To understand the power rating of different appliances we need to understand the basic terminologies and concepts involved. The generic meaning of the word power means some kind of energy or strength to do a certain act. In the context of physics, power can be more narrowly or specifically defined as the measure of transformation of energy from say electrical form to mechanical form. An example can be of a fan which uses electrical energy (current) and converts it into mechanical energy (fast moving air). The power consumed by fans is generally in the range of 40W-60W.
Each appliance will require a specific amount of power to do the defined task. A monitor may consume 300W whereas a water heater may consume power as high as 2KW. This amount of needed energy is called the rating of the appliance. This power rating is decided by the manufacturer keeping in view the safety requirements as well. If the power supplied to the appliance exceeds the power rating of the appliance there is a possibility of the appliance getting damaged! In order to avoid this there is always a margin of safety maintained to protect the appliance from damage. That is, if the rating of the appliance is 75W it means the actual rating of the appliance may be in the range of 80W-85W. Else, if the power supplied exceeds the rating the appliance will be damaged. The economic implication of such damage can be huge especially in the case of electronic appliances.
Determining the power rating of appliances depends on different factors like Resistance, Load Connected and Type of Circuit. Resistance impedes the movement of electricity and hence consumes more power. This can be put in the form P=I^2 * R where I is the current, P is the power and R is the resistance. R is directly proportional to P and hence if R increases the power needed also increases. Power can vary, depending on load, especially in appliances like motors where the power consumption is higher when the motor starts. In parallel circuits, each branch consumes different amounts of power.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Non Conventional Energy
The present energy crisis in the world is because of negligence to tap non conventional resources in the past. Energy is the prime mover in the development process. Depleting fuel resources cannot increase the growth process. They need to be gradually replaced by non conventional resources. The sun is the source of all non conventional resources. India has one of the largest renewable energy projects in the world. In India, energy demand is increasing at the rate of 9% per annum and supply is not keeping pace. The increase in demand is primarily due to growth of industries and also due to increase in domestic load.
Non conventional resources comprise of Solar Energy, Tidal Power, Wind Energy, Ocean Energy, Hydro Power etc. Out of the many sources only Solar and Hydro Power have been making considerable progress-mainly through extensive support programs from the government and other environment bodies.
There are several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the non conventional resources. Strengths include limitless supply, environmental safety and a naturally recyclable resource base. It offers excellent opportunities in terms of matching supply and demand and electrification of rural areas using off-grid systems. However there are looming threats as well because there has not been much research done on non conventional resources. Also the amount of money required in terms of initial investment could be an undermining factor.
Solutions to long term energy problems will come only through research and development in the non conventional energy areas. Instead of expecting immediate outcomes they should be set in the 10 year or 20 year plans. Biogas and solar energy offer the greatest scope for development of new energy resources. India is among one of the few countries which has embarked on an environmentally conscious path and has launched policy initiatives to accelerate renewable energy development and sustainability.
Non conventional resources comprise of Solar Energy, Tidal Power, Wind Energy, Ocean Energy, Hydro Power etc. Out of the many sources only Solar and Hydro Power have been making considerable progress-mainly through extensive support programs from the government and other environment bodies.
There are several strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the non conventional resources. Strengths include limitless supply, environmental safety and a naturally recyclable resource base. It offers excellent opportunities in terms of matching supply and demand and electrification of rural areas using off-grid systems. However there are looming threats as well because there has not been much research done on non conventional resources. Also the amount of money required in terms of initial investment could be an undermining factor.
Solutions to long term energy problems will come only through research and development in the non conventional energy areas. Instead of expecting immediate outcomes they should be set in the 10 year or 20 year plans. Biogas and solar energy offer the greatest scope for development of new energy resources. India is among one of the few countries which has embarked on an environmentally conscious path and has launched policy initiatives to accelerate renewable energy development and sustainability.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Impact of Technology on Newspapers
The advent of e-readers, smart phones and other technological devices has definitely brought in more challenges to printed newspapers. The current business model of magazines is broken and the direct evident cause is the reader. As more and more content moves online, the focus should be on increasing online advertising revenues and online subscriptions. This implies newspapers have to increase both traffic, i.e. the number of unique visits and page views.
This transition from offline to online has, however, increased the expectations of both the reader and the advertiser (who is the main source of funds for the print media). At the same time readers are unwilling to pay for news that is virtually free everywhere on the web. Advertisers, on the other hand, want to pay a fraction of what they paid earlier. The direct impact is generally seen with both revenues and readership numbers falling drastically.
However the business model is at threat and not the journalistic model. Essentially, newspapers have to look at new business models, including paid-for online access. The approach should be of innovation rather than defence. Of late, newspapers/magazines have begun to use more and more web tools, thus enhancing the experience they give to readers on the web. This has led to an overlap between printed and online versions of newspapers. Readers mainly access the web for latest news and weather reports. Thus, the Internet is not actually an immediate threat to printed newspapers. Modern marketers believe the Internet can present an opportunity for newspapers to go beyond their conventional product and offer faster news on varied areas using multi-media technologies.
We can conclude that getting readers online is not the actual problem today. Rather, the challenge lies in other, more specific areas:
• Increasing the amount of time readers spend on e-paper
• Ensuring regular visits
• Converting page views into revenue;
• Improving advertiser incentives for buying online advertisements
A paid model can be successful only if a magazine/paper has unique, rich and niche content. In such cases, newspapers/magazines might be able to attract readers to pay up. Newspapers needs to maintain its class and category leadership in offering news and analyses.
The following could help:
1. RSS Feeds:
An increasing number of people have begun to use web tools that enable them to read online content on their own terms. Newspapers that were reluctant to offer such features to their readers have avoided a loss in page views by only offering partial text feeds which enable readers to view headlines but not full articles.
2. Blogs
Blogs go beyond the conventional limits imposed on journalists. They involve readers and discuss topics not covered elsewhere, thus encouraging discussion of extraordinary issues, and in turn also increasing page views and site traffic.
3. Audio & Video
Audio and video are two features which go beyond the newspapers’ core platforms. This can be a superb medium which combines features of television with the power of the print.
4. Mobile
Delivering breaking news via mobile at regular frequencies could be another potential model to earn revenues. Of course this will be more of a volume game. Even advertisers can be roped in to pay for the news items. Sending mobile alerts to readers can be a good way to start. This will not only add value to the subscriptions but also increase page impressions. Local news can be a big hit if provided on time. This will also bring in good revenues from local advertisers who will be more than interested in promoting their services in the neighbourhood.
5. Interactivity
Options to connect with the journalists, other users and the site in general can make readers feel important and bring them back to the site.
Newspapers should be considering how to use social media and mobile technology to target both advertisements and content. In doing so, they’ll be able to open up their advertising space to both advertisers from around the world, and local neighbourhood businesses that could never before afford advertising in these newspapers.
Advantage of Localized Advertising Solutions
Newspapers can tap into its database of registered billing addresses and provide location specific online advertising solutions. This means they can offer special advertising rates which will display advertisements based on locations chosen for. This model is already being used in top job sites in India and elsewhere. Since Newspapers knows how many people in any given locality are subscribers and what content they like best, they can accordingly target the audience.
Social Networking
Newspapers need to be active on professional social networks such as LinkedIn increasing page views and tapping into user data. LinkedIn has a user base of mainly working professionals who will be the right target group.
This transition from offline to online has, however, increased the expectations of both the reader and the advertiser (who is the main source of funds for the print media). At the same time readers are unwilling to pay for news that is virtually free everywhere on the web. Advertisers, on the other hand, want to pay a fraction of what they paid earlier. The direct impact is generally seen with both revenues and readership numbers falling drastically.
However the business model is at threat and not the journalistic model. Essentially, newspapers have to look at new business models, including paid-for online access. The approach should be of innovation rather than defence. Of late, newspapers/magazines have begun to use more and more web tools, thus enhancing the experience they give to readers on the web. This has led to an overlap between printed and online versions of newspapers. Readers mainly access the web for latest news and weather reports. Thus, the Internet is not actually an immediate threat to printed newspapers. Modern marketers believe the Internet can present an opportunity for newspapers to go beyond their conventional product and offer faster news on varied areas using multi-media technologies.
We can conclude that getting readers online is not the actual problem today. Rather, the challenge lies in other, more specific areas:
• Increasing the amount of time readers spend on e-paper
• Ensuring regular visits
• Converting page views into revenue;
• Improving advertiser incentives for buying online advertisements
A paid model can be successful only if a magazine/paper has unique, rich and niche content. In such cases, newspapers/magazines might be able to attract readers to pay up. Newspapers needs to maintain its class and category leadership in offering news and analyses.
The following could help:
1. RSS Feeds:
An increasing number of people have begun to use web tools that enable them to read online content on their own terms. Newspapers that were reluctant to offer such features to their readers have avoided a loss in page views by only offering partial text feeds which enable readers to view headlines but not full articles.
2. Blogs
Blogs go beyond the conventional limits imposed on journalists. They involve readers and discuss topics not covered elsewhere, thus encouraging discussion of extraordinary issues, and in turn also increasing page views and site traffic.
3. Audio & Video
Audio and video are two features which go beyond the newspapers’ core platforms. This can be a superb medium which combines features of television with the power of the print.
4. Mobile
Delivering breaking news via mobile at regular frequencies could be another potential model to earn revenues. Of course this will be more of a volume game. Even advertisers can be roped in to pay for the news items. Sending mobile alerts to readers can be a good way to start. This will not only add value to the subscriptions but also increase page impressions. Local news can be a big hit if provided on time. This will also bring in good revenues from local advertisers who will be more than interested in promoting their services in the neighbourhood.
5. Interactivity
Options to connect with the journalists, other users and the site in general can make readers feel important and bring them back to the site.
Newspapers should be considering how to use social media and mobile technology to target both advertisements and content. In doing so, they’ll be able to open up their advertising space to both advertisers from around the world, and local neighbourhood businesses that could never before afford advertising in these newspapers.
Advantage of Localized Advertising Solutions
Newspapers can tap into its database of registered billing addresses and provide location specific online advertising solutions. This means they can offer special advertising rates which will display advertisements based on locations chosen for. This model is already being used in top job sites in India and elsewhere. Since Newspapers knows how many people in any given locality are subscribers and what content they like best, they can accordingly target the audience.
Social Networking
Newspapers need to be active on professional social networks such as LinkedIn increasing page views and tapping into user data. LinkedIn has a user base of mainly working professionals who will be the right target group.
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