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.
