Month: October 2011

As technology and innovation today becomes a means of improving our daily lives, it too can have groundbreaking effects on the way society will operate in the future. A common health problem amongst patients today is the occurrence of an irregular heartbeat, which normally requires surgery or the insertion of catheters to correct it. However, catheters result in inefficiency due to the fact that surgeons have a limited view of surrounding tissues.

Recently, researchers from Dutch engineering company Phillips have developed a device with the solution to this problem: a tiny ultrasound scanner that can be attached to the tip of a catheter. With this device, surgeons are provided with a clear and accurate image of the damaged matter. Having never been done before, the technology is seen as a tremendous breakthrough in medical research as it will undoubtedly reduce the number of people who have to undertake surgery several times a year. Phillips’ advance will confirm assurance in hospitals as well as cut costs and pressure for both patients and doctors. In many senses, the device will revolutionize the way surgery is performed since it will minimize the need of having to go under the knife.

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Within the last decade, the world has experienced dramatic changes such that the United States has longed been a prosperous nation. Experiencing its worst financial meltdown in 2008 since the Great Depression and its first ever credit downgrade, the world power is continuing to struggle with its many problems of unemployment, economic growth, and a massive financial debt totaling over $14 trillion. Considered still to be the world’s largest economy, that may all change as China’s booming economy is preparing to overtake the US.

For over a century, the United States has dominated the world, and our lives today is heavily influenced by their decisions. If China is to surpass the US, the situation raises questions of how the world will learn to function with this abrupt change and whether or not the dollar will still position itself as a global reserve currency. Although this isn’t the first time that the world’s top economic power changed hands, China’s situation is very different. When the United States surpassed Britain as the largest global economy, both nations shared similar views: democracy, property rights, and foreign policy. China’s time in the spotlight will undoubtedly lead to a considerably different influence on the world.

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As the American financial crisis continues to grow day by day, people are beginning to demonstrate their frustrations and lack of confidence in their politics. Lack of employment, unfair distribution of income, and signs of weak economic growth and prosperity are some of the main factors fueling a massive protest organization that is taking place in Wall Street. Calling themselves the 99% of Americans who will “no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%”, the Occupy Wall Street campaign aims to shame the wealthy investment bankers and act as an outlet of expressing disparity with the economy’s financial system. However, as the movement heads into its fourth week of protesting, Occupy Wall Street remains goal-less as to what it hopes to achieve from its demonstrations.

Portrayed as being young and unemployed, rather than generally complaining about the affluent class of people, protestors need to focus on particular instances of immoral conduct on Wall Street to be effective. Personally, I believe Wall Street has done no wrongdoing; the ‘greedy and corrupted’ 1% that the organization opposes befitted that position because they worked hard. Wall Street does not owe these protesters any share of success just because they demand it.

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A storied legacy emerged as the life of Steve Jobs, former CEO and founder of Apple Inc., came to an end. Steve Jobs was a visionary whose mind possessed creativity, brilliance, and ingenuity, such that he was able to innovate and revolutionize the entire computer industry, which led Apple into becoming the world’s most valuable company today.

Regardless of his extraordinary legal history and health issues, Jobs overcame many odds to become one of the most successful people in the world. He has done so much for people by designing the unthinkable; his products and technological developments have crafted the way society operates today. Intriguingly, Steve was able to perceive what was lacking for so long in the industry and it was the innovation of minor things like aesthetics that was revolutionary. From the creation of user-friendly computers and powerful smartphones, to the way we listen and download music, Jobs has changed the world for the better. The company’s new figurehead, Tim Cook, now has a very high reputation to hold up to. As Apple becomes a familiar household name, consumers who continue to use the brands iconic products will undoubtedly share the legacy of an inspirational human being.

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