Arena Simulation, Options for Modeling Systems

Arena simulation software helps protect your business by analyzing the impact of new, "what-if" business ideas, rules, and strategies before implementation on live customers—offline, without causing disruptions in service.

The Arena modeling system from Systems Modeling Corporation is a flexible and powerful tool that allows analysts to create animated simulation models that accurately represent virtually any system. First released in 1993, Arena employs an object-oriented design for entirely graphical model development. Simulation analysts place graphical objects—called modules—on a layout in order to define system components such as machines, operators, and material handling devices. Arena is built on the SIMAN simulation language. After creating a simulation model graphically, Arena automatically generates the underlying SIMAN model used to perform simulation runs.

The graphical modules used by simulation analysts to create models are provided “off-the-shelf” with Arena. These modules can also be custom designed by the end user to produce a modeling environment that is tailored to a specific application area (e.g., welding, cross-dock, etc.) or a specific vertical market (e.g., semiconductor, textiles, etc.). The resulting collection of user-created modules is contained inside an Application Solution Template (AST) that can be shared by any licensed Arena user.

How Google Explains Invalid Clicks

We always hear that Google has a sophisticated system to detect the invalid clicks, and result in termination of the cheaters’ account. But, how can Google do that? In this post, I summarize those ways that Google depends on to detect whether the clicks on your site are invalid or not. Google will not first ban your account immediately. Rather, they will first flag your account and Google will keep a closer eye to your account. In some occasion, they may send you a warning letter to notify your situation; but sometimes not.

1. IP Address

It is the easiest and must be recognized by everyone. If those clicks on your ads are originated from the same IP Address as the one used for accessing your AdSense account, your account is flagged.

2. Click Through Rate (CTR)

Normally, Click through Rate should not exceed 10%. Otherwise, Google will flag your account. For your information, normal CTR should ranges from 0.5% – 10%.

3. Physical Location

Google has good tracing software and technology.They can trace traffics origin down to the small town. So, using different computers with different IP address does not secure anything. So, don’t try to click your ads in various internet cafes. That will kill you.

4. Cookies

Most home users do not use static IP Address for Internet connection. In most cases just disconnect and reconnect will give you a new IP Address. But don’t forget, Google has set cookies on your computer. They can trace these cookies and see whether they originate from the same computer.

5. Click Pattern 1

It is also suspicious when people click on their clicks and then run away immediately (hit-and-run). But normally, people will surf for a while inside your pages and then click on the ads they want.

6. Click Pattern 2

why this computer / IP address / person is so trigger-click-happy on this particular website but never click on the ads on other sites?

7. Click Pattern 3

And why is it that people accessing these sites direct (type-in URL or from bookmark) tend to be very active ad-clickers compared with those referred from search engine or other sites?

8.Other Google Services

Apart from Google Adsense, Google also provide a series of services to us. Don’t just think that it is safe if you do not log in your adsense account and click on your ads. What other Google services do they provide to us? Here are some: Gmail (most people are using it), Google Earth, Google Calendar, Google Search, Google Toolbar, Google Talk, Google Sitemap, Google Desktop, Blogger, or even Youtube (because Google has just recently acquired it).

10. Search Engine Ranking

Your website is not indexed on any search engine, not linked by any prominent website, but get consistently high traffic? How come people can access your website and click your ads? That will make Google to smell a rat.

11. Design Of Webpage

How about the “Please click a link below” or “donate us by clicking the ads”? These kinds of encouragement is not in line with Google’s TOS. Google can use their winning search engine, or even human eyes to check your sites from time to time.

12. Advertisers conversion rate

Ad click is one thing. But does it bring value to the advertisers? If none of the clicks on your site translate to conversion to the advertiser, you are in trouble. First the Smart-Pricing hits, then your AdSense account disabled.[Via]

Review: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

QYN6CYZU3D76 - Last night it had its glitzy launch at London’s Old Billingsgate Market, with hordes of celebrities in attendance, but is Call of Duty Modern: Warfare 3 actually any good?

There are certainly some quibbles, but overall the verdict seems to be a resounding thumbs-up.

Publisher Activision opted for evolution rather than revolution from Modern Warfare 2 and that seems to have paid dividends. Here's a look at what the gaming press are saying.

The Single Player campaign 
Metro describes the single-player campaign as ‘still the best in the business, with some incredibly cinematic set pieces that range from a raging sandstorm in Somalia to a chemical attack in London’.

Ausgamers.com, meanwhile, also waxes lyrical about the single player mode, saying: ‘It’s looking mighty pretty, with a new pass on lighting that really makes the game pop. It’s also by far the most epic of the three [Modern Warfare games].’

Official Xbox Magazine positively drooled. Its reviewer hinting that perhaps careers in Hollywood beckon for the programmers: ‘Modern Warfare 3’s campaign remains startlingly effective as a showcase of cinematic craftsmanship.

'Every bit of the adventure demonstrates remarkable care and polish on the part of Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games — so much so that this game is arguably the slickest Call of Duty to date. It remains a very stellar, cohesive, and staggeringly refined trek.’

Edge is also impressed, but thinks that the original Modern Warfare campaign was superior. It said: ‘Taken as a whole it doesn’t quite live up to the original Modern Warfare’s outstanding campaign – but it gets closer than it has any right to.’

The Multiplayer mode
For many gamers, this is the most important part, and the studios behind the title have made some major changes.

There’s a revamped point-streak system, ‘Strike Packages’, new modes such as ‘Kill Confirmed’ where players must collect enemies dog tags to claim the kill – plus new weapons, equipment and perks.

Edge magazine concludes that the changes are ‘interesting’. It says: ‘They’ve clearly been made with a huge audience of highly differentiated skill levels in mind, but because they show that massmarket game design doesn’t mean dumbing down. Multiplayer has become more accommodating for everyone, and it makes COD better.’

IGN is even more impressed, describing the multiplayer mode as ‘fantastic’. The reviewer says: ‘This entry pulls you in with its persistent levelling system and frantic combat. All of the sixteen new maps are fun to play and, with a whole new slew of challenges to complete, rewards constantly pop up and keep you hooked with the next little endorphin rush.’

Eurogamer.net is also a fan, commenting that ‘at its brutal best, there's still nothing like a Call of Duty multiplayer match, and a shrewdly designed unlock system ensures that players of every skill level will start expanding their arsenal almost immediately’.

How does it compare to Battlefield 3?
Modern Warfare 3’s main competitor is the recently launched first-person-shooter Battlefield 3, but the feeling seems to be that Activision has won the day, just.

Eurogamer.net says: ‘Comparisons to Battlefield 3 are expected, but played back-to-back, also fairly futile. Where multiplayer is concerned, the two are far more different than their surface similarities would suggest. Where COD wins out is in its coherence.

‘Away from online, Battlefield 3 felt uncertain, Modern Warfare 3, on the other hand, feels like a complete package from the start; the three gameplay areas - solo, co-op and multiplayer - all feeling like parts of a cohesive whole.’

Computer And Video Games isn’t so certain though, claiming that ‘put side by side, they could be twins’.| Source : Daily Mail



Gammu to Web Based SMS Management

Wammu is a program to manage data in your cell phone such as contacts, calendar or messages. It is built on Gammu library, which provides abstraction layer to work with different cell phones from different vendors (including Nokia, Sony-Ericsson, Motorola, Samsung, Siemens, Huawei and others).

Wammu is mobile phone manager running on Linux, Windows and possibly other platforms, where libGammu and wxPython works. The communication is made by Gammu library. Currently supported features:
  • complete support (can read/edit/delete/copy) for contacts, todo, calendar
  • can read/create/save/send/backup smses
  • sending files to phone (OBEX and Sony Ericsson phones only)
  • sms composer for multi part smses (currently only text and predefined bitmap/sound can be edited)
  • display message including pictures and ringtones playback
  • support for backup and import in various formats (vCard, vCalendar, vTodo, iCalendar, gammu own backup,...)
  • export messages to mail (IMAP4, maildir and mailbox storages are supported)
  • searching for phone
  • translated into several languages
  • rated as best on many software servers

Hotaru: Bookmarking Digg Clone Script

Hotaru CMS is an open source, plugin-powered content management system. Think of it as "Wordpress without blogging". If Wordpress didn't do blogging by itself, you'd need plugins to do it for you. And if you had to make plugins, you wouldn't be limited to just blogging. You could make plugins for any kind of site, whether a blog, a social network, an online shop, etc. That's Hotaru CMS, a framework for making websites customized to your needs. As an example, check out the demo. It showcases a Digg clone made with Hotaru plugins.  


Learn more, please visit http://hotarucms.org/


Open Electronics Prototyping Platform

Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It's intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. This Google Code project is the home for the development of the Arduino platform. For more information on using Arduino, see the Arduino homepage.

Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators. The microcontroller on the board is programmed using the Arduino programming language (based on Wiring) and the Arduino development environment (based on Processing). Arduino projects can be stand-alone or they can communicate with software on running on a computer (e.g. Flash, Processing, MaxMSP).

The boards can be built by hand or purchased preassembled; the software can be downloaded for free. The hardware reference designs (CAD files) are available under an open-source license, you are free to adapt them to your needs.

More information, visit www.arduino.cc

NXTexas - a LEGO Mindstorms Texas Hold'Em Dealer

This clever NXT robot detects the number of players at the table and deals them their hands face down, then when prompted at the conclusion of each round of betting deals the flop, turn and river cards face up. For more information about the construction visit the download area -- available on Google Code. Unfortunately only in German.

Demos Delivering Electricity Without Wires

Eric Giler wants to untangle our wired lives with cable-free electric power. Here, he covers what this sci-fi tech offers, and demos MIT's breakthrough version, WiTricity -- a near-to-market invention that may soon recharge your cell phone, cameras, TVs, car, pacemaker and other devices.

Called WiTricity, these methods were developed by a team at MIT a few years ago who were working off of the concepts of Nicolai Tesla. The facts shared about our current energy delivery system are a bit shocking; we’ve spent over $1 trillion in infrastructure and produce more than 40 billion disposable batteries each year.