HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

Poor Memory is a Myth You do not have a weak memory, even though you think so. In fact, did you know you don’t even have a "memory" or "place" in your brain where you store pictures or information? Memory is actually a mental activity by which information is "impressed" either faintly or strongly in your nervous system. Be encouraged! You can organize and direct your mental activity, or remembering, to make strong information "impressions" (neural traces). In other words, you can remember--lots better than you do now. "How?" you ask. Follow these principles: The Four R’s of Remembering RESOLVE: Have a serious intention to remember the lecture or textbook material. This differs from trying to concentrate. When you try to concentrate, you focus on your own emotions and mental condition. Don’t do this. Simply try to remember the information--your focus is then on the subject instead of yourself. This way, you will remember the information better. Research claims that one of the most important factors in a memory task is the "predisposition to remember." REACT: Actively respond to the things you want to remember. Becoming a more highly reactive person has the side benefit of raising your level of mental activity in general. When you get involved in a subject by reacting several ways, it won’t "pass in one ear and out the other." Ways you can react: Think about it, making a picture of it mentally, write it down, generate a feeling (emotional research) to it, talk it over (to self or others), or apply it practically to daily life activities. REFLECT: Think deeply about the information you want to remember. Associate the new idea or fact with something you already know about and are interested in. Make an analogy (comparison of similar aspects) between your subject and what you already knew. For example, when presented with the fact that a tomato is really a fruit, connect the information with all that you know about the category "fruits." Asking yourself questions helps you associate facts and ideas. For example, ask what the qualities of a tomato are that cause it to be categorized as a fruit. The more interested you become, and the more you learn about this fact, the better you will remember it. REFRESH: Brush up your memories as soon as you learn the new information. Review immediately to make stronger "neural traces" or "information impressions" in your brain. To make sure you don’t start forgetting the information, go over it (preferably from notes, so you don’t recall it inaccurately) right after class or study session, once again at bedtime, and then a few times in the following two weeks. If you wait till the semester ends, you’ll have to relearn the material by cramming. By refreshing right away, you’ll really learn and remember the material. How to Put the Four R’s of Remembering to Work for You The following two exercises are models for you to follow in using principles of remembering in daily life. We assume you’re already applying the first principle of resolving(intending) to remember. EXERCISE 1: Memorizing a List of Non-Related Items in Sequence Sample List: 100491884 First, break the items into three groups of 2-4 parts. Say them (react) aloud with pauses between the groups, as you would if repeating your social security number. Like this - "100, 49, 1884." (This is using a rhythmic device to retain sequential order). Now, relate each group to something you know or enjoy (reflect). For example, if you were interested in the history of the California Gold Rush, you could make a little story to attach "significance" to the numbers. Like this: "There were only a hundred (100) forty-niners (49-big gold rush year) left in California in 1884." Next, refresh this memory (100-49’ers-in 1884) several times the day you learn it, and a couple of times within the following two weeks. will continue....

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

Poor Memory is a Myth You do not have a weak memory, even though you think so. In fact, did you know you don’t even have a "memory" or "place" in your brain where you store pictures or information? Memory is actually a mental activity by which information is "impressed" either faintly or strongly in your nervous system. Be encouraged! You can organize and direct your mental activity, or remembering, to make strong information "impressions" (neural traces). In other words, you can remember--lots better than you do now. "How?" you ask. Follow these principles: The Four R’s of Remembering RESOLVE: Have a serious intention to remember the lecture or textbook material. This differs from trying to concentrate. When you try to concentrate, you focus on your own emotions and mental condition. Don’t do this. Simply try to remember the information--your focus is then on the subject instead of yourself. This way, you will remember the information better. Research claims that one of the most important factors in a memory task is the "predisposition to remember." REACT: Actively respond to the things you want to remember. Becoming a more highly reactive person has the side benefit of raising your level of mental activity in general. When you get involved in a subject by reacting several ways, it won’t "pass in one ear and out the other." Ways you can react: Think about it, making a picture of it mentally, write it down, generate a feeling (emotional research) to it, talk it over (to self or others), or apply it practically to daily life activities. REFLECT: Think deeply about the information you want to remember. Associate the new idea or fact with something you already know about and are interested in. Make an analogy (comparison of similar aspects) between your subject and what you already knew. For example, when presented with the fact that a tomato is really a fruit, connect the information with all that you know about the category "fruits." Asking yourself questions helps you associate facts and ideas. For example, ask what the qualities of a tomato are that cause it to be categorized as a fruit. The more interested you become, and the more you learn about this fact, the better you will remember it. REFRESH: Brush up your memories as soon as you learn the new information. Review immediately to make stronger "neural traces" or "information impressions" in your brain. To make sure you don’t start forgetting the information, go over it (preferably from notes, so you don’t recall it inaccurately) right after class or study session, once again at bedtime, and then a few times in the following two weeks. If you wait till the semester ends, you’ll have to relearn the material by cramming. By refreshing right away, you’ll really learn and remember the material. How to Put the Four R’s of Remembering to Work for You The following two exercises are models for you to follow in using principles of remembering in daily life. We assume you’re already applying the first principle of resolving(intending) to remember. EXERCISE 1: Memorizing a List of Non-Related Items in Sequence Sample List: 100491884 First, break the items into three groups of 2-4 parts. Say them (react) aloud with pauses between the groups, as you would if repeating your social security number. Like this - "100, 49, 1884." (This is using a rhythmic device to retain sequential order). Now, relate each group to something you know or enjoy (reflect). For example, if you were interested in the history of the California Gold Rush, you could make a little story to attach "significance" to the numbers. Like this: "There were only a hundred (100) forty-niners (49-big gold rush year) left in California in 1884." Next, refresh this memory (100-49’ers-in 1884) several times the day you learn it, and a couple of times within the following two weeks. will continue....

HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MEMORY

Poor Memory is a Myth You do not have a weak memory, even though you think so. In fact, did you know you don’t even have a "memory" or "place" in your brain where you store pictures or information? Memory is actually a mental activity by which information is "impressed" either faintly or strongly in your nervous system. Be encouraged! You can organize and direct your mental activity, or remembering, to make strong information "impressions" (neural traces). In other words, you can remember--lots better than you do now. "How?" you ask. Follow these principles: The Four R’s of Remembering RESOLVE: Have a serious intention to remember the lecture or textbook material. This differs from trying to concentrate. When you try to concentrate, you focus on your own emotions and mental condition. Don’t do this. Simply try to remember the information--your focus is then on the subject instead of yourself. This way, you will remember the information better. Research claims that one of the most important factors in a memory task is the "predisposition to remember." REACT: Actively respond to the things you want to remember. Becoming a more highly reactive person has the side benefit of raising your level of mental activity in general. When you get involved in a subject by reacting several ways, it won’t "pass in one ear and out the other." Ways you can react: Think about it, making a picture of it mentally, write it down, generate a feeling (emotional research) to it, talk it over (to self or others), or apply it practically to daily life activities. REFLECT: Think deeply about the information you want to remember. Associate the new idea or fact with something you already know about and are interested in. Make an analogy (comparison of similar aspects) between your subject and what you already knew. For example, when presented with the fact that a tomato is really a fruit, connect the information with all that you know about the category "fruits." Asking yourself questions helps you associate facts and ideas. For example, ask what the qualities of a tomato are that cause it to be categorized as a fruit. The more interested you become, and the more you learn about this fact, the better you will remember it. REFRESH: Brush up your memories as soon as you learn the new information. Review immediately to make stronger "neural traces" or "information impressions" in your brain. To make sure you don’t start forgetting the information, go over it (preferably from notes, so you don’t recall it inaccurately) right after class or study session, once again at bedtime, and then a few times in the following two weeks. If you wait till the semester ends, you’ll have to relearn the material by cramming. By refreshing right away, you’ll really learn and remember the material. How to Put the Four R’s of Remembering to Work for You The following two exercises are models for you to follow in using principles of remembering in daily life. We assume you’re already applying the first principle of resolving(intending) to remember. EXERCISE 1: Memorizing a List of Non-Related Items in Sequence Sample List: 100491884 First, break the items into three groups of 2-4 parts. Say them (react) aloud with pauses between the groups, as you would if repeating your social security number. Like this - "100, 49, 1884." (This is using a rhythmic device to retain sequential order). Now, relate each group to something you know or enjoy (reflect). For example, if you were interested in the history of the California Gold Rush, you could make a little story to attach "significance" to the numbers. Like this: "There were only a hundred (100) forty-niners (49-big gold rush year) left in California in 1884." Next, refresh this memory (100-49’ers-in 1884) several times the day you learn it, and a couple of times within the following two weeks. will continue....

LIFE IN MARS 2

Dreamy concept imagines life in a Mars colony: Assuming we get there soon, what would life in a Mars colony look like? German firm ZA Architects' latest projectexplores the concept of establishing an underground colony on the red planet. The plan calls for robots to be sent to Mars to analyze its surface and choose the correct place for drilling. After identifying the strength of various basalt deposits, the robots would then drill into the rock, excavating a giant cavern with large skylights, supported by enormous basalt columns. After the cavern is created, humans would then, to quote the architects, "rush to Mars" to finish construction and put technical facilities for water, oxygen, and basalt processing in place. The robots would then concern themselves with weaving a "spatial spider-like web" that functions as a stairway and second floor with space for technical facilities. "Curiosity sooner or later will bring human[s] to Mars and wouldn't it be nice to have permanent station to explore it?" Arina Ageeva of ZA Architects tells Dezeen. Definitely more art than science It's an extremely far-fetched plan. First, the cost would be astronomical — basalt is a tough material to excavate, requiring especially strong drills. Second, depending on how quickly it cools, basalt can also be very porous — a big problem in an alien atmosphere — and there's no mention of how the robots will assess it's suitability to keep toxic gases at bay. Third, the skylights, which appear to have very few fail-safes in place, are an obvious weak point — should one fail, it would surely lead to the death of the Mars base's inhabitants. So ZA Architects' plan is definitely conceptual, and not particularly grounded in science, but that doesn't stop it from being a beautiful vision of an off-world colony.

LIFE IN MARS 2

Dreamy concept imagines life in a Mars colony: Assuming we get there soon, what would life in a Mars colony look like? German firm ZA Architects' latest projectexplores the concept of establishing an underground colony on the red planet. The plan calls for robots to be sent to Mars to analyze its surface and choose the correct place for drilling. After identifying the strength of various basalt deposits, the robots would then drill into the rock, excavating a giant cavern with large skylights, supported by enormous basalt columns. After the cavern is created, humans would then, to quote the architects, "rush to Mars" to finish construction and put technical facilities for water, oxygen, and basalt processing in place. The robots would then concern themselves with weaving a "spatial spider-like web" that functions as a stairway and second floor with space for technical facilities. "Curiosity sooner or later will bring human[s] to Mars and wouldn't it be nice to have permanent station to explore it?" Arina Ageeva of ZA Architects tells Dezeen. Definitely more art than science It's an extremely far-fetched plan. First, the cost would be astronomical — basalt is a tough material to excavate, requiring especially strong drills. Second, depending on how quickly it cools, basalt can also be very porous — a big problem in an alien atmosphere — and there's no mention of how the robots will assess it's suitability to keep toxic gases at bay. Third, the skylights, which appear to have very few fail-safes in place, are an obvious weak point — should one fail, it would surely lead to the death of the Mars base's inhabitants. So ZA Architects' plan is definitely conceptual, and not particularly grounded in science, but that doesn't stop it from being a beautiful vision of an off-world colony.

LIFE IN MARS PLANET

European researchers want to send snake robots to Mars: Can snake-like robots do a better job exploring Mars than the wheeled rovers humans have previously sent to the red planet? That's the working theory of researchers at the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF), who believe that such a bot could help tackle the primary challenge in navigating Mars: maneuverability. A snake robot could slither into tight, confined areas that a larger rover simply wouldn't be able to access, they say. This would allow scientists to collect invaluable samples from regions of Mars that have previously been difficult or impossible to reach. Of course, the tiny size of such a robot presents other hurdles, and SINTEF's researchers think the ideal solution would pair a snake robot with a more traditional rover that could traverse large distances more efficiently. "One option is to make the robot into one of the vehicle's arms, with the ability to disconnect and reconnect itself, so that it can be lowered to the ground, where it can crawl about independently," says researcher Aksel Transeth. This approach would carry another potential benefit; the snake robot could potentially help free a rover if it were to become stuck on the Mars surface — as Spirit did in 2009. Another scenario could see the snake-like bot situated underneath or on top of the rover. That would require scientists to build in a "hoisting" mechanism so the rover could retrieve its companion robot. The research is extremely early; SINTEF is currently conducting a feasibility study for the European Space Agency. They've promised to deliver a more thorough report in December that outlines other challenges and "potential snags." And there are many. Speaking to ABC News, robotics professor Howie Choset said, "There are a lot of challenges that we still have to address. We're still having a hard time figuring out how to make these robots work in bumpy and highly confined spaces here on Earth." NASA plans to send its next rover to Mars in 2020.

LIFE IN MARS PLANET

European researchers want to send snake robots to Mars: Can snake-like robots do a better job exploring Mars than the wheeled rovers humans have previously sent to the red planet? That's the working theory of researchers at the Foundation for Scientific and Industrial Research (SINTEF), who believe that such a bot could help tackle the primary challenge in navigating Mars: maneuverability. A snake robot could slither into tight, confined areas that a larger rover simply wouldn't be able to access, they say. This would allow scientists to collect invaluable samples from regions of Mars that have previously been difficult or impossible to reach. Of course, the tiny size of such a robot presents other hurdles, and SINTEF's researchers think the ideal solution would pair a snake robot with a more traditional rover that could traverse large distances more efficiently. "One option is to make the robot into one of the vehicle's arms, with the ability to disconnect and reconnect itself, so that it can be lowered to the ground, where it can crawl about independently," says researcher Aksel Transeth. This approach would carry another potential benefit; the snake robot could potentially help free a rover if it were to become stuck on the Mars surface — as Spirit did in 2009. Another scenario could see the snake-like bot situated underneath or on top of the rover. That would require scientists to build in a "hoisting" mechanism so the rover could retrieve its companion robot. The research is extremely early; SINTEF is currently conducting a feasibility study for the European Space Agency. They've promised to deliver a more thorough report in December that outlines other challenges and "potential snags." And there are many. Speaking to ABC News, robotics professor Howie Choset said, "There are a lot of challenges that we still have to address. We're still having a hard time figuring out how to make these robots work in bumpy and highly confined spaces here on Earth." NASA plans to send its next rover to Mars in 2020.

THAT IS GOOGLE

Android Google is done selling the Nexus 4 in the US The Nexus 4's run in Google Play is now over. On Monday, Google's online storefront sold out of the 16GB versionof the flagship phone in the US, and a trusted source with knowledge of the company's plans tells The Vergethat this marks the end for the LG-built device. Google has no plans to bring it back in stock in any storage size. A few Nexus 4 handsets remain on sale through Google Play in other countries, but once those devices are sold, that'll be it. Last week, Google sold out of its remaining 8GB Nexus 4inventory after a clearance price cut. Google's decision to stop selling the Nexus 4 comes amid rumors that it and LG will team up for a follow up Nexus smartphone, possibly called the Nexus 5. In a video announcing the next major update to Android, version 4.4 KitKat, a Google employee was filmed holding up a new smartphone that features a horizontal Nexus logomuch like the branding seen on the new Nexus 7. Last week, pictures of what might be a fully assembled Nexus 5 appeared in an FCC filing. With the Nexus 4 no longer being sold by Google in the US, updated hardware might not be too far off.

THAT GOOGLE

Android Google is done selling the Nexus 4 in the US The Nexus 4's run in Google Play is now over. On Monday, Google's online storefront sold out of the 16GB versionof the flagship phone in the US, and a trusted source with knowledge of the company's plans tells The Vergethat this marks the end for the LG-built device. Google has no plans to bring it back in stock in any storage size. A few Nexus 4 handsets remain on sale through Google Play in other countries, but once those devices are sold, that'll be it. Last week, Google sold out of its remaining 8GB Nexus 4inventory after a clearance price cut. Google's decision to stop selling the Nexus 4 comes amid rumors that it and LG will team up for a follow up Nexus smartphone, possibly called the Nexus 5. In a video announcing the next major update to Android, version 4.4 KitKat, a Google employee was filmed holding up a new smartphone that features a horizontal Nexus logomuch like the branding seen on the new Nexus 7. Last week, pictures of what might be a fully assembled Nexus 5 appeared in an FCC filing. With the Nexus 4 no longer being sold by Google in the US, updated hardware might not be too far off.

IMPRESSED INTERNET BY NEW IPHONE

Internet, Wall Street unimpressed by new iPhone Underwhelmed. That, in a word, was the response in many quarters to Apple's rollout of two new iPhones on Tuesday. With the iPhone 5S, the industry's leading smartphone got a quicker processor, better camera and new fingerprint security scanner. With the iPhone 5C, it got less expensive and more colorful. And yet, from the Internet to Wall Street, Apple got savaged mercilessly. "Much-hyped iPhone announcements from the tech giant did little to stop (Apple's) year-long descent into stagnation," wrote Marcus Wohlsen in Wired, a CNN.com content partner. "Though the faster, sleeker, more powerful phone is unarguably cool, the steps forward are still incremental. And incremental isn't what the world expects from Apple." Even The Onion, whose spot-on satire can sometimes be a brutal contact sport, mocked Apple CEO Tim Cook's presentation with a story headlined, "Apple Unveils Panicked Man With No Ideas." "The white, ultrathin man, who exhibited such features as artificial excitement, a fully quavering voice, and what appeared to be a near total lack of inspiration, was put on full display for thousands of shareholders, industry insiders, reporters, and fans today in what Apple hopes will be a game-changer for the multinational corporation," read the article. Add to that a chorus of tongue-clucking from an oft-skeptical tech blogosphere, the short-form snark of Twitter, sideswipes from competitors and jitters on Wall Street, and you're a long way away from the fantastical "reality distortion field" that Steve Jobs famously conjured whenever he pitched a new idea or product to an adoring world. But is all this criticism fair? Harder to make a splash To some, Apple is a victim of its own success. After revolutionizing mobile technology with the iPod, iPhone and iPad, unveiling a device that feels more like an upgrade than a game-changer may feel to loyal fans like a breach of trust. "When a company has positioned itself on the foundation of innovation, the idea of not innovating in a new product introduction can be a commercial nightmare," said Ronald Goodstein, an associate professor of marketing at Georgetown University. "Apple has consistently bet the house on innovation, and has a great winning record in the past 15 years. For them to introduce a 'me too' product is against what they stand for ... . "This is not to say that the new phone is not good. Its quality is fine," Goodstein told CNN. "But to develop a new product that is in violation of their stated brand association is inconsistent." Technically, there were smartphones before the iPhone and tablets before the iPad. But by fine-tuning design concepts and making them accessible to the mass market, Apple established itself as a hothouse for cutting-edge consumer technology. But Tuesday's iPhones were the seventh and eighth versions of the aging iconic device. After six years on the market, some say there's simply no way the iPhone can cause a seismic shift in smartphone technology every 12 months. "It's really easy for people to be disappointed and be critical and you're looking at Twitter and all these tech people, they're ripping Apple ... ," tech writer Rocco Pendola, of TheStreet.com, said to CNN's Jake Tapper. "Yes, they are less exciting. Tim Cook is not Steve Jobs. We're not in a situation where they roll out the next big thing and surprise us at the end of the presentation. We have to come to grips with that. We have to live with that." Adds CNET's Charles Cooper: "The magic's gone out of the smartphone business, leaving companies and their advocates to argue about slightly faster processors, more megapixels, or slightly improved battery life. That's progress, but it's the equivalent of three yards and a cloud of dust. "Smartphones ... belong a maturing industry, which means that it's going to get harder and harder for any company -- Apple, Samsung, or any other would-be challenger -- to make a splash." Innovation in new forms? In other words, competition changes expectations. During its first few years of existence, the smartphone market was basically the iPhone and a handful of competitors trying desperately to catch up with the iPhone. Now, while it remains the top-selling handset, the iPhone only accounts for about 17% of the world's smartphones. Phones running Google's Android operating system come in an array of sizes and styles and with a plethora of features. "There is always room for 'Wow!' But, the fact is that when someone does wow the market, over time that feature or benefit becomes a 'must have' for the industry," said Georgetown's Goodstein. "It takes very little time until all brands offer that feature or benefit, and it goes from "wow" to being the ante to play in the game." Carolina Milanesi, a tech analyst with Gartner Research, says that the true quantum leaps for tech companies probably won't be in smartphones anymore.