What Is a Double Major Is a Double Major Right for You

What Is a Double Major Is a Double Major Right for You SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Going to college can sometimes feel like a series of tough decisions. Not only do you have to take standardized tests like the ACT or SAT, you also have to decide which colleges to apply to and write (practically) a million applications! After all of that, picking your major sometimes feels like the easy part. But not so fast! Many schools offer a variety of majoring opportunities, including a degree path referred to as a double major where you concentrate in not one, but two different subjects. This guide will take the mystery out of what it means to double major! We’ll explore the ins and outs of the degree path, including: Defining what a double major is...and what it isn’t, Discussing the pros and cons of double majoring, and finally, Helping you figure out whether a double major is the right choice for you. So without further ado...let’s dive in! Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash What Is a Double Major? A Brief Introduction Simply put: a double major is one bachelor’s degree with two concentrations, which are more commonly known as majors. But what does that mean, exactly? First, you need to understand the differences between a degree and a major. The Bachelor’s Degree Universities offer a number of degree programs at three different levels: the bachelor’s degree, the master’s degree, and the doctoral degree. The first degree you earn is a bachelor’s degree, which takes approximately four years to complete. There are different types of bachelor’s degrees awarded depending on your major. The two most common bachelor’s degrees are the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) A Bachelor of Arts is earned in any liberal arts related field. These include studies like history, philosophy, English, and foreign language. A Bachelor of Science is earned in science-related fields of study, like biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Some universities offer additional bachelor’s degrees, like Princeton’s Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.E) or the University of Pennsylvania’s Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S). Regardless of what the degree is called, the most important thing to remember is that a bachelor’s degree is what you earn for completing all of your university’s requirements for a four-year undergraduate degree. The Major A major is a distinct area of concentrated study within your degree field. (Now that you know what a degree is, we bet this makes more sense!) So you can think of a major as an area of study within the scope of a degree! Here’s an example to make this even more clear: let’s say you go to Harvard because you want to be an engineer. But wait! There are multiple types of engineering, all of which require different knowledge and skills. That’s why Harvard offers seven different engineering majors: applied mathematics, biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, engineering sciences, environmental science engineering, and mechanical engineering. Since you want to work in cloud computing, you’ll probably choose to major in computer science...and once you meet all the program’s requirements, you’ll graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree! The Double Major When you double major, you will be getting a single degree/diploma that lists concentrations in two majors. In other words, as a double major you will complete the graduation requirements for two separate majors, both of which are in a single degree field. Here’s what we mean: let’s say you want to go into politics, and you hope to work abroad as part of the U.S. Embassy in France. To do this, you know that you need a political science degree and you need to be bilingual in French. Luckily for you, your university offers a B.A. in French and a B.A. in Political Science. This could be a tricky situation if you had to choose between one major and another- it would be hard to determine which course of study is most important! That’s why most universities offer a double major: it lets you fulfill the requirements for both fields of study, both of which will appear on your diploma. So someone who only majors in political science will earn a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, whereas your double major will result in a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and French! But what does that look like from a practical perspective? Let’s take a look! Meet Sophia, who has just been admitted to Cornell University. She’s decided that she wants to double major in history and philosophy (which are both part of the Bachelor of Arts degree). As part of The College of Arts Sciences, Sophia’s first job will be to complete all of the college’s core requirements for graduation. After looking at the list, Sophia knows she will have to take at least sixteen classes as part of her core. After that, Sophia takes a look at what classes she needs to take to major in history and philosophy. The history department will require her to take nine history courses to earn a major, and a philosophy major requires a minimum of eight philosophy courses. In order to earn a double major, Sophia will have to meet all the criteria for each major as well as finish her core studies. While earning a double major might seem daunting, it’s definitely an achievable goal. In fact, 12.5% of college students graduated with a double major in 2015. We’ll talk a little more about how to decide if a double major is right for you in just a second, but first, let’s look at what a double major isn’t. sboneham/Flickr What a Double Major Isn’t A double major isn’t the only alternative to a â€Å"typical† four-year degree offered by most universities. (Yep, that’s right- there are even more choices!) While we’re only focusing on double majoring in this article, it’s important to have a brief understanding of the alternatives to avoid confusion! A Double Major Isn’t a Dual Degree A dual degree is exactly what it sounds like: instead of earning one degree with multiple concentrations, you will earn two separate degrees in two separate fields! This happens when a student completes the requirements for majors that confer separate degrees. For example, let’s say a student wants to study art history and biology. Because art history is a Bachelor of Arts and biology is a Bachelor of Science, this person will earn two separate diplomas (a B.A. and a B.S)! Dual degrees are considerably more rare than double majors because a student has to earn two separate degrees that often require different core courses. If students are interested in another area that falls outside of their degree field, many choose to earn a minor rather than a dual degree. A Double Major Isn’t a Minor The best way to think about a minor is as a â€Å"mini major† in another area of study that interests you! Minors usually require four to six additional courses, and they are specifically designed to help students develop a little more knowledge in another area of interest. That’s why minors are sometimes called â€Å"secondary† emphases! For many students, a minor lets them dig into a field that complements their major field of study. For example, someone studying American history might minor in African-American studies, especially if they’re interested in the Civil Rights movement. The important thing to remember is that a minor is like dipping your toe into a subject, while a major involves gaining in-depth knowledge. That difference is reflected in your degree. While a double major lists both areas of study equally, a minor is noted as such- if it appears on your degree at all. That means a double major carries more weight, which can be very important depending on your future career! A Double Major Isn’t an Emphasis Some majors require a student to pick an emphasis within the major itself. Unlike a minor, which is usually earned as part of a different program, an emphasis is a concentration on a specific subject area within a single major. For instance, many English majors are required to pick an emphasis because the field is so broad. These can be a certain time period, a certain genre, or even a specific skill (like grammar)! The goal of an emphasis is to offer more tailored study within a major without requiring additional coursework. Unlike a minor, which is totally optional, emphases are often required to earn certain degrees. For example, if you’re majoring in education, your department might require you to choose an emphasis like elementary education, secondary education, or even special education. Areas of emphasis vary between departments and universities, but keep in mind that an emphasis is the least intensive addition to a â€Å"typical† four-year degree. In terms of order of importance, a major carries more weight than a minor, which carries more weight than an emphasis! Put another way, a second major gives you much more in-depth knowledge about a subject than either a minor or an emphasis. Max Pixel/Max Pixel 5 Pros to Double Majoring Now that you know exactly what a double major is (and isn’t!), let’s talk about the perks of double majoring. #1: You’ll Develop Unique Critical Thinking Skills One of the cool things about being a double major is that you get to learn a lot about two subjects that really interest you. But that also means that you’ll have to learn to think in many different ways since the problem-solving strategies you’ll need to succeed in your first major are probably a little different than the ones you’ll develop for your second major. For example, let’s say you’re majoring in biology and chemistry. While many of the fundamental scientific concepts are the same, you’ll definitely have to use different skills to learn human anatomy than you’ll use when balancing equations! This helps you stretch your brain in new ways, which will make you a better critical thinker, strategist, and problem solver. #2: A Little Extra Work Can Reap Big Rewards This is especially true if you’re double majoring in related fields. Most schools allow you to count a certain number of classes toward two requirements. For example, if you take a sophomore-level chemistry course as part of your chemistry major, it might also count toward a molecular biology major, too! Because you can sometimes double-dip to fulfill certain major requirements, the difference between a single and a double major can sometimes be reduced to just a few courses. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead no matter what major you choose- you definitely don’t want such a prime opportunity to pass you by because you found out about it too late! #3: Double Majors Make You Stand Out in the Job Market It’s no secret that today’s job market is tough, especially for new graduates. A double major can definitely help you stand out from the crowd. Not only does it offer a business a second area of expertise, it demonstrates your ability to plan ahead, work hard, and overcome challenges. Additionally, your second major will allow you to bring unique and valuable skills to the table that your peers don’t have. All of this combines to make you a more competitive candidate for better jobs! Double majors can also give you a leg up if you’re applying to graduate school. Not only does it show that you can manage an intense workload- and make no mistake, graduate school is much harder than earning an undergraduate degree- it also shows admissions committees that you’ll bring new ideas to their department. This is especially true if you have a unique double major combination! For instance, a competitive Master’s of Business Administration program will likely find someone who double majored in advertising and psychology a more compelling candidate than someone with just a single business-related major. Nick Youngson/PicPedia.org #4: You’ll Have More Career Opportunities When you have to majors, you effectively open up a second career path. Your second major opens up more opportunities, which can be incredibly useful if you’re dream job is in a competitive industry. Here’s an instance of how this can work. Steven majored in geology and statistics. He had hoped to work as a petroleum geologist, but new laws and trade agreements have made those jobs pretty scare. Instead, Steven applies for (and land!) a role as a risk analyst for a major oil company. Now that he’s gaining experience in the oil and gas industry, Steven will be an excellent candidate for any geologist position that becomes available in the future. Additionally, a second major can help you secure more unique career opportunities. For example, someone who majors in Spanish and marketing has put themselves in a fantastic position to enter the growing Spanish-language advertising industry. Your second major will make you a much better candidate for a position like this than if you’d majored in Spanish or marketing alone. #5: You’ll Develop a New Perspective One of the amazing things that happens when you study new ideas is that it gives you a new, innovative perspective on existing problems. For instance, did you know that Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, studied English and history at Harvard? Or that Rashida Jones- also a Harvard alum- graduated with a degree in religion and philosophy? Double majoring gives you a robust knowledge base lets you see things from fresh angles, which leads to unique ideas, concepts, and solutions that other people would have missed! That’s not only important for a successful career...it can help you change the world, too. 5 Cons to Double Majoring Now that we’ve discussed the pretty awesome perks of a double major, let’s take a closer look at some of the drawbacks of double majoring. #1: You Have to Plan Ahead We mentioned this already, but it bears repeating: if you want to double major, you absolutely must plan ahead. That means more than just looking at class offerings before you can register. We’re talking sitting down with your advisor the first weeks of your freshman year and mapping out your course of study for the next four years. Furthermore, you need to understand the requirements of each major from the get-go so that you can figure out how to maximize your courses. For instance, how many can count toward both majors? Are there summer courses you can take to help speed things along? These are just some of the questions you need to think about to make sure you’re making the most of your time and money. #2: It Can Take Longer to Graduate Is it possible to graduate with a double major in four years? Absolutely! But it takes careful planning, like using your elective credits toward your major. The four-year degree plan also gets more complicated if your majors are extremely different. For example, if you’re majoring in Middle Eastern Studies and sociology, you probably won’t have many classes that can count toward both programs. That can add eight (or more!) courses to your schedule, which might require an additional semester or two to complete. #3: Double Majoring Can Make College More Expensive Speaking of money...double majoring can be more expensive than earning a traditional degree because you’ll have to take additional courses. This means more than just a hike in tuition: you also need to consider the cost of books, supplies, and even gas if you’re traveling to campus more than usual. (This is especially important since many scholarships and grants only cover tuition!) Also, keep in mind that the total cost of college increases with each additional year it takes to finish school. While one year might not seem like a long time, it’s another year of rent, utilities, and food. This can add thousands of dollars to the total cost of your degree, so make sure you’re planning both your course load and your budget carefully. #4: You’ll Have Less Time to Explore Other Interests Many students opt to use their elective credits to help knock out some of the requirements for their second major. This is a great plan, but it also means that you won’t have the opportunity to take classes that interest you just for the sake of learning more about the topic. (Electives credits exist to serve this very purpose!) So if there’s a geology course on dinosaurs or an astrology class on sunspots that you’d love to take, you might have to pass so you can put that time and money toward your second major instead. #5: It Can Be Hard to Participate in Activities Outside the Classroom For many students, one of the most exciting parts of college are the things that happen outside of the classroom. Whether that’s cheering on your football team or joining an all-campus choir, universities provide students tons of extracurricular opportunities to learn, play, and grow. But when you’re double majoring, your time is precious; it can be hard to find enough time to join extracurricular activities and make good grades in your courses. If having a complete â€Å"college experience† is important to you, you might reconsider whether a double major is the right fit for you. Esther Tuttle/Unsplash How to Determine If You Should Double Major Perhaps you’re still on the fence about whether you should double major. Never fear: we’ve created a quiz to help you gain some clarity about whether a double major is right for you! Take a few minutes and answer each of the following questions. Make sure you’re being honest with yourself, especially since there are no right or wrong answers. When you open my school planner, you see: Detailed notes everywhere. My planner runs my life! I write down the major stuff. I carry it around with good intentions, but it’s pretty empty. When it comes to projects, I: Start a month ahead of time. Start thinking about it when it’s assigned, but I won’t start working on it until a week before it’s due. Pull a few all-nighters to get it in before deadline. Picking a major is overwhelming because: I have too many interests! It’s too hard to narrow down what I want to do. I want to have a chance to take classes in a few subjects before I make such an important decision. I’m pretty sure I’ll change my mind five times before classes start. I’d rather: Be early than late. Be right on time. Arrive once the party has started. How did you feel about meeting with your guidance counselor? I met with her a few more times than I needed to because I wanted to make sure I was on track. The meetings we had were helpful and brief. I thought they were a waste of my time. If I graduated in more than four years, I would: Not be super happy about it, but as long as I was setting myself up for success, I’d manage. I would do it if I had to, but graduating on time is pretty important to me.I want to get in and out of college in four years. I have big plans for my career, and I want to get started as soon as possible. Would you consider doing summer school? Sure! I took classes at the local community college in high school. Yes, but only if I had to in order to graduate on time or raise my GPA. It’s not an option for me. Okay, now it’s time to score your quiz! If Your Answers Are Mostly 1's You’re a great fit for a double major. You have a strong vision for what you want to achieve during college and after graduating. You’re also a very organized person who appreciates a good plan, which is critical when you’re double majoring since half the battle is sticking to your educational road map! It also sounds like you’re no stranger to hard work, which is important since double majoring means you’ll be taking harder classes more often. If Your Answers Are Mostly 2's A double major is still a good fit, but you might have to work on your study and/or organizational habits. If you answered mostly twos, you have all the fundamental skills it takes to be a double major! You’re a good student, take an active role in your education, and know what it means to work hard. But the increased workload of a double major means you’ll have to plan farther ahead than your used to. For example, starting projects a week in advance only works if you have one project due, but most college courses require either a final exam or a final project as a major part of the course grade. You’ll have to learn to be a little more proactive about both your study habits and your schedule if you decide to double major. If Your Answers Were Mostly 3's Think about minoring instead. It sounds like you’re not 100% sure about what you want to major in, much less what you’d like your future career to be. And you know what? That’s totally fine! Many people use their first year in college to explore their options before settling on a major or a career path. But because double majoring requires a lot of forethought and planning, it might make more sense to think about a minor instead. That way you can use your electives to follow your passions before deciding what you’d like to study! Anika Huizinga/Unsplash The Bottom Line: Is a Double Major Right for You? Even though double majoring is hard work, it’s far from impossible! But it is definitely a big commitment that requires planning, preparedness, and persistence. But earning a double major can definitely pay off, especially once you enter the job market. Right now, take some time to think about what you want your life to look like in ten years. Is a double major a critical step in achieving your dreams? As you consider your decision, don’t be afraid to talk to your parents, teachers, and counselors. They know you best and can give you valuable advice about whether a double major is right for you. Next Steps If you’re still not sure about what to major in, check out this handy guide that helps you determine what majors might be right for you as well as our list of relatively low-key college majors. Regardless of where you go to college, the goal of a university degree is to train you for your career. But not all job prospects are created equal. This list walks you through 26 majors with low employment rates and salaries. Trust us: your future self will thank you for reading this post. Like we mentioned earlier, a dual degree is another alternative to a double major that lets you earn separate degrees from different colleges at your university. Learn more about dual degree programs, and compare them with double majors to determine which path is right for you. Want to build the best possible college application? We can help. PrepScholar Admissions is the world's best admissions consulting service. We combine world-class admissions counselors with our data-driven, proprietary admissions strategies. We've overseen thousands of students get into their top choice schools, from state colleges to the Ivy League. We know what kinds of students colleges want to admit. We want to get you admitted to your dream schools. Learn more about PrepScholar Admissions to maximize your chance of getting in.

Ch. 15 From the earliest art to the Bronze age Essay - 1

Ch. 15 From the earliest art to the Bronze age - Essay Example The Peliolithic era coincided with Stone Age just before man starting herding and practicing agriculture. Other art forms that were evident in the early Neolithic era were pottery and the construction of megalith and sculpture (Emeritus, Preble and Frank 240-245). In addition, the chapter focuses on Venus of Willendorf, which has also been referred to as the Woman of willendorf. Made between 25,000 and 28,000 BCE, the Woman of Willendorf is the earliest female figure made by humans and was estimated to be about 11.1 centimeter high. The statuette was found by workman Johann Veran in 1908, during an excavation that was conducted by several archaeologists, including Hugo Orbermaier. The statuette was found in Paleolitihic site which was within the vicinity of Willendorf, a small village that was located in Austria. The chapter reveals that the Woman of Willendorf statuette was curved from oolistic limestone which, the archaeologist discovered that it was not from the local area. The statuette also had red orchre tints on its surface. The Woman of Willendorf was seen as a Great Woman Goddess and, the statuette was used by the local people for religious purposes (Emeritus, Preble and Frank 245-246). The art displayed in the Iranian western plateau was temples of massive structures which were constructed in the valley of Mesopotamia. These structures took after the shape of terraced-step pyramids; each of the terraces represented a level that carried stories of the people residing near the plateaus. In fact, the terraces represented the hierarchy on gods at different platforms, and they were erected at the centre of each city, state, taking the shape of the rectangle. It is believed that Ziggurats had a possible inspiration in the construction of the biblical story. The Ziggurats embodied the idea of the â€Å"sacred mountains† that acted as a connection between the heaven and

Commercial Realities in Project Management Coursework

Commercial Realities in Project Management - Coursework Example .....................................................................................6 Swot analysis ...........................................................................................................................9 Conclusion ..............................................................................................................................12 Recommendation .....................................................................................................................13 Introduction Project management is a discipline that involves management of resources in a project to achieve the set goals and objectives. Project managers’ plan, organizes, and controls all the activities of the project to realise the set goals. The project must be appraised by use of various methods to determine its viability. Somalia is a country that does not a centre of training its cadets. There is a lot of expenditure in training the cadets outside the country. Somalia and xyz defence team wants to initiate F-15, Tornado and Typhoon Aircrafts Maintenance Training Facility and complete training program. There is demand for the facility from Somalia and other foreign nations. This project will involve large sums of money, and many logistics must be put in place. There will be many interested parties involved, and therefore there will be many issues arising. These activities includes; purchase, supply, finance and contract management issues. Somalia requires an in-depth analysis of the project to assess it viability. In the process of establishing F-15, Tornado and Typhoon Aircrafts Maintenance Training Facility and complete training program, there will be many contacts between Somalia and other firms. The procurement firms must ensure that the goods procured are of the right quality. Supply of low quality goods will amount to breach of contract. If the construction is done with the low quality materials, it is the procurement firm to take the losses. Manage ment is a doctrine that is useful in the successful running of the business organization. Through management, the various business owners are able to delegate some authority to their subordinates. This is necessary enough to ensure the effective running of the business or project. A project entails many different activities that are all correlated in ensuring the success of the overall business endeavour. Duties, challenges, obligations are assigned to the employees of any organizational setting. Delegation is an essential part in the management. Project management is a part of management that concentrates on the effective management of a project until its completion. Through technological usage of resources that are not costly and cheap in the end one is able to make skilful use of the available resources to put into practice the application of the project. Proper monitoring of all the transactions that transpire during the project will ensure its overall success. Evaluation tools are in existence in the establishment of viability of any business portfolio. The use of Net Present Value, IRR, and other mathematical tools enable one to establish mathematically the viability of any business endeavour. In most government projects, the government is entitled to inspect all the materials. Many potential disputes are likely to arise since it is an enormous investment. These must be handled with clear laws governing the contracts. The project will be evaluated by use of various methods to ascertain its viability. Since it is a capital-intensive project,

Sms Based Home Appliance Control Information Technology Essay

Sms Based Home Appliance Control Information Technology Essay Security for homes and offices is an important aspect in the modern world; engineers are continuously developing unique security systems that take advantage of todays technology. GSM based zone security system is one of those unique systems that provides security. This system basically works by sending a SMS to a predetermined mobile unit within a GSM network when the security is breached. It can also be logged through a pc or laptop in order to monitor the status of the security. In todays world various types of security systems are being used in homes, offices, cars etc. All of these systems particularly the ones used at homes mainly consist of a motion detector, a siren that triggers when it receives a signal from the motion detector, a battery, a control device and an electronic card. If there is a breach in security the motion detector sends a signal to the electronic card which in turn triggers the siren to provide the warning. This is a disadvantage as these type of warnings can only be heard if there are people present close to the source of the siren and even though some of the security systems provide a warning call to a pre-determined phone (police/security company) using the fixed land line, thieves usually disrupt the phone lines leading to the failure of such security systems. Therefore it is important to remove the afore-mentioned shortcoming and provide a security system that is efficient, affordable and user friendly which can be achieved by taking advantage of the present technological infrastructure and hardware. Project Aim and Objectives The main aim of this project is to design and develop an efficient GSM based zone security system which takes advantage of the existing GSM infrastructure and hardware components that can be used at homes and offices. The project will focus on the following specific objectives:- To develop and enhance a security system that sends the user a SMS when the security is breached. To test the GSM based security system on a simulator. To build a security system that can be logged through a PC or laptop in order to monitor the status of the security. To put forward a security system that will make it difficult to be breached by burglars. To tell the benefits of the GSM based Zone security system compared to the other normal security system. 1.3 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1Conceptual Literature According to Phillips (2006) security systems provide important protection against burglary and robbery. They are being relied more and more in the world to prevent theft especially with the current high crime rate. Norman (2007) stated that there are several types of security systems but the one that users today prefer to install at homes and businesses are wireless systems as they do not have the hassle of installing a lot of wires. They are also considered to be one of the easiest of all security alarm systems to operate. Norman (2007) highlighted that the wireless security systems use radio waves to send signals from the sensors to the control panel in order to monitor the activity within the property. The latest wireless security systems also have the ability to send data to outside sources wirelessly by using GSM. According to Fares (2003) GSM which stands for Global systems for mobile communications is basically a cellular network in which mobile phones connect to it by searching cell in the immediate vicinity. In todays world GSM has become one of the most essential items to us as it provides us with a communication channel that enables us to communicate with the world freely. With GSM came the implementation of SMS or text messaging as stated by Poole (2006). Gast (2005) stated that the security systems that work with GSM infrastructure using GSM modem are known as GSM security system. In this system when there is an occurrence of security breach the user is sent a SMS notifying him/her of the security breach. It is a reliable security system but recently Nohl (2009) stated that there are fears that the GSM itself can be breached by cracking the algorithm that is responsible for the protection of the security of the GSM. This has been denied by the GSM association that represents the interests of the worldwide mobile communications industry. They have affirmed that the GSM cannot be breached and that it is not currently possible to crack the algorithm protecting the GSM. According to Norman (2007) GSM security system consists of many other main components such as electromagnetic sensors, PIC microcontrollers, keypad etc. These components make together with the GSM modem make a very effective and reliable security system. 2.2 Related Projects 2.2.1 SMS based Home Appliance Control. This project which was done by Anand kumar 2007 is a GSM based project in which SMS is used to control home appliances. This is done by sending the instruction through SMS which would be received by the microcontroller which then decodes the instruction and after that executes the instruction by switching on the relays attached to its port to control the appliances. In this project 8051 microcontroller was used and for software Keil u-Vision 3.0 and PRO51 programmer software was used. 2.2.2 GSM based Voting Machine This project was done by John Seymour (2009). It is a GSM based project in which registered voters can send their vote through SMS. This achieved by first registering the mobile number of the voter and during that registration they are given a password. So when the user is sending a SMS vote the microcontroller will read the instruction and will first run a check whether it is a registered voter or not, if it is a registered voter then it will ask for the password and verify it. If the password is correct it will accept the vote and send back an SMS acknowledgement to the voter. The microcontroller used is an 89S52 microcontroller. 2.2.3 GSM based Remote Energy Monitoring Meter This project is a GSM based project which was done by Hussain Said (2009). This project uses GSM infrastructure to do remote monitoring and control of the energy meter located at domestic houses. This project is very useful to the Electricity Department as it would enable them to read the meter readings regularly without the need of personnel visiting each house. It basically works by using a microcontroller unit that always monitors and records the meter readings in its memory location.  Ã‚  Then these reading are sent to optimum location set by the Electricity Department. In this project 8051 microcontroller was used and for software Kiel u-Vision 3.0 and PRO51 programmer software was used 3. MATERIALS AND METHODS 3.1 Technical Proposal This project is a combination of hardware and software development. The circuit is first designed and then optimum components are selected and used for the construction of the circuit. A program is developed for the PIC microcontroller. This is done by first writing the program in C programming and then compiling it in MikroC. Several tests are done to make sure that they are all working successfully. After that the hardware development and the software development are combined. Then Visual Basic program is written for interfacing. Then an overall test is done to see if the whole project is working successfully. Block Diagram of the Methodology used in this Project. Start Project Design Circuit Design Develop Program for PIC Test program on PIC Simulator Construct Circuit Troubleshoot Develop VB for Interfacing Combination of Hardware and Software Final Testing Troubleshooting END 3.2 Equipment/ Facilities/ Programs Hardware: Breadboard is used before a prototype is built. It is used for troubleshooting and testing. PCB: The circuit is finally built on the Printed Circuit Board (PCB). Multimeter was used for measuring voltage, current etc and also for fault finding. GSM modem Software: EAGLE (Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor) software: For Printed Circuit Board drawing MikroC: PIC Simulator Software: To test the program for the PIC microcontroller Visual Basic 3.3 Technical Description 3.3.1 PIC Microcontroller PIC microcontroller stands for Peripheral Interface Controller according to Wilmshurt (2006). The PIC is a popular microcontroller because of several advantages such as: Power consumption PICs have much lower power consumption at 5V. Clock It has more accurate calibrated oscillators which help it have precise timing thus making the design more stable and efficient. Availability It is widely available. Programming The PIC microcontroller can be easily reprogrammed. Pin direction Most of the PIC microcontroller pins are flexible as they can be set as an input or and output thus making the design of the circuit easier. 3.3.2 Electromagnetic sensors C:UsersKHALEDPicturesPhoto0289.jpg Figure 2.17: Electromagnetic sensor: The magnetic sensor on the left and the magnet on the right Electromagnetic sensors are usually used on doors and in a security system they are an integral part as stated by Norman (2007). They work by sensing the movement of the doors and windows magnetically. The magnetic sensors are small in size and consist of 1 magnet and 1 magnetic sensor. Phillips (2006) stated that the magnet is placed so that the magnet and magnetic sensor are in a position to be parallel to each other. So that when the signal that is between them is interrupted the magnetic the switch is tripped and immediately it sounds the alarm . 3.3.3 Keypad Figure 2.14: 4ÃÆ'-4 matrix keypad modules A matrix keypad is used to provide a simple data entry device for microcontroller systems. Their design is that the keys are connected in rows and columns, so that when a button is pressed a row and a column are connected. In order to read the keypad, each row is set low in turn and the state of the inputs is tested. If no button is pressed, all the inputs remain high. During the operation the rows and the columns of the keypad will be scan continuously by the microcontroller. When a key is being operated, a low on that row is detected on the column input for that key, which allows a corresponding code to be generated. 3.3.4 RS 232 RS 232 is an electrical signaling specification which is also known as signal port is used as the gateway for data transmissions 232 comes in 9 pins which have its own specific pin assignments. There are two types of RS 232 which is male (DB9M) and female (DB9F). Figure 2.11: The serial port overview Table 2.12: The definition of each serial port pins In this project only three pins are used. Pin 2 and PIN 3 is used to receive and transmit signal with the circuit. So Pin 5 will be uses as ground. 3.3.5 GSM modem A GSM modem is a wireless modem that works within a GSM wireless network according to Fares (2003) and he also states that the behavior of dial up modem is the same as a wireless modem. The only difference is that a dial up modem uses a fixed telephone line to transmit and receive data while a wireless modem transmits and receives data through radio waves. A GSM modem needs a SIM card in order to operate. The GSM modem available in 2 types External wireless modem It is connected to the computer or a laptop a serial cable or USB cable. PC card/PCMCIA card Its designed for laptops as it is slotted in a particular card slot built in the laptop. Figure 2.19 shown the main blocks and communication principle of a wireless system using the SIEMEINS C35i GSM modem. Figure 2.19: Main blocks in communication modem and the microcontroller. 3.3.6 AT command An AT command is simply a set of instructions used to control a modem it the short form for Attention. Each command line starts with AT or at. A common set of standard AT commands are supported by GSM and dial up modems but the GSM modems support a more extended set of AT commands. In order to send, read, write and delete SMS message. We can use For example AT+CMGS (send command), AT+CMGR (read command), AT+CMGW (write command) and AT+CMGD (delete command) . Using the above mentioned commands the modem can do :-: Reading, writing and deleting SMS message. Sending SMS message Monitoring the signal strength 3.3.7 SMS SMS which is a short form for Short Message Service is used to receiving and sending message in between the mobile phone. Fares (2003) stated that since the development of SMS it has become a very successful wireless carrier because SMS message can be sent and ready at any time. SMS message are supported 100% GSM mobile phones and they can be exchanged between different wireless carriers. SMS is a suitable technology for wireless application. The application of SMS is virtually limitless today as they are always being associated with embedded system to increase its utilization. Examples of SMS application are:- Person-person text message Delivery and notification message Used in remote system monitoring application. 3.3.8 MikroC Software MikroC is a software programming program which used by the people in order to program and compile microcontroller. Figure 3.3: MikroC with C programming After created the program compile it by click the BUILD icon from the project toolbar. Figure 3.5: After compilation successful 3.3.9 EAGLE EAGLE also known as Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor is draw schematic for PCB layout. One of the main reason that EAGLE is better in drawing schematic than any other software is that it has a comprehensive component library so this helps save time as there is less need to draw up the components. The auto route function of EAGLE is also good. Figure 3.6: Schematic drawing window Figure 3.7: Placing components net Figure 3.9: Wire up components Figure 3.10: Switch from schematic to board Route toolbar Figure 3.11: Routing toolbar 4 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 4.1 Overall Circuit Schematic Diagram Figure 3.01: The Full Circuit Diagram of the GSM Zone based Security System Figure 3.01 shows the overall schematic diagram of GSM Zone based intruder system. The system hardware is divided into few parts for a better explanation. They are Microcontroller (PIC16F877A) Power Supply module, Serial port communications and LCD. 4.1.1 PIC 16F877P Figure 3.02: The microcontroller and LCD implementation As shown in Figure 3.02 the PIC Microcontroller 16F877P was chosen because of its software support availability, low cost and high feature count. For a reset button a push button is connected to MCLR# pin anything happens during the operation. When the PIC is ON and the MCLR# pin is connected to ground RESET occurs. A 4MHz oscillator is used which is widely popular in PIC circuits due to the importance of timing and clocking. Capacitor C3 and C4 is used to filter the oscillator signal. The resistor R11 is used for current limiting. The complete pin allocation shown in table 3.03. PIN NUM. PIN NAME CONNECTION 1 MCLR Connected to reset switch and Vcc (+5V) 2 RA0 ZONE 1 3 RA1 ZONE 2 4 RA2 ZONE 3 5 RA3 ZONE 4 6 RA4 7 RA5 8 RE0 Connected to Buzzer 9 RE1 Connected to Buzzer 10 RE2 11 VDD Vcc (+5V) 12 GND Ground 13 OSC1 Connected to 4MHz Oscillator 14 OSC2 Connected to 4MHz Oscillator 15 RC0 ZONE 5 16 RC1 ZONE 2 17 RC2 ZONE 7 18 RC3 ZONE 8 19 RD0 Connected to LCD pin 11 20 RD1 Connected to LCD pin 12 21 RD2 Connected to LCD pin 13 22 RD3 Connected to LCD pin 14 23 RC4 24 RC5 25 RC6 Connected to MAX 232 26 RC7 Connected to MAX 232 27 RD4 Connected to LCD pin 4 28 RD5 Connected to LCD pin 6 29 RD6 30 RD7 Connected to output 31 VSS Connected to ground 32 VDD Connected to VCC (+5V) 33 RB0 Connected to Keypad pin 1 34 RB1 Connected to Keypad pin 2 35 RB2 Connected to Keypad pin 3 36 RB3 Connected to Keypad pin 4 37 RB4 Connected to Keypad pin 5 38 RB5 Connected to Keypad pin 6 39 RB6 Connected to Keypad pin 7 40 RB7 Connected to Keypad pin 8 Table 3.03: The PIC16F877P pin allocation 4.1.2 Power supply module Figure 3.04: Voltage regulator used in system Designing a power supply module will be more complex and heavy as it consist of a step down transformer. By considering the fact, the required input voltage is supplied directly from a 9V battery. The figure 3.04 is the voltage regulator LM 7805 used to regulate the 9V input voltage from the battery. The 9V voltage will be step down and regulate to 5V.The output obtain from this power supply circuit are 9V (V+) and 5V (Vcc) DC voltage. These voltages value are based on the requirement of each module especially PIC 16F877P.The capacitor 220 µF is a bypass capacitor used for filtering the regulated voltage. The output voltage of this module will be supplied to PIC 16F877P, Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and MAX 232. 4.1.3 Serial Port communication Figure 3.05: The serial port communication component In the serial port communication shown above, MAX 232 is connected in between modem and the circuit to work as buffer .It works by shifting the signal voltage level according to the requirement. The connection is figure above are based on the datasheet. The serial port pin 3(Tx) in RS 232 is connected with MAX 232 T1 OUTPUT which is pin 14.This connection is used to transmit data from modem to microcontroller. Hence the serial port pin 2(Rx) in RS 232 is connected with MAX 232 R1 IN input pin 13.The purpose of connection is for receiving data from microcontroller to modem. The capacitors are chosen as 10 µF and not 1 µF as stated in datasheet because the value worked well when testing was done. 4.1.4 LCD Figure 3.06: The LCD used in the system The LCD is used to display the status of the GSM Zone based Security System. The type of LCD used is a 16 character line length in two line version JHD162A series LCD, which conform to a standard interface specification. Pins 1 and 2 are the power supply lines, whereby pin 1 is connected to ground and pin 2 to Vcc (+5V). Pin 3 is a control pin, which is used to alter the contrast of the display. This pin is connected to a variable resistor to alter the contrast by altering the resistance value. Pin 4 is the register select (RS line) connected to pin 27 of PIC 16F877P .Pin5 which will be the Read/Write line is connected with pin 3 of LCD itself. Where else the pin 6 which function as enable line connected to pin 28 of PIC 16F877P.The data line pin 11 to 14 of LCD is connected with pin 19,pin20,pin21 and pin 22 of PIC 16F877P. 4.1.5 Relay Figure 3.07: Relay used in the system Relay are devices which allow low power circuits to control the high circuits or instruments. Figure 3.07 shows the basic relay driver circuits used in GSM Zone based Security System. A 9V DC voltage been feed through the coil. A NPN BC547 transistor is being used to control the relay. The transistor is turn ON when the signal is feed through the pin 30 of the PIC. Once the transistor turns ON it will turn ON the relay. A diode IN4148 is connected across the relay coil to protect the transistor. 4.1.6 Software Architecture The PIC used in the system is programmed by using the C language. C language is one of the several programmer language commonly used to create a list of instruction to control the system. Figure 3.08 shows the flow of the constructed program in this project. As what has been discussed in chapter 2.3 the C language need to go through the compiling stage before being stored in the PIC. The MIKRO C compiler is used to compile the program of the system. Hence, the compiled program will be stored in PIC by using the PIC KIT 2 programmer. The compiling and storing process will be show in detail in appendices. Figure 3.08: Flow of the program in the intruder system 4.1.6 PCB Schematic Layout Fig 4.3.1 PCB Schematic Layout

Philosophy :: essays research papers

Many philosophers said that the philosophy is almost in the end. It ¡Ã‚ ¦s  ¡Ã‚ §the death of philosophy ¡Ã‚ ¨. Maybe because most of the people only focus on how to make a living nowadays, besides, no work, no pay, I don ¡Ã‚ ¦t blame them. Also the dominating trend of science, people are tend to be more realistic and practical thinking, more incline on material satisfation. Although many top scientists know the importance of philosophy and the existence of the unseen dimension but most of the people don ¡Ã‚ ¦t bother much on that, they just want to aquire a practical living skill which allow them to make a living, they don ¡Ã‚ ¦t bother to try to think in another philosophical way, after all they don ¡Ã‚ ¦t want much, just to make a living. That ¡Ã‚ ¦s what they want a new kind of philosophy simplicity. People who want to study philosophy may feel suffocated sometimes, but they continue to treat it another philosophy lesson I guess. Philosophy will never, it just exist in another form in another time as long as we still see ourselves as human. In my opinion, I think the appearance of a person is not the most important thing. We can ¡Ã‚ ¦t judge people by appearance. A good- looking person will not be a nice person actually. I have seen a very good movie called  ¡Ã‚ ¨Shallow Hal ¡Ã‚ ¨. I could understand that truth from it. Most of people are like the character in the story, a shallow guy. He finds beauty only in supermodels and centerfolds. The first thing he looks for in a woman is looks. Throughout history, few concepts have been pondered as much as the nature of beauty. Philosophers, poets, scientists, and theologians have contemplated and been inspired by its many forms and mysteries. Some find it in the wonders of natural, others in the simple, enigmatic smile. There are even those who have traveled to the ends of the earth and beyond in search of beauty. I say the beauty is a person who has a warm heart. In the pass, I will judge a person from his or her looking. But now I know it ¡Ã‚ ¦s a wrong thing. What we see on the surface is not always the truth. I should see everything from many points. Then I will understand more principles of many things. Many people think money is the most important thing of life. I always think about one question: If I were a millionaire but with a serious

Differences and Similarities between Federal and State Governments

The federal and state governments of the United State have apparent differences and similarities. This nature is based with the principle that there should be an existing central governing supremacy as exemplified by the federal government of U. S. Aside from a national ruling; however, it is still essential that state governments handle and control the concerns and interests most significant for the people of particular state. It is in comparing and contrasting the said structures of governments that American administration proves its purpose and essence to the society and its people.Similar to the federal government, every state government carries on with an established charter that determines the link between the governmental establishments and associations even at the level of state governments. All state institutions comprise a structure of separation of powers within the three branches of government. While President is the primary federal government head, a Governor heads the e xecutive branch of state government.The legislative branch of the federal government is composed of the Senate and House of Representatives whereas state governments have mostly lower houses, based from its bicameral type of legislature. While both government structures appear to be similar as far as the nature of their respective Congress, they differ in the frequency of legislature meetings. In the judicial aspect, federal judges are nominated by the President while election takes place in choosing state courts judges (Williams, 1998).William confirmed that federalism works but then asserted that states work well and even better than federal governments. This is because unlike federalism, states actually have federal structures even though they are not operating on a federal foundation. This simply means that states adhere with and apply the federal principles being performed by the federal government in the structure of state governments which made it more effective to the people of American states (Williams, 1998).

The Importance of Education Essay - 1093 Words

The Importance of Education â€Å"Come on sweetie, you can do it!† These words have constantly been spoken to me ever since I was a child, and by my parents enforcing these words towards me they inspired me to achieve all that I am able too. In the Mexican culture there are many of us who yearn to learn new things yet there are many of our people who instead of lending a helping hand they thrust each other downward. With this key fact in mind I push myself to become an educated person with a degree so that I can prove to myself that if you want it you will get it. My family has always been very keen on education. One of my childhood memories is that of my father telling us â€Å"The only great inheritance I can leave you with is that of†¦show more content†¦I was one of the top three readers in our 5th grade class and with this accomplishment I wished to achieve high scores even through most years of middle school. I read books mainly about kids like the Beverly Cleverly set about Ra mona as well as the science books of marine life. With this new program in school I learned to read fast as well as understand what I am reading. The new books that have interested me have been the Harry Potter books since I like the way J.K. Rowling writes creative yet understandable to all people of all ages. One of my greatest loves is to read on a quiet afternoon with raindrops on the window cuddled in a nice throw blanket. (There are not many of these days though.) Language is something that I look forward too such as reading a book too learn new vocabulary or sat words that I have been taught. Although I think my vocabulary could be improved. When I was younger I would go to school and the teacher would only talk in English and then when I returned home my dad would only speak in Spanish. I remember my dad always making fun of me because I would use both English and Spanish when talking to my family. One fond memory of this is that I would say, â€Å"Like asi† meaning â€Å"like this, â€Å" since I would get confused and use both languages. I am grateful for learning two languages because at my recent job (Mc Donald’s – one quick suggestion Do Not Ever work at a fast food restaurant!) I was one of the few whoShow MoreRelatedThe Importance Of Education - Importance Of Education864 Words   |  4 PagesImportance of education When I was younger, I firmly believed that my education didn t matter. During my freshman year I had no attention to pass any of my classes. I could care less because I was an illegal immigrant and all odds of me ever to attend university were nowhere to be seen. This all started when I found out that my big brother was forced to withdraw from his airplane pilot class due to status in this country. It broke my heart to see him break into tears as he was forcedRead MoreThe Importance Of Education In Education744 Words   |  3 PagesIn a democratic education system, there is a balance of authority between the state, the parents, the individual, and the educators. While each group has their own claim to power over the education of children, there is still the question of who should have the most. This question often comes down to the state or the parents because they are the most complicated and influential. The primary goal of democratic education is to equip children with the knowledge and moral character needed to find successRead MoreImportance Of Education Is Education1277 Words   |  6 Pagesis Education Imagine what the world will be like without education. Malcolm X states that â€Å"without education, you are not going anywhere in this world.† People think they will get through life without education, but little do they know the importance of it. Educated individuals have power because they are able to understand complex info and are more informed to prevent being taken advantage of. It is also a privilege because not everyone has access to education and those who do have education getRead MoreEducation And Its Importance Of Education1255 Words   |  6 PagesErik Olsen Mrs. O’Sullivan English II 3 September 2015 Education and Its Importance Education is an important part of US society and all its issues should be recognized and addressed. Unfortunately this is not the case. Education has many issues and the three most important are the day-one problem, bullying, and high dropout rates. These issues are often a big problem and can lead to an education that does not do the United States justice. The first issue is the day one problem. This problemRead MoreThe Importance Of Education In Education1841 Words   |  8 Pages Education has often been regarded as a source of freedom for America’s Black students. Maxims such as â€Å"Education is the key to success† and â€Å"Education is the passport to the future† all support the idea that with education comes freedom. But at times, the universal American K-12 education doesn’t grant these forms of freedom for its Black and Brown students. This is primarily due to the fact that minority students are not being taught the importance of education in the pursuit of intellectual,Read MoreThe Importance Of Education931 Words   |  4 PagesWhy school? Throughout life, we always tend to wonder whether or not having an education is beneficial and can end up leading to a life of success. As students, we always search for the deliverance that will help us to answer this question. When we are young, we view school as a place to meet new people and a place that we go to have fun. But once we grow out of this stage, we wonder what the tru e reasoning behind education actually is. We as students tend to outgrow the day to day lifestyle of forcingRead MoreEducation And Its Importance Of Education1751 Words   |  8 Pages Education and its Importance Education is the destined formation in obtaining the development of the intellectual capacities of individuals. It can be defined as the process of socialization of individuals. Education is one of the most powerful resources to reduce inequality and poverty, it is a natural process associated with growth. On having been educated, a person assimilates and gains knowledge. Education also implies a cultural and behavioral raisingRead MoreImportance of Education863 Words   |  3 Pages1. Education has various implications. Given the fact that it provides a communication channel through which information is accumulated and knowledge is shared among members of a smaller or larger community, education is benefic for some and destructive for others. For instance, students and the young educated generation have started some of the most important revolutions in the history of human kind. One example in this sense is the Tiananmen Square Student Rebellion or the Arab Spring. In suchRead More The Importance Of Education In Education1830 Words   |  8 PagesAs one of the building blocks to a successful career, education can, and should, be viewed as one of the most important experiences any person will undergo in his or her lifetime. It leads people down a path of discovery in order to help them establish what they want to pursue for the rest of their lives. However, without professional, experienced educators and effective teaching methods, students can never expect to reach their full potential. For this reason, legislatures from all countries shouldRead MoreThe Importance Of Education780 Words   |  4 Pagesfirst priority and thus education was not really an issue. For my grandparents, it was not even possible to attend school in any form. When my family chose to come to the US, they gave my brother and me the most amazing gift, the opportunity to gain a real education. I was given the chance to not have to struggle with attaining the best education possible. The struggles my family faced helped me realize that education is a true privilege. My family’s lack of education helps me focus more on getting