Biography of José Hernández, Former NASA Astronaut

Biography of Josà © Hernndez, Former NASA Astronaut Josà © Hernndez (born August 7, 1962) overcame enormous barriers to become one of the few  Latinos to serve as an astronaut for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Raised in a family of field workers, he nevertheless found support for his dreams and achieved his goal of space flight. Hernndez occasionally found himself in the midst of controversy because of his outspoken positions regarding Latin culture and immigration to the United States. Fast Facts: Josà © M. Hernndez Known For: Former NASA astronautBorn: August 7, 1962, in French Camp, CaliforniaParents: Julia Hernndez,  Salvador HernndezEducation:  University of the Pacific, University of California, Santa BarbaraAwards and Honors:  Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Award (1995), Society of Mexican American Engineers and Scientists Medalla de Oro (1999), U.S. Department of Energy  Outstanding Performance Commendation (2000), NASA Service Awards (2002, 2003), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Outstanding Engineer Award (2001)Spouse: Adelita HernandezChildren: Antonio, Vanessa, Karina, JulioPublished Works: Reaching for the Stars: The Inspiring Story of a Migrant Farmworker Turned AstronautNotable Quote: Now its my turn! Early Life Josà © Hernndez was born  on August 7, 1962, in French Camp, California. His parents Salvador and Julia were Mexican immigrant migrant workers. Each March, Hernndez, the youngest of four children, journeyed with his family from Michoacn, Mexico, to Southern California. Picking crops as they traveled, the family would then proceed north to Stockton, California. When Christmas approached, the family would head back to Mexico before returning to the U.S. in the spring.  He remarked in an interview for the NASA website, â€Å"Some kids might think it would be fun to travel like that, but we had to work. It wasn’t a vacation.†Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ At the urging of a second-grade teacher, Hernndez’s parents eventually settled in the Stockton area of California to provide their children with more structure. Despite being born in California, the Mexican-American Hernndez did not learn English until he was 12 years old. Aspiring Engineer In school, Hernndez enjoyed math and science. He decided he wanted to be an astronaut after watching the Apollo spacewalks on television. Hernndez was also drawn to the profession in 1980, when he found out that NASA had picked Costa Rican native Franklin Chang-Diaz, one of the first Hispanics to journey into space, as an astronaut. Hernndez said in a NASA interview that he, then a high school senior, still remembers the moment he heard the news. â€Å"I was hoeing a row of sugar beets in a field near Stockton, California, and I heard on my transistor radio that Franklin Chang-Diaz had been selected for the Astronaut Corps. I was already interested in science and engineering, but that was the moment I said, ‘I want to fly in space.’† After he finished high school, Hernndez studied electrical engineering at the University of the Pacific in Stockton. From there, he pursued graduate studies in engineering at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Although his parents were migrant workers, Hernndez said they prioritized his education by making sure he completed his homework and studied consistently. â€Å"What I always say to Mexican parents, Latino parents is that we shouldn’t spend so much time going out with friends drinking beer and watching telenovelas, and should spend more time with our families and kids...challenging our kids to pursue dreams that may seem unreachable,† Hernndez said in a controversial interview with the Los Angles Times. Breaking Ground, Joining NASA Once he completed his studies, Hernndez landed a job with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 1987. There, he engaged in work with a commercial partner that resulted in the creation of the first full-field digital mammography imaging system, used to spot breast cancer in its first stages. Hernndez followed his groundbreaking work at Lawrence Laboratory by closing in on his dream of becoming an astronaut. In 2001, he signed on as a NASA materials research engineer at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, helping with Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions. He went on to serve as the Materials and Processes Branch chief in 2002, a role he filled until NASA selected him for its space program in 2004. After applying for 12 straight years to enter the program, Hernndez was at long last headed to space. After undergoing physiological, flight, and water and wilderness survival training as well as training on Shuttle and International Space Station systems, Hernndez completed Astronaut Candidate Training in February 2006. Three-and-a-half years later, Hernndez journeyed on the STS-128 shuttle mission, during which he oversaw the transfer of more than 18,000 pounds of equipment between the shuttle and the International Space Station and helped with robotics operations, according to NASA. The STS-128 mission traveled more than 5.7 million miles in just under two weeks. Immigration Controversy After Hernndez returned from space, he found himself at the center of controversy. That’s because he commented on Mexican television that from space he enjoyed seeing the Earth without borders and called for comprehensive immigration reform, arguing that undocumented workers play an important role in the U.S. economy. His remarks reportedly displeased his NASA superiors, who were quick to point out that Hernndez’s views did not represent the organization as a whole. â€Å"I work for the U.S. government, but as an individual, I have a right to my personal opinions,† Hernndez said in a follow-up interview with the Los Angeles Times. â€Å"Having 12 million undocumented people here means there’s something wrong with the system, and the system needs to be fixed.† Beyond NASA After a 10-year run at NASA, Hernndez left the government agency in January 2011 to serve as executive director for Strategic Operations at aerospace company MEI Technologies Inc. in Houston. â€Å"Josà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s talent and dedication have contributed greatly to the agency, and he is an inspiration to many,† said Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Office at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. â€Å"We wish him all the best with this new phase of his career.† Sources Connelly, Richard. â€Å"Jose Hernandez, Astronaut Who Sparked Immigration Controversy, Retires from NASA.†Ã‚  Houston Press, 18 Jan. 2019.Dunbar, Brian. â€Å"Meet NASAs Future Explorer - Jose Hernandez.†Ã‚  NASA.NASA. â€Å"Astronaut Jose Hernandez Leaves NASA.†Ã‚  PR Newswire, 30 June 2018.Wall, Mike. â€Å"Migrant Farmer-Turned-Astronaut Jose Hernandez Leaves NASA.†Ã‚  Space.com, 17 Jan. 2011.Wilkinson, Tracy. â€Å"Mexican American Astronaut Isnt Changing Course on Immigration Stand.†Ã‚  Los Angeles Times, 17 Sept. 2009.

Salud! and Cuban healthcare system

Salud! and Cuban healthcare system According to the film ‘Salud’, physicians reside within the neighborhoods that they are supposed to serve (Gorry, 2009). The Cuban healthcare system focuses mainly on preventive services and execution of rapid treatment whenever patients are admitted to hospitals. Effective emergency responders to cater for unexpected events such as earthquakes have also been trained in Cuba.Advertising We will write a custom term paper sample on â€Å"Salud!† and Cuban healthcare system specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More There are several Cuban doctors who have been dispatched to over 100 countries across the world. Some of the countries being served by Cuban doctors include Venezuela, Central America, South Africa and Gambia. These are fulltime medical experts. However, the US doctors can only be dispatched to destinations that demand specialized emergency care on short term basis (Gorry, 2009). Free medial training is offered to s tudents from the United States, Latin America, Africa and other parts of the world. Although Cuba is a poor nation compared to the US, it trains medical personnel at no cost. This is not the case with the US. There are no private healthcare systems in Cuba since all the healthcare establishments are run by the government (Carrol, 2007). A robust private sector orientation is one of the strengths of the US healthcare system. A private system ensures that product manufacturers can continually undertake medical innovation with the aim of improving both quality and access to healthcare for individuals who are well covered by medical insurance. For example, there is a great level of flexibility for employer-based insurance because it is easy to adjust the system at any time according to the changing healthcare dynamics (Institute of Medicine, 2003). On the other hand, coverage controlled by the employer cannot be possessed by an employee due to lack of portability. Therefore, employees a ttached to short term employment contracts may suffer as a result of this weakness. Moreover, incentives for prevention are minimal because several workers often shift from one job to another on a regular basis. Rapid escalation of healthcare cost is yet another weakness of the US healthcare system. This has been worsened by expansive coverage due to the federal tax exemption advanced to employers (Institute of Medicine, 2001). The best way the US system can be transformed is by adopting a market-based system through a well planned incremental approach. This will improve healthcare efficiency. The federal tax law can be reformed in such a way that open-hand arrangements are avoided. The latter can be replaced by the use of vouchers. Regulatory regimes can also be created by individual states so that coverage rules and regulations are controlled at the local level.Advertising Looking for term paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More There are quite a number of aspects in the Cuban healthcare system that the US healthcare ought to adopt. For instance, it is vital to note that the Cuban healthcare system is significantly affordable to patients compared to that of the United States. Cuba spends about US$5.49 for in-patient hospital stay per day (Carrol, 2007). On the other hand, the United States healthcare system demands approximately US$ 1,994 to sustain an in-patient for a single day in hospital (Institute of Medicine, 2003). These are remarkable differences in terms of healthcare costs between the two countries. The US healthcare system should embrace ways of reducing the cost of accessing medical care and also improving quality. Even though the US healthcare system is costly to healthcare recipients, quality in some healthcare institutions is till below the expected standards. As much as importation of some medical merchandise takes place in Cuba, a significant amount of medica l goods are still manufactured locally. However, the cost of labor is lower in Cuba than the US. If the United States can lower the cost of labor and improve local production of vital medicinal products, then access and quality towards healthcare will equally be boosted (Institute of Medicine, 2001). In addition, personal effects such as water, food, hypodermic needles and bed sheets can be brought by patients into hospitals as it is the case in Cuba. When patients are allowed to take care of basic personal expenses, the government healthcare systems will lower the cost of operations by a remarkable margin. References Carrol, R. (2007). Economic crisis boost to health of Cubans. London: The Guardian. Gorry, C. (2009). Salud! Cuba’s Medical Diplomacy. Retrieved from lahabana.com/content/salud-cubas-medical-diplomacy/ Institute of Medicine (2001). Aligning payment policies with quality improvement. In crossing the quality chasm. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.Adve rtising We will write a custom term paper sample on â€Å"Salud!† and Cuban healthcare system specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Institute of Medicine (2003). The healthcare environment and its relations to disparities. In Unequal treatment: Confronting racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.

Assessment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Assessment - Assignment Example Industrial Chemicals, lastly, provide scientifically enrich and tested chemical products. All in all, the company makes use of the best talent in the sector to keep up with the innovative and unique features it provides. Synthomer also works in the chemical industry and deals mainly in production of polymers. Synthomer was established in 1952 with headquarters in Harlow, UK. Both companies keep innovation and technology at the heart of their operations and compete greatly in the global business market. Both the companies have followed International Accounting Standards (IAS) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to prepare the financial reports. They use different accounting policies for the accounts, for instance, Synthomer calculates depreciation on straight line basis over the estimated useful life of an asset and Croda values tangible fixed assets at cost or valuation less depreciation. The accounting policies differ for each account but they remain compliant with the UK accounting standards and companies law 2006. For the purpose of this assignment, the financial statements of both the companies are extracted from their official website. The information important for the analysis is extracted and summarized in the excel sheet for clarity and ease of use. The analysis covers information from three recent years i.e. 2011, 2012 and 2013. Both the companies belong to the same industry and work in more or less the same product lines. For financial analysis, ratio analysis was used. Ratio analysis is done under 5 main heads namely Liquidity, Leverage, Coverage, Activity and Profitability. The analysis involves comprehensive assessment of the results measured. An analysis is made using personal knowledge and understanding about the issues. The report ends by concluding on the results of comparative analysis. Current

Article Review on Technology in Education Assignment

Article Review on Technology in Education - Assignment Example Videoconferencing at present is a medium for learning partnerships both in the local scene and in the international setup. Reynard (2012) cited â€Å"the inclusion of video increases the sense of presence,† and considers this as a means of collaboration. This educational tool has evolved in the recent years to include media tools, such as chat, as well as interactive whiteboards, which increase the exchange of ideas and resources alike, taking learning and the accumulation of knowledge to new heights (Reynard, 2012). This promotes access to what is otherwise accessible – locations which are commonly not that open to the public and expert educators who are too geographically distant; in reference to inaccessible locations, virtual tours are utilized (Reynard, 2012). Another advantage of this modern day educational tool is that it can make available the unavailable, such as classes not normally offered in the school, or those beyond the normal hours of school, which would be highly advantageous for those who are not able to avail of normal class hours (Reynard, 2012). Another important benefit of videoconferencing is that it helps students go the extra mile – tutoring and enrichment activities online, in real time, and without geographical constraints (Reynard, 2012). ... Furthermore, technology like videoconferencing may bridge the gap between different cultures as it provides worldwide reach to all students; this would yield better-informed students and well versed in aspects in which traditional students are not due to limited access to resources. There would be constant updates of any advancement or modification in education across the globe, as this education tool goes beyond geographical boundaries. In the future, students would be more interested and involved to learn as videoconferencing offers them interactive learning. It would give new meaning to the term – experience – since this teaching strategy would make the learners feel as if they are in that particular scenario, hence, making them believe like it was their own personal experience. There would probably be an increase in the number of students, as those who do not have the luxury of time could avail of such dynamic and effective education made very convenient to them sin ce it is not bound by normal school hours. Personal Opinion: How Technology will Shape Education in the Future Technology is evolving, as it is used in the field of education, so will the latter evolve, as well. Education will be better, as technology will constantly upgrade, so will the skills of the students. Thus, to keep up with complex learning needs brought about by modernized educational tools utilized by students, educators will adapt to such modernity. They will be well equipped with modern strategies to address learning needs. In the process, education will reach new heights. The standard of education would be further uplifted, producing more competitive

Globalisation and environmental sustainability Essay Example for Free

Globalisation and environmental sustainability Essay A global society is marked by new technologically integrated local and international relations which encourage the study of the effects of globalisation and as well as internationalisation of various disciplines in a society which are involved in social interactions. This interactions may be locally based or may involve international relations some of which have a close relationship to political philosophy, international economies, conflict analysis, international laws and policies as well as sociology. Globalisation makes the world more productive and stable. In the past few decades, the global economy has become increasingly interconnected and integrated. This integration is quite evident in the international markets and it has been on a steady increase since the seventeenth century although in the last few years, globalisation has undergone revolution which has given rise to many controversial issues regarding its effects and impacts on the larger global society (Lindert, Williamson 2001). Some researches have indicated that in the last two decades or so, the increased integration in the global markets has resulted in greater inequality in the way income is distributed among nations around the world. In connection to this, Bourguignon and Morrisson (2000) have also observed that combining inequality within and across countries has brought a significant rise in the global inequality since 1960 thus making the already poor countries poorer while the rich countries get richer through globalisation. Globalisation refers to the way in which nations increasingly become interconnected with one another in terms of economic, political, technological, social and cultural aspects. More often than not, the word globalisation is used to refer to the economic aspect of a nation. Economic globalisation describes the integration of national economies into the international economies via trade, migrations, international market capital flows, foreign investments and increased use of technology. The increasing rate of globalisation as has been experienced in the past two decades or so has led to rapid growth of global trade, financial capital flows, direct foreign investments and cross border trade transactions (Johnston, Taylor, Watts 2002). The major facilitators of this growth include improved transport and communication infrastructure, improved technological know-how, quicker methods of telecommunication and internet services. In addition to this, globalisation has been favoured by removal of trade barriers and policies across nations which previously inhibited international trade among nations. This has now liberalised trade and encouraged more export and import transactions which promote globalisation. The establishment of international trade organisations such as world bank, IMF and WTO have also played a significant role in facilitating globalisation as they are devoted to promoting trade and investment across nations worldwide. The result of this kind of globalised trade is presence of multinational companies (MNCs) whose budgets exceed those of the economies of many nations in which they are situated (Atkison 1999). Globalisation and sustainability. In the recent years, many controversies have emanated from the issue of globalisation. It is now seen an unnecessary evil which is threatening the social and environmental sustainability of the global societies. Globalisation is viewed by some people as an opportunity for national and international economic growth while others feel that it is a threat to economic prosperity, political sovereignty and cultural integrity (Jussilla, Cullen 2002). People in developed countries are particularly concerned with the fact that globalisation poses a threat to unskilled workers who are bound to be left jobless with the increased technological methods of production in the contracting industries. On the other hand, the developing nations are mostly concerned about the loss of political powers and sovereignty as well as loss of economic prosperity which is bound to be brought about by globalisation. According to Bhalla (2002) the whole concept of globalisation is surrounded by ideological issues both positive and negative which in the long run affect the people or societies in the globalised world. , the controversial aspect of globalisation can not be easily resolved. Globalisation and environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability refers to the aspect of addressing the needs of the current global societies fully while being cautious not to compromise the needs of the societies which are to come,that is, future generations. According Heinberg (2005), globalisation has directly or indirectly led to several environmental issues such as global warming, increased deforestation, depletion of the ozone layer, destruction of water catchment areas, biodiversity, most natural resources have reached or are nearing depletion levels, pollution of water, air and the entire environment among others. For instance, globalisation has enabled MNCs to invest in countries which have few or no environmental conservation by-laws and this results in high environmental degradation as well as depletion of natural resources. However, the WTO in response to this effect has argued that the large amounts of income or capital flows earned from globalisation are capable of catering for the environmental degradation and this is bound to improve the quality of the environment to even higher standards that it were in before. In addition, globalisation has led to increased industrialisation all over the globe and this has resulted in the much dreaded effects of depletion of the ozone layer and global warming. Global warming comes as a result of release of industrial pollutants from the manufacturing industries into the environment. Such pollutants include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxides of sulphur and so forth. The effects of global warming are quite evident all over the globe as they have led to diverse changes in weather and climate resulting in drought and famines in some parts of the world among other effects. The depletion of the ozone layer occurs as a result of release of chemicals such as freons and fluorocarbons in to the air which react with ozone layer hence thinning it (Bellow 2001). However,there are several positive effects of globalisation in relation to environmental sustainability. Precisely, globalisation has led to improved methods of energy utilisation, substitution of resources especially those occurring naturally, innovation of metal recovery and material recycling methods, dematerialisation of resources among other positive practices (Eiezen, Maxine 2006). Globalisation has particularly been putting great emphases on dematerialisation and this has helped industries to improve their efficiency in production, minimise and manage their waste production and reduced the production costs through use of cheap systematic procedures. In addition, the use of improved technological methods has made companies to adopt newer and more efficient methods of energy utilisation and as a result, the energy requirements in industrialized countries have substantially reduced in the recent years. Moreover, many non-renewable energy resources have been substituted with renewable sources of energy and this has greatly reduced the risk of depletion of such resources in the near future. Although the improved technology has great positive effects on the environmental sustainability, globalisation is negatively associated with the exportation and use of technologies and activities that can have detrimental effects on the environment. All these environmental effects of globalisation have either a direct or an indirect impact on the global societies. Lack of clean water for instance is a negative effect which is likely to cause diseases and suffering to the larger population. On the other hand, improved energy efficiency, advanced technology and industrialisation translates a greater advantage to the people living in the globalised world in terms of better quality consumer products, free exchange of goods, capital and services between nations among others. Globalisation and social sustainability. On the aspect of social sustainability, globalisation plays a very important role in terms of improving or lowering the social status of the people living in globalised world. Experts have argued that globalisation tends to impose a greater disadvantage to the poor countries while at the same time it favours the already developed nations (Bellow 2001). They add that although globalisation is believed to favour free trade among nations, it lead to much inequality between the developed and the under developed countries since the developing countries are unable to compete favourably with the developed countries in the international markets (Agyeman, Bullar, Evans 2003). In addition, the increased use of technology is bound to render many people jobless especially the unskilled workers, since most of the work which was previously done manually by the people is now easily done by machines. This reflects negatively on the society especially in the poorer countries since when people do not get jobs to do, they are likely to suffer from starvation, poor health, illiteracy among other social problems (Walker 2005). On the positive side, globalisation allows free movement of people across nations as they trade and this has promoted cultural diversity, intermarriages, tourism and so forth. This has further promoted peace,understanding and unity between individuals as well as nations. It is thus clear that globalisation has some critical impacts on the social lives of individuals an groups living in the industrialised countries. Identities and powers based on globalisation and sustainability. The last one decade or so has presented a turbulent phase for the global societies marked by globalisation and resurgence in the identity politics or religion based politics. Globalisation being a process of ongoing capitalism-industrialisation has had some adverse effects on the poor strata of the society. According to Heiberg (2005), the nature of globalisation is contradictory in that it divides the world as much as it unites it. Movements fundamental to globalisation are based on empathy, ideology and identities. The lives of people living in global societies are largely shaped by conflicting trends of globalisation and identity and current events in the world indicate that community identities are threatened by the forces of globalisation. One effect of globalisation on the societal political structure is the emergence of socialist states which came into being in the mid-20th century ushering in the beginning of an industrial society. The intensified rate of globalisation has led to a rise of America as a lone super-power in the world, decline of the power and authority exercised by the United Nations, decline in the amount of Non-Aligned movement, a rise in Fascist-fundamentalist politics among countries and worsening of the problems experienced by the poor in the society. While globalisation is believed to result in a democratic world economy, the political democracy system in the world is stifled in form of emasculation of the potential world government. As the national economies become more and more globalised, the world political powers become more and more centralised into one or a few nations of the world. This power monopoly is a negative effect of globalisation as it leads to a decline in democratic norms and projection of identity politics. Identity politics involve competition over scarce resources which could in principle be taken to mean struggle for political power or economic wealth resources. This kind of competition seems to favour only the rich and mighty residing in the wealthy and powerful countries leading to a form of discrimination. As a result, globalisation makes the people in rich countries continue becoming richer as those in poor countries become more poor by the day. In this case it is clear that although globalisation is capable of empowering a nation both economically and politically, the power distribution is unequal and this puts some nations at a higher political power advantage than others. Conclusion. Beyond doubt, globalisation has led to significant increase in per capita income of different nations which have fully accepted this process and applied effectively the technological advancements which come with it. It can however be seen that, globalisation has pushed most developing or Third world countries along the path of diminishing sustainability and this has not in any way been improved by the recent regulations made in the globalisation processes. For instance, the deregulation of global trade in the recent past has led to a decrease in the environmental and social-cultural constraints associated with globalisation but this kind of deregulation has failed to address the issues of sustainability. In conclusion, it is clear that the current globalisation process is quite unsustainable but with a few policies to govern it properly, the process is capable of bringing much success in the long run to all nations world wide as well as to people as individuals in the globalised world. Reference. Atkinson, G., Dubourg, R. , Hamilton, K. , Munasinghe, M. , Pearce D. , 1999. Measuring sustainable development. UK: Edward Elgar Publishers. Agyeman, J. , Bullard, R. D. , Evans, B. , (eds. ). 2003. Sustainability: Development in an Unequal World, London: Earthscan. Bello, W. F. 2001. The Future in the Balance: Essays on Globalization and Resistance. Oakland, Calif: Food First Books. Bhalla, A. S. 2002. Globalisation and Sustainable Development: A Southern African Perspective, International Journal of Technology Management Sustainable Development, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 40-57.

Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring :: Technology

Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring Introduction Since the invention of radio, intelligence-gathering organizations have been developing and using eavesdropping techniques to intercept and review wireless communications. Initially, these capabilities were solely used to spy on hostile nations, and particularly for military purposes. Human operators had to manually review each transmission, and cryptanalysts pored over military ciphers in an attempt to decode important messages. As wireless communication has become an integral part of commercial and individual existence, and potential threats to security are increasingly found in peacetime and on home ground, the scope of this intelligence gathering has likewise broadened. One of the most controversial eavesdropping systems in existence is a classified project known as ‘Echelon.’ Its use of computer hardware and software to filter communications from all over the world brings up many ethical issues related to the impact of computers on privacy. Overview of Echelon Most of the evidence for Echelon is circumstantial, though a few facts have been established. The participating organizations (notably the US Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency) have neither confirmed nor denied its existence. In lieu of a discussion of the ethical issues, a brief summary of the current knowledge follows. How it Works Echelon is the product of Cold War efforts to monitor wireless communications in the USSR. It traces its roots back to the clandestine UKUSA alliance, a communications intelligence agreement that dates back from around 1947. Member nations include the US, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is now known that the system has been in existence for at least 20 years.[1] In the past, high frequency radio listening posts were also used to listen to radio communications. Currently, the system is composed of a series of eavesdropping satellites, ground listening stations, and supercomputers that intercept and sift through telecommunications satellite broadcasts. These broadcasts include faxes, phone calls, and web traffic- especially those dispatched over long distances.[2] The term Echelon has never actually been mentioned by officials, but is believed to represent the computer system that manages the data gathered by the network.[3] The computers are used to store and ana lyze text data for key words, and to review telephone conversations for unique ‘voiceprints’ or the phone numbers of persons under surveillance.[4] This makes it possible to filter an enormous amount of traffic, since human analysts review only relevant messages. The US National Security Agency (NSA) is widely considered to be both the originator and head of the project, and likely owns and operates the major computer facilities for Echelon. Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring :: Technology Echelon: Considerations with International Communications Monitoring Introduction Since the invention of radio, intelligence-gathering organizations have been developing and using eavesdropping techniques to intercept and review wireless communications. Initially, these capabilities were solely used to spy on hostile nations, and particularly for military purposes. Human operators had to manually review each transmission, and cryptanalysts pored over military ciphers in an attempt to decode important messages. As wireless communication has become an integral part of commercial and individual existence, and potential threats to security are increasingly found in peacetime and on home ground, the scope of this intelligence gathering has likewise broadened. One of the most controversial eavesdropping systems in existence is a classified project known as ‘Echelon.’ Its use of computer hardware and software to filter communications from all over the world brings up many ethical issues related to the impact of computers on privacy. Overview of Echelon Most of the evidence for Echelon is circumstantial, though a few facts have been established. The participating organizations (notably the US Central Intelligence Agency and National Security Agency) have neither confirmed nor denied its existence. In lieu of a discussion of the ethical issues, a brief summary of the current knowledge follows. How it Works Echelon is the product of Cold War efforts to monitor wireless communications in the USSR. It traces its roots back to the clandestine UKUSA alliance, a communications intelligence agreement that dates back from around 1947. Member nations include the US, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is now known that the system has been in existence for at least 20 years.[1] In the past, high frequency radio listening posts were also used to listen to radio communications. Currently, the system is composed of a series of eavesdropping satellites, ground listening stations, and supercomputers that intercept and sift through telecommunications satellite broadcasts. These broadcasts include faxes, phone calls, and web traffic- especially those dispatched over long distances.[2] The term Echelon has never actually been mentioned by officials, but is believed to represent the computer system that manages the data gathered by the network.[3] The computers are used to store and ana lyze text data for key words, and to review telephone conversations for unique ‘voiceprints’ or the phone numbers of persons under surveillance.[4] This makes it possible to filter an enormous amount of traffic, since human analysts review only relevant messages. The US National Security Agency (NSA) is widely considered to be both the originator and head of the project, and likely owns and operates the major computer facilities for Echelon.

Future of Fashion

Fashion. A word that defines a world in itself. Fashion encloses everything surrounding our environment. There is fashion everywhere. From the pen that a person uses to write to the paper that is used to write on. But more than anything, fashion is about how we dress up and cover our bodies. Fashion is an art, a passion and a science. The art of transforming mere fabrics into clothing and fabulous creations. A passion that drives people to think out of the box and design garments that make our daily if not special occasions more beautiful.A science about how the body works, reacts with and looks in it. But today in 2013, more than ever, Fashion has power. Enough power to make a whole population think and consider. And the future seems brighter for Fashion and it gets stronger and stronger. By 2020 Fashion will†¦ According to sic-if movies, spandex suits will be the norm. Uniformity will be the new trend. Same suit every day. Basically gloomy and no fashion anywhere. But uniformi ty is also boring if repeatedly everyone wears the same outfit and that too everyday. And generally speaking not everyone will look nice in spandex.Fortunately designers such as Guiltier for the Fifth Element painted a different futuristic fashion. This is according to the movies. According to me, it will be the opposite. People will thrive to be different and non-conformity will be respected, if not individuality. Designers will have more respect as consumers will be more conscious about who designed the garment, where it is manufactured and how. People will have more awareness about what they wear and also the impact it implies. Consumers will start having their own vision and will even start creating.Designing will be a highly regarded profession and this will be the only point that will differentiate professionalism. Cut, fabrics and techniques. With this will eventually come a more dignified consumer behavior. The need for something exclusive will grow even more. Things are not going to be made for the masses much longer. They will be made for you, individuals. There is a new obsession with the in-between. The latest ‘squelched' of fashion. If future fashion was to be summed up in a word, that would be androgynous.Anyone, or anything, who pushed the boundaries of sexual identity seemed to click the right notes. What was once seen as freakish, and even taboo, has gone mainstream. The fashion world is obsessed with androgyny. An ability to exude both masculine and feminine traits is like gold to designers and editors. And they do create a buzz and consumers are sure to remember. The vogue for unisex fashion – Oxford shirts, man-style brogues and boat shoes, chinos, military Jackets and skinny shares – has also been touted as one of the reasons for the rise in popularity of transgender style.Ambiguity is something that attracts†¦ As fresh materials become harder to come by and/or less sustainable, the need to recycle existing fabrics becomes more important. Already recycling is gaining a lot of ground and some impasses are making special collections bearing recycling in mind. Some independent designers are already making a big name by converting simple things of daily life into marvelous creations which are actually wearable. This trend will continue on till the forthcoming years and will become bigger as designers really think now that there is a niche for recycling.People will be very much concerned about the environment. This generation will also be more close to the environment. Ethical behavior and moral in terms of production and consumption will be valuable assets. True value and mere cost will be two different things. People will want better quality and the question will be more quality-wise more than ever. The go green concept will be stronger than ever. With the changes in the climate and temperatures reaching phenomenal points, this generation will be most concerned about the environment and fashion will undoubtedly play a big role for the people.This will show their support towards sustainability. Researches about environment friendly materials are also being made and notable breakthrough already is the discovery of bacterial-celluloses fibers to replace fibers from plants or animals. A statement. Already big companies like Inedited have signed the convention for chemical free production starting from 2020. Is that a sign of the rising responsiveness of both consumers and producers? Since a long time ago there were lots of predictions for the year 2000.Spandex suit, end of the world, flying cars, end of the world but ultimately, nothing that drastic has happened. The black little dress will still be the black little dress. Only the shell will change. The environment around us is changing, and our fashion can respond to that in artful or informative ways. Definitely Science and Fashion will be a winning team or 2020. There will be a strong collaboration with technological advan ces and researches. The current dominance of cotton and polyester fibers in the market is unsustainable; together they account for over 80% of the world's clothing output.This lack of diversity has led to growing problems such as excessive water consumption, pollution, loss of soil fertility and biodiversity and an over dependency on oil. Fabrics that offer innovative alternatives are part of a better future – one in which we are able to manage our resources wisely and cost effectively. Changes will occur in the trials used to make the garments. Already the introduction of artificial fibers and improvement in the production of existing fibers such as cotton and wool has already made it easier.Nanotechnology advances will also play a major role for fashioning the future. Already the heat sensitive fabrics, sweat absorbing micrometers have changed a lot in the mindset of people and now we know that there does exist a way where fashion and science can bond. Where a surface meets the sun, solar energy can be captured. Already, brands such as Unique have been dabbling in tech-enhanced looting, such as the retailer's Hatched tops and leggings made from material that turns moisture evaporating from the body into heat.Almost any amount of electronic functionality can be associated with something without necessarily affecting its form. The human body is no different, and plenty of fashion designers have hopped on board this growing technology. More researches are being conducted to make clothing fabrics to become more technologically innovative, responsive and effective. Later on our clothing will become like ‘second-skin' mostly protecting us and making us more comfortable. From room temperature to sounds and even tastes. Not Just this, researches being made are already making it clear that fashion can help to create energy.Scientists are making big steps towards developing a shirt that can help convert our daily energy used to move into electricity to po wer electronic devices. We are the energy. Technological advances in textile research are starting to redefine the boundaries of fashion. There is also the other side of science-fashion mix. The more drastic ones. The ones that will drastically change our habits and even the clothing industry. The ‘Fabric' s as the name suggests, nearly as fabric in a can. How to use it? Simply Just spray it on the body. Manuel Tortes did trials and it worked perfectly.Non woven fabrics will be later used to cover our bodies. The thousands of fibers that are sprayed from the can Just bind together taking the shape of the body to create a nearly tailor made outfit but of a disposable nature. Such researches will surely revolutionize the world of fashion. After the term fast-food', fast-fashion' seems to be on the way. This is the craziest and perhaps most expensive side of Fashion's ongoing progress. Ever heard of the Twitter dress, LED dress or the AD printed dress worn by Data Von These? The Twitter dress and LED was developed by Francesca Rosella.Basically everyone got the message or rather the tweet'. Fashion and Technology are the new couple. But unmistakably, the biggest breakthrough is the AD printed dress, showing that wearable technology is Just around the corner. AD printing technology is still in its infancy, but it has already made its way to the world of fashion. Everything from shoes to bikinis have gone under the lathe off AD printer. AD printers are actually renters that print using resin instead of ink on paper. Obviously this is a work of art and it is so visible to the eye.The process already looks very confusing and the huge amount of work put in it can be felt. Going the different parts, ‘powdered nylon'. Architecturally mind-blowing. The cost is certainly unimaginable but some designers have tried it out and nylon being not so expensive, the design is certainly not cheap but is worth it and for the individuality perk. Research for the near futu re will be to have this kind of a printer that will Just pop out the design as a complete piece. Designers of the mainstream typical futuristic fashion scene such as Iris Van Herpes inspire.She always give a glimpse of her world, the unknown and the unpredictable. These designers are helping to shape the future of fashion by experimenting and helping the industry to take the big leap. Hopefully the AD printing technique will see significant breakthroughs that will help to make it a more accessible and viable way to create clothing. Fashion in the 2020 will be more likely functional as well as creative and environment friendly. Some future designs won't be as functional as they will be visually impacting, but such has always been true about the clothes we wear.And only fashion can make anything beautiful and valuable. Examples are LED dresses with encrusted lights. This is a notable inspiration for other designers and it is very refreshing to get inspiration from other eras of the ti me except from the past. Fashion sometimes needs to change its face, Just to be more inspiring. It is testament to the power of fashion that Google chose the US designer Diane von Frequenter's New York show last year to premiere its Google Glass augmented-technology specs hat feature cameras and use voice recognition and share their videos on Google+.Social media is very anchored in the fashion world now. Using social media in the fashion world comes down to more than Just what designers share on Mainstream and coverage of Fashion Week. It is becoming more and more about consumer directly connecting with the brands as well as with each other. Sites like Power allow its users to check out the latest trends and create style boards for their own inspiration as well as to share with the rest of the fashion community. Change is certainly in the air and there are some concrete evidences.The changing mentality of consumers, producers and designers, the amazing advances in technology and th e continuous enriching history of our world, all are contributing towards a ‘different future'. But I soon realized that the future fashions are only a perception of the future. When I look back fifty years at what the previous generation thought the future (now the present) would be like, it is vastly different from our time. Everything seems a filtered down versions from fantasy, to designer, to high street. Because that does happen and it is a mere shadow of the former design, something hat hardly resembles this aesthetic at all.As I say, the little black dress will remain the little black dress. I'm talking about a drastic change in fashion's aesthetic, something that will inevitably happen, Just as it has over the centuries. Only time will be witness to the changes if any will occur, and drastic as well. Predictions are Just as trends some might Just hit the bull's eyes others are Just brushed aside with a scorn. The most ironic thing is that none of us will ever know wha t the distant future holds and what the progression, even evolution of fashion will bring.