Portfolio 5: Brain mapping

    Technology makes things that people think impossible to do in the past come true. One of them is brain mapping. Brain mapping is a technology that enables people to analyze and understand process of brain. Brain mapping is in theory may give people's benefit. However, in practice it will not happen at all. Some considerations are required to make brain mapping work as it is expected.

    Although brain mapping is in the early stage of development, brain mapping has given benefits to people. Using brain mapping, researchers and doctors are able to diagnose whether people suffer from mental disease. According to Marano (2003), researchers found Nancy, a hypothetical airline pilot, was suspected of suffering from schizophrenia. This result was obtained by analyzing her brain activity. Another benefit of brain mapping is to make ease the authorities' task in searching criminals in criminal investigation (Marano, 2003). The authorities may observe suspects' brain patterns when the suspects are taken in the crime scene.

    Besides those benefits, brain mapping give negative effects to people. Intellectual fraud may occur if people misuse brain mapping. By analyzing someone's brain pattern, people are able to know what he/she thinks about certain things and if the idea is important, people may make use of it without he/she knowing it. To overcome this, there should be legal act in stating limitation of using brain mapping. Furthermore, people who are involved should be reliable and trustworthy. Another negative effect that is likely to occur is people tend to be dependent on brain mapping in making decision. It should be noted that brain mapping cannot be accurately show people's interests because people's interests will change in the future. In order not to limit people's freedom in developing their skills, judgements could not depend on the result of brain mapping only. Considerations on several possible future developments should be involved in the judgements too.

In conclusion, brain mapping will give benefits to human being. Nevertheless, some actions are required in order to prevent some abuses to occur.

References

Marano, L. (2003, June 3). Ethics and mapping the brain.                  Washington Times.

W9T2

     According to Hogue and Oshima, there are several steps in writing a good essay; there are creating, outlining, writing, and polishing. These steps are used in writing a good argumentative essay. Although I already recognize the framework, it needs much effort for me in writing a good argumentative essay.

     

     In my opinion, I find that to create, that is to find sources for my writing, is a time-consuming task. It is true that I can search my writing material everywhere like in the internet and library. However, the more I analyze the material, the more I think that every material just give me one single reason. In other words, I could not differ an argument with one another. For instance, now I am doing writing assignment which tells me to write an argumentative essay to argue why I need to support non-fossil fuel rather than carbon capture storage (CCS) coal-based. I think that I just have one single reason which is related to research. When new reason emerge from my mind like cost aspect, I think that cost aspect has been included in research aspect so that I could not separate cost and research aspect. Thanks to the explanation of my tutor and my friends, I realize that cost and research can be separated into two supporting arguments. Besides difficulty in the process of writing, I noted that I do not have good word structure. For example, I prefer to choose the coal in the future will run out rather than the coal will run out in the future. I realize that I need more practice in grammar.

     

     Frankly, it needs much practice to be able to improve my writing. However, I also need others' idea besides my own opinion. In other words, it is important that I not only need more practice, but I also need constructive comments from the others.

Portfolio 3 : Summary

     Sun produces his energy by a fusion reaction. It is a demanding task if fusion is attempted to apply in the earth because the fusion reaction needs to compress nuclei of atom to a heavier one to produce energy which obeys the Einstein’s equation ,E = mc². The reaction requires high pressure which cannot be produced in the earth. However, the reaction may still be applied by using high temperature which can be produced by using a heavier form of hydrogen such as deuterium and tritium. They are quite easy to find in the world because deuterium is a vast supply in the ocean whereas tritium is abundant in the world especially in battery laptops. The first challenge in using fusion reaction is how to adjust the product of energy so that it is applicable for business proportions. Besides controlling the portion of energy which is produced, another consideration is to find a matter that is able to remove excess heat. In addition, a matter has to be able to control the radioactivity and avoid escaping of radioactivity to the environment. Furthermore, a contact of plasma with a reactor material should be removed due to radioactivity.  In addition to the challenges to be faced above, engineers are challenged to construct facilities in creating complete fusion. The facilities should also consist of improved superconducting magnets and sophisticated vacuum structures. Moreover, maintenance which is based on robotic approach is required to be improved. Finally, cost of producing from fusion reaction to electricity must be able to compete with other energy sources. 

 

Reference

Provide energy from fusion . (2008). In Grand challenges Retrieved 

    September 28, 2008, 

    from http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9079.aspx

Why People Resist New Technology?

People resist new technology because they fear it. First, people are afraid that technology may replace their position at work. For example, machines may produce things faster than workers do. Moreover, the cost of production is relatively cheaper when using machines. Consequently, the manufacturer will use the machines and dismiss the workers. Second, people also find that it is hard for them to learn new technology. For instance, it is easy for me to operate a computer. The computer has become a necessary aspect of my life. In contrast, my parents find some difficulties in operating a computer. My parents, as beginners, need to know how to use a mouse and a keyboard. Besides, my parents need to master the steps required to switch on the computer and handle operating applications. My parents finally gave up learning to use a computer because the complexities in learning. Moreover, people may feel more comfortable with existing technology. For example, although e-chatting is inexpensive to use, older people may feel uncomfortable with this new technology,because they have gotten used to using older technology, such as telephones. Another reason people resist new technology is that some people think that new technology will make their lives more complicated. As email is now widely used in offices, office staff find their job more stressful. They find that they have to work harder, because their bosses may call them by email whenever their bosses have new tasks to be done. In conclusion, people resist new technology because new technology may replace them at work. Moreover, new technology may be hard to learn and make people's lives more stressful.

W5T2 Identifying one of my common grammar mistakes

     According to the writing assignment 1, I found many common grammar mistakes in it. One of them is in using transition signals or connecting words. I find that I make this mistake because of a habit in my home country. In my country ,that is Indonesia, I seldom speak English. Although I have taken some English tuitions for many years, I frequently speak Hokkien and bahasa Indonesia instead of English. In other words, I do not spend much time in learning English. After having done some exercise, I also find that I lack definitions of transition words. For example,I cannot differ with the usage of however and nevertheless. After consulting an English dictionary, I now do understand about a difference of the transition words. However is used for contrasting with the things that has just been said; whereas, nevertheless has a same function with however and mentions a surprising result. Other transitions words that make me confused are furthermore and indeed. I think that they have a same function;however, they have a significant difference. Furthermore is used for adding a  similar idea-usually in adding a point in an argument;whereas, indeed is used for emphasizing a stronger-usually positive- statement. To sum up, in order to improve my ability in using transition words, I need to speak English quite often. Moreover, I need to check the English dictionary whenever I doubt about a definition of transition words.

Here I attach the link where I do some exercises about transition words,
part 1
part 2
I also give my answer of the exercise:
Transition words 1 - Exercise to learn English.htm
Transition words 2 - Exercise to learn English.htm

The grand challenges for engineering

   According to the article of Introduction to the Grand Challenges for Engineering on http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9221.aspx, nowadays, engineers have several main challenges to be solved. There are sustainability, health, vulnerability, and joy of living. 

   

   The challenge that interests me most is health. As the population keeps growing, the demand for health service is increasing. Unfortunately, the population growth surpasses the growth in the number of health services. There are some engineers’ tasks to overcome this dilemma.

   The engineers are required to develop a system which diagnoses a disease faster. They may create a device to access patients' genetic information quickly. By this way, doctors may recognize patients' diseases in a short time. Moreoever, engineers need to build a system which is able to manage and access the patients' data faster and more effectively.

   Nowadays, the world is attempting to develop synthetic biology. It is a study of regenerating tissues. It is expected to be able to create new and fresh tissues to replace damaged ones. The engineers play an important role to realize it. Besides inventing numerous systems, engineers need to find ways to create diagnostic devices to be affordable. One of the examples is gene chips functioned in detecting chemical substances in the patients’ blood.

   In conclusion, the engineers have to face big challenges in improving people's health . They are also required to invent the device with inexpensive cost.