Factors to consider when buying a PC/laptop

Factors to consider when buying a PC/laptop

It's important to buy a laptop or PC that can cater to your needs. With the technology out there you can certainly find something you want and need. You can easily go into a shop and get overwhelmed and confused with all the different brands, sizes, prices, memory etc. These are just some factors to consider if you are a Psychology student looking for a computer or laptop!
 
Price/Budget: Ask yourself how much you want or can spend on your computer or laptop. The different options you go for can change the price greatly!
Usage: What are you using this computer for? University assignments and going on the web? Or are you going to be gaming online? If you are only using it for assignments and going online you won't need a high speed Wi-Fi or good quality graphics card. You would spend more on the GPU than the CPU for gaming.
 
Operating System: Most PC sold in shops has Microsoft’s consumer operating system. Windows XP Home or Vista Home Basic is good if all you need is write documents, spread sheets, e-mail, and use the Internet. Many have discovered the business versions of Microsoft’s operating system offer many features and they might need it a few years down the road! So be sure when buying a laptop that it comes with the Microsoft operating system that you need! But like I said Windows XP Home or Vista Home Basic is all you would need as a Psychology student!
 
CPU: There is dual-core and quad-core CPU. If you're not running intensive, threaded applications you won't need a quad-core processor. Intel’s new Core 2 Duo CPUs apparently perform exceptionally well and should be good for you guys doing this course!
 
RAM/Memory: Memory is really important! If you want to have a good performance and being able to run things simultaneously this is crucial! Many Windows Vista laptops have 1GB of RAM but this typically won't be enough. The normal would be 2GB of RAM if you like to keep multiple windows open while reading your email, surf the internet and work on your assignments!
 
Screen size/weight: Make sure to select the right size of the screen and weigh of your laptop before purchasing. For example, a 17ich widescreen could be great but it could be too big. You'll be traveling with your laptop and17inch could just be too big to carry with you on the train, airplane or in class! 12inch models are much easier to carry and much lighter!
 
Wireless: Make sure your laptop contains the Wi-Fi technology you use! Integrated 802.11g wireless is great! MAKE SURE you read the specification closely to make sure the Wi-Fi requirements is what you need and want!
 
Battery life: Battery life is very important. There are a few options for battery life. You can either buy two batteries and you can switch when one goes dead. However, this could be a hassle and if you don't want to do this, you can upgrade to 9 or 12 cell batteries instead of the standard 6 cell batteries. Bigger batteries almost always last longer! Also look out for battery capacity!

 

References:  http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/10things/10-things-to-look-for-in-a-laptop/250
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The danger of Social Networking

The Dangers of Social Networking

Social networks are very popular these days. I think our culture and world is very much immerse in sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, MySpace, LinkedIn and the list goes on. Although social networking has its positive, there are also many negative aspects involved. As social networking becomes more popular, issues start to arise. The likes of cyber bullying, cyber stalking and many more are all increasing dangers not only for teenagers but adults as well.

Facebook, Founded by Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard student is one of the biggest Social websites in the world. It houses millions of games and applications but the main function is for people to connect with families and friends no matter where they are. Because you can have as many friends as you'd like, some people would add people they hardly know or sometimes, someone they don't know.

Many have become victims of armed robbery or frauds like Cynthia, a student of the University of Nassarawa. She was drugged killed and robbed by 'friends' she made on Facebook. This shocked many people in Nigeria.

Some questions the misguided use of social media and some feel there is nothing wrong with the social network as many businesses are still connected to the medium. Nearly everyone in the world is connectable with at least one social networking portal (Facebook, Skype or Yahoo messenger, etc.). These networks are great for connecting with people around the globe but it comes with many dangers as some use it for scams, frauds and other purposes.

There are mixed reviews from individuals and expert opinions. Mrs Oluwabumni Anthony, a secondary teacher felt that with the increase popularity with social media, Student's attention spam are shorter and many cling on to their phone 24/7. Mr Johnson Korode feels that if you are cautious the advantages out weights the disadvantage and that it bring people from different religion, ethnicity and ages, closer.

Mr Gbenga Sesan, the Executive Director of Paradigm Initiative believes social media would still be a communication portal where students, business executives and many more will meet and connect. He felt that if you meet someone online that is a friend of someone you know, you can easily confirm with them before taking the risk of meeting them in person.

There is definitely an increase in cyber-crime in the past few years. Why commit a crime when you can do it online and anonymously or create a fake account? With the rise of cyber stalking, all they need to do is to log on instead of hanging around your house. You might think this isn't as scary as real life stalking but it is very much the same.

Karen Allison left his husband because he's been abusive. Naturally she thought he wouldn't let her go easily. Immediately after their marriage ended, she started getting sexually explicit text messages and photographs on her phone. The husband even posted her details as available for sexual services on a website for cross-dressers and sado-masochists.

He was only imposed with a restraining order of 100 yards of Karen and banned from posting her details online.

In a recent survey on British crime, 6% of men and 8% of women have been stalked in the previous year. 20% of all women are stalked at some stage during their lives. Shockingly, more than 200 women leave the U.K because their lives have become so difficult they just can't bear it anymore; the average length a woman is stalked is 7 and a half year. This is crazy! Imagining your live being ruined by possibly your ex or someone you don't know. No one deserves to go through this agony.

Many of these women are stalked by their ex's because they refuse to believe their relationship has ended. These 'obsessional stalkers' has the attitude that if I can't have her no one can. They don't just get texts messages but emails containing pornographic photographs, videos of themselves or any form of sexually explicit materials. Some even get sexually explicit material to their work emails. This can cause humiliation and possibly ruin their careers.

You would imagine stalkers as loners but there are growing numbers of community online ( Avengers Den and Get Revenge on Your Ex) that will help you plan your 'revenge' against your ex's. The things they would do are just disturbing. They offered a service called "fake SMS". What this basically does is you can send a message to someone and make it look like it came from someone else.

I think there should definitely be more awareness raised on these issues. Cyber stalking can affect people greatly and it takes a long time for the victims to recover, if they ever do. They may never trust people again and many change their names and move away from their homes. I think everyone should be educated on the dangers of social networks. Don't get me wrong, I think social networks are great and I truly enjoy it but I just feel that we can and should be more conscience of the criminals out there that will take advantage of people.

References:

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/dangers-in-social-networking/124159/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jan/10/ukcrime.prisonsandprobation

Facecrooks

http://facecrooks.com/
A website that educate people about the dangers of social media!!! :)

The Stanford Prison Experiment

 A video clip into the famous Stanford prison experiment done by social psychologist, Philip Zimbardo.

Neurobiologyical basis of psychopathy

Neurobiological basis of psychopathy

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/182/1/5.full

The British journal of Psychiatry

What is psychopathy?

The neural basis of psychopathy etc. 

Useful sites for psychology students

Useful sites for psychology

The Psychological Society of Ireland - http://www.psychologicalsociety.ie/

APA referencing style - http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

 The British Psychological Society - http://www.bps.org.uk/
Genes to Cognition - http://www.g2conline.org/
3D Brain scan

Psychology image.

 

 

 

University of Roehampton, London.
Centre for Research in Cognition, Emotion and Interaction

How quickly can the brain process facial emotions?
http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/Research-Centres/Centre-for-Research-in-Cognition-Emotion-and-Interaction/