Category: Other

The ROI of Studying Abroad

Studying abroad in college can be an exciting opportunity to tour another country and immerse yourself in a culture much different than your own. However, studying abroad isn’t cheap, especially depending on where you choose to travel. In your new country, you’ll need money for classes, housing, food, transportation and more. Beyond the fun you’ll have and the memories you’ll make, is the cost of spending time in another country worth it in the long run?

Studies say yes.

Attending college abroad can have a positive impact on your career goals, marketable skills, and employability.

The first and primary impact that studying abroad makes on the lives of students is that it changes and broadens their post-college career goals. 14% of students who studied abroad said the trip had made a minor difference, while 35% said it made a notable difference. A whopping 20% said it made a significant difference.

Although the job market might be slowly improving, it is more important than ever to stand out from other applicants however possible. Research shows that studying abroad gives students additional qualifications that cab improve their chances of landing a position. The desire to work internationally is so strong that studies show 58% of students who have studied abroad are actively pursuing careers in other countries.

Unfortunately, even the most impressive resume only serves as a way toland you an interview, and it is that curcial first meeting that determines whether or not a candidate is hireable. During the interview process, students who have studied abroad can start compelling conversations about their experiences, showcasting the breadth of their perspective and highlighting their impressive credentials.

 

 

The Psychology of Music

There’s more to why we like music than just a catchy beat or an easy karaoke tune. Dozens of receptors in our brain respond to different musical aspects like tone, rhythm and lyrics, determining the qualities we personally like and dislike. Don’t let music just go in one ear and out the other – learn how to interpret your brain’s reponse to music, the benefits of listening to it and the importance of music education.

How does music enter our brain? Music originates as vibrations, which form sound waves as they propagate through the air. The outer ear ”catches” the sound waves and direct them into the ear canal where they meet the eardrum before passing into the middle ear. Three tiny bones in the middle ear then amplify the sound waves before they enter the middle ear. Well inside the inner ear, the sound waves enter the fluid-filled cochlea, where the movement of the fluid stimulates tiny nerve cells which convert sound waves into electrical impulses. The auditory nerve then transmits the electrical impulses to the brain, where they will be interpreted as sound.

Many parts of the brain are affected by music; music involves more parts of the brain than any other function that people perform:

-          The tonality involves the prefrontal cortex, the cerebellum and the temporal lobe.

-          The lyrics involve the Wernicke’s area, Broca’s area, the visual cortex, the motor cortex and create emotional responses.

-          The rhythm involves the left frontal cortex, the left parietal cortex and the right cerebellum.

the psychology of music

Specific brainwave rhythms are associated with specific smotional and cognitive outcomes. Matching music with brain waves to induce a particulare reponse or state or mind.

The Evolution of the Microprocessor

The microprocessor is one of the unsung heroes of the modern era. Like the car designer whose vehicle gives the racing driver glory, the microprocessor makes quite incredible things possible all over the world. Each year we benefit from faster and more efficient performance which improves not just computing, but also numerous fields from retail and industry to agriculture and vehicle safety. Last year, the humble microprocessor celebrated its 40th birthday. Since 1971, it has become the brain of literally millions of devices – without the microprocessor, they would not have existed.

Let’s take a look at some of the devices the microprocessor has powered over the past 40 years:

1971: Busicom Calculator – The Unicom 141P calculator was one of the very first devices to feature a microprocessor. Computing as we know it started here.

1977: Commodore PET – The PET is widely acknowledged as the first all-in-one home computer.

1978: Washing machine – The first microchip-controlled washing machines came onto the market, showing the diverse usages of the new technology.

1980: Arcade Mania – Namco introduced Pac-Man in the arcades of the U.S. and sparked a huge craze.

1981: Osborne 1 Laptop – With a 5” screen, and weighing 10.7kg, it really was the “great” grandfather of modern laptops.

1986: Nintendo NES – The gaming industry was revitalized by consoles such as the Nintendo Entertainment System.

1991: Computing democratized – Business and personal computing exploded with a wide range of desktops, laptops and even early tablets.

1997: MP3 player – The way we listen to music was forever changed in the late 1990s with the first MP3 players.

1999: BlackBerry – The smartphone revolution kicked off when RIM introduced the BlackBerry 850.

2001: Apple iPod – The iPod was released, and the future of MP3 as the music format of choice is set in stone.

2002: Microsoft Windows Tablet – Almost a decade before the consumer obsession with tablets, businesses were using them for more functional tasks.

2008: Netbook – Netbooks were introduced as small and lightweight devoices for completing simple tasks and viewing media and internet content on the go.

2010: Apple iPad – Tablets hit the consumer mainstream with the launch of the iPad.

2011: Digital Signage – Digital Signage is but one of a vast number of new uses for the microprocessor. Intelligent, internet-connected devices found in everyday life – from industry and retail to agriculture and vehicles.

2011: Ultrabook – The evolution of the PC takes another big step as stylish Ultrabook devices push forward mobile, high performance computing.