Saturday 25 May 2013

Medical advance, source of hope.


 I would like to dedicate this last post to my grandmother, Esah Tan Abdullah who is battling with her life in icu ward, Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).






 I feel so thankful right now with the existence of technology and those geniuses out there who invented so many things that had led to medical advances nowadays. We can have the tallest building on earth or be the richest of all, but without good health, nothing else will matter. Imagine our life without the famous Panadol in times of headache, how would it be? Must be very difficult if we need to use traditional medication all the time like our ancestors used to, especially because of its long preparation time. Technology has made everything become so simple where there are many types of medication available in tablet and liquid form, ready to be consumed.


Example of liquid medicine 
- picture credit to Google search 

Example of tablet medicine 
- picture credit to Google search 


 Hospitals are built also using technology and now it is easier to locate every sick person in the same place to monitor. There are many requirements in designing a hospital and it is not simple like any other building. For example the amount of plug point for each room must be enough for every equipment to be operated, even the bed are mostly connected to a power point to control its position in order to cater for every type of patients. Other than that, the position of each elevator is built according to every possible situation that can occur in a hospital and even the size of that elevator must be suitable to cater for patients on bed transfer and others. It is important to think of almost everything in designing a hospital, and without technology, it is not possible to build an effective hospital.


Plug points for each bed assignment 
- picture credit to Google search

Elevator standard for hospitals 
- picture credit to Google search

 Other than that, medical advance available encourages more people to always take good care of their health before it is too late. Which is why since my younger years, I was injected by many vaccine to avoid any serious health problem in future. But as we grow old, our body becomes weaker and it is easier to fell sick just like my grandmother. She couldn’t breathe or move her body on her own and she depends on so many machines to get her through each day. As far as I could remember, one machine is to supple oxygen, a tube into her nose for some kind of liquid medication, another tube for her urine and few others. Although it is heartbroken to see her like that, but those machines that were created using the latest technologies give our whole family hope for our beloved grandmother to be healthy again soon!




Do pray for my grandmother to be in good health. In Sha Allah… Amin…
  

Tuesday 21 May 2013

Hatsune Miku vs Tupac Shakur hologram concert...


 Technology sure has no limit. We have evolved from pumping water from well, to ready-to-use water from pipe in every house! Using technology, for as long as there is an idea, it could possibly achieve. Remember when virtual singer from Japan made such a huge headline? Well, it was such a bizarre news because the virtual singer is some kind of an anime character with high pitched range of voice and there are real people out there who really into this and became the fans. I am talking about fans that not just among children who obviously still enjoy watching cartoon and attraction towards this virtual singer are expected, but adults also get influenced by it.


Hatsune Miku during concert, 
picture credit to Google search

Hatsune Miku during concert, 
picture credit to Google search


 The most popular virtual singer in japan is named Hatsune Miku and she appeared in billboard, tv commercial, as well as sold out concerts! She isn’t the first virtually singer, but she must be the most famous one that everyone all over the world been talking about. The concerts are using hologram technology to create realistic virtual singer with real music band playing along throughout the whole concert for real audiences. If you have no clue about what I am talking about, visit this link below to have the experience.




 However, I am more fascinated with a Hollywood creation of Tupac Shakur’s hologram for a concert in Coachella. As we all know, the very famous rapper was shot in 1996 and the unsolved murder case is still a big mystery. During that music festival, Tupac was brought up to life and surprised the crowd with its appearance. Why I feel like this is way better than that virtual singer from Japan is because, that hologram of Tupac was too realistic that I don’t even have to be there, but I still got chills when I watched it in Youtube. The movement of that hologram, detailed tattoo on his body, and how it spoke as if Tupac was really there at that time, that is too creepy in a good way.


Tupac Shakur,
picture credit to Google search

 Especially because I was brought up in a family of 2 brothers who listened to hip hop music during their younger years, the impact of knowing Tupac’s murder case, yet watching him singing during that concert was beyond normal! To me, the virtual singer will always look like a walking cartoon even though how good the hologram during each concert is. Both Hatsune Miku and Tupac sang with a duet partner during concert and the difference only that Miku sang with another anime character, but Tupac sang with fellow living rappers such as Snoop Dog and Dr Dre. Which is again amazed me because their interactions with each other were very natural!

Play this Youtube video below to watch few minutes clip from that concert I was talking about.





 Excuse the harsh language used in the video, but do you guys understand what I really meant now? It is frustrating how good the technology is in other countries! Like I said before, as long as there is an idea, technology could make it work. Japan virtual singer might fell into second place in my heart when comparing it with Tupac, but at the same time if I ever go to Japan, I would definitely buy that concert ticket to watch Hatsune Miku in action. Afterall, both display an incredible usage of technology and once in a lifetime experience for me!

Real Good Entertainment!!!

Gadget freaks new toy is way too cool to be true!

 Are there any gadget freaks out there? Already have that latest smartphone, new sleek Macbook Air, the best speaker to pair it with and headphones to die for? Well, let me tell you guys how to spend that extra money on the coolest toy ever! 

 I got to know about this toy called AR Drone 2.0 from Parrot company, based in USA from a friend who received this gorgeous masterpiece for his birthday last year. I am not that into gadgets and technological stuffs because I only use the basic ones such as hand phone and laptop. But this toy really will makes you feel like buying just because of its over the top features.

Parrot AR Drone 2.0 in action from Google Search

 AR Drone 2.0 basically is like any remote controlled helicopter toy that you know of, but with high technological design and advance featured in it. From Parrot official website, the toy can fly as high 50 meters and can capture HD videos and photos with its inbuilt 720p HD camera! It has a big memory that can keep hours of video recorded and pictures. With its robust design, this toy can handle any flip or hover during each flight. 

 The most interesting past is that this toy does not have any specific remote controller but uses that owner's smartphone to control its movement! Both gadget needs to be synchronized first before can be used together. Not just that, you can keep track with your toy using GPS. This means that if you are that good, you can control its movement by monitoring the GPS whenever it is too far from you. Still think this is just an ordinary toy? Play this Youtube video to be blown away!



                   

 The first model for this toy came out in 2012 and there were few critics about the battery life span because it only last for 10 minutes. That company took all the critics as a challenge to come out with the latest version of this toy. According to techradar.com, Parrot's representative said that the new improved quadrotor helicopter will come out soon with battery life span double than before!

 My experience playing with this toy was amazing..........until we crashed the helicopter on a building! That toy didn't survive the crash and need to be repaired. Until now, we still haven't got the chance to play with it again because my friend is just too lazy to send it back to the shop. Oh well, let this be a reminder to everyone, DO NOT PLAY LIKE A PROFESSIONAL IF ITS YOUR FIRST TIME BECAUSE YOU MIGHT CRASH YOURS TOO!


If i were a gadget freak, this toy is definitely going to be in my birthday wish list! <3







Virtual learning, YAY or NAY?


Have you guys ever tried to learn something from the internet? I know I have! In case if there are still few people out there who lives like a frog under a shell, let me tell you all the good things you can get from using the internet as your learning medium. Basically, there are many tutorials on how to do just about everything, from handling a machine to repair that broken fan, how to lose weight in 1 week, to cooking something special for your love one. Just name it, and the internet usually has it!



Example of baking tutorial from Youtube


Example of workout tutorial in Youtube

 However there are also tutorials on something that people can manipulate and use for their bad interests such as tutorial on how to unlock a car without using any key. Car thieves alert! There are always pros and cons of everything, right? Well, maybe the person that made the tutorial intended to help car owners who accidentally left their car keys inside their locked cars (especially those who lock their cars manually using hand).  

 This happened to me once and I had to call mechanic in order for me to get my car keys back!............and I had to pay that mechanic too! But, if you can do it yourself, then you can look like a pro while unlocking your car, use that money you paid to the mechanic for another cha time with friends and most importantly, safe yourself from that terrifying face you make when you are nervous. Oh well, one embarrassing moment, no more!  

 Anyway, let’s talk about something that I really learned from the internet. Actually, there are just too many! For example, I've always like arts since I was a little kid. But I never had proper class for it because it was just too hard to find a good place that do not just teach you ART101 especially if you are 18 years old and below. Or maybe it was difficult for me because I went to boarding school where the rules are pretty tight about attending class outside of the school area. 

 To cut everything short, i had put my interest away a long time ago because the older I get, the busier I am. But looking at other artistes' works in the internet especially when I became an active user of Instagram software earlier this year, gave me such a rush to try out whether I can do the same. Instagram inspire me to start sketching again and video tutorials in Youtube gave me ideas on how to start with the sketching. What type of pencil should be used, how to highlight, shading and so much more.

                                      
                    

 Example of artiste page available in Instagram



                   

Play this Youtube video of amazing hair sketching technique!

  For me, the other most important thing that I benefit from watching these kinds of videos is the materials that I should use for my drawing because there are just too many brands and type of art materials. Finding the perfect materials allow better application, effect and such. I wouldn't want to spend so much money on buying every brand just to try and figure out which one is the most suitable. Basically, Youtube helps me to save money too! 

These are few sketches that I made, inspired by many incredible artistes on the internet.





 To those who read this article, think again if there is anything that you would like to learn but never get the chance too? It is never too late! I know this sounds cliché, but technology has really made it possible for us to learn about what we’ve dreamed of without having to spend any money. What about your new year’s resolution about eating healthy and to get rid of that extra kgs? There are many tutorials on how to achieve that just one click away!

I say YAY to virtual learning, what say you? <3

Monday 20 May 2013

Its a SHOPPING REVOLUTION!!!


 I came across this one news article from komonews.com in 2005 entitled “Letting Computers Pick Your Jeans Size” and I kept on praying ever since!

 The computer or machine called Itellifit was actually said to be used as a scanner in order to suggest sizes and style of Levis jean suitable for that particular person. I mean, come on…. name me one girl that does not have problem in find that perfect pair of Levis jean?!






Example of Intellifit scanner 
-Picture credit to Google Search


 It is never a shock when a girl spends 1-2 hours at Levis store just to buy that one pair. Do not forget that we girls have different curve, making it almost impossible for us to choose one from that whole range of Levis style without trying them one by one. And most of the time, because we've tried toooo many, we end up being so confuse and not refuse to buy anything. I know because I've experienced the same thing! 

 However, this news article gave us girls hope as Levis tried to install that machine in one Levis store to another in order to see respond of customers and how accurate or helpful the machine could be. The respond towards that campaign was not that great as the machine only helped to narrow the search to few sizes close to the customers' So, Levis stopped the campaign, and everything went back to square one.

 That was just so frustrating for me! The writer really knew how to attract people on reading his article by giving false hope on the title. But i still gave him credit for letting all the consumers know that there were possibility for this kind of machine to be successful one day!


         

Different sizes of women
- Picture credit to Levis.com

 Few years went by, and on 2011 another company called MyBestFit shocked the whole fashion industry in an article dated May 11 from citypaper.net, as it came out with similar machine as Intellifit and the new scanner proved to be accurate. The company cater their service for all customers without charging any cent for them to use the service.The machine does not just measure for jean size, but it could also recommend what size of clothes suitable and also the brand.

Location of MyBestFit
-Picture credit to Google Search
                
 How amazing is this? The machines are now available in few malls, in order to give better service to customers. Situated in the main lobby, this phone booth look alike machine is able to scan a person at 200 points, in order to really understand one's figure size. Well, maybe when you look at the see through design of the machine, you'll be like,

"That's just going to be embarrassing! Letting everyone know what size you're in? NOOO!!!"


 The machine actually will not announce your size to everyone out there, but will only print some kind of a receipt, with few list of garments suitable for that particular person. So why not try it out right? So far, the trial made to few people with different figure sizes had proven green light for all us to be excited with!



Picture credit to abcnews.com


Go to this above link in order to see review about this machine from abcnews.com!

or

Play this Youtube video below to see how the machine really works!

                 



 Of course inventions like this always start in Western countries first before coming into our country. But i just can't wait to try it out someday! If technology can do this now, i am so excited for many years to come. Perhaps one day we can choose what style of clothes we want and the machine can automatically make it for us in just few seconds? 

We sure can hope! <3