The History of the Computer Mouse

The History of the Computer Mouse It was technology visionary and inventor Douglas Engelbart (January 30, 1925  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ July 2, 2013) who revolutionized the way computers worked, turning it from a piece of specialized machinery that only a trained scientist could use to a user-friendly tool that almost anyone can work with. During his lifetime, he invented or contributed to several interactive and user-friendly devices such as the computer mouse, Windows operating system, computer video  teleconferencing, hypermedia,  groupware,  email, the  Internet  and much more. Making Computing Less Cumbersome Most of all, though, he was known for inventing the computer mouse. Engelbart conceived of the rudimentary mouse while attending a conference on computer graphics, where he started thinking about how to improve interactive computing. In the early days of computing, users typed codes and commands to make things happen on monitors. Engelbart thought an easier way was to link the computer’s cursor to a device with two wheels- one horizontal and one vertical. Moving the device on a horizontal surface would allow the user to position the cursor on the screen. Engelbart’s collaborator on the mouse project  Bill English built a prototype- a hand-held device carved out of wood, with a button on the top. In 1967, Engelbart’s company SRI filed for the  patent on the mouse, although the paperwork identified it a little differently as x,y position indicator for a display system. The patent was awarded in 1970. Computer Mice Hits the Market Before long, computers designed to work with a mouse were released. Among the first was the Xerox Alto, which went on sale in 1973. A team at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich liked the concept as well and built their own computer system with a mouse called the  Lilith computer, sold from 1978 to 1980. Perhaps thinking they were on to something, Xerox soon followed up with  the  Xerox 8010, which featured a mouse, ethernet networking and e-mail among various innovative technologies that have since become standard.   Ã‚   But it wasnt until  1983  that the mouse started to go mainstream. It was that year that Microsoft updated the MS-DOS program Microsoft Word to make it mouse-compatible and developed the first PC-compatible mouse.  Computer manufacturers such as Apple, Atari and Commodore would all follow suit by debuting mouse compatible systems as well.    Tracking Ball and Other Advancements Like other present forms of computer technology, the mouse has evolved significantly. In 1972, English developed the â€Å"track ball mouse† that allowed users to control the cursor by rotating a ball from a fixed position. One interesting enhancement is technology that enables wireless devices, a fact that makes Engelbarts recollection of an early prototype almost quaint. We turned it around so the tail came out the top. We started with it going the other direction, but the cord got tangled when you moved your arm, he said.   For an inventor who grew up on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon and had hoped his achievements would add to the collective intelligence of the world, the mouse has come a long way. It would be wonderful,† he said, â€Å"if I can inspire others, who are struggling to realize their dreams, to say if this country kid could do it, let me keep slogging away.

How to Write an Outline for an Expository Essay

How to Write an Outline for an Expository Essay How to Write an Outline for an Expository Essay It may be quite easy to consider an essay a very simple task to complete. Most of the students think that it is not worth their attention and they can complete their essay in the last minute. However, it is not that simple, in most of the cases students fail, and are forced to rewrite their paper anew. Such a task requires not only possession of written skills and knowledge of the subject but also accurate following of the structure and rules, required for each type of an essay. The same is applied to an outline, which is a necessary part of every assignment. This article will tell you how to write an essay for your expository essay with ease and how to enjoy the process without any worries! Definition of an expository essay There are tens of essay types and it is quite easy to get lost in their definitions. If you don’t know what type of an essay you are required to complete, you will most likely make dozen mistakes and will waste days or even weeks in vain. An expository essay is a classical model of an assignment, where a student should describe a matter in a clear manner, backing every argument with reliable sources. The main aim of such an essay is to give the reader data on the topic in an objective and informative way. This means that you need to put all your feelings aside (even if you disagree with the subject) and provide all the facts in a clear manner.   It is quite simple to detect such an essay, as it usually starts with the words ‘explain’ or ‘give a definition’. Structure of an outline Being able to create an outline is a vital skill, when competing any sort of a written assignment. Moreover, it is very useful for an expository essay, which should consist of many elements that interlink with each other. Below is a list of the key elements of the main sections of your work. Introduction The majority of students think it is not important how smart your introduction is, as the only thing that matters is the body paragraphs. However, the audience simply won’t read them if your introduction is boring and contains no intrigue. Remember the saying that the book is judged by its cover? The same applies to the introductory section and you won’t simply start reading a book, a magazine or any other paper if its beginning is not catching your attention! You should always start your introduction with a so-called hook. It is an element, which will catch interest of the reader and will make him want to go on. However, the hook sentence should have a direct relationship to the topic, so you need to select it properly. Analyze your topic thoroughly, go through all the hook types and choose the one, which fits you better. It can be an interesting fact, an anecdote, a rhetoric question and so on. After the hook sentence, you need to write the key features and a brief background of your subject. Use simple vocabulary and understandable phrases, considering that not every reader knows the matter you are going to discuss. Finish your introduction with a thesis statement. It is probably the most important section of your work, as it gives the reader a direction, which you have chosen. Your thesis should be not more than two sentences long and describe the main goal of the whole work in a clear and informative way. Main paragraphs Once you have completed a catchy and powerful introduction, you can start writing the main part of your work – body paragraphs. They should contain a deep and full analysis of the data you have collected on the topic. Evidence is the key element of an expository essay, so you need to act like a real journalist, gathering necessary data step by step. The number of your body paragraphs depends on the number of arguments you need to include to your essay. It can be a particular requirement of your professor or your own decision. If there are no strict rules and the size of your essay is regular, try not to add more than three arguments, as it will be difficult for the reader to process more. The key elements of a body paragraph should include: A topic sentence, which contains the key idea of your paragraph and argument; The main feature of an expository essay is that every statement you provide should be backed with supporting facts. You can’t simply provide your own thoughts without an evidence. Your topic sentence should always interlink with the thesis statement and your evidence should have a direct relation to the topic sentence; Analysis of data. Once you have mentioned all the facts, statistics and other supporting details, you need to analyze them. Always provide the facts as if the reader doesn’t know the topic and make a thorough analyze of the obtained facts, deciphering their meaning to the audience; Smooth transition. When you have finished working on the paragraph, you need to write a sentence, which will provide a transition to the next chapter. Such sentences will make the text readable and smooth. Make sure your text is not watery and contains only related facts and materials. It is very important to structure every fact and evidence, revealing the topic step by step. You can put everything in a chronological order or depending on the importance. Remember, providing a clear order of evidence is crucial, as the reader may simply get lost in the facts and information you provide, closing your essay with a bad ‘aftertaste’. Conclusions When you have completed your body paragraphs, you can start working on the final section of your paper. It should be the size of your introduction and a sort of a summary of the obtained results. If you want to leave a nice impression, you need to follow a few simple rules: Make a short summary of everything you have discussed in your work. However, be brief and highlight only the key elements; Write about the importance of the topic and explain why the reader should pay attention to it; If there are still questions to be discussed, mention them. You can think of the topic in a broader perspective and remember the things that you have not discussed in your work. This will make the reader think of the topic; If the topic allows, call the audience to action. This can be a brief advice on how they can change the situation or contribute to the topic. Remember, your conclusions should only repeat the information you have provided in your expository essay and not contain new facts. That is why this section should be very brief and informative, without watery sentences and wordiness. Questions to be asked Completing an introduction, body paragraphs and conclusions isn’t enough and you need to proofread and edit your essay properly before submitting it. There are a few common questions, which will be of a great use on the last stage. They include: Is my topic relevant and interesting? Have I excluded all the details, which are not related to the topic? Did I manage to create a smooth transition between the paragraphs? Is my essay clear, informative and unbiased? Did my conclusion contain a summary of all the body paragraphs? Did I eliminate all the lexical and grammar mistakes? Once you answer these questions, you will manage to see what the strong and weak sides of your essay are. You can even make a list of the imperfections and improve them one by one. When all the mistakes are fixed, proceed with proofreading and editing. This includes fixing typos, grammar and spelling mistakes. If you doubt, ask someone else to check the paper once again and make all the necessary corrections. As you see, an expository essay is not as difficult as it may seem at first. Knowing its outline and the key elements each section should contain, it is very simple to provide a strong and catchy argumentation of the topic.

Globally relevant Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Globally relevant - Essay Example Delineating Social Media from Social Networking Since this paper will be dealing with social networking, it is best to distinguish ‘social media’ from ‘social networks’. Scrutinizing the technical definition of each may be confusing but to keep it on a layman’s level and to understand more of these two concepts, it is best to describe social media as a platform where social networking is only part of the former while the latter is described to require more of self-revelation of one’s personal information (e.g. Facebook and Twitter). â€Å"Social media encompasses applications in different categories by characteristic: collaborative projects, blogs, content communities, social networking sites, virtual game worlds, and other virtual social worlds† ( Kaplan and Haenlein 59). The above is further supported by Moller as he defines â€Å"Social Media as the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive di alogue. They can be defined as a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of the so-called Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. It takes many different forms, including online magazines, Internet forums, weblogs, microblogs, wikis, podcasts, images, video, rating, social bookmarking or social networking† ( 13). Emergence of Hyperconnectivity Now, looking back around 1950’s, man realized how much he was limited to get access to information and communication. Connectivity then was only through the use of walkie-talkie radios, a wired telephone and wireless telegraphy which were only capable to serve a one-on-one exchange of communications. During the old days when there was a need to harness the public for an assembly to institute a major change, the common traditional practice was to ring huge tower church bells, or any symbolic gong, or use a loud siren heard throughout the c ommunity. Gone are the days of these practices. With this age of computers , the trend was to promote a wireless and paperless society as well as timeliness in the exchange of information, Above all, the launching of Digitization have greatly modernized world’s business, propelled the integration of information and communications technologies to the point of changing society’s lifestyles. Dramatically, there was a 360 degree turn-about change in society, government business, commerce, social behaviors and individual psyches from the time that machines began interfacing and intervening with man’s activities. The overnight success of digitization has revolutionized everything. â€Å"Digitization is the conversion of information format (whether, text, image, audio or video file) to digital format. This feature made it easier for any information in this form be preserved, accessed and shared. Instead of people going to a specific location to retrieve an original, h istorical document, the document when digitized can now be made available to people around the world† (Janssen 2013). This new feature brought about multiplier effects that â€Å"led to the advent of a new era called hyperconnectivity† (Janssen 2013). Hyperconnectivity can only be served when the

Reader response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 3

Reader response - Essay Example For example, it is soiled and ripped. Additionally, it is an â€Å"unclean yellow† (Gilman, 1999). After gazing at the paper for a considerable amount of time, she figures a sub pattern shrouded by the main pattern. However, the pattern is only visible under a certain light. Ultimately, the sub pattern transforms into a woman, desperately trying to entangle herself from the primary pattern which resembles a cage. The wallpaper imagery represents the family and tradition structure in which the narrator finds herself trapped. The cage emanating from the wallpaper has been festooned with heads of women who had tried to escape. All these women were strangled in the process of escaping. Therefore, The Yellow Wallpaper is symbolic of the concept of true womanhood. The cult or concept binds and restricts women to the family and home. These parameters were determined by men. The heads festooned on the cage illustrates the fate that befalls women who try to tamper with the laid down concepts that made a true woman. Any woman who defied was termed as an enemy of civilization and God. The imagery of the wallpaper is significant since it highlights or is used to represent the domestic life that snares a lot of women in

The concept of attention Essay Example for Free

The concept of attention Essay How do you define the concept of attention?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The psychological concept of attention refers to the selective processing and concentration done by the brain.   Attention is something that focuses on a particular aspect of the environment, while the others are being ignored or unnoticed.   The attention of the individual is that part of the dynamic occurrences in the environment wherein the brain is concentrated on. For instance, when taking an exam, the attention is centered on the exam itself, but not on the people passing by the windows.    Hence, attention is a brain function that essentially centers on a particular event happening around the person.   Although one’s attention may not necessarily on external and occurring incidents, but like the case of daydreaming, on things that are present on one’s mind.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The level of attention of an individual can also have its variation, from focused attention to divided attention.   There are also instances when this attention becomes sustained or un-sustained, or even selective.   Dynamic neurological activities in the brain occur, which enables the person to generate a particular kind of attention. Can attention be consciously allocated to tasks?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The attention of the individual can be consciously allocated to task, as the particular focus of a person can be something that is fine-tuned or dictated by the brain.   As was mentioned, different levels and types of attention can occur, and tasks are effectively done if there is focused attention.   Being primarily a neurological function, attention therefore can be a conscious effort by the individual, and if one so desires to focus attention on a task, then it is a possibility.   The mere desire to commit to a task creates a certain kind of stimulus that signals the brain to focus on such task.   This focused attention hence enables the individual to allocate oneself to that task dictated and determined by one’s consciousness.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The opposite of attention is being confused or distracted, and these psychological states can be something that is uncontrollable or unmanageable, in cases wherein the person has high physical stress or metal disorders.   In such cases, then committing one’s attention to a task would be a tedious and difficult task, as there are other neurological activities occurring in the brain.   This therefore removes one’s focused attention, and the attention becomes divided or alternating. What is the relationship between attention and cognition?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The concept of attention is in fact a cognitive process, and in this sense, attention then plays an important role in cognition.   Cognition would ultimately be reliant on the focused attention of the individual, as this would determine the information processing and brain function of the person.   In addition, attention is argued to have connections to the working memory which enables the process of recognition and retention, depending on the attention level of the individual.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Scientific studies would show the neurological functions are triggered or have direct relationship to the ability of the person to focus his/her attention in a particular task, which then establishes the relationship between cognition and attention.   Cognitive processes can only have effective and sustained outcomes if the individual has focused attention. References Myers, David. (2008). Exploring Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers. Styles, Elizabeth. (2006). The Psychology of Attention. Hove: Psychology Press. Willingham, Daniel. (2006). Cognition: The Thinking Animal, 3rd Edition. United States:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Prentice Hall.

The Great Starvation of Ireland :: essays papers

The Great Starvation of Ireland I.The starvation in Ireland: 1845-1852 Over the years, the people of Ireland have suffered many hardships, but none compare to the devastation brought by the Irish potato famine of 1845-1857. A poorly managed nation together with ideally wicked weather conditions brought Ireland to the brink of disaster. It was a combination of social, political and economic factors that pushed it over the edge. After a long wet summer, the potato blight first appeared in Wexford and Waterford in September of 1845. The phytophora infestans were carried in on ships from Europe and America. Less than a year later, in August of 1846, virtually the entire potato crop in Ireland had been destroyed. The following winter became unbearable for the already starving nation. The westerly winds, which usually brought warmer air, failed, letting cold conditions from Scandinavia and Russia overtake the island of Ireland. The effects of malnutrition from starvation combined with the unusually cold temperatures aided in the spread of disease and ultimately death among the nation of Ireland. Starvation, respiratory disease, typhus epidemics, cholera, dysentery, scurvy, and deficiencies in vitamin A, all contributed to the loss of over a million Irishmen over a seven-year period. The practice of medicine at the onset of the blight was extremely inadequate. Ireland had only 39 infirmaries; this transla ted into one clinic for every 366,000 people. When looking at these numbers, one can easily understand why so many perished. Many of the deaths during the famine were never recorded, because of this the death toll may never be known. The number of deaths related to starvation is estimated to range from one to one and a half million people. According to Don Mullan, 200-300 mass graves were discovered, and in each grave over 1,000 bodies were identified. The infant mortality rate in some areas reached 50%. It was mainly the deaths of babies and children were the ones that often went unrecorded. The beginnings of the starvation are said to be a â€Å"biometeorological phenomenon,† however, the British reacted in a sociopolitical manner. Relief from the British government was slow and insignificant. The economic policies that existed were unhelpful and the British Parliament refused to make adjustments to provide for a national disaster. No free food was offered to the starving people as long as there was food for sale.

Globalization of North America, South America and the Caribbean Essay

Globalization is the result of a development of an increasingly integrated global economy marked especially by free trade, free flow of capital, and the tapping of cheaper foreign labor markets (http://www. merriam-webster. com/dictionary/globalization). Not everyone is a proponent of globalization. This is especially true for North America. Although the textbook says North Americans have become a highly affluent society by means of transforming the environment and by extending their global, economic, cultural and political reach, the fact remains, that many citizens of North America are not wealth by any stretch of the imagination. The same can also be said about Latin America. The affluence has spread so unevenly, particularly in the United States, that many of the previously middle class have lost their homes and many are now living in tent cities. Recent college graduates are finding it very difficult to obtain employment in their chosen field. Many people have been unemployed long enough that their unemployment benefits have run out. These people are considered to be not actively seeking employment – this is hardly a fair opinion to form. Much of this can be accounted to work being outsourced, mainly to places like Mexico, or even as far as India. â€Å"Multinational corporations are often accused of social injustice, unfair working conditions (including slave labor wages and poor living and working conditions), as well as a lack of concern for the environment, mismanagement of natural resources, and ecological damage. † http://www. manufacturing. net/articles/2010/06/the-pros-and-cons-of-globalization. However, there are some benefits of globalization. Some people argue that money is now able to flow freely across boundaries that were once limited. An article found in Forbes Magazine explained how Sony could sell a Playstation game console or TV just as easily in the United States as Tokyo. The same goes for Apple with its iPhones and other tech toys. (http://www. forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2011/09/10/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-side-of-globalization/). The textbook points out how uneven development is in Latin America. Frustrated workers, whether highly skilled or low skilled look to emigration as their only hope. Migrants frequently relocate to the United States, Europe and Japan looking for work. Remittances are sent back to their native countries, which results in billions of dollars annually directed to Latin America.

Difference between growing up in rich and a poor family Essay

My character, physical, emotional, and psychological development would drastically be different had I been born and raised in a poor family as opposed to a rich family. Growing up in a rich family, I would be more or less secure in a lot of aspects. For example, I wouldn’t worry about my basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and education, among others. My emotional and psychological development would also be nourished as I would be provided with things that would facilitate my growth such as toys and books, among others. It can also be said that I would also be physically fit as I will always have ample food. In short, in a rich family, I would have a well-provided and highly secure life in which most aspects of my growth and development would flourish. On the other hand, growing in an impoverished family would have significantly different circumstances. I wouldn’t have a guaranteed education nor would I be assured of my basic needs. My emotional and psychological development would be very difficult as I may become envious of rich people and even development a feeling of resentment and shame towards my family’s status. Since I wouldn’t always have enough food, most of the time I would be physically unhealthy or malnourished. According to article, â€Å"The Science of Early Childhood Development: Closing the Gap of What We Know and What We Do,† which was done by Harvard University’s National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, the early stages of childhood is a critical stage in the over-all development of a person. In the article, it is said that the early development of â€Å"cognitive skills, emotional well-being, social competence, and sound physical and mental health† (4) lays a strong foundation for success into adulthood. Moreover, the article also noted that high levels of stress in childhood can significantly affect a person’s behavior and physical and mental health. Meaning to say, the circumstances and the environment during childhood can significantly affect my emotional, physical, and psychological status which is why growing in a rich family and poor family can be significantly different from each other. *Word Count : 354 Works Cited â€Å"The Science of Early Childhood Development. † January 2007. National Scientific Council On The Developing Child, Harvard University. 29 January 2009 .

15 Quotes to Help You Survive the Holidays with Kids

15 Quotes to Help You Survive the Holidays with Kids Holiday vacations hold a special meaning for all of us. Some think of parties, a Bahamas cruise, or visiting grandma. But what if holidays spell kids-at-home-running-riot? Erma Bombeck said, Being a child at home alone is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you. Here are more funny quotes about holiday vacations. Erma BombeckNo self-respecting mother would run out of intimidations on the eve of a major holiday. George CarlinMarry an orphan: youll never have to spend boring holidays with the in-laws. Alice CooperThe two most joyous times of the year are Christmas morning and the end of school. Roger BannisterOur concept of a family holiday was going to a guest house in the Lake District or Wales where walking was part of the holiday. Kylie MinogueI have had a holiday, and Id like to take it up professionally. Frank TygerWhen you like your work every day is a holiday. George Bernard ShawA perpetual holiday is a good working definition of hell. Sam EwingVacation: Two weeks on the sunny sands - and the rest of the year on the financial rocks. George CarlinThe other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going. Philip AndrewTo many people, holidays are not voyages of discovery, but a ritual of reassurance. Earl WilsonA vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what youve been taking. Elbert HubbardNo man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one. Kenneth GrahameAfter all, the best part of a holiday is perhaps not so much to be resting yourself, as to see all the other fellows busy working. Dave BarryThe best time to go (to Disney World), if you want to avoid huge crowds, is 1962. Raymond DuncanA lot of parents pack up their troubles and send them off to summer camp. When Holidays Are Here, Do You Get Cold Feet? If you were a stay-at-home mom, youd know. Heck, if you were a working mom, youd know too. For kids, holidays means clogging up the bathtub with paper balls, which sometimes metamorphose into gobs of different shapes, colors, and textures. Holidays also mean running around the house, especially on my freshly shampooed carpet with muck from the garden. And lets not even talk about the innumerable slugs, bugs, and frogs that seem to have made home in a little box under the bed of my younger son. What Holidays Mean With Kids Are at Home Holidays means endless cooking for the ravenous little ones. They are forever saying, Im hungry! or When can we have pizza? once every 15 minutes through the day. I wonder how they managed to survive school hours with one lunch break! And whatever is cooked at home is yucky enough for them to pull a face, or use the food as play dough. Kids make fortresses out of table linen or mess up the walls with their grubby fingers. They are bundles of boisterous energy that needs to be channeled. Moms are driven to  their wits end and resort to letting them watch endless reruns on video. How About Taking Off to a Holiday Destination With Kids? How about taking off on a holiday to someplace which is exotic and fun? Good idea, but be warned that kids are not the best travel companions. Between umpteen loo visits, pit stops at every fast food outlet, and shopping and whining at every toy shop, youd be happy if you get some time to look at the scenic locales. And just when you find a cozy spot to put up your feet, you will be assailed with a Mommy, can we go home, please? And you wonder then whether it was even a smart idea to travel long distance. Having kids at home during holidays can be a nightmare. If you have not planned it through, you may be in for some hair-raising experiences. But with the right plans, you can have a great time with kids during holidays. Here is a 5-step plan on how to survive the holidays with kids: 1. Prepare a list of activities that will be a hit with the kids and keep them off your hair. It could be soccer class, swimming class, camps, or craft classes. Kids love to try out new stuff. Find out what activities are available in your neighborhood. If your kids friends have signed up for some special courses, you may want to team up with them. This way you can work a carpool schedule too. 2. Organize play dates, slumber parties and picnic with friends. The downside is that you will have to look after more than one child. However, the upside is that kids are usually less clingy when their friends are around. Also, you can squeeze in a bit of me time, when the kids are busy with each other. Besides, whoever said that you cannot rotate the activities in each participating parents house? Today, it is your turn. There will be a golden tomorrow when it is someone elses turn. 3. Stock up on supplies. Kids at home mean more food, more mess, and more activities. Keep your ammunition ready. Wipes. Sanitizers. Raincoat. Snacks. First Aid Kits. Crayons. DIY project kits. Even if you think that you may not need them all, there is no harm in stocking up. You never know when you will need these. 4. Set some ground rules from Day 1 and be firm. Ground Rule No.1 is no TV before dinner and bedtime brushing of teeth. That way, you ensure that when the kids fall asleep on the couch, it is easy to carry them off to their beds. 5. If you are traveling out with kids, including an adventure in the itinerary. Typically, beach locations, wild-life sanctuaries, and camps are fun for kids. You cant expect your 3-year-old to behave in a mall, which is overflowing with goodies and toys on Christmas Eve. Likewise, you cannot expect him to trudge up a hill, just because you love trekking. Make realistic plans, if you want to save your sanity. Some parents become excellent at planning, time management, and multitasking after having children.  Kids are indeed the best teachers.You are not the only one to feel heartache and joy of celebrating holidays with kids.

#FreelancerFriday #5 - Robert Falcó, Translator

#FreelancerFriday #5 - Robert Falcà ³, Translator #FreelancerFriday #5 - Robert Falcà ³, Translator â€Å"You have to almost be the ideal reader of the original. You have to really understand it, you have to be in the author’s skin. You’re thinking ‘Why have they said that?’ or 'Why does that character talk that way?’†We met Robert Falcà ³ at the London Book Fair last year. Robert runs the Wider Words project with his business partner Ana Alcaina. They concentrate on helping self-published authors translate their work for the Spanish market. Robert has been a translator for fifteen years, translating over 100 books for authors as prominent as Ken Follett and Stephen King. He’s the first translator we’ve spoken to, and he offered us some insights into the (seemingly enormously difficult!) task of translating fiction.REEDSYSo first I have to ask - you worked with Stephen King?ROBERT FALCÓYeah, I translated Under The Dome, which is now a TV show in its second season. I did that about 3 or 4 years ago.REEDSYGosh.ROBERT FALCÃ⠀œUsually, when you’re translating one of those big names, Stephen King, Ken Follett - I think foreign publishers are trying to publish the book around the same time as the United States or in England. You know, just to make the most of the promotion, if the author’s travelling through Europe, they try to publish the book in Spanish or French or whatever at the same time. But the thing is you also have to translate the book.For instance, if the American publisher has four months after the manuscript is handed in to go through the whole editorial process, the Spanish publishers often have the same amount of time to do that same process - but translated. It’s a lot of pressure.  Not to mention the pressure you feel from the readers of authors with a very strong fan base. In the case of Stephen King this is specially significant - you know hardcore King fans have forums and websites devoted to him, you know they’re waiting anxiously for the Spanish transla tion of his book and you know they’re going to scrutinise your work.REEDSYWhat do you work with when you’re translating? Do you use get to compare multiple drafts of the manuscript or anything?ROBERT FALCÓIt depends a lot on the author, on the publisher, on the date of publication and all those things. In some cases I’ve worked straight from Word manuscripts, in others I’ve waited for the final copy. If you’re working in parallel with other editors, and they’re making alterations, you have to add those in. So in those cases you might have a few different versions of the same passage.I started translating around 2000. Back then, before Facebook, it could be a long process to make those queries and you might not have time to do too many. But now with Twitter you can reach out directly to the author and ask, you know, â€Å"At this point here, did you mean this, or something completely different?†REEDSYIs that the sort of query you o ften take to authors, trying to nail down the meaning of some particular passage?ROBERT FALCÓYeah, that sort of thing. I almost get a little paranoid when I see a sentence that has a double meaning, and I’ll ask â€Å"Hey, did you mean to do that, was it on purpose, did you mean this thing or did you mean the other?† With some authors it’s not necessarily - the style is very simple, but with more complicated authors you want to make sure. Hidden references are another thing. The title is sometimes difficult because it might be a reference to - who knows, the author’s favourite author, or anything. When you translate you try to analyse the original from a very rational point of view. So if something doesn’t make sense you have to ask â€Å"Does this not make sense on purpose, or is there a hidden reason for it?† I think half of the quotes or references I find in English are either to the Bible, to Shakespeare, or to Lewis Carroll.You have to almost be the ideal reader of the original. You have to really understand it, you have to be in the author’s skin. You’re thinking â€Å"Why have they said that?† or â€Å"Why does that character talk that way?† The thing is, you’re trying to be the ideal reader but the ideal reader doesn’t exist. Who’s the ideal reader for Mark Twain? Is it a contemporary American? An American from a century ago? Who is the ideal reader for Julian Barnes?In the end you just do your best. There’s no such thing as a perfect translation. There are extremely excellent translations.REEDSYWhat do you do when you get a new project?ROBERT FALCÓUnless the publisher thinks the project will be especially difficult, I normally translate as I go through it the first time. I take notes - I thank God everyday for Evernote which is an excellent tool for translators. Like I say, I tend to get a lot of quotes from the Bible, or Shakespeare,  and other classic authors.  I can take photos of those quotes and keep them together. I have an Evernote notebook for each of the books I’m working on with all the related information. If I have to find any specialised vocabulary on sailing, on guns, on horses, I keep a glossary for that.My first-draft will be full of comments. My manuscripts are like an annotated version of my own translation. When it’s done, I go back, and have to try to solve all of these thoughts I had. I might need to follow up with specialists on a subject that was relevant. It’s not unlike a writer doing a first-draft and working on that really. Usually the correction part of the process is when I tend to keep away from the original - keep away in the sense of not using the English structure of sentences, I mean. English tends to use the passive tense much more often than Spanish - that’s the kind of thing I’m looking to correct when I do my own translation.Take for instance if I w ere editing a John Grisham novel. They often involve the American legal system. That’s not my area, so I’m sure I’d have to consult Spanish lawyers or legal translators to learn the terminology, how a trial in America works, how a trial is different in America compared to Spain, how I should reflect that in my translation, or whether I should at all. Even if you can read the sentence and you know the terminology in Spanish, if you don’t understand what’s taking place it’s difficult to translate it. So my contacts are there to help with that.REEDSYAre there any particularly interesting specialists you’ve had to contact?ROBERT FALCÓLast year I had to contact two astrophysicists while working on a passage that referenced black holes. I found some specialists working at Spanish universities. It was very difficult.REEDSYIs there anything an author can do to help you?ROBERT FALCÓThe best thing they can do is be collaborative. Author s are generally willing to give us a hand, and that’s the best they can do.REEDSYIs there anything you think authors should be aware of when they’re exploring translation options?ROBERT FALCÓAs you know, there’s this explosion of indie publishing and writers trying all these experiments. I have this project with my business partner where we want to concentrate on self-publishing. We think it’s the next natural step in the market. Authors who have had great success in England or America can have that same success in Spain.I think the most difficult thing for the author is taking the leap of faith. It’s like handing your baby to another person. We have to say â€Å"We’re going to do the best we can, we’re going treat your book with care we’re going to do the best work possible. We want to make sure your book is as good in Spanish as it is in English.† I can understand the authors being worried. For them the world of tr anslation is an unknown world - not many authors work with translators.Translation is very different to the other publishing specialties in many ways. To translate a book into Spanish, you need to realise there are these varieties of Spanish just like in English. It’s not the same translating for Argentina as for Mexico as for Spain. If your book has a lot of slang, it might be difficult to do a version in Spanish which will be read as well in Spain, in Argentina, in the different markets. Whereas if your book is Standard English, it makes things easier for us. There’s 400 million Spanish speakers in the world, and yes they speak the same language - but each country has differences. Each country has its own cultural specialties.REEDSYDo you have any knowledge about books that might succeed in the Spanish market?ROBERT FALCÓSince 50 Shades of Grey, Romance and Erotica are the big thing. We have found we’re getting more of that translation, whereas five years ago we would never have expect that. In the best-sellers list you find all the big names of course. Historical novels are very big. It’s inevitable that there’s all this influence from the American and English markets.

Enterprise Architecture Principles Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Enterprise Architecture Principles - Essay Example EA principles can be employed to precisely meet the needs of propagating enterprise transformation because they decrease the risk of being trapped in over-specification. Since EA principles offer guidance relating to efforts in architecture, their application ought to reflect a degree of consensus across the enterprise while at the same time embodying EA thinking. Therefore, application of EA principles needs to focus on not only the architecture-level issues but also restate and embody a set of business principles. Hence, application of these EA principles supports business principles, goals and strategic drivers since architects have to ensure the current definition of business principles and clarify areas of ambiguity.General principles like business continuity together with information principles such as treating information as asset seem to be essential principles in any company. Moreover, application principles like easy-to-use applications as well as technological principles t hat ensure changes are made based on requirements are critical to my company. All these principles embody every aspect of enterprise architecture since they consider crucial aspects in EA like business, application and technological principles. To a colleague, EA principles form the basic reference for all IT projects and initiatives since they propel governance of EA. Illustration of the usefulness of the EA principles relies on fact that principles form the foundation of EA because they embody rules and guidelines for the EA.