Today is the shortest day of the year in Ireland, so it’s a good day to give a little fact in this regard. If June 21st is the day when we receive the most sunshine, why is it regarded as the beginning of summer and not its peak? And similarly, why is December 21st, the day of least sunshine, the beginning of winter and not mid-winter day?
Blame the oceans, which heat up and cool down only slowly. By June 21 they are still cool from the winter time, and that delays the peak heat by about a month and a half. Similarly, in December the water still holds warmth from the summer, and the coldest days are still (on the average–not always! ) a month and a half ahead.
For more information and a daylight map of ireland go to maps.ie .
Recent reports have stated that GPS-like maps are being used to help spine surgeons take some of the guesswork out of tricky procedures. As we have previously posted GPS has many diverse uses, this has also being published on gps.ie. Most people are aware that GPS is often used to help motorists plan routes to avoid wasting gas and time. The navigational system for spine surgery works on those same principals. Fixing a patients debilitating back pain was going to be a big issue.
The patient from Greenfield in the U.S had two degenerative discs and had put off surgery because he knew there was a reasonable chance that it would’nt help. He knew that fixing the problem required two operations in one, receiving cadaver bone grafts through an incision in the abdomen and then securing them with screws with an incision in his back. When he learned of navigational technology that promises precision, the patient decided to go for the surgery. The doctor involved said the sophisticated tracking system takes out the guesswork. The navigation works with an antenna hammered into the pelvis and mapping software that keeps a virtual eye on the patient’s spine. The patients surgery was six weeks ago, and he is now back to work, was up to walking two to three miles a day and is also lifting weights.
Recent news reports are showing the diversity of potential uses of GPS technology. A quick scan of GPS news items show the following headlines:
- GPS could soon carry out abortions
- Golf Course offering free GPS system tryout
- GPS tracking devices used to protect college students security
- GPS to track ophan tasmanian devils
- GPS to track sex offenders in New Jersey
It seems more and more that GPS technology coupled with human ingenuity is creating many different uses for a technology invented by the U.S military for surveying.
