Health Risks of Microwave Frequencies/Radio Frequencies

Today the use of microwave frequencies and radio frequencies for communication and connection is very common. We can often see these devices attached to radio and television communication towers, satellite systems, radars, cellphone base stations, mobile television transmitter, and canopy antennas for the Internet like Smart Bro. Almost every area in our country has a communication tower, a base station and microwave antennas.

There are two types of spectrum, the non-ionizing and the ionizing spectrum. Non-ionizing are those who emit frequencies like infrared, ultraviolet, microwave, visible light, etc... Example of Ionizing spectrum are the X-rays and the Gamma Rays. That is why we often see a warning sign outside x-ray rooms.
Microwave and radio frequency radiation may be transmitted, reflected, or absorbed upon striking an object. So humans as the most possible recipient of this frequency will surely be affected.

Health Risk

It is known that Ionizing spectrum frequencies are more likely to affect humans because these frequencies contains tremendous amount of energy and penetration power and will surely change the molecular structure of any human. On the other hand, non-ionizing spectrum frequencies are not as harmful as the ionizing frequencies but still they can have effects to humans.

It has been known for many years that exposure to very high levels of RF and microwave radiation can be harmful due to the ability of these frequencies energy to rapidly heat biological tissue. This principle is used also in a very common appliance called the Microwave Oven.

Since humans does not have very effective means to dissipate heat generated from these frequencies biological tissues burn. Two areas of our body is very vulnerable, the eyes and the testicles because blood flow from these body areas is low meaning they have very a very slow rate of dissipating heat. This is the reason why people are advised to stay away from structures that emit frequencies.

Another known effect is the formation of cataracts in eyes. Several humans and animal specimens proved this because of exposure to frequencies.

Radio frequencies has also been linked to cancer. Although it has been proven by the formation of tumor in animals exposed to these frequencies still they fail to find the link.

Studies are still ongoing on several laboratories about this issue.

Sources :

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/rfsafety/rf-faqs.html#Q2

http://hps.org/hpspublications/articles/rfradiation.html

http://www.cwa-union.org/issues/osh/articles/page.jsp?itemID=27339127

Portable Media Player Rivalry

Zen versus Ipod

The competition between Apple and Creative when it comes to portable media player is on the heat. If you are to look at it it's like both Creative is trying to kill Apple. Just recently, apple announced that they are able to sell 100 million pieces of iPOD making the iPOD the fastest selling music player in history. To divide the market shares, Creative began to introduce new media players to compete with Apple's iPOD. Because of that, the term “ipod killers” were introduced.

There is no doubt that the iPOD is dominating the portable media player category. Almost everywhere you can see an iPOD, it is starting to be a trend. It's like if you don't have an iPod, you're not in. Ever since portable media players started to sound like a necessity, people would always look for an iPod.

Now some people are starting to say that iPod is starting to become so common so previous iPod users switches to Zen. Creative hopes more and more people starts to realize that and that someday tables would be turned in favor of them making the Zen on top.

Still, Creative is trying to break that trend in order to “kill the iPod”. Creative Technology a company based in Singapore frequently releases new Creative Media Players. Their players often aim to make people think twice before buying an iPod.

The Apple iPOD

iPod is a portable media player by Apple. It can play both audio and video. It was launched last October 2001.Although before their launch there are already many portable media player available like players from Creative.Behind iPod's success is the iTunes. It helped iPod users download legal music one at a time. You do not need to buy a music CD, rip it and transfer it to your player. Plus, what if you do not want all the songs in an artist's album? You waste your money because of an unwanted song.Apple was able to understand that.

Ipod has also become a trend specially in teenagers because iPod is simple yet stylish, sleek and shiny. It's like a luxury media player. It's a must have if you don't want to be left behind.

Another good thing about the iPod is its customer support almost anywhere in the world you can find Apple service centers. Unlike, the Zen in order for you player to be repaired you have to ship it to a country that has Creative Center or most of the time in Singapore.

Although iPod dominates the market there are people who doesn't like the iPod because they are generally expensive. Plus another reason is that it doesn't have much features compared to other portable media players. You pay more for less features. It's like paying for the brand name.

The Creative Zen

The Zen known as the practical mp3 player. Like the iPod, it can play both audio and video. The Zen is a range of digital audio players made by Creative Technology. A Singaporean company. The Zen was evolved from the Nomad Jukebox Series, the earlier digital audio player line-up of Creative.

The Zen is packed with many features than Apple's Ipod. For others it is a cheaper but practical alternative of iPod. In the case of the Zen, you pay less for more features. Creative is trying to kill the iPod by adding more features and functionality to their players.

Technical people is most likelt to choose this player because it is flexible. Plus the great thing about the Zen it is very easy to share audio and video files to other people because they are not restricted by DRM(Digital Rights Management) Also, when it comes to playing different video formats, the Zen is the winner unlike the iPod that requires you to convert. In zen, you just copy and it will play.

Another advantage of this player is that it is compatible with subscription music services like Napster and Yahoo Music cheaper and better than an iTunes.

Legal Troubles with Apple

Creative applied for that patent in the year 2001, after a year Apple applied for the similar patent but it was rejected. When the Zen Vision M was launched Creative announced that they will seriously pursue companies that uses the same player navigation system.

Recently Creative Technology announced a law suit against Apple for the infringement of the ZEN music management interface patent. Apple counter-sued by filing two law suits for infringing the Apple patents. Apple lost and paid Creative Technology $100,000,000 dollars.

Recommendation

If you are a teenager, a person who wants style and is very brand conscious buy an Apple iPod.

If you like many features choose the Creative Zen.

References :

• http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/04/09ipod.html

• http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/showthread.php?s=0f70a1915300d4f4844a6650a98ddf4f&t=3806&page=2

• http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/windows/2006/12/05/zen-vs-ipod-vs-zune-inbox/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ipod

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Zen#ZEN_Vision:M

• http://www.pmplayers.com/83/creative-zen-visionm-vs-ipod-videowhich-one-should-i-choose/