UNIT 3 ENGLISH NOTES

NIMRA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

I B TECH  I SEM :  ENGLISH NOTES

DR. SHAIK SHAHEEN TAJ

MBA., MA., M PHIL., PHD.

UNIT 3

EVALUATING TECHNOLOGY

Evaluate atleast three alternative sources of energy and explain how that would be meeting the needs of Indian energy requirements.

Solar energy:

Solar energy is an important source of renewable energy. The large magnitude of solar energy available makes it a highly appealing source of electricity.

Fossil fuels are running out. Nearly every aspect of our lives now depends on electricity, and most of that energy comes from limited fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas.

If an alternative is not developed and widely adopted before those fossil fuels run out we won’t have electricity, as a result we’d have no computers, no lights, nothing.

The chief drawback of solar energy is the simple fact that the sun is not always available. In areas that have more cloudy days than sunny days, solar power falls short. That’s not even considering the areas of the world that are heavily forested, located underground, or plunged in darkness for months at a time (e.g., Alaska).

One way around this problem is to store solar energy in batteries so it can be tapped on demand. This is, of course, predicated on the efficiency of batteries and the assumption that they’ll be able to handle the potential load of mass energy storage.

Fortunately, the benefits of solar power far outweigh the drawbacks.

For one, the sun is always available. Not in the sense of day-and-night availability, but in the sense that the sun will surely outlast the earth. For as long as we call this planet our home, we will be able to harness the sun’s light. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy will never run out.

An important ethical consideration is solar power’s lack of environmental impact. Unlike fossil fuels, which generate an unspeakable amount of pollution, widespread use of photovoltaic cells would be environmentally friendly and reduce the human footprint on global warming. Plus, we wouldn’t need to destroy the earth to harvest fuel – it comes right to us through the atmosphere.

Solar cookers

For rural communities, electricity and gas are prohibitively expensive, leaving charcoal and firewood as the only alternative. Many times, wood is the single affordable option because it is free. Unfortunately, it is also in short supply. Since burning wood releases vast amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, health issues arise for those exposed and global warming is aggravated. Often, people use indoor fires to cook and inhale the micro-particles found in smoke, leading to lung and heart disease. Using sunlight to cook your food requires no burning of wood or other fuel, thereby minimizing dependence on wood for fuel and reducing deforestation and the release of pollutants into the air. 

A solar cooker made from basic components provides a solution to many fuel and subsequent health problems. A deflector made from cardboard and foil concentrates the suns energy. It is positioned around a container filled with food or water. A black pot with a glass lid effectively traps heat and energy, cooking food within several hours.

Most solar cookers work on the basic principle: Sunlight is converted to heat energy, that is retained for cooking. The other main variety of cookers are called parabolic solar cookers. They typically require more frequent reorientation to the sun, but will cook more quickly at higher temperatures.

Although there are many different designs for solar ovens or cookers available, there are several basic principles that they utilize for heating strategy. An effective solar cooker typically will use some if not all of these design criteria:

A method for concentrating the sunlight. A material or device such as a mirror, foil, or reflective material is used to channel concentrated sunlight and heat into a focused narrow area where the food is to be placed for cooking.

A method for converting sunlight into heat. The most effective color for absorbing sunlight and converting it to heat is black. The cooker should be made of a conductive material with black to be most efficient at absorbing and transferring heat.

Trapping and containing heat. It is critical to contain the heat which has been created by the absorbed sunlight within the solar oven, using some sort of clear solid barrier such as glass or plastic, which allows the sun's rays through but minimizes the loss of the created heat.

Biomass resources include wood and wood wastes, agricultural crops and their waste byproducts, municipal solid waste, animal wastes, waste from food processing and aquatic plants and algae. Biomass is used to meet a variety of energy needs, including generating electricity, heating homes, fuelling vehicles and providing process heat for industrial facilities.

Sources of energy for cooking:

Firewood and chips the most important source of energy used for cooking in rural India, with 75% of the rural households dependent upon it.  The lower MPCE (Monthly Per Capita Expenditure) classes in rural India used more firewood & chips and dung cake for cooking. The higher MPCE classes in rural areas used LPG in addition to firewood & chips, which remained the dominant source for cooking in all rural households. In the urban India, kerosene, firewood and chips and LPG are the import­ant sources of energy used for cooking.  LPG is the most commonly used energy source for cooking for households in all the social groups in urban India. Other than LPG, Electricity and kerosene together served 99% of the households as primary source for lighting in both rural and urban India. 

Thus we see that households generally use a combination of energy sources for cooking that can be categorised as traditional (such as dung, agricultural residues and fuelwood), intermediate (such as charcoal and kerosene) or modern (such as LPG, biogas, ethanol gel, plant oils, dimethyl ether (DME) and electricity).

Electricity is mainly used for lighting and small appliances, rather than cooking, and represents a small share of total household consumption in energy terms.  Supplies of biomass are abundant in many developing countries, although local scarcity exists. Indeed, they are the only affordable energy source for some households. Biomass resources include wood and wood wastes, agricultural crops and their waste byproducts, municipal solid waste, animal wastes, waste from food processing and aquatic plants and algae. Biomass is used to meet a variety of energy needs, including generating electricity, heating homes, fuelling vehicles and providing process heat for industrial facilities.

“Technology has become so much integrated in our lives that we became slaves to it. So we have to succumb to the negative effects of technology as do not have an alternative”. Do you agree with this statement? Give reasons with real examples.

Benefits and problems of technology:

Technology advances show people a more efficient way to do things, and these processes get good results. For example, education has been greatly advanced by the technological advances of computers. Students are able to learn on a global scale without ever leaving their classrooms. Agricultural processes that once required dozens upon dozens of human workers can now be automated, thanks to advances in technology, which means cost-efficiency for farmers. Medical discoveries occur at a much more rapid rate, thanks to machines and computers that aid in the research process and allow for more intense educational research into medical matters.

Advantages of technology:

Easy Access to information: It has become very easy to get access to relevant information at any time anywhere. This has been possible because of modern technologies like broadband internet.  

Encourages innovation and creativity – Since technology is challenging, it sparks the brain to work to its full potential.  The creative works which have been facilitated by modern technology include  Google, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon,  etc

Improved communication:   Communication is like water to life. We can not develop without communication.  Modern technology has blessed us with advanced communication technology tools. These can include e-fax machines, electronic mail, mobile phones, video conferencing, instant text messaging applications, social networking applications.

The convenience of Travelling:  Modern transportation technology makes it very easy to travel long distances.  Transport is a very important both in our lives and in the business world.  Nowadays, one can cover a 10 miles distance within a few minutes or hours using electric trains or airplanes.

Improved housing and lifestyle: This is another great way how modern technology has simplified our lives. New architectural technology has improved the types of housed we build nowadays. Most of items in our house are now automated, for example, doors use fingerprints which guarantee security.  Remote webcams which you can use to monitor what goes on at your home.

Improved Entertainment: Modern technology has played a big role in changing the entertainment industry.  Home entertainment has improved with the invention of video games and advance music and visual systems like smart televisions which can connect live to the internet so that a user can share what they’re watching with friends. Easy access and storage of music services like iTunes allow users to purchase and download music on iPods at a small cost.

Efficiency and Productivity: Modern technology has helped businesses increase production.  A farmer uses modern technology right from the day of preparing the farmland to the day of harvesting. They save a lot of time and money during this process.

 Convenience in Education:  Learning is a process and it is part of our daily lives. Modern technology has made it simple for students to learn from anywhere through online education and mobile education.  Also, students now use modern technology in classrooms to learn better. For example, students use iPads to share visual lessons and examples with peers in the classroom. This has made learning more convenient and fan. Also new modern educational technologies support individual learning which gives a chance to students to learn on their own with no need of tutors.

Social Networking:   Modern technology has made it simple to discover our old friends and also discover new people to network with. This is a benefit to both individuals and businesses. Many businesses have embraced the social networking technology to interact with their customers.  Users of social networks can share information with friends, live chat with them and interact in all sorts of ways.

Changed the health industry: Nowadays most  hospitals have implemented modern technology in surgical rooms. This has reduced the mistakes made by doctors. Humans can easily make mistakes because of work overload and stress factors. Also, the business community has developed health applications which can enable us to monitor our health and weight. These applications can be used on mobile phones, so users can have them at any time of the day.

 DISADVANTAGES OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY:

 Dependency: The more advanced society becomes technologically, the more people begin to depend on computers and other forms of technology for everyday existence. This means that when a machine breaks or a computer crashes, humans become almost disabled until the problem is resolved. This kind of dependency on technology puts people at a distinct disadvantage, because they become less self-reliant.

Less Value In Human Workers: Human workers retain less value, which is a disadvantage of technological advances. Because machines automate processes and do the work of 10 people with one computer, companies find they don't need to employ as many people to get the job done. As machines and computers become even more advanced and efficient, this will continue to be a growing disadvantage of technology and an issue that has a global impact.   

   

Increased loneliness : Social Isolation is on the increase, people are spending more time playing video games, learning how to use new modern technologies, using social networks and they neglect their real life. Technology has replaced our old way of interacting. If a user can easily interact with 100 friends online, they will feel no need to going out to make real friends which at a later stage leads to loneliness.

Job Loss: Modern technology has replaced many humans; robots are doing the jobs which used to be done by humans. Many packing firms have employed robots on production lines to increase production and efficiency, this is good news for businesses because it helps them make more money and serve customers in time, but it is bad news to employees because they get replaced by a robot.

Competency – Increased dependency on modern tools like calculators has reduced on our creativity. You can find a student when they can solve a very simple mathematical equation without using a calculator. This affects the way this student uses their brains and reduces the level of creativity.

World destruction weapons: Modern technology has been the main aid in the increasing and endless wars. It aids the manufacturing of modern war weapons which will require testing. So when these weapons get into the hands of criminals, they will use them for their selfish reasons.

Technology - boon or bane!

The modern world despite all its technological innovations and inventions has not been successful in keeping human beings on earth together. We have the best gadgets, technologies and the rest of it but these have not been able to serve the purpose as the world is increasingly becoming a community centric place, each claiming their own place under the sun. Each nation is trying to assert their superiority and authority over others and the oddest side to this game is that these nations have communities inside them who too are seeking independence and sovereignty. The latest among them is United Kingdom (UK) where        Scotland is going for a referendum this month to seek independence from the UK and add as a new country into the European Union (EU). If the September 18 referendum favors creation of Scotland as an independent state then Great Britain will certainly not remain as great as it is today. Britain, which ruled the world through its colonialism will be a fractured democracy despite being a member of the EU and geographically located in one of the most advanced parts of the world. But the question that haunts is advancement, unbelievable technological development and all those stuffs that helps a nation boast of at the first place is enough to keep the union going. Well, no matter whatever is the reason but these world developments indicates that preserving racial identities is a global concern now followed by the role of politics, businesses and what comes next in this list.

Although, sovereignty of any state will have a higher degree of politics and people’s will involved but what about families, neighborhoods, public institutions and all those classifications that is centered around humanity. They are faltering like ninepins, be it anywhere in the world, from the northeastern part of India to Africa to Europe, Middle East, in fact the world as a whole. Technology which is shaping up human lives in every possible manner, unimaginably, is also the bane here. If we see the use of social networking in recent times, it has created more friction in societies over the world than the good that it was designed with. Countries like China have come up with their own set of legislation towards use of such sites but this undreamed of freedom of expression is sinking more into the world of spreading hatred, jealousy, igniting comments, fanaticism and the rest which has created commotion and has even taken lives in many nations. Mischief mongers, groups with extremist motives use these platforms as it is very easy to open a fictitious account and do maximum harm, all but free. The time has come when users must be asked to produce documents, as required while opening bank accounts, to create email and social networking accounts given the number of misuse and damages that these ‘camouflaging’ mediums are producing on a daily scale. It cannot go on and on like what it is now where nuisance is going unabatedly as these forums have become safe heavens for them. No matter how good the intentions are but it cannot be denied that these mediums are playing mischief and has divided this world more than the wars and crimes it has seen.

We cannot deny the fact that most of these technological developments have truly taken place in advanced countries, mostly in America and Europe. If we analyze their use, form and freedom they are actually developed targeting the free economy and people of these nations. For an average American or a European, it is “cool” to say and post comments, which is a trend in their societies. Now, if some of these comments create any type of fissure in the country then they have a holistic legal framework in place to correct them. But in countries, outside the parent countries where these technologies are developed, it may not be in sync at the first place and the increasing animosities, trapping to false mails, creating law and order issues are some that is constantly reported in countries in Asia and other parts of the world. It has to be understood that technologies are after all the manifestation of intelligence inside a human brain and that manifestation may not necessarily work well all the time at all places until and unless it is a divine sanctity. What one cannot say, write or speak in regular frontline media, these social networking sites are thus allowing public to vent their anger with the most foulest of language never ever seen in any public domain earlier because it is just enough for the owner of such sites to escape prosecution with a nondescript disclaimer that any comments posted are not the views of these sites. In fact this disclaimer is the root cause of the danger associated with these sites. How absurd it is that the owners of such sites are roaming scot-free whereas a slightly absurd comment in the regular media, bosses are taken to task. The comments made in the social networking sites are not confined to specified geographical boundaries as seen in case of newspapers, television channels since they can be read and seen by anybody in any parts of the world and create local trouble. Their circulation is worldwide and so their bosses should be held more responsible for any problems that arises out of comments, videos and others postings in their sites.

 The divided world, in which we live, where families are shortened to a pigeon hole, is actually the result of our efforts trying to instill technology practically in everything in our daily lives. We have literally become slaves instead of technology being our slaves. This penetration into critical areas of human lives, where a human touch can do much good than any technological interference, is changing the dynamics of our society. Today people tend to rely on technology more as they prevent themselves from every possible personal contact with fellow beings and keep that up through the use of gadgets citing pretexts of one thing or other. People say, “we will keep in touch” whereas a neighbor is seen conversing via technology instead of a possible meet. This virtual reality is the new reality now as good wishes, greetings, condolences and everything else are all but possible through technology. The gap thus remains since there is no alternative to human to human contact and technology can never fill up that gap. Technologies which are designed to simplify human lives on earth have rather complicated it alarmingly. We may get heart-attack, nightmares and the rest if we are asked to imagine our lives for a day without it. But then what good have technologies done instead of taking us away from our roots. A rootless civilization will not last and continue to rupture no matter how advanced is our technologies. It is like shielding the exterior more and more ignoring the vital interior which is collapsing all the time and will bring down everything, one day. The present world civilization is sustaining on this falling core.

The Verger

(William Somerset Maugham)

Introduction

It's a short story from Cosmopolitans published in 1936.

 Author

          William Somerset Maugham (se pronounce Mom) is an English writer, but he lived until he was 10 in Paris and he then travelled a lot. Because of his travel he acquired a cosmopolitan outlook. He wrote novels and short stories which Rain is the best know. Other major works are The Moon and Sixpence, Cakes and Ales and Razor’s Edge.

Summary

          Albert Edward Foreman is a verger since sixteen years. He like his job and do it as good as he can. Recently the vicar has died and a new one had been appointed. Albert Edward regretted his predecessor because the new one always wanted to control everything. The vicar has a special talent, which is to make babies stop crying when he is holding them. He wants to talk to Foreman. He is surprised to see the two church wardens with him. He seems for him, that the two men did what the vicar want, but don’t agreed with him. Before being a verger, Foreman was a servant in very good houses. The vicar told Foreman, that he has heard that he couldn’t read or write. Foreman confirms it. The vicar told him, that it is impossible to have a verger who cannot read and write. Foreman doesn’t want to learn, so he will have to go. He was polite until he was outside of the church, there he became sad. He doesn’t want to be servant again, because now he has been his own master. He wants a cigarette but cannot find a shop anywhere. The next day he opens a little shop and set up a business as a tobacconist and newsagent. Albert Edward did very well. With the time he opens more shops and becomes richer. One day the banker told him, that he should invest all his money. The only thing he has to do is to sign the transfers, but because he can’t read that becomes a problem. The banker is very surprised to see that this successful man can’t read or write. He is wondering what he would now been, if he could read and write. Albert Edward answered that he would be a verger.

Analysis

Ø  Albert Edward was a very good verger and just because he can’t read or write they dismiss him. When he could make this job without this capacity, why should they change the verger?

Ø  The vicar wasn’t right with Albert Edward and so he did right to left his job. But on the other side, it would have been an opportunity for him to learn writing and reading.

Ø  Albert Edward is very lucky, because if he couldn’t read or write, he couldn’t have been long at school and so it was a bit of luck, that he could make his shops run, but he has probably a certain talent.

Ø  This story makes us thinking about the importance of a good education. It’s certain that we need it, but the moral is, that the most important he what we did with our knowledge.

Ø  It’s an ironic story. First it’s tragic and at the end funny.

Ø  Albert is a very calm person, not stupid, even if he can’t write and read

Ø   The vicar work in a fashionable church. He wants to make it more fashionable, but he didn’t see the spiritual sight of it. It’s not important for him. He is frightened of a scandal, but Albert is a good verger.

Short Questions & Answers

Q. What was Albert Foreman’s Profession? Or What kind of person is Albert Foreman?

Ans: William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and the author of numerous short stories. ‘The Verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist, much like many other stories by Somerset Maugham. It is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great joy and dedication. 

Albert Edward Foreman has been the verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. He was so devoted in his profession that there were no complaints against him till now. Albert started his career as a page-boy in the house of a merchant prince.  He had risen by due degrees from the position of a footman to a single handed butler to a widowed peeress.  Later, he joined as a Verger at St. Peter’s Neville square.

Q. What were Foreman’s feelings about the new vicar?

Ans: William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and the author of numerous short stories. ‘The Verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist, much like many other stories by Somerset Maugham. It is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great joy and dedication. 

Albert Edward Foreman has been the verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. He loved his job and there were no complaints about him until a new vicar from the east end was appointed in St. Peter’s Neville Square. Albert found the new vicar was very different from the predecessor.  He was a red-faced energetic man in the early forties. In his opinion the new vicar was a man of discreet ways of his fashionable congregation. 

Q. Why does the new vicar want the Foreman to leave his position?

Ans: William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and the author of numerous short stories. ‘The Verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist, much like many other stories by Somerset Maugham. It is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great joy and dedication. 

Albert Edward Foreman has been the verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. He loved his job and there were no complaints about him until a new vicar from the east end was appointed in St. Peter’s Neville Square. Albert found the new vicar was very different from the predecessor.  He was a red-faced energetic man in the early forties. In his opinion the new vicar was a man of discreet ways of his fashionable congregation. One day christening ceremony was conducted by the new vicar.  After that, the new vicar called the verger to the vestry. The vicar praised Albert for his sincerity and capability of doing the work.  He also pointed out the illiteracy of the vergerand immediately fired him.  

Q. What happens when the Foreman walks out of the church?

Ans: William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and the author of numerous short stories. ‘The Verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist, much like many other stories by Somerset Maugham. It is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great joy and dedication. 

Albert Edward Foreman has been the verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. He loved his job and there were no complaints about him until a new vicar from the east end was appointed in St. Peter’s Neville Square.  In spite of his love for the job, the new vicar fired him that he could not read. After giving his resignation, the verger locked and walked out of the church.  He was sad.  He did not know what to do next.  He took a wrong road out of his sadness.  He wanted to smoke a cigarette. He searched for a shop to buy a cigarette.  He could not find a shop to buy a cigarette.  He stopped and looked reflectively up and down.  Then he decided to start a tobacco shop.

Q. What happens when the Foreman walks out of the church?

Ans: William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and the author of numerous short stories. ‘The Verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist, much like many other stories by Somerset Maugham. It is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great joy and dedication. 

Albert Edward Foreman has been the verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. In spite of his love for the job, the new vicar fired him that he could not read. After giving his resignation, the verger locked and walked out of the church.  He was sad.  Albert explained his wife about starting a very practical business. Within twenty four hours, he took a shop in the street and started the business as a tobacconist and news Agent.  Later he took up a second shop and put a manager in.  Within ten years, he had acquired no less than ten shops.  He earned much and deposited in a bank. 

A man lost his low-paying job as a verger because it was discovered that he was illiterate, but he adapted to his problem by becoming a successful shopkeeper. He found that he was better off being illiterate.

Q. Narrate the discussion between the bank manager and Foreman.

Ans: William Somerset Maugham was a British playwright, novelist, and the author of numerous short stories. ‘The Verger’ is a story with an unexpected twist, much like many other stories by Somerset Maugham. It is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great joy and dedication. 

Albert Edward Foreman has been the verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. A man lost his low-paying job as a verger because it was discovered that he was illiterate. He started a tobacco store where he found the place fit to his practical business. Within ten years, he had acquired no less than ten shops.  He earned much and deposited in a bank. 

One day the manager at the bank told Albert that Albert had thirty thousand pounds in his account.   The manager added that his money would be deposited in various schemes and would set better rates of interest.  The manager asked him to read and sign the bond.  Albert replied that he couldn’t read and write.  The manager was stunned and asked with wonder what he would have become if he had been able to read and write.  Albert replaced that he would be the Verger of St. Peter’s Neville square.

The writer highlights the strength of the human spirit that can triumph over all obstacles, through sheer courage and determination.