Three crashed drones have been found in South Korea suggesting that many more have traveled into and back out of South Korean airspace. One of these Unmanned Ariel Vehicles crashed near Samcheok, which is quite a bit south of where I worked, already 80 or more kilometres south of the border.
Arirang video - autoplay - on the subject,
Dong-a Ilbo, which called the UAVs suicidal,
and the Marmot's Hole on the subject.
Showing posts with label tech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tech. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 08, 2014
Thursday, February 24, 2011
storing electricity
As readers know, I have moved out of Gangwon Province and so post here much less frequently. In addition, I was in Canada for a month, having recently returned - to Korea, not Gangwon, which I miss very much.
Consequently, I missed the whole "Corrupt Governor" story and now am commenting on an article that only slightly relates to Gangwon Province.
National Geographic has an article about ways to store electricity for utilities. We are not talking about AA batteries, but ways to handle demand surges for large regions. Storing electricity is important if new alternative energy production methods are to become mainstream. Solar and Wind power can provide great quantities of electricity, but not consistently.
The article discusses using flywheels and compressed air as energy storage but also mentions pumping water uphill during off-peak periods.
One thing I find interesting here is how this is not really that new. As a scout, thirty-something years ago, at the electricity generating dam in downtown bracebridge, I was told how, during low demand periods, they reduced the amount of water flowing through the turbines and building up the 'head'. I have to admit that the dam in Bracebridge could not have stored much water this way as stakeholders upstream would complain, but I do like the idea. Instead of having the water flow down to produce energy used to pump water uphill to later flow down again, just leave it up there.
I guess the pumping to a purpose-built reservoir would solve the complaints and environmental problems. it is also the route Yangyang Gun in Gangwon Province took five or ten years ago. Also, here (an excerpt although the rest is behind a paywall):
Consequently, I missed the whole "Corrupt Governor" story and now am commenting on an article that only slightly relates to Gangwon Province.
National Geographic has an article about ways to store electricity for utilities. We are not talking about AA batteries, but ways to handle demand surges for large regions. Storing electricity is important if new alternative energy production methods are to become mainstream. Solar and Wind power can provide great quantities of electricity, but not consistently.
The article discusses using flywheels and compressed air as energy storage but also mentions pumping water uphill during off-peak periods.
Beacon's flywheel facility can dispense power for up to 15 minutes, but if a power plant wants to store energy for a longer period of time, it can do so by pumping water uphill. When the energy is needed later, the water flows back downhill, powering turbines that generate energy.
This so-called "pumped-storage hydroelectricity" is one of the most common forms of electricity storage now being used on the grid. But the DOE is looking into cheaper systems that rely on compressed air instead of water.
One thing I find interesting here is how this is not really that new. As a scout, thirty-something years ago, at the electricity generating dam in downtown bracebridge, I was told how, during low demand periods, they reduced the amount of water flowing through the turbines and building up the 'head'. I have to admit that the dam in Bracebridge could not have stored much water this way as stakeholders upstream would complain, but I do like the idea. Instead of having the water flow down to produce energy used to pump water uphill to later flow down again, just leave it up there.
I guess the pumping to a purpose-built reservoir would solve the complaints and environmental problems. it is also the route Yangyang Gun in Gangwon Province took five or ten years ago. Also, here (an excerpt although the rest is behind a paywall):
ANGYANG, South Korea, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has completed its biggest pumped-storage hydroelectric power station after 10 years of construction, a state-run electricity company said Monday. The power station in Yangyang, 215 kilometers northeast of Seoul, was constructed at a cost of 932.4 billion won (US$972.7 million) and is capable of generating a maximum of 1,000 megawatts ofelectricity an hour, according to the Korea Midland Power Co., one of the subsidiaries of state-owned Korea Electric Power Corp.A dedication ceremony for the facility, the country's fifth pumped-storage …Not entirely on-topic, but still interesting is a discussion of how much power we will need in the future.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
updates on e-books
Three of Korea's online English papers discuss e-books today (well, still in the headlines today - the articles could be a day or two old).
The Herald describes how e-books and reader devices have helped the publishing industry:
The Joongang discusses how Sony has chosen to keep it's reader device dedicated to reading, and not add a variety of other features.
Although I do like the idea of carrying one device that can do everything, in practice it often seems a challenge for me to shift between features or use two at once. I guess people better at multi-tasking will feel differently, but I don't mind the idea of having a device that only offers books (and magazines and textbooks...) for reading. If I want to jog or walk with music or a podcast, I won't want to carry a full-size e-book reader, so I'll need a dedicated MP3 player anyway.
The Times describes a serious problem with using e-book readers in class. Korea has worked to set up electronic whiteboards - that function as a computer screen you can write on -and e-books for the students to carry that will be lighter than a stack of textbooks. Those textbooks are copyrighted and the copyright holders aren't interested in offering the material in an easily copiable format.
It does seem poor planning to spend all that money to set up the framework and not check up on the content. Still, there will be no e-book content if there are no e-book readers. Perhaps the government were attempting to be visionaries, leading the market and the market itself failed in taking advantage of the opportunity.
I've been writing a lot in the last few weeks about e-books but still have no plan to buy one. Partly, the price is holding me back and partly the range of books and their prices are holding me back. I don't understand how a paper version of a book is only a little more expensive than the e-version. There is no need to print the books or store them or transport them; the price should be significantly lower.
The Herald describes how e-books and reader devices have helped the publishing industry:
The year started off poorly for booksellers.
The outlook for the overall publishing market was largely negative in January. The economy was in the doldrums, and readers put off book purchases.
Kyobo, the country's biggest bookstore chain, said its preliminary yearly sales rose 8.9 percent from 2008, helped by the stronger-than-expected revenue from e-book sales. The lackluster figure illustrates that books sold in electronic form were the main drivers for growth.
While offline book sales remain stagnant, publishers and IT companies began to pay attention to the potential of e-books. Even though there have been a handful of attempts to kick-start the potentially huge market in the past few years, writers, readers and publishers have not paid much attention. That changed dramatically this year.
Device makers such as Samsung Electronics and iriver introduced new e-book readers, raising the possibility that Korea might see a boom in the new platform in the near future following the success of Amazon.com's the Kindle in the United States.
The Joongang discusses how Sony has chosen to keep it's reader device dedicated to reading, and not add a variety of other features.
NEW YORK - The way Howard Stringer sees it, Sony’s digital e-readers should focus on the printed word and making reading “comfortable,” even though the consumer electronics giant could turn it into a multimedia machine. Stringer, chief executive of Japan’s Sony Corp, admits there is a lot of “energy” behind Amazon.com’s Kindle, which is seen as the leader in a burgeoning market for portable reading devices.
As speculation grows that Apple Inc. may introduce a tablet-style computer that could also address the e-reader market, Sony could differentiate itself by adding more powerful chips, displays and media features to the pocket sized readers.
But Stringer says that, given the nascence of the market, it is smarter to wait and see how consumer warm to the current makeup of the devices.
“The consumer will tell us if this format is comfortable and helpful and convenient and all those things before you start plowing on a thousand apps or making the ‘Vaio Reader,’” Stringer said on the sidelines of a press conference in New York on Thursday.
Although I do like the idea of carrying one device that can do everything, in practice it often seems a challenge for me to shift between features or use two at once. I guess people better at multi-tasking will feel differently, but I don't mind the idea of having a device that only offers books (and magazines and textbooks...) for reading. If I want to jog or walk with music or a podcast, I won't want to carry a full-size e-book reader, so I'll need a dedicated MP3 player anyway.
The Times describes a serious problem with using e-book readers in class. Korea has worked to set up electronic whiteboards - that function as a computer screen you can write on -and e-books for the students to carry that will be lighter than a stack of textbooks. Those textbooks are copyrighted and the copyright holders aren't interested in offering the material in an easily copiable format.
The government plans to have digital devices replace books and blackboards in schools, a transition it claims will open a new chapter in education. However, the ambitious e-learning initiative appears to have been derailed from the start, with a problem that is less about technology than it is with content.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has spent 300 billion won (about $255 million) to install "electronic blackboards," or interactive monitors for showing electronic content, in 256 middle and high schools across the country.
However, these neat screens don't see much use in classrooms, as the e-book content to replace printed textbooks is non-existent.
Critics ridicule the government for putting the cart before the horse, spending lavish money on the e-learning equipment when there has been little progress in plans to convert state-authorized textbooks into digital formats.
It does seem poor planning to spend all that money to set up the framework and not check up on the content. Still, there will be no e-book content if there are no e-book readers. Perhaps the government were attempting to be visionaries, leading the market and the market itself failed in taking advantage of the opportunity.
I've been writing a lot in the last few weeks about e-books but still have no plan to buy one. Partly, the price is holding me back and partly the range of books and their prices are holding me back. I don't understand how a paper version of a book is only a little more expensive than the e-version. There is no need to print the books or store them or transport them; the price should be significantly lower.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
E-books in the classroom
I have mentioned E-books and their readers (by 'reader', I mean the electronic device, like Amazon's Kindle. Hmm, I wonder how many ---er words now refer to electronics, rather than people. Computer, Rice steamer, Typewriter....) at least once on this blog, and have been considering getting one for years.
Although my Korean language studies have stalled, I think e-book readers would be great: many allow you to store a book and an MP3. You could easily read and listen at the same time.
Also, as an opinionated person, I often want some evidence close-to-hand to support my claims.
Finally, I love to read and even if a book file were as expensive as a paper book, I would save on postage. If/when I start my Masters, having the necessary books in a convenient device instead of going without-
I am unlikely to visit the University in question often - will be very valuable.
The Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is looking at e-books for Elementary school students.
Korea envisions digital school books ushering in a new chapter in education. Now, if only government authorities could find a company to make e-book readers for the schools to use.
Another company offered to build the readers for 900,00 but they offered "an inferior device". I would love to see the readers in question. The top-of-the-line Kindle goes for around 400,000 won so I guess these ones would have homework and some interactive capabilities. a commenter at the Korea Times article described how American test users were unhappy with the ability to take notes. I think most readers have some bookmarking, and highlighting functions as well as the ability to take some notes.
The Herald is also looking at e-book readers:
Although standardization is an important issue, the thorniest issue I know of is sharing books and efforts to stop same.
At No substance, All Eloquence, Clay discusses the problems with Digital Rights Management (DRM, software that controls what rights you have toward your MP3 files, e-books, and videos). Quoted with original bolding:
Did someone talk about DRM? Cory Doctorow must not be far away.
Hmm, after a second glance, it is still Boingboing, which Doctorow is editor of, but Rob Breschizza wrote the article I am currently looking at.
I remain interested in buying one and I like iriver's other products but it remains difficult to choose. The keys are 1) owning the book (or it being clear that I don't), 2) able to read a variety of formats - I want to read text files, PDFs, HTML and whatever formats Amazon and others use and 3) the ability to take notes easily. I don't need many other features - I am willing to do my up and down loading connected to my computer so I don't need wireless capabilities - but having an included MP3 player would be nice.
Although my Korean language studies have stalled, I think e-book readers would be great: many allow you to store a book and an MP3. You could easily read and listen at the same time.
Also, as an opinionated person, I often want some evidence close-to-hand to support my claims.
Finally, I love to read and even if a book file were as expensive as a paper book, I would save on postage. If/when I start my Masters, having the necessary books in a convenient device instead of going without-
I am unlikely to visit the University in question often - will be very valuable.
The Korean Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is looking at e-books for Elementary school students.
Korea envisions digital school books ushering in a new chapter in education. Now, if only government authorities could find a company to make e-book readers for the schools to use.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is planning to spend 18 billion won (about $15.5 million) to establish e-book infrastructures in 110 schools in rural communities around the country, where the digital transition is to be tested first.
However, there are concerns that the project could be derailed. The consortium that the government picked to provide the e-book readers, led by LG Dacom (LG Group's fixed-line telephony unit) and American computer giant Hewlett Packard (HP), is showing signs of bailing.
More than 9,800 e-book devices are required for the project, and the government insists it won't be spending more than 1.1 million won for each unit. However, LG Dacom and HP are finding it hard to keep the price of the device below 1.3 million won.
Another company offered to build the readers for 900,00 but they offered "an inferior device". I would love to see the readers in question. The top-of-the-line Kindle goes for around 400,000 won so I guess these ones would have homework and some interactive capabilities. a commenter at the Korea Times article described how American test users were unhappy with the ability to take notes. I think most readers have some bookmarking, and highlighting functions as well as the ability to take some notes.
The Herald is also looking at e-book readers:
For starters, Samsung Electronics, the country's biggest electronics firm, unveiled an e-reader that attempts to mimic what Amazon's Kindle can do, except for the U.S.-based bookseller's already sizable library. The smaller yet recognizable Korean firm iriver, known for its MP3 players, also put out a similar e-reader armed with a 6-inch screen and QWERTY keypad.
The e-book reader initiatives by the major device makers have helped create a growing list of news articles about the fledgling market in recent weeks, and Korean publishers are now duly set to focus on the topic of digital publication in the forthcoming Paju Bookcity Forum (www.pajubookcity.org), which will kick off its two-day run on Nov. 19 under the theme of "Evolution of Books & Future of Digital Publication."
...
...experts said the e-book market in Korea will confront many difficulties before taking off. Among the thorniest issues are the standardization of e-book formats and new practices for copyright arrangements regarding e-books and other new platforms.
Baek Won-keun, chief researcher of Korean Publishing Research Institute, said that publishers will struggle for a while to come up with a viable vision about the act of reading itself at a time when other options such as video gaming, Web surfing and mobile texting are widely available. "At the heart of the problem is that people are spending less time reading books in general and we have to think about whether we can persuade them to read books again by offering a digital version."
Although standardization is an important issue, the thorniest issue I know of is sharing books and efforts to stop same.
At No substance, All Eloquence, Clay discusses the problems with Digital Rights Management (DRM, software that controls what rights you have toward your MP3 files, e-books, and videos). Quoted with original bolding:
So long as DRM is used in digitally delivered literature, it will never be “permanent” in the way a wood pulp-based text is. So long as its possession is revocable, an e-book will only ever exist as a disposable, ephemeral set of data, unsuitable for the sort of long-term collection we build upon our bookshelves.
Did someone talk about DRM? Cory Doctorow must not be far away.
Hmm, after a second glance, it is still Boingboing, which Doctorow is editor of, but Rob Breschizza wrote the article I am currently looking at.
I recently talked to Sony's Steve Haber, President of Digital Reading, about its flagship ebook reader. Named the "Daily Edition," it hits stores next month. Notwithstanding differences between each manufacturer's respective libraries, it offers all the best features of its main rival, the Kindle. But Sony says it offers one thing that Amazon won't: actual ownership of your books.Breschizza also compares a few readers:
Sony's new reader also features a 9" display, page-changing swipe gestures, annotations and a cellular connection to download new titles on the go. At $400, however, it's as pricey as the top-of-the-line Kindle DXthat it resembles; Sony already has a new generation of cheaper e-readers out which lack the fancy features and big screen.
Barnes and Noble announced its own reader, the Nook, a few weeks ago. At $260, it's competitively priced and has a secondary LCD display. It also focuses hard on consumer-friendly features that Amazon seems unwilling to indulge: in its case, books can be shared between devices and even with friends. Not all books will be available, and shares are limited to 14 days at a time.
I remain interested in buying one and I like iriver's other products but it remains difficult to choose. The keys are 1) owning the book (or it being clear that I don't), 2) able to read a variety of formats - I want to read text files, PDFs, HTML and whatever formats Amazon and others use and 3) the ability to take notes easily. I don't need many other features - I am willing to do my up and down loading connected to my computer so I don't need wireless capabilities - but having an included MP3 player would be nice.
Friday, September 05, 2008
Chrome
I am a big fan of Firefox and my computer is getting on in years so I am unwilling to download new browser software but Google's new browser seems interesting (I'm also a big fan of Google). I had to chuckle, however, at the self-importance of this headline, "MS Dominance Thwarts Google Browser’s Foray." Korea isn't really the centre of the world, guys.
The article is a little more evenhanded, describing the troubles Chrome has in Korea. The article then goes on to describe upcoming trouble Korean web designers will face; the possible phasing out of Active-X. I don't know much about ActiveX, except that it can be a path for viruses and other problems.
The article is a little more evenhanded, describing the troubles Chrome has in Korea. The article then goes on to describe upcoming trouble Korean web designers will face; the possible phasing out of Active-X. I don't know much about ActiveX, except that it can be a path for viruses and other problems.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Korea's Edison
I am not talking about the owner of the Edison Chamsori Museum in Gangneung - I don't care for him much, but the museum is pretty good.
No, I'm talking about Nam Jong-hyun.
Why do I consider him Korea's Edison? Well, Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. " (link, as if it's needed). Mr Nam found 807 ways that didn't work before his great invention, the one that earned him, " the highest-class industrial award on this year's Invention Day." (Korea Times, as are further quotes). Let's keep the suspense up by not naming his invention just yet.
Invention Day "was established after the same date in 1441, when King Sejong announced the invention of the world's first rain gauge."
Alright, his invention? Dawn 808. It is a hangover cure. King Sejong would be proud.
I'm sorry, it is not merely a hangover cure:
Let me join commenter Jimbo2 in wondering if he sells it from a covered wagon outside of Dogpatch.
No, I'm talking about Nam Jong-hyun.
Why do I consider him Korea's Edison? Well, Edison said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work. " (link, as if it's needed). Mr Nam found 807 ways that didn't work before his great invention, the one that earned him, " the highest-class industrial award on this year's Invention Day." (Korea Times, as are further quotes). Let's keep the suspense up by not naming his invention just yet.
Invention Day "was established after the same date in 1441, when King Sejong announced the invention of the world's first rain gauge."
Alright, his invention? Dawn 808. It is a hangover cure. King Sejong would be proud.
I'm sorry, it is not merely a hangover cure:
Nam's invention not only covers hangovers and lack of stamina. The renowned inventor has domestic and international patents in various fields from cures for burns to a hair-restorer.
Let me join commenter Jimbo2 in wondering if he sells it from a covered wagon outside of Dogpatch.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
What does your tongue actually do when you speak?
New Scientist Magazine has an interesting article about how we can understand what our mouths do when we speak. I get annoyed quickly in trying to describe how my tongue presses my upper palate behind the teeth for the 'T' sound but further back for the 'D' sound. How far back? How hard do I press?
I am not sure if I will be better able to describe the positions and motions verbally but now those criteria can be measured.
In the past, sensor were placed in people's mouths but the sensors themselves altered the shape of the mouth. In a wonderful bit of creative thinking, the sensors have been placed in dentures of people missing their teeth, creating a natural topography for people to speak inside.
From the article:
I am not sure if I will be better able to describe the positions and motions verbally but now those criteria can be measured.
In the past, sensor were placed in people's mouths but the sensors themselves altered the shape of the mouth. In a wonderful bit of creative thinking, the sensors have been placed in dentures of people missing their teeth, creating a natural topography for people to speak inside.
From the article:
'Neat trick'
With the physiology of the mouth largely unchanged, the patients could speak normally while the measurements were being taken. They were asked to recite tongue twisters – phrases that are designed to be difficult to articulate rapidly – to generate the results.
"This is a neat trick; a new twist on a methodology that has been around for some time. The idea of using denture patients in this way is clever," says Joe Perkell, a researcher in MIT's Speech Communication Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US.
The researchers have so far published results on the production of the sound "T", and are now turning their attention to other vocalisations. "We could use up to five sensors at the same time in this device," says team member Christophe Jeannin, adding that they also plan to recruit more volunteers for the forthcoming work.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
New phone
My first cellphone in Korea was free. I paid 20,000 won and had about 30 minutes calling time. I think people could call me even after my minutes were gone. It was pretty handy because I am a face-to-face talking kind of guy. Phones are for sending information, not chatting.
Later, when I decided to stay in Korea for an extended period, I bought a phone. It had a Korean interface because I was sure I would soon be speaking Korean fluently (strangely, I still have a groundless optimism about someday learning more than grammarless, single-word utterances).
It was a good enough phone five years ago but I couldn't do much with it. Yesterday, I picked this up:
Two points: first, the screen looks unclear because it still has the cellophane cover on it. What's the deal with these super slim phones that are so delicate you need to buy a case for and keep wrapped?
Second, it came with a 'cellmate'. If I ever go to the big-house, I guess I'm prepared. Ah, its the charger, if you are curious.
The back of the cellmate included two PSAs regarding missing children. I'm not sure why that's noteworthy but it caught my attention.
I can already do more with this phone than the old one. I can store names and numbers and find them again. You might wonder why, on a phone with an MP3 player and a camera, I am proud of that. I downloaded the English user's manual but even still, it took a visit to the vendor to manage this small step. The English is okay, but there isn't enough of it. It's as if the writer got tired halfway through each set of instructions. I can start many things but how to finish them is a matter of trial and error. Do they think it is obvious how to save the change you make?
It isn't.
I found myself wondering if they would honour the warranty if I brought it in after smashing it against a wall.
I will try not to and now have a task for my students - teach me to use my phone (I've done this before in actual classes but this time it would be a voluntary thing before or after class).
Later, when I decided to stay in Korea for an extended period, I bought a phone. It had a Korean interface because I was sure I would soon be speaking Korean fluently (strangely, I still have a groundless optimism about someday learning more than grammarless, single-word utterances).
It was a good enough phone five years ago but I couldn't do much with it. Yesterday, I picked this up:
Two points: first, the screen looks unclear because it still has the cellophane cover on it. What's the deal with these super slim phones that are so delicate you need to buy a case for and keep wrapped?Second, it came with a 'cellmate'. If I ever go to the big-house, I guess I'm prepared. Ah, its the charger, if you are curious.
The back of the cellmate included two PSAs regarding missing children. I'm not sure why that's noteworthy but it caught my attention.I can already do more with this phone than the old one. I can store names and numbers and find them again. You might wonder why, on a phone with an MP3 player and a camera, I am proud of that. I downloaded the English user's manual but even still, it took a visit to the vendor to manage this small step. The English is okay, but there isn't enough of it. It's as if the writer got tired halfway through each set of instructions. I can start many things but how to finish them is a matter of trial and error. Do they think it is obvious how to save the change you make?
It isn't.
I found myself wondering if they would honour the warranty if I brought it in after smashing it against a wall.
I will try not to and now have a task for my students - teach me to use my phone (I've done this before in actual classes but this time it would be a voluntary thing before or after class).
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Laughing stock of the meteorlogical community...
...and other annoyances.
1) Internet Explorer has chosen to list the URL three times. I now almost exclusively use Firefox.
2) Hey, tomorrow's September 31! If they get this wrong, and I don't feel reckless in saying that the days of the year are fairly predictable, how can we trust their weather reports?
3) Actually, this is okay. The website was only able to afford a few icons so clear nights are symbolized by the sun. I honestly enjoy seeing that we will have sunny skies between twelve and three am.
I did not link to the website, but you can see the URL in the photo -THREE frickin' TIMES!
1) Internet Explorer has chosen to list the URL three times. I now almost exclusively use Firefox.
2) Hey, tomorrow's September 31! If they get this wrong, and I don't feel reckless in saying that the days of the year are fairly predictable, how can we trust their weather reports?
3) Actually, this is okay. The website was only able to afford a few icons so clear nights are symbolized by the sun. I honestly enjoy seeing that we will have sunny skies between twelve and three am.
I did not link to the website, but you can see the URL in the photo -THREE frickin' TIMES!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
USB powered slippers
Every USB port in my notebook is filled and I have two more USB peripherals that I plug in as needed. Still, the USB market is where electronics makers can be creative and I'm always looking just to see what's out there.
The writer describes being surprised and amused by the thought of businessmen in formal suits wearing slippers at their desks- clearly s/he has not been to a Korean (or probably, Japanese) cubicle-farm.
No more freezing feet in front of the computer: here comes the USB (Universal Serial Bus) to your rescue! These slippers heat up using two USB connectors that you connect directly into your computer. Using the small electrical power supply of the USB, small elements keep your feet warm while you're on the computer.
The writer describes being surprised and amused by the thought of businessmen in formal suits wearing slippers at their desks- clearly s/he has not been to a Korean (or probably, Japanese) cubicle-farm.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Again, I'm fine, just...
...lazy, grumpy and having trouble with my computer and the internet connection.
Before I start whining, let me talk about errors. I can (and frequently do) make typos like this, "an dthe ansert is..." Here, we see a space in the middle of the word 'and' and 'ert' instead of 'wer' in answer. The first error is from over-fast typing and the 'ert' is next to the 'wer' so it is the result of sloppy typing. Both are the result of sloppy proofreading. The point is, they are purely typing errors. It is hard to imagine handwriting those errors (actually, my handwriting is bad enough that one might mistake my 'r' for a 't'). No one thinks I think 'answer' is spelled with 'ert' - the error is diagnostic as a typo.
Here is an interesting set of answers a first year student gave me on his final exam:
The answers are wrong but interestingly wrong. It is the way they are wrong that seems diagnostic. My student's errors seem diagnostic of an internet translator -and of misunderstanding my questions, but the two aren't exclusive. I watched the class fairly closely; I don't think he could have used a translator on his phone. Still, this is why I don't worry that much about cheating on exams. I have not yet found a cheater who had answers better than expected compared to classwork.
Time to begin whining.
I have mentioned before that I need to upgrade the security on my computer. When I was no longer able to connect to the internet, I blamed the computer first. Now that it works from a work connection, I am relieved of that worry. On the other hand, a new program icon appeared on the screen a few days ago. It is (English words in Korean) 'Vaccine Plus'. It automatically starts upon starting the computer and neither my wife nor I downloaded it. I'm worried but I need the computer to work until I enter all my student grades, then I have a few months to try to solve the problem.
Second, my mother-in-law is visiting. She is one of the kindest people I have met but she does things old-school. Korean old school. The most obvious example of this (and the one I am most comfortable sharing) is the sudden appearance of many basins of water around the apartment. What is the fascination of older Koreans with basins of water?
I am glad she is spending time with her grandson but this joy is tempered every time I find my cheese sitting in a cupboard to make room for an open glass of unnamed liquid in the fridge. Perhaps I will do more housework so things are prepared my way. Jeez, I now need a new excuse not to do housework.
Before I start whining, let me talk about errors. I can (and frequently do) make typos like this, "an dthe ansert is..." Here, we see a space in the middle of the word 'and' and 'ert' instead of 'wer' in answer. The first error is from over-fast typing and the 'ert' is next to the 'wer' so it is the result of sloppy typing. Both are the result of sloppy proofreading. The point is, they are purely typing errors. It is hard to imagine handwriting those errors (actually, my handwriting is bad enough that one might mistake my 'r' for a 't'). No one thinks I think 'answer' is spelled with 'ert' - the error is diagnostic as a typo.
Here is an interesting set of answers a first year student gave me on his final exam:
Write the time as words ('1' as one, '2' as two...)
Morning 8:25 -Sleep it is a pine nut from the house.
Evening 5:40 - Study new all from the library
How's the weather today?The wind swells up today
Tell me three things you did yesterday.
Yesterday, the girlfriend and the rice the in budae chigae.
The answers are wrong but interestingly wrong. It is the way they are wrong that seems diagnostic. My student's errors seem diagnostic of an internet translator -and of misunderstanding my questions, but the two aren't exclusive. I watched the class fairly closely; I don't think he could have used a translator on his phone. Still, this is why I don't worry that much about cheating on exams. I have not yet found a cheater who had answers better than expected compared to classwork.
Time to begin whining.
I have mentioned before that I need to upgrade the security on my computer. When I was no longer able to connect to the internet, I blamed the computer first. Now that it works from a work connection, I am relieved of that worry. On the other hand, a new program icon appeared on the screen a few days ago. It is (English words in Korean) 'Vaccine Plus'. It automatically starts upon starting the computer and neither my wife nor I downloaded it. I'm worried but I need the computer to work until I enter all my student grades, then I have a few months to try to solve the problem.
Second, my mother-in-law is visiting. She is one of the kindest people I have met but she does things old-school. Korean old school. The most obvious example of this (and the one I am most comfortable sharing) is the sudden appearance of many basins of water around the apartment. What is the fascination of older Koreans with basins of water?
I am glad she is spending time with her grandson but this joy is tempered every time I find my cheese sitting in a cupboard to make room for an open glass of unnamed liquid in the fridge. Perhaps I will do more housework so things are prepared my way. Jeez, I now need a new excuse not to do housework.
Monday, September 06, 2004
DVD woes
Starting with a short rant tonight.
What the hell is it with DVD regions? I received a season of the Simpsons a year ago and watched them happily. Then I watched several Korean movies and other movies bought in Korea and now, no more Simpsons. How did I learn about this? For my birthday, a short time ago, I scored the full trilogy of Lord of the Rings movies - 10 or more hours of viewing pleasure. I don't know how long the 3 movies would be because I can't play them.
I looked at software fixes but none seemed to work. Maybe they would have if I'd used them before the player locked into one region.
We may someday look at a region-free DVD player but it's not worth getting any DVD player for our 20 inch TV. I decided to get a peripheral DVD r/w player for my computer. My computer was bought just a month or two before the read/write option became standard so I am hoping the new drive will be useful for more than just region 1 movies.
My wife is Korean and I guess that if and when we move to Canada, she will occasionally receive DVD from home so this DVD regions problem doesn't look like it will go away soon.
I don't really think many people will read this but if you do, I have a question: Was I the only one to not know about this? The only one to be upset by it?
- Oh, you can tell this is a rant because I used the word, 'Hell'.
I have another complaint, while I'm talking about computers and such. I am an English speaker living in Korea. For some reason, Air Canada sends me information on flights from Toronto to Florida and Korean Air sends me news about deals on flights to Korea. I have a Hewlett Packard printer and get monthly emails from them... in Korean. When I registered with them... well, I forget what I did for sure, but I know I would have looked for language options. I think they sell HP Printers in English speaking countries.
Is it impossible for multinational companies to tailor their PR emails to their clients? I am sure that English speakers in Korea are a minority but almost all of us use Korean Air. You can't drive or take the train and who travels by boat these days? And does Air Canada not think that people will use them to fly TO Canada?
I like Korea. Really. And I can accept problems due to language barriers with people on the street. It's my responsibility to learn Korean, not theirs to learn English if I plan to stay for any length of time.
Still, I thought a problem that globalization was to fix is matching the customer's language with the product's information.
I've had this blog for a few months now but I had just signed up out of curiosity. I posted my first blog a few days ago. One person found my blog and commented so I guess someone might see it after all. If you do and have suggestions, I'm open to them.
What the hell is it with DVD regions? I received a season of the Simpsons a year ago and watched them happily. Then I watched several Korean movies and other movies bought in Korea and now, no more Simpsons. How did I learn about this? For my birthday, a short time ago, I scored the full trilogy of Lord of the Rings movies - 10 or more hours of viewing pleasure. I don't know how long the 3 movies would be because I can't play them.
I looked at software fixes but none seemed to work. Maybe they would have if I'd used them before the player locked into one region.
We may someday look at a region-free DVD player but it's not worth getting any DVD player for our 20 inch TV. I decided to get a peripheral DVD r/w player for my computer. My computer was bought just a month or two before the read/write option became standard so I am hoping the new drive will be useful for more than just region 1 movies.
My wife is Korean and I guess that if and when we move to Canada, she will occasionally receive DVD from home so this DVD regions problem doesn't look like it will go away soon.
I don't really think many people will read this but if you do, I have a question: Was I the only one to not know about this? The only one to be upset by it?
- Oh, you can tell this is a rant because I used the word, 'Hell'.
I have another complaint, while I'm talking about computers and such. I am an English speaker living in Korea. For some reason, Air Canada sends me information on flights from Toronto to Florida and Korean Air sends me news about deals on flights to Korea. I have a Hewlett Packard printer and get monthly emails from them... in Korean. When I registered with them... well, I forget what I did for sure, but I know I would have looked for language options. I think they sell HP Printers in English speaking countries.
Is it impossible for multinational companies to tailor their PR emails to their clients? I am sure that English speakers in Korea are a minority but almost all of us use Korean Air. You can't drive or take the train and who travels by boat these days? And does Air Canada not think that people will use them to fly TO Canada?
I like Korea. Really. And I can accept problems due to language barriers with people on the street. It's my responsibility to learn Korean, not theirs to learn English if I plan to stay for any length of time.
Still, I thought a problem that globalization was to fix is matching the customer's language with the product's information.
I've had this blog for a few months now but I had just signed up out of curiosity. I posted my first blog a few days ago. One person found my blog and commented so I guess someone might see it after all. If you do and have suggestions, I'm open to them.
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