...I. Overview The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that will work with your computer. The Oculus Rift was invented by a VR enthusiast named Palmer Luckey. After showing a prototype at the E3 gaming convention in 2012 that garnered interest from gaming media, he founded the company with Brendan Iribe, who became CEO. They launched a Kickstarter project in August 2012 to sell prototype developer versions of the Oculus Rift so game studios could start making games, raising $2.4 million. In the months since, Oculus VR has raised additional money and shipped tens of thousands of developer versions of the Rift, while continuing to perfect a consumer model. But what is a virtual reality headset anyway? Two things. Firstly, 3D visuals – just as your eyes perceive the real world. This is more than simple cross-eyed viewing though, and involves a complex series of transformations to wrap the view around and produce large field of vision – 110 degrees in the Rift, in fact. Secondly – and this is where the Oculus really becomes something amazing –head tracking - so that when you move your head to look up, your view of the virtual world adjusts accordingly. You can look around with a full 360 degree of freedom, including right behind you. It is designed specifically for video games that will change the way you think about gaming forever. With an incredibly wide field of view, high resolution display, and ultra-low latency head tracking, the Rift provides a truly immersive experience...
Words: 1801 - Pages: 8
...Expos Writing 19, November 2014 "Murder Has No Age" Some people believe that these kids who have committed murders should not be charged as adults because of their brain development and because their brain development does not allow them to realize the consequences of their actions. How ever others believe that these kids should take responsibility for their actions and be given severe consequences, even jail time. Even if it is a minor that commits the crime, there should no leeway when the crime evolves murder. Some may argue That minors should not be charge like in an adult in court. "Younger individuals were less likely to recognize the risks inherit choices less likely to think about the long-term consequences of their choice"(Greg Krikorion). However those who plan out killing someone such as two elderly people execution style and stealing their car shortly after , should know that their actions have some sort of effects on them. That none of this was just an accident or some form of miscommunication. People argue that children under the age 12 should never be tried as an adult. "Some people believe the adolescent brain is not fully developed and may not be capable of making the right choices" (Adam Liptak). Once again "Adolescent recklessness may suggest diminished responsibility to some and a terrible danger to others"(Adam Liptak). Putting an age limit for certain crimes is taking away their thought of being punished there for it will increase...
Words: 649 - Pages: 3
...Journal Article Review on East Africa's Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System I. Introduction The never ending saga on how the earth was created continues on. Numerous scientists have attempted to state different theories and this article describes how two Michigan Tech affiliates believe the East African Rift Valley was created. It is written from an old-earth viewpoint as it was believed to have originated billions of years ago. II. Brief Overview and Main Points In this article, the authors James Wood and Alex Guth try and visually describe the area along the rifts in East Africa. They also provide the reader with a detailed explanation of how they believe the rifts were formed. Through this, they are attempting to convince readers that the world had evolved billions of years ago and humans were present in this area at that same time, based on what they have studied. III. Article Strengths One of the strengths of this article includes, but is not limited to, the very informative colored digital maps seen online to assist the reader in visualizing the East Africa area. The authors go in depth describing this area, the surrounding geographic features, and their theory of how they feel the rifts were formed. The authors reaffirm this throughout the article, and make it exceptionally clear that the cause of the East African Rift is still unknown, despite their own theory. I feel the authors did not write with precision in regards to the accuracy of the article but...
Words: 1396 - Pages: 6
...Article Review East Africa’s Great Rift Valley System Traci Lee PHSC 210 Dr. Ladner February 15, 2014 East Africa’s Great Rift Valley: Overview: The article starts out by telling us that the East Africa Rift is one of the geologic wonders of the world. There are old plates splitting apart and creating new plates in the earth’s surface. Geologists have already named these new plates to be the “Nubian Plate” which the article says makes up most of Africa and the “Somalian Plate”. The article tells us that these two plates are moving away from the Arabian plate. These three plates come together in Ethiopia and this is called a “triple-junction”. Although the article does give some description of the rifts and attempts to explain them, it does note that there is still an ongoing debate among geologists. Article Strengths: This article does go into some detail explaining what the rifts are or what the authors theorize the rifts are, meaning how they think the rifts were formed. The article also states the names of the rifts and explains that where the three meet that is known as “triple junction” and explains to the readers where the rifts are located. As a whole the author’s explanations of things are clear. Article Weakness: Although the article does go into some detail about what the East African Rift Valley is and it does give some mention as to what causes the rifts, the article could have given a better in depth...
Words: 437 - Pages: 2
...Summer 2015 Thomas Breuner June 14, 2015 “East Africa's Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System” By: James Wood and Alex Guth - Michigan Technological University Introduction The article “East Africa’s Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System” by James Wood and Alex Guth is basically another theory that the two Michigan Tech affiliates believe the East African Rift Valley was created. They explain their theory from an Old-Earth viewpoint as it was believed to have originated billions of years ago. According to the article, the East African Rift System is one of the most majestic and the geologic wonders of the world. (Wood and Guth 2005-2015) Brief Overview and Main Points In this article James Wood and Alex Guth describe visually the area along the rifts in East Africa. They also give the readers a detailed explanation of how the rifts were formed in theory. Based on what they have studied James Wood and Alex Guth, try convincing the readers that the world had evolved billions of years ago and how humans were present and their part in formation during the process. Mentioning the ongoing debate about evolution and what they perceive as the time frame this process took place. Article Strengths One of the strengths this article includes were the very informative and detailed colored maps seen to assist the reader in visualizing the East Africa area, which helps with understanding exactly how the rift looks. The two authors go into great depth describing this area,...
Words: 743 - Pages: 3
...East Africa's Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System by James Wood and Alex Guth - Michigan Technological University Part I. The East African Rift System The East African Rift System (EARS) is one the geologic wonders of the world, a place where the earth's tectonic forces are presently trying to create new plates by splitting apart old ones. In simple terms, a rift can be thought of as a fracture in the earth's surface that widens over time, or more technically, as an elongate basin bounded by opposed steeply dipping normal faults. Geologists are still debating exactly how rifting comes about, but the process is so well displayed in East Africa (Ethiopia-Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania) that geologists have attached a name to the new plate-to-be; the Nubian Plate makes up most of Africa, while the smaller plate that is pulling away has been named the Somalian Plate (Figure 1). These two plates are moving away form each other and also away from the Arabian plate to the north. The point where these three plates meet in the Afar region of Ethiopia forms what is called a triple-junction. However, all the rifting in East Africa is not confined to the Horn of Africa; there is a lot of rifting activity further south as well, extending into Kenya and Tanzania and Great Lakes region of Africa. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the general geology of these rifts are and highlight the geologic processes involved in their formation. What is the East Africa Rift System? The...
Words: 1715 - Pages: 7
...“East Africa’s Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System” Name: Desmond Akenteng. Course: PHSC 210-A16 LUO October 20, 2013 The article review: This paper consist of a review article written by James Wood and Alex Guth, which explained the details about the “East Africa’s Rift Valley: A complex Rift System.” According to the article, the East African Rift System is one of the most majestic and the geologic wonders of the world. Wood and Guth, (05-2013) Introduction: The old of the earth is ongoing debate, which has been debatable for over centuries, and I don’t think this debate will end until Christ return. In Wood and Guth’s article “East Africa’s Great Rift Valley” they have discuss the complicity of the Rift system that keep on to advance and play out in East Africa. In this case, they have an effort to link this complicated series of geologic wonders to the evolution of man. Brief overview and main point of the article: The article talks about the East Africa’s Rift System. The author’s Wood and Guth main reasons for conducting this article as I can see in this article itself is that, they talk about the general geology of the Rift System and stresses on the developments that comprises their geologic formation. This article gave detailed explanation of the Rifts, but at the same time recorded that precise apparatus of the Rift pattern has been continues debated between geologist’ and geophysicist. The...
Words: 630 - Pages: 3
...East A Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System Journal Article Review Stephen Underwood, Instructor PHSC 210 Elements of Earth Science March 23, 2012 Introduction The East African Rift System (EARS) seems to be one of the most amazing geographic studies of the world. A rift can be defined as a split in the earth’s surface that becomes wider over time. In this case, the EARS has developed into two plates or branches, which have been named the Nubian Plate and the Somalian Plate. The two branches include a west branch, which consists of the African Great Lakes, and a nearly parallel east branch, which divides Kenya from north to south and enters Tanzania. Because the two branches have become so distinct, there is a common misconception that there is only a single rift in East Africa. However, geologists have discovered a series of rifts in Africa. Thus, the growing number of rifts has become of interest to many geologists and scientist. Brief Overview and Main Points In this article, James Wood and Alex Guth discuss the geographic and physical structure of the East African Rift System as well as the underlying causes of rift formation. The East African Rift (EAR) involves a fracture that has resulted in two branches-- a western branch, consisting of the East African Great Lakes, and an Eastern branch, dividing Kenya completely and entering Tanzania. The EAR has been grouped with other rifts, especially the Ethiopian rift, to form the East African Rift System (Wood...
Words: 703 - Pages: 3
...Water, War and Peace in the Jordan River Valley Introduction The Great Rift Valley extends longitudinally from northern Syria more than three thousand miles into southeastern Africa. Sweeping laterally across North Africa, Arabia, and Asia we find the world’s most immense expanse of deserts. At the crossroads of this desert space and Great Rift Valley, the Jordan River flows two hundred miles from its sources in Lebanon, Syria and Israel to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth . This dramatic geographic setting is home to some of the most ancient and continuously sedentary civilizations in known history. In this essay I intend to briefly explore the ecological history, sources, and climatic changes of the Jordan River, and give an overview of its political history. In a more in-depth investigation I will inquire how population increases during the past century have contributed to both conflict and cooperation between the diverse inhabitants of the region. Focusing on the major issues of water usage, distribution, and control, I will examine the negotiations, agreements, treaties, development projects and international laws governing the use of water from the Jordan River watershed. How have war, land disputes, and peace affected the management and distribution of this water? What is written in legal documents, and how successfully have terms of agreements been implemented? What importance do the clauses about water in the recent Jordan/Israel peace accords have...
Words: 332 - Pages: 2
...Journal Article Review Instructions Articles During this course, you will write formal reviews on 2 online articles. During Module/Week 5, you will review the following article: “The Origin of Old-Earth Geology and its Ramifications for Life in the 21st Century” by Terry Mortenson at http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/tj/v18/n1/old-earth-geology. Then, during Module/Week 9, you will review the following article: “East Africa’s Great Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System” by James Wood and Alex Guth at http://geology.com/articles/east-africa-rift.shtml. Content In general, each Journal Article Review must contain an introductory paragraph, the body of the work, and a conclusion. In terms of the body, the following items must be discussed: 1. Brief overview of the theme of the article and its main points. 2. Strengths of the article. Answer questions such as: a. What did the author do well? b. Were any points made exceptionally clear? c. Did the author write with concision and precision? 3. Weaknesses of the article. Answer questions such as: a. What erroneous assumptions does the author make, if any? b. Are any factual errors made in the article? c. Is the scientific method violated in any way? d. Could the author have stated his/her case better? 4. Remember, every article has weaknesses. You are expected to discuss some of these. Failure to...
Words: 659 - Pages: 3
...PHSC 210-D05 4/18/14 Journal Article Review #2 I. Introduction Discussing the East African Rift System, Alex Guth and James Wood have written “East Africa’s Rift Valley: A Complex Rift System”. In this piece they discuss from a geological standpoint what a rift system, how they form, and what exactly the East African Rift System is comprised of. Both of these individuals are qualified to speak on this topic as they are with Michigan Technological Institute, and Mr. Wood has his PhD from Johns Hopkins University. II. Overview and Main Points Africa is an amazing continent with a vast amount of land for wild animals, as well as being a dream for geologists. To start it is important to understand what a rift system is (quote textbook on rift). As the article discusses, in the east African region of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda this phenomenon is at its greatest height on full display. The most well known and well aged rift is in Ethiopia and is rightfully named the “Ethiopian Rift”. There is also the “Albertine Rift” which along with the Ethiopian Rift makes up the East African Rift. What makes up the entire system are the East African Rift and the “Kenya Rift”. The latter rift is also known as the “Gregory Rift” which is named after the first geologist that mapped it in the early 1900’s. The next logical question becomes one of how do these rifts form, where do they come from? “One popular model for the EARS assumes that elevated heat flow from...
Words: 823 - Pages: 4
...specific purpose which adds on to their functionality. Some of the major titles which support Oculus Rift are:- Left 4 Dead, Hawken, Skyrim, Portal 2, Half-Life 2, BioShock, Star Citizen, and Elite: Dangerous In the Tornado, it is the next group of customers covered * Geographically Spread reach of Oculus Rift to other developed countries like UK, Germany, Canada, France, etc. which have a strong base for software development, specially game publishing houses like Electronic Arts, UbiSoft, etc. * Based on new distribution Channels Exclusive showroom and demo rooms for Oculus Rift retail stores, where Customers can experience the product first hand and evaluate its innovative benefits over competing products. * Gorillas aim to be the de facto standard Since Oculus Rift is the first commercially available VR product for the masses, it has become the Gorilla in the market. Every standard, specification and market trend will now be determined and guided by the company and its technological innovations. * Mistakes in tornado Some fundamental mistakes that Oculus Rift may undertake during the Tornado period is not understanding when it started. This period should be dominant with the process of standardization. Adding new features in it rather than standardizing the product and cementing its position as the market Gorilla can be a major pitfall for Oculus. The Tornado ends when industry...
Words: 693 - Pages: 3
...Ocular Technology Today we will be discussing Ocular Technology with our main focus being on the new Oculus Rift. The Oculus Rift is being developed as a 3-D (three dimensional) virtual reality headset for gaming. This new technology is leading edge because of its interfacing and head tracking at six degrees of freedom with ultra low latency and new field of view range at 110 degrees diagonal 90 degrees horizontal with a top resolution of 1280 by 800 including multiple device inputs, multiple operation platforms, while only weighing two tenths of a kilogram. This set of glasses definitely has the potential to revolutionize the way we see and interact within our world. While this technology is currently mimicking our eye, head, hand movements and latency between our Nero brain receptors making the possibilities endless as to what this technology can offer us. A potentially lifesaving impact could be the incorporation of this device into the military combat training. Wars happen and what if we could possibly save the lives of our men and women on the battlefield by reducing the unnecessary risks with this device. This could be achieved by giving our soldiers a human sensory system to use in a virtual experience of simulated combat missions. This could possibly be a huge thing to our government. We could lower training costs, lessen the possibility of training deaths, and allow our troops to have virtual combat experience to better prepare themselves before entering into...
Words: 608 - Pages: 3
...graphics that were plagued with performance issues. Their high price tag has also made this technology relatively restrictive, and despite predictions dating back to 1992 stating that virtual reality would become affordable within the next two years, it took over two decades for devices like the technology I will be focusing on in this essay, the Oculus Rift, to largely solve issues pertaining to its graphics, performance and most importantly, the price is expected to be under 300 USD – a far cry from the 76000 USD price tag for a Virtuality system. This can largely be associated to the exponential increase in processing power as a result of Moore’s law, alongside the development of organic light emitting diode (OLED) technology that vastly improves upon contrast and color accuracy when compared against the thin film transistor liquid crystal displays of the past. The exponential decrease in the size of transistors as a result of Moore’s law has spurred the development of the inertial measurement unit (IMU) that combines an accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope into one single unit to reduce the weight of the head mounted device. The Oculus Rift will also take...
Words: 1797 - Pages: 8
...These vests are able to precisely interact with the in-game commands through the installed game drivers, seamlessly making the experience realistic (Lowe, 2008). The haptic feedback generated from the vests during gaming do not introduce any kind discomfort to the player as the pokey sensation is gentle and it is worth mentioning that the vest is light weight, making it comfy and unnoticeable (Bonthuys, 2014). Rudderham (2014) states that the vests can be used in combination with the Oculus rift virtual reality goggles (TNGames,...
Words: 620 - Pages: 3
