Computers

For better or worse, computers have infiltrated every aspect of our society.  It has been a necessity of life for many decades. Every individual needs a computer whether it's for personal uses or for work.  I remember how computers were when I was a child and how they developed over the years; huge monitors that looked like big boxes became flat screens that weigh so much less.

The term "computer" was launched as it was derived from the verb compute which refers to calculate.And it is not surprising because the computer is built to take care of all the operations in the form of accounts; add or subtract or multiply or divide using the binary system. 

A computer is defined as any device that is programmed to hold out a set of arithmetic operations (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer). The abacus, emerged around 5,000 years ago in Asia Minor and is still used today; it is considered to be the first computer, a device that allows users to make computations using a special system. It was used to keep trading transactions but it lost its value and importance as the use of paper and pencil spread, mostly in Europe. 12 centuries later, a development in computing devices emerged. In 1642, an 18-year-old son of a French tax collector, invented a numerical wheel calculator which was also called a Pascaline. The Pascaline had a drawback which was its limitation to addition. It was developed, however, in 1694 by a german mathematician by creating a machine that could also multiply. Other devices appeared later on, ones that can do the 4 basic arithmetic functions. The true beginnings of the computer as we know it nowadays started with Charles Babbege, an English professor, as he was the first to attempt to amend the errors and the limitations in the devices and was inspired to create the first general-purpose computer. Babbage's steam-powered engine, although ultimately never constructed, may seem primitive by today's standards. It outlined the basic elements of a modern general purpose computer and was a breakthrough concept (www.dia.eui.upm.es/asignatu/).

The identification of a single point during this journey as the first digital electronic computer is very difficult. Secret British Colossus computer in 1944, it had limited programmability but introduced a device that uses thousands of valves could be reliable and reprogrammed electronically. Harvard Mark I 1944 computer Aketromekaneki was large and had a limited capacity to programming. The U.S. computer system was based on algorithms (1946-ENIAC) and was the first electronic computer with a general-purpose, but basically the structure is smooth, which means that key reprogramming requires reconnect. Z machines for Konrad Zuse, with Alalictromekaneki Z3 (1941) was the first working machine offers automatic calculation feature of binary digits and the ability to programming a practical and convenient way. ENIAC had the program architecture default basis of all modern computers. There were a number of projects to develop a computer based on the stored program architecture in the mid-to-last forties of the twentieth century. The first computer from Hola was created in Britain.

The design computer Almkad pipe valve was in use during the fifties of the twentieth century, but with time it has been replaced with computers Turanzsturih where it is smaller, faster and cheaper and more reliable; all that has allowed it to be produced on a commercial scale in the sixties of the twentieth century. In the seventies of the twentieth century,came integrated circuit technology in the production of computers at a cost low enough to allow for individuals to own a personal computer of the species currently known (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer).

There are many types of computers nowadays. PCs are on top of the list. They are computers made and designed for general uses by a single person. They were first known as microcomputers because they were complete computers but built on smaller scales than the business systems operators. Most people relate the term PC to computers that run the windows operating system when the term actually includes Mac as a PC. Any PC not designed for portability is called a desktop whether it's used at home or work it can't be moved. A laptop or a notebook is the exact opposite; it has been designed to be small and easy to move. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) are another type of computer; super small computers that hold flash-memories instead of a hard drive. Moreover, another type of computer is a workstation; developed specially for 3D graphics and game designing as it hold a powerful processor. A server is also a type of computer, its purpose is to provide services to other computers over a network. Although a server can be big, mainframes are even bigger. Mainframes were huge computers that could fill an entire room or even a whole floor. Finally, supercomputers; they may cost hundreds or thousands of dollars and sometimes even millions (computer.howstuffworks.com/10-types-of-computers.htm).

Computers these days are used everywhere and in every house and workplace. It can't be determined whether computers changed life in a positive or a negative way, but for sure it did change life in a big way.

Reflection 1

Summarising was the main theme of this semester for this class; although we started late, due to some technical problems, the class was able to catch up with the studies.

In the beginning we were asked to write two practice summaries about North African Bustards and Emirati police night patrols. Mr. Hedley (our instructor) taught us the techniques and the skills we had to use and learn in summarising; knowing the main idea is most important, then eliminating all the examples, figures and facts that hold low levels of importance to the purpose of the passage; summarising is simply about showing what the main message of the article is.
Later on we were asked to write two assessed summaries, one about desert milk and the other about desert survival.

Mr. Hedley ended our session by showing us how to use BibMe and explaining about the importance of accurate referencing when doing assignments.

It was a really interesting session we had; we learned a lot, it was interesting and very useful for future uses.

Houbara Bustards

North Africa Houbara Bustard's numbers have been decreasing rapidly the last few decades; poaching, over-hunting and destruction of their natural habitats were the main causes for that. Emirates center for wild life has been preventing extinction for those species. Every stage of the bird's lives is carefully managed in the center of Morocco; birds used for breeding are trained to be familiar with humans. The Enjil station processes samples to match females and males; a process done to ensure the genetic composition for the future. No birds are released during hunting season. The program has been working due to the increasing numbers of these birds. 

Desert milk, from farm to fridge

It's hard to believe that fresh milk can be provided everywhere and in every house in this hot desert, but Almarai did that. It was founded in 1977 and started with only 300 cows but now it keeps its herds in six super-farms. The milking happens 4 times a day and each cow produces about 13000 liters of milk a year, which is double the average of the european cows. Milk goes through the production process; it starts with homogenizing the raw milk then it is pasteurized at high temperature. The bottles are filled then held in a cold storage facility; after that the bottles are prepared for delivery. Some kinds of cow milk come in a can, evaporated or condensed but fresh milk is king on demand. 

Desert Survival

Finding food, water, shelter and surviving the sweltering summers wasn't easy in the deserts of the UAE. The Bedouin knew how to find water on their journeys. They knew where the wells were. They could also read clues on how to find water like following birds or finding places where wells can be dug. Wells would be named after the man who did the job. Bedouin would also desalinate water by using sheepskin, and sometimes they would drain a camel's body of its water or survive on milk from camels and goats. Bedouin also acclimatised to desert heat and tolerated greater dehydration than most. 

Desert horsemen keep the pace

Patrolling Al Awafi desert is a group of horsemen assisting the police in RAK. helping them by covering areas in the desert . Horsemen ride arabian horses and wear beige riding trousers, black boots and Kandoras around their waists , the horses have the police symbol on their saddles . The symbol is a falcon with 7 stars symbolizing the 7 Emirates. Al Awafi is a popular place and is often visited by many, some of the visitors unfortunately may try to scare the horses by making loud noises thats why the horses are highly trained to be still, strong and brave to be able to deal with problems and dangers. The horsemen help protect that place and keep it safe.