The Invention of Velcro

The Invention of Velcro Its hard to imagine what we would do without Velcro, the versatile hook-and-loop fastener used in so many aspects of modern life- from disposable diapers to the aerospace industry. Yet the ingenious invention came about almost by accident. Velcro was the creation of Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral, who had been inspired by a walk in the woods with his dog in 1941. Upon their return home, de Mestral noticed that burrs (from the burdock plant) had attached themselves to his pants and to his dogs fur. De Mestral, an amateur inventor and a curious man by nature, examined the burrs under a microscope. What he saw intrigued him. De Mestral would spend the next 14 years attempting to duplicate what he saw under that microscope before introducing Velcro to the world in 1955. Examining the Burr Most of us have had the experience of burrs clinging to our clothing (or our pets), and considered it a mere annoyance, never wondering why it actually happens. Mother Nature, however, never does anything without a specific reason. Burrs have long served the purpose of ensuring the survival of various plant species. When a burr (a form of a seed pod) attaches itself to an animals fur, it is carried by the animal to another location where it eventually falls off and grows into a new plant. De Mestral was more concerned with the how than the why. How did so small an object exert such a stronghold? Under the microscope, de Mestral could see that the tips of the burr, which appeared to the naked eye as stiff and straight, actually contained tiny hooks that can attach themselves to fibers in clothing, similar to a hook-and-eye fastener. De Mestral knew that if he could somehow recreate the simple hook system of the burr, he would be able to produce an incredibly strong fastener, one with many practical uses. Finding the Right Stuff De Mestrals first challenge was finding a fabric he could use to create a strong bonding system. Enlisting the help of a weaver in Lyon, France (an important textile center), de Mestral first tried using cotton. The weaver produced a prototype with one cotton strip containing thousands of hooks and the other strip made up of thousands of loops. De Mestral found, however, that the cotton was too soft- it could not stand up to repeated openings and closures. For several years, de Mestral continued his research, looking for the best material for his product, as well as the optimal size of loops and hooks. After repeated testing, de Mestral eventually learned that synthetics worked best, and settled on heat-treated nylon, a strong and durable substance. In order to mass-produce his new product, de Mestral also needed to design a special type of loom that could weave the fibers in just the right size, shape, and density- this took him several more years. By 1955, de Mestral had completed his improved version of the product. Each square inch of material contained 300 hooks, a density that had proven strong enough to stay fastened, yet was easy enough to pull apart when needed. Velcro Gets a Name and a Patent De Mestral christened his new product Velcro, from the French words velours (velvet) and crochet (hook). (The name Velcro refers only to the trademarked brand created by de Mestral). In 1955, de Mestral received a patent for Velcro from the Swiss government. He took out a loan to begin mass-producing Velcro, opening plants in Europe and eventually expanding into Canada and the United States. His Velcro USA plant opened in Manchester, New Hampshire in 1957 and is still there today. Velcro Takes Off De Mestral had originally intended Velcro to be used for clothing as a zipper-less zipper, but that idea was not initially successful. During a 1959 New York City fashion show that highlighted clothing with Velcro, critics deemed it ugly and cheap-looking. Velcro thus became associated more with athletic wear and equipment than with haute couture. In the early 1960s, Velcro received a huge boost in popularity when NASA began using the product to keep objects from floating around under zero-gravity conditions. NASA later added Velcro to astronauts space suits and helmets, finding it more convenient than the snaps and zippers that were previously used. In 1968, Velcro replaced shoelaces for the first time when athletic shoe manufacturer Puma introduced the worlds first sneakers fastened with Velcro. Since then, Velcro fasteners have revolutionized footwear for children. Even the very young are able to independently fasten their own Velcro shoes well before they learn how to tie their laces. How We Use Velcro Today Today, Velcro is in use seemingly everywhere, from the healthcare setting (blood pressure cuffs, orthopedic devices, and surgeons gowns) to clothing and footwear, sporting and camping equipment, toys and recreation, airline seat cushions, and more. Most impressively, Velcro was used in the first human artificial heart transplantation to hold together parts of the device. Velcro is also used by the military but has recently undergone some modifications. Because Velcro can be too noisy in a combat setting, and because it has a tendency to become less effective in dust-prone areas (such as Afghanistan), it has been temporarily removed from military uniforms. In 1984, on his late-night television show, comedian David Letterman, wearing a Velcro suit, had himself catapulted onto a Velcro wall. His successful experiment launched a new trend: Velcro-wall jumping. De Mestrals Legacy Over the years, Velcro has evolved from a novelty item into a near-necessity in the developed world. De Mestral very likely never dreamed of how popular his product would become, nor the countless ways it could be used. The process de Mestral used to develop Velcro- examining an aspect of nature and using its properties for practical applications- has come to be known as biomimicry. Thanks to Velcros phenomenal success, de Mestral became a very wealthy man. After his patent expired in 1978, many other companies began producing hook-and-loop fasteners, but none are allowed to call their product Velcro, a trademarked name. Most of us, however- just as we call tissues Kleenex- refer to all hook-and-loop fasteners as Velcro. Georges de Mestral died in 1990 at the age of 82. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1999.

Direct Speech Definition and Examples

Direct Speech Definition and Examples Direct speech is a report of the exact words used by a speaker or writer. Contrast with indirect speech. Also called direct discourse. Direct speech is usually placed inside quotation marks and accompanied by a reporting verb, signal phrase, or quotative frame. Examples and Observations A South Carolina parrot was the sole witness to the death by neglect of a 98-year-old woman. Help me, Help me, said the parrot. Ha ha ha!(reported in Harpers Magazine, February 2011)I went in search of the good beer. Along the way, I caught an intriguing snippet of conversation in the sunroom:â€Å"So if I win at that table, I’ll go on to the World Series,† said the mom I know as some kind of government contractor.â€Å"World Series?† you ask.â€Å"Of Poker,† she replied. â€Å"I went last year.†Whoa.(Petula Dvorak, White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner Has Nothing on Suburban Fete. The Washington Post, May 3, 2012)How old are you? the man asked.The little boy, at the eternal question, looked at the man suspiciously for a minute and then said, Twenty-six. Eight hunnerd and forty eighty.His mother lifted her head from the book. Four, she said, smiling fondly at the little boy.Is that so? the man said politely to the little boy. Twenty -six. He nodded his head at the mother across the aisle. Is that your mother?The little boy leaned forward to look and then said, Yes, thats her.Whats your name? the man asked.The little boy looked suspicious again. Mr. Jesus, he said.(Shirley Jackson, The Witch. The Lottery and Other Stories. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1949) Direct Speech and Indirect Speech While direct speech purports to give a verbatim rendition of the words that were spoken, indirect speech is more variable in claiming to represent a faithful report of the content or content and form of the words that were spoken. It is important to note, however, that the question of whether and how faithful a given speech report actually is, is of a quite different order. Both direct and indirect speech are stylistic devices for conveying messages. The former is used as if the words being used were those of another, which are therefore pivoted to a deictic center different from the speech situation of the report. Indirect speech, in contrast, has its deictic center in the report situation and is variable with respect to the extent that faithfulness to the linguistic form of what was said is being claimed. (Florian Coulmas, Reported Speech: Some General Issues. Direct and Indirect Speech, ed. by F. Coulmas. Walter de Gruyter, 1986) Direct Speech as Drama When a speaking event is reported via direct speech forms, it is possible to include many features that dramatize the way in which an utterance was produced. The quotative frame can also include verbs which indicate the speakers manner of expression (e.g. cry, exclaim, gasp), voice quality (e.g. mutter, scream, whisper), and type of emotion (e.g. giggle, laugh, sob). It can also include adverbs (e.g. angrily, brightly, cautiously, hoarsely, quickly, slowly) and descriptions of the reported speakers style and tone of voice, as illustrated in [5]. [5a] I have some good news, she whispered in a mischievous way.[5b] What is it? he snapped immediately.[5c] Cant you guess? she giggled.[5d] Oh, no! Dont tell me youre pregnant he wailed, with a whining nasal sound in his voice. The literary style of the examples in [5] is associated with an older tradition. In contemporary novels, there is often no indication, other than separate lines, of which character is speaking, as the direct speech forms are presented like a dramatic script, one after the other. (George Yule, Explaining English Grammar. Oxford University Press, 1998) Like: Signaling Direct Speech in Conversation An interesting new way of signaling direct speech has recently developed among younger English speakers and is spreading from the United States to Britain. This occurs entirely in spoken conversation, rather than in writing, . . . but here are some examples anyway. (It may help to imagine an American teenager speaking these examples.) - . . . Though the construction is new [in 1994] and not yet standard, its meaning is very clear. It seems to be used more often to report thoughts rather than actual speech. (James R. Hurford, Grammar: A Students Guide. Cambridge University Press, 1994) Differences in Reported Speech Even in the days of audio and video recording, there can be surprising differences in direct quotations attributed to the same source. A simple comparison of the same speech event covered in different newspapers can illustrate the problem. When his country was not invited to a meeting of the Commonwealth of Nations in 2003, the president of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, said the following in a televised speech, according to The New York Times: If our sovereignty is what we have to lose to be re-admitted into the Commonwealth, Mr. Mugabe was quoted as saying on Friday, we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth. And perhaps the time has now come to say so. (Wines 2003) And the following according to an Associated Press story in the Philadelphia Inquirer. If our sovereignty is to be real, then we will say goodbye to the Commonwealth, [sic; second quotation mark missing] Mugabe said in remarks broadcast on state television. Perhaps the time has come to say so. (Shaw 2003) Did Mugabe produce both versions of these comments? If he gave only one, which published version is accurate? Do the versions have different sources? Are the differences in the exact wording significant or not?(Jeanne Fahnestock, Rhetorical Style: The Uses of Language in Persuasion. Oxford University Press, 2011)

In defense of El Salvador Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

In defense of El Salvador - Essay Example However, rather than understand the situation in El Salvador in the same way that it is represented to the individual via the news media, it is instead important to realize that the situation that exists within the country is quite different from the horrific and grizzly reports that are so often the topic of cautionary tales on late night news shows. Further, even though it is true that nations such as Afghanistan may have a lower â€Å"murder rate†, the security of a traveler in such places can be reduced to a question of how foreigners are viewed and treated.   Accordingly, the level of interaction that violence has with the average tourist or foreigner within El Salvador is extraordinarily small; due in part to the fact that almost all of the violence is predicated upon gang related activity and the quest to control narcotic distribution networks.   This is invariably something that the simple tourist has little knowledge of or interest in; thereby partially shielding them from the eventuality of being caught upon the internecine struggle that has recently defined this otherwise pristine nation within Central America (Olate 384). Firstly, although it is true that El Salvador has a very high murder rate and this causes the would-be tourist or business visitor to be concerned, the reality of the fact is that the violence towards foreigners is relatively on par with any other Central American or Caribbean nation.   Although this does not mean that the stakeholder in society should simply be unconcerned about the rate of violence.

Preators in Roman Law vs Equity in English law Essay

Preators in Roman Law vs Equity in English law - Essay Example This essay stresses that English law remains uncodified just like Roman law, but there exists a vast legal framework comprised of records of cases and the legal principles on which decisions have been made. Therefore one of the most important contributions made by both Roman and English law have been in the maintenance of accurate, meticulous and detailed records f the cases in question. This helps to not only elaborate and consolidate established legal principles for the benefit of future legal personnel, but it also serves as a record for historical purposes. The maintenance of such written records have also been the cause for the initiation of reforms as necessary, when the precedents are found to be inapplicable and are overturned by fresh precedents, which was also done in the same manner in Roman law. This paper makes a conclusion that the Preators made a substantial contribution to the development of equitable, time tested principles that would be able to withstand the test of time. In a similar manner, English law has also made a substantial contribution to furthering the cause of law by introducing measures of equity when the medieval judges began to rely too much on precedent. Thereby by a judicious mix of the old and the new, the current legal system is continuing to evolve, retaining those principles that are worthwhile and rejecting those that are outdated by replacing them with new precedents, to further the cause of justice.

Indigenous And Endangered Essay Example for Free

Indigenous And Endangered Essay The problem on the protection of our forefathers is of great magnitude and of international concern. In Amnesty International’s article entitled, â€Å"Americas: Indigenous people at high risk of human rights violations† , it highlighted the laudable attempt of ten countries in the Americas to protect the rights of their indigenous peoples. In one way or another, our lives can be traced back to the indigenous peoples. Hence, any step taken in order to eliminate the dangers that they face is matter that concerns all of us. The discrimination of indigenous peoples may be rooted in other people’s hunger for power and domination. As the article states, indigenous peoples are subjected to various attacks against their safety and honor. The native tribes in the Americas, such as the Pemon indigenous community, and the Embera-Katio communities of Cordoba, are being used and abused by armed groups such as the paramilitaries in order to fulfill their selfish objectives. In a sense, these indigenous peoples are treated like objects that other people can just use to their advantage, without regard for their dignity and humanity. While development and progress are not bad in themselves, they can be the tools that people may use to justify their violence and disrespect for the lives of indigenous peoples. This is what the article by Amnesty International seeks to prevent, by encouraging governments of countries in the Americas to pursue measures in order to enforce laws protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. Amnesty International recognizes that despite the existence of laws protecting the rights of indigenous peoples in the Americas, these are still insufficient without aid of proper and effective enforcement measures. What might be needed in order to achieve this goal of safeguarding the lives of the tribal communities is the political will of governments in order to pursue such measures. This is due to the fact that if there is actually no will on the part of the executive to ensure the application of enacted laws, all actions by the legislative branch of the government will only be put to naught. Hence, protective laws will only be mere scraps of paper. While the article is informative insofar as giving an introduction about the various occurrences of indigenous peoples-directed discrimination, it does not go as far as enlightening the reader as to the actual content of the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, or Convention 169, which was adopted on 27 June 1989 at the General Conference of the International Labor Organization. This treaty was the background used by the article in talking about the indigenous peoples of the Americas and their current situation. However, the content such treaty was not discussed, and it is not clear whether the occurrences illustrated in the article may actually be prevented by the provisions of the convention. In sum, the article seems like a mere survey of the violations of indigenous peoples’ rights that are taking place in the different countries in the Americas. While it may be a good introduction, it lacks content worthy of a thorough analysis of the issue at hand. It would have been more useful if it also discussed the steps taken by the individual governments of the Americas or by the region as a whole in making sure that the enforcement measures are put into place and made effective. The reader would have also been more informed of the situation of the tribal communities if a brief background of each was given. In any case, the article on indigenous peoples was intriguing and engaging enough for the reader, and might even prompt a search for other materials on the subject. Perhaps the reader may be encouraged to read further on challenging impunity, which it describes as â€Å"one of the crucial steps† which must be taken by governments in the Americas if they are serious about protecting the rights of indigenous peoples. In conclusion, the article, like its topic, serves a purpose that is beneficial for the indigenous peoples of the Americas. With it, Amnesty International is able to share its advocacy with all of its readers. It serves as an instrument of knowledge about the truth about the lives of the most important people in the history of our world†¦the lives of our forefathers, from whom we all came.

Shapes Investigation :: Papers

Shapes Investigation Summary I am doing an investigation to look at shapes made up of other shapes (starting with triangles, then going on squares and hexagons. I will try to find the relationship between the perimeter (in cm), dots enclosed and the amount of shapes (i.e. triangles etc.) used to make a shape. From this, I will try to find a formula linking P (perimeter), D (dots enclosed) and T (number of triangles used to make a shape). Later on in this investigation T will be substituted for Q (squares) and H (hexagons) used to make a shape. Other letters used in my formulas and equations are X (T, Q or H), and Y (the number of sides a shape has). I have decided not to use S for squares, as it is possible it could be mistaken for 5, when put into a formula. After this, I will try to find a formula that links the number of shapes, P and D that will work with any tessellating shape - my 'universal' formula. I anticipate that for this to work I will have to include that number of sides of the shapes I use in my formula. Method I will first draw out all possible shapes using, for example, 16 triangles, avoiding drawing those shapes with the same properties of T, P and D, as this is pointless (i.e. those arranged in the same way but say, on their side. I will attach these drawings to the front of each section. From this, I will make a list of all possible combinations of P, D and T (or later Q and H). Then I will continue making tables of different numbers of that shape, make a graph containing all the tables and then try to devise a working formula. As I progress, I will note down any obvious or less obvious things that I see, and any working formulas found will go on my 'Formulas' page. To save time, perimeter, dots enclosed, triangles etc.

Foundation’s Edge AFTERWORD

(for now) AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR This book while self-contained, is a continuation of The Foundation Trilogy, which is made up of three books: Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation. In addition, there are other books I have written which, while not dealing with the Foundations directly, are set in what we might call â€Å"the Foundation universe.† Thus, the events in The Stars, Like Dust and The Currents of Space take place in the years when Trantor was expanding toward Empire, while the events in Pebble in the Sky take place when the First Galactic Empire was at the height of its power. In Pebble, Earth is central and some of the material in it is alluded to tangentially in this new book. In none of the earlier books of the Foundation universe were robots mentioned. In this new book, however, there are references to robots. In this connection, you may wish to read my robot stories. The short stories are to be found in The Complete Robot, while the two novels, The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun, describe the robotic period of the colonization of the Galaxy. If you wish an account of the Eternals and the way in which they adjusted human history, you will find it (not entirely consistent with the references in this new book) in The End of Eternity. All the books mentioned existed as Doubleday hardcovers, to begin with. The Foundation Trilogy and The Complete Robot are still in print in hardcover. Of the others, Pebble in the Sky and The End of Eternity are included in the omnibus volume The Far Ends of Time and Earth, while The Stars, Like Dust and The Currents of Space are in the omnibus volume Prisoners of the Stars. Both omnibus volumes are in print in hardcover. As for The Caves of Steel and The Naked Sun, they are included in the omnibus volume The Robot Novels, still available from the Science Fiction Book Club. And all are in print in softcover editions, of course.