A person must constantly process and memorize large amounts of information during their life. Unfortunately, not everyone succeeds in this: remember how often you forgot your loved one’s birthday, where you put your keys, or what you ate for breakfast. And these are just everyday things; imagine how it would be easier for you to fulfill your professional duties if you improve the state of your memory. The mnemonic device is a technique used by all memorization champions. This unique technology allows you to maximize the quality of your memory and, most importantly, learn how to manage it.

Why Does A Person Have Problems With Memory?

Before we know what a mnemonic is, let’s think about why people experience memory problems en masse. You may have noticed that older people can easily quote poems they learned in school or retell articles from a newspaper that went out of print more than 20 years ago. It is awe-inspiring for many young people because they cannot remember elementary things, such as the multiplication table.

Why is this happening? Previously, people did not have access to such a considerable amount of information: they could read books and magazines, communicate with friends, and only occasionally watch TV and listen to the radio. Many families did not have enough money to buy such devices, and people easily managed without them. Thus, they were not under the constant influence of informational noise. It is impossible to estimate how many terabytes of information each of us receives during the day from watching TV, watching videos on YouTube, reading the news, scrolling through social networks, or listening to the radio in the car on the way to work. Most of this information does not carry a tremendous semantic load for us, so our brain does not set itself the goal of remembering all this. The point is that the storage in our minds is not large enough to contain all this informational garbage.

Another aspect is that today people have stopped digging into their memory to remember some information; it is much easier for them to go to Google and look at the data. It leads to the fact that we lose instant recall.

Loci mnemonic is a unique technique that will help you learn how to manage your memory, organize it and choose for yourself what to keep in long-term memory and what is better to delete immediately.

What Is A Mnemonic Device?

What is a mnemonic? Memory is one of the most unexplored human phenomena. Sometimes scientists know more about the cosmos than about how the human brain works. Our mind encrypts all the information it receives and sends it to a particular repository. Unfortunately, an ordinary person cannot do cleaning there; as a result, it becomes challenging for us to manage our memory.

A mnemonic device is a technique that helps you create similar elements in your mind. You can create a mind palace yourself – a kind of storage where you will store data and your own rules for encoding information.

At first glance, it seems fantastic, but you tried this method, albeit unconsciously, back in school. Remember how you composed rhymes at school instead of memorizing boring definitions at school. Among the mnemonic examples, one of the most striking is the expression “Pythagorean pants are equal in all directions,” which is associated with the Pythagorean theorem, which says that in a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the legs is equal to the court of the hypotenuse.

Other mnemonic examples show that we can form phrases where the first letter of each word will mean some phenomenon. So, for example, the name ROY G. BIV stands for the sequence of colors in the rainbow:

• Red,
• Orange,
• Yellow,
• Green,
• Blue,
• Indigo,
• Violet.

Each of us knows several such examples. A good teacher at school tries to interest children in the subject, so they come up with mnemonic verses or expressions that help kids encode the necessary information, which means it is better to remember it.

If you want to learn the mnemonic device technique, the easiest solution is to use the memoryOS mobile app. It was developed based on a method developed by Jonas von Essen, a two-time memorization champion.

If you’re a truck driver, then you know the importance of staying connected and well-equipped while on the road. Even the most experienced truckers need to keep up with advances in technology to stay safe and productive on the road. Here are some essential pieces of tech for every trucker.

GPS System

Though many smartphones now offer GPS navigation apps, it’s important to have a stand-alone system in your truck. A dedicated system will provide you with superior routing information, stronger signal strength, and a larger screen for an easier viewing experience compared to a smartphone app.

Generator

A generator is a must-have piece of tech for every trucker. Not only will your appliances remain powered when the engine isn’t running, but they can also keep you safe from dangerous situations that arise during extreme weather conditions. If your power inverter fails or you get stuck without heat at night, having access to electricity from a generator could save your life – or keep your food from spoiling.

Air Conditioning

Air conditioning is another thing that every trucker should have. Though long-haul truckers often don’t have access to the same level of comfort as drivers who live in their trucks, it’s important to have a comfortable place to sleep. This goes double for those who work for mattress companies and spend much of their time sleeping in uncomfortable beds.

Smartphone

Although many truckers use traditional CB radios to communicate with other drivers, a smartphone is much more versatile. With features like text messaging and live location sharing, a smartphone can make the job of driving safer and easier. Many truckers also rely on apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat for entertainment purposes while they’re waiting in long lines at the port or sitting in a boring dock.

Weather App

As a long-haul driver, it’s important to be aware of weather conditions even when you’re not driving. This is particularly important if you do refrigerated or oversize load deliveries where bad weather could mean delivering your cargo late or getting stuck waiting for assistance from road crews.

Apps that provide information about severe weather along your route at any time are great for alerting you to the conditions ahead. Additionally, a weather app that provides notifications about how the weather is impacting the time it takes for other drivers in your area to reach their destinations can help give you an edge when making up lost hours.

CB Radio

A CB radio is an essential piece of trucker equipment. Though some new drivers shy away from using a traditional CB, neglecting this form of communication can be dangerous and limit your job opportunities. Many carriers require their drivers to be active on the CB – even if they use an electronic logging device (ELD) and rarely talk over the airwaves.

Having a dedicated CB radio for your truck is important for staying in touch with other drivers and receiving important information about road conditions and traffic up ahead.

Electric Logging Device

An ELD is required by many carriers who participate in the Hours of Service (HOS) program established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). This technology helps ensure that all driver logs are accurate and up-to-date – reducing the risk of costly penalties.

An ELD can help you avoid being in violation of the HOS by automatically recording when your engine is running and when it’s off. This will be particularly useful if you’re aiming to get your trucking authority and you’re becoming your own boss. A lot of company trucks have these installed as standard. However, if you’re becoming an owner-operator, you’ll have to invest in your own. If you’re considering getting your trucking authority, follow these steps for a sure-fire route to success.

Laptop

Nowadays, many of us are using some form of computing device daily. As a trucker, you’ll need access to online resources related to your job.

As an independent contractor, you must always keep up-to-date with your online scheduling and stay in touch with your customers. For this reason alone, investing in a laptop computer, printer, and satellite connection is probably worth it – particularly if you plan on operating as an owner-operator. To ensure success as a small business owner – even as a trucker – you’ll need to have access to current technology.

Modern technology has made owning a truck much easier, and many companies offer free electronics to their drivers as an incentive for driving for their company. Some carriers even require their drivers to take home a tablet or laptop computer so the carrier can provide the driver with up-to-date schedules and other information from any location.

Dashcam

Though dash cams are becoming increasingly popular among everyday drivers, they’re a must-have piece of tech for every trucker. In addition to being helpful for those who want to prove their innocence after an accident, some insurance companies also offer discounts to drivers who have dash cams installed in their vehicles.

Emergency Equipment

A first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and flares are just a few examples of the many pieces of emergency equipment that every trucker should carry with them on the road. Seriously consider investing in a satellite phone as well – if your cell phone dies on you while you’re out on the road, having access to a fully functional phone could make all the difference.

Bluetooth Headset

Professional drivers use two hands when they drive, so keeping a phone up against your ear is out of the question.

A wireless Bluetooth earpiece allows you to keep up with calls without taking your attention off the road. Some truckers also like using tablets while driving. To make sure that you’re always on top of things, consider pairing your tablet with an extended battery.

Portable Chargers

Truckers spend a lot of time in their vehicles, so being able to charge your devices is extremely important. Portable chargers allow you to keep all of your electronics at full battery power without having to stop and recharge – no matter how long the road ahead might be.

Going on a long hike can be a very rewarding and exciting time for yourself and the people that you choose to take with you. The trick is to simply know which hiking spots are the best around. Luckily for you, this dedicated guide has selected 14 of the finest hiking trails right across the USA, meaning that you are likely to find the best one for you no matter where in the country you might live. Whether you need some inspiration for your walk, or you simply want to learn more, it is recommended to read the complete guide that has been created for your reading pleasure below. Take a look now in order to learn more.

The Lost Coast Trail

State: California

Length: 25 miles one way

If the Pacific Coast Trail feels like a bit too much for you, then there is always the option to take part in the much shorter—but equally resplendent—Lost Coast Trail. If you feel like camping along the way, then you should definitely get the best portable power supply for camping, such as the EcoFlow RIVER Pro from EcoFlow. 

Emerald Lake Trail

State: Colorado

Length: 3.6 miles round trip

Due to its mountainous terrain, you will find that one of the best states for hiking is Colorado. The Emerald Lake Trail is one of the most popular around—as a result, expect a lot of people to join you on this journey.

Cascade Canyon Trail

State: Wyoming

Length: 13.6 miles round trip

This heavily trafficked trail near the town of Moose features a gorgeous lake and is usually rated as a moderately difficult trail—perfect if you are looking to upgrade from beginner status. Just be aware that you will be charged a fee to enter Grand Teton National Park.

Pacific Crest Trail

States: California, Oregon, Washington

Length: 2653 miles one way

As popularized in the film Wild, the Pacific Crest Trail takes you all the way from the US–Mexican border to the US–Canadian border—making for an epic journey complemented by fantastic seaside views of the Pacific. Not for the faint of heart, it has been described by many as one of the most iconic walks in the entire country.

Appalachian Scenic Trail

States: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine

Length: 2200 miles one way

The Appalachians is an area rich in history, which makes taking on the epic Appalachian Scenic Trail one of the must-do challenges if you are a person who is serious about hiking. You will also intersect with many different American states.

Jay Peak Long Trail North

State: Vermont

Length: 3.1 miles round trip

This is the oldest long-distance trail in the entire country—built between 1910 and 1930 by the Green Mountain Club—making it a must-visit location for people interested in the lore behind long trails in the USA.

Beacon Heights Trail

States: Virginia, North Carolina

Length: 1-mile round trip

For a quick and easy trail that takes in two states, the Beacon Heights Trail is a good one to choose for an afternoon out hiking.

The Hayduke Trail Hurrah Pass

States: Utah, Arizona

Length: 800 miles one way

If you fancy a truly epic journey through a trail with little natural water, then it is definitely recommended that you go on the monumental journey that is the Hayduke Trail Hurrah Pass—named after a fictional character in The Monkey Wrench Gang—which will take you through a grand total of six different national parks.

John Muir Trail

State: California

Length: 211 miles one way

Named after the famous mountaineer and writer, the John Muir Trail is a relatively challenging, long, multi-day hike across California. The great part about this trip is that you can even visit the John Muir National Historic Site along the way.

Nugget Falls Trail

State: Alaska

Length: 2 miles round trip

This guide includes trails even in the most far-flung parts of the USA, including Alaska and the famous Nugget Falls Trail. You can even bring your dog on this trail, but it has to be kept on a leash.

Charlies Bunion Hike Trail

States: North Carolina, Tennessee 

Length: 8 miles round trip

Taking place on the eponymous mountain situated on the state line between North Carolina and Tennessee, the Charles Bunion Hike Trail has been described by many as one of the most rewarding and exciting hikes around.

Billy Goat Trail

State: Maryland

Length: 4.7 miles one way

Situated in Maryland, the Billy Goat Trail allows you to take in some jaw-dropping scenery while not being too challenging for new hikers. Just try not to get lost while you are hiking as these people did.

Kalalau Trail

State: Hawaii

Length: 22 miles round trip

Hawaii has a lot of great national parks, meaning that if you live in a remote state, this doesn’t mean that you will miss out on the possibilities involved with taking long hikes. One great hike for you to go on with your friends or family is the Kalalau Trail.

Petroglyph Wall Trail

State: Nevada

Length: 0.15 miles round trip

The smallest trip on this list, the Petroglyph Wall Trail, situated in Red Rock Canyon, is a perfect trip to take with your children. It also boasts some truly amazing views, making it more than worth driving over there.

Conclusion

You should definitely have some idea now of where you would like to go on your hike after reading this exclusive guide. It’s worth pointing out that you don’t have to pick just one option on the list and then forget about the rest. It might actually be an even more fun idea to set yourself a challenge to tackle all 14 of these historic routes. Just remember to pack properly before you go and definitely make sure that you share your location with a friend, as safety first is always the most important principle of all to adhere to in hiking.

This is definitely a great time in history to be a fan of video games. We have many different ways to enjoy our favorite games, new and old. Making a game consists of various phases, both inside and outside computers.

It all starts with a game idea which may or may not be very simple, but once implemented if done correctly can become a successful product. All accompanied by the right marketing campaign and a huge amount of luck, in many cases.

Running games from browsers is something that has been around for decades. All of those who ever worked in offices with restricted computer profiles know what we are talking about (wink wink).

This has evolved greatly from the rudimentary flash games with cartoony graphics. It has become a very profitable business and even some of those old games transgressed the platform and were ported into consoles, such as Super Meat Boy.

Then another kind of game has been increasing in popularity during the last decade such as slots which, while it’s a completely different kind of business model the core gameplay is still achieved with the same tools. You can play online slots that replicate their hardware counterpart and let you do that from any phone, tablet or PC at any time from the comfort of your home, for instance, this can be experienced at regulated websites such as wink slots.

So, how are these games made? There are many available tools for you to get started.

Pick the Right Tools 

There are many options nowadays which will make programming a game much easier than it may have been 30 years ago.

LimeJS

This is a good starting point as LimeJS is a very basic tool to create HTML5 games. One of the selling points of this framework is that the games developed with LimeJS can be played in browsers, as well as on touch screens. Some background knowledge is required to deal with this tool such as Python, as well as Java and Closure.

Construct 3

This tool is pretty impressive. With a little practice, you can end up doing big projects in a short time and with very professional results. It is an Open Source that is capable of making games in a very simple way, being able to export both in HTML5, running in browsers and mobiles, as long as it is configured correctly for these outputs, as well as for Windows. It’s perfect if you want to escalate your project along the road and place it on one of the well-known video game platforms already existing. With this tool, you can edit sound effects by including your own sound library as well as using third-party ones. Same with sprites. You can upload your own or just use one of the vast libraries available. An advantage is that it has many updates that mean that you are constantly creating with the latest trends.

GameMaker Studio 2

Perhaps one of the few issues that we find in this tool is that it’s not free, however, it stands out among the rest of the free options when it comes to creating games for both HTML5 and other platforms, being able to even make games for consoles like Nintendo Switch, just to name one.

The development of the games is simple, with everything necessary to make a quality title. It is true that it requires some dedication and practice to navigate between its menus and options as in many of these programs, but you have to keep in mind that, if what you are looking for is a professional tool for top-notch results, it may be worth paying for GameMaker Studio. Every now and then you’ll find it on sale on Humble Bundle when they bundle up the tool with its different libraries for dirty cheap.

Impact JS

Like the previous one, you will have to pay to use all its functions, however, it has its own strong points such as a Level Editor, in which you can build different levels for your game, as well as other types of tools, providing endless resources to create HTML5 games that will run on both browsers and mobile phones. Apart from this, and to help you in the creation, you will have at your disposal a series of documents and guides to take advantage of.

Of course, there are many other software available but sticking to the most popular options will mostly guarantee a solid community you can go to when you face problems or have doubts.

AI has evolved greatly, as well, and it could make a big difference in your games so make sure you pick the tool that fits your game interaction properly.

Future Trends

The games market has found a new peak in 2020, of course, due to more people staying at home and investing time in catching up with games.

Mobile gaming keeps growing and growing of course. Given that almost everyone has a phone these days, and they are more than capable of running from basic to more complex games, this is the starting point to introduce young generations to the gaming world.

Cloud gaming is starting to become a real thing also. After some improvements over the last couple of years, you can really take advantage of this new technology, and this is just the beginning.

It is estimated to be 177.7 million gamers in the US this year meaning that half of the US population will be part of the gaming community by the end of the year.

Conclusion

Making a game is not easy, but it’s easier than ever before. We have tools available, and they are very affordable. We don’t need development kits as much as we used to.

If you have an idea, you can make it a reality. It will take time, dedication and a lot of effort but in the end, it will be rewarding. It may be a hit or not, but creating something that we are proud of is always rewarding.

“Remember the MOOCs? After Near-Death, They’re Booming.”

That was a May 2020 New York Times headline.

Massive open online courses, known as MOOCs, became a phenomenon in 2008. Early platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udacity sought to completely overhaul the concept and delivery of higher education, offering free means of learning from top institutions. These courses were accessible to practically anyone with an internet connection.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of students sought to study with world-class institutions like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. But as challenges emerged, enrollment began to decline.

Perhaps in response to the pandemic, the MOOC movement was recently revitalized. This edTech innovation now has a new life — and, thanks to technology, it has the power to once again revolutionize education at all levels.

The Tech That Supports MOOCs

Digital Content

The backbone and very essence of MOOCs is the digital content it includes digital readings, video lectures, graded assessments, social networking, and much more. This content is often self-paced and accessible via a library or your account on the platform.

Online Forums

Often, MOOCs offer an online forum where peer learners can ask and answer one another’s questions, get help with assignments, exchange ideas, and pick one another’s brains. These discussion forums give students an opportunity to engage with others, lending a personal touch to a usually impersonal method of teaching and learning.

Educators sometimes engage in these forums, too, offering responses to questions, posing critical thinking questions or topics, or otherwise sparking and continuing discussions.

Big Data Analytics

Big data is the result of tremendous innovation in technology, which has produced an abundance of data. MOOCs, like other platforms, collect information, which specialists can analyze and transform into meaningful insights.

They can, for example, assess performance and progress in given courses and offer guidance on how to make changes for better outcomes.

Predictive Analytics

Meanwhile, predictive analytics can be used to assess students’ learning and predict completion rates and how given individuals will perform in various courses. By analyzing information like assignment completion, the number of logins, and so on, systems can anticipate who is likely to see success in given courses and who won’t.

Using this information, the system could autogenerate messages to coach at-risk students or otherwise provide guidance to steer them toward completion, as well as warn them as to their current progress or lack thereof.

Artificial Intelligence

AI plays an integral role in MOOCs. It’s leveraged for a wide variety of purposes, such as auto-grading assessments. Additionally, it can assist with personalizing coursework and course progression. For example, by analyzing student performance, the technology can offer suggestions, including types of courses that might interest students in the future.

Moreover, AI can offer guidance and assistance through means like chatbots.

Benefits

MOOCs are lauded for their many benefits, which include:

• Accessibility to a wide variety of learners
• Self-paced learning
• Low-cost or free education model
• Short timespan
• Collaborative environments
• Flexibility
• Breadth of topics

Criticism of MOOCs

Still, MOOCs aren’t without their critics. One of the main critiques of this education model is that there is usually a lack of interaction between students and their instructors. Typically, courses are taught asynchronously, which means that instructors and pupils don’t even share screens and material at the same time. Many believe technology simply can’t replace the personal connection required for learning.

Moreover, teachers don’t actually do the grading of assessments most of the time. While automation and peer grading may suffice in some cases, there are others, such as those in some humanities courses, where a human touch is necessary. Students won’t receive personalized feedback, either.

All of this summarizes a chief complaint of MOOCs: They tend to be highly impersonal.

Another complaint is that MOOCs have previously seen relatively low completion rates, especially compared with other higher education models. Perhaps the low-stakes nature of these courses could account for dropouts, or maybe it’s due to the aforementioned lack of interaction. Whatever the reason, this is something those who design MOOCs must strive to address.

MOOCs of the Future

College and university enrollment fell by more than 3% between fall 2019 and fall 2020 across the United States. This suggests that students could be beginning to question the value of higher education, and they’re left wondering if the steep price of a college education is worth the investment.

Could MOOCs be the solution? With so many topics available, some learners are turning to the model to upskill, relying on a more cost-effective solution for the education on the subjects they really want to learn.

While MOOCs are certainly not without their flaws, they have come a long way in the more than a decade they’ve existed. And as higher education sits at a precipice, MOOCs may very well over be the answer to the challenges of teaching and learning.