Students need clean air in classrooms

Students need clean air in classrooms

Use of information technology in schools means having many computer terminals in classrooms, and this trend looks set to continue.

But each computer terminal is like an engine's exhaust pipe, sending choking particles into the classroom, contaminating the environment.

I agree with Stephen Clynes ("Put purifiers in classrooms to clean air", June 17) that we need to install purifiers or strong air exchange systems to protect our teachers and students.

Pang Chi-ming, Fanling

Pang Chi Ming is a moron. This is, almost certainly, the stupidest letter I have seen in the SCMP. And there is fierce competition from the rag-tag band of racist whiners, Climate change deniers, the China First brigade, and the Thatcherite Loons.

Firstly, there have not been computer terminals in classrooms for about 40 years. A computer terminal is a very specific use of technology: a relatively simple computer connected by some network link to a central server handling all of the computational activities. An example would be sort of thin client you see in an estate agents office. A Windows PC or Mac, or even an iPad or other tablet is far more sophisticated than that, these days.

Secondly, to think that each computer is like an engine's exhaust pipe emitting pollutants, is to demonstrate a complete misunderstanding of what a modern CPU is, how it's powered, and what it does. There are no emissions, apart from slightly warmer air. There are no particles, save those displayed on the screen. There is no contamination, save of the intellectual variety.

Apple taking customers for granted

Apple taking customers for granted

Most good companies reward customer loyalty.

Apple has taken innovation to a whole new level and is doing the reverse.

My whole business and household run on Apple products and I have just upgraded to iPhone 5.

Imagine my frustration when the iPhone was not compatible with my Apple computer unless I purchased a software upgrade for the computer (which for all other purposes is not required).

My frustration increased to fever pitch when the Apple support hotline pointed out that a computer was not required to run the iPhone. So while consumers who only have an iPhone can upgrade without extra charges, those loyal consumers using an iPhone in conjunction with an Apple computer are forced to pay.

The Apple customer hotline service manager couldn't see the irony of the situation.

When I suggested that I would write to these columns, the support hotline manager simply said "Good luck".

Good customer service and support attracts customer loyalty. Anyone want to buy an iPhone 5?

David Feehan, Discovery Bay

What a bizarre letter. Some features of iOS 6 require OSX 10.8, but most don't. I quite happily use 10.7 with iOS6 and have had no problems.

And even if you desperately need iCloud tab sharing or some such, the upgrade cost is USD 20, not much when you compare it to the cost of an unlocked iPhone or an iPhone with 2 year contract...

Homeopathy and autism

Homeopathy and autism

Sir, – I am responding to Paul O’Donoghue’s article (“Disturbing claims by homeopaths”, Science Today, April 12th).

He is perfectly entitled to his opinion, as are we all in this democratic society.

I find it “disturbing” that he feels so free to publicly disparage a fellow professional. I am a registered homeopath and if I were as disparaging of his profession, the Irish Society of Homeopaths would discipline me, as I would be in breach of its Code of Ethics; I wonder if his governing body, the Irish Association for Humanistic Integrative Psychotherapy, has anything similar in its code of ethics?

So you're a 'medical professional' because you can sell sugared water? And that make you equivalent to someone with a qualification in actual medicine?

Homeopathy is quackery peddled by shysters to unwilling dupes.

The Swiss government carried out an HTA (Health Technology Assessment) on the effectiveness, appropriateness, safety and cost of homeopathy in health care and it concluded that homeopathy is a valuable addition to health care. tinyurl.com/7ycunch

We should all drink more water: up to a point, it doesn't do any harm and it helps the body to flush toxins. That doesn't give the water magical powers.

As conventional medicine has no solution to offer those on the Autistic Spectrum, surely Mr O’Donoghue would not advocate depriving them of a complementary medicine that has been deemed effective, appropriate, safe and cost effective by the Swiss government. – Yours, etc,

KELLY CS JOHNSON,

Ballyvaughan,

Co Clare.

Except that Homeopathy is *not* medicine: it is total superstition, and the only thing it can possibly cure is thirst.

If Homeopaths are now claiming that they can treat Autism, they had better bring some serious studies and facts to the argument.

Oh wait, the entirety of the field is dominated by pseudo-scientific nonsense about water molecules retaining the 'memory' of substances that were once in contact with, despite the fact that the dilutions required mean that less than one molecule of water could have been in contact with the original substance. And conveniently ignoring the fact that the water was also in more direct contact with sewage, pipes, and a host of other impurities

UPDATE: having read the original article: (“Disturbing claims by homeopaths”, Science Today, April 12th), it appears that the letter writer here is in league with the anti-vaccination loonies.