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The fact that science can explain a lot of existing phenomena makes it a vital course worth studying. Science-related subjects mostly test how you can relate or apply the available information to solve your immediate problems. 

Science uses different theories to explain abstract events happening in the universe. Are you eager to raise your grades in science? Below are a few tips from academic experts on how to boost your grades in your science degree.

Attend all your unit classes

Almost all topics in the science syllabus are interrelated. At the college, no one will force you to attend the classes. Here, you will have to use your common sense and try to attend all the unit lectures. More importantly, never miss the introduction class or the first class. That's when different instructors issue the course outline- a very important element in your science degree.

You can reinforce your understanding of chemistry by taking a general-chemistry course on https://www.straighterline.com/online-college-courses/sciences/general-chemistry-i/. Through the General Chemistry course at StraighterLine, you will analyze the properties of solids, liquids and gases. After gaining these basics, you will then learn about examining solubility, the colligative properties of solutions, chemical reactions, quantum theory and atomic structure.

Study adequately

Boosting your grades depends on your input. You should at least spend three hours reading the content you were taught in class. For some science units, you will need more time than the introduction ones. Clear your mind before reading science concepts because they require you to use very high cognitive skills to relate them with existing phenomena.

Develop good studying habits because you can waste all your time trying to cover a unit that’s so infinite. Choose wisely the type of materials to use for your study. In this case, your instructor is the best person to decide for you. Those reading materials are usually given in class as reference materials.

Polish on your communication skills

Every topic in science has the correct terminologies that define different concepts. Do not beat about the bush when giving your response to questions in your tests. If possible, let these terminologies be at your fingertips as they build your science communication skills.

Science instructors usually tend to be very keen on the choice of words you have used in your work. It's a waste of time to have a lot of information that you cannot apply properly. It's painful to be answering questions in class, yet the same is not reflected in the exams. Someone might claim that you are an attention seeker!

Follow good rules of writing

In science, there are three main specializations- physics, astronomy and chemistry. Each of these specializations has its set standards of how you should present your writings. A typical biology report is very different from a physics report, and same to chemistry.

Amongst the three, chemistry uses symbols to represent different elements in the periodic table. How you write each of those symbols determines your success. Make sure that you practice this skill until you can communicate effectively in your writing.

Practice being "noteworthy"

Writing notes is an essential component of your science degree. While in class, do not just listen to the instructor; jot down the main points being discussed. In most cases, the largest part of t your exam is what you covered in class. The rest tests how you can apply your knowledge to the real world.

Those simple notes that you have might constitute more than 50% of your exam. Remember that you should never panic in class because the information your instructor gives is on the internet. In your free time, use your small notes as pointers to research for further information.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Apr 24, 2021 6:16 PM BST

What a fascinating place the Galapagos Islands are. They make up an archipelago of large and small islands in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The amazing nature and biology of the islands get it the nickname ‘natural laboratory of evolution’ – a place where extraordinary plants and animals have evolved in different ways to adapt to life on the volcanic islands.

Galapagos – such biological diversity

There isn’t quite another place on earth that has been so important to the study of nature and natural history. Sir David Attenborough has brought out his Galapagos 3D, where he travels throughout the archipelago, explaining its origins and the unique plants and animals in evolutionary terms. 

Voyagers Travel can take you to this wonderland - this cluster of volcanic islands where new ones are still being formed to this day. In fact, these islands are one of the world’s most actively volcanic areas. They’re home to the most extraordinary natural life, and Voyagers Travel offers outstanding tourism services to their valued customers to ensure they don’t miss a thing.

They have total knowledge of the Galapagos and offer tailor-made tours to explore this island with its diverse mix of animal and plant species and complex ecosystem.

Weather influenced by ocean currents

It doesn’t matter when you visit the Galapagos, there are only so many visitors allowed on the island at a given time. You will need to book early to secure a spot. 

When you book through tourism services, you get the benefit of having naturalists as your guides to make the visit even more meaningful. Not only that, you can only visit the National Park if you are accompanied by an officially qualified guide. 

The island’s position on the equator ensures a fairly steady temperature but the warmer, wetter months are from January to June, but still, there is always plenty of sunshine. The weather of the Galápagos Islands is influenced by ocean currents and it’s the cold Humboldt and Cromwell currents that cool the Galápagos Islands, keeping them from turning into a tropical island. 

Galapagos – a place worthy of being protected

The Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site. A site like this has outstanding natural or cultural value and worthy of being protected. The island’s world heritage status contributes to raising awareness of the islands’ importance for conservation. 

The Government of Ecuador makes efforts to protect the islands through the enactment of the Special Law for Galapagos, which includes stricter controls in certain aspects. All hotels and resorts follow environmental policies.

Santa Cruz is the main island in the archipelago and it is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station. The research station has a breeding program for endangered giant tortoises. These giant tortoises are an iconic site and it would be unthinkable to visit the islands and not to see these creatures. The El Chato Reserve is their home and you can see them there in their natural habitat. 

A place of sanctuary

The Galapagos Islands have a unique ecosystem and there are a large number of endemic species that are larger than other similar species elsewhere. The word ‘galapago’ means tortoise in Spanish and there are plenty of these on the islands.

The Galapagos Islands focus on evolutionary research and the islands are considered one of Ecuador’s national parks and marine reserves – a place of sanctuary. 

The Islands are home to the only remaining Giant Pinta tortoise on earth. The islands are also home to the huge, rare scolopendra centipede that makes a meal of lizards and rats. It is also home to the amazing marine iguanas. The Galapagos Islands are surely one of the most unique, fascinating places on earth.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Feb 15, 2021 7:23 AM GMT

Every parent desires to see their children succeed in their academic endeavors. Success depends on the quality of programming and the ability to access learning materials in school and at home.  

Children are required to spend extra hours to write their assignments and revise for their exams. As such, you can help your child achieve academic goals by providing the necessary support they need at home, such as creating a conducive learning environment. 

Establish a routine

As a parent, you should find time to sit down with your child to discuss school matters and provide any necessary assistance. This may be challenging because a child may be highly involved in electronic devices such as mobile phones. 

If a child prefers to use a smartphone to do their homework, you can install a phone tracker to track your child and safeguard the safety of the device. With a phone tracker, you don’t have to keep asking your child where they have kept the phone at any one time.

A mobile phone can be an important resource to the child’s learning process if used effectively, and as such, the mobile tracker can help you manage the device better. Develop a daily routine to allow your child to do their homework and access resources through the mobile phone. 

Set rules

It is important to set simple and short rules concerning studying at home to enable your child to remain organized and focused. This can also provide a structure for them to complete their studies and homework on time and ultimately, their studies. 

Rules act as a reminder of what is expected of the children in the family in pursuit of their home and school assignments. Make it clear that if rules are not followed, reasonable consequences will be enforced. Specify the time homework and the environment within which the work should be completed and encourage the child to stick to that. 

Create study space at home

The study environment at home is important for a child to achieve academic goals. Set aside a room or a study area where the child can work with minimal or no distractions. 

Ensure that TVs and phones are switched off throughout the study time to enhance concentration. However, Phones and tablets may be switched on if they are needed for research purposes. 

You can also set aside a homework center to develop your child’s ability to do their homework efficiently. Being organized in this way may help the child keep track of their work and ensure its safety.

Provide incentives

Motivation is an important component in enhancing success in school. You may consider rewarding your child every time they complete their school work. Such incentives may include a fun activity, going out with friends, playing games, or watching a movie. 

Introducing more elaborate incentives may also be essential if the child cultivates a habit of completing their work. Larger-scale incentives may be more appropriate for long assignments over a few days or weeks. This may include the use of tokens where children earn stars or points that can allow them to get a privilege or reward.

Encourage a positive attitude about education

If you did not have a good experience in school, be wary of passing a negative attitude to your kid. The notion that assignments and schoolwork are hard may discourage your child and hinder them from achieving their academic goals. 

Try as much as possible to put aside negative feelings about education, and instead inspire them to remain focused and determined to succeed. You can get involved in the education process by getting concerned about what they learn every day and asking them about their favorite part of their learning process. Engaging in a detailed conversation while at home may enable them to understand the importance of education. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Dec 17, 2020 10:31 PM GMT

Nothing sucks more than buying several headphones every year because they keep breaking. Unfortunately, this happens to the best of us. 

The good news is that there are methods that you can use to maintain your headphones so that they sound and look as good as new. 

This includes cleaning your headphones regularly and properly, or maybe you want to boost the treble and bass on your headphones. 

You’ll find the following tips extremely valuable at helping you to get more bang for your buck when it comes to your headphones and ensure that you get to enjoy them for many more years to come. 

  1. Clean the Headphones

It doesn’t matter if you have circumoral (over the ear) or supra-aural (on-ear) headphones, you shouldn’t have to worry about earwax buildup. Moisture build-up from sweating through regular use or exercise can be rinsed off. 

It’s important to ensure that your headphone has an IP rating that’s between IP5 to IP7. You can find this rating on the manufacturer’s website. 

Some headphone manufacturers also offer extra accessories such as replaceable or removable earpads to help prolong the lifespan of your headphones. This is quite popular with Sennheiser models, for example. 

  1. Protect the Cable

The cable is probably the most fragile part of your headphones. That’s why cordless headphones are getting popular. 

To extend the cable’s lifespan, you must loop it around your fingers a few times so that it forms a coil instead of storing it in a bunch or wadding it up. 

Keeping it coiled like this will prevent the formation of breakage points or kinks that might damage it internally. 

This means that your headphones won’t just stop working out of the blue anymore and you’ll find that it’s easier to store the headphones inside the pouch that they come with.

  1. Take Advantage of Apps

There are apps that are designed to enable you to change the sound signature of your headphones significantly and quickly. 

But, this doesn’t mean that you should do it. An app isn’t a fix-all panacea for your headphone’s sound woes. For best results, it’s better to use simple EQ apps to solve your earpiece’s sound issues but not right out of the box. 

After a while of owning them, you could tame overtly sibilant high-mids or town down the bass a bit using an EQ app without damaging your headphones.

  1. Use Preamps

While EQ apps are designed to change the sound signature of the drivers in your headphones, digital-analog converters or DACs for short, are designed to improve the sound quality comprehensively and not just the frequency response. 

Your mobile phone’s default DAC is known for its ability to convert the digital signal from the phone to your headphone’s internal analog signal, granted your utilizing wired earphones or headphones. 

Most manufacturers don’t prioritize DACs and preamps compared to the processor so it’s best to optimize it yourself if you can.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Nov 16, 2020 2:56 AM GMT

You have saved responsibly toward your retirement for many years, and now that special time has arrived. No more reporting to work each day, as you will now have time to enjoy doing other things you have put off for so long.

However, is the amount you have saved enough to see you through retirement? Will it cover your travel aspirations? What if an emergency occurs?

Here are things you can do with your retirement savings to make them work for you:

Insurance

In most cases, financial crises can be prevented by having insurance to cover you in an emergency. Premiums might seem an unnecessary expense until you need the coverage they offer. 

For example, car insurance ensures that you can have your car repaired or replaced after an accident, fire, or theft. Life insurance allows you to leave your loved ones the means to cover your outstanding debt when you die and still have a nest egg to invest afterward.

While you might be entitled to Medicare being over 65, there are many copayments, and some parts of the program are not covered. Medigap or Medicare Supplement Plans, as they are also known, help seniors by adding to their Medicare Parts A and B coverage. 

They are sound investments that can save a lot of money in the long-term, according to Russell Noga, owner of Medisupps.com. Long-term care insurance will help if you must have support at home or move into a nursing home.

Real estate

If there is one investment likely to appreciate more than others, it is property. While there are several ways to invest in real estate, seniors are advised to be discerning about who they trust with their money. 

Real estate developers have been known to swindle older folks out of their life’s savings in the blink of an eye with zero remorse. Research the people you will be investing your money with and take professional advice to avoid being caught out this way.

Another option is buying rental properties and using the rent from tenants to pay off the mortgage with a little added income for you. Property owners must be careful about tenants, ensuring that they do not default on payments or damage the house. 

This could get even worse if you have several properties. However, rental agents can make things easier, provided you are prepared to pay them a percentage of each rental payment received.

Stable investments

Bonds offer investment stability that can become a steady source of income. Prudent investors put at least half their retirement savings into products like bonds because of their predictability. They do not offer extremely high returns but work as an investment with a guaranteed, stable income. 

Another stable investment is a reserve savings account, which you hold for emergencies. This is not a money-making investment as the balance will not earn much interest. However, it is a safety net that could become essential during unforeseen circumstances.

Dividend income funds

If you want to invest in the stock market, consider dividend income funds as they are less risky than direct share investment. With a dividend income fund, your capital is invested in a range of companies on your behalf, an ideal way to ensure a net gain. Dividend income funds are the direct equivalent of not putting all your eggs in one basket.

However, like stock market investments, dividend income funds come with a degree of risk. Ensure it is one you can live with by not investing most of your money in this way, as volatile markets could see you losing some hard-earned money.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Nov 16, 2020 2:51 AM GMT

With a growing aging population, demand for prescription drugs in America is at an all-time high. Older people are more vulnerable to a variety of illnesses and conditions that require them to take medication. Many are now using online pharmacies to have their medicine delivered to their doorstep. 

Online pharmacies are developing innovative ways to distinguish themselves in an increasingly competitive market. This includes specialized packaging of patients’ drugs and offering excellent customer service. 

Here are some benefits for seniors who utilize online pharmacies:

Cost savings

Many online pharmacies advertise prices cheaper than retail standards and have a price-match guarantee, meaning seniors will get their medications as cheaply as possible. While some offer standard shipping for free, an expedited delivery has an additional fee attached to it. 

A few online pharmacies insist on a small subscription fee and then provide free deliveries. Overall, subscription fees are low and cost less than traveling to a brick-and-mortar pharmacy every time you need medication.

While these savings might be helpful, seniors on Medicare must still pay for their prescriptions, even if they have Medicare Supplement Plans as these do not cover Part D, which allocates funds to medication. Russell Noga, the owner of MediSupps, encourages seniors to investigate the costs of such plans. The premiums are low and save seniors hundreds of dollars each year.

Bulk orders

Local pharmacies tend to fill prescriptions one month at a time, whereas online pharmacies can deliver a 90-day supply of medication. This can reduce any copayments required. 

It also means paying for shipping once instead of three times if the online pharmacy charges for deliveries. Seniors feel safer having an extra supply of medication available to them should an emergency occur, preventing them from getting to a pharmacy. 

Online pharmacies also benefit from this practice. It reduces their shipping and logistics costs. Additionally, they get discounts from pharmaceutical manufacturers when they make bulk purchases. They might pass some of these savings onto customers, too.

Convenience

Many seniors who have lost much of their mobility prefer staying at home or being in places where they feel safe. Venturing out to a pharmacy can be a mammoth task, especially if they no longer drive or live far away from the nearest branch. 

They might have to ask a friend or family member to take them to the pharmacy or go and collect their order on their behalf. Seniors feel that this is imposing an unnecessary burden on someone else while fighting to retain their independence. Online pharmacies solve this problem.

Caregivers also find online pharmacy services convenient as they do not have to leave their patients alone while they source their medication. This makes the caregiving role less stressful.

Additional services

Some pharmacies manage medication packaging in unique ways. For example, multi-dose dispensing (MMD) presents all the patient’s daily medication in one convenient packet. 

This makes it easier for seniors to remember to take their medicine without becoming confused about which ones need to be taken when. Each package lists the dosage and what time it should be taken. Some online pharmacies have gone the extra mile and send text reminders to seniors when they are due to take medication. 

Online pharmacies give users direct access to pharmacists during office hours, although some offer the service 24/7. Seniors or caregivers with questions or concerns about dosages and how to administer them can contact a pharmacist for prompt, accurate advice. 

Additionally, online pharmacies are not limited to providing prescription drugs. Users can also order over-the-counter (OTC) medications and vitamin supplements online. This makes online pharmacies a one-stop-shop for all a senior’s medication needs.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Oct 29, 2020 9:00 PM GMT

Compared to previous generations, seniors living in the 21st century have access to cutting edge technology that helps them live longer, fuller lives. 

Recent innovations, including the smartphone and apps it can utilize, mean that older people can deal with health issues more effectively. And it seems that the best is yet to come, with continuous tech advances that will become part of our lives in the not-too-distant future.

Here are some ways that modern tech is used to advance senior care:

Global Positioning System (GPS)

GPS has been refined over the years to improve location accuracy and how much detail a satellite can provide a user. This technology is advantageous to seniors who struggle with memory loss, become disoriented, and wander off frequently. 

It can be a terrifying experience for these people as they are not sure how they got there and have no idea how to get home. Caregivers must have the means to find their loved one or client quickly. Today’s GPS trackers are so advanced that they can be ironed into clothing or placed in the sole of a shoe.

Elderly patients who have wandered off are vulnerable to accidents or muggings. Such incidents could land them in the hospital. Russell Noga of MediSupps recommends that all seniors have Medicare Supplement plans 2021 in place to help them cover the bills should something befall them.

Tracking medication usage

Most seniors take medication of some sort, with some taking multiple doses of various medicines each day. It is easy to miss a dose, and some medicines need to be taken at precise times each day. Forgetful seniors often do not take their medication as prescribed and could wind up taking a double dose or none. 

Fortunately, several tech solutions help seniors keep track of medication usage. Smartphones have facilities to set multiple alarms as reminders to take medicine. There are also pill boxes that alert the user or caregiver when it is time to take medication. 

Developers are working on smart pill bottles that allow manufacturers, doctors, patients, and caregivers to track medication usage. This would include a text sent to seniors to remind them to take their dose.

The internet

While there are too many internet doctors out there who try self-diagnosing, often with disastrous consequences, there are advantages to the Medical Internet of Things (IoT). Medical practitioners can stay on top of the latest treatment trends and apply them in their practices. 

When a senior is under the treatment of several doctors, the internet allows them to remain connected so that their patient receives holistic treatments that do not interact with each other negatively.

The internet has kicked senior care up another notch by allowing remote connectivity to monitor equipment, like an oxygen tank. A doctor can see that the tank is in use and help the patient order more in advance. 

Cameras

Many seniors who need additional care complain about caregivers who are rough and impatient. Having cameras set up in the home allows family members to monitor their loved ones’ treatment and ensure that it meets their expectations and standards. 

This trend has caused an increased number of elder abuse cases reported to authorities. However, they believe that only a small fraction of such cases reach their attention.

Camera technology is that advanced that a system triggered by sensors is now commonplace. Sensors pick up motion in the room to track how often a senior is moving around their house from one room to another. 

These systems are smart enough to establish movement patterns and notify caregivers if a drastic change could indicate a problem.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Oct 29, 2020 7:58 PM GMT

These days, more so with cosmetic surgery, you have to be wary of fly by night plastic surgeons, who will offer you a cheap procedure and leave you with a host of new imperfections that you never had before. Whatever surgery you have, always choose an experienced board-certified surgeon for your own safety sake. 

If you have a good surgeon, they will discuss what your post-surgery recovery will be. However, you can also do a lot on your own to ensure a smooth recovery.

Injured by the doctor you trusted

Surgical errors from the doctor you put your trust in are more common than you think. This is medical malpractice and there are a number of examples of surgical errors that occur. Then the patient suffers the consequences and these mistakes can result in permanent injuries and death.

This is one time you have to consult with an attorney to ensure some form of justice and monetary compensation to pay for medical treatment. The Hastings law firm in Texas are medical malpractice specialists. 

They were established in 2009 and are tough and relentless when it comes to pursuing justice and winning compensation for their clients. Working on a no-win, no-fee basis, these are Houston-based lawyers worth turning to because this is one area of the law that you dare not attempt on your own.

Stick to your discharge instructions

After any surgery, you will receive discharge instructions on how to look after your incision. This may include instructions on how to take medicines, how to clean the wound and bandage it as well as instructions on what activities you should avoid. You will also be informed on how to speed up healing by eating the right kinds of foods and what exercises to do.

You will also be informed to call your surgeon’s office if you’re worried about anything or if you have any complications. Your surgeon will also have given you a date for your next appointment and it is imperative to keep this appointment and all others the doctor schedules for you.

Sticking to your hospital discharge instructions will ensure you don’t have to return to the hospital.

Get up and about

You may not feel like it after you’ve had surgery, but the quicker you get moving, the better. The speed at which one returns to preoperative independence determines the speed at which you recover, both mentally and physically. 

After surgery, pulmonary complications, as well as pneumonia, are the leading cause of postoperative death. Confinement to bed is a risk factor for these conditions, and if you’re up and moving, you automatically take deeper breaths, so important for warding off pulmonary embolism and pneumonia. 

Lying in bed day after day results in muscle loss and weakness while moving improves recovery and strength.

Sneezing the wrong way?

Even before surgery, it can only be to your benefit to learn to sneeze and cough the right way. For example, with pelvic organ prolapse, you want to make sure you don’t cough and sneeze violently to prevent the organs from pressing against the vagina.

Also, sneezing incorrectly isn’t good after some surgeries, and with an abdominal incision, for instance, you can actually do serious harm to your incision because a violent sneeze can cause an incision to pop open. You get wound separation, known as Dehiscence – a surgical complication where the wound edges no longer meet. 

When an incision heals, the new tissue isn’t strong yet. In severe cases, when the incision opens totally, it becomes a surgical emergency. This is because it could lead to a complication known as evisceration, where the organs can even extend outside the incision. The incision will need to be covered with wet sterile bandages while you wait for emergency medical care. 

Posted by Emily Dawson on Oct 27, 2020 5:58 AM GMT

As people get older, their bodies are more susceptible to illness and injury, leading to surgery. Healthcare costs are not negligible by any means. Some types of surgeries can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, excluding the patient’s post-operative care, hospital stay, and medication required afterward.

Healthy living can prevent many conditions that require surgery to affect a senior’s body. But, in case they do, here are five of the most expensive surgeries many seniors undergo:

Exploratory chest surgery

While this is often a medical practitioner’s last resort, exploratory chest surgery is contemplated when doctors need to explore the chest cavity to diagnose or remediate a problem. Surgeons tend to try less invasive options to correct conditions that they can identify. However, they will not hesitate to perform this procedure in a life-threatening emergency to effectively treat a patient.

During a thoracotomy, a doctor creates an incision in the chest wall, which lies between the ribs. The chest is then ‘cracked open’ so that a surgeon can access their patient’s heart, lungs, and esophagus. 

This surgery alone will cost over a hundred thousand dollars, and even with Medicare, the copayments alone can be financially crippling. Russell Noga of MediSupps is an expert in Medicare Supplement Plans for 2021, which will provide you with some additional cover that minimizes any financial impacts of such major surgery.

Transplant surgery

Any organ transplant surgery has a high price tag attached to it. It is an intensive, invasive surgery that can take hours to complete. Numerous blood vessels must be severed from the damaged organ and then reattached to a donor organ. The amount of time spent in the operating theater and how many doctors are involved in organ transplant surgery explain why such procedures are expensive.

Additionally, treatment required while waiting for a donor is costly. For instance, patients with kidney failure need dialysis sessions. Post-operative care includes taking immunosuppressants to ensure that the body does not reject its new organ. Transplant surgery includes replacing the liver, kidneys, lungs, or heart.

Non-invasive heart surgery

Heart operations have come a long way in recent decades. There is no longer a need for open-heart surgery in all cases. However, these less invasive surgery techniques require expensive equipment to make them a possibility. 

Examples include a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) during which a collapsible replacement heart valve is delivered to the damaged area with a catheter. Mitral valve repair is also done non-invasively, although it costs upward of $50,000.

Vascular bypass surgery

In a vascular bypass graft procedure, damaged arteries are circumvented by redirecting blood to healthy blood vessels. Blood flow then bypasses its usual route to another one that does not contain damaged arteries. A damaged artery cannot facilitate adequate blood flow, leading to ischemia. For patients of advanced age, this procedure is most commonly done in the heart and legs.

Surgeons use grafts in this surgery to connect a pathway between the blood vessel and the alternate one it will be flowing to in the future. Grafts are made from the patient’s own veins, Teflon, Dacron, or another patient’s veins.

Pacemakers and defibrillators

These lifesaving devices help patients who experience problems with their heart rate. A pacemaker can control abnormal heart rhythms, while a defibrillator sends small electric shocks to a heart that beats unevenly, too slow, or too fast. It can restart the heart if it stops suddenly.

These devices do not come cheap and nor do the procedures for inserting them. Additionally, they need to be replaced after prolonged use. Removal and replacement surgery might cost more than an initial insertion operation.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Oct 27, 2020 5:05 AM GMT

Java is a ubiquitous presence in the programming world. The fact that it's been around for decades, and the ease with which it works on practically any platform, makes Java one of the most versatile languages you can learn. The legacy of Java is long and will continue to be relevant for a long time to come, but what exactly is Java good at, and what programmers can benefit most from it?

What Java Can Do

In practical terms, Java can do just about anything. This object-oriented programming language has broad application over computers and cell phones but also has wide compatibility with TVs and a wide variety of household and commercial appliances. Despite its age, it's a popular choice for building a wide variety of apps.

And since so much software out there is already built on Java, an understanding of Java is going to continue to be a valuable asset for plenty of in-house developers to have for a long time. Most companies aren't willing to rip up and rewrite their codebase, and Java's remained constantly updated for two decades without any signs of slowing any time soon. When asking what Java can do, you really need to ask yourself how it works, and whether or not its logic makes sense to your style of thinking and the types of applications you want to build.

It's a Statically Typed Language

Java is statically typed. What that means is that the programmer needs to declare all of their variables before using them, along with their data type. On the downside, that means more written code. On the upside, it means better documentation for yourself and others, less time chasing down errors, and a more concrete logic to follow when working through more complex algorithms.

Static languages like Java can be a great choice for beginners because the nature of the language forces you to write out your work. A dynamically typed language might be a bit easier from the beginning, but it won't hammer in the full procedural logic of what you're doing as well as a language like Java.

It's Object-Oriented

Java is an object-oriented programming language, and that makes it an eminently modular solution. Since everything within Java is designed as a discrete object, tracing problems is easy, and so is expanding or transplanting features. Doubling down on that is the notion of inheritance, which allows you to add complexity to your objects without having to rewrite or dramatically alter existing objects. It's an elegant solution that's especially well-suited for the long term. If someone needs to call in another programmer or bring a new coder onboard for computer programming help, they can usually get up to speed quickly with Java.

The Final Word on Java

Despite the hand-wringing of some in the coding community, Java isn't going anywhere soon. It does so much well, and it continues to grow with each passing year without lagging behind and while maintaining great documentation and a helpful community of users.

Java has a moderate learning curve for beginners, but that curve also comes with an advantage - teaching you the fundamentals that other languages will just parse for you. Java allows you to take those training wheels off safely. And with its modular, object-oriented functionality, it's likely going to be a pragmatic choice for application design for a long time to come.

Posted by Emily Dawson on Oct 27, 2020 4:38 AM GMT
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