Author Archives: shuoyi ma

Cloud Computing: High Performance Computing on any Device?

Can you imagine a smart phone that plays the latest PC games? NVIDIA, a graphics cards company, recently made it possible using a platform called GRID. GRID uses cloud computing technology that allows its users to run accelerated desktops on their phones and laptops. By using these desktops, people can play games and run software with an enhanced speed, because the cloud handles the processing part.

cloud computing. source: ibm.com

For example, when users start GRID on their smart phones, the selected games or software will be operated on cloud servers; these cloud servers are far away from the users but high-performance. On the same time, the real-time display of the games/software will be transferred from the cloud servers to their phones via the Internet. The real-time inputs, such us keyboard and mouse inputs, will be transferred from the phones to the servers as well. This is not only how GRID works but also how cloud computing works.

cloud computing: gaming everywhere on any device. source: nvidia.co.uk

As a result, the users feel like the game/software is running on their phones, and the phones perform well. In fact, the mobile devices do not need to actually process since all the processing is done in the cloud. Similarly, users can use GRID to run any software on any device with an Internet access.

high-performance mobile devices are usually heavy and large.                               source: nextgengamingblog.com

In past decades, IT companies and scientists were trying to make mobile devices high-performance, especially when dealing with graphics. However, poor heat radiating and poor battery life are still big problems for mobile devices due to their small physical size. NVIDIA was facing the same problem, but they took a completely different approach to achieve the same goal. In terms of performance and convenience, they succeed.

cloud computing: work everywhere on any device. source: http://www.nvidia.com

NVIDIA GRID, and other similar services, gives small companies and low-income people an alternative way to use high-performance devices with an affordable price. For instance, a small company can save money on buying high-end PCs, and low-income people can play games on their low-priced laptops.

However, GRID still has the same lag problems as most online games have. In addition, users need to pay for this service by month or by year. Consequently, playing games and working with a desktop computer is still the best plan. However, if a person travels a lot, using GRID can be a good plan for him/her.

 

By Max Ma.

Controlling Your Dreams: You Can Do It!

Did you see the movie Inception a few years ago? This amazing movie is all about controlling and entering a person’s dreams. In fact, controlling dreams is real. The psychology term for a controlled dream is called “Lucid Dream“.  Specifically, a lucid dream is a dream during sleep in which you become aware that you are dreaming. In addition, people can control their dreams by using some techniques.

The movie: Inception, source: wallpapervortex.com

The scientific proof of lucid dream was just done in 1975 by Dr. Keith Hearne. However, only a few people know about this interesting psychological phenomenon nowadays.  A brief reason why people can have lucid dreams is that we almost always lose our consciousness when we fall asleep; but in some situations, people may gain consciousness without waking up. Once one’s consciousness take over his/her dream, the whole dream world will be down that person’s control.

During lucid dreaming, people feels like they are in the real world. However, there are many differences between the real world and the dream world. First, it is safe, because it is just a dream. Second, people can do anything(like flying) in a lucid dream world. Third, when someone want to quit, it is simple to wake up at anytime. In addition, there are two types of lucid dreams; in other words, dreamers have two ways to gain a lucid dream. Here are some details.

The World of Lucid Dreaming, source: newbuddhist.com

The first type is called “Dream Initiated Lucid Dream”(DILD). Another type is called “Wake Initiated Lucid Dream”(WILD). In brief, DILD means that a person aware that he/she is dreaming when he/she is asleep, while WILD means that a person directly enter a controlled dream from awake. In most cases, DILD is a easy way to gain a lucid dream for a beginner.

DILD or WILD? source: youtube.com

DILD is a good starting point for new lucid dreamers. You may had this experience before: when you were asleep, you suddenly found that you were dreaming. You woke up after you found that fact. If you could calm down and keep you mind clear, you would have a DILD. In addition to that, using these skills below will also help you to gain a DILD as well:

  • Always asking: Am I Dreaming?  source: bsnscb.com

    Using a notebook to record the recent dreams. You may find it easy to remember your dream just after you wake up.

  • Keep asking “am I dreaming?” during the daytime, This makes a person ask the same question when he/she is dreaming.
  • This means You Are Dreaming source: independent.co.uk

    Using a method to prove that your are dreaming. An easy way is to bite your fingers. If a person is dreaming, biting fingers is painless. This makes one realize that he/she is dreaming.

  • If a lucid dream starts, staying calm is important.

 

 

Techniques for WILD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q8awiCSObA

In conclusion, It is hoped that more people can know about this fascinating psychological phenomenon.

 

By: Max Ma