Mirror Magazine

Mirror Magazine

Do computer games breed violence?
Violence has been a part of human nature from the dawn of man and we have all shown some sort of violent behaviour at some point in our lives. Recent incidents in the United States since the Colorado High School killings in April 1999 have repeatedly raised the question as to whether computer games contributed to the rise in violence among teenagers and even adults. Interestingly, very few people challenged the perception that violent computer games were a big part of the reason why teenagers were becoming more and more violent and this theory did not take long to attach itself to public opinion.
While this could be debated on many fronts, a recent study by the American Office of the Surgeon General has shown that violent media aren't that big a problem after all. The study points out that the real problem with computer games is addiction. That behaviour bothers a lot of people. It's not fun being jilted for a computer game, especially at a time that's supposed to be about human love, harmony and all those other warm and fuzzy notions.

And while hard-core gamers insist their favourite activity is a harmless pastime, their loved ones sometimes suspect that their hobby has turned into something a little more compulsive, which raises the question: Is there such a thing as gaming addiction or is the very concept a myth?

It depends on whom you ask. At one extreme, there are gamers who threaten to 'get medieval' if someone so much as suggests they step away from their computer for a break. At the other extreme, there are the neglected spouses, former gamers and a bevy of therapists dedicated to treating game junkies.

I am not much of a computer gamer myself, so I welcome your ideas about these facts.

Mega-hard surprise
Microsoft is selling cheaper versions of its Windows operating system and Office software in Thailand, competing with a similar Linux operating system offer, to make it easier for the poor to afford computers. The cheaper versions are part of a Thai government programme to help citizens buy computers. Some of the other computers available through the programme run Linux, which Microsoft has identified as one of its biggest threats.

Microsoft is lowering prices to governments and educational institutions to compete with Linux and promote its software in poorer countries. The company already offers lower promotional prices in Taiwan and has cut prices for the German government. More than two-dozen nations are considering proposals to promote or require the use of Linux in government offices.

Linux is distributed freely on the Internet. Companies such as Red Hat Inc. and International Business Machines (IBM) make money by selling related services and computers. Microsoft's Windows operating system runs more than 90 per cent of personal computers. In the market for running server computers, Linux is forecast to grow faster than Windows. But Microsoft says that the programme is about "overcoming the digital divide" and not about eliminating its competition.

HT technology

Hyper-Threading (HT) Technology helps provide a significant performance boost that is particularly suited to today's business computing climate, applications and operating systems. HT technology is designed to increase performance and responsiveness and enable higher levels of productivity. With HT Technology, a single Intel(r) Pentium(r) 4 processor is seen by the OS as two processors. While there's still only one physical Pentium 4 processor in the PC, the processor can execute two treads (processes) simultaneously. By using the processor's resource more efficiently, HT Technology delivers performance increase of up to 25%.

A PC based on the Intel(r) Pentium(r) 4 Processor with HT Technology enables you to run multiple demanding applications at the same time making your favourite activity more productive and fun! This groundbreaking technology from Intel enables the processor to execute two threads (a part of a programme) in parallel so your software can run more efficiently and you can multitask more effectively than ever before.

The Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology is available in a variety of frequencies 3 GHz, 2.80C GHz, 2.60C GHz, and 2.40 GHz all delivering improved system performance in multi-tasking environments and allowing you to configure a system that best suits your requirements.

How do you determine the right Pentium 4 Processor with HT Technology for your requirements? If you don't usually run more than one demanding application at the same time, any of the sub-3 GHz processors could be a great value for your current needs. On the other hand, if you want the freedom to keep several heavy-duty applications humming at once, or if your multi-tasking needs will increase in the near future, then you want the muscle of the Intel(r) Pentium(r) 4 processor 3 GHz with advanced 800 MHz system bus. Remember, a large and continually expanding variety of applications benefit from Hyper-Threading Technology improving processor performance and responsiveness while multi-tasking, giving you the power to do more tasks on your PC at once.
Sent in by
Nilan Kosgahakumbura
Source: www.intel.com

Sensors

Technological advances often bury old-fashioned relics of simpler times. The latest victim may be the old expression, "dumb as a brick". Engineers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a "smart brick" filled with electronic sensors to continuously monitor the structural health of buildings for both routine maintenance and safety in emergencies. The brick can be laid into a wall like any other, but the prototype comes with a thermistor to track temperature changes and a two-axis accelerometer and multiplexer to measure vibration and movement. Data is transmitted to a desktop PC using an internal antenna, and future models may include an inductive coil to recharge the brick's battery. In the near future, sensors deployed throughout a building, encased in bricks, would provide a holistic, real-time picture of the strength of a building at any given moment.

Back to Mirror Magazine