17-Extra Credit on Ethics and Business-Keya Z.

I believe that good business practices do not always involve ethical behavior. As a matter of fact, I believe it is the exact opposite. Company’s and businesses will do whatever it takes to put their product out there on the market, even if it means making false accusations. They want to be known to the world and put their name out there. The tactics that Edison used are definitely being used in today’s modern business. If there are two very competitive businesses that are selling the same product, they will advertise good things about themselves and bad things about their competition. Most of which is not true. But whatever brings in the customers and brings home the money will be all that the company needs. However, it is important to note that all different types of business and companies have different ethical beliefs, views, and values. So one company might think its alright to advertise false information, while the other might think its completely wrong and still do it.

16C-Lineman’s Death-Keya Z.

To Whom it May Concern:

I am terribly sorry about the death of the man. It was very tragic. I send my deepest apologies to his family. But the blame cannot be put on alternating current alone. Yes, it was AC which killed him, but direct current would have the same effect if more volts were added to it. “With a continuous current of 400 volts a dog weighing fifty-seven and a half pounds was killed instantly. That an alternating current of one hundred volts, even when effectively applied, does not kill is shown by two experiments on another dog. A continuous current of 304 volts was applied for thirty seconds, and then an alternating current of one hundred volts for sixty-five seconds; yet the dog was unhurt” (A reply to Mr. Edison-P. 657).  It is irrelevant how he died, or by which electric system. You cannot base your decision to shut down alternating current on the death of a man-its unethical. Look at how much progress we have made with AC. It is unbelievable sometimes. Millions of people are using it in their homes and buildings today safely, which cannot be done with direct current. “The reader of Mr. Edison’s article who is unfamiliar with the alternating system of distribution would naturally infer that in practice the same voltage is carried on the house wires as on the mains, as in the Edison system; but such is never the case under any circumstances. In this complete disconnection of the street and house wires found the reason of the positive safety both to life and property enjoyed by the users of the alternating system. It is one of the great advantages of this system that it admits of the use of high voltages for the street mains, and of wholly separate and independent currents, with absolutely safe voltage, for all wires within buildings- a condition which is infallibly secured and maintained by converters, or transformers, located in or near each building” (A Reply to Mr. Edison-P.658-659).  We have benefited the world with its brilliance. Thomas Edison is just looking for ways to make alternating current look bad because it beat out his direct current. His unethical approach to why alternating current is not safe should not be considered at all. He will do whatever it takes to make his DC look better than my AC. So please, hear what I am saying, and make the right choice. Don’t shut alternating current down. It is the future. Thank you.

Sincerely,

George Westinghouse

16 B Edison- Keya Z.

I believe that Edison’s position on electrocution is very unethical in my opinion. First of all, I believe that it is wrong to kill a man with electricity regardless of what he has done in his past. They deserve life in prison, but thats it. People do change over time, so they should be given a chance to do some right. But Edison even went on to say that getting killed in the electric chair will not hurt, or the person will not get burned. He said that it would be quick and painless, and the best way to kill someone. That is so wrong. Edison believed that nobody really knew the true extent of the possibilities of the electric chairs potential, and the only way to find out was to test it on someone. Edison’s thinking skills are somewhat bazaar and very unethical, even though he was a brilliant man.

Edison and Electrocution- Keya Z.

I beleive that Edison’s position on electrocution is very unethical in my opinion. First of all, I believe that it is wrong to kill a man with electricity regardless of what he has don in his past. They deserve life in prison, but thats it. People do change over time, so they should be given a chance to do some right. But Edison even went on to say that getting killed in the electric chair will not hurt, or the person will not get burned. He said that it would be quick and painless, and the best way to kill someone. That is so wrong. Edison believed that nobody really knew the true extent of the possibilities of the electric chairs potential, and the only way to find out was to test it on someone. Edison’s thinking skills are somewhat bazaar and very unethical, even though he was a brilliant man.

Brown-Keya Z.

I believe Harold Brown and Thomas Edison’s PR Campaign was not ethical at all. Demonstrating alternating current and direct current by killing animals is just a horrible thing to do. Brown was trying to prove that alternating current is not safe and direct current is. But the fact of the matter is that they both kill regardless. It took 1000 volts from direct current kill a dog, and it took 300 volts from alternating current to kill a dog. In the end, they both kill innocent creatures. It doesn’t matter which one kills faster, the idea that it kills is wrong.  Brown went as far enough to test alternating current on horses and humans as well. This was not at all a legitimate business or engineering enterprise. Edison and Brown had no real proof that alternating current was safer than direct current, they just wanted to do whatever it took to make it look that way.

Tesla and AC Motor- Keya Z.

Tesla first started his lecture by thanking his benefacotrs, Professor Anthony and Mr. Martin and Mr. Pope, men any ambitious electrician would wish as patrons. Then he exused his state of prescence, as he was very ill and looked weary. Tesla said he had a short notice of this lecture. He would be very happy if whatever he does meets their approval. Standing next to his AC induction motors, Tesla began his lecture and made his point by starting and stoping the machines and showing through drawings and diagrams also how they worked. He explained that others before him found that the magnetic fields produced by alternating current entered motors and just churned about, not turning the motor. What Tesla did differently was use two alternating currents that were out of step with each other, which is the polyphase. The magnetic fields worked together to push the rotating shaft of the motor around. By using more than one set of currents, Telsa could ensure that there was always a strong current available to power the motor. As one of the currents died away, the other would continue to move the motor round with it, and it did so without using any electrical connectinos to the rotating shaft. Westinghouse needed to buy the patents for the AC motor to complete his design. Tesla and his partners knew they needed such a fearless fighter if they were ever to see more than three years of royalties. Tesla very much admired Westinghouse’s qualities as a business man. Tesla said that Westinghouse was the only man that could take his alternating system under the circumstances then existing and win the battle agasint prejudice and money power. So Tesla sold his patents to Westinghouse, and the two starting working together and got wealthy fast.

Memory-Keya Z.

Delay Line Memory was a type of computer memory that was used for the early computers. Just like modern memory, it is a refreshable memory. The delary line memory was serial access- which means a group of elements is accessed in an ordered sequence. Dynamic Random Access Memory stores each bit of data seperatley within a circuit. The advantages of DRAM are that it needs only one transistor and capacitor per bit. This allows it to have a very high density. We use Dynamic Random Access Memory in many ways today, including personal computers, workstations, and video game consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox. The manufacturing process that I saw on the Micron Tour was first they would make the chips. Then they would clean it. Then they would package it. Finally they would send it to other sites so it can be put on the market.

Micron Tour- Keya Z.

The micron tour was very interesting to me. When we first got there we went into a classroom and watched a powerpoint presentation on Micron and what they do. They showed us their products, some statistics, and thier competition. They had an actual wafer to pass around to the class. Wafers hold up to 25 chips so they can transfer them by machine. After the presentation we went up to look at the production building. They had yellow light instead of normal light.  We could not actually go into the place because there was too much of a risk of dirt and particles to get on the wafers. The workers in the building are wearing a full body suit that covers them from head to toe. This is so they dont get any chemicals on themselves. The most interesting part of the whole tour was actually watching the wafers being transported from one spot to another and seeing them get cleaned. They used a special equipment to clean it. I also so a lot of very expensive equipment up to $30 million dollars. There are many jobs and internships available at micron, which would include electrical and mechanical engineering. Chemisty is a strong field as well. There are many different facilities in various areas of the world, including in Asia, America, and Europe. I do not think I would want to work there, but the experience would be nice. Becuase I am looking into systems engineering, I dont think it would benefit me as much, but an internship would be lovely.

How Transformers Work-Keya Z.

Transformers were first known as a “secondary generator”. It steps down higher AC voltages to those low enough to run individual incandescent lights. It was a new way to economically transfer electricity not just to individual light bulbs, but over long distances. The transformer ought to be able to step down the high-voltage AC safely before it entered the factory or office building or house. The first transformer was created by Michael Faraday. In a transformer, the “primary” is the copper wire that is fed electric current, generating a magnetic field. the “secondary” is the copper wire that intercepts the primary’s field of force. The two interact, self-inducing vltage. In an effective transformer, the two coils of cpper wire must be coupled perfectly to create high self-induction. Then a whole new design emerged that could be cheaply produced by machines: H-shaped iron plates that could be machine stamped now formed the core. The horinzontal part of the H would pass through the copper wire coils that could be machine wound and would serve as the primary and secondary. The ends were closed by means of I-shaped plates.

Tesla Master of Lighting-Keya Z.

The film Tesla Master of Lighting was about the great engineer Nikola Tesla and his journey to his fame. He is mostly known for his discovery of alternating current (AC), which rapidly grew over Edisons direct current (DC). His unique working methods allowed him to introduce the idea of wireless communication (radio). Much like Edison, he became greatly known as a very intimidating electrical inventor. The two were compared alot, and even crossed paths during their work. Tesla was born in Serbia at the stroke of midnight during an electric storm. When he was growing up he was heavily taught by his father. He later on traveled to the United States. New York City had work for him, due to a letter of recommendation to Edison from a close friend. Problems occured between to two when Tesla claimed that Edison offered him $50,000 if he improved the generators and motors. So then Tesla left Edison and started his own company a few streets down. With the help of investors and George Westinghouse, Tesla was allowed to bring alternating current to its full potential. His later years found him experimenting with the idea of wireless communication and death rays. He won a Nobel Piece Prize with Edison as well. His vision of electricity allowed him to expand his research ability to a whole different level. This is why people would compare him to Edison, as they possess the same type of qualities. Of course, it has its advantages and disadvantages. The risk is high but so is the reward. There will be many failures but the success is worth it.