Evaluating effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese

INTRODUCTION

Mind Mapping is a thinking tool created by Buzan (1993) based on his own personal learning experiences associated with memory retention. A typical Mind Map will contain words, visual images and lines in color radiating from the centre to branch out to express one's thoughts and ideas. It is simply a note-making device which could assist the learner to visualise his or her thoughts and ideas on paper. According to Buzan (2003), note making is different from note taking in the way in which the former refers to taking notes from one's own head; whereas the latter refers to taking notes from other people or books. There are a number of declared benefits associated with Mind Mapping: (1) creative in ideas exploration; (2) easy to apply; (3) interesting and motivating in engaging tasks; (4) efficient in managing study time; (5) effective in problem solving; and (6) helpful with memory retention (Buzan, 2002, 2003).

Since its creation, Mind Mapping has benefited people from a great variety of professions such as nursing (Tattersall, Watts, & Vernon, 2007), health education (Wickramasinghe, Widanapathirana, Kuruppu, Liyanage, & Karunathilake, 2008), business management (Ganglami, 2007), customer service (Williams, 2009), teaching (Yee, 2006) to list just a few. However, there is little reported in the literature focusing on the application of Mind Mapping in TBLT and its effectiveness in TBLT has not been explored. The purpose of this study is to evaluate effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT to complete the tasks designed in CSL which could also be applicable to the teaching of other foreign or second languages.

Given the listed benefits of Mind Mapping in learning in general, one would assume that Mind Mapping should play a very effective role in assisting CSL learners to complete various tasks in TBLT. Taking this assumption as a starting point for an investigation, this study will examine effectiveness of Mind Mapping in CSL in the areas of task phase application, problem solving, note making, memory retention and learner motivation. To be more specific, this study intends to investigate and seek answers to the following questions:

1. In which phase of TBLT will Mind Mapping be more effective?

2. How effective could Mind Mapping help CSL learners in problem solving?

3. How effective is Mind Mapping in note making by CSL learners?

4. How effective could Mind Mapping assist CSL learners to remember things?

5. How much will Mind Mapping motivate CSL learners to complete TBLT tasks?

METHODS

Participants

Sixty-four boys aged from 13-17 years old participated in this study. They were all from an independent K-12 boys' school in Melbourne, Australia and studied CSL as an elective offered in the school curriculum. Among these boys, 44% of them were from Junior High covering Year 7-8 and 56% of them from Senior High covering Year 9-12. 88% of the boys studied CSL for over 5 years priority to their enrollment into the advanced class.

Data collection

The data were collected via a multiple-choice and open-ended questionnaire. The participants were asked to respond to 15 questions by following a five-point Likert scale to indicate their attitudes towards effectiveness of applying Mind Mapping in TBLT. The responses were anonymous and were collected in class at the end of a 14-day teaching circle in Term 3, 2008. The response rate was 100%.

Task design in CSL

The Chinese language tasks completed by the participants in this study were part of their language program covered in the first 10-day teaching cycle in Term 3, 2008. These tasks were designed based on Willis' (1998) model of Tasks Typology for TBL Task Design mainly for TESOL. In this model, Willis (1998) proposed six type of tasks of which each involves a different cognitive process with the first three (viz., Listing, Classifying/Ordering/Sorting and Comparing/Matching) being more challenging than the last three (viz., Problem-Solving, Projective Work and Experience-Sharing).

In this study, 8 tasks were designed covering all three phases of TBLT. Below is the summary of these tasks:

Topic:Use of laptop computers at home

Task for Pre-Task Phase:

(1) Brainstorming the most frequently-used Chinese character phrases for computers in general

Tasks for During-Task Phase:

(2) Listing as many good reasons as possible for families to have a laptop computer at home

(3) Classifying laptop computers in as many ways as possible, e.g., brand, colour, weight, price, function, etc.

(4) Comparing laptop with desktop computers used at home

(5) Problem-Solving: to think of as many solutions as possible to solve the problem of insufficient memory space of a laptop computer at home

(6) Questionnaire-Design: to design a questionnaire to survey the class in order to find out how many ways a laptop computer could be used at home

Tasks for Post-Task Phase:

(7) Story-Writing: to write a story about the use of laptop computer at home

(8) Story-Telling: to share stories with your classmates about solving a technical problem of your laptop computer at home.

Before the commencement of the main topic, all the participants were introduced the Mind-Mapping technique and were asked to use this thinking tool throughout their task completion in TBLT in Chinese. The participants were also asked to complete each required task in pairs within two teaching periods of 80 minutes' duration. Some tasks which were more cognitively challenging such as Tasks 6-8 listed above would need a triple-period (120 minutes) to complete. The time factor was considered in order to keep the level of difficulty of the chosen tasks comparable with the proficiency level of the participants who were all advanced CSL learners. The timed task or speeded' task referred to by Oxford (2006) could increase the degree of difficulty of the task. A rubric marking sheet was designed to assess the participants' outcomes covering the areas of relevance, accuracy, appropriateness and range at the word level and relevance, breadth, depth and appropriateness of structure a nd sequence at the sentence level (i.e., in story writing). Task 8 was assessed by checking each individual participant's pronunciation, intonation, control of tone marks, phrasing, fluency and understanding of the written stories.

DATA PRESNTATION AND DISCUSSION

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate how effective Mind Mapping was in TBLT in the teaching of CSL to secondary school boys. When the participants were asked to rank 8 tasks associated with the three phases of TBLT in Chinese through the application of Mind Mapping during the task completion stage, the boys generated the following ranking order:

As indicated above, the top 4 tasks which helped the boys in this study the most with their tasks completion through Mind Mapping were: Brainstorming, Classifying, Listing and Comparing. Among these 4 tasks, Brainstorming is associated with Pre-Task Phase and the remaining three with During-Task Phase. This suggests that Mind Mapping would be most effective in Pre-Task Phase of TBLT as 80% of the boys surveyed ranked Brainstorming as the top effective task through Mind Mapping in TBLT. It's also evident that Mind Mapping is quite effective in During-Task Phase, because the next three tasks (i.e., Classifying, Listing and Comparing) were all associated with During-Task Phase. 75% of the boys in this study ranked Classifying 2nd in terms of effectiveness of Mind Mapping application; 64% of the boys ranked Listening in 3rd position, and 63% of the boys ranked Comparing in 4th position.

Table 1 above also indicates that Mind Mapping was not regarded as an effective tool in Post-Task Phase, because the rankings of the tasks of Story Writing and Story Telling which were directly associated with Post-Task Phase were not high enough to be regarded as effective. For instance, the task of Story Writing was ranked 5th and Story Telling only 8th, the lowest among all the 8 tasks by the boys surveyed.

It is worth noticing that although problem solving remains to be the main focus of TBLT, the boys in this study did not rely heavily on Mind Mapping to solve the problems presented in CSL. As shown in Table 1 above, effectiveness of Mind Mapping in the completion of the problem-solving task was only ranked 7th, the second lowest among the 8 tasks.

Note making is an area which Mind Mapping shows advantage. When the boys were asked if

Mind Mapping helped them make clearer notes in TBLT in Chinese, they generated the following responses:

As indicated above, 41% of the boys in this study neither agreed nor disagreed to the effective use of Mind Mapping in note making in TBLT. If we combined the figures given by those who agreed with those who strongly agreed, the approval rating only reached 48%; therefore, the level of effectiveness of note making in terms of clarity through Mind Mapping was not high.

When the participants were asked if Mind Mapping helped them shorten their time in note making during TBLT, the overall responses were not positive either as revealed in Table 3 below:

Clearly, the majority of the participants took a neutral stance on the issue regarding time efficiency of Mind Mapping in note making in TBLT in Chinese. They neither agreed nor disagreed generating a reading of 36%. This made the approval rating, even if the percentage of those agreed and those strongly agreed were combined, still below 40%. This suggests that Mind Mapping was not as effective as it seems to be in terms of note making in TBLT in Chinese.

Effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT in terms of memory retention was measured by the participants' responses to the question of if Mind Mapping helped them remember things better. Table 4 below summarises their responses:

Again, the majority of the participants took a neutral stance on this issue. 58% of them neither agreed nor disagreed that Mind Mapping could help them with their memory retention in TBLT. Those who agreed or strongly agreed took up only 25% collectively and those who totally disagreed or strongly disagreed reached 17%. This could mean that Mind Mapping would not be an effective tool for the boys of this age group to enhance their memory retention during their completion of various CSL tasks in TBLT.

Whether Mind Mapping could motivate the boys of this age group to complete the tasks in TBLT is shown in Table 5 below:

As Table 5 above indicates, the majority of the boys in this study took a neutral stance on this issue as 50% of them neither agreed nor disagreed with this evaluation. Those who disagreed or strongly disagreed took up 28% and those who agreed took up 22% only. No percentage figures recorded in the Strongly Agree category. From this we could be certain that Mind Mapping would not be an important motivating factor to help the boys of this age group to complete the tasks in TBLT in Chinese.

When the participants were asked if they prefer to use Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese, the boys gave the following answers:

The above distribution shows that 66% of the boys of this age group would prefer Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese. This supports the point made earlier in this paper that Mind Mapping is regarded by the boys of this age group as an effective tool to complete the assigned tasks in TBLT in Chinese, but mainly in Pre-Task and During-Task Phase.

When the participants were asked to specify what they like the most about Mind Mapping in TBLT, they listed the following:

Table 7 above displays eight reasons of why the boys of this group liked to use Mind Mapping in TBLT. Among them, "Easy to categorise items", "Easy to read" and "Organising ideas better" remain to be the top-3 reasons on the list. These would help confirm that Mind Mapping is effective in helping the boys of this age group with their organisation in completing various CSL tasks in TBLT.

When being asked to identify the negative elements of Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese, the participants responded below:

Based on the figures shown in Table 8 above, there were five negative reasons about Mind Mapping in TBLT and the top negative reason was associated with the issue of time efficiency in applying Mind Mapping in TBLT. 50% of the participants responded that Mind Mapping was too time-consuming in their attempt to complete the tasks in TBLT in Chinese. This correlates well with the results presented in Table 3 earlier that Mind Mapping was not an effective tool in TBLT as far as note-making time is concerned.

FINDINGS

It has been found in this study that Mind Mapping is most effective in Pre-Task Phase of TBLT as 80% of the boys surveyed have supported this claim. Mind Mapping is also quite effective in During-Task Phase since over 60% of the boys surveyed have contributed to this claim. This study has also found that Mind Mapping is least effective in Post-Task Phase as the ranking of the tasks associated with this phase are low and only less than 34% of the boys have responded positively to this claim. Overall, the boys aged from 13-17 years old still support the use of Mind Mapping in TBLT in Chinese as 66% of them have indicated that they would prefer to use this thinking tool in TBLT in Chinese.

In addition, Brainstorming, Classifying, Listing and Comparing have been regarded as the most popular task types among the boys surveyed as far as the use of Mind Mapping is concerned. They believe that Mind Mapping works much better in completing these types of tasks in CSL, whereas Story Writing, Questionnaire Designing, Problem Solving and Story Telling are the least popular types of tasks among these boys.

It has also been found in this study that Mind Mapping is effective in the area of note making, but the degree of its effectiveness in this area is not as high as it is declared to be in the area of learning in general. This study has identified two most negative reasons of why the boys aged from 13-17 did not enjoy the most about using Mind Mapping in completing various tasks in CSL in TBLT. These two negative reasons are (1) too time-consuming; and (2) too messy.

Although the main focus of TBLT is on problem solving through meaningful communication in the target language, Mind Mapping seems not effective in helping learners in problem solving, because the boys in this study ranked this task the second lowest among the eight tasks completed via Mind Mapping.

Mind Mapping also appears to be ineffective in memory retention as only 25% of the boys surveyed in this study supported the view that this technique helped them remember things better while completing various tasks in TBLT in Chinese.

Mind Mapping seems not effective in motivating the boys in this study to complete various tasks in TBLT in Chinese, because only 22% of the boys surveyed supported the view that Mind Mapping motivated them to carry out various tasks in CSL in TBLT.

CONCLUSION

It is evident that Mind Mapping works effectively in Pre-Task and During-Task Phase of TBLT in Chinese where the main focus is on meaning and language use, but this is not the case in Post-Task Phase of TBLT where the primary focus is on language form. This may help us determine that Mind Mapping would help learners how to learn and improve their organisational skills in learning the target language, but it is not necessarily helpful with their mastering of language form.

Ineffectiveness of Mind Mapping as shown in memory retention and learner motivation in this study might not be inconclusive if a large-scale investigation were conducted among secondary school girls or students from co-ed schools which may produce a different outcome in these areas. Whether this is true or not remains to be a topic for further investigation for those who might be interested.

Nevertheless, the investigation of effectiveness of Mind Mapping in TBLT would not only apply to CSL, but also to the teaching of EFL and ESL or any other second languages. The implication this study has could be greater if much could be done based on what has been initiated in CSL.

REFERENCES

Buzan, T. (2003). The Mind Maps for Kids. London: Thorsons.

Buzan, T. (2002) How to mind map. London: Thorsons.

Buzan, T. (1993). The Mind Map Book. London: BBC Books.

Ellis, R. (2006). The methodology of task-based teaching. Asian EFL Journal, 8, 3.

Ganglani, R. 2007. The far reaching benefits of Mind Mapping. Retrieved 8 April 2009 from http://www.buzanworld.com/far_reaching_benefits_of_Mind_mapping.htm

Oxford, R.L. (2006). Task-based language teaching and learning: an overview. Asian EFL Journal, 8, 3.

Tattersall, C., Watts, A., & Vernon, S. 2007. Mind mapping as a tool in qualitative research. Nursing, 103, 26, 32-33.

Wickramasinghe, A., Widanapathirana, N., Kuruppu, O., Liyanage, I., & Karunathilake I.

2008. Effectiveness of mind maps as a learning tool for medical students. South East Asian Journal of Medical Education, 1, 1, 30-32.

Williams, C. 2009. Mind maps for customer service: Minding your customers. Retrieved 18 April 2009 from http://www.fenman.co.uk/traineractive/training-activity/mind- map-for-customer-service.html

Willis, D. and J. Willis (2006). Doing Task-Based Teaching. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Yee, L.M. 2006. Gift of mind-mapping. Retrieved April 18, 2009 from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/25/central/16366178&sec=central

Most Important Equipment for Boxing Training at Home

When you're ready to start boxing training at home then you of course need to know what boxing equipment you have to purchase. However, when you're on a budget, or when you're short on space, you can't buy every single piece of boxing equipment.

To solve the problem, here's a piece by piece list of the most crucial equipment for successful and effective workouts. Basically, if I was strapped for cash but wanted to start training with boxing workouts at home, I'd start buying equipment at the top of the list and work my way down.

1. Heavy Bag: The heavy bag is the quintessential piece of boxing equipment that we are all familiar with. You can get ones that hang from the ceiling or you can get free standing versions as well. Typically, hanging bags are of a higher quality and are more versatile but it isn't always possible for everyone's situation.

2. Boxing Gloves: It shouldn't come as a surprise that a pair of boxing gloves is essential for boxing trai ning at home. Unless you plan on sparring, you can purchase a relatively cheap pair gloves specifically trained for bag training.

3. Hand Wraps: Your hands are your tools for your boxing workouts. You need to take the utmost care in protecting them, or else your workouts are going to painful and short lived.

4. Round Timer: So many people overlook the basic round timer and it's such a shame, because it's an absolutely great tool for your boxing workouts. You can set up rounds of different lengths and be alerted with warning buzzers, and also receive rest intervals just as if you were in a fight or sparring session.

5. Full Length Mirror: I can't stress enough how great a floor mirror is for boxing training at home. You can get your shadow boxing done, and you can really watch and correct your technique.

6. Speed Bag: The speed bag is a fantastic tool for you to train your hand speed, coordination, timing, reflexes and arm stamina. You'll build up strength in your shoulders, wrists and arms as you fine tune your hand eye coordination and overall boxing skill.

7. Pull Up Bar : The pull up bar is an all purpose tool that can help you pack on strength and lean muscle mass without bulking up too much. You can use pull up bars to pack on strength in your back, core and arms all at once.

8. Medicine Ball: A medicine ball is a very versatile piece of equipment. You can do a huge variety of abdominal exercises, and you can also build up your toughness. Additionally, you can get creative and do a wide range of exercises with a medicine ball to work your shoulders, chest, legs and core.

When you're ready to start boxing training at home, the above is what you need to consider. Start at the top of this list and work your way down, and you'll get a full range of essential boxing equipment to complete your at home boxing workouts.

Htc Tattoo Is The Cheapest Of All Android Phones

Htc tattoo is the latest hit among the htc devices. If your phone requires some good features like the android, the htc tattoo is the right choice for you. There are several new things that are coming out now in the Google labs. Without the android features, you would not be able to access any of them.

The best features of the android phones are present in the htc devices, htc tattoo being one of them. This device is currently at v1.6. However, the htc has also confirmed that soon the v2.1 update is coming to the htc tattoo. The high technology that comes with the phone has really made the phone special. This is perhaps the most advanced mobile phone both in terms of performance as well as in terms of efficiency. The high-end technology also promises the durability and the longevity of the phone.
The android phone in the tattoo of the htc is perhaps the cheapest of all the android phones available till date. This device was previously known as the Click. It has a 2.8 inch, 320 x 240 touch screens. Apart from that, it also has a directional pad instead of the trackball which is in use generally.

This handset has a 3.2-megapixel camera 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS as well as a 528MHz processor. The power of the RAM is 256 MB and it comes with a micro SDHC storage. In fact, some of these features are usual to most of the htc devices while some of them have been added in the htc tattoo.

This phone has the apps though it is not a Google branded phone. It uses the custom sense UI of htc in order to access the top level contacts quickly. Apart from that, it can also access Twitter as well as other frequently accessed features.

Htc would allow you to design and purchase your own unique back panels for the tattoo. As a result, you would be able to easily personalize the handset. You would just have to upload the required images for the back covers at a portal which is called the TattoomyHTC.

In the initial stages, you can expect to get the CDMA version like Sprint or Verizon. You can get the further up graded version at a later date. This in fact, would be one of the best mobile devices that you can ever own. Therefore enjoy all the features and advantages in one mobile device at an exceptionally cheaper rate.

Android Phones Offer Greater Choice For Consumers

If you're searching for a brand new mobile phone, you'll likely find your self considering a mobile phone that runs one of two big smartphone operating systems. While you'd be happy with either, there are numerous advantages to deciding on a great Android cellphone.

One thing you observe when researching a brand new phone is the phone itself. In the event you opt for an iOS cellphone, there are basically a pair of possibilities. You may pick the current generation Apple iPhone 4 or perhaps the older iPhone 3GS. The choice here's quite simple, taking into account the majority would likely pick the more recent Apple iPhone 4. The specifications are usually enhanced across the board and saving $150 isn't enough to move to the older Apple iPhone.

When you consider Android based phones, there are loads options. To begin with, you aren't tied to just two US service providers. Both Sprint in addition to T-Mobile do not currently offer the apple iphone, however they do offer handsets running Google android. With the opportunity to shop all major carriers, you are not confined with your choices. In addition, you are not limited by a couple of devices. Each service offers a plethora of options. If you prefer a physical keyboard, you may select a Droid Pro that has a portrait keyboard or possibly a Droid 2 with a horizontal QWERTY keyboard. Users considering a 4G smartphone can look at the HTC EVO 3D or even the forthcoming Droid Bionic on Verizon. As a client, you have a range of options in terms of your own mobile phone alternative.

Since you now see there are way more choices from a hardware view, let's take a glance at why the operating system is definitely beneficial. Google's Android operating-system is basically open. Phones are expensive, consequently consumers must have the right to make modifications they want to the software. Apple frowns upon tweaks of iOS and in fact it voids your warranty. This is simply not the case with Google. They embrace open computing and in most cases help it become straightforward to achieve root access, enabling people to install custom ROM's and more. From the minute you turn on an Android phone, you will see the wide array of possibilities. It is possible to pimp out wallpapers including live wallpapers that will animate in the background. Google even allows you to install third party widgets for instance a clock, weather, stock plus much more. These aren't accessible in iOS.

When picking your next phone, you should think about both Apple's iphone 4 along with devices that run Google's Android OS. With the massive variety of devices, selection of carrier and software customization, there are various reasons to make Android your next phone.

How To Sync Contacts With Android Phone

A Guide To Managing & Syncing Your Google Android Phone Contacts

Google Android Phones are mobile devices powered by a Google operating system. They are different from other mobile devices because they allow for open source programming. Open source programming allows users to develop programming software for use on the device. These programs can range from games for entertainment purposes to helpful application to help manage daily tasks.

All of the applications can be accessed through the Google Android Market.There are thousands of free and paid applications, with the amount growing daily. All of the paid applications can be purchased using Google Checkout.Since the device is powered by Google it offers access to popular Google applications such as; Google Earth, Google Latitude, Google Sky, YouTube, Gmail, Google Translate and several others. Most of the Google Android devices offer up to 5 Mega Pixel cameras and the capability to upload videos directly to YouTube.

There are currently a number of Android handsets running different software versions including, the Eclair and Cupcake updates. Since the release of the first Android phone with T-Mobile, Android devices have increased in popularity due to being a fully customizable and user friendly interface. All of the Google Android devices offer a full touch screen device with either a full or virtual QWERTY keyboard. Google is now providing Android devices for Verizon Wireless as well as Sprint.

Creating and managing contacts for Android devices is very simple since the phone is powered by Google. Here are the things needed to complete this task:

1. Google Android device
2. Active Gmail account
3. List of phone contacts

Log in to your Gmail account

First you will need to log into the Gmail account. Once logged in select the contact link on the left hand side of the screen.Clicking on the link will take you to the contact management area. in the upper left hand side of the screen there will be a plus sign icon. Click on this icon to create a new contact. Input all of the contact information and once finished click the save link. Repeat this process until all of the contacts needed have been saved.
Next from your active Android device log into the Gmail account where the contacts are stored. Once logged in go to the main menu on the device and select the contacts icon. Under contacts select the menu/options icon to bring up a list of available options. Under this list you will see an option for accounts. Select accounts, this will bring up all of the active e-mail accounts set up on the phone. Under the list of e-mail accounts select the Gmail account. Once the account is selected turn on the sync contacts option.
Now that the account is synced with the phone all of the contacts will be transferred to the device.

Syncing your contacts with your Android phone

Syncing your Gmail account to your Google Android device is the easiest way to maintain your contacts. It allows you to have a backup of all of the contacts in the device stored within the Gmail system. This is extremely helpful in cases of lost, stolen or damaged phones. With standard phones the only way to retrieve contacts is through the device itself. With the Google Android phone the device is not need to restore the contacts. Once the email account is registered in the replacement device the contacts can be retrieved following the same easy steps. Also once the device is synced with Gmail, any new phone contacts that are placed directly on the phone will be saved to the Gmail account automatically.

The easy and intuitive nature of the phone is one of the reasons that more and more wireless users are considering Google Android Devices the perfect device for them. The Google Android devices allow the user to have the synching capabilities of a traditional PDA/Smart device with a simple to use interface.To prove this Verizon has positioned their new Google Android phone, the Motorola Droid, as a phone that "Does" in a world of Doesn't. With the introduction of even more Android devices, manufacturers such as Palm and Blackberry are trying to find ways to keep up with and surpass the Google Android devices.

Best Fathers Day Gifts - Samsung Transform Android Phone

Brief Overview Of This Android Phone

If your dad is looking for a smart phone, then you may want to consider getting him this Samsung Transform Android Phone this Father's day. It will make a great Father's day gift.

The Samsung Transform Android Phone for Sprint is an excellent smart phone and it has Sprint ID which you can use to customize your phone experience. It is 3G-enabled and has a large 3.5-inch touch screen with a full QWERTY keyboard that can be slide out. Hence, your dad will be able to type easily with this phone.

Also, in terms of the battery lifespan, you can talk for up to 6 hours, up to 350 hours (14.5 days) of standby time with one full battery charge.

Other Notable Features Of This Samsung Transform Android Phone

In this section, we would like to highlight to you some of the other notable features that you will discover in this Samsung Transform smart phone, along with how each of these features will benefit you:

1. A bility To Carry Out Video Conferencing Calls

This smart phone also features 2 cameras, one in front and the other at the back The main camera on the back is 3.2 megapixels whereas the one on the front is VGA that your dad can use for video conferencing.

2. Ability To Make Full Use Of A Whole Range Of Google Services

As the Samsung Transform is powered with the Android operating system, your dad will be able to use the Google services and use apps such as Gmail and Calendar. You can also use Android Market to download various apps and games to the phone.

3. Built-In GPS System No Longer Will You Need A Separate GPS Device

Another key feature that is present in this particular Samsung Transform smart phone is the GPS navigation services by Sprint Navigation for turn by turn directions. It will be really useful to help you get from one place to another and with this particular feature, no longer will you need an extra GPS device.

Customers' Critiques About This Samsung Transform Android Phone

Moving on to customers' critiques about this Samsung Transform smart phone, there are mixed reactions to it.

Let us first talk about the positive points In terms of the keyboard and other physical design elements, customers have said tha t they are very well thought out. As for the battery life, many have said that it is pretty reasonable for a smart phone. And as for the 3G connectivity by Sprint, many have said that it is decently fast.

As for the downsides about this phone Some customers have said that this particular smart phone is not as responsive as it should be. Also, there isn't an "End" button available, and as such, when at times they send a message to a wrong person by accident, there is no way for them to cancel.

Our Final Verdict

After taking a look at the phone for ourselves, as well as taking a look at the positives, as well as negatives, of this particular Samsung Transform Android Phone, we feel that this is still a very good smart phone that you can get for your dad this Father's day.

Also, depending on the service type that you subscribe to, this phone may be free for you Making it hugely affordable for anyone. Plus, this phone comes with free shipping as well.

Enjoy Great Savings On Your Purchase. LimitedTime Only. Click Here Now! - Samsung Transform Android Phone. Additionally, You Can Also Find Out Our Top 50 Gift Picks That Will Definitely WOW Your Dad This Father's Day Here - Unique Fathers Day Gifts

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Indraprastha Apollo Hospital New Delhi is one of the largest corporate hospitals in the world. It is the third super specialty tertiary care hospital set by the Apollo Hospita ls Group, jointly with the Government of New Delhi, India's capital.

The hospital started functioning from July 1996, its mission being, Medical Excellence with a Human Touch.".....

B ] Fortis Hospitals, Delhi

Fortis Healthcare flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital (FFLRDH), like every other Fortis hospital, is a manifestation of the founder's vision of "creating a world-class integrated healthcare delivery system in India, entailing the finest medical skills combined with compassionate patient care".

From the pursuit of this mission emanates a passion to excel. Located at South Delhi's biggest residential complex-Vasant Kunj, Fortis Healthcare flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, equipped with 200 beds and spread over an area of 1,50,000 sq. ft, brings a wealth of medical expertise with the finest talents amongst doctors, nurses, technicians and management professionals in an environment that enables them to deliver the highest qua lity of healthcare through state-of-the art facilities that aims to leave no stone unturned in perfecting ever enhancing patient centric care.....

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We Care Core Values

We have a very simple business model that keeps you as the centre.

Having the industrys most elaborate and exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five patients our patient care standards are unmatched across the sub continent.

Life After Bariatric Surgery

Late last year, a group of researchers led by cardiologist Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D., of the Mayo Clinic research team, presented their findings on the effects of bariatric surgery on morbidly obese heart failure patients. The study was presented at the American Heart Assoication's Scientific Sessions in Chicago. According to the study, morbidly obese heart failure patients stand to enjoy a better quality of life after the surgery. During the session, Dr. Jimenez explained that bariatric surgery could form part of the treatment of severely obese patients with heart failure as long as there are no major factors that render the performance of the surgery inadvisable. But considering that the study involved only a limited number of test subjects, the good doctor cautioned that the results should only be considered preliminary.

In any event, the researchers confirmed that the subjects who had undergone weight loss surgery reported a better quality of life after the surgery even if most of them remained obese. Compared to the severely obese patients with heart failure who had not undergone any kind of weight loss surgery, those who did reported improvements from symptoms such as swelling in the legs and labored breathing during strenuous activities. The results suggest that patients need not reach a certain weight before they can enjoy the benefits. The findings are important because a lot of cardiologists do not refer morbidly obese patients for bariatric surgery.

Heart failure almost always happens to people who tip the scales quite excessively, more so to people who are already morbidly obese. Various heart ailments such as irregular heartbeat (Arrhythmia) and congestive heart failure if not treated immediately may result in death. It is observed that morbidly obese patients are more prone to develop an enlarged right ventricular cavity. This structural change is quite abnormal and is frequently associated with heart failure.

With bariatric surgery, a overstressed heart from the over excessive weight will feel instant relief. In the study that was conducted, the ultrasound will reveal that any enlargement like in the right ventricular heart cavity will decrease. As a result, the heart will not longer be pumping as hard. Over time and careful monitoring, the abnormality will return to normal. However, for this to happen, the patient must seriously change his lifestyle and habits by eating healthier and monitoring his heart rate and blood pressure.

Bariatric surgery as a treatment for excessively overweight patients who have heart failure seem to have more pros than cons. Despite this, however, the number of patients who have gotten the procedure remains insignificant. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) noted that this relatively small number is due in part to the cost of performing the surgery and the risks attached to it. Health insu rance companies do not even cover this procedure so, patients who are not financially capable can't consider the possibility of going through this procedure. Despite the possible health risks and the costs involved, excessively overweight patients suffering from heart failure should try to weigh the disadvantages compared the inherent advantages i.e., weight loss, improvements in heart muscle function, and over-all wellness. The benefits of bariatric surgery to excessively overweight patients with heart failure is without a doubt very glaring.

101 Tips and Tricks of Google Search

Looking for the ultimate tips for Google searching? You've just found the only guide to Google you need. Let's get started:
1. The best way to begin searching harder with Google is by clicking the Advanced Search link.
2. This lets you search for exact phrases, "all these words", or one of the specified keywords by entering search terms into the appropriate box.
3. You can also define how many results you want on the page, what language and what file type you're looking for, all with menus.
4. Advanced Search lets you type in a Top Level Domain (like .co.uk) in the "Search within site of domain" box to restrict results.
5. And you can click the "Date, usage rights, numeric range and more" link to access more advanced features.
6. Save time most of these advanced features are also available in Google's front page search box, as command line parameters.
7. Google's main search invisibly combines search terms with the Boolean construct "AND ". When you enter smoke fire it looks for smoke AND fire.
8. To make Google search for smoke or fire, just type smoke OR fire
9. Instead of OR you can type the | symbol, like this: smoke | fire
10. Boolean connectors like AND and OR are case sensitive. They must be upper case.
11. Search for a specific term, then one keyword OR another by grouping them with parentheses, like this: water (smoke OR fire)
12. To look for phrases, put them in quotes: "there's no smoke without fire"
13. Synonym search looks for words that mean similar things. Use the tilde symbol before your keyword, like this: ~eggplant
14. Exclude specific key words with the minus operator. new pram -ebay excludes all results from eBay.
15. Common words, like I, and, then and if are ignored by Google. These are called "stop words".
16. The plus operator makes sure stop words are included. Like: fish +and chips
17. If a stop word is included in a phrase between quote marks as a phrase, the word is searched for.
18. You can also ask Google to fill in a blank. Try: Christopher Columbus discovered *
19. Search for a numerical range using the numrange operator. For example, search for Sony TV between Rs 50000 and Rs 100000 with the string Sony TV Rs50000..Rs100000
20. Google recognises 13 main file types through advanced search, including all Microsoft Office Document types, Lotus, PostScript, Shockwave Flash and plain text files.
21. Search for any filetype directly using the modifier filetype:[filetype extension]. For example: soccer filetype:pdf
22. Exclude entire file types, using the same Boolean syntax we used to exclude key words earlier: rugby -filetype:doc
23, In fact, you can combine any Boolean search operators, as long as your syntax is correct. An example: "sausage and mash" -onions filetype:doc
24. Google has some very powerful, hidden search parameters, too. For example "intitle" only s earches page titles. Try intitle:herbs
25. If you're looking for files rather than pages give index of as the intitle: parameter. It helps you find web and FTP directories.
26. The modifier inurl only searches the web address of a page: give inurl:spices a go.
27. Find live webcams by searching for: inurl:view/view.shtml
28. The modifier inanchor is very specific, only finding results in text used in page links.
29. Want to know how many links there are to a site? Try link:sitename for example link:www.mozilla.org
30. Similarly, you can find pages that Google thinks are related in content, using the related: modifier. Use it like this: related:www.microsoft.com
31. The modifier info:site_name returns information about the specified page.
32. Alternatively, do a normal search then click the "Similar Pages" link next to a result. 33. Specify a site to search with the site: modifier like this: search tips site:www.techradar.com
34. The above tip works with directory sites like www.dmoz.org and dynamically generated sites.
35. Access Google Directory a database of handpicked and rated sites at directory.google.com
36. The Boolean operators intitle and inurl work in Google directory, as does OR.
37. Use the site: modifier when searching Google Images, at images.google.com. For example: dvd recorder site:www.amazon.co.uk
38. Similar, using "site:.com" will only return results from .com domains.
39. Google News (news.google.com) has its own Boolean parameters. For example "intext" pulls terms from the body of a story.
40. If you use the operator "source:" in Google News, you can pick specific archives. For example: heather mills source:daily_mail
41. Using the "location:" filter enables you to return news from a chosen country. location:uk for example.
42. Si milarly, Google Blogsearch (blogsearch.google.com) has its own syntax. You can search for a blog title, for example, using inblogtitle:
43. The general search engine can get very specific indeed. Try movie: to look for movie reviews.
44. The modifier film: works just as well!
45. Enter showtimes and Google will prompt you for your postcode. Enter it and it'll tell you when and where local films are showing.
46. For a dedicated film search page, go to www.google.co.uk/movies
47. If you ticked "Remember this Location" when you searched for show times, the next time you can enter the name of a current film instead.
48. Google really likes movies. Try typing director: The Dark Knight into the main search box.
49. For cast lists, try cast: name_of_film
50. The modifier music: followed by a band, song or album returns music reviews.
51. Try searching for weather London you'll get a full 4-day forecast.
52. There's also a built-in dictionary. Try define: in the search box.
53. Google stores the content of old sites. You can search this cache direct with the syntax keyword cache:site_url
54. Alternatively, enter cache:site_url into Google's search box to be taken direct to the stored site.
55. No calculator handy? Use Google's built in features. Try typing 12*15 and hitting "Google Search".
56. Google's calculator converts measurements and understands natural language. Type in 14 stones in kilos, for example.
57. It does currency conversion too. Try 200 pounds in euros
58. If you know the currency code you can type 200 GBP in EUR instead for more reliable results.
59. And temperature! Just type: 98 f to c to convert Fahrenheit to Centigrade.
60. Want to know how clever Google really is? Type 2476 in roman numerals, then hit "Google Search"...
61. You can personalise your Google experience by creating a Google account. Go to www.google.com/account/ then click "Create Account".
62. With a Google account there are lots more extras available. You'll get a free Gmail email account for one...
63. With your Google account, you can also personalise your front page. Click "iGoogle" to add blog and site feeds.
64. Click "Add a Tab" in iGoogle to add custom tabs. Google automatically populates them with suitable site suggestions.
65. iGoogle allows you to theme your page too. Click "Select Theme" to change the default look.
66. Some iGoogle themes change with time..."Sweet Dreams" is a theme that turns from day to night as you browse.
67. Click "More" under "Try something new" to access a full list of Google sites and new features.
68. "Custom Search" enables you to create a branded Google search for your own site.
69. An active, useful service missing from the list is "Personalised Search" but you can access it via www.google.com/psearch when you're logged in.
70. This page lists searches you have recently made and is divided into categories. Clicking "pause" stops Google from recording your history.
71. Click "Trends" to see the sites you visit most, the terms you enter most often and links you've clicked on!
72. Personalised Search also includes a bookmark facility which enables you to save bookmarks online and access them from anywhere.
73. You can add bookmarks or access your bookmarks using the iGoogle Bookmarks gadget.
74. Did you know you can search within your returned results? Scroll down to the bottom of the search results page to find the link.
75. Search locally by appending your postcode to the end of query. For example Indian food BA1 2BW finds restaurants in Bath, with addresses and phone numbers!
76. Looking for a map? Just add map to the end of your query, like this: Leeds map
77. Google finds images just as easily and lists them at the top, when you add image to the end of your search.
78. Google Image Search recognises faces... add &imgtype=face to the end of the returned URL in the location bar, then hit enter to filter out pictures that aren't people.
79. Keeping an eye on stocks? Type stocks: followed by market ticker for the company and Google returns the data from Google Finance.
80. Enter the carrier and flight number in Google's main search box to return flight tracking information.
81. What time is it? Find out anywhere by typing time then the name of a place.
82. You may have noticed Google suggests alternate spellings for search terms that's the built in spell checker!
83. You can invoke the spell checker directly by using spell: followed by your keyword.
84. Click "I'm Feeling Lucky" to be taken straight to the first page Google finds for your keyword.
85. Enter a statistics-based query like population of Britain into Google, and it will show you the answer at the top of its results.
86. If your search has none-Engli sh results, click "Translate this Page" to see it in English.
87. You can search foreign sites specifically by clicking "Language Tools", then choosing which countries sites to translate your query to.
88. Other features on the language tools page include a translator for blocks of text you can type or cut and paste.
89. There's also a box that you can enter a direct URL into, translating to the chosen language.
90. Near the language tools link, you'll see the "Search Preferences". This handy page is full of secret functionality.
91. You can specify which languages Google returns results in, ticking as many (or few) boxes as you like.
92. Google's Safe Search protects you from explicit sexual content. You can choose to filter results more stringently or switch it off completely.
93. Google's default of 10 results a page can be increased to up to 100 in Search Preferences, too.
94. You can also set Google to open your search results in a new window.
95. Want to see what others are searching for or improve your page rank? Go to www.google.com/zeitgeist
96. Another useful, experimental search can be found at www.google.com/trends where you can find the hottest search terms.
97. To compare the performance of two or more terms, enter them into the trends search box separated by commas.
98. Fancy searching Google in Klingon? Go to www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon
99. Perhaps the Swedish chef from the muppets is your role model instead? Check www.google.com/intl/xx-bork
100. Type answer to life, the universe and everything into Google. You may be surprised by the result...
101. It will also tell you the number of horns on a unicorn