Out with the old, in with the new! - IB Comp Pg 387

It has always been the case that technological devices get improved or become outdated. The horse and carriage changing to an automobile is one classic example. However, experts are now predicting that the rate of technological devices becoming obsolete is increasing exponentially. This article aims to reinforce this view by outlining some technologies that the author believes are bound for the scrapheap.

Will we still be using desktop PCS? While there will probably always be a need for larger workstations in industry, futurologists believe that the large personal computers will be replaced by more powerful mobile phones and handheld devices. These portable devices will not only allow us to communicate but also take an increasingly important role in organising our lives.

What about the television? Modern televisions have undergone a lot of changes recently. For example, they have become lighter and thinner, have enormous screens and internet connectivity. However, they still tend to be stuck in the corner of the room. These static monoliths are soon to be replaced by the mobile devices mentioned previously. Projection capabilities on mobile devices will allow any space on a wall to be utilised as a screen, thereby allowing “TV” to be anytime and anywhere.

What will happen to ‘compact’ discs? Well, these used to be compact, but not any more by today’s standards. Rather than putting a CD on your favourite band in your CD player, people will connect to YouTube or download from a streaming server. Even in cars, the CD player is disappearing. In its place, USB socket allow for a wide variety of mobile devices to be plugged in and listened to. But they will always make nice shiny decorations in the garden to scare off the birds.

And finally, what will become of our wired technology? It will become wireless of course, similar to the television remote control in the 1950s. No longer will we have to worry about those meddlesome wires getting in the way or stopping us from having a truly mobile lifestyle. One good example will be the humble ear phones. Just plug two indiscrete buds in your ear, activate the bluetooth capability, and, bingo, musical freedom.

As much as change can be painful, it is inevitable that the technology that supports our lifestyle will look much different in the future. Let’s embrace this. Viva la change!

Sean Dowling

Happiness - internal or external?

Happiness, or lack of it, is perhaps the most crucial factor in determining our quality of life. Some of us feel happy when we are accepted by those around us. Others believe we can only really achieve happiness when we learn to accept ourselves. Personally, I believe that it is a ‘chicken and egg’ scenario. So which comes first?

There is no doubt that most people, even those with the toughest skins, are concerned about how others view them. Being viewed in a negative light can lead to feelings of depression. It can cause people to react in one of two ways; either they retreat from society or they change themselves so as to be accepted. This change can be good, particularly if a person improves; however, if a person changes just to be accepted by others, it may actually increase unhappiness levels. Therefore, to be truly happy, it is important that we also learn how to accept who we are. We must realise that nobody is perfect, but that we should also strive for improvement. This goal of self-improvement will lead to more self-happiness. Ultimately, improved self-happiness will lead to us being accepted by others, increasing the happiness and sense of wellness in both the individual and the group.

To summarise, no man is an island; our sense of happiness depends on how we treat each other. Learning to accept ourselves is the first stage in being accepted by others. Once we can can do this, the path to happiness is made smoother for everyone.

Non-verbal communication - IB Companion Pg 387

Good morning, classmates and teachers. While it may seem odd to say that non-verbal communication is louder than verbal communication, today I will argue that this is in fact the case in a great number of instances.

It is quite often said that ‘actions speak louder than words’. For example, ignoring someone, or giving them the cold shoulder, sends out a powerful message that you do not want to talk to them. In addition, when you have done something wrong, rather than just apologising to them, show them that you are really sorry by doing something that proves this such as buying some flowers or fixing the problem. Sometimes indicating displeasure by the way you act, like stomping your feet or tutting your tongue, gets the message across much more effectively than words.

Body language, such as facial expressions, hand gestures and body posture, can also send out stronger messages than words. For example, even though your words may be neutral, your facial expressions may give away how you’re really feeling. You may be trying to sound angry, but the little smile on your face reveals all. In addition, the animation of your hands during conversation demonstrates how emotional you are feeling about a topic. Furthermore, body posture can also give strong indications as to your mood. Turning you back on a person leaves no doubt that you’re not too inclined to talk to them. On the other hand, facing someone and opening your arms towards them indicates a strong welcome. Consider my speech today. If it wasn’t to use hand gestures, eye contact and certain body postures, I’m sure that you wouldn’t find my argument quite as convincing.

Technology can also demonstrate how the power of non-verbal communication. Nowadays, most of us use text messages to communicate with a friends. In the early days, text message were just text, or verbal communication. They lacked the non-verbal cues to ensure full communication. This led to the invention of emojis, which allow us make text messages more communicative. In fact, many text messages now contain no verbal, or textual, communication; the careful use of emojis can speak louder!

In conclusion, even though well-constructed words can be powerful, I believe that the use of non-verbal cues such as actions, body language and emojis can make communication more effective. Thank you for listening.

(390 words)

Guidelines - Healthy Diet - IB Comp Pg 297

Do you have a healthy diet? Research has shown that a great number of 15 and 16-year olds have a less than healthy diet. There are eating too much junk food and snacks and not enough fruit and vegetables, drinking too many fizzy drinks and not enough water and generally spending too much time on their computing devices and not enough time on not getting enough exercise. This unhealthy, inactive lifestyle can have some serious consequences; in the short-term, it can lead to problems concentrating on school work and, in the long-term, it can lead to obesity and problems with your heart. Therefore, it’s very important that you look after you diet when you are still young. The guidelines below will help you to do this.

1. Cut down on junk food and fizzy drinks

While they may taste better and give you a quick rush of energy, junk food and fizzy drinks don’t have much nutritional value. Instead, it is better to have a balanced diet, making sure you have enough of all the food groups: carbohydrates, protein, milk and dairy products, fruit and vegetables, and fats and sugars. And try to replace those fizzy drinks with fruit juice and water.

2. Eat regularly and try not to snack

Having regularly meals is also very important. It’s a good idea to start off the day with a good, healthy breakfast. Too many teenagers prefer to get a bit more sleeping time than to eat breakfast, with the result that their energy levels are very low in the morning. Have lunch and dinner at regular times as well. By doing this, you will be less inclined to snack on less healthy food such as chocolate, crisps and bottles of Coke. If you do feel like a snack, munch on something like fruit, vegetables or whole-grain biscuits, and don’t forget to drink water regularly. Finally, it’s not a good idea to have a big meal just before you go to bed. This will interrupt you sleeps patterns which will affect how you study the following day. If you must have something, try milk and a banana.

3. Get away from the computer and do more exercise

Using your computer and mobile devices too much can also lead to an unhealthy diet as you may snack more and not get enough exercise. Try to restrict the time you spend online or watching TV. Instead, get outside and do some exercise. Even if you are not a sporty type, you could still go for walks or bicycle rides.

4. Talk to people if you are feeling stressed

Finally, stress or depression can lead to negative eating patterns. If you’re feeling like this, don’t bottle up your feelings up. Try to talk to supportive people such as good friends, your parents, teachers or the school counsellor.

Having an unhealthy diet is not something that is synonymous with being a teenager. Instead, be proactive, think about the short and long-term effects of bad eating patterns and lack of exercise before it is too late. Hopefully, the guidelines above will help you to do this.

The need for advertisements

Many people are critical as to the enormous sums of money being spent on advertising, particularly those advertisements aimed at younger people. While there is no doubt that some advertising budgets are way over the top –  for example, just look at some of the budgets of large companies like Coca Cola, MacDonalds and Nestle – I believe that it is still important for advertisers to make people aware of their products.

There are a number of reasons for this. First of all, how can an advertiser attract new customers. Word-of-mouth might work in some cases; however, advertisements, be they print, on television or radio, or on the internet, are needed to reach potential new customers over a wider area. In addition, advertisements are needed to inform current customers of any improvements or additional services to their existing range of products. Without this, products will not be used to their full capacity. Furthermore, advertisers are always worried about losing market share to rivals. Well-delivered advertising campaigns can ensure that advertisers not only gain new customers but also keep their existing ones. Finally, like it or not, the advertising industry is a very important source of employment. Many people are employed in the area of market research, advertisement design and sales; without advertisements, many people would be without relatively well-paid jobs.

In conclusion, advertisers need advertisements to ensure that they attract new customers, keep existing ones and to keep their current sales and marketing employees in work. However, advertisers also need to justify how they spend each of their advertising dollars.