science with religion

Prakash, the light

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:09:00 +0000

Many persons regard such songs of devotion as a thoughtless occupation of the simple-minded perple; but, unfortunately, they do not know the secret which is revealed as a result of this mechanical exercise of recitation of the devotional songs; they do not know how this frequent service of the lips imperceptibly becomes a genuine appeal of the heart, and sinks down into the inward life, and becomes a delight to the soul, bringing her light and leading her on to the awakening.
Those who find it difficult to empty their minds of the worldly cravings and throw away the ideas and make it blank, will find the Mantra-sadhana very effective. When one is not able to clean a dirty into bottle fastened to a table, he cannot try the method of taking the bottle and emptying the ink out. Instread he can use another method of pouring clean ater into the ink bottle to the extent of forcing it to overflow so that clean water mixes up with the ink and can flow out alongwith the ink until all the ink has been washed out and the bottle contains nothing but clean water. Through repetition of the Mantra worldly the thought of the Supreme is poured into the mind until all its dirt worldly thoughts are pushed out in the overflow and only the conscious presence of the Lord abides.
This sublimation, perhaps, one may not be able to do by oneself and hence there is a need of some teacher to guide and bring one on the right track. But only an enlightened soul could be the real guide, since he has undergone the various stages of spiritual experience. As only the enlightened soul could be the true Guru, the question of his grace would not arise. With an enlightened soul the grace is always flowing, it is incessantly radiating. It is not his effort and therefor he is not to confer it. Anyone who is fully surrendered and empty can receive it.
There are three types of distances. One distance is space when two persons may live thousands of miles away and some day may come together and meet. There is a second kind of distance in time, when two persns, say father and son or wife and husband, exist as separated after the death of one of the two and are united by faint memories. A third distance exists - a third dimension- which is ego. With the bolster of ego one is separated from the Guru, the Eternal Master of the soul. GRace of the Guru happens in the demension of egolessness. Therefore let us not think of a Guru as one who can confer upon us with his grace. Instead we should think of becoming a receptive disciple- totally egoless in surrender. The spiritual Guru then comes to us from within if he is not availbable to us outsede in physical form. The Guru who can guide from moment to moment is always with us. There is no question of physical distance. The moment we have fully surrendered dto Him and He has become the centre around which all our peripheral activities rotate, grace is received, as it descends from an unknown dimension.
In such state of mind the seed of the Mantra can germinate, the deep energy of ensouled letters of sound can cause the spiritual consciousness to sprout. The 108 beads of the rosay (Mala) of the Guru are a constant reminder of 108 stages of Sadhana through which one has to pass one after another while transcending the earthly, the astral, the casual, the cosmic and the supra-cosmic consciousness of Kshra and dthen Akshra's planes of existences to reach eventually the plane of the Absolute Bliss-Consciousness of Akshra-tita Dham.
As a matter of fact, all these stages of consciousness, prior to the realisation ofthe Absolute consciousness, are the different phases of the universal consciousness of Akshra BRahman. The present state is the result of the same consciousness projecting the bodies with partial force, while its projecting power remaining a more comprehensice consciousness in which, Mahamati says the modes of Absolute consciousness paricipate. In the simple language of the lay man, he means that the soul parts (mode) of the Absolute consciousness enter into cosmic dream of the Universal conscousness of Akshara and enact this drema of miseries and woes of life. Sadhana is an attempt to awaken us from this drama of dreamy vision.
No other action bears spiritual fruit, unless one peeps within and watches the play of one's ego. When we try to drive out greed and lust and when the five fois of mind are cast ou, vanity seizes us. When vain glory, vanity, and lust for fame are honoured, all of then return to fill the vacuum of the ego. This ego is a real disease and the passions are mere symptioms. We take the vow of silence and go on fasts and try to subdue then in countless ways, but soon we find that we have travensed in vain. Ony the seeing eye of the inner Self is needed to watch the longing of the ego and way it suffers in anguish. When all pain and misery are watched out and all partial knowledge is integreated in Tartamya, Truth unfolds within, in the light of which we realise for the first time that we had acturally longed to experience the drama of suffering. This cosmic drama is created meet the same objective, say Mahamati.

Raas, the great union

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 05:22:00 +0000

The occasion of Ras is indeed an experience of timelessness which is available to the Higher Souls for getting a short glimpse of what goes on in Akshara's divine creation of Yogmaya. In the words of Mahamati, Ras is a transcendental experience that no language can picturise in the true sense. Nevertheless, he can sayy this much that it is a stream of bliss-consciousness, in which the absolute Spirit revels through His numerous centres of consciousness.d None can communicate one's experiences to others, for no otherness abides in its joyful presence.
Again, as the Bible persuades us to seek God through love, in the book of Ras we likewise find the highest limit of man's love for God with his whole-hearted and single-minded devotion to the One Lord. No better example in this world can be cited than the Gopi-Krishna love. Love is God, because the best thing of true happiness we know on earth is love. Psychologists think that there must be some repression about sex. They are wrong. They may call it sublimation and not repression. In sex just a little glimpse of happiness comes to us. As such, even the devotees are seen using the allegory of bride and bridegroom instead of any other relationship.
Life energy is one. Sex is the biological flow of energy and it is the lowest, not the peak. It can assume many forms. When it is expressed lustfully and mentally it is passion. When it is expressed intellectually it is literature and art, when expressed spiritually it becomes love. The slight touch of love that seems to be associated with it is nothing but mere fragrance and if we repeat sexual acts we lose that, too. Differences are not of energy as such but of the applied manifestations. Energy flows towards bliss. As water flows downwards towards the sea, energy flows blissward toward the Absolute. Sex, passion, literature and art are just the small reservoirs where the flow of energy, like water, can be arrested for a while, but the flow of energy cannot remain static for long in these smaller outlets since it hides within itself an urge to meet its original source.
This is a very important aspect of spiritual life that has been touched upon by Mahamati. Every man or woman is always busy, as the psychoanalysts of today point out, in raising the imageries of exoteric form of bliss and vicariously tasting the delight of erotic reveries. Compared to the infinite bliss of esoteric Ras, the joy that we imbibe through our fancy is a mere infinitesimal reflection. The moment this emaginative energy transforms its enfatuation for physical forms into spiritual forms, the fabric of consiousness undergoes a qualitative change. And soon it begins to participate in the flow of the stream of bliss-consciousness, the divine Ras, that is perpetually heaving up the bottom of our being.

Happiness exists within you

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0000

Though it may come in defferent forms for different people, most human beings are in pursuit of the same thing: happiness. The fact is that you have everything you need for happy living right now! Seeing it may simply be a matter of tweaking your own thinking so that you can appreciate what you've already got. Look for these signs and say hello to happiness!
You live with integrity
Living a life that's in line with your own values and belief is important for happiness. "That means that the things you say you believe in are the things you do," says David Leonhart, the author of Climb Your Stairway to Heaven: the Nine Habits of Maximum Happiness. For example, if family is important, do you make time for them? Figure out what's important.
You live in the moment
Concentrate your energies on enjoying the present, rather than worring about the past or the future. "All we have is right now," says Michelle Keeley, an executive leadership coach with Fruition Strategies, "and life is just made up of a series of moments." Enjoy them.
You express gratitude
Being grateful for the things you have will lead to feelings of satisfaction and happiness. "When you're performing an act of kindness or giving someone a compliment, you can actually feel an energy shift in your body," says Todd Keeley. Seek that feeling out more often.
Your work satisfies you
"The more meaningfully we're engaged and the more we believe that what we're doing is meaningful, the happier we are,"says David Mendsink, a psychologist at Dahousie University. And it doesn't necessarily have to be linked to a career. "or example," says Mensink, you can be meaningfully engaged in caring for children,"
You enjoy harmony
Whether it's at work or at play, being at peace with yourself and the world around is a sure-fire way to find happiness. Practice respect and patience as you go about your day, whether you're interacting with family, co-workers or with your partner.
You don't self criticise
If you've got a little voice in your head telling you you're never good enough then odds are good you won't find happiness either. "Choose to let go of negative feelings and thoughts," says Todd Keeley.
You aren't afraid of change
Recognise that change is constant and you'll be more ready to embrace happiness. "Then choose to respond to life, rather than react to it," says Michelle Keekey. You'll feel more in control and will be better able to adapt.
You enjoy simple things
Taking pleasure in small things will help you build a big picture of happiness. Take time to enjoy a well-cooked meal, a beautiful painting or a spring bulb poking upp through the earth.
You give back
"Giving back to others and sharing is the ulimate way to imspire happiness in your life," says Michelle Keeley. "Because what you give out will come back to you ten-fold." Wheter you volunteer in your community or share your smiles-it all counts.
You don't take life too seriously
Having a sense of humour can help you keep things in perspective. Make sure your life is filled with plenty of laughter!

Change your attitudes

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:59:00 +0000

Your outlook on life, basically your attitude can determine your happiness and success in life. Attitude is a mindset, how you view your world. Do you see the positive or do you focus on the negative? Our perception of the events in our life, and how we regard these events can be attributed to our attitude. That should be the overall focus to get more out of life.
How can you change your attitude?
When dealing with a situation try and find the good in it. Focus on the good; do not dwell on the negative. Depending on the situation, you sometimes have to look hard to find the good but it is there. By doing this you start changing attitudes to a positive attitude rather thatn a negative attitude.
Remember the saying, "you can't change other people, you can only change yourself." So if someone tells you that you have a poor attitude, don't try and convenience them otherwise as you won't change their mind. When someone tells us this we have a tendency to take a defensive attitude, instead focus on how you can change.
Can you change attitudes of other people?
Again, I would refer to the saying, "you can't change other people, you can only change yourself". You will end up becoming very frustrated if you try and change other people. Remember, you can only change yourself and how you deal with that individual. The story velow is a story of attitude. The individual in this story could have easily developed a "poor me" attitude, but instead he chose to focus on what he can do, his attitude reflects what a positive outlook on life can be like. "Now I look beyond what I can't do and focus on what I can."
Too often in life, we focus on the things we cannot do.

Acupuncture

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:13:00 +0000

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of relieving pain and treating a varity of diseases by inserting needles into various parts ofthe body. According to Chinese philosophy, disease and pain ocucur because of an imbalance between two principal forces of nature called yin and yang. The Chinese believe acupuncture influences a life force that flows along 12 paired and 2 unpaired meridians, channels of energy that run longitudinally in the body. Specialists called acupuncturists insert sharp needles at one point or any of hundreds of specific points along the meridians. Insertion of the needles produce a sharp pinching feeling. This feeling quickly disappears and is replaced by occasional tingling or a sense of numbness, heaviness, or soreness while the needles are in place.
Acupuncture is used to relieve pain and treat various conditions, including arthritis, asthma, migraine, ulcers, eye diseases, and some mental illnesses. Since the late 1950's Chinese doctors habe used this procedure to relieve pain during major surgery. The patient is conscious and apparently feels little or no pain.
Scientists have proposed three major theories for how acupuncture works. One theory suggest that the meridians actually exist and connect the body's organs is a special manner. According to this theroy, acupuncture increases activity along the meridians and thus influences organ function. Scientists also believe that acupuncture works, at least in part, by increasing the brain's production of natural painkillers called endorphins. These substances are morphinelike chemicals that influence the body's awareness of pain. Finally, scientists theorize that acupuncture may work through the nervous system, by triggering signals that interrupt pain messages sent to the brain.

Relevant Inquiries

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:38:00 +0000

A small child walking with his father goes on inquiring constantly. He asks his father so many odd things, and the father has to satisfy him with proper answers. When I was a young father in my householder life, I was overflooded with hundreds of questions from my second son, who was my constant companion. One day it so happened that a bridegroom's party was passing our tramcar, and the four-year-old boy, as usual, inquired what the big procession was. He was given all possible answers to his thousand and one questions regarding the marriage party, and finally he asked whether his own father was married! This question gave rise to loud laughter from all the elderly gentlemen present, although the boy was perplexed as to why we were laughing. Anyway, the boy was somehow satisfied by his married father.
The lesson from this incident is that since a human being is a rational animal, he is born to make inquiries. The greater the number of questions, the greater the advancement of knowledge and science. The whole of material civilization is based on this originally large volume of questions put/by young men to their elders. When elderly persons give the proper answers to the questions of the youngsters, civilization makes progress, one step after another. The most intelligent man, however, inquires about what happens after death. The less intelligent make lesser inquiries, but the questions of those who are more intelligent go higher and still higher.

The wonderful creation this universe

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:35:00 +0000

We are emphasizing the need to know ourselves - who we are; where have we come from; who is our Creator and where do we go after our present stay in this world comes to an end? I have used the word 'Present Stay' to signify that this birth is not in isolation but i in continuity to may births we earlier had in various forms. Each stage marks the beginning of a new journey. We will later on deal, in these articles, with the law of Karma which determines what we are in this birth. Here we will continue with our pursuit fdor realizing our real or true home.

Before we realize our real home, before we know where it is, what is it like, we should recognize and understand our present home. This would is created of five elements; Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Space. How was this entrie universe created? How is it that the billions of stars and planets remain in their place? There are no wall, no pillar, and no means of support. This entire world is supported by the power of the Supreme Lord. It is created, sustained and destroyed by His powers - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. This can only be realized and understood by a Man of Wisdom who knows his true self and has awakened his soul. The soul is always awake, always brilliant and always knowing. However, in our foolishness, we allow a think film of dust to obscure our vision.

Prayers for unbelievers

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:32:00 +0000

What if you don't believe in God, but still feel a pull towards prayer? Buddhism addresses that contradiction. "From our perspective, the function of prayer is to connect us with that which is greater than our smalll self", says Hogen Bays, a Zen Buddhist priest. He suggests trying the "metta" or loving-kindness prayer practive:
"Sit down, quiet your mind, and beginning with yourself, say, 'May I be free from fear. May I be free from suffering. May I be happy. May I be filled with loving-kindness.' Next, focus on someone you love and say the same prayer on the person's behalf. Then pray in the same way for a neutral person, someone you don't know. Finally, pray for someone you dislike. In doing so, you nourish the seeds of kindness and love in yourself and then let it radiate outwards."
Another centuries-old practice called "the examen of conscience" was developed by the 16th-century founder of the Jesuits, Saint Ignatius of Loyola. It involves conscious reflection on the events of the past 12 or 24 hours. "As they play through your mind, you try to notice where you sensed God's presence-the person who smiled at you on the street, the child you saw", says American theology professor Maria Tattu Bowen. "Usually it's something very small that jogs your memory about the fact that God is immanent."

Aerobics

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:29:00 +0000

Aerobics is a system of exercises designed to promote the supply and use of oxygen in the body. These exercises include bicycling, dancing, jogging, rowing, skating, swimming, and fast walking. Many people participate in aerobics programmes to increse their endurance and energy and to achieve and maintain their proper weight. Regular aerobic exercise may also help lessen the risk of heart disease.

A regular, vigorous programme of aerobic exercises helps the body process large amounts of oxygen efficiently. The presence of oxygen in the muscle cells causes the formation of a compund called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The breakdown of ATP produces the energy for all muscular activity. During vigorous activity, more oxygen is inhaled and passes from the lungs into the blood. More oxygen-rich blood is delivered to the muscles, creating more ATP. This increased amount of ATP produces more energy for the body. If the circulatory system cannot supply enough oxygen to the muscles or if the muscles cannot use oxygen efficiently, the body produces less ATP. This results in early fatigue.

For maximum effectiveness, individuals should perform aerobic exercises continuously for 15 minutes to an hour 3 to 5 times a week. Men and women over the age of 35 should get a medical examination before beginning aerobics.

PRINCIPLES OF ORGANISATIONAL SECTORS

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:55:00 +0000

Purpose is a common way of differentiating between types of organisations. Past study indicates that the evolution of societies as modern nation-Mates gives rise to institutions and organisations and established for three relatively distinct purposes;

1) to protect, secure and regulate the lives and actions of citizens; for example, to manage how society is defended as well as how it functions and progresses.

2) to make a livelihood and create and accumulate wealth, and accumulate wealth; and

3) to purse individual interests or tackle personal or social concerns which are separate from gaining a livelihood.

The first set of purpose typically belongs to governments, the second to brsiness and the market, and the third to the self-willed association of citizens. Organisational science uses a shorthand of first, second and third sectors as labels for these purposes.

The sectors themselves can be divided into whether the purpose they serve is private or public. The first sector is concerned with what is called the public realm, that is the common area allotting all citizens in which they have rights and obligations, both of which are enforced by government agencies. The second sector makes up the private realm of people's initiatives to survive and improve economically; the third makes up the private realm for the pursuit of recreational, spiritual, social, cultural, and other personal or collective interests.

The three-way spilt is confused by the fact that private organisations can play a similar role to government when they are established for public purpose. For example, rais occurs when a voluntary organisation is set up serve some common good- such as, helping the aged, or assisting people whose rights base been abided. In addition, establishing a business or a non-profit is an act of free will: society does not expect or require any one private organisation to exist or be around for ever: this is not the case with government. Choosing to gain social recognition by formal registration means accepting society's right to oversee that you do what you say you will. In other words, registration is accepting obligations of public accountability which society determines and regulates. An important division within third sector purposes, therefore, is whether the organisation is established to serve others or to benefit those within it.

This distinguishes between third-party public service providers and self-help or mutual-benefit organisations. The former delivers something to others, the latter is there for the benefit of its own members. A charity can be created to provide clean water to poor household (third parties) while an antateur football team or choir provides mutual benefit organisation affects how they work.

The size and content of the three sectors varies from country to country and each is usually distinguished and regulated by specific legislation. Relative size is primarily determined by the political ideology dominating society, or the regime in power, and is expressed through policy preferences, legislation, and public versus private investment choices. Two examples of different sectoral set-ups. The left hand side of the figure corresponds to a society which, like the USA, actively limits the role of government while encouraging private enterprise and voluntary initiative. Western Europe would probably exhibit a larger state sector, with other circles being of a more similar size. The right-hand side is more typical of societies where governments dominate; this is often the case in the countries of the South and East, such as Tanzania, Kazakstan and India, where an ideology of public ownership and central planning has made the state the primary force for economic and social development. It should come as no surprise that the intentions and funding conditions of the international aid system are designed to make the organisational pattern of countries of the South and East look more like those of the left.

Actually, there are many overlaps between each sector, which are important when understanding NGDOs today; these are explained below.

NGO

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:49:00 +0000

The last quarter of the 20th century, specially, have been a difficult period for development practitioners. Leakage of development funds of the government, scams, scandals, corruption and blatant misappropriation of resources have contributed to a gradual erosion of public confidence in the agents of development. This has compelled social and political activists to demand accountability and transparency. The recent movement in Rajasthan since late 1994, for the right to information, especially about funds meant for poverty alleviation and rural development, has changed the texture of the debate. The on-going struggle for people's right to access information about programs, projects and schemes meant for the poor and the response of the government and other agents of development, are pointers to the deepening crisis in our society.

Despite the fact that all political parties publicly support people's right to information and agree that greater accountability alone will prevent corruption, they have resisted giving ordinary people access to information on muster rolls of rural employment schemes, allocation of government funds for various projects, and accounts of poverty alleviation programs. It is popularly believed that the bureaucracy too is opposing the move as such transparency cuts at the root of its power. Responding to the demand for right to information, the-then chief secretary of the Government of Rajasthan said in June 1997 that they would be more sympathetic to the demand if a similar mechanism was also evolved for the non-government sector. Naming a few large organizations in the state, he said that while social activists and non-government organizations demanded greater transparency in government, organizations demanded greater transparency in government, organizations receiving large grants from donors in the name of poverty alleviation and development were themselves not transparent. Workers in many non-government organizations, he said,did not have any rights, leave alone the right to information. There was, he argued, greater transparency in government than in the voluntary sector.

Most people would agree that corruption and misutilization of resources in government structures and procedures have been responsible for the dismal state of the country' today a lesser number of people are willing to explore the world of non-governmental organizations. Commentators on the development sector agree that there is little visible impact of years of development assistance to voluntary organizations. Request for impact assessment of the voluntary sector is seldom welcomed by agencies or donors. Accountability and transparency are not always the guiding principles of most organizations across the country. In the last 10 years, many bilateral donors have been forced to institute special audits and surprise checks. Some of them have also blacklisted organizations that siphoned off course of rupees taken as grants for rural development, women development, literacy and so on.

The development sector is a microcosm of the society we live in. It mirrors the priorities of the elite juxtaposed against the needs of the poor. It also reflects the general decline in our moral fabric. Notwithstanding this dismal picture, it is indeed gratifying to note that despite the erosion of fundamental values, there are many organizations and groups that remain steadfast to their ideals and continue to make a difference. In the ultimate analysis 'development' is about people and expanding their range of choices and enhancing their ability to negotiate this hostile world form a position of strength. 'The realities of poor people are local, complex, diverse and dynamic. Income poverty, though important, is only one aspect of deprivation. Disadvantage and ill-being, as people experience them, include social inferiority, physical weakness, vulnerability, seasonal deprivation, powerlessness, humiliation and isolation'. Coping and survival strategics adopted by the poor are diverse and complex. They invariably rely on non-commodity goods - examples range from collection of minor forest produce, to scavenging, gathering, accessing common property resources and so on. They use the labor of children, migrate in search of work, pledge their children/young adults to money-lenders, landlords, weavers and traders (and even pimps linked to urban sex trade), split their families, mortgage and resort to begging, theft and triage.

Whether it is possible for development practitioners to evolve strategies for the reduction/abolition of deprivation and the provision of sustainable livelihoods.

Development professionals have more power to change the world for the better than is normally realised. To grasp and use that power requires questioning conventional concepts and realities, exploring and embracing a new paradigm, adopting a new professionalism, empowering the poor to analyse and express their reality, and then putting that reality first....Professionals, whether in NGOs, government departments, training institutes and universities or donor agencies, have been slow to see that the fine words of 'partnership', 'ownership' and 'empowerment' by and for the poor, demand institutional changes 'by us'. Participation 'by them' will not be sustainable or strong unless we too are participatory. 'Ownership' by them means non ownership by us. 'Empowerment' for them means disempowerment for us. In consequence, management cultures, styles of personal interaction and procedures all have to change (Chambers, 1995).

Many commentators have argued for a more inclusive view of economic development: one which accommodates the diverse strategies adopted by the poor to stay alive. Adopting such a view permits us to see development as a means to expand human capacity. Their notion of capability is essentially one of freedom - the range of options before a person about the kind of life to be led. Poverty of life lies not merely in the impoverished state of living, but also in the lack of real opportunity, given by social constraints as well as personal circumstances, to choose other types of living. 'Poverty is, thus, ultimately a matter of "capability deprivation", and note has to be taken of that basic connection not just at the conceptual level, but also in economic investigations and in social or political analysis'( Dreze and Sen, 1995). The role of voluntary organisations in social change has to be assessed in this context.

Know Thyself

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:48:00 +0000

In the last issue, we dealt with the question of importance of Human Life, which we have attained after countless births in various species. We will now deal with this subject, Who Am I?
Oh Seeker? Know thyself first. Without knowing one self, how can one claim that he knows the Supreme Lord?
'Know thyself', this is one of the first lessons that spiritual seekers receive when they start out on this path. All our Gurus, our realized masters, say the same thing. Our Vedas, the Koran, the Bible, and scriptures, stress the importance of knowing oneself. They say that we cannot have 'God-Realization' without 'Self Realization'. Once a person knows himself, then all other knowledge is easy. But what exactly do we mean by knowing oneself?
When we try to analyze the situation, we find that we kow ourselves the least. We are always engaged in knowing others, spending months and years studying external objects, trying to know more and more people and more about them. Even regarding ourselves, we spend several hours each day improving our body's external appearance. But how often do we look at the real I? We do not want to look inside ourselves- at our internal faults and blemishes. We do not want to face ourselves. So we spend all our time looking for faults in others, analyzing their actions, words, and emotions.
But how can we achieve this? How can we rise above the filthy mess that we have made of our lives? Who will show us the right path? Who will lead us to true happiness? The saints and sages of the past, the rishis of Vedas, and modern seekers of God have recognized this dilemma that we face. They have said that it is our spiritual power that gices us life, that gives us capacity to think. Without this spark of consciousness, we are just a lifeles collection of five elements. In our pursuit of non-essential things, we have forgotten the essential. The essential is what the sages and rihis cal our Self, our true Nature, our Atma. They urge us to understandj our nature, to nurture our spiritual power, and to awaken our consciousness.
Because of the illusion of Maya, we fail to recognise the truth. We have to remove the straw before our eyes to see the grandeur of the mountain, the Supreme Parmatma. Once we do this, we will see the immense power and limitless capabilities of our Atma. And since this life force is same in all living beings, we will realize our onemess with all things in the universe; man, animal, or plant. The one sure way to remove all difference of caste, creed, race, and religion is to recognise the one Supreme Power in all of us. By this realization, we will become a part of the Supreme Consciousness. Our petty problems and day to day miseries and worries will not get us down.
Then later on, you will search for your original home. How will you find it? As long as the soul does not find its true abode, it wonder aimlessly in this world.
In meditation, yogis sometimes come across the formless entity (Nirankar Brahma) and think that to be their final destination. Here they experience lasting peace but not eternal bliss. Our final destination is to merge with Sachidanand Parmatma, the home of eternal truth, consciousness and bliss. Until we do that we will wandering aimlessly from place to place, from birth to re-birth.

The way out from the world

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 04:05:00 +0000

In the last two issues of Chintan, we dealt with the subject of Maya - what it is; why was it created and what is its potential; how is it misleading us and guiding us to wrong avenues? Does it mean that we cannot do anything to fight this enemy within us and do we have to suffer its pangs helplessly?

Before we answer these questions, we have to deal with a few basic issues Why and how was this world created? How is it that we find ourselves here, surrounded and hypnotized by Maya? We all know that we were living happily in our eternal abode, with the lord Supreme. There was bliss all around. There was no defiviency of any kind. Why then did we leave our abode and come to this miserable world? The Lord wanted us to experience what it would be like when we are not in that environment - to show us the opposite side of the picture - where instead of bliss, you have misery, ignorance in place of knowledge and rampant falsehood against truth. you enjoy something more either when you have ceased to possess it or what you have obtained, turns out to be much below your expectations. Then and only then do you realize the value of the original object. This is exactly the idea the Lord Supreme had in His mind. He wants us to act in a particular manner, yet he does not want to convey the impression that He is behind this idea. On the contrary, He created an urge in our mind to see this world. He simultaneously warned us suitably and adequately but we insisted that we must experience this world for ourselves.

When we came here to this world, we soon realized what a terrible mistake we had made. How do we go back to the Lord and tell Him that we had madea mistake in our choice! Our ego came in the path of admission of the truth. That is the stage when the Lord felt that we had posibly learnt our lessons. The Lord asked us to refect deeply on our antecedents and our actions. Do we not very often, tell anyone, who is behaving arratically, to look at his family background and see whether his actions were in line with his lineage? The idea is to create a feeling of remorse in the mind of an individual. The Lord followed the same technique, to creat a proper impact on our mind. He further asked us to apply the following tests to our life.

The Lord wants us to examine our lives with a critical eye and see whether what we say, act and behave are in accordance with our true nature or are they moving in different directions. It is only when all of these move on the same wave length that we find that the mesages of the Lord Supreme reach us and awaken us to our true state of SAT, CHIT and ANAND. In fact, the whole religious philosophy moves around this concept. We evolved into human life after going through various stages. We have to so regulate our lives that we can ultimately go back to the Lord and tell Him that we have not forgotten Him, amidst all the temptations of the world. 'Admit us back to our Paramdham and bestow on us your grace, your love and your affection.' This has to be our prayer to Him. There is no reason why He will disappoint us.

Outward show is not religion

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 03:10:00 +0000

Some people try to project themselves as religious people; not that they are. They only pretend to be so to impress others. In reality, they are in no way close to being a religious person.

Their mind is not pure but they try to show to others that they are a realized soul. They may try their utmost but they can never be successful in their game plan. And mind it, you can never deceive your Creator. he observes each and every action of ours. You cannot reach Him by just showing that you are religious.
Lord can never be cheated. How so ever hard we may try, we can never be successful in our nefarious attempt. We can never get rid of evil tendencies by just projecting ourselves as a saintly person.
You may keep long hair - just as Sanyasis do or have your head and beard shaved or you may pull out your hair by hand - just as Jain sadhus do. What matters is not just what you do to your body. That is only for outward show to others. Nothing happens till you have purified your mind. Your word, thoughts and deed have all to be pure and noble. Only this matters.
Another set of people think that their purpose is well served if they build a Temple or a Church or a Morque or give charity to others. Not that, one should not contribute to these Institutions. What is implied is that that is not enough. One should not rest at that alone. Constant efforts must e made to raise oneself higher by continuing on the path of nobility by self support. You will notice that I have used the word 'Deserve' and not 'Need'. A large number of people need support but what we have to determine is whether their need is genuine or not. A man needs a few dollars to satisfy his need for a drink. That is not what one needs to support. There may be a child - a brilliant one who need money for continuing his studies. Here is a cause worthy of our support. One can easily distinguish between a right and a wrong cause and it becomes our moral duty to support a worthy cause. There may be a natural calamity like an earthquake or an epidemic and then it becomes our moral and social obligation to come to the rescue of such suffering community. But one need not make a big show to impress others of what we have done. Try even not to have a feeling that I have done something great. The feeling one should have is a feeling of a gratitude to the Lord that he has given us the opportunity and the means to serve other fellow beings in distress.
A lot of people know how to earn money but how many know how to make a proper use of it? We should seek guidance and inspiration in this direction from noble souls.

Music flows even if you do not play instruments

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:02:00 +0000

When your mind is fresh the whole existence becomes a melody. When you are fresh, freshness is everywhere and the whole existence responds.
Celebration is possible only when existence is always young. When nothing grows old, when nothing really dies because everything is constantly reborn, it becomes a dance. Then it is an inner music flowing. Whether you play an instrument or not is not the point, the music is flowing.
I have heard a story. It happened in Ajmer. You must have heard about a Sufi mystic, Moinuddin Chishti, whose dargah, whose tomb, is n Ajmer. Chishti was a great mystic, one of the greatest ever born, and he was a musician. To be a musician is to be against Islam because music is prohibited. He played on the sitar and on other istruments. He was a great musician and he enjoyed it. Five times every day, when a Muslim is required to pray the five ritual prayers, he wouldn't pray, he would simply play on his instrument. That was his prayer.
This was absolutely anti-religious but nobody could say anything to Chishti. Often people would come to tell him so and he would start singing, and the song would be so beautiful they would forget completely why they had come. He would start playing on his instrument and it would be so prayerful that even scholars, pandits and maulvis who had come to object, wouldn't object. Tehy would remember at home; when theywere back at home they would remember why they had come.
Chirthi's fame spread over the would. From every part of the would, people came. One man, Jilani, himself a great mystic, came from Baghdad just to see Chishti. When Chishti heard that Jilani was coming he felt, "To pay respect to Jilani it will not be cordial to play my instrument now. Because he is such an orthodox Muslim, it will not be a good welcome. He may feel hurt." So only for that day, in his whole life, he decided he would not play, he would not sing. He waited from morning and in the afternoon Jilani came. Chrshti had hidden his instruments.
When Jilani came and they both sat in silence, the instruemnts began to make music, the whole room was filled. Chishti became very puzzled over what to do. He had hiden them, and such music he had never known before. Jilani laughed and saidd, "Rules are not for you, you need not hide them. Rules are for ordinary people, rules are not for you, you should ot hide them. how can you hide your soul? Your hands may not play, you may not sing from your throat, but your whole being is musical. And this whole room is filled with so much music, with so many vibrations that now the whole room is playing by itself."
When your mind is fresh the whole existence becomes a melody. When you are fresh, freshness is everywhere and the whole existence responds. When you are young, not burdened by memory, everything is young, new and strange.

INSTALLATION AND SETUP

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:06:00 +0000

You must be able to add new equipment to a computer, integrate the new hardware and software into the existing system, then prepare the new equipment for service without interfering with the operation of existing equipment. One must be able to:
inspect all of the sub-assemblies of a system.
connect new peripherals to the system on your bench as well as at a customer’s site.
perform a complete system checkout after the equipment has been installed.
explain the basic functions of the newly installed equipment and any changes that have been made to the system.
connect the system to a network and verify the network’s operation.
tune the system’s operation for optimal performance.
perform machine moves at the customer site.

CONFIGURATION
You must demonstrate knowledge of the internal sub-assemblies in a typical computer, then demonstrate an understanding of the proper procedures for system setup. 15 days course is a program of the Computer Clinic, Sinamangal, Ktm.
This course is a comprehensive and inexpensive way to test your PC maintenance, upgrading, and troubleshooting knowledge before taking the advance course in Hardware Technician.
Ideally, after going back from this 15 days course, you should be able to:
identify each of the major assemblies in a modern computer and understand the functions of each.
identify the major components in a display.
identify major storage devices and their functions (including SCSI devices).
identify the major assemblies of modern printers and understand their functions.
identify the major components of a basic LAN.
identify the major elements of operating systems, such as Windows, DOS, System 32 and OS/2.
identify a system’s RAM and ROM, and understand the functions of each.
take the necessary steps required to setup and initialize a system.
identify external connectors and ports, i.e., serial ports, keyboard ports, printer ports, etc.
understand how to test each part connected to the system.
configure a system according to specification.
verify that a system is properly setup and configured.
boot the system from diskette.
prepare, format, and backup the floppy and hard disks.
disassemble the system for shipment to the customer.

UPGRADING
As a technician, you must also be able to replace existing equipment with new and improved equipment, and then update the system software and operating system drivers to accommodate the new equipment. All of this must be accomplished without interfering with other devices in the system. You should be able to:
install operating system and driver versions to a system.
replace memory and drives (including SCSI drives).
replace existing display sub-assemblies.
replace new printers and other peripheral devices.
maintain an awareness of existing potential customers and possible system problems.
verify the newly upgraded system’s operation.

DIAGNOSIS
The art of diagnosis is the first critical step toward resolving problems. When a system malfunctions, you must be able to track down and isolate the problem area as quickly and accurately as possible. This includes considerations, such as any changes made to the system hardware or software. You should be able to:
question the customer to exact specific fault details.
use visual and audible indications to identify possible problems.
determine the hardware and software related to the fault area.
use the appropriate tools, test equipment & diagnostic software needed to isolate the fault.
identify faulty hardware or software.
take the appropriate steps needed to correct the system fault.

REPAIRING
Once the diagnosis is accomplished, you will need to take the proper steps to correct the fault that you have identified. In most cases, this will involve the replacement of one or more hardware devices. In other cases, you might have to install (or reinstall) software. On rare instances, you might need to perform some soldering. To master the repair part of the 15 days course, you must be able to:
understand and follow a modular (sub-assembly) repair strategy.
understand the function of each system sub-assembly.
take the corrective steps needed to resolve a fault.
repair basic printer failures.
reassemble, clean, and optimize the system.
prepare the system for shipping.
perform basic soldering (if necessary)

Some benefits to join Short-Period Hardware Training on Computer Clinic
You can able to have solved your own machine and networking problems.
You are provided 15 days or 15x2 hrs until the completion of the course.
Fully practical base hardware training with 1 & half hours practical in a day.
Short hand tricks and tips on each subject is provided for trainers.
It is sure that it makes you complete basic-level technician.
25% discount card is provided on maintenance after completion of the course.

INTELLIGENT ILLUMINATOR

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:01:00 +0000

1. INTRODUCTION:

The INTELLIGENT ILLUMINATOR-2 is an automatic battery backed emergency light system on upgraded version of the earlier project named INTELLIGENT ILLUMINATOR. It is being designed to plug & forget, in a sense that once plugged to ac mains; no human intervention is required except for unconditional switching.

Comprising of discrete and integrated components, this system is capable of sensing the surrounding light, battery voltage, and presence of ac mains and take action accordingly.

The need for design and development of the project arises from the frequent black-outs familiar these days. The smartness of the system alleviates the problem and provides a better solution over candle sticks and other commercially available lighting products.

2. BACKGROUND:

As of our knowledge, our Nepal, the second largest country for water resources, has a potential of lighting every house in Asia, but a matter of unfortunate ness, we and most of our citizens face a power shortage and stay in darkness. The development of this project has been undertaken to tackle the problem and eliminate the darkness. It has been designed to power enough smartness to replace contemporary illumination equipments.

3. OBJECTIVES:

· To design and develop a domestically applicable project for illumination.
· To apply the knowledge gained in classroom.
· To design a project to tackle practical problem.

4. PROJECT FEATURES:

4.1 High power:
The system can handle power rating up to 2A at 12V safely.

4.2 Continuous Power:
As far as available the power derived from ac mains wall outlet is provided (in case of larger power requirement the battery acts as a power-buffer) and upon its failure backup battery is brought into use.

4.3 Ambient Light Sensor:
If the locality under sensor coverage is lighted, even manual switching can't switch on the light. As soon as darkness is sensed light is switched ON but for a fixed short interval of time in order to save power. During the time interval, a beep tone and indicator is also made active. The time interval can be changed externally.

4.4 Manual Switch:
After darkness has been sensed, the manual switch is used to switch ON and OFF the light. During this time, the manual switch overrides the sensor and other control circuits.

4.5 Battery Charging Regulator:
To ensure longer battery life, this section doesn't allow discharging the battery below safe level and if such is the case , starts charging on availability of ac power ; an indicator also indicates the voltage state. The charging is controlled by IC and once full the battery is maintained in float state.

5. BLOCK DIAGRAM:

6. BLOCK DIAGRAM: DESCRIPTION:
The projects consists of two sections
6.1 charger and battery section
6.2 timing and control section

6.1 Charger and battery section :-
As shown in fig no: 1, the charger and battery section comprises of eight blocks.

The first block is STEP DOWN TRANSFORMER that lowers the higher ac voltage to suitable lower one. The conversion is from 220V to 18V ac.

RECTIFICATION AND FILTERING block takes in the lower ac voltage, rectifies it so that it has an average value and makes it ripple free by filtering process; the output is a smooth (unloaded condition ) dc voltage.

Voltage regulation is required for the ripple free voltage during loaded condition. The VOLTAGE REGULATION block provides a constant output voltage. It is also responsible for limiting the voltage in order to limit the maximum current that can flow during low resistance conditions.

The next block is REVERSE CURRENT PROTECTOR which stops the battery from discharging through circuit ahead when ac line fails.

The CURRENT SENSING block lies on the path that connects the mains source and the overall load and keeps an eye on the charging current and provides a proportional voltage to the regulation block.

The RECHARGABLE BATTERY is the store house of energy in chemical form from which electrical energy can be put in or taken out as per requirement.

The voltage state of the battery is monitored by the COMPARISION block and provides outputs that are fed to indicators.

The INDICATORS are simple on\off devices that make it possible for us to see the voltage state of the battery.

6.2 Timing and control section:-

The timing and control section consists of six blocks as shown in fig: 2. this section is used for automatic switching of light bulbs and thus comprises of sensors and control units.

The AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR senses the light in the surrounding it is placed in and gives either high or low output based on light intensity.

The TIMING AND CONTROL CIRCUITS receives signals from the sensor as well as manual switch and generates control signal to be used by power switching block as well as indicator and buzzer block.

POWER SWITCHING block switches the lights on and off based on the signals received from timing circuits and manual switch.

The block named BUZZER AND INDICATORS show the light condition in the locality.

On precedence base, the MANUAL SWITCH resides at the top. It can override all the automation and on/off the light unconditionally provided that light is gone.

The LIGHT can be one of various types of light like LED, CFL bulb’s, inverter coupled fluorescent tubes.

7. CIRCUIT DIAGRAM:

8. CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION:

The overall circuit is built from discrete components as well as integrated packages. The fore mentioned two sections require the following components:

8.1 Charger section:

Component name: Part no: No:

Transformer 9 -0- 9, 1 AMP 1
Diodes 1N4007 6
Capacitor 1000mF, 25V 1
Voltage regulator LM317 2
Resistors
¼ W 220 W 1
2.2 kW 2
100 W 2
10 kW 3
1.5 kW 2
1 W 1 W 1
Transistors BC548 1
Preset 200 kW 2
Comparator unit LM324 1
Diode 5402 1
Indicators LED’s 3 mm 3
Battery 6 V Sunca batteries 2(Series)

Wires, plugs, clips and board

8.2 Timing and control section:

Component name: Part no: No:

Comparator units LM324 1
Timer ic NE555 2
Capacitors 10 mF electrolytic 1
100 mF electrolytic 1
0.1 mF ceramic disc 3
Diodes 1N4007 4
LDR 1
Resistors
¼ W 10 KW 4
68 kW 1
3.3 kW 1
1 kW 1

Transistors BC548 1
SL100 1
Preset 200 kW 2
Variable resistor (Volume) 470 kW 1
Indicator LED’s 3 mm 2
Switch DPDT (Double pole double terminal) 1
Buzzer Suitable 1
Light 10 mm LED array 1(up to 5)

Wires, plugs, clips and board

9. OPERATION:

9.1 Charger section:
The basic idea lying behind the charger section is charging a lead acid battery by regulated voltage, which makes sure that the battery doesn’t over charge. Current limiting is also employed in order o prevent the battery from drawing excessive amount of current which eventually degrades its life.

The transformer steps down the ac voltage to 18 V ac (9 and 9 terminals). (18 V ac is taken in consideration that the local line supply is very poor voltage source). This small ac voltage is rectified by four diodes, B1, that are configured in full bridge mode. The output is a pulsating voltage that has some dc value. The ripples are filtered by the capacitor C1.A LED indicator connected through 2.2 kW (R1) indicates the availability of line power. The voltage is now ready to be regulated by IC1.The resistor network (R2 and R3) configured around IC1 determines the output regulated voltage which charges the battery. If the battery is discharged too much and tries to draw large current, it is sensed by R4 and generates a proportional voltage at point B. This voltage turns on T1 which diverts some of the current flowing through R3. The result is decrease in the voltage across terminals A and B.

D3 protects battery discharge through the circuit ahead and D4 saves IC1 from damage due to backward current.

The other part is used to monitor the voltage state of the battery. IC1 and the network around it generate almost a constant voltage to be used by comparator (IC2) and reference generating presets. Two presets P1 and P2 each generate about one third of discharged and charged battery voltages which are then fed into IC2.

The battery voltage is sampled using three resistors of 10 kW each. The sample is also about one third of the battery voltage and is fed into remaining inputs of IC2. According to the configuration shown in figure, D2 (green color) turns on when battery voltage reaches around 13.2V (13.05 to 13.3V) and D1 (red color) turns on when battery voltage gets down to 11.5 to 12V.

Now as long as ac line power is available the battery is kept in full charge in standby mode. Power is taken from points A to B. Because the power output is taken from battery terminals, continuous dc power is obtained.

9.2 CONTROL AND TIMING SECTION:
This section is for controlling the on and off of the light without human intervention. For this purpose light dependent resistor (LDR) or photodiode senses the surrounding light and generates proportional voltage across R1.This voltage and another reference voltage described by preset P2 are compared by opamp IC1 which is configured as comparator with positive feedback. The reason for positive feedback is to eliminate any additional noise and to compare with two thresholds so that two light conditions can be seen by the sensor. All the inputs and outputs are buffered so that loading doesn’t cause any serious problems.

The output of the comparator is used to trigger IC2 which is configured as one-shot generator. The sensor output is coupled through transistor to get a negative pulse to feed to the trigger input of IC2. The capacitor C1 is used to prevent any false triggering. The one shot period of IC2 can be changed by varying the resistance VR1 or the value of C3. The output of this IC is used to activate or disable IC3 which generates pulse trains with less than 50% duty cycle (the duty cycle can be changed by changing R7 and C4) and to turn on the lights. The output of IC3, which is built as astable multivibrator, drives the indicator LED and buzzer. These indicate that it is dark in the locality the sensor is placed and the light has been turned automatically. The duration is controlled by VR1. The switch SW1 is double pole double terminal and is used for manual control which is the ultimate control after it is dark. It does two things: it can turn on T2 from output of sensor and disable the timing circuits. D2 and D3 OR the signals from manual switch and the output of IC2 and outputs to the base of T2.

Transistor T2 is a medium power npn transistor (which can be changed to power one if more load power is required), and when receives a small current at its base, turns on the load connected to the power and its collector. Thus it acts like an electronic switch.

10. ENHANCEMENTS AND UPGRADES:

The following enhancements are being considered though they may change depending upon time and need.

10.1 Charge meter for battery.
This project can be further upgraded by using charge meter for the battery by which it can regularly and exactly monitor the level of battery.

10.2 Charging through photo voltaic cell ( Solar Panel)
Most of the rural areas are not electrified yet and lighting by kerosene is costlier and unsafe these days. This very project can be modified to suit the situation by using solar panel for charging purpose of battery.

10.3 Clock that shows the time of day as well as the time of battery back-up used.
This is to make this project multipurpose functioning equipment that can replace wall clock and this makes the user to be notice how much time the battery can work safely.

10.4 Multiple blocks of sensor (e.g. one for each room/stairs).
In the specified home there is possibility of having unequal light in rooms. By using multiples block of sensor, room having low light have can be lightened earlier and room having high light have can be lightened a little later. All of these can be maintained with full automation.

10.5 Fully remote control in conjunction with manual switching.
This is for controlling the equipment from a certain distance for user’s convenience.

10.6 Microprocessor control.
The use of microprocessor or a microcontroller can greatly enhance the perforation as well as can add flexibility in modification as they can software controlled by appropriately coding them.

11. CONCLUSION:

The project development is a direct consequence of the current situation of load shedding imposed by NEA and application of the knowledge gained in the course of study. The emphasis has been placed to utilize the locally available commercial components.

As anticipated few customized units has been sold. And it can be inferred that the project is not only a mere fulfillment of course requirements, but a genuine commercially viable product (Mass production can reduce cost per unit).

12. PROJECT OUTPUT:

It’s the expected output that takes on the nerve of the designer and deviate from the actual output. To achieve the goal, redesign and reconstruction of the tentative circuit were frequent and there were frustrating moments. However, there were good results. The charger could charge the battery to about 13 or slightly higher voltage. It was also not necessary to plug off the charger from ac line, instead the battery was kept in standby float charge mode. The indicator indicated the voltage state but slightly unlinear characteristics existed. The other section had problem with sensing part which later worked fine. The timing circuit gave a superb output. Its output caused to indicate the light. The manual switch could override the control circuits.

13. REFERENCES

Web-site: www.datasheetcatalog.com
www.electronicsforu.com
www.ebazar.com

Books:
Robert L. Boylestad, Louis Nashelsky,
Electronic Devices and Circuit Theory,
Prentice-Hall of India, 2005

The Art of Electronics,
Cambridge University Press

Generation of Computer

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:58:00 +0000

1. First Generation (1939-1954) - vacuum tube gobrelepping
1937 - John V. Atanasoff designed the first digital electronic computer
1939 - Atanasoff and Clifford Berry demonstrate in Nov. the ABC prototype
1941 - Konrad Zuse in Germany developed in secret the Z3
1943 - In Britain, the Colossus was designed in secret at Bletchley Park to decode German messages
1944 - Howard Aiken developed the Harvard Mark I mechanical computer for the Navy
1945 - John W. Mauchly and J. Presper Eckert built ENIAC at U of PA for the U.S. Army
1946 - Mauchly and Eckert start Electronic Control Co., received grant from National Bureau of Standards to build a ENIAC-type computer with magnetic tape input/output, renamed UNIVAC in 1947 but run out of money, formed in Dec. 1947 the new company Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation (EMCC).
1948 - Howard Aiken developed the Harvard Mark III electronic computer with 5000 tubes
1948 - U of Manchester in Britain developed the SSEM Baby electronic computer with CRT memory
1949 - Mauchly and Eckert in March successfully tested the BINAC stored-program computer for Northrop Aircraft, with mercury delay line memory and a primitive magentic tape drive; Remington Rand bought EMCC Feb. 1950 and provided funds to finish UNIVAC
1950- Commander William C. Norris led Engineering Research Associates to develop the Atlas, based on the secret code-breaking computers used by the Navy in WWII; the Atlas was 38 feet long, 20 feet wide, and used 2700 vacuum tubes
1951 - S. A. Lebedev developed the MESM computer in Russia
1951 - Remington Rand successfully tested UNIVAC March 30, 1951, and announced to the public its sale to the Census Bureau June 14, 1951, the first commercial computer to feature a magnetic tape storage system, the eight UNISERVO tape drives that stood separate from the CPU and control console on the other side of a garage-size room. Each tape drive was six feet high and three feet wide, used 1/2-inch metal tape of nickel-plated bronze 1200 feet long, recorded data on eight channels at 100 inches per second with a transfer rate of 7,200 characters per second. The complete UNIVAC system weighed 29,000 pounds, included 5200 vacuum tubes, and an offline typewriter-printer UNIPRINTER with an attached metal tape drive. Later, a punched card-to-tape machine was added to read IBM 80-column and Remington Rand 90-column cards.
1952 - Remington Rand bought the ERA in Dec. 1951 and combined the UNIVAC product line in 1952: the ERA 1101 computer became the UNIVAC 1101. The UNIVAC I was used in November to calculate the presidential election returns and successfully predict the winner, although it was not trusted by the TV networks who refused to use the prediction.
1954 - The SAGE aircraft-warning system was the largest vacuum tube computer system ever built. It began in 1954 at MIT's Lincoln Lab with funding from the Air Force. The first of 23 Direction Centers went online in Nov. 1956, and the last in 1962. Each Center had two 55,000-tube computers built by IBM, MIT, AND Bell Labs. The 275-ton computers known as "Clyde" were based on Jay Forrester's Whirlwind I and had magnetic core memory, magentic drum and magnetic tape storage. The Centers were connected by an early network, and pioneered development of the modem and graphics display.

Atanasoff-Berry Computer 1939, from IEEE

magnetic drum memory of the Atanasoff-Berry Computer 1939, from Smithsonian NMAH

Whirlwind core memory 1951, from IEEE

first computer bug 1945, from IEEE

UNIVAC 1951, from Smithsonian NMAH

UNIVAC I ca. 1955, from Smithsonian

UNIVAC ad 1955/01/17 from Time

UNIVAC ad 1955/02/28 from Time
UNIVAC I of 1951 was the first business computer made in the U.S. "Many people saw a computer for the first time on television when UNIVAC I predicted the outcome of the 1952 presidential elections."

Bendix G-15 of 1956, inexpensive at $60,000, for science and industry but could also be used by a single user; several hundred were built - used magnetic tape drive and key punch terminal

IBM 650 that "became the most popular medium-sized computer in America in the 1950's" - rental cost was $5000 per month - 1500 were installed - able to read punched cards or magnetic tape - used rotating magnetic drum main memory unit that could store 4000 words, from Smithsonian NMAH

2.Second Generation Computers (1954 -1959) - transistor
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Tom Watson, Jr.
1950 - National Bureau of Standards (NBS) introduced its Standards Eastern Automatic Computer (SEAC) with 10,000 newly developed germanium diodes in its logic circuits, and the first magnetic disk drive designed by Jacob Rabinow
1953 - Tom Watson, Jr., led IBM to introduce the model 604 computer, its first with transistors, that became the basis of the model 608 of 1957, the first solid-state computer for the commercial market. Transistors were expensive at first, cost $8 vs. $.75 for a vacuum tube. But Watson was impressed with the new transistor radios and gave them to his engineers to study. IBM also developed the 650 Magnetic Drum Calculator, the first by IBM to use magnetic drum memory rather punched cards, and began shipment of the 701 scientific "Defense Calculator" that was the first of the Model 700 line that dominated main frame computers for the next decade
1955 - IBM introduced the 702 business computer; Watson on the cover of Time magazine March 28
1956 - Bendix G-15A small business computer sold for only $45,000, designed by Harry Huskey of NBS
1959 - General Electric Corporation delivered its Electronic Recording Machine Accounting (ERMA) computing system to the Bank of America in California; based on a design by SRI, the ERMA system employed Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) as the means to capture data from the checks and introduced automation in banking that continued with ATM machines in 1974

transistor, from Smithsonian NMAH

"First transistor (model), December 1947. Constructed by John Bardeen, Walter Brattain and William Shockley at Bell Laboratories," from Smithsonian NMAH

Regency transistor radio 1954 (TL), Zenith transistor hearing aid 1952, from Smithsonian NMAH

Regency transistor radio 1954, from Smithsonian NMAH

Philco and Emerson transistor radios, from Smithsonian NMAH

transistor radios, from Smithsonian NMAH

transistor radios, from Smithsonian NMAH

Maico hearing aid before and after transistors, from Fortune 1953/03

Morton, Shockley, White who developed transistor, from Fortune 1953/03

RCA transistor ad, from Fortune 1953/03
3. Third Generation Computers (1959 -1971) - IC
1959 - Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments patented the first integrated circuit in Feb. 1959; Kilby had made his first germanium IC in Oct. 1958; Robert Noyce at Fairchild used planar process to make connections of components within a silicon IC in early 1959; the first commercial product using IC was the hearing aid in Dec. 1963; General Instrument made LSI chip (100+ components) for Hammond organs 1968
1964 - IBM produced SABRE, the first airline reservation tracking system for American Airlines; IBM announced the System/360 all-purpose computer, using 8-bit character word length (a "byte") that was pioneered in the 7030 of April 1961 that grew out of the AF contract of Oct. 1958 following Sputnik to develop transistor computers for BMEWS
1968 - DEC introduced the first "mini-computer", the PDP-8, named after the mini-skirt; DEC was founded in 1957 by Kenneth H. Olsen who came for the SAGE project at MIT and began sales of the PDP-1 in 1960
1969 - Development began on ARPAnet, funded by the DOD
1971 - Intel produced large scale integrated (LSI) circuits that were used in the digital delay line, the first digital audio device

IC, from Smithsonian NMAH

Polaroid IC 1961, from Smithsonian NMAH

DEC PDP-1 of 1960, from CHM

DEC PDP8/E minicomputer 1973 from SDCM - cu

Anderson Jacobson ADC 260 acoustic coupler 1963, from SDCM

early transistor calculators - Casio "Mini" used chips from TI (left); TI SR-10 calculator showing circuit in transparent case, used a single chip 1972, from Smithsonian NMAH

early transistor calculators - Casio "Mini" used chips from TI (left); TI SR-10 calculator showing circuit in transparent case, used a single chip 1972, from Smithsonian NMAH

IC, from Smithsonian NMAH

IC, from Smithsonian NMAH
4. Fourth Generation (1971-Present) - microprocessor
1971 - Gilbert Hyatt at Micro Computer Co. patented the microprocessor; Ted Hoff at Intel in February introduced the 4-bit 4004, a VSLI of 2300 components, for the Japanese company Busicom to create a single chip for a calculator; IBM introduced the first 8-inch "memory disk", as it was called then, or the "floppy disk" later; Hoffmann-La Roche patented the passive LCD display for calculators and watches; in November Intel announced the first microcomputer, the MCS-4; Nolan Bushnell designed the first commercial arcade video game "Computer Space"
1972 - Intel made the 8-bit 8008 and 8080 microprocessors; Gary Kildall wrote his Control Program/Microprocessor (CP/M) disk operating system to provide instructions for floppy disk drives to work with the 8080 processor. He offered it to Intel, but was turned down, so he sold it on his own, and soon CP/M was the standard operating system for 8-bit microcomputers; Bushnell created Atari and introduced the successful "Pong" game
1973 - IBM developed the first true sealed hard disk drive, called the "Winchester" after the rifle company, using two 30 Mb platters; Robert Metcalfe at Xerox PARC created Ethernet as the basis for a local area network, and later founded 3COM
1974 - Xerox developed the Alto workstation at PARC, with a monitor, a graphical user interface, a mouse, and an ethernet card for networking
1975 - the Altair personal computer is sold in kit form, and influenced Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
1976 - Jobs and Wozniak developed the Apple personal computer; Alan Shugart introduced the 5.25-inch floppy disk
1977 - Nintendo in Japan began to make computer games that stored the data on chips inside a game cartridge that sold for around $40 but only cost a few dollars to manufacture. It introduced its most popular game "Donkey Kong" in 1981, Super Mario Bros in 1985
1978 - Visicalc spreadsheet software was written by Daniel Bricklin and Bob Frankston
1979 - Micropro released Wordstar that set the standard for word processing software
1980 - IBM signed a contract with the Microsoft Co. of Bill Gates and Paul Allen and Steve Ballmer to supply an operating system for IBM's new PC model. Microsoft paid $25,000 to Seattle Computer for the rights to QDOS that became Microsoft DOS, and Microsoft began its climb to become the dominant computer company in the world.
1984 - Apple Computer introduced the Macintosh personal computer January 24.
1987 - Bill Atkinson of Apple Computers created a software program called HyperCard that was bundled free with all Macintosh computers. This program for the first time made hypertext popular and useable to a wide number of people. Ted Nelson coined the terms "hypertext" and "hypermedia" in 1965 based on the pre-computer ideas of Vannevar Bush published in his "As We May Think" article in the July 1945 issue of The Atlantic Monthly.

Intel 4004 microprocessor in 1971, from Intel Museum

Apple I of 1976 , from Smithsonian NMAH

Wozniak and Jobs introduced Apple II in 1977, from History of Apple

MITS Altair 8800A 1975 from SDCM - cu

Apple II personal computer 1978 with 5.25-inch Disk drives, from SDCM - cu

IBM 5151 personal computer 1981, from SDCM - cu

Seagate ST-251 5-inch 40 MB hard drive 1978, from SDCM - cu

Memorex Model 101 hard drive, 10 MB, 1983, from SDCM - cu
5. Fifth Generation (Present and Beyond)
1991 - World-Wide Web (WWW) was developed by Tim Berners-Lee and released by CERN.
1993 - The first Web browser called Mosaic was created by student Marc Andreesen and programmer Eric Bina at NCSA in the first 3 months of 1993. The beta version 0.5 of X Mosaic for UNIX was released Jan. 23 1993 and was instant success. The PC and Mac versions of Mosaic followed quickly in 1993. Mosaic was the first software to interpret a new IMG tag, and to display graphics along with text. Berners-Lee objected to the IMG tag, considered it frivolous, but image display became one of the most used features of the Web. The Web grew fast because the infrastructure was already in place: the Internet, desktop PC, home modems connected to online services such as AOL and Compuserve
1994 - Netscape Navigator 1.0 was released Dec. 1994, and was given away free, soon gaining 75% of world browser market.
1996 - Microsoft failed to recognized the importance of the Web, but finally released the much imporoved browser Explorer 3.0 in the summer.

Nokia 9210 Communicator is part of the latest wave of web cell phones

The raveMP player sells for $269 and can store more than an hour of MP3 music

world's first production microchips made of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistors and copper wiring by IBM (AP 5/22/00)

body scans to buy clothes

Microsoft Reader

Michael Crichton displays a handheld computer with his latest bestselling novel "Timeline" in Microsoft Reader form on the screen (AP 5/23/00)

digital insertion ad

digital insertion ad

Jeff Bezos of amazon.com

wearable computers

Apple G4

Linux

"Future trends in Computers"

noreply@blogger.com (sanjeev) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 06:49:00 +0000

Introduction
Modern developments in science and technology are very fast. The things considered as illusion before were in realization more and more. As a member among them, how computer will develop in the future? This article will have a short description to the prediction of computer development in the future simply.

Wirelessly:
Pursues freely is always humanity's dream. In the future computer achieve the wireless between equipment and the network, which means the PCs at home will be more convenient than the laptop-computer in the future. Because the display (certainly will not have been CRT) will be connected wirelessly with host computer, which a little look like present Tablet PC.
The technology which will finish this kind of dream is called UWB (Ultra Wideband) technology. It is a kind of wireless communication technology that very different from others. It is a simple wireless communication technology which can make low consumptions and high bandwidth at wireless LAN WLAN and personal LAN insert technology. So INTEL call it wireless USB.
The transmission speeds of UWB reach 400 to 500mbps in short distance (probably each). At present, super broadband technology can make two equipments apart from mutually 30 foot travel signals to each other at the speed of 100 Mbps. In the experiment that is carried on recently, XtremeSpectrum have utilized its chip to convey different digital TV signals to 6 televisions at the same time. But there is only 30 feet of transmission distances at present, which make UWB technology still unable to compete with 802.11 and any other technology for the market of home network. The research and development of UWB is not being given up. The investigator have researched on strengthen the signal of UWB now, and hope its effective function can cover the family in distance. UWB will be used in the communication among various kinds of devices of computer at the same time, not merely be used it in the network of the computer.
Specialization
Actually not every pieces of jobs needed a high-performance PCs to finish. Even adopt the high-performance computer and may bring the trouble sometimes. Because high performance certainly will bring bad negative effects, such as high energy consumption, high caloric value, etc. Computers in the future will be different on the appearance on performance because of different work require. PC in common use will be replace by the dedicated device (the computer that the software and hardware will be integrated) gradually in order to improve working efficiency.
If you look out for carefully, actually such a change is taking place too at our side at present. For example the terminal station of the lottery ticket, the terminal stations of the cash registering machine in the market and bank, etc. They were all developed gradually by PC in common use for reducing the cost for the efficiency. Perhaps such trend will appear among the family lives of us, too. The special-purpose family adjusts and control computer become the controls centre of electric apparatus of home, Control electric light, refrigerator, microwave oven, air conditioner in home, etc for us, to turn our family into a family of intelligence.

Networked:
Computer is already popularized more and more, various kinds of household appliances begin to possess intelligently too, These phenomenon promote electrical home appliances and the networked processes of computer. The computer can control the function of different electrical home appliances through the network, and download various kinds of new electrical home appliances application program through Internet, In order to increase the functions and improve the performance of the electrical home appliances. We can also let the electric apparatus in home do something through the electrical home appliances in the long-range remote control family of Internet such as improve performance boil the good dish, open air conditioner, etc¡

Environmental protection:
With the improvement of the performance of the computer, energy consumption will be bigger and bigger, too. The role acted in the family life by the computer is more and more important, the running time of computer will become long too. For preventing the computer becomes the most heavy power consumption electric apparatus at home, many advanced methods were used to let the energy consumption of the computer reduced. For example through the computer of the above-mentioned specialization, let the efficiency of the computer be improved by a wide margin, let the hardware systems of low performance possess specialized function to reduce energy consumption. In additional it adopts new framework such as "DNA", "photon", "quantum" to build up computers, which can reduce the energy consumption of the computer by a wide margin. Power consumptive display system will no longer be consumptive because of the popularizations of LCDs, OLEDs, etc.
Another characteristic of environmental protection computers is the material used to make computer being changed. The proportion of heavy metal and not recoverable material will be reduced further. The renewable material propagated its belief on a large scale, thought of at that time, PC will be like the present newspaper, can be throw away after losing use value, and can also be sold for money (someone retrieves specially).

Humanization:
As the human's tool and control centre in the family of future, the computer will need more exchange with people to be easier to serve for using people. This requires the exchanges with humanization between computer and people. Then people would like to use computer.
In order to achieve the goal of this one, there will be diversification in computer mutual way in the future, not only can control by writing, but also can control by the language, and even control through eyes.
Because intelligent improvement, the computer can choose the flow of operation automatically to work in majority. The course does not need people to participate in, so the interface of the software is simpler and simpler. People need no special study to use it even old man.

Intelligent:
The research of AI has already lasted a lot of years, which is based on fuzzy logic. The computer can analyses the difficulty met in the course of carrying out on one's own initiative, and choose the optimum solution automatically. Most successful using intelligently should be in space technology, as opportunity number and courage number succeeded in landing the Mars. It not only declare that the mankind has advanced one step to other space, but also declare the success of the artificial intelligence at the same time. The distance between Mars and the earth is about 55,760,000 kilometers, even adopt the radio and carry on communication, A signal needs 6.2minutes to back and forth. So there is no idea to control real-timely the robot in the Mars at all. So we need the robot itself to possess certain intelligence to deal with the incident happen suddenly in various kinds of.

With the enhancement of the computing capability of the computer, the civil computer begins to be with a certain degree and intelligent in order to help to deal with the trivial matters in daily life. There is even presenting the robot doing house work specially, which let people able to vacate more time.
The electronic pet begins to be more and more, because the pet of electrification is easy to raise. It also can update and exchange with the host easier, and it can even imitate many kinds of pets , carry on communication with computer. These advantages will let the electronic pet replace the real pet and become the human new partner in future.

Individualization:
The specialization of the computer is becoming more general, so the function and localization of every computer will be clearer. This will impel the traditional computer to split up. The manufacturer of the computer is according to using people's habits and application ranges, Produce different kinds of computers in order to satisfy people's request. The boundary line between traditional desktop computer, laptop computer and PDA will become more blurred. The computer will be classified according to the work that is engaged in.
Because of the improvement of AI technology and robotics, traditional computer and robot will be combined one day in the future, So the difference between the computer may be bigger than present laptop and desktop computer in future. The home computer may appear in our life in the form of the robot or the electronic pet. In this way the computer will be no longer a static machine, still can participate in our life.
Official business computer may develop into two parts of official business robot and personal portable terminal station. The personnel's of office work and assign the order through the portable terminal station, Robot prepare materials and deal with daily affairs according to orders, which need not people go on and intervene.

Conclusion:
In the future, computer continues advancing along many pieces of development routes. Not only emphasize the leap by wide margins of performance, but also improve the humanization of the computer, strengthen man-machine interaction ability. And still pay attention to environmental protection at the same time to reduce pressure for the earth which bears the enormous environment pressure.