Xbox 360 Represents a Giant Step in Video Game Technology

One aspect of television technology that's frequently overlooked is gaming. Some may look down on video games as being activities for adolescents, but a lot of former adolescents who were completely into video games have grown up and brought those games with them.

A quick look at some video game systems shows that the games have grown up too. Microsoft's Xbox is a perfect example of this phenomenon. If the last video game system you played was an Atari or and Intellivision, you won't even recognize the new Xbox 360. This system is meant to deliver the best possible video game experience given today's technology and it uses that technology in full. It's central processing unit is made up of three separate processors each with a clock speed of 3.2 Gigahertz. It also has an ATI graphics processor that runs at 500 Megahertz that can process four times as many pixels a second than the original Xbox. (There isn't even a comparison between this and the Intellivision!) The Xbox 360 has 512 Megabytes of RAM which is shared among all of the processors.

The Xbox 360 is also designed to work with High Definition. As part of the standard for the Xbox 360 all video games have to support either 720p or 1080i resolutions and the wide screen 16:9 aspect ratio. Supposedly a High Definition Television set isn't completely necessary to play the Xbox 360. If that's true, one has to wonder what happens to the extra screen width when the Xbox is used with a 4:3 aspect ratio television. It's easy to imagine losing the right and left edges of the screen getting in the way of playing some games. Like with First person shooters, you might find yourself shot by someone just out of your view but who you would have seen with a 16:9 screen.

The Xbox 360 also come with a 20 gigabyte hard drive. The hard drive is removable and can hold music to be played as a soundtrack to be played along with games. (In the old days we were forced to turn on the CD player if we wanted a sound track.) Presumably the hard drive could also hold digital photos and other data. In fact, though the literature is quick to emphasize that the Xbox 360 is primarily meant to be used as a gaming platform, it can be used for a lot of other types of media too. For example it will function as an MP3, CD, and dvd player and display digital photographs off of DVD's and CD's. The fact that the unit includes three USB ports means that a huge number of devices including digital cameras, MP3 players, and computers with Microsoft Windows XP can be used with the Xbox 360. Other extras include wireless controllers with rechargeable batteries that can charge on the unit itself, and the ability to establish a wireless connection with your computer.

With all of this connectivity it seems that they only thing, the Xbox 360 won't do is replace the work station abilities of a normal computer.

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Obesity And Pregnancy

If you are overweight when you become pregnant, your physician will likely recommend that you gain less weight than a woman who is average or normal weight. You should not diet during pregnancy because it is vital that you supply your body and unborn baby with an adequate number of nutrients. What you can do however to minimize your weight gain is to ensure that you eat a healthy selection of foods during your pregnancy.

One of the best things you can do to avoid too much weight gain is ensure that you have a healthy selection of snacks handy when at times when hunger strikes. Think about things like yogurt, raisins, nuts, fruit and other healthy selections that are not only convenient but also taste good.

There are health conditions that being overweight or obese increases the risk for during pregnancy. Among these include:

- Preeclampsia

- Premature Birth

- Gestational Diabetes

- Cesarean Sections

Giving Birth to Children with Obesity Problems

Unfortunately women who are already overweight prior to pregnancy are more likely to gain excessive amounts of weight during pregnancy. Several studies have suggested that more than 80 percent of overweight and obese women will gain too much weight, defined as weight exceeding 40 pounds or more, during their pregnancy.

Women who are obese and give birth are also more at risk for maternal mortality during labor and delivery. The cesarean rates are often higher because labor fails to progress in a timely fashion.

Did you know that gaining more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy also puts you at risk for being overweight several years after pregnancy?

Babies born to mothers that are overweight might also experience a number of health problems. Those most often cited by studies include an increased risk of congenital heart defects and a greater risk of neural tube defects.

The best thing you can do for yourself and the health of your unborn child is maintain a healthy weight prior to becoming pregnant. If you are overweight, work with your healthcare provider or a nutritionist to come up with a sound dietary regimen that will ensure that you gain an appropriate amount of weight for maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Adopting healthy habits during your pregnancy often results in a carry over effect, meaning you are more likely to eat healthily after giving birth as well as before.

Article by Beverley Brooke, author of "Ensure a healthy safe pregnancy for you and your baby and lose weight after pregnancy", visit http://www.pregnancy-weight-loss.com for more on obesity and pregnancy

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