Technology

In lecture 8 Introduction to Digital Electronics - Input/Output Resistance, problems regarding op amps were solved by applying Node Voltage Analysis, Kirchoff's Laws and Superposition theorem. A non-inverting amplifier was also taught in this lecture.

Technology

In lecture 7 Introduction to Digital Electronics - Operational Amplifiers the topics covered were superposition theorem (completing circuit analysis), amplification, feedback, inverting amplifier, ideal op amp, real op amp and op amp design.

Technology

In lecture 6 Introduction to Digital Electronics - Source Transforms, Superposition, Professor Bernhard Boser teaches about linear circuits, Thevenin's theorem and Norton's theorem. I was taught differently about these theorems too but it appears that the methods used here are effective and serves to strengthen one's knowledge about these two theorems. This is a good lecture.

Technology

In lecture 5 Introduction to Digital Electronics - Node Voltage Analysis (NVA) is taught. After looking through some of my old text books, I found out that author Bernard Grob wrote about this in his book, Basic Electronics (First Metric Edition, 1984). Examples of NVA are discussed in this lecture. It is good that Professor Bernhard Boser emphasises that this is one of the best methods of solving circuit problems involving voltage and current - there are really quite a lot of methods of doing so.

Technology

In lecture 4 Introduction to Digital Electronics - Circuit Analysis quite a few things are covered.

Topics taught- Kirchoff's Laws examples, resistors examples, voltage divider, current divider, strain gauge and orientation sensor for Iphone.

Technology

In the third lesson Introduction to Digital Electronics - Circuit Elements
Professor Bernhard Boser revises Kirchoff's Laws. He talks about the voltage source, current source and resistors. This is quite simple but he manages to explain it in an interesting way.

American Idol 7

Here is a funny video of Robin Williams the comedian- not the singer Robbie Williams - at Idol Gives Back.

American Idol 7

Great performances by David Archuleta and Jason Castro. In particular, David Archuleta showed why he is favoured to win this with his cover of Robbie Williams "Angels" . Watch it here.

Below are the lyrics for Angels-

I sit and wait
Does an angel contemplate my fate
And do they know
The places where we go
When we're grey and old
'cos I've been told
That salvation lets their wings unfold
So when I'm lying in my bed
Thoughts running through my head
And I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

Chorus

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

When I'm feeling weak
And my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
And I know I'll always be blessed with love
And as the feeling grows
She breathes flesh to my bones
And when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

Chorus

And through it all she offers me protection
A lot of love and affection
Whether I'm right or wrong
And down the waterfall
Wherever it may take me
I know that life won't break me
When I come to call she won't forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

Repeat Chorus

Technology

Just went through the second lesson of Introduction to Digital Electronics - Electronic Circuits. This time it was taught by Steven Lanzisera.

In this lesson he explains what a node is. Later, he talks about Kirchoff's Voltage and Current Laws. I think I was taught a different method from this but I still feel it is interesting. The point to note is that when we measure the voltage and current according to the direction of Kirchoff's Laws, the laws hold true.

He also talks about power - that the power dissipated is more than zero and the power delivered is less than zero. Therefore, the total power of an electrical circuit, being the sum of these two values should be equal to zero.

Worth watching. He is a potential in this field.

Technology

Had to change this quite a few times. Have actually found a website that contains the Computer Science and Electrical Engineering courses from UC Berkeley

Now looking through this course - Introduction to Digital Electronics.

In the first lesson- the Introduction Professor Bernhard Boser explains how to build an Iphone.

Child Geniuses

After the failures of child geniuses, Chiang Ti Ming and Sufiah Yusof, the question now is can child geniuses contribute to society and live successful lives? I believe that they can but the people surrounding them do play a part in their success. It is quite clear that the best institutes of higher learning do not always bring out the best in people. It needs to be actually looked into why it does not do so.

What are the factors that stop these people from progressing?

I was playing this computer game called Silkwood and the main goal of the game is to set up a program to take care of a digital organism. The digital organism would thus follow a routine of eating, sleeping, working etc. If the program was not effective, the digital organism would quite likely end up dead!

I think this is what needs to be looked into - that whether there is an effective program that could bring out the best in people and that this program should be the basic requirement of all institutes of learning.

As I mentioned earlier the people surrounding them also play part in their success. Hence the importance of living in an environment that really cares for them.

Child geniuses need to be constantly reminded that they have a special gift and be encouraged to use that gift for the good of society.

Stress Management

Listening to music especially classical music can help to relieve stress. Here is a link to some music by Bach.

American Idol 7

On a more positive note, the Dolly Parton week was a good week for American Idol. I was never really fond of Dolly Parton but now I realise that she has produced some good songs. There were some really good performances by the singers which include David Archuleta, Michael Lee Johns, Carly Smithson and Jason Castro. Carly Smithson did not look like a star but sang like one.
However, I still think David Archuleta is the one to beat.

Sufiah Yusof - from the top to the bottom

She was once a Maths prodigy who was accepted into Oxford University at the age of 13. She was the pride of Malaysia as her mother was from Malaysia. Now, Sufiah Yusof is a prostitute.

How could this happen? What went wrong? If she was in Malaysia, would things have been better for her?

There are no definite answers to such a problem but if what I hear is true, then it was due to a lack of commitment to do what is right. Whether she was in Malaysia or UK it did not matter because she had lost her faith in God and was not committed to her faith.

We can only hope and pray that she will realise what is wrong, get back her faith in God and be more committed to do what is right.