Would He Have Tried the Juggling Act?

by Unknown
Dennis Mitchell! Does the name ring a nostalgic bell? Does it take you back to your “Dennis” days full of pranks and laughter? Well yes, I am talking about the famous nemesis of “Mr. Wilson” and the always-wise friend of Joey called “Dennis the Menace.”
The underlying theme of Dennis the Menace dwells in those glorious fun-filled days of childhood with every single moment being one of discovery and invention – no matter whatever be the results from those discoveries or inventions!
We first saw Dennis appear in the year 1951 and since then he has been appearing not only on comic strips but also on television shows, cartoons, and even full-length movies.
Now say the Internet, smart phones, mobile applications, and play stores (Google, Apple, Nokia etc.) also made their appearance around the same time. An interesting query comes forth: Would they have been capable of teaching kids like Dennis Mitchell? In other words, would they have been able to calm an unpredictable and super-strong tornado of mischief and pranks?
The answer is yes; but on the condition that mobile applications like Chifro ABC: Kids Alphabet Game got the first chance of handling kids like Dennis. Let’s analyze a typical Dennis day as far as studies are concerned.
Dennis and Joey are sitting on the ground with loads of paper lying around them. Some crayons huddled together in a pocket while their companions strewn here-and-there on the ground. Books kept with the intention of creating a building out of them, and education getting a new way of presentation from the thoughts and acts of Mr. Dennis himself.
The numbers 1—10, the alphabets A—Z etc. would have been the prevalent study subjects and therefore had there been an application like the one mentioned above then it is for certain that the world would have seen a calm but happy Dennis.
After all, the energy and enthusiasm would have gone into listening to the music, mimicking the juggling act of the octopus, and of course solving the picture puzzle for each alphabet. Time would have went by without a single incident much to the delight of Mr. Wilson due to not having to cope with unforeseen troubles resulting from the inventive endeavors of Dennis.
On a serious note, the application would have been the lenient-but-determined teacher who would have handled Dennis with a “velvet glove” and successfully achieved his education in terms of remembering the “ABCs.”
Now let’s come back to the present and it is perhaps not incorrect to say that perhaps in every home resides a Dennis in the form of an enthusiastic kid. So, enter Chifro ABC: Kids Alphabet Game – The dispeller of Aspirin tablets of every father with the child now vesting his energy in not pranks but in “playing” with this application.
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Can Apps Help Blind Photographers Takes Awesome Snaps?

by Unknown
The mobile-application industry has been coming forth with new technologies every now-and-then. But I can’t help but wonder one thing.
Is there any technology that can enable a visually challenged people take fantastic photographs using his/her smart phone?
In response to the introductory question (wherever I have used it to enthrall the curiosity of my readers), I have always cited some survey or study in my earlier posts. This time however I will not be mentioning any surveys or studies in the coming lines. Neither will I be piling up a mountain of statistical data to prove my claims. Simply because the element of common sense together with an honest investment of 2-3 minutes of thinking will find the answer that I seek.
When we take pictures what do we do?
We focus our smart phones towards the subject – automatic focusing features do half the work for us – and then click an image with a simple tap on the touch screen which in turn is complemented by a “camera-shutter” sound.
But can a person who is visually challenged take pictures in the same manner? He can’t and therefore what can be done to help him?
A solution according to me would be an app which uses audio in sync with the different activities involved while taking a picture. This app would create an audio file that would speak out the activity for the person. For example: The app will create an audio for the face-detection features. This audio file will speaks out the number of faces detected while taking a picture.
The basic act of taking a picture involves a tap on the touch screen as the signal for the camera to click a picture. This tap can be replaced with either an upward- or a downward-swipe.
Audio can also be used for bringing forth the ability to picture sharing with family and friends, once taken. Once the app takes an image, an instantaneously generated audio file can inform the person regarding the time and date of the picture. In fact, image-related GPS-data can be transformed into audio files to the extent that information such as neighborhood name, city, state, and country are spoken out clearly for the person’s benefit.
An app that enables a visually challenged person to take a picture like a normal person would be truly wonderful and fantastic. Hence, I end this post with a simple question for my readers:
Are there any apps that help visually challenged people take pictures to their absolute delight?
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Is This Just a Textbook Case-Study or Something Else?

by Unknown
A Curtain Raiser
Do take a look at the statistics given below before and think for a moment before progressing ahead with the hypothetical case-study.
  • 160,000 million fast-food restaurants in USA
  • 50-million mouths enthusiastically chomping down!
NOTE: The statistics have been taken from a report published by the PEW Research Center.
The Case Study
Let’s view the case study now in terms of the situation and the problem.
Situation: Consider two persons: Mr. A and Mr. B.
Mr. A is a normal teenager who has not bent the needle of the weight machine. Mr. B honestly admits to being obese for an average, American teenager.
Problem: Too many soda-pops washing down too many burgers and pizzas seems to be the reason for gaining weight according to Mr. B. So, how does he lose weight and become a normal American teenager like Mr. A?
What can be the solution for this hypothetical case study? A possible solution has been given below.
Solution: Mr. B needs to desist from food rich in fat and needs to follow an active lifestyle witnessing no dearth of physical activity.
NOTE: This is purely a hypothetical case-study created for conceptual purposes and in no way does it real-life incidents.
Our Viewpoint
So, this reads out to be a textbook case-study and what value might it contain? Think in light of the following facts:
  • A normal American tends to gain extra pounds due to having a sedentary life with an absence of effective physical activity.
  • The beverage-intake is more than the water-intake during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Any activity leading to the accumulation of fat within the human body increases its vulnerability to deadly diseases.
Do not be alarmed regarding the validity of these facts because they have put forth by professors of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in a recently published report.
The President of USA, Barack Obama, harped on the growing concern regarding obesity by saying that nearly one-third of the children are gaining weight. According to him, the time has come for taking definitive action for curbing all diseases due to obesity.
Do reflect on the solution of the case study in terms of the points given below.
  • The solution is not rigid in terms of implementation because you can mould it into any way you like.
  • The solution can vary in terms of implementation level ranging from country-to-country.
  • The solution can also take place in a manner as simple as given.
So why did we give this case study and our corresponding viewpoint? Simply to remind you that at the end of the day, the decision of staying-in-shape lies solely with you, irrespective of numerous surveys with their astounding findings and opinions of well-known personalities.


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The Pacific Ring of Fire – An Analysis

by Unknown
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area which witnesses frequent seismic-activity due to tectonic plates colliding with each other, moving away from each other, or sliding adjacent to each other. This area is also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt and the Ring of Fire. The shape of this area roughly resembles a horseshoe spread across 40,000 km in the Pacific Ocean.
Seismic activity around the Ring of Fire is not stand-alone since it also takes place due to volcanic eruptions as well. The Pacific Ring of Fire is said to contain approximately 452 volcanoes. Also, 75% of the total active-volcanoes in the world are situated here.
The horrible triad of earthquake, volcanic eruption, and tsunami has made untold miseries for people living in USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia, Russia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand.
These three death-knells are primarily the result of shifting of tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions (Sometime, both ring an omen of death at the same time).
Plate tectonics talks about the creation of the Earth’s crust. This crust is created by floating land-masses atop molten rock, otherwise known as magma. These land-masses are known as tectonic plates and are always in motion. The list given below puts forth the names of the different tectonic plates that together create the Earth’s crust.
  • Australian plate
  • African plate
  • Arabian plate
  • Antarctic plate
  • Caribbean plate
  • Cocos plate
  • Eurasian plate
  • Filipino plate
  • Indian plate
  • Juan de Fuca plate
  • North American plate
  • Nazca plate
  • Pacific plate
  • South American plate
  • Scotia plate
The volcanoes that spit out “fire” are situated all around the area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. Some of them are present right on top of areas where tectonic plates converge, slide, or diverge.
For example:
  • Mount St. Helens – an active volcano – situated right at the “meeting point” of the Juan de Fuca plate and the North American plate.
  • Krakatau – An underwater volcano – situated between Java and Sumatra
  • Metis Shoal – An underwater volcano – situated near the Tonga Islands
  • Kavachi – An underwater volcano – situated near the Solomon Islands
  • Monowai seamount – An extremely active underwater volcano – situated roughly midway between the island sections of Tonga and Kermadec
The subduction zones present in the Pacific Ring of Fire in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western portions are given below.
  • Northern:
    • Pacific plate (certain area) – North-American plate
    • Juan de Fuca plate – North American plate
  • Southern:
    • Plates beneath Mariana Islands, Philippine, Bougainville, Tonga, and New Zealand – Pacific plate
  • Eastern:
    • Nazca plate – South American continent
    • Cocos plate – Caribbean Plate (Central America)
  • Western:
    • Pacific plate – Kamchatka Peninsula
For a deep-sea diver, the chance of getting “lost in darkness” is quite high due to the presence of a large number of deep-sea trenches in the Pacific Ring of Fire. These trenches are given below.
  • Java (Sunda) trench
  • Kermadec trench
  • Tonga trench
  • Bougainville trench
  • Marianas trench
  • Philippine trench
  • Ryukyu trench
  • Izu Bonin trench
  • Japan trench
  • Kurile trench
  • Aleutian trench
  • Middle America trench
  • Peru-Chile trench
  • South Sandwich trench
  • Puerto Rico trench
So, an ode of mystery, disaster, earthquake, and eruptions form the saga of the Pacific Ring of Fire! 
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Are The Numbers Driving You Crazy?

by Unknown
Are you looking for math-based apps on Google Play Store? Well, I was on the hunt as well till yesterday evening. A glorious evening it was with the bright, red sun casting a hallowed veil on the horizon. Also, it casted a bright, radiant vibe when I came across Kids Math Count Numbers Game.
This application brilliantly performs as a cognitive, quantitative platform introducing the numbers 1—10 to children. There are six interactivities present in this application. They embark on the path of knowledge-implementation using one-or-more learning styles. The interactivities have been displayed under their parent learning-style below.
Visual learning:
  • Learn Counting:
    • Usage of suggestive animations for each number
  • Number Names:
    • Interactive flash-cards that contain the alphabets of each number name
  • Missing Numbers:
    • Engaging interface displaying a parrot whose eggs are standing atop a branch.
    • Three of them have numbers written on them while one is blank
    • Children have to identify the correct number for the blank egg
    • These eggs together form a number sequence like 4, 5, 6, 7 or 5, 6, 7, 8.
  • Greater Smaller:
    • Effective incorporation of visual learning through an interactive animation
    • This animation displays two numbers atop a see-saw
    • Children are required to identify either the larger number or the smaller number by tapping on the correct choice
    • The see-saw leans to visually depict the correct choice
Auditory learning:
  • Learn Counting:
    • Animation feature explanatory voice-overs for knowledge fortification
  • Number Names:
    • Informative audio about basic game-play, i.e. tapping each flash card to reveal each alphabet of the number name
    • Pronunciation the number name on completion
  • Greater Smaller:
    • Informative audio about basic game-play
    • Audio portion informing about the activity itself
    • Congratulatory feedback messages
  • Missing Numbers:
    • An introductory audio lays out the core activity that is to be done
    • Feedback upon solving the activities
  • Write Numbers:
    • Introductory audio explains the activity and how to undertake it
  • Connect Dots:
    • Introductory audio explains the activity
    • Explanatory audio-portions in the animations that are displayed for this interactivity
Kinesthetic learning:
  • Write Numbers:
    • Children trace out the each numbers along easy-to-identify dotted lines
  • Connect Dots:
    • Children trace a line through the numbers to form a shape of an image
    • On completion, an animation is displayed followed by a question
NOTE: This interactivity also brings forth visual learning and on-the-spot evaluation together with kinesthetic learning.
There are sub-interactivities present for immediate evaluation of knowledge. For example: Children can test this knowledge about number names through placing alphabets on empty placeholders to correctly spell-out a number name.
The interactivities contain large, easy-to-identify icons for the benefit of children. This complete version of this application also has another wonderful feature: The absence of distracting elements in the form of in-app ads etc. Hence, the learning is not abruptly bought to a halt much to the irritation of the child as well as the parent.
The overall look-and-feel of the application has been blessed with a positive vibe that maintains a high degree of engagement, learning, and enjoyment.
My search for math-based apps has ended through this app. Let me know about your thoughts on Kids Math Count Number Game.
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A Puzzling Situation with a Puzzle-Based Solution

by Unknown
There have been many changes in the mobile-application industry in recent times. Some of the noteworthy changes have been given below.
  • Inclusion of new, hedonic themes in applications for all age groups
  • Updates made to the Google Play Developer Program Policies
  • Increase in the usage of in-app purchases
The theme for this endeavor of mine covers the third point from the angle of customers and developers. Let’s view the development scenario first through the points given below.
  • Major mobile-app developers have conveniently used in-app purchases, but on a positive side.
  • They have kept the end-customer in mind while incorporating in-app purchases in their latest releases.
Let’s view the customer angle in term of the points given below.
  • Recent news about iPad- and iPhone-owners having to shell out alarming amounts for unintentional purchases made by their children has raised concerns among parents globally.
  • Parents are inevitably faced with the concern, “Can safety be guaranteed, as far as unintentional downloads are concerned”?
The customer-perspective given above is indeed a cause for alarm; however, parents can stay safe simply by understanding the concept of in-app purchases completely.
In-app purchases take place in two ways:
  1. Purchasing the complete version of an application.
  2. Purchasing bonus packs, level-ups etc. for certain sums of money.
The first way is a one-time activity and therefore bereft of financial potholes, however it all depends on the individuals using the applications, as far as the second way is concerned.
For example, game-based apps like Subway Surf and Candy Crush allow purchase of level-ups in real-time. Hence, there is nothing to stop someone bent on purchasing level-ups or bonuses again-and-again for each and every level of the game. This “someone” is generally a child and this is where parents have to understand their role as monitors while their children use applications.
Now, having described in-app purchases and the role of parents regarding these purchases let me put forth a wonderful example of an application that I downloaded for my nephew. For all those who are expecting a lucid account each and every feature of this application, I hate to say that I won’t be doing that at all.
Rather the intention here is to showcase a wonderful application that has made my life easy with not having to worry about multiple purchases. Yes, I am talking about the first type of in-app purchases.
This particular application is called Kids Animal Picture Puzzles and belongs to the genre of educational games in the puzzle format.
I am not a big fan of puzzles as educational tools because they seem to be extremely limited in terms of their learning abilities. After all, puzzles according to me improve motor skills among children especially the ones that come created out of cardboard or other materials and therefore improve the pincer grasp among children. Then why did I download this application?
Well to be very frank, I had a look at this it in all its glory through my cousin’s smart phone. The features of this game have made me into a believer of puzzles having varied learning abilities other than fine motor-skills development.
Visual awareness in all its glory – this is the hallmark learning tool of this application apart from its ability to improve fine motor-skills. Crisp voice-overs feign away from branding their English expertise and ensure that auditory learning takes place in a manner as smooth as a fresh breeze cools the soul in the spring season.
This application therefore stands apart according to me in the never-ending pool of applications residing on different play stores. I have downloaded it and would certainly recommend anyone who’s on the hunt for picture-puzzle apps to download it as well. 
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The Megathrust in Chile is followed by a “Mega-Aftershock”

by Unknown
On Tuesday, around 7:46 PM PDT, citizens of Iquique, Chile were given a nasty jolt as an earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale took place. This quake took place due to a megathrust between the Nazca and the South American plates. The epicenter of this horror was at the depth of 6 miles beneath the surface of the Earth. The aftershocks that followed seem to grow in terms of ferocity and vehemence. The latest one took place on Wednesday at a distance of 23 km from the southern coast of Iquique, Chile. It took place at 7:43 PM, PDT and measured 7.6 on the Richer Scale.
A Tsunami alert was issued for the countries of Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Citizens of the countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras had a troubled frown while anticipating the next “announcement” on their NOAA weather radios during the issue of Tsunami watches.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, the alert was cancelled around 8:59 PM PDT. The alert was issued since different centers along with NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported rise in irregular wave levels in different places. A compiled list has been given below.
  • Pisagua, Chile: Tsunami heights of 7.6 feet were reported
  • Hilo, Hawaii: A Tsunami wave measuring 1.9 feet was reported
  • Kahului, Maui: A wave measuring 1.7 feet was reported
  • Pago Pago, American Samoa: A wave measuring 1 foot was reported
  • Port San Luis, California: A smaller wave measuring 0.6 feet was reported
The levels may seem normal however one needs to consider that these levels were reported by buoys floating in the ocean and not at the sea shore. A Tsunami tends to increase in height as it approaches the sea shore.
Landslides, blocked roads, and power outages took place as a result of the quake.
The megathrust saw a national emergency getting issued by Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile. According to weather centers, the weather will have it share of quake-induced side-effects for some days to come.  
Chileans have faced such horrors in the past as well with a major 8.8 magnitude quake in February, 2010. This quake took place at a distance of 200 miles from Santiago. The year 1960 saw the worst-ever quake measuring 9.5 and leaving 20,000 people homeless and a death toll between 2230—6000.

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The Black-and-White Zebra: Have Biologists Finally Found an Answer to this Color Choice?

by Unknown
What is the reason behind a zebra having a monochrome color choice? In other words, what is the reason behind zebras sporting a coat striped in layers of black-and-white? Has this thought ever crossed your mind?
It seems to have crossed the minds of biologists of the University of California who claim to have finally satiated this particular “thought.”
According to them, the black-and-white color selection is for warding off Tsetse flies that carry the sources for different, deadly diseases.
In order to add more worthiness to this claim, the biologists have pointed out that the array of black-and-white stripes is narrow in the head (around the snout) and the front legs. These are the most likely places where the flies might launch their “attack for blood.” Hence this monochrome combination is narrow at those places.
The test subjects for the biologists were not zebras alone. Horses and assess were also included in their research and the results of the study seem to point to only one thing: The stripes are present as defense against fly bites.
The study was conducted under the leadership of Tim Caro, who is a biologist at the University of California, Davis.
The human brain is quite unpredictable when it comes to thinking about a myriad of things. So will humans resort to monochrome wardrobes for staying safe from mosquito bites and the resultant diseases? Well, they have to wait before coming to a decision simply because this study is no conclusive evidence with the biologists themselves claiming that the result may be the answer to the longstanding query as to why is the coat of zebras striped black-and-white?
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Google Play Develop Program Policies Updates: Better Know about Them!

by Unknown
Google Play Store will get a much-required clean-up act if the latest updates made to Google Play Developer Program Policies are actually implemented.
These updates – made this week itself – have been made to the policies that inform developers about the type of content that is permissible for display on apps. Hence it certainly makes sense to take a look at these updates.
Rules regarding promotion of apps: Apps that do not violate the following laws regarding promotion will be allowed on Google Play Store.
  • Apps should not use deceptive ads (for example: simulated systems and services, or app notifications or alerts) on:
    • Websites
    • Other apps
    • Other media devices
  • Apps should not follow promotion or installation tactics that lead to:
    • Redirection to Google Play Store
    • App download without informed user actions
  • Apps should desist from using unsolicited promotion through SMS services
  • There should be no usage of ad networks or affiliates that direct users to app-downloading pages
Rules regarding advertisements displayed in apps: Apps should adhere to the following rules while displaying advertisements.
  • The ads should not look like the user interface of any particular app
  • The ads should not look like notification or warning elements of typical operating systems
  • Users should not face problems while identifying the corresponding apps from the featured ads
Rules regarding other features and functionalities of apps: Apps should also follow the rules given below to get successfully uploaded on Google Play Store.
  • Apps can send texts through smart phones only after getting consent from the user
  • Apps should not display content of an adult nature:
    • There should be no inappropriate icons, titles, or descriptions
    • The apps should not serve as provocative tools of an erotic nature
What about the existing applications that contain objectionable content? Google will be removing these applications from Google Play Store once the incorporation of the changes commence.

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Wednesday 16 April 2014

Would He Have Tried the Juggling Act?

Dennis Mitchell! Does the name ring a nostalgic bell? Does it take you back to your “Dennis” days full of pranks and laughter? Well yes, I am talking about the famous nemesis of “Mr. Wilson” and the always-wise friend of Joey called “Dennis the Menace.”
The underlying theme of Dennis the Menace dwells in those glorious fun-filled days of childhood with every single moment being one of discovery and invention – no matter whatever be the results from those discoveries or inventions!
We first saw Dennis appear in the year 1951 and since then he has been appearing not only on comic strips but also on television shows, cartoons, and even full-length movies.
Now say the Internet, smart phones, mobile applications, and play stores (Google, Apple, Nokia etc.) also made their appearance around the same time. An interesting query comes forth: Would they have been capable of teaching kids like Dennis Mitchell? In other words, would they have been able to calm an unpredictable and super-strong tornado of mischief and pranks?
The answer is yes; but on the condition that mobile applications like Chifro ABC: Kids Alphabet Game got the first chance of handling kids like Dennis. Let’s analyze a typical Dennis day as far as studies are concerned.
Dennis and Joey are sitting on the ground with loads of paper lying around them. Some crayons huddled together in a pocket while their companions strewn here-and-there on the ground. Books kept with the intention of creating a building out of them, and education getting a new way of presentation from the thoughts and acts of Mr. Dennis himself.
The numbers 1—10, the alphabets A—Z etc. would have been the prevalent study subjects and therefore had there been an application like the one mentioned above then it is for certain that the world would have seen a calm but happy Dennis.
After all, the energy and enthusiasm would have gone into listening to the music, mimicking the juggling act of the octopus, and of course solving the picture puzzle for each alphabet. Time would have went by without a single incident much to the delight of Mr. Wilson due to not having to cope with unforeseen troubles resulting from the inventive endeavors of Dennis.
On a serious note, the application would have been the lenient-but-determined teacher who would have handled Dennis with a “velvet glove” and successfully achieved his education in terms of remembering the “ABCs.”
Now let’s come back to the present and it is perhaps not incorrect to say that perhaps in every home resides a Dennis in the form of an enthusiastic kid. So, enter Chifro ABC: Kids Alphabet Game – The dispeller of Aspirin tablets of every father with the child now vesting his energy in not pranks but in “playing” with this application.
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Saturday 12 April 2014

Can Apps Help Blind Photographers Takes Awesome Snaps?

The mobile-application industry has been coming forth with new technologies every now-and-then. But I can’t help but wonder one thing.
Is there any technology that can enable a visually challenged people take fantastic photographs using his/her smart phone?
In response to the introductory question (wherever I have used it to enthrall the curiosity of my readers), I have always cited some survey or study in my earlier posts. This time however I will not be mentioning any surveys or studies in the coming lines. Neither will I be piling up a mountain of statistical data to prove my claims. Simply because the element of common sense together with an honest investment of 2-3 minutes of thinking will find the answer that I seek.
When we take pictures what do we do?
We focus our smart phones towards the subject – automatic focusing features do half the work for us – and then click an image with a simple tap on the touch screen which in turn is complemented by a “camera-shutter” sound.
But can a person who is visually challenged take pictures in the same manner? He can’t and therefore what can be done to help him?
A solution according to me would be an app which uses audio in sync with the different activities involved while taking a picture. This app would create an audio file that would speak out the activity for the person. For example: The app will create an audio for the face-detection features. This audio file will speaks out the number of faces detected while taking a picture.
The basic act of taking a picture involves a tap on the touch screen as the signal for the camera to click a picture. This tap can be replaced with either an upward- or a downward-swipe.
Audio can also be used for bringing forth the ability to picture sharing with family and friends, once taken. Once the app takes an image, an instantaneously generated audio file can inform the person regarding the time and date of the picture. In fact, image-related GPS-data can be transformed into audio files to the extent that information such as neighborhood name, city, state, and country are spoken out clearly for the person’s benefit.
An app that enables a visually challenged person to take a picture like a normal person would be truly wonderful and fantastic. Hence, I end this post with a simple question for my readers:
Are there any apps that help visually challenged people take pictures to their absolute delight?
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Friday 11 April 2014

Is This Just a Textbook Case-Study or Something Else?

A Curtain Raiser
Do take a look at the statistics given below before and think for a moment before progressing ahead with the hypothetical case-study.
  • 160,000 million fast-food restaurants in USA
  • 50-million mouths enthusiastically chomping down!
NOTE: The statistics have been taken from a report published by the PEW Research Center.
The Case Study
Let’s view the case study now in terms of the situation and the problem.
Situation: Consider two persons: Mr. A and Mr. B.
Mr. A is a normal teenager who has not bent the needle of the weight machine. Mr. B honestly admits to being obese for an average, American teenager.
Problem: Too many soda-pops washing down too many burgers and pizzas seems to be the reason for gaining weight according to Mr. B. So, how does he lose weight and become a normal American teenager like Mr. A?
What can be the solution for this hypothetical case study? A possible solution has been given below.
Solution: Mr. B needs to desist from food rich in fat and needs to follow an active lifestyle witnessing no dearth of physical activity.
NOTE: This is purely a hypothetical case-study created for conceptual purposes and in no way does it real-life incidents.
Our Viewpoint
So, this reads out to be a textbook case-study and what value might it contain? Think in light of the following facts:
  • A normal American tends to gain extra pounds due to having a sedentary life with an absence of effective physical activity.
  • The beverage-intake is more than the water-intake during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
  • Any activity leading to the accumulation of fat within the human body increases its vulnerability to deadly diseases.
Do not be alarmed regarding the validity of these facts because they have put forth by professors of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in a recently published report.
The President of USA, Barack Obama, harped on the growing concern regarding obesity by saying that nearly one-third of the children are gaining weight. According to him, the time has come for taking definitive action for curbing all diseases due to obesity.
Do reflect on the solution of the case study in terms of the points given below.
  • The solution is not rigid in terms of implementation because you can mould it into any way you like.
  • The solution can vary in terms of implementation level ranging from country-to-country.
  • The solution can also take place in a manner as simple as given.
So why did we give this case study and our corresponding viewpoint? Simply to remind you that at the end of the day, the decision of staying-in-shape lies solely with you, irrespective of numerous surveys with their astounding findings and opinions of well-known personalities.


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Wednesday 9 April 2014

The Pacific Ring of Fire – An Analysis

The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area which witnesses frequent seismic-activity due to tectonic plates colliding with each other, moving away from each other, or sliding adjacent to each other. This area is also known as the Circum-Pacific Belt and the Ring of Fire. The shape of this area roughly resembles a horseshoe spread across 40,000 km in the Pacific Ocean.
Seismic activity around the Ring of Fire is not stand-alone since it also takes place due to volcanic eruptions as well. The Pacific Ring of Fire is said to contain approximately 452 volcanoes. Also, 75% of the total active-volcanoes in the world are situated here.
The horrible triad of earthquake, volcanic eruption, and tsunami has made untold miseries for people living in USA, Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia, Russia, Japan, Philippines, Indonesia, and New Zealand.
These three death-knells are primarily the result of shifting of tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions (Sometime, both ring an omen of death at the same time).
Plate tectonics talks about the creation of the Earth’s crust. This crust is created by floating land-masses atop molten rock, otherwise known as magma. These land-masses are known as tectonic plates and are always in motion. The list given below puts forth the names of the different tectonic plates that together create the Earth’s crust.
  • Australian plate
  • African plate
  • Arabian plate
  • Antarctic plate
  • Caribbean plate
  • Cocos plate
  • Eurasian plate
  • Filipino plate
  • Indian plate
  • Juan de Fuca plate
  • North American plate
  • Nazca plate
  • Pacific plate
  • South American plate
  • Scotia plate
The volcanoes that spit out “fire” are situated all around the area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. Some of them are present right on top of areas where tectonic plates converge, slide, or diverge.
For example:
  • Mount St. Helens – an active volcano – situated right at the “meeting point” of the Juan de Fuca plate and the North American plate.
  • Krakatau – An underwater volcano – situated between Java and Sumatra
  • Metis Shoal – An underwater volcano – situated near the Tonga Islands
  • Kavachi – An underwater volcano – situated near the Solomon Islands
  • Monowai seamount – An extremely active underwater volcano – situated roughly midway between the island sections of Tonga and Kermadec
The subduction zones present in the Pacific Ring of Fire in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western portions are given below.
  • Northern:
    • Pacific plate (certain area) – North-American plate
    • Juan de Fuca plate – North American plate
  • Southern:
    • Plates beneath Mariana Islands, Philippine, Bougainville, Tonga, and New Zealand – Pacific plate
  • Eastern:
    • Nazca plate – South American continent
    • Cocos plate – Caribbean Plate (Central America)
  • Western:
    • Pacific plate – Kamchatka Peninsula
For a deep-sea diver, the chance of getting “lost in darkness” is quite high due to the presence of a large number of deep-sea trenches in the Pacific Ring of Fire. These trenches are given below.
  • Java (Sunda) trench
  • Kermadec trench
  • Tonga trench
  • Bougainville trench
  • Marianas trench
  • Philippine trench
  • Ryukyu trench
  • Izu Bonin trench
  • Japan trench
  • Kurile trench
  • Aleutian trench
  • Middle America trench
  • Peru-Chile trench
  • South Sandwich trench
  • Puerto Rico trench
So, an ode of mystery, disaster, earthquake, and eruptions form the saga of the Pacific Ring of Fire! 
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Tuesday 8 April 2014

Are The Numbers Driving You Crazy?

Are you looking for math-based apps on Google Play Store? Well, I was on the hunt as well till yesterday evening. A glorious evening it was with the bright, red sun casting a hallowed veil on the horizon. Also, it casted a bright, radiant vibe when I came across Kids Math Count Numbers Game.
This application brilliantly performs as a cognitive, quantitative platform introducing the numbers 1—10 to children. There are six interactivities present in this application. They embark on the path of knowledge-implementation using one-or-more learning styles. The interactivities have been displayed under their parent learning-style below.
Visual learning:
  • Learn Counting:
    • Usage of suggestive animations for each number
  • Number Names:
    • Interactive flash-cards that contain the alphabets of each number name
  • Missing Numbers:
    • Engaging interface displaying a parrot whose eggs are standing atop a branch.
    • Three of them have numbers written on them while one is blank
    • Children have to identify the correct number for the blank egg
    • These eggs together form a number sequence like 4, 5, 6, 7 or 5, 6, 7, 8.
  • Greater Smaller:
    • Effective incorporation of visual learning through an interactive animation
    • This animation displays two numbers atop a see-saw
    • Children are required to identify either the larger number or the smaller number by tapping on the correct choice
    • The see-saw leans to visually depict the correct choice
Auditory learning:
  • Learn Counting:
    • Animation feature explanatory voice-overs for knowledge fortification
  • Number Names:
    • Informative audio about basic game-play, i.e. tapping each flash card to reveal each alphabet of the number name
    • Pronunciation the number name on completion
  • Greater Smaller:
    • Informative audio about basic game-play
    • Audio portion informing about the activity itself
    • Congratulatory feedback messages
  • Missing Numbers:
    • An introductory audio lays out the core activity that is to be done
    • Feedback upon solving the activities
  • Write Numbers:
    • Introductory audio explains the activity and how to undertake it
  • Connect Dots:
    • Introductory audio explains the activity
    • Explanatory audio-portions in the animations that are displayed for this interactivity
Kinesthetic learning:
  • Write Numbers:
    • Children trace out the each numbers along easy-to-identify dotted lines
  • Connect Dots:
    • Children trace a line through the numbers to form a shape of an image
    • On completion, an animation is displayed followed by a question
NOTE: This interactivity also brings forth visual learning and on-the-spot evaluation together with kinesthetic learning.
There are sub-interactivities present for immediate evaluation of knowledge. For example: Children can test this knowledge about number names through placing alphabets on empty placeholders to correctly spell-out a number name.
The interactivities contain large, easy-to-identify icons for the benefit of children. This complete version of this application also has another wonderful feature: The absence of distracting elements in the form of in-app ads etc. Hence, the learning is not abruptly bought to a halt much to the irritation of the child as well as the parent.
The overall look-and-feel of the application has been blessed with a positive vibe that maintains a high degree of engagement, learning, and enjoyment.
My search for math-based apps has ended through this app. Let me know about your thoughts on Kids Math Count Number Game.
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Sunday 6 April 2014

A Puzzling Situation with a Puzzle-Based Solution

There have been many changes in the mobile-application industry in recent times. Some of the noteworthy changes have been given below.
  • Inclusion of new, hedonic themes in applications for all age groups
  • Updates made to the Google Play Developer Program Policies
  • Increase in the usage of in-app purchases
The theme for this endeavor of mine covers the third point from the angle of customers and developers. Let’s view the development scenario first through the points given below.
  • Major mobile-app developers have conveniently used in-app purchases, but on a positive side.
  • They have kept the end-customer in mind while incorporating in-app purchases in their latest releases.
Let’s view the customer angle in term of the points given below.
  • Recent news about iPad- and iPhone-owners having to shell out alarming amounts for unintentional purchases made by their children has raised concerns among parents globally.
  • Parents are inevitably faced with the concern, “Can safety be guaranteed, as far as unintentional downloads are concerned”?
The customer-perspective given above is indeed a cause for alarm; however, parents can stay safe simply by understanding the concept of in-app purchases completely.
In-app purchases take place in two ways:
  1. Purchasing the complete version of an application.
  2. Purchasing bonus packs, level-ups etc. for certain sums of money.
The first way is a one-time activity and therefore bereft of financial potholes, however it all depends on the individuals using the applications, as far as the second way is concerned.
For example, game-based apps like Subway Surf and Candy Crush allow purchase of level-ups in real-time. Hence, there is nothing to stop someone bent on purchasing level-ups or bonuses again-and-again for each and every level of the game. This “someone” is generally a child and this is where parents have to understand their role as monitors while their children use applications.
Now, having described in-app purchases and the role of parents regarding these purchases let me put forth a wonderful example of an application that I downloaded for my nephew. For all those who are expecting a lucid account each and every feature of this application, I hate to say that I won’t be doing that at all.
Rather the intention here is to showcase a wonderful application that has made my life easy with not having to worry about multiple purchases. Yes, I am talking about the first type of in-app purchases.
This particular application is called Kids Animal Picture Puzzles and belongs to the genre of educational games in the puzzle format.
I am not a big fan of puzzles as educational tools because they seem to be extremely limited in terms of their learning abilities. After all, puzzles according to me improve motor skills among children especially the ones that come created out of cardboard or other materials and therefore improve the pincer grasp among children. Then why did I download this application?
Well to be very frank, I had a look at this it in all its glory through my cousin’s smart phone. The features of this game have made me into a believer of puzzles having varied learning abilities other than fine motor-skills development.
Visual awareness in all its glory – this is the hallmark learning tool of this application apart from its ability to improve fine motor-skills. Crisp voice-overs feign away from branding their English expertise and ensure that auditory learning takes place in a manner as smooth as a fresh breeze cools the soul in the spring season.
This application therefore stands apart according to me in the never-ending pool of applications residing on different play stores. I have downloaded it and would certainly recommend anyone who’s on the hunt for picture-puzzle apps to download it as well. 
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Friday 4 April 2014

The Megathrust in Chile is followed by a “Mega-Aftershock”

On Tuesday, around 7:46 PM PDT, citizens of Iquique, Chile were given a nasty jolt as an earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale took place. This quake took place due to a megathrust between the Nazca and the South American plates. The epicenter of this horror was at the depth of 6 miles beneath the surface of the Earth. The aftershocks that followed seem to grow in terms of ferocity and vehemence. The latest one took place on Wednesday at a distance of 23 km from the southern coast of Iquique, Chile. It took place at 7:43 PM, PDT and measured 7.6 on the Richer Scale.
A Tsunami alert was issued for the countries of Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru. Citizens of the countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras had a troubled frown while anticipating the next “announcement” on their NOAA weather radios during the issue of Tsunami watches.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, the alert was cancelled around 8:59 PM PDT. The alert was issued since different centers along with NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported rise in irregular wave levels in different places. A compiled list has been given below.
  • Pisagua, Chile: Tsunami heights of 7.6 feet were reported
  • Hilo, Hawaii: A Tsunami wave measuring 1.9 feet was reported
  • Kahului, Maui: A wave measuring 1.7 feet was reported
  • Pago Pago, American Samoa: A wave measuring 1 foot was reported
  • Port San Luis, California: A smaller wave measuring 0.6 feet was reported
The levels may seem normal however one needs to consider that these levels were reported by buoys floating in the ocean and not at the sea shore. A Tsunami tends to increase in height as it approaches the sea shore.
Landslides, blocked roads, and power outages took place as a result of the quake.
The megathrust saw a national emergency getting issued by Michelle Bachelet, the President of Chile. According to weather centers, the weather will have it share of quake-induced side-effects for some days to come.  
Chileans have faced such horrors in the past as well with a major 8.8 magnitude quake in February, 2010. This quake took place at a distance of 200 miles from Santiago. The year 1960 saw the worst-ever quake measuring 9.5 and leaving 20,000 people homeless and a death toll between 2230—6000.

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Thursday 3 April 2014

The Black-and-White Zebra: Have Biologists Finally Found an Answer to this Color Choice?

What is the reason behind a zebra having a monochrome color choice? In other words, what is the reason behind zebras sporting a coat striped in layers of black-and-white? Has this thought ever crossed your mind?
It seems to have crossed the minds of biologists of the University of California who claim to have finally satiated this particular “thought.”
According to them, the black-and-white color selection is for warding off Tsetse flies that carry the sources for different, deadly diseases.
In order to add more worthiness to this claim, the biologists have pointed out that the array of black-and-white stripes is narrow in the head (around the snout) and the front legs. These are the most likely places where the flies might launch their “attack for blood.” Hence this monochrome combination is narrow at those places.
The test subjects for the biologists were not zebras alone. Horses and assess were also included in their research and the results of the study seem to point to only one thing: The stripes are present as defense against fly bites.
The study was conducted under the leadership of Tim Caro, who is a biologist at the University of California, Davis.
The human brain is quite unpredictable when it comes to thinking about a myriad of things. So will humans resort to monochrome wardrobes for staying safe from mosquito bites and the resultant diseases? Well, they have to wait before coming to a decision simply because this study is no conclusive evidence with the biologists themselves claiming that the result may be the answer to the longstanding query as to why is the coat of zebras striped black-and-white?
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Tuesday 1 April 2014

Google Play Develop Program Policies Updates: Better Know about Them!

Google Play Store will get a much-required clean-up act if the latest updates made to Google Play Developer Program Policies are actually implemented.
These updates – made this week itself – have been made to the policies that inform developers about the type of content that is permissible for display on apps. Hence it certainly makes sense to take a look at these updates.
Rules regarding promotion of apps: Apps that do not violate the following laws regarding promotion will be allowed on Google Play Store.
  • Apps should not use deceptive ads (for example: simulated systems and services, or app notifications or alerts) on:
    • Websites
    • Other apps
    • Other media devices
  • Apps should not follow promotion or installation tactics that lead to:
    • Redirection to Google Play Store
    • App download without informed user actions
  • Apps should desist from using unsolicited promotion through SMS services
  • There should be no usage of ad networks or affiliates that direct users to app-downloading pages
Rules regarding advertisements displayed in apps: Apps should adhere to the following rules while displaying advertisements.
  • The ads should not look like the user interface of any particular app
  • The ads should not look like notification or warning elements of typical operating systems
  • Users should not face problems while identifying the corresponding apps from the featured ads
Rules regarding other features and functionalities of apps: Apps should also follow the rules given below to get successfully uploaded on Google Play Store.
  • Apps can send texts through smart phones only after getting consent from the user
  • Apps should not display content of an adult nature:
    • There should be no inappropriate icons, titles, or descriptions
    • The apps should not serve as provocative tools of an erotic nature
What about the existing applications that contain objectionable content? Google will be removing these applications from Google Play Store once the incorporation of the changes commence.

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