Flight Simulator Essays - Virtual Reality, Flight Training

Flight Simulator A simulated flight environment for pilot training may soon be made more realistic through the use of eye-tracking technology developed by researchers at the University of Toronto's Institute of Biomedical Engineering (IMBE). Many safety and cost benefits are obtained by training aircraft pilots under simulated conditions, but to be effective the simulation must be convicingly realistic. At present, th e training facilities use large domes and gimballed projectors, or an array of video screens, to display computer-generated images. But these installations are very expensive and image resolution is low. Further, it would take an enormous amount of addi to improve image quality significantly throughout the whole viewed scene. However, based on the visual properties of the eye, realism can be obtained by providing a high-resolution 'area of interest' insert within a large, low-resolution field of view. If the image-generating computer 'knows' where the pilot's fixation is, it mage there. The technology to make this possible was developed by a research team headed by Professor Richard Frecker and Professor Moshe Eizenman. The work was carried out in collaboration with CAE Electronics Ltd. of Montreal with financial support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Their eye-tracker can record and analyze accurately up to 500 eye positions per second. The system works by means of capturing and processing the reflections of a low-level beam o f invisible infra-red light shone onto the eye. Multi-element arrays capture the image of the eye and digitize the information, which is then processed in real time by a fast, dedicated signal processing unit. The difference in position between the ligh tre of the pupil reveals the instantaneous direction of gaze. Developments by the IBME team have significantly increased the speed of signal processing in addition to enhancing accuracy of eye position estimates. Eizenman believes that "these improvements make our eye-tracker very effective in monitoring the large G-force environment where the pilot tends to make larger eye movements because of contraints which exist on movements of his head". In a new generation of aircraft simulators, under development by CAE Electronics Ltd. of Montreal, a head tracker which tells the direction of the pilot's head is mounted on top of the helmet. The eye tracker is mounted on the front of the helmet, and is ll exactly where the pilot's eye is fixating. Frecker said that "successful integration of our eye tracker into the novel helmet-mounted CAE flight simulator would result in a new generation of simulators that would likely replace the current large domes and cumbersome video display units." Initial tests of the integrated system will be carried out in collaboration with CAE Electronics at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona later this year.

buy custom The Death Penalty Debate essay

buy custom The Death Penalty Debate essay The question of whether to abolish or to continue executing the capital punishment is the one that generates intense debates in all democratic jurisdictions. In fact, the legal regimes in some countries are silent on the capital punishment. In others, judges convict criminals to death sentences but in practice, there is no enforcement. Although some states in the US, such as California, have legal provisions for death sentences, this essay argues for its abolition. First of all, it should be noted that the capital punishment is expensive. It costs more to execute a criminal than keep them in prison forever. A 2010 study found that California has spent over $4 billion on capital punishment since its reinstatement in 1978 (Latzer McCord, 2010). The study also established that trials for the death penalty are 20 times more costly than trials that seek a life incarceration without parole possibilities. Currently, California spends $185 million annually on the capital punishment. This state is projected to spend more than $1 billion by 2020 (Latzer McCord, 2010). The claim that capital punishment has a deterrent effect on crime is a fallacy. Scientific studies consistently fail to demonstrate that executing death penalties does not deter people from criminal activities better than long-time incarceration. Moreover, states that have no death penalties have lower murder rates. According to Latzer and McCord (2010), the South has over 80 percent of the US executions, and murder rates are very high there. The most worrying trend is the wrongful conviction and subsequent execution of innocent people. Wrongful execution of innocent people is an injustice that is not rectifiable. Since the reinstatement of the capital punishment, over 150 people got a reprieve from death row. Some of these people were only a few hours away from execution. In the past two years, there is sufficient evidence indicating that five men were wrongfully executed since they had not committed crimes they wer convicted of (Banner, 2010, p. 38).Such errors are appalling and unacceptable. In the United States of America, racial discrimination plays a pivotal role in the determination of who dies and who lives. The race of the defendant and the race of the victim in capital offenses are key determinants of who dies in the United States. A study in the US reveals that in 82% of cases the victim's race influences the chances of murder charges and capital punishment sentence (Bedau American Civil Liberties Union, 2011). Criminals who murder white people are more likely to receive death sentences than the criminals who murder black ones. According to Bedau and American Civil Liberties Union (2011), in the United States, the application of the capital punishment is random. The determining factors in capital punishment cases are not often the facts of the crime. Instead, these factors are the quality of the legal counsel, jurisdiction and the politics of the location of the crime commission. In this country, a death penalty is a lottery that is lethal. Out of 22,000 homicide crimes on an annual basis, an estimate of 100 people get death sentence (Bedau American Civil Liberties Union, 2011). What is more, capital punishment is anti-religious. Some scriptures and religious books bear messages that support the capital punishment. However, in the United States of America, all religious groups and institutions condemn the execution of the capital punishment and term it as immoral. Moreover, enforcement of the capital punishment in the US is against the dictates of human rights. The United States is a global model of an advocate for human rights. Supporting the capital punishment equals to upholding the practices of countries that are infamous for abusing human rights. Today, the majority of countries in South America, Western Europe, and North America do not enforce capital punishment both in law and in practice (Banner, 2010, p. 39). If the United States does not abolish this punishment, it will remain in the company off Iran, Iraq, China and North Korea as one of the major users and advocates of capital punishment. One more point for abolishing death families is that families of murder victims should benefit from the millions that are used to enforce death executions. Family members who lose loved ones to murder crimes feel that a death sentence does not alleviate the pain they have. Instead, the protracted process only serves to deepen the agony that these family members feel. Funds that are spent on these costly executions should used to help the families. In fact, it is helpful to channel some of these funds to restitution, victim hotlines counseling and similar services that address the needs of the victims families. Poor legal representation persists in capital case hearings. A major factor that determines whether a defendant receives the capital punishment is the quality of lawyers representing them. Over 90% of the defendants in capital cases do not afford to hire their attorneys (Bedau American Civil Liberties Union, 2011). Mostly, the appointed attorneys are paid poorly and lack the trial experience and the energy for representing the defendants in capital punishment cases. There are instances when the appointed lawyers are so inexperienced that they are not completely prepared for the sentencing phase. Other appointed attorneys sleep during the trial or arrive at the court while drunk (Hanks, 2009). Life with no parole is a good substitute for capital punishment. Judges usually have the alternative to sentencing a capital murderer to life incarceration without any parole possibility. This sentence is cheaper for the taxpayers and will keep violent offenders off the streets. A life sentence without parole will allow an offender to correct their mistakes, but the capital punishment does not give one this opportunity. Currently, there are more than 3,300 people who are getting life sentences without parole. Most of these convicts can prove their innocence (Bedau and American Civil Liberties Union, 2011). Buy custom The Death Penalty Debate essay

French Politician in NYC Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

French Politician in NYC - Essay Example The Imperial Bedroom discusses privacy in the United States and what is left of it. Is there still privacy or do many continue to make events public? Making events public can lead to false accusations and a breach of privacy. Privacy aside, politicians seem to be at their peak regarding sexual assaults. Since this is so, could the sexual assault have been a set up, or a horrific act?   This is so since most of politicians private life is made public. Creating a politically public life will allow voters to feel more personal regarding a politician and has its affects on votes. Jonathan Franzen states, â€Å"Privacy, privacy, the new American obsession†. With Americans becoming so obsessed with privacy, it is almost a false statement. The maid in the case was unable to keep privacy regarding what has happened. Media speculation and outreach has brought huge attention to the incident. This will lead to closer observation aimed at the New York City hotel maid, as well as the pol itician and his family. The privacy of the maid and the politician are not safe.

The whipping by robert hayden Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The whipping by robert hayden - Essay Example Evidently, the author in part aims for the readers to figure how defenseless the boy is that despite his ‘circling’ efforts and the woman’s crippling fat, he does not stand even the feeble chance of being freed from the constant striking of the mad old woman. At this stage, the male child may be imagined to have possessed anxiety and unfairly low levels of self-esteem due to the poignant circumstances of physical and emotional pain that certainly would ring a bell in the future filled with embitterment. On the second half of the narrative, Robert Hayden enters into a dimension in the past that quite explains the reason he establishes focus and interest with the current subject through the boy’s life. Recollecting and pondering on the similarities between this and Robert’s dark encounters of his early youth, he points out how such picture of violence could be devastating especially when executed in a verbal manner or one that sticks to mind more than actual blows do. Mentioning ‘Words could bring, the face that I no longer knew or loved’ somehow indicates that at a later time, the impact which this state of suffering bears on a child can lead to fatal consequences where the oppressed young individual learns to turn all signs of affection for the beloved into hatred.

Dumpster diving is a big deal Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Dumpster diving is a big deal - Assignment Example After the mails are read and the mail receiver has responded to these mails, they usually throw them in garbage. The problem is that there can be people in workplace that may have criminal intentions and may obtain the information from dumpsters at work and use this information in order to conduct identity theft. According to a research cited by Pope in his book, around 50% of the individuals who are involved in identity theft are people who work in the same organization (Pope 62). Other than identity theft, individuals may even throw away important information in garbage that another individual within the workforce may not have the authority to access. This information may include product designs and new products that the company may be thinking of launching. The probability is that those who dumpster dive can benefit from this information by sharing this information with competitors in exchange of rewards and

Positive Effects Of Globalization Economics Essay

Positive Effects Of Globalization Economics Essay To date, the concept of globalization still sparks mixed reactions in the public domain. Skeptics of globalization believe that globalization is bad for economies, and that should be controlled. However, others maintain that it is a great thing to have happened to the worlds nations as thus should be seen as a positive move in the right direction. This essay acknowledges that although there are costs associated with globalization, the resultant benefits clearly outweigh the costs to society. Therefore, this paper contends that efforts to increase globalization should be promoted. Globalization, according to Schmidt and Weitzel, results from increased international integration (Schmidt and and Weitzel). According to them, globalization results from a host of factors, amongst them technological advancement, political changes, and choice of economic policies. Technological advancement makes production, communication, and logistics and transport much cheaper and faster than before. Economic policies encouraging liberalization and open economies to FDIs also encourages globalization (Schmidt and and Weitzel). Political changes expose economies that were previously isolated into the international market, promote regional blocs, and support reforms that support the rule of law thus, encouraging investments in infrastructural sector. Globalization brings with it both positive and negative effects. Positive effects of globalization The gains from globalization are as a result of its effect on the flow of ideas, information, technologies, capital, finances, goods, services and people. The gains are normally triggered by cross border integrations resulting from globalization, which have several dimensions-economic, social, cultural and political (Nistor). Thus, in the analysis of the benefits from globalization, there are three channels through which the benefits accrue. The channels include (a) movement of capital; (b) trade in goods and services and (c) financial flows. Besides, there is also a channel through movement of people. Movement of capital Technological advancement and the resultant infrastructural development, globalization has opened up nations to carry out international trade. The net effect of the economic integration and liberalization has enhanced capital flows between different nations. The capital flows across these countries has served the important role of enhancing the capital base. This was very much evident in the 19th and the 20th centuries. With capital flows, it is possible to distribute the total world savings among countries with high investment potential. The ease of capital flows ensures that growth and development of a country is not constrained by its own domestic savings. For instance, most of the East Asian countries are beneficiaries of foreign capital inflow. Capital flow can take either the form of foreign direct investments (FDI) or portfolio investments. For developing countries, they benefit more from the FDIs than from portfolio investments and thus, most of them will place restriction to portfolio investments due to their volatile nature. Capital flows increases the rate of growth of countries beyond their domestic potential, a condition that would not otherwise be achieved, except with globalization. Increased trade in goods and services Globalization opens up economies to international trade in goods and services, which results in the allocation of resources consistent with their respective comparative advantages. Globalization therefore, promotes specialization thus, enhancing the countries productivity. Globalization facilitates the removal of restrictive trade that impedes growth. Technological advancements from globalization allows countries to produce what they are best endowed, in terms of resources, technology and labor. In turn, these countries will benefit from what they cannot produce from elsewhere. Specialization enhances productivity, efficiency and promotes good relations across borders. Financial flows One of the major characteristics of the globalization process is a rapidly growing capital market. The growth in both foreign exchange and capital market facilitates the transfer of resources across countries. The most significant outcome of the growth in the flows of capital and foreign exchange markets is the gross turnover in the foreign exchange markets. According to Frankel, the gross turnover is estimated to be about $ 1.5 trillion worldwide, per day (Frankel). The turnover is in the order of 100 times greater than the volume of goods and services traded. Therefore, currency trade has become an end in itself. However, an expansion of the capital markets and foreign exchange markets is a vital prerequisite for effective capital transfer. Negative effects of globalization Concerning the impacts of globalization, two major concerns arise on the mention of the phenomena (Nistor). This are often described as fears of globalization. The first and major concern of globalization is that it leads to unequal distribution of income and other resources amongst countries. Secondly, is that globalization infringes on the sovereignty. That globalization makes it difficult for countries to follow their domestic policies (Centre for Economic Policy Research). Most of the explanations given for these concerns are genuine while others are farfetched. Iniquitous income distribution This argument is premised on the fact that since globalization places more emphasis on efficiency, the phenomena will in most cases benefit countries that are favorably endowed. Skeptics, though justified to some extent, globalization benefits, as much as they accrue on the most endowed countries as claimed, these countries have had their own fair share of benefits. Developed countries have a head start in terms of technological base, natural as well human resources as compared with the developing nations. The skewed advantage relatively eats away the benefits of developing countries from trade, capital flows, and financial flows as well as specialization benefits. While the benefits from trade benefits all countries, much of the gains accrue to the advanced economies. This is perhaps one of the reasons while provisions for preferential treatment are catered for in todays trade agreements. The loss of state autonomy in pursuit of economic policies is another concern raised in regard to globalization. With the increased degree of economic integration, it is true that one country cannot pursue autonomously, policies which are not in consonance with the general worldwide trends. With globalization, some level of sacrifice with regards to national sovereignty becomes inevitable. Hus, with regard to globalization issues, constraints to pursuing domestic policies should be acknowledged. Further concerns over increased globalization, involve the fear of deteriorating national and international security, cultural erosion, drug trafficking, and other social evils. There is loss of craftsmanship as a result of increased use of technology. Globalization has served to increase dependence of states on other states over essential products that enhancing the economic vulnerability. Conclusion The contributions of globalization to the developments witnessed today cannot be ignored. Globalization has led to increased development of the world economies, diffused technological advancements and improved people lives. Its role, in enhancing production, productivity and efficiency as well lowering production costs of economies is well clear. These developments, besides having greater benefits, they have their own negatives. However, a succinct review of the benefits against the costs, it is without a doubt that globalization has made the world a better place. With the relevant measures being put in place to mitigate the costs arising from globalization, this essay concludes that, although there are costs to Globalization, the benefits clearly outweigh the Costs to Society. Therefore, efforts to increase Globalization should be promoted.

Odysseus The Hero :: essays research papers

Odysseus the Hero   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For a character to be an epic hero, he must possess four characteristics. These four characteristics include the following: (1) he must be high born, (2) the hero must have human weaknesses, (3) he must be brave,and 4) he must be clever. In The Odyssey, Homer’s character Odysseus was an epic hero because he possessed all four of the characteristics.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One characteristic that Odysseus had to be an epic hero was that he was highborn. Odysseus was Prince Laertiades of Ithaca. The goddess Circe knew he was highborn and addressed Odysseus with his formal name “Prince Laertiades…'; (p. 120). When his men feared that he was dead and Odysseus returned to them unharmed, from their hearts they said, “You are back again my prince! How glad we are…';(p.120). Also, because Odysseus had not returned home to Ithaca, many men tried to wed his wife, Penelopeia, so that they could rule his kingdom.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Odysseus was also an epic hero because he had human weaknesses. One of his weaknesses was that he was arrogant. Even after he defeated Polyphemos (the Cyclops) Odysseus stayed longer just so he could taunt him. He “…wanted to shout out again…although [his] comrades…tried to coax [him] not to do it'; (p.110). Odysseus, against his crew’s wishes, shouted, “…Cyclops! if ever a man asks you who put out your ugly eye, tell him your blinder was Odysseus!'; (p.110). Another human weakness of Odysseus was that he had a bad temper. When Eurylochos refused to go back to Circe’s mansion, Odysseus “…thought for a moment that [he] would draw [his] sword and cut off his head…';(p.121). If his men did not stop him, Odysseus probably would have killed Eurylochos and therefore lost a good man because of his short temper. Lust was another weakness of his. For Seven years Odysseus and Circe were lovers. Because he sta yed with Circe, Odysseus prolonged his return home to Ithaca. Odysseus had many human weaknesses.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another characteristic that Odysseus had to be an epic hero was that he was brave. Even though Eurylochos urged Odysseus to not go to Circe and leave the island without his crew Odysseus refused to. He responded to Eurylochos by saying “…as for me, go I must and go I will.';(p.117). Odysseus was a loyal leader, and even though he knew that he faced an impossible task, he went to Circe’s to bring his men back to safety.