My Term Paper (Blog#5)

My term paper is about the implementation of the iris recognition technology as security systems from highly restricted areas to personal properties. This tackles a lot about biometrics and how beneficial it is to society.

In today's world, crime rates and threats to national security have increased. Everyone has nurtured and prioritized their greed too much that almost everyone has become anyone's next victim. Relying solely on the protection of the law isn't enough for guaranteed safety because today's generation is a race for technology advancement. We are living in a world with ghastly-minded people who have tried all sorts of improving the current applied sciences and boosting electronics to the next level all for man's convenience. This has been going on from time to time and even faster in the 21st century that even hashed passwords can be successfully decoded by almost anyone from professional web hackers to plainly obsessed teenagers. Apart from electronic safety, everyone is well aware that keys and cards are prone to loss. There is no possible assurance that one will never lose his or her key. Notions about answers to these problems are now often discussed and all led to Biometrics as the solution.

Biometrics is the art of identifying a person through her physical features, often through recognition. The iris recognition technology is a biometric system that is based on comparison of the recently taken image of the iris pattern with the one stored on the database. From the images captured, mathematical representations of the iris can be made by filtering the image with varying algorithms. These templates contain unique points of a certain person's iris. It also takes into consideration the correlation of the points. A good thing about this technology is that its subject is an iris. The iris is an intrinsic part of our body, in particular, our eyes. It is formed during our eight month gestation and is permanent from then on. Our irises' pattern cannot be altered unless one undergoes certain eye operations such as refractive surgery, cataract surgery and cornea transplants. Its permanence makes its first enrollment enough to last for a lifetime. Hence, there will be stability. This is also its edge against other biometric systems like fingerprint technology. The fingerprint technology uses fingerprints from our fingers, of course. But the downside is our fingers can be cut or scratched due to external factors. In comparison with the voice detection technology, our voice changes over a short period of time. Therefore, it is not stable. This proposes that the iris recognition technology is accurate, precise and reliable.

Aside from accuracy, the iris recognition technology has other benefits. At the point of image acquisition, one can stand even 10cm away from the camera. This means that you can stop worrying about being prone to infections or diseases because no physical contact is made. Also, it cannot be fooled by spoofing. The use of contact lenses causes little changes to the image taken but the template created will still be accurate. Eyeglasses will also not affect the recognition technology. Same foes for sunglasses. But glasses which are highly polarized are too strong for the technology. This will lead to a false reject rate in the system. It will cause an error and the individual can no longer go on with the process nor gain access to the area or to the account.

Several countries have also proven the iris recognition technology's efficiency and commitment to its promise of providing safety, accuracy and convenience. It has helped them in giving privilege to their frequent travelers, confirm identities for their laborers and check on their immigrants who would overstay their applied visas. It is sustainable and trustworthy.

My Term Paper -- the making (Blog#4)

As a college freshman, it is without doubt assumed that one will encounter being required to write a term paper. Something similar to a research paper but involves a thesis statement with all the proving and discussing matters. In my class, our instructor said that the topic should be in line with our discipline. Why? For obvious reasons, the course's descriptive title was Writing in the Discipline. Hence, in the discipline it would be!

At first, It seemed so interesting to me. I figured, "Meh, this will be fun and exciting." . In my highschool years, I loved reporting and writing. I love having to compete in debates, formal or informal. I love proving myself correct or being proved wrong. It doesn't matter. Argumentative discussions thrill me. So I told myself that I should take this term paper requirement seriously.

I started off with reading about what electronics is about. I know it's the whole high-end technology, the gadgets,  the amazing things that are being desired by society. Then I asked myself, "What about it?" . I tried googling (Google) what are good term paper topics. I ended up with topics I didn't understand, it was far too professional for a freshman like me. So I simply read on about electronics and how it gives convenience for every one of us. Reading more and more, I simply couldn't get any idea on what to write about. So I shut my laptop off and pondered for a while. I figured that if I talk about trending gadgets, what does it matter? My professor's voice went on replay in my mind. Simply couldn't forget her words, "Ask yourself. SO WHAT?" . I kept asking myself that question about the topics I've came up with. Then I remembered how awesome it would be if cars would open via fingerprint scanning; how cool it would be if I didn't have to memorize a whole lot of passwords for different accounts over the world wide web; and what ease it would bring if my cabinet would open upon hearing my voice, that I didn't have to panic when losing my keys. I went back on Google and searched what these technologies are called. Then appeared, BIOMETRICS. I was so excited about knowing more. I was eager, definitely. I wanted to learn how these systems work and thought that if they would only apply these systems to the real world, we would be such an awesome generation. I read articles about certain countries implementing them already. I was a bit down when I read those because I had the whole idea in my head that these weren't possible yet; that I was among the first who thought of the idea about installing these systems for security. But then, I thought of it as a good thing. A thing I could benefit from because it would mean I'd get more sources and feedbacks. I could then create a better term paper because experimentations about the statement have already been done universally. After reading and reading, feedbacks and discussions with statistical tables of different biometric systems, I chose the best and less opposed. The one which was guaranteed to counteract the threats to national security; one which would offer convenience and safety for everyone. That was the iris recognition technology.

It was fun researching, reading and coming up with conclusions after reading several sources. But feedbacks were more interesting. I was agreeing with what every user said even if he/she discussed the downsides of my proposal. But again, I enjoyed every minute of doing my term paper. My final thesis statement is "Iris recognition technology: One if the best ways to secure authorized access."

It all depends. (Blog#3)

                Music expresses what plain speech cannot. It soothes our minds and moves us in many ways. Songs have signified certain experiences. Songs have become syndromes and have healed people. Songs are impeccably important for everyone. I, for one, am very inclined to music that it would be impossible for me to pick just one as my favorite. It would be like choosing between my mom and dad or both my sisters. I admire them all in their own ways just as I vary my choice of songs depending on genre and my mood. Say, if I were sad, I’d be listening to songs of gospels to ease my feelings. Every time I hear a song about how much God loves us and will save us, I become enlightened. Whenever the lyrics propose that He would never give you a trial that you cannot surpass, I gain confidence and feel better because I take in my mind that He trusted me in fulfilling his will. Then, God endows a smile on my face.  My favorite song when I am troubled is “Go the distance” by Michael Bolton. But I wouldn’t just listen to it. I would watch a clipped scene from Disney’s Hercules where Hercules sings the song. It occurs to me that shedding a couple of tears cannot be stopped.  The song is very uplifting. It emphasizes that you should not lose hope no matter how many times you fall. Like Nick Vujivic’s line “If I fail and I give up, do you think I’m going to get anywhere? No. What matters is I’m going to finish strong”. He wanted us to know that it’s never the end even if you feel like you own all the problems of the world. Another great song would be "When You Believe" by Mariah Carey. It's a very inspirational song. The song's message is an encouragement for those down and depressed.

                On the contrary, when I feel happy, I’d be dancing to “Magic” by B.O.B.. Every time I hear this song, I can’t stop swaying and jumping on my bed. I just feel so hyperactive and carefree. The song is so dynamic. On plain days, I love listening to "Affirmation" by Savage Garden. I can really relate to the song because I feel like we have the same perceptions about certain aspects. Every time a sentence has just been sung, I'd go like "I think so too!". Talk about love, I am definitely a fan of Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. Taylor expresses what girls want to say. Bruno sings what every girl wants to hear. I love both their voices; Taylor’s country style of songs fits her, as well as Bruno’s admirable singing to RnB music. In contrast, my favorite would be “Forget You” by Cee Lo Green. It has a catchy tune, contains bitter statements and I just love the lyrics. Not because I can relate but perhaps, I wish to relate myself so I could feel the might and pride in the song.

                When we talk about musicality, the passion for rhythm and style, I'd choose "Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. I’d listen to Sam Tsui’s version of the song which was a remake of the Glee’s version. But I still consider the original as a classic favorite. This song has got me humming it over and over. Trending songs also become my favorite but only for a short while. It would be the last song syndrome case for staying in tune with the billboard’s hot 100 too much. Often, I do not understand the messages of the music releases in today's generation. It's practically nonsense or maybe I lack sense of comprehension but I wouldn't consider myself musically underdeveloped when it comes to understanding song messages. Trending songs would be stuck in my head all day but they come and go. That's why they're just "trends". In relation to love, it would be something similar to a spur of the moment. It could never replace classic songs by Michael Jackson and John Lennon, etc. I support songs about nature and those against the evils of society. Songs like "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson. I love Michael Jackson's music. He is, of course, the King of Pop after Elvis. I consider him one of the best musicians Hollywood or the music industry has ever produced.

                In conclusion, I don’t have any particular favorite. I love music-- All kinds of it. Music has done great things for me that no one can barely do. It helped me and lifted me up. I listen to music because of the need to express. Sometimes, I listen because it makes me feel like someone's accompanying me in the situation I am going through. That feeling of having someone go through with you in times of joy and sorrow is magnificent. It feels great. Then may I say that songs touch the soul. It can change moods because it appeals to our minds-- our consciousness. It is that powerful. I could be plainly pokerfaced all day but after listening to a certain song, I could turn out to be the happiest girl at that instance. Music is about expression of feelings; expression of the inner thoughts. And thoughts and feelings vary from time to time so one song, for me, is would not be enough to become an all-time favorite.