Blog Post #6

            Technical writing is a class with the purpose to help make engineers write in a technical way. Over the course of the class, I understood how writing can differ depending on the objective of the subject. For instance, I wrote more than one type of writing, such as blog post, research papers, product reviews, technical description, and recommendation paper. Each type has a different style with different purposes, and that is what English 259 has taught me. It taught me to alter my style from persuasive, to informative and a from technical tone to a more generalized one.         

            During the course, my writing style has changed a lot, in terms of style, tone, and grammar. For style, I learned how to do research and apply it using citations. I went beyond Google and searched for information on a proficient level. Gale Virtual Reference became my new search engine. This was new to me because I used to always write in a general style like a informative paper with no citations. Google was also my one and only search engine, but not anymore. For tone, I had the opportunity to learn how and when to sound professional. For instance, when writing the professional memo and recommendation paper, I was able to characterize myself as a member of a committee to get my point a across and show credibility. In previous papers, I wrote in the perspective of a student in which I has no ethos.  

            My writing grows everyday because of the provided assignment. They helped me understand the other types of writing. Now I have better experience in changing my tone in any paper to accommodate the subject and audience of my paper. One of my favorite aspects of technical writing is blog posts. Blog posts helped me in expressing my views in both a technical way and persuasive tone. They are similar to the executive summary of a recommendation report. Therefore, I can say that technical writing helped me polish my writing in a very effective way.  

Blog Post #5

          Many People are gaining more interest in cell phones as each day goes by. Two of the most popular devices on the market today are known to be the Galaxy S IV and HTC One. These two phones consist of the latest technology and are making many people undecided on which phone to buy.    

                                                              http://reviews.cnet.com/htc-one/

          Above, is a link to a review of the HTC One. Senior editor Brian Bennett of CNET, gave an honest and precise review of the HTC One. In "The gorgeous HTC One is a winner" Bennett was able to provide a sufficient amount of information for an individual in order to decide whether to buy this phone or not. There is many positive aspects of owning this phone. First, Bennet (2013) stated, "this phone has a incredibly amazing screen resolution, making its pixel density 468 ppi" (Bennet, 2013, p.1). which also means it has the highest pixel density on the market. Another good factor of this phone is that its composed of a metal design. However, there is a negative aspect, unfortunately. The battery for this phone cannot be removed. This can be a problem for those customers who like to swap batteries. This review is completely reliable because it's based upon hand-on testing. Bennett decided this phone to be one of the best android devices on the market if not the best for three reasons. First, he finds the metal body to be an attraction for the majority of the customers. Second, he appreciates the high resolution of the phone and how it stands out among other android devices. Finally, he believes the IR blaster is a positive factor for the phone. 

                                                      http://reviews.cnet.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/

           Above is a link to the Galaxy S IV review by Jessica Dolcourt. In "The everything phone for (almost) everyone" Dolcourt gave us a detailed insight of the Galaxy S IV. In this review, Dolcourt compare the phone to the HTC One. One advantage the S IV has over the HTC One, is that it ships with the latest version on android, 4.2.2. However, that is not the only advantage the S IV has over the One. For Instance, Dolcourt (2013) stated, " S4's screen is so responsive that it can be used with gloves on" (Dolcourt, 2013, p.1). Yet this phone also has many bad factors. For instance, the phone has a plastic body despite the premium price being paid for it. Also, as a Galaxy Note II user, I can verify that Samsung's gimmicks tend to slow down their phones. Dolcourt finds this phone to be a superior device. She likes the 13-mega pixels camera , comparing it to the HTC One's 4-mega pixels. She is also a fan of the user replaceable battery. And of course she enjoys controlling her TV from her S IV which contains an IR blaster, just like the HTC one.

References: 

Bennett, Brian. "The gorgeous HTC One is a winner." Product reviews - Electronics reviews, computer                reviews & more - CNET Reviews. N.p., 26 Apr. 2013. Web. 10 May 2013. Retrieved from http://reviews.cnet.com/htc-one/

Dolcourt, Jessica. "The everything phone for (almost) everyone." Product reviews - Electronics reviews,      computer reviews & more - CNET Reviews. N.p., 13 Apr. 1923. Web. 10 May 2013. Retrieved from http://reviews.cnet.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/

Blog Post #4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X7_ciKBk5xA

http://go.galegroup.com.rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/ps/retrieve.do?inPS=true&prodId=GVRL.Science&userGroupName=cuny_laguardia&docId=GALE%7CCX2888500053&contentSegment=&searchId=R1&tabID=T003&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&currentPosition=5&searchResultsType=

http://go.galegroup.com.rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=RELEVANCE&inPS=true&prodId=GVRL.Science&userGroupName=cuny_laguardia&tabID=T003&searchId=R2&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&contentSegment=&searchType=BasicSearchForm&currentPosition=4&contentSet=GALE%7CCX2830100190&&docId=GALE|CX2830100190&docType=GALE

           Above is a link to a video that reveals one of many ways a Nao robot operates. In this video, the Nao robot is able to mimic a person's movement and pretend to be a fitness trainer. It's very thrilling to see how technology have advanced so much over the years. We seen how the robot is able to interact with humans to do certain kind of activities yet how it also not so great in completing any tasks. For example, in the video "we saw the robot doing exercises only by mimicking the user's movements. It also showed the lag of the robot in doing the exercises" (Tempusmaster). The interaction between the Nao robot and the user is surprising, in the sense that we have not encountered this before. After seeing many videos of Nao robot, it brings upon us an optimistic feeling. To know that one day we might be able to do daily tasks with a robot seems like a new era. This video is found on YouTube yet it seems trustworthy because of how the video shows the robot and user side-by-side, thus we know it is not fake. Otherwise, we also seen many other advertisement of the Nao robot that reveal its full capabilities.

            According to Bowdoin (2002), Artificial intelligence is "a machine that can think about data and act upon them as a human" (Bowdoin, 2002, p. 153). This means that for any machine to be considered artificially intelligent, it must conduct any type of a activity in the way any human would go upon it.   Referring to this definition, we can conclude that the Nao robot is not artificially intelligent. Even though the Nao robot can mimic movements of its user, it cannot perform them as good as the human. For instance, if we were to look at other videos of this robot, we can see that the robots are slow in performing activities, which means it takes time for them to process data. Lerner (2008) stated that,

            Certain tasks can be performed faster and more accurately by traditionally programmed    computers than by human beings, particularly numerical computation and the storage, retrieval, and sorting of large quantities of information. However, the ability of computers to interact flexibly with the real world— their intelligence—remains slight. (p.         326).

This explains how the Nao robot is still not advanced enough to fully interact with the human species. Also, we do not know whether or not these robot act upon emotions or not. That is something that will always be missing from them, and will be the reason why interaction between humans and robots may be difficult in the future.  

            Next, we shall analyze how the video and a written technical description of this robot differ. First, the written description provides a detailed physical description of the robot. The video we seen straightly goes into revealing the skills of the robot. Second, The written description describes how the software operates in order for the robot to behave in this manner. The video skips that part, yet shows us what the software is capable of doing.  Therefore, the written description is more helpful in the sense it provides a detailed description of everything in regard of the robot.

References: 

Intelligence, Artificial. (2002). In A. B. Van Riper, Science in Popular Culture (pp. [153]-155).Westport,              CT: Greenwood Press. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.rpa.laguardia.    edu:2048/ps/i.do?  id=GALE%7CCX2888500053&v=2.1&u=cuny_laguardia&it=r&p=G   VRL.Science&sw=w

Artificial intelligence. (2008). In K. L. Lerner & B. W. Lerner (Eds.), The Gale Encyclopedia of   Science    (4th ed., Vol. 1, pp. 326-330). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.rpa.laguardia.edu:2048/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX2830100190&       v=2.1&u=cuny_laguardia&it=r&p=GVRL.Science&sw=w

Tempusmater (2012, April 8). NAO Robot Developer Days - Craig Schulman. Retrieved April      28,2013, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=X7_ciK

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Blog Post #3

             "When students need to move from one building to another, they rush because they do not want to be late, given the fifteen minute interval between classes. When the students rush from one building to the other, the majority of them do not follow the automated traffic lights. Students also do not wait for vehicles to cross when it is a green light for the drivers. As a result, drivers also rush to pass through with no concern for the people. Consequently, both the drivers and the people are the cause of putting people's life at risk."

            In my memo, I talked about traffic congestion and how it affects the pedestrians' lives around LaGuardia Community College. I chose this scenario because as a student of  LaGuardia Community College, I face this problem on daily basis. Also, many students complain about this crisis, therefore I decided to propose my opinion upon it. I came up with a few solution that might solve the problem, but they were all common ideas. My unique solution to this dilemma was to connect the B and C building. A similar concept of the E and M building. However, since they are separated by the street, it would have to be connected only via the third floor. I was inspired by this idea when I visited Hunter college and they had the same design.

            When I started writing the memo, I have done some research about what devices are used to control traffic. I interviewed some of the students about their point of view and opinion on the problem. I think I should have asked my teammates to give me more feedback on my paper to improve my grammatical issues and organize my ideas. After this assignment, I understand that technical writing is different from a simple essay. For instance, I should have been more specific and stating my point straight forward instead of writing useless sentences.  

Blog Post #2

http://phys.org/news/2013-03-ear-splitting-jet-noise.html

            The research team in the Virginia tech's college of engineering is attempting to find a solution to the fighter jet. The problem they proposed is that these fighter jets have huge negative impact on the ear due to the noise it produces. This project is going to attempt to solve the problem by reducing the jet's engine noise. Due to the importance of this project, NASA is partially funding this project.

            To illustrate the issue, the author compares the sound frequency by the jet and a lawnmower. He stated "tactical aircraft can reach 150 decibels on the flight line as sailors and Marines prepare fighters and other aircraft for launching. Comparatively, a lawnmower typically produces noise levels of 90 decibels." (Virginia tech, 2013) By this analogy, the audience is able to understand the importance of the quandary. This project is intended to look after the citizens, who put their hearing on the line by being on the aircraft board.  "However, the issue with the jets do not only affect citizens as an individual but they do pollute the cities with their noise." (Virginia tech, 2013).

            This result of this research will have a huge impact on the future of aircrafts and its users. Since this project is intend to prevent the engine from producing high level frequency sounds, citizens who are associated with aircrafts will not have to sacrifice their hearing in the long term. Although I discussed an article and not a blog, the author seems to be concerned with informing the public of what is to be accomplished. Also, publishing the news to the public may result in getting more funding for the project. After reading this professional engineering article, I can say that it has benefited me to realize my educational plans. Currently am studying civil engineering and I have been interested in mechanical engineering for quite a bit. Now that I read the article, am concerned whether or not should I engage in a mechanical workshop. Doing so will allow me to physically understand what these researchers are doing and whether or not I would like to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.         

Blog Post #1

              Welcome to Muhamed Muhamed's blog. My blog will consist of posts discussing controversial topics in which I will propose my personal views upon them. This blog is  part of my technical writing college course, therefore topics that fall under that category will be open for discussion. During high school, I studied architecture. Am currently a student at LaGuardia Community College studying civil engineering. I sure do hope to complete my bachelor in city college. I plan to then do my masters in construction management. If all goes right, then I could have my masters completed by age twenty four. Later, I can start my PH.D in architecture. I assume it is a good idea to study different aspects of engineering for a couple or reasons. It will make me perceive engineering differently and also open minded on other aspects of my work.

             I can say that I consider myself very familiar with technology. Even though, am not into programming or web design but I would like to study them. They seem very interesting and it would be mind blowing to understand how the apps and websites we use are made. There is a few courses that am interested in, such as C++ because its programming and everything nowadays is linked to computers. I think most people in the united states share my views on technology. For instance, not everyone knows how to design web or program. However, they do use computers, smart phones, etc. They know the basic way of getting around on the internet and such yet they would like to understand how websites are made and experience making one. I do not entirely enjoy reading nor writing. The only book I completely read and liked from beginning to end was The Kite Runner. The only writing I do regularly is texting, beside school work.