Boxing: PunchForce by HBO (MIS 750)

 Recently, I just watch the best ever boxing match between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez. It’s the fourth times the faced each other and the first time in history for fighting the same boxer for the fourth times. The first match was in 2004 and it ended with draw. The second match took place four years later in 2008 where Manny Pacquiao won with a close decision by the judges. It was a close fight between them. The 3rd match was in 2011 and it was intense as both fighters want to prove and answered the unanswered question due to the previous matchup. The 3rd match won by Manny Pacquiao with majority vote by the judges but the reaction of the crowd was negative and disagree with the result. The final match was very recent. It was only a few days ago on 9th December 2012. This time the fight is more personal for Juan Marquez as for the last meeting, the judges’ score was controversial. In order to prove they are the better fighter, both of them are going for the knockout punch and win by KO.

It was a privilege to ever watch and see them both fight for the fourth times. The fight was intense as ever and both landing their punch and exchanging blows. In the 3rd round Marquez land a knockdown punch on Pacquiao. It is as Marquez was sending Pacquiao a message that this is personal. In the 5th round Pacquiao fought back and landing his own knockdown punch on Marquez leaving both in an even match with each other. At the 6th round, Marquez was cut open in the face and blood was coming out from his nose. Pacquiao became more aggressive and trying to finish off Marquez once and for all. The outcome of that, Pacquiao became careless and left wide open for the most iconic moment in history where Marquez landed a beautiful counter punch straight in the face and knock Pacquiao out. Marquez finally won against Pacquiao and proven that he is a better fighter after all.

 

The 6th round of Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Marquez and the KO counter punch

Besides the whole boxing drama over Manny Pacquiao and Juan Marquez, there reason for ever writing this topic is that, the decision made by the judges can be controversial and outrages. They can be bias to the certain fighter or they could miss count the landed punch giving by the fighters. In professional Boxing matches, a total 12 round were given with each round takes 3 minute and the interval between each round will takes 60 second. If the match prolong until the last round without any KO or TKO, Judges’ score will decide the winner of the match.

Okay, here’s the thing. To overcome the biasness from the judges, HBO has created a technology for solving this issue by using PunchForce. It is a small gadget designed to measure the speed and force of a boxer’s punch and transmit that information instantaneously to viewers and judges. The technology was initially designed to help the fans determine the fight's winner but if proven successful PunchForce could potentially eliminate judging scorecards altogether. To gauge the speed and force of a punch, a small sensor is placed under the fighter's hand wraps on his wrists. Each sensor has a switch to turn it on and off. The switch is removed before the fight to begin accurately recording data.

Windows 8: A Super Gigantic Smartphone (MIS 750)

Windows 8 is the latest and current release of Windows operating system by Microsoft. Windows 8 is use for personal computers (home and business) such as desktop, laptops, tablets and even home theater PCs. Microsoft is trying to capture more market share by producing windows that can be used and compatible for many gadgets mostly the latest high demand tablets as well as personal computers in one single product which is Windows 8. As mention, Windows 8 is the latest Operating System (OS) which was launched on August 1st, 2012.

There are lots of review on Windows 8 by many people both pros and cons. Some of the bad review is, it doesn’t have any start menu unlike its predecessor Windows 7, Vista, and XP. This give a hard time for users (mostly for personal computers) to adapt with the new look. Despite the bad review, Windows 8 is doing great in capturing the new market for tablets and mobile devices competing against Android and iOS. 

Although reception towards its performance improvements, security enhancements, and its improved support for touchscreen devices was positive, the new user interface of the operating system has been widely criticized for being confusing and having a steep learning curve (especially when used with a keyboard and mouse instead of a touchscreen). Despite these shortcomings, 40 million Windows 8 licenses were sold during its first month of availability, mostly to OEMs.

From my experience, Windows 8 does have its good side and some bad side as use for personal computers. The best and good thing about Windows 8 is it gives you the new feeling of using the brand new and improves windows. It is loads faster when reboot and easy use for person who really like to be connected to the internet via facebook, e-mails, reading news. Windows 8 doesn’t use the desktop as its window anymore but use this new tiles system where it is easier to go front and back in between the applications. The con is that it doesn’t have the start menu which for normal windows user used every day to open any software or application. Windows 8 also has some problem in running some games. Although there are some cons, it is not something that cannot be fixed. In time, Microsoft will fix their shortcoming with updates or service pack to improve their OS.

Due to the inability of adapting and busy life with lots and lots of assignment, I have to time to explore all the possibility of Windows 8. For now, I’m using Windows 7 as my main OS for doing my assignment and play games.

CNET Top 5: Reason not to upgrafe to Windows 8

LWL : Windows 8 Consumer Preview Official Demo Parody

More details on Windows 8 can be found directly in Microsoft’s website here.

Tsunami Warning System (MIS 750)

Recently, there have been many earthquake happen all around the world. Some scientist, relate the increase of natural disaster phenomenon with the increase of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the earth atmospheres as explained by the global warming crisis. Because there changes in the percentage of other gasses in our atmosphere, it effects the earth temperature, the air pressure, humidity and many more making the earth become unstable which lead to the natural disaster that occurs all around the world such as, typhoon, hurricane, earthquake and etc.

Tsunami sign in Japan

Earthquake is a natural disaster in which will lead to the lost many people. Earthquake that happen out far from the city or land which is in the middle of the ocean might not be directly affected us but the outcome of it may be disastrous. Earthquake with bigger rector scale can form a tsunami that can be dangerous and harmful to us. Other than earthquake that can form a tsunami, a volcanic impact, meteorite impact, landslide or explosion that happen in the large volume of body of water such as the ocean or lake.  

Countries, that are prone to be affected by tsunami such as Japan and American has this warning system that in general are called the Tsunami Warning System (TWS). Developed countries will surely have the advance warning system compared to the poorer country. But with the advancement of the internet, all people can receive the warning alert if there is any earthquake or tsunami is happening.  

 Tsunami warning sign in Sri Lanka

Tsunami can be disastrous as we have seen in 26th December 2006 that take millions of life and destroyed thousands of home and building. The biggest tsunami incident recently is the 11th March 2011 in Japan. As a human being, we cannot stop the natural disaster from happening but equip with a better technology, we can predict the incoming tsunami, the size, the speed, and anything related to the tsunami. With these, we can have an early system warning that can help reduce the damage and the life loss due to tsunami. The warning alert is for the people that lived near the shore line to evacuate the danger zone of tsunami before the impact, basically three to one hour prior the impact. TWS, not only warns people about the incoming tsunami, but TWS also helps government and non-government organization (NGO) prepared for the after impact of tsunami.

Below is the flow of how the Tsunami Warning System interacts with each component by transmitting data and communicating from sensory system under the ocean floor, buoy transmitter to the satellite and finally to the station.

Source: http://techocular.wordpress.com/2011/03/11/tsunami-early-warning-system/

 

Source: http://www.khaolak.net/homemenu/tsunami.html