Since it is a while since I last made an appearance I will start off with something complex to me, but simple to almost everyone else.
I have recently got a Samsung Galaxy phone and it is quite a jump up from my previous model. I have to admit that I have suffered from some kind of reverse snobbery with mobiles that has made me reluctant to move away from a basic phone and text model to anything else. I have also coveted the great torch feature on both of my previous phones which torch apps do not match.
Having said all of that I have now taken a giant leap into the present time and I have to admit to being impressed with what these android phones can do. They are certainly useful when you are on holiday in a wifi café and the mp3 feature on my model is actually quite superb. The prices too seem hard to understand as most (like mine) come free with a mobile contract. All in all the deals seem very good and the phones an amazing demonstration of technology and miniaturisation.
That was short and sweet, but it gets me going again.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Monitor Eye Protector
I am never quite sure of the true worth of these devices. They idea is that they filter out harmful (to the eye) rays by acting as an intermediate screen between the monitor and the user.
Obviously, with flat screen technology it would seem that these items are now pretty much redundant as the LCD and Plasma screens work in the same way as a regular high definition TV screen.
In days gone by these filters were supposed to take out glare and radiation and this in turn prevented (or eased) eye strain which could potentially lead to headaches etc.
The fact that regulatory control over monitors (in the West) prevented these effects from happening in the first place seemed to pass many by and they were popular for a time. I can even recall a point where some people actually wore sunglasses to use a computer because they believed that these offered some kind of protection from “damaging” rays.
For those with eye strain at the end of a day using a PC or laptop, here are a couple of tips to bring the problem to an end.
1. Punctuate your time looking at the monitor with other distractions. E.g. Go for a brief walk, or focus on a distant object or landmark for 3 or 4 minutes every hour.
2. Check you monitor versus your head and eye line position. Many people view their monitors at an angle of inclination beyond 90 degrees. This can cause eye strain. You should not look up or down to the central point of your monitors screen.
3. Find out if you need reading glasses for close up work. Many who suffer from eye strain when using a monitor simply need glasses (this happened to me).
4. Periodically check the settings of your monitor. You can go on the web and download colour and monochrome “check” charts which you can use to adjust the colour, brightness and contrast settings of the screen to their optimum. If this proves impossible, then your monitor requires replacing.
5. If you are using an old “box” style monitor you need to replace it. Any monitor of this type will be past its sell by date and should be substituted with a modern flat screen equivalent.
This http://www.normankoren.com/color_management_2A.html page has some colour charts on it.
Obviously, with flat screen technology it would seem that these items are now pretty much redundant as the LCD and Plasma screens work in the same way as a regular high definition TV screen.
In days gone by these filters were supposed to take out glare and radiation and this in turn prevented (or eased) eye strain which could potentially lead to headaches etc.
The fact that regulatory control over monitors (in the West) prevented these effects from happening in the first place seemed to pass many by and they were popular for a time. I can even recall a point where some people actually wore sunglasses to use a computer because they believed that these offered some kind of protection from “damaging” rays.
For those with eye strain at the end of a day using a PC or laptop, here are a couple of tips to bring the problem to an end.
1. Punctuate your time looking at the monitor with other distractions. E.g. Go for a brief walk, or focus on a distant object or landmark for 3 or 4 minutes every hour.
2. Check you monitor versus your head and eye line position. Many people view their monitors at an angle of inclination beyond 90 degrees. This can cause eye strain. You should not look up or down to the central point of your monitors screen.
3. Find out if you need reading glasses for close up work. Many who suffer from eye strain when using a monitor simply need glasses (this happened to me).
4. Periodically check the settings of your monitor. You can go on the web and download colour and monochrome “check” charts which you can use to adjust the colour, brightness and contrast settings of the screen to their optimum. If this proves impossible, then your monitor requires replacing.
5. If you are using an old “box” style monitor you need to replace it. Any monitor of this type will be past its sell by date and should be substituted with a modern flat screen equivalent.
This http://www.normankoren.com/color_management_2A.html page has some colour charts on it.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Swimming pool features
There are many different features to a swimming pool besides the pool itself.
To start with there is the finish and surroundings that determine how the pool fits in with its surroundings and any other structures near by.
Two big factor that affect how things look are the surface of the pool and the landscaping around it. The surface of the pool, i.e. the inside, will be covered with a protective material. This makes the pool watertight and it gives it a pleasing finish. There are two ways of achieving this finish, the first is the old fashioned way that uses small tiles, applied with a watertight adhesive and finished off with a waterproof grout.
The second way is to use one of the modern and high performance swimming pool liners. These liners are made from special vinyl that is totally watertight and capable of dealing with the rough and tumble of a swimming pool’s use. These pool liners come in lots of colours and patterns and they can be used to set a theme and determine the overall look of the pool area.
Outside of the pool is the poolside area and this is just as important. How this zone is landscaped will affect the impression that everyone gets of the pool. Most poolside areas have a hard landscaped patio type area. This can be done with any number of different materials, but tiles and timber decking are probably the most common. Other materials are vinyl and cement.
The final feature of the pool area is the patio furniture. Not everyone spends every minute of their time in the pool, so places to sit and relax, or to lie down and sunbathe are necessary. Patio furniture can be made of wood, metal, plastic, or a mix of different materials and fabrics. Colours can be used to blend in with the pool liner, or to provide a visual contrast.
Another item that can be added is a means of heat. Many people like to socialise around their pool in the evening and, whilst the water in the pool may be heated, the air above it may not be. When this is the case one of any number of garden heaterscan prove invaluable. These heaters can provide a blast of warm air that can make a slightly cooler evening perfect. They can even provide light and shelving (around the upright) for drinks and glasses.
Some of these patio heaters use gas, like propane, and others are powered by electricity and use infrared heaters, a bit like lights. All can help to make the pool area more friendly, even on cool days.
To start with there is the finish and surroundings that determine how the pool fits in with its surroundings and any other structures near by.
Two big factor that affect how things look are the surface of the pool and the landscaping around it. The surface of the pool, i.e. the inside, will be covered with a protective material. This makes the pool watertight and it gives it a pleasing finish. There are two ways of achieving this finish, the first is the old fashioned way that uses small tiles, applied with a watertight adhesive and finished off with a waterproof grout.
The second way is to use one of the modern and high performance swimming pool liners. These liners are made from special vinyl that is totally watertight and capable of dealing with the rough and tumble of a swimming pool’s use. These pool liners come in lots of colours and patterns and they can be used to set a theme and determine the overall look of the pool area.
Outside of the pool is the poolside area and this is just as important. How this zone is landscaped will affect the impression that everyone gets of the pool. Most poolside areas have a hard landscaped patio type area. This can be done with any number of different materials, but tiles and timber decking are probably the most common. Other materials are vinyl and cement.
The final feature of the pool area is the patio furniture. Not everyone spends every minute of their time in the pool, so places to sit and relax, or to lie down and sunbathe are necessary. Patio furniture can be made of wood, metal, plastic, or a mix of different materials and fabrics. Colours can be used to blend in with the pool liner, or to provide a visual contrast.
Another item that can be added is a means of heat. Many people like to socialise around their pool in the evening and, whilst the water in the pool may be heated, the air above it may not be. When this is the case one of any number of garden heaterscan prove invaluable. These heaters can provide a blast of warm air that can make a slightly cooler evening perfect. They can even provide light and shelving (around the upright) for drinks and glasses.
Some of these patio heaters use gas, like propane, and others are powered by electricity and use infrared heaters, a bit like lights. All can help to make the pool area more friendly, even on cool days.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Things that you can put in shoes
Although very few people do anything to change or amend their shoes, there are quite a few items of extras that you can put into a shoe. Each has a different purpose and will offer varying properties and this post is about these items, known as inserts.
To start with inserts come in two main forms. The obvious one is medical and the other one is more about comfort or some other gain.
Medical inserts are called orthotics (or orthotic inserts) and their job is the help the foot to do its job better. Reasons for wearing an orthotic in a shoe can vary, here are some examples.
If a foot is injured, damaged, misshapen or deformed, a normal shoe will not support the feet correctly. Special orthotics (often custom made) re-shape the inside of the shoe and the insole to enable it to work better. These orthotics can be simple or very complex depending upon the foot or feet in question.
Another increasingly popular reason for adding an orthotic to a shoe is to make it more comfortable and better able to absorb the shocks and impacts of walking and running. Gel and memory foam insole inserts can do this and they simply make the shoe more comfortable. With cool feel and good ventilation, these inserts are used in many sports hoes.
Yet another reason for choosing an orthotic insert is to replace an old or failing insole in an otherwise well maintained pair of shoes. This extends the shoe’s life and may even make the shoe more comfortable than it was previously.
Moving away from orthotic inserts, most of which have an orthopedic shoe benefit, there are some other inserts that do a different job.
One example is the elevator, riser or height increasing/enhancing insert. The object of this kind of insert is to add some additional inches in height to the person wearing them in their shoes. These inserts can make someone look taller without the need for visibly high heels or platform soles. The inserts slip inside the shoe and they are not distinguishable to anyone who is unaware of them. Inserts like these are used by many famous people ranging form Hollywood stars to TV personalities and they can be very effective and they increase confidence.
To find out more about the numerous insert types that fit in shoes do some searches on "orthotics".
The alternative to height increasing inserts is height increasing shoes where the inserts are designed into the construction of the shoe or boot and assembled as a complete shoe.
To start with inserts come in two main forms. The obvious one is medical and the other one is more about comfort or some other gain.
Medical inserts are called orthotics (or orthotic inserts) and their job is the help the foot to do its job better. Reasons for wearing an orthotic in a shoe can vary, here are some examples.
If a foot is injured, damaged, misshapen or deformed, a normal shoe will not support the feet correctly. Special orthotics (often custom made) re-shape the inside of the shoe and the insole to enable it to work better. These orthotics can be simple or very complex depending upon the foot or feet in question.
Another increasingly popular reason for adding an orthotic to a shoe is to make it more comfortable and better able to absorb the shocks and impacts of walking and running. Gel and memory foam insole inserts can do this and they simply make the shoe more comfortable. With cool feel and good ventilation, these inserts are used in many sports hoes.
Yet another reason for choosing an orthotic insert is to replace an old or failing insole in an otherwise well maintained pair of shoes. This extends the shoe’s life and may even make the shoe more comfortable than it was previously.
Moving away from orthotic inserts, most of which have an orthopedic shoe benefit, there are some other inserts that do a different job.
One example is the elevator, riser or height increasing/enhancing insert. The object of this kind of insert is to add some additional inches in height to the person wearing them in their shoes. These inserts can make someone look taller without the need for visibly high heels or platform soles. The inserts slip inside the shoe and they are not distinguishable to anyone who is unaware of them. Inserts like these are used by many famous people ranging form Hollywood stars to TV personalities and they can be very effective and they increase confidence.
To find out more about the numerous insert types that fit in shoes do some searches on "orthotics".
The alternative to height increasing inserts is height increasing shoes where the inserts are designed into the construction of the shoe or boot and assembled as a complete shoe.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Bed makers
This is a quick post primarily about beds, mattresses and anything else bedding related.
I have been collecting information about the various bed and mattress manufacturers and online and store based retailers in order to get some background on what each of them does, how long they have been around etc. I have started to compile this information (by company), however I can nolonger show the link as it "may" be damaging the site in question. I envisage that this is going to be pretty much an ongoing process as both suppliers and sellers continually emerge and then disappear, but at least it will offer a general picture of some of these companies.
It is also interesting to see the roots of mattress producers as not all started out in the world of bedding. It is also fascinating to realise that some of these companies were the leading lights in areas like marketing, product promotion and the use of celebrities and characters to promote their numerous products. In actuality it would appear that many of the large scale advertising campaigns that we see today were used and in some cases pioneered by companies that made the humble bed. It is equally interesting to see that many of these companies are very long lived, a number have been trading for well over a century and there are not too many industries, let alone players in those industries, that you can say that about.
The big change is of course the multi manufacturer selling retailer who now dominates the bed selling market every bit as much as the manufacturer. These days there are few independent bed retailers and those that remain are often small family concerns. Some sell expensive beds and others try to sell at the bottom end of the market. Both regrettably have a mammoth task on their hands.
The same is almost true of the manufacturers. There are very few small scale bed makers. Nearly all have been bought out by the big companies, or become insolvent due to their inability to compete on price. Even so, many large companies own smaller subsidiaries and this, to a degree, keeps the small companies alive.
I have been collecting information about the various bed and mattress manufacturers and online and store based retailers in order to get some background on what each of them does, how long they have been around etc. I have started to compile this information (by company), however I can nolonger show the link as it "may" be damaging the site in question. I envisage that this is going to be pretty much an ongoing process as both suppliers and sellers continually emerge and then disappear, but at least it will offer a general picture of some of these companies.
It is also interesting to see the roots of mattress producers as not all started out in the world of bedding. It is also fascinating to realise that some of these companies were the leading lights in areas like marketing, product promotion and the use of celebrities and characters to promote their numerous products. In actuality it would appear that many of the large scale advertising campaigns that we see today were used and in some cases pioneered by companies that made the humble bed. It is equally interesting to see that many of these companies are very long lived, a number have been trading for well over a century and there are not too many industries, let alone players in those industries, that you can say that about.
The big change is of course the multi manufacturer selling retailer who now dominates the bed selling market every bit as much as the manufacturer. These days there are few independent bed retailers and those that remain are often small family concerns. Some sell expensive beds and others try to sell at the bottom end of the market. Both regrettably have a mammoth task on their hands.
The same is almost true of the manufacturers. There are very few small scale bed makers. Nearly all have been bought out by the big companies, or become insolvent due to their inability to compete on price. Even so, many large companies own smaller subsidiaries and this, to a degree, keeps the small companies alive.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Chairs with a purpose
There are a number of different chairs that can help in terms of seated posture, promoting a healthy lifestyle, standing up, and performing tasks and activities.
The days when a chair was nothing more than a chair have long since gone and now you can buy chairs that are ergonomically designed or inspired by an occupational therapist’s research. These chairs make anything from relaxation to working on a computer more comfortable and less likely to result in aches, pains or structural damage to the back, body or muscles.
Chair types fall into natural groups and the task chair is one very obvious example. The task chair is a chair that is designed to accommodate a person as they perform a specific task or job. This type of chair takes in to account the best way for a person to sit as they perform a particular task and it is designed with this as its aim.
Healthy chairs are chairs that fall into what is often described as the orthopedic category. These are chairs designed to provide good bodily support and to keep the back and spine in a natural and healthy alignment. These chairs often have high backs and higher than typical seats. They are popular amongst the elderly.
Yet another very specific chair is the riser recliner chair. This chair goes under a myriad of different names given to it by different manufacturers. This means that it may be called a riser chair, a lift and tilt chair, a rise and tilt chair and so on! What this chair does is quite unusual because, whereas some chairs have adjustable position settings, the riser recliner chair helps people stand up from a seated position. They do this by using electric motors that move the seat and backrest of the chair- quite literally rising and then tilting them forwards. This motion has the effect of mimicking the natural standing up action of a fit and healthy person and, at the end of it, the person who was previously seated, finds themselves in a near standing position.
Another specialised and recent innovation in chair design is the gamming chair. This type of seat is actually a task chair, but one designed for interacting with a computer game. These chairs can, at the top of the range, include vibrating features and they may have in built load speakers, all of which add to the game’s simulation of a sport, activity or challenge.
The days when a chair was nothing more than a chair have long since gone and now you can buy chairs that are ergonomically designed or inspired by an occupational therapist’s research. These chairs make anything from relaxation to working on a computer more comfortable and less likely to result in aches, pains or structural damage to the back, body or muscles.
Chair types fall into natural groups and the task chair is one very obvious example. The task chair is a chair that is designed to accommodate a person as they perform a specific task or job. This type of chair takes in to account the best way for a person to sit as they perform a particular task and it is designed with this as its aim.
Healthy chairs are chairs that fall into what is often described as the orthopedic category. These are chairs designed to provide good bodily support and to keep the back and spine in a natural and healthy alignment. These chairs often have high backs and higher than typical seats. They are popular amongst the elderly.
Yet another very specific chair is the riser recliner chair. This chair goes under a myriad of different names given to it by different manufacturers. This means that it may be called a riser chair, a lift and tilt chair, a rise and tilt chair and so on! What this chair does is quite unusual because, whereas some chairs have adjustable position settings, the riser recliner chair helps people stand up from a seated position. They do this by using electric motors that move the seat and backrest of the chair- quite literally rising and then tilting them forwards. This motion has the effect of mimicking the natural standing up action of a fit and healthy person and, at the end of it, the person who was previously seated, finds themselves in a near standing position.
Another specialised and recent innovation in chair design is the gamming chair. This type of seat is actually a task chair, but one designed for interacting with a computer game. These chairs can, at the top of the range, include vibrating features and they may have in built load speakers, all of which add to the game’s simulation of a sport, activity or challenge.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Different mattress designs
In the UK there are plenty of TV advertising campaigns for mattresses, many of which are orthopedic in design. Memory foam variations are one of the most popular promotions and, of late, there has been a rather novel example on the TV.
The mattress in question attempts to combine the visco elastic memory foam material, common in many orthopedic beds and mattresses, with the pocket spring design. It does this, quite uniquely, by having structures that look like pocket springs, but that are actually composed of memory foam as the body of the mattress.
The mattress model in question is called the octaspring and it has received heavy advertising promotion from late 2011 through into this year. How good it is I do not know and I would certainly be concerned about the long term deflection of any memory foam mattress that has large numbers of voids in it (if that is the case) based on my own experience of memory foam.
The concept behind the design is of course to mix the physical design of the spring with the memory foam material by having what appear to be springs made of memory foam. It certainly looks good, but springs are spring (and made of metal) and foam is foam!
There are of course a number of unusual mattress construction designs and the octaspring is far from being the only one. Gel is another comparatively new bed material and one that has a fairly limited acceptance by the buying public – mainly I assume because of its high price.
Whilst the octaspring seeks to mix different mattress structures in a single material, the other option is to mix different materials and structures. The most obvious is to have a high performance, high density foam on top of springs. The assumption is that those who like a sprung bed will like the feel, as will those who like memory or latex foam. Ultimately, the material that you actually lie on, i.e. in this case the foam, will dictate how the bed really feels.
As ever the bed buying choice rotates very much around springs versus foams. Some people like one and others like the other. The marketing people and many in the medical profession would have us believe that foams are superior, but the sleeping experience of a large number of people (me included) would appear to discredit that view.
The best way to decide on the type of mattress most suitable for your needs is to get as much information as possible about the options. The most reliable method is to test some beds by lying down on them and seeing how they feel. However remember that a 5 minute test means nothing. You need to rest on the mattress for a least ½ hour or longer.
Speaking to family and friends about their beds can also result in valuable feedback that may help in a bed purchase.
The mattress in question attempts to combine the visco elastic memory foam material, common in many orthopedic beds and mattresses, with the pocket spring design. It does this, quite uniquely, by having structures that look like pocket springs, but that are actually composed of memory foam as the body of the mattress.
The mattress model in question is called the octaspring and it has received heavy advertising promotion from late 2011 through into this year. How good it is I do not know and I would certainly be concerned about the long term deflection of any memory foam mattress that has large numbers of voids in it (if that is the case) based on my own experience of memory foam.
The concept behind the design is of course to mix the physical design of the spring with the memory foam material by having what appear to be springs made of memory foam. It certainly looks good, but springs are spring (and made of metal) and foam is foam!
There are of course a number of unusual mattress construction designs and the octaspring is far from being the only one. Gel is another comparatively new bed material and one that has a fairly limited acceptance by the buying public – mainly I assume because of its high price.
Whilst the octaspring seeks to mix different mattress structures in a single material, the other option is to mix different materials and structures. The most obvious is to have a high performance, high density foam on top of springs. The assumption is that those who like a sprung bed will like the feel, as will those who like memory or latex foam. Ultimately, the material that you actually lie on, i.e. in this case the foam, will dictate how the bed really feels.
As ever the bed buying choice rotates very much around springs versus foams. Some people like one and others like the other. The marketing people and many in the medical profession would have us believe that foams are superior, but the sleeping experience of a large number of people (me included) would appear to discredit that view.
The best way to decide on the type of mattress most suitable for your needs is to get as much information as possible about the options. The most reliable method is to test some beds by lying down on them and seeing how they feel. However remember that a 5 minute test means nothing. You need to rest on the mattress for a least ½ hour or longer.
Speaking to family and friends about their beds can also result in valuable feedback that may help in a bed purchase.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Multi Master/Cutter/Tool
This blog post is about something that I know very little about, namely power tools. That said, I have had a lot of work undertaken on my house recently and, as a result, I have decided that I need to invest in some tools of my own. To that effect I have been looking at some multi purpose electric tools, i.e. multi function tools.
The tools in question go under a number of different names depending on the manufacturer. The brand leader is a company called Fein and their product is the Multimaster, but the likes of Bosch (with their Multi cutter) and Matika, Worx and others all have a similar product.
My problem is of course the classic one of trying to determine which is best based on very little practical experience. I know that the professional tools (e.g. in the case of Bosch blue bodies versus green bodies) are superior, but other than that I have nothing but reviews and customer feedback to go on.
All of the multi tools seem to offer the same oscillating technology with similar accessories and all claim to be the best.
What there is of course is a big variation in price between different models. The Fein and top Bosch model come in at a minimum of double the price of their competitors which naturally begs the question are they twice as good. Most of the reviews seem to suggest that the answer is a definite yes.
Then there is the question of which is best between Bosch and Fein. Fein invented and patented the multi tool product and they had exclusivity over it until quite recently. However the Bosch 300 model seems to do everything that the much heavier Fein does and it has a couple of extra little features.
Accessories supplied with these things is the next thing to evaluate. With the top set Fein seem to include more and have a superior case. Both can, with the use of an adaptor, take the accessories from the other manufacturer and several other companies also manufacture compatible accessories. All in all it is a difficult decision to make.
Here are links to Youtube promos for each machine – (Fein) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQ5cq1cHac and
(Bosch) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qghHQ_5Ezk.
If anyone has either of these tools and has a recommendation, please stick it in the comments box.
The tools in question go under a number of different names depending on the manufacturer. The brand leader is a company called Fein and their product is the Multimaster, but the likes of Bosch (with their Multi cutter) and Matika, Worx and others all have a similar product.
My problem is of course the classic one of trying to determine which is best based on very little practical experience. I know that the professional tools (e.g. in the case of Bosch blue bodies versus green bodies) are superior, but other than that I have nothing but reviews and customer feedback to go on.
All of the multi tools seem to offer the same oscillating technology with similar accessories and all claim to be the best.
What there is of course is a big variation in price between different models. The Fein and top Bosch model come in at a minimum of double the price of their competitors which naturally begs the question are they twice as good. Most of the reviews seem to suggest that the answer is a definite yes.
Then there is the question of which is best between Bosch and Fein. Fein invented and patented the multi tool product and they had exclusivity over it until quite recently. However the Bosch 300 model seems to do everything that the much heavier Fein does and it has a couple of extra little features.
Accessories supplied with these things is the next thing to evaluate. With the top set Fein seem to include more and have a superior case. Both can, with the use of an adaptor, take the accessories from the other manufacturer and several other companies also manufacture compatible accessories. All in all it is a difficult decision to make.
Here are links to Youtube promos for each machine – (Fein) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maQ5cq1cHac and
(Bosch) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qghHQ_5Ezk.
If anyone has either of these tools and has a recommendation, please stick it in the comments box.
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