Sunday 26th June
Venue: W113
1450-1515
Mohd Ahmed H00213864 & Ali Hadi H00213873
Topic: Computers
Content: good, well-planned.
Quite fluent delivery by both.
Good introduction by Ali.
Good organisation.
History: 1st electronic computer, 1939; ENIAC, 1943; Colossus Mark 1, 1944; UNIVAC, 1951.
Then Ali dealt with important developmental stages, e.g. 1st computer game, 1962, 1st consumer computers, 1974, 1st home computers, 1983, Microsoft Windows, 1985.
Ali also pointed out how computers have led to social improvements e.g. in education (independent learning & research); teacher-student communication via e-mail. He dealt with specific programmes e.g. AutoCad, Pro Engineering, Power Point et al.
Mohd dealt with the uses of the computer e.g. computers in medicine, in engineering, etc. He returned to talk about the future of computers with short video on rolltop laptop (Germany).
Slides: clear, accurate, informative.
Language level: 5.75/6.0.
1515-1535
Saeed Ateeq H00214309 & Mohd Saeed H00216614
Topic: Social Networking
Content: relevant & informative.
Saeed was rather quiet at outset but delivery clear & well-expressed. Mohd spoke clearly & confidently.
Slides: the slide on the history (i.e. the timeline) was not too clear, but the other slides were good, clear & informative.
Saeed introduced by asking a few pertinent questions. Gave definition, brief history, advantages & disadvantages. Nodes & ties were explained. Saeed tried hard to get the class to interact with him as he presented. Saeed concluded by examining the advantages (e.g. strengthening social relationships, exchanging ideas & information) & disadvantages ( e.g. social isolation from direct inter-personal contacts, fake IDs, tracking etc).
Mohd took over to describe history of social networking 1997-2006. Emphasis on Facebook, est. 2004 & now with + 600M users worldwide. Dealt with specific uses of Facebook, Twitter, You Tube etc.
Language: 5.75/6.0
1545-1555
Mubarak Ali H00205800 & Hakim Ahmed H00055410
Topic: 3D Printer
Content: satisfactory but not too detailed.
Slides: too many of the early slides were text only. Later slides were more graphic and attention-grabbing.
Hakim introduced the topic: definition & history. Started by Chuck Hull in 1984 (Stereolithography).
Mubarak took over to deal with software & hardware development.
Both presenters tended to read text from slides. both spoke only briefly.
Fielding questions: adequate.
Language: 5.5/5.75.
1600-1630
Mohd Adnan H00099357 & Ahmed Abdulla H00049464
Topic: Industrial Revolution
Content: quite well-planned.
Attitude & body language: benerally positive by both with good eye contact.
Slides: good, accurate, clear throughout.
They divided presntation into 3 phases: pre-industrial revolution; industrial revolution; post-industrial revolution.
Both struggled occasionally to find the right word & express themselves clearly. Both tried very hard & succeeded in communicating meaning to audience. Good interaction between the 2 as they presented.
Question & answer session: long, lively, well-handled by both.
Language: 5.5/5.75.
1630-1645
Abdulla Al Hajeri H00049496 & Ahmed Hamdan H00083979
Topic: The Internet
Content: planned, relevant, fulfilled task.
Abdulla: loud, clear, confident delivery. Ahmed: good, clear delivery & good eye contact.
Good, colourful slides, but some language errors, e.g. massaging for messaging & some infelicities of expression, e.g. why internet improvements.
Abdulla introduced the topic. 1964 DAPRA. 1974: Vint Cerf & Robert Kahn. 1980s: Tim Berners-Lee & World Wide Web.
Ahmed took over & talked about uses of the internet: education, business, government etc.
Both presenters were quite brief & the content was a trifle simplistic in certain respects.
Language: 5.5/5.75
1650-1700
Hadif Saleh H00158882
Topic: Blackberry
Content: well-planned but I would have liked more detailed information as we went through the slides.
Very clear, confident delivery: excellent.
Slides: clear, accurate, well-prepared.
Solo performance. Good, clear introduction. Well-planned & relevant. The only presentation to include the word supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
History of Blackberry, various programmes and operating systems were covered. The addictiveness of the Blackberry was also mentioned. Latest developments were listed.
Very clear but rather short-ish presentation.
Language: 5.75/6.0
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Reflection on the meeting
Mubarak was a very quiet chairman, but he efficiently & effectively took us through the items on our agenda, after we had first discussed the causes of the problem. Hedley, as secretary, assiduously made notes & produced 4 pages of minutes. Hakim, as participant, made several telling suggestions; he’d done some research on the items on the agenda and even came up with a fresh proposal, viz the introduction of time-management schemes, or staggered starting times for schools & businesses, as a possible solution to the problem of traffic congestion in AD.
We worked co-operatively & shared the task of typing up Hedley’s notes into a word document, prior to uploading it to our blogs.
I feel it was a useful & enjoyable exercise in working together to solve a specific problem. I think we did quite well in terms of focusing on the viability of the various possible solutions we examined.
152 words
We worked co-operatively & shared the task of typing up Hedley’s notes into a word document, prior to uploading it to our blogs.
I feel it was a useful & enjoyable exercise in working together to solve a specific problem. I think we did quite well in terms of focusing on the viability of the various possible solutions we examined.
152 words
Meeting re. AD traffic congestion
Date of meeting: 21/06/2011
Time of meeting: 14:52
Venue: W104
Group members:
Chair: Mubarak H00205800
Minutes taker: Hedley
Participant: Hakim H00055410
Agenda:
1- Improving existing road system
2- Improving public transport
3- Relocating public buildings off the island of A.D.
4- Raising age of licence holders
5- Salik scheme for A.D.
6- Parking scheme
Chairman Mubarak called the meeting to order at 14:52.
We discussed the traffic problems here in A.D. The purpose of the meeting was to examine possible solutions to the problems, with particular reference as to which were the most viable. To begin with we briefly discussed the causes of the problem. Hedley said the 2 main general reasons were the increase in the size of the population, linked to the rapid economic development of the past 30-40 years. The fact that A.D. is a rich city, together with the availability of cheap petrol, means that every household can afford several vehicles. In addition the rapid development of the infrastructure involves numerous construction projects, meaning many slow moving vehicles which contribute to congestion. Hakim pointed out that the existing road system simply cannot cope with the volume of traffic today.
(A) Mubarak went on to the first item on the agenda, how to improve the existing road system. Mubarak said that road widening, building tunnels and flyovers would ease the problem. Salam Street is a good example; but this project is behind schedule and, while it is, it actually makes the situation worse in the short term. Hakim pointed out that it’s very difficult to work in a confined space and in such hot + humid conditions. It was agreed that road improvements have, overall, made a big contribution already to easing the problem. Another scheme which has already helped, Hakim said, was the Khalifa Bridge.
(B) Mubarak then turned to public transport. Hakim thought that more public buses + taxis would simply make the congestion worse. Mubarak + Hakim thought a rail system would help alleviate the problem. Mubarak thought it a good idea. Hakim suggested a localized system, perhaps covering the eastern part of the island, with access to AD international airport. Mubarak thought an underground system was feasible but Hakim pointed out technical difficulties and high costs.
(C) Relocating buildings off the island. Mubarak said there was plenty of space off-island, which so far has been used mainly for housing. Hakim agreed and pointed out that new buildings could be designed and constructed with improved car-parking space.
(D) Raising the age of licence holders. Both Mubarak and Hakim were strongly opposed to this. Mubarak thought that young people would simply drive illegally, without licences, something they already do; he felt the problem would simply get worse. Hakim pointed out that beyond 18 many young people went to college and university, and they needed a car to do so.
(E) Salik scheme for AD. Hakim thought it a good idea. He suggested different types of card. To qualify for a card covering a certain area, a motorist would have to prove that he lived or worked there. Mubarak disagreed, saying it would lead to many drivers being forced to take lengthy detours, thus wasting valuable time.
(F) Parking schemes. Hedley was strongly in favour of parking permits; he has one and now it’s easier to park where he lives. Mubarak wanted more underground parking. Hakim thought that all new buildings should be legally required to have at least 2 floor levels for parking, whether underground or not.
(G) Staggered hours. This was an additional item for the agenda brought up by Hakim, who’d done some research on the subject. Mubarak felt the idea was rather confusing: good in theory but unsure whether it would work in practice.
Mubarak summarized by saying there’d been most agreement on 3 of the solutions: improving the existing road system, relocation of buildings off-island and parking schemes. He said we all agreed that a public rail system would be a benefit but we could foresee several technical and expenditure problems. He said we couldn’t agree on how a Salik system would work. Finally he said we were completely against raising the age of licence holders.
Mubarak closed the meeting at 1555.
703 words
Time of meeting: 14:52
Venue: W104
Group members:
Chair: Mubarak H00205800
Minutes taker: Hedley
Participant: Hakim H00055410
Agenda:
1- Improving existing road system
2- Improving public transport
3- Relocating public buildings off the island of A.D.
4- Raising age of licence holders
5- Salik scheme for A.D.
6- Parking scheme
Chairman Mubarak called the meeting to order at 14:52.
We discussed the traffic problems here in A.D. The purpose of the meeting was to examine possible solutions to the problems, with particular reference as to which were the most viable. To begin with we briefly discussed the causes of the problem. Hedley said the 2 main general reasons were the increase in the size of the population, linked to the rapid economic development of the past 30-40 years. The fact that A.D. is a rich city, together with the availability of cheap petrol, means that every household can afford several vehicles. In addition the rapid development of the infrastructure involves numerous construction projects, meaning many slow moving vehicles which contribute to congestion. Hakim pointed out that the existing road system simply cannot cope with the volume of traffic today.
(A) Mubarak went on to the first item on the agenda, how to improve the existing road system. Mubarak said that road widening, building tunnels and flyovers would ease the problem. Salam Street is a good example; but this project is behind schedule and, while it is, it actually makes the situation worse in the short term. Hakim pointed out that it’s very difficult to work in a confined space and in such hot + humid conditions. It was agreed that road improvements have, overall, made a big contribution already to easing the problem. Another scheme which has already helped, Hakim said, was the Khalifa Bridge.
(B) Mubarak then turned to public transport. Hakim thought that more public buses + taxis would simply make the congestion worse. Mubarak + Hakim thought a rail system would help alleviate the problem. Mubarak thought it a good idea. Hakim suggested a localized system, perhaps covering the eastern part of the island, with access to AD international airport. Mubarak thought an underground system was feasible but Hakim pointed out technical difficulties and high costs.
(C) Relocating buildings off the island. Mubarak said there was plenty of space off-island, which so far has been used mainly for housing. Hakim agreed and pointed out that new buildings could be designed and constructed with improved car-parking space.
(D) Raising the age of licence holders. Both Mubarak and Hakim were strongly opposed to this. Mubarak thought that young people would simply drive illegally, without licences, something they already do; he felt the problem would simply get worse. Hakim pointed out that beyond 18 many young people went to college and university, and they needed a car to do so.
(E) Salik scheme for AD. Hakim thought it a good idea. He suggested different types of card. To qualify for a card covering a certain area, a motorist would have to prove that he lived or worked there. Mubarak disagreed, saying it would lead to many drivers being forced to take lengthy detours, thus wasting valuable time.
(F) Parking schemes. Hedley was strongly in favour of parking permits; he has one and now it’s easier to park where he lives. Mubarak wanted more underground parking. Hakim thought that all new buildings should be legally required to have at least 2 floor levels for parking, whether underground or not.
(G) Staggered hours. This was an additional item for the agenda brought up by Hakim, who’d done some research on the subject. Mubarak felt the idea was rather confusing: good in theory but unsure whether it would work in practice.
Mubarak summarized by saying there’d been most agreement on 3 of the solutions: improving the existing road system, relocation of buildings off-island and parking schemes. He said we all agreed that a public rail system would be a benefit but we could foresee several technical and expenditure problems. He said we couldn’t agree on how a Salik system would work. Finally he said we were completely against raising the age of licence holders.
Mubarak closed the meeting at 1555.
703 words
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