varying degrees of enthusiasm for over a decade and only now are schools starting to ask the question, how does technology impact student learning? Two types of research show that technology does indeed impact learning for both teachers and students. Technology-infused classrooms challenge teachers to prioritize what is most important for students to experience, and challenge students to learn important attitudes.

The state of South Dakota sponsors an academy in which teachers learn to infuse technology to help students reach challenging standards. In this academy teachers are learning to use technology as a tool. According to its mission statement, the purpose of the Technology for Teaching and Learning Academy is to establish a cadre of highly-trained educators across the state who actively change teaching and learning in classrooms through the integration of technology, especially telecommunications technology, into curriculum and who model effective teaching practices using technology to enhance the teaching/learning processes.

Teachers are learning to use technology as a tool and teaching other teachers to use this technology following the training-the-trainer model.

The training module used was titled, “Saving Time Searching the Web” and the objective for the five participants in this three-hour module was to be able to find sound educational sites to use in their classrooms in a timely manner. The objective was measured by a series of surveys.

In the first week, participants: (1) learned the parts of an Internet address; (2) used searching tools such as quotation marks, Boolean Operators (AND, OR, NOT); and the asterisk or “wildcard” feature; (3) explored the educational sites from Internet Quickstart on Huron School Homepage (http://www.huron.tie.net); (4) discussed differences between using, interacting, and constructing knowledge as they apply to education; and (5) practiced printing information from an Internet source. Participants then searched for sites to help them with instructional content in their classrooms for that week and used that information in a lesson.

In the second week, teachers explored the educational sites from the Technology in Education page (http://www.tie.net/); wrote a lesson plan that uses Internet sites as part of the instruction, and made a “Top 10″ list of sites they had visited.

In the third and final week, the teachers shared the lesson plans they had created and their “Top 10″ lists with the other participants, and evaluated those web sites according to the five guidelines of: Authority, Accuracy, Objectivity, Timeliness, and Coverage.

To measure how much the training increased use of the Internet, both for themselves and for their students, the participants had to complete three separate surveys – one in the first class session, a second at the last class session, and the third one month after the sessions ended. Each time participants were asked how many times they or their students had used the Internet and for which of these purposes: to practice skills, to conduct research, to join a collaborative project or to search for lesson plans.

The results are thought-provoking. In the initial survey 22 respondents, or 75%, said they had used the Internet only “0-2 times” the previous month, four had used it “3-4 times,” and only three answered “5-15 times.” In the second survey the “0-2 times” responses had fallen to just seven; the “3-4 times” had risen to eight; the “5-15 times” had risen to six; and a new category, “16-30 times” now had two checkmarks. Then in the third survey, one month after the end of the training sessions, the “0-2″ category had nine responses; “3-4″ had five; “5-15″ had twelve; and “16-30″ had five. Because participants had definitely grown in the number of times and the number of hours they had used educational information from the Internet and no work time was given to them, they were forced to prioritize what is most important for students to experience.

Students were also challenged to learn important attitudes. The same morning the final survey was sent out, the Supe’s On newsletter from Huron School District Superintendent Randy Zitterkopf included this excerpt from an article by Stanford University Professor Larry Cuban entitled “Is Spending Money on Technology Worth It?” (Education Week ). The article raises the question of technology impact on students. Cuban writes, “Employers are looking for employees who can be trusted, who care about the work they do, who finish tasks, are self-starters, show initiative, can define problems, are able to write and think clearly, and who work cooperatively in teams.”

Not only do employers seek these traits, but also these are exactly the attitudes it takes to work in technology-infused schools. This research was based on written anecdotes of students in Graphic Communications, a technology-infused Language Arts elective class offered at Huron High School. Note that the course goal addresses those same traits or dispositions to which Professor Cuban refers. According to the syllabus, students will develop: persistence; a sense of deliberateness; a striving for accuracy and precision; an ability to draw on past knowledge and apply it to new situations; a sense of humor; cooperative thinking; creativity including ingenuity, originality, and insight; risk taking and wonderment; inquisitiveness; curiosity; and enjoyment of problem solving. Even though the words are not the same, are these not the dispositions which employers seek?

True, they can be enhanced in any class, but a technology-infused classroom certainly requires them more than a classroom that does not use technology. A traditional classroom, one in which in which the teacher lectures and the students write essays and take tests, does not really facilitate students caring about their work, finishing tasks, being self-starting, displaying a sense of humor, cooperating, or adapting any of the other dispositions Professor Cuban insists that employers want.

And here’s anecdotal proof. Students taking the graphic communications class were interviewed about the most important things they had learned. They listed far more information about the attitudes than about specific skills.

Students have high anticipation when working with computers. One student wrote, “All of our projects have started out with anticipation and the intent to rapidly work with the computer program to have a quality product.”

Another student wrote, “Graphics has given us a chance to do many projects and learn lessons. I had fun on the projects creating a T-shirt and a brochure. When I first began I thought they would be so hard. However the harder I worked, the more I enjoyed and the more I learned.”

One of the students wrote, “Computer problems seem to be a never ending situation. The problems that we have encountered have taught me to be patient. It has shown me that throughout my life I will encounter many problems and will have to work through them and try to solve the problem. If the problem is too big I have learned to just let it go, because the problem is bigger than I can fix. Knowing that I can’t solve the problem has shown me that I have much more to learn.”

Another wrote, “Besides overcoming computer problems I have learned how to use different programs…Using these programs has helped me explore the different ways that I can present a project.”

Professor Cuban discusses the obsolete equipment that many schools use, but there is still carry-over learning. One of the students responded in the interview to the problems of outdated equipment. He wrote, “I’ve learned about computers and I’ve learned something about myself…I learned that I have much more patience than I ever thought I did. Because of the computers, I’ve ended up doing or redoing all of my projects at least twice. The computers locked up countless times and lost all of my hard work and effort. This makes it extremely hard to accomplish anything in a class like this… Throughout it all, I’ve tried hard to keep my cool and stay level headed. Inside it make me feel mad, feel frustrated, and believe that there was no point of doing work when it all ends up getting lost anyway. It was like a never -ending uphill battle, a lost cause. But, I also knew that blowing up wouldn’t help the situation at all. I have become more tolerant for machines and have become a more patient person.”

Besides patience, students wrote about perseverance. One student wrote, “When I saw the picture of the cheerleaders stunting, I knew I wanted to use it in my project. The most helpful thing I learned this semester is how perseverance pays off. The cheerleaders in the picture were cool, but the background was not very interesting. I was having problems cutting the background off of the picture. After trying many different tools, I finally cut the background off. The perseverance I learned here will help me throughout my whole life. I will work hard in my jobs and I will succeed in life.”

Another student added, “There are many things that we have done this year that I will use later in school and also in everyday life. This class will give me perseverance to keep trying things if at first they don’t work. It has also provided me with a vast amount of technology information. A new skill that has helped me is surfing the web. Surfing the web is where I received many of my ideas for projects.”

Another wrote, “One lesson I learned wasn’t nearly as fun. I learned the hard way that I work better by myself. A partner can be a great help if you have a partner that suits your personality. Unfortunately, my partner and I are too different to work together on many things and I’ve had to carry a heavier load. There is an up side to this lesson though; I will be more careful in picking a partner next time.”

Most students felt differently about working in partners or groups, however. One student wrote, “Most of all, I think that the best thing that I learned in this class is how to communicate with others in a group project. Usually since I am so shy I have troubles expressing my ideas. Now I feel better about sharing my ideas with a group because I know that my ideas could help out.”

One of the students wrote this about the projects: “I thought this project (the tri-fold brochure) was going to take longer than it originally did. We eventually got done before most of the class. I had a partner for this project. I thought that that was better than doing it by myself. That way we can combine our ideas. The project eventually turned out really nice and we had a lot of different ideas.”

Students did not report about the same things that are asked about on standardized tests, or measured by benchmarks or outcomes, but they did report they had learned much about the things employers are looking for and what many Americans believe lead to productive citizens. This learning came about in a technology-infused classroom.

Technology does indeed impact learning for both teachers and students, but research needs to continue on unanswered questions about student learning and cost of technology. Teachers need to take the students from where they are and provide them with opportunities and encourage them to reach high standards of skills and habits of learning or dispositions. However, even if the questions of how does technology impact learning, and is the cost of technology worth it cannot be totally, satisfactorily answered, providing or not providing technology for students as a vehicle for learning is not even a choice. American schools are not going to discontinue use of their technology tools. Educators just need to make sure that technology-infused classrooms continue to challenge teachers to prioritize what is most important for students to experience, and challenge students to learn important attitudes.

Students to the Rescue

Posted on 12. Jul, 2010 by admin in Educational Resources, Engineering & Technology, Experiments & Research

Recipe for Technology Help

Ingredients

• 1 Junior Tech Rep from each 3rd and 4th grade homeroom class
• 3 Tech Reps (from previous year) to staff each computer lab
• 30 laminated or covered badges
• 1 Senior Tech Consultant (best problem-solver) from previous year cadre
• 1 Senior Tech Rep from each 5th grade class
• 30 rags for cleaning and dusting
• 2 bottles of cleaning solution (for outside of computer and desk area)
• Assorted computer parts for demonstration and student handling
• 3 large incentive charts (enough rows for each computer in the building)
• 1 clipboard for each Tech Rep (more…)

The Chemistry of Metals and Alloys as Coin

Posted on 09. Jun, 2010 by admin in Chemistry, Educational Resources, Nanotechnology

This article describes the various metals and alloys used for coins and medals, for centuries. some (but not all) of the information emanated from ‘The Teach Yourself Guide to Numismatics’ the CC Chamberlain issued in 1960, and I want to acknowledge the help of many correspondents to the news group rec. Coin collecting.

Additional information has been compiled from an article published in the New World Coins (17 February 1992 and March 2, 1992) entitled “The World coinage uses 24 chemical elements” of Jay and Marieli.

Aluminum

Component (Al), Atomikos Number. 13, 660° C 13, density 2.70 kg / liter, MA Rt 660 ° C

This first metal was prepared by Oersted and Wohler in 1824.

A lot of metal in white corrosion-resistant is used in cheap currencies in several countries, particularly in Europe, where inflation had reduced the value of money. Recent examples include a short peseta coin issued in Spain and 5 and 10 lire in Italy.

The pure metal is very soft and not well maintained. However, it is a very important alloy addition (see Bronze aluminum).

The aluminum alloy of copper, sometimes containing a small amount of manganese and nickel are yellow and hard. A contemporary example of its use are in the currencies of five, 10 and 20 centime France.

Nordic Gold

A variety called Nordic Gold is clearly used in some Scandinavian currencies and also the new 10, 20 and 50 eurocent because it contains nickel. Has a composition of 89% cu, 5% al, 5% zn and 1% sn.

(more…)

Eco-Building- Turn Your House To A Eco Friendly Design.

Posted on 24. Apr, 2010 by admin in Civil Engineering, Human Biology

The old fashioned stereotypes about the furniture design were breaking apart. Lots of people were choosing an apartment building or a condo over a traditional full size house as a place of living. But what to do with the furniture? Customers were racing from contemporary furniture stores to stores in a desperate attempt to find something fitting the size of their new homes and being still attractive (don’t forget functional). However, all they were able to find in the contemporary furniture stores were old style “monsters”, which just would not fit in by all ways. But the revolutionary part of it is to use materials that saves the environment. How to make eco friendly furniture by using the new type material to make all that, such as metal frames, glass or plastic or think completely in a new way.

Better start with an example-

An existing barn/workshop from the 1960′s was redesigned into a main residence with full pledged furniture. The design approach to liberate the boxy angular configuration of the existing space in order to allow the space to expand outwards into the environment. Three main alterations to the 1,200 square foot envelope were developed; an square tower-like eating bay at the southwest corner , a double-dormer bisecting the ridge and a large expansive eyebrow dormer & a modern wall units,
The new floor plan & the combination -recombination in the contemporary furniture stores twist and turn creating a sense of motion and reflects the free flowing nature of the outer world. A circular loft room is suspended within the center of the structure and travels through four rooms. Developed as a sacred meditation room its position in the house is representative of the upper chakras of the body. The room is daylight by two custom-built triangular shaped dormer windows furniture as well as a center ridge skylight.
A large sweeping eyebrow dormer opens up the once closed in barn space. A four panel door set open below the arch onto the cantilevered deck. This main living space is also graced with the integration of natural peeled poles/branches into its walls and ceilings capes. A large 500 lb native Oak trunk receives a second life as the main supporting ridge beam. The floor is eucalyptus, reclaimed and remilled from an old warehouse and the baseboard is natural limestone tile. The interior loft windows are artistically composed of recycled bottles and framed by an expressive plaster border.
The reddish chocolate stained redwood reclaimed from old wine tanks provided the front entrance door with a special character. A beautiful salvaged stained glass window and forged iron hardware completed this special element. Adding to this feel a strong rustic entryway was designed and installed. Native peeled Oak timbers, rough sawn roofing shakes, recycled lumber, rustic patio slate and regional fieldstone boulders were the elements used to round out this composition.

SOLAR DESIGNS

Natural building and sunlight go together. The sun is our prime light and energy source. How its energy interfaces with the natural or built environment is vital to all aspects of life. This interplay between light and material is paramount to consider when designing. Solar energy offers warmth, power and health when appropriately channeled within our dwellings.
To re-establish a beneficial relationship between the making of human habitats (architecture) and the ecological world. The elements that surround us affects us. That’s why from many standpoints it is critical to integrate natural materials and sustainable building practices into our dwellings. Biodynamic Transactional Architecture (BIOTA) takes into account how materials are energies and their placement interacts to create environmental conditions.

HOW IT APPLIES TO GREEN BUILDING METHODS

Green Manufactured furniture
Rammed Earth
Stone and Natural Slate
Alternative Insulations
Light Clay Straw
Non-Toxic Materials
Cast Earth
Terratile & Earthen Floors
Thermal Mass Fireplaces
Eco-timber & lumber
Salvaged & Recycled Materials
Bamboo Construction
Hemp Products
Organic Paints
Natural Flooring

This building should be constructed on the roof of an existing urban building. The space served as a personal meditation space as well as a professional massage studio. The rooftop location provided a panoramic view of the city as well as views of the Pacific Ocean.
A passive solar and natural lighting design was combined with green construction methods and nontoxic building materials. A small turret on the east corner forms a cozy window seat area. The interior was softened by using plaster and rounding all the corners into gentle curves. The handcrafted double doors open onto an outdoor roof deck made of re-sawn/recycled wood. Built-in planters with automated irrigation systems provided rooftop gardening.

GARDEN APARTMENT
A passively solar heated and cooled garden studio. Expansive southern glazing was combined with the thermal mass storing capabilities of stabilized earth (Rammed Earth). Two curvilinear earthen walls separated the sunroom from the living spaces of the apartment. The rammed earth walls temper the daily solar gains and store the heat within the earthen mass of the walls (16″ thick) and reradiate the heat during nights and cloudy days.
The clearstory formed a second story spine down the center of the studio gracing the space with natural light and providing natural ventilation. The inverted shape of the clearstory roof acts to collect rainwater and channels it to a small pond on the north side of the building. On the south side, a shade trellis has deciduous plants, which shelter the glazing from the summer sun.

contemporary furniture Stores provides the solution for the materials.
Ecologically harvested regional timber used for all exposed beams, posts and trim.
Excavated earth from the foundation used for the Rammed Earth walls.
Recycled bricks and ceramic tiles.
Cellulose insulation in walls & ceilings.
Plaster ceiling and interior walls; hand finished.
Built-in cabinets using Eco-timber hardwoods.
Natural organic interior paints.
Natural fiber carpet