Friday, November 27, 2015

The UAE - 44 Years down the lane.....


THE UAE



Our major aims focus on raising the standard of living of our citizens and the development of our country. One’s homeland is like a tree which constantly requires the care and attention of its citizens. Every UAE citizen is committed to serve his nation and work toward its prosperity and welfare.” This was one of the many inspirational messages quoted by Sheikh Zayed.
To build up a great and developed nation from nothing but a barren desert is not an easy task.  This was the task taken up by Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid after they decided to unite both their emirates. After 5 more emirates decided to join the union, with a single aim of building up a strong and developed nation, it was evident that the UAE was going to become one of the best nations in the world.
The discovery of oil was a major point in the history of the UAE, which led to the start of fast paced development across all the emirates. High rise buildings, long and wide roads, and excellent living conditions were all established within a short period. But never did they know that the UAE was going to become a global hub. As the job opportunities increased, migration rates rocketed sky high and the UAE was filled with people of more than 200 nationalities, of which the major constituent is from India. This is the same reason that we are here. As the population increased over the years, the need for more development was persistent. Smart transport systems, like the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and Water taxi were introduced.
Large industrial areas, like the Jebel Ali Free Zone Area was developed. Many different colleges and universities were started. So, the UAE began to gain international acceptance and importance.
The UAE wants to be the first in all aspects possible. The tallest building Burj Khalifa, the largest manmade island Palm Jumeirah and to be one of the few countries selected to host the Expo 2020 are only some of the major feats achieved by the UAE. But this doesn’t mean that the rich culture and heritage is avoided. Many campaigns, festivals and events are promoted and conducted to spread awareness of its culture and history to all the citizens, especially focusing on the new generation of young people like us, who live in a world of luxury. We need to be shown how this country was developed to what great heights it has achieved today.
Last but not the least, the UAE is a mix of diverse cultures, ranging from America to South Asia mixed in with the local Emiratis. Interacting with people from these many different backgrounds enables us to increase our social and interaction skills. When I came here, I was like an empty vessel, but the UAE filled me up with knowledge, confidence and dignity.
I feel really proud to be staying in such a diverse, developed and strong nation. Even though 44 years have passed since that great day on 2nd December 1971, the UAE is still young. The story of this country is just beginning, and many pages have yet to be filled. I can’t conclude without paying tribute to the soldiers who put heir life at risk for the nation. I wish that this nation reaches even more greater heights in the future.




Friday, October 16, 2015

THE AGE OF AUTONOMOUS CARS.

THE AGE OF AUTONOMOUS CARS


The American company Tesla Automobiles has released a software update for their smart electric car Model S, which allows it to drive autonomously. That word "autonomously" is an important one. It means the car thinks for itself without you having to hold the steering wheel, put your foot on the brake or gas pedal. The car is already equipped with 16 sensors. It senses obstacles and cars with the waves the sensor produces. It is kind of like the ultrasonic waves produced by a bat, which allows it to sense objects in the dark. It also has lane changing assist, which allows the car to change lanes automatically. You just need to switch on your indicator, and you will change to your desired lane within seconds, all without touching the steering of the car.

Carmakers are keen to draw a distinction between autonomous cars and self-driving cars and with good reasons of self-interest. Autonomous cars will look like the vehicles we drive today, taking over from the driver under certain circumstances. Self-driving cars are a stage further on. The steering wheel will disappear completely and the vehicle will do all the driving using the same system of sensors, radar and GPS mapping that autonomous vehicles employ. While some personal cars will remain, a fleet of shared vehicles will likely fill the streets of towns and cities.


The main aim of introducing autonomous cars is to reduce the number of accidents, which topped in at 5,419,000 last year. Many people who drive regularly have problems like neck pain due to the stress. It relieves the driver of the task of navigating and driving, which makes the stress free. It can also increase the speed at which we reach places. The cars will go at higher speeds, as they will drive autonomously and will keep a safe distance between them even at high speeds.

This also opens opportunities for carpooling. Instead of one person going to work in one car, he could also call his friends to go in his car. This saves a lot of fuel and produces a less amount of CO2 emissions. When cars drive autonomously, this can be extended to a greater scale. After dropping a few people to work or any other place, it can go to collect more people and collect them too. This leads to a great reduction in the emission level.

The concept of autonomously driving cars, which has now almost become a reality, does not come without its own constrains. The car’s software or computer can malfunction, if it is not stable under high loads of information. This could potentially increase the risk of accidents. Current road infrastructure may also need to be changed to support these cars.

At the end of the road, all these developments show how much the human race has developed in the field of technology, and the ultimate aim is to reduce emissions and global warming. From a different perspective, global warming was the change that lead us to create many new technological developments as this. If we all adopt eco-friendly methods of transportation, along with other factors, we can turn the tables for the global warming effect and make the earth a better place to live in.