Preliminary Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Preliminary Analysis - Essay Example n which recorded sounds could be listened to by this time before the invention of other modern and finally digital technologies that are currently used. Even though this device was used in the late 1970s as well as in the early 1980s, it traces its invention to the early years. The idea of the phonograph was first seen in the year 1857 when the scholar (Noll, 12). Edouard-Leon Scott who invented the phonoautographs. However, it is important to note that this technology was very limited during this time and hence was not exploited appropriately. It is important to note that this product could only create the visual images of sound (Noll, 12). It is therefore important to note that the idea of phonographs originated as early as a century but was not exploited due to limitations in the technology until the year 1877. The principle of recording and reproducing sound using this technology was however first demonstrated in the year 1877 by Edison Thomas (Bellies). It is this time that the scholar demonstrated first phonograph in the world. The first invention that was developed by Edison was done while he was experimenting while working with a telegraph transmitter. During the time Edison was looking at the telegraphs with an intention of improving its efficiency, he realized that there was. He was interested in the noise that the tape produced since the tape produced some noise that resembles that of a spoken word. He therefore argued that in case he played it at a little bit high speed it may produce even higher and better sounds (Bellies). Through the several experiments that he conducted, he realized that it was possible to read as well as record sounds using the telephone diaphragm ad hence he unleashed what had been difficult for many scientist to understand for over very long time. Since this was the first instrument that could capture and record the sounds during this time, Edison actually became an international figure. Phonograph was identified s the

Technology Makes the World Smaller Essay Example for Free

Technology Makes the World Smaller Essay Technology Make the World Smaller Office 2004 Test Drive User Table of Contents Commerce 4 Dell6 Ebay 7 E-cash8 Work Cited11 Footnotes12 Technology Makes the World Smaller The international marketplace is changing very fast every day. E-commerce and E-Business is now one of the standard ways to do business. The Internet has opened up vast opportunities for business to tap into new markets all over the world. The use of the Internet removes all geographical constraints, permits the instant establishment of virtual branches throughout the world, and allows direct and immediate foreign market entry to the smallest of businesses to the biggest. As the economy is becoming more global in nature, companies are handling more business on an international level. When comparing traditional business to e-business, one can see several differences between the two. The most obvious difference when buying standard goods such as a computer or Clothes is the store. When dealing with e-business there is no real store or merchandise to look at. It is all presented through the merchants webpage, or by other electronic means. You will not be able to touch, or feel potential purchases. All you will have to go on is perhaps a picture and a brief description of the item on your computer screen. This is obviously a big change from traditional store where you can walk in physically touch what you plan to purchase. There are several reasons why e-business is appealing to a lot of people. E-business is based on the internet. If you are using the internet, you are not bound by geography. You can access any site, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own chair. Now the consumer has access to several things they didnt before. Same goes for any type of business on the Web. The consumer and different business now has variety. With the entire internet at your fingers, in a matter of minutes you can browse several stores in several parts of the world without even leaving the comfort of your own home. This allows you to compare prices and products off of different site. With e-business you are not restricted to the prices and products of your local stores. You can easily choose the best price or the best product. You have probably read all of the news stories about the shift to e-commerce and the hype that has developed around e-commerce companies. And you may have actually purchased something on the web, so you have direct personal experience with e-commerce. Still, you may feel like you dont understand e-commerce at all so lets start with the basics. Commerce Before we get into a complete discussion of e-commerce, it is helpful to have a good mental image of plain old commerce first. If you understand commerce, then e-commerce is an easy extension. Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary defines commerce as follows: com. merce n [MF, fr. L commercium, fr. com- + merc-, merx merchandise] (1537) 1: social intercourse: interchange of ideas, opinions, or sentiments 2: the exchange or buying and selling of commodities on a large scale involving transportation from place to place 3: sexual intercourse So commerce is, quite simply, the exchange of goods and services, usually for money. You can see that at this high level, commerce is a fairly simple concept. Whether it is something as simple as a person making and selling hotdogs on a street corner or as complex as a Doctor performing heart surgery, all of commerce at its simplest level relies on buyers, sellers and producers. So electronic commerce is just exchange of money for goods and services via electronic means. In other words, electronic commerce is usually when you purchase something off of the Internet. It is often referred to as e-commerce, or e-business. The Internet has revolutionized the businesses of today. Instead of having physical stores, companies can sell their products right off of the Web. To understand it a bit, lets take a look at one of the most successful e-commerce companies Dell. Dell Dell provides a range of technology products, including mobility products, desktop personal computers, software and peripherals, servers and networking, and storage products. Co. s services offerings include infrastructure technology, consulting and applications, and business process services. Co. also provides a range of financing alternatives, asset management services, and other customer financial services for business and consumer customers. Co. s customers include corporate, government, healthcare, and education accounts. Co. conducts its businesses through four reportable segments: Large Enterprise; Public; Small and Medium Business; and Consumer. Dell is a straightforward company that, like Gateway 2000, and a host of others, sells custom configured PCs to consumers and businesses around the world. Dell started as a mail order company that advertised in the back of magazines and sold their computers over the phone. Like the book Direct from Dell explains â€Å"Dells WebPages have enabled Dell computers to reduce their expenditures and become much more efficient in their production and distribution of their computers. Dells success at using the built to order system and internet has enabled them to become a much more efficient manufacturer of computers allowing Dell to maximize profits. Dells e-commerce presence is widely publicized these days because Dell is able to sell so much merchandise over the web. Dell currently sells something like $14,000,000 in equipment every day. 25% of Dells sales is over the web. Simplified e-commerce is what most small businesses and individuals are using to get into e-commerce. In this option the vendor provides a simplified system for creating your store. The system usually involves a set of forms that you fill out online. The vendors software then generates all of the web pages for the store for you. One good examples of this sort of offering is the website â€Å"Ebay†. EBAY Technology has allowed us to form international community with consumers. Not many company’s have done this as well as Ebay who was one of the first but more are popping up such as Amazon. There are very few companies in the world that are as recognizable as eBay. It is the online auction site and stands as one of the top online retailing stores in the world today. Hundreds of millions of people buy and sell merchandise through the eBay website. Few websites, if any, can drive the amount of traffic that eBay gets on an average day. What is more, virtually all of the people visiting eBay intend either to buy or sell goods and they can be neighbors or on opposites sides of the world. Because of this it is the perfect place on the internet to acquire or dispose of merchandise. The ability to display a products or services, and the ability to extend your business hours to 24-7 without a physical presence, and to update information which is seen by the world, immediately is very powerful in reaching global markets. Businesses can now use website like ebay and the internet breaks down logistical barriers, offering greater flexibility and power in the way they do business. It shrinks time and distance, simplifies complex business processes. E-cash Our textbook states that the biggest impact that will effect international business and global customers is E-retailing and financial services. They say the day is just around the corner where we will have â€Å"E-cash† which stands for electronic cash. With the example of prepaid smart cards we can see it’s not to far behind. Today you can buy one of these cards and use them for public calls and transportation and replacing cash. Once we see this type of payment option show up on the internet it will result in global digital cash and customers and business will be able to work on a 24-hr basis. Electronic cash systems offer vast opportunities for the consumer and business. In business transactions, electronic cash allows businesses to verify cash transactions instantly and to covert from one currency to another. This will be a big break through e-cash will be a currency without a country. In consumer to business transactions, it is easier for the customer because there is no need to carry physical currency, and transactions can be made over the internet instantly. EBay creates value by providing a very simple service. It brings people together. To the uninitiated, this may not seem like much. And yet, it is the foundation of a multibillion-dollar, multinational business empire that exerts an influence over the lives of millions of people. An advantage of any new technology as well as the internet is that it amplifies human potential. When electricity, the telephone, the automobile, and the airplane were invented they made the world more accessible to more people. Bussiness and people could now reech further distances. The internet can have the same revolutionary impact individuals and businesses can overcome geographical, cultural and logistical barriers and improve the way they live and work instantly. Because it amplifies our potential in so many ways, its possible that the long-term impact of the Internet could equal that of electricity, the automobile and the telephone. Disadvantages of the new technology and the internets is that it can make work portable. This will allow company’s to contract work overseas to save of coast. Resulting in people loosing jobs to low paid workers in other countries. In Conclusion the development of technology has greatly benefited mostly developed countries in which they were first launched, but because of the internet many other undeveloped countries are not to far behind. The power of the internet has now allowed for people to communicate regardless of where they are in the world weather it is your neighbor living twenty feet away, or some person totally across the world. Work cited Dell, Michael, Catherine Fredman, , and . Direct from Dell. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 1999. Print. Dell Inc.. Mergent Online. Mergent, 2005. Web. 15 Jun 2010. . Hodgetts, Richard, Fred Luthans, and Jonathan Doh. International Management. 6th. New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2006. 46-48. Print. Footnotes

Character Eric Draven:A Hero with Faults in the Film, The Crow :: Movies

Character Eric Draven:A Hero with Faults in the Film, The Crow The story of "The Crow" (a graphic novel turned movie) is the story of Eric Draven, a handsome young musician living in the dark gloom of a gothic-industrialized city plagued by continual rain. He is set to wed a beautiful girl when she is raped and left to die by a gang of criminals. Upon arriving to witness it in progress (taking place at his own home), Draven is killed as well; pushed out of a window as high as a skyscraper. The story then chronicles his resurrection from the dead in order to avenge their murders. His only lifeline (or shall we say deathline) is through a black crow. The crow is the connection between the dead and the living, providing Draven with the means to be immortal for one night only. If the crow is harmed then Draven will lose his immortality and assume mortality, putting an end to his plans for revenge. The conflict of the story comes as Draven attempts to execute the criminals one by one, but is cut short by the harming of the crow. He fights to overcome this and prove successful in his journey. There is a strange duality between the character of Eric Draven as a cultural legend and the actor who played him, Brandon Lee. While Draven became a legend of the story, Lee became a legend in reality. Lee was accidentally shot and killed while filming "The Crow"; the product of a gun and a scene gone awry. Lee's death came at the verge of a rising career and coincidentally, occurred at the exact age of his father's death. Lee, as many people do, became legendary not for his deeds so much as his death. Eric Draven became a legend, or legendary figure, more from the qualities he possesses as a character. Draven is portrayed as strong, powerful, and in control, fueled by his angry death. Lurched out of the living world, the love he felt while alive has propelled him back into a heightened mortality--a supernatural state of being. He is not the average man anymore, he has risen above that level of mundaneness to fulfill his purpose. But the twist comes in the fact that he still has human characteristics, and suffers because of them. He is burdened with memories of the past, and memories of his previous life.

Love :: essays research papers

Benjamin Franklin once said, "If you would be loved, love and be lovable." Love is something we are all in at least one time or another in our life. There are many different meanings for the word love and many people interpret it differently. Love as defined by Webster's dictionary is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. When you love someone you care not only care about them as a person, but also about their well being. When they are hurt, you feel hurt and when they are in pain you feel pain also. Their physical and emotional problems are not only theirs, but they are yours as well. To be in love means to care about that person so deeply that your life would not be complete without them. The fact that you cherish one person so much is a blessing to some, as well as a gift. The following fable tells of an orphan girl who had all the happiness in the world. "There is a wonderful fable about a young orphan girl who had no family and no one to love her. One day, feeling exceptionally sad and lonely, she was walking through the meadow when she noticed a small butterfly caught unmercifully in a thornbush. The more the butterfly struggled to free itself, the deeper the thorns cut into the butterfly from its captivity. Instead of flying away, the little butterfly changed into a beautiful fairy. The young girl rubbed her eyes in disbelief. 'For your wonderful kindness,' the good fairy said to the girl, 'I will grant you any wish you would like.' The little girl thought for a moment and then replied, 'I want to be happy!' The fairy said, 'Very well,' and leaned toward her and whispered in her ear. Then the good fairy vanished. As the little girl grew up, there was no one in the land as happy as she. Everyone asked her the secret of her happiness. She would only smile and answer, 'The secret of my happiness is that I listened to a good fairy when I was a little girl.' When she was very old and on her deathbed, the neighbors all rallied around her, afraid that her fabulous secret of happiness would die with her. 'Tell us, please,' the begged. 'Tell us what the good fairy said.' The lovely old woman simply smiled and said, 'She told me that everyone, no matter how secure they seemed, no matter how old or young, how rich or poor, had need of me.

Globalization and Stereotypes Essay

The purpose of globalization is to offer other countries their ideas, and values, and attitudes, about the world. The effects of globalization will lead to stereotypical views thrown in based on what we think we know because we are trying to control other countries by telling them what is wrong with their system and how our way is better for them. The United States is considered to be a world power and deem that the rest of the world needs our guidance to become what we feel would be a better and more unified country. Globalization is in fact a major contribution on cultural stereotypes. The United States is so intent on globalizing the rest of the world that we are not taking the time to understand and know the facts about foreign countries. The U.S tends to falsely stereotype these countries based on what they believe they know even if it not all true. By globalizing other countries, false accusations are being made because we are so caught up on trying to help improve these countr ies that we tend to get blindsided by the truths and facts about these countries. We ignore all the good and positive things about countries and we only see what is wrong with their systems because we are so eager to â€Å"fix their problems†. The United States tend to be pushy and unaware of foreign countries because they do not see things from their point of view. They are constantly comparing other countries with the U.S because they are convinced that everyone is supposed to live their lives similar to the United States. The U.S has a hard time believing that other countries are happy with the way they do things because they do not compare to how the U.S functions. For example, the United States has made assumptions toward Muslim woman about how they live their daily lives. From the outside looking in, they judge them and assume they need our help because to us they look like they cannot do things on their own. As Lorraine Ali writes in Not Ignorant, Not Helpless, â€Å" †¦the United States considers them helpless victims of a backward society to be saved through military intervention (27).† The United States feel that they have to intervene to help rescue Muslim woman because they cannot protect themselves. The U.S sees them as these timid women who cannot stand on their own two feet and have very limited freedom. That was not the case because they were actually making a change on their own. Muslim woman were becoming more than what they were being portrayed as from an outsiders way of seeing things. They were doing things that were not expected from Muslim women like having white-collar jobs and going to school. Globalization causes the U.S to expand their ideas and views to other countries that they feel need change. But they are not taking the chance to become aware of the changes that have already taken place within other countries. The United States is naà ¯ve when it comes to other cultures because they are so self-absorbed in their own country that they overlook what is going on in other countries around them weather it is commendable or not. The U.S assumes that everyone is supposed to automatically be acceptant of their ideas and values that they throw at them without questioning it. The United States do not realize that every country is unique in many different ways and their ways of doing things may not work for other countries that they are trying to help. For example, many Fijian women were accepting and comfortable of their body and how they looked. But when they received access to television, which received only one channel that broadcast programs from the United States these women started second guessing themselves about whether they truly admired how they looked. The United States had influenced these women into thinking that in order to feel and be beautiful they had to be as skinny as the women t hey see on television. Fiji had their own view on what beautiful is until the U.S implemented what they viewed as beautiful. As Susan Bordo, writer of â€Å"The Globalization of Eating Disorders† mentions, â€Å"They speak to young people not just about how to be beautiful but also about how to become what the dominant culture admires, values, rewards.(19)† The United States prides itself on image. Many Americans believe that you have to look a certain way to be considered beautiful, cool, and poplar. Before Fijian women were introduced to these images they were happy with the way they looked and it was working for them but when the United States globalized that being thin was the right way to go that is when things drastically changed. The U.S purposes for broadcasting these programs were to change how Fijian people viewed looks. The U.S felt like Fiji needed change and introduced them to it through television broadcast. Fijian woman were just fine the way they were before these television broadcasts brainwashed them. Globalization is causing many cultural traditions to fade away and adapt to new changes because of the forces around them. Globalization is on the rise due to the fact that we are making a lot of new advances in many different things and the fact that everyone is starting to adapt to changes around the world. Paul Kennedy defines globalization as economies and societies coming together as a whole because of the advancement of different ways to communicate with one another. He feels that globalization is becoming more effective because countries and different cultures are producing newer and more efficient trade and investment patterns. It is not bringing the world together as a whole it is in fact changing the world to be something that it is not because it is forcing countries to be exactly like the others. Globalization is taking away everything that makes a certain country unique. By expanding our ideas, values, ideals and attitudes about the world around the world we are opening doors to some controversial things because not everyone feels the same way that we do. Globalization can be seen as an exceptional concept but it can also be seen as a poor one depending on the situation and topic at hand. The U.S believes that other countries are not well-off as they are because they constantly compare them with their own country. The United States fails to realize that every countries standards of living is different and you cannot compare each other because there is no such thing as the perfect country. Americans conclude that the United States has the ultimate world power, which is somewhat true because we have the power to influence other countries to accept what we believe in and do what we want them to do. The United States assumes they are of a higher power like they are the parents and other countries are their children. Other countries see that the United States is doing well and they believe that in order for them to do well they have to follow in their footsteps and do what they do. They think that other countries need their guidance and help and try to westernize them and make them more like the U.S. Because the United States happens to be one of the countries that seem to be perfect on the outside, they to like other countries face many problems. The United States assume that they are the perfect country but there is no way to define a perfect country. Cultural stereotypes can have a negative effect on our international relationships. By constantly making assumptions about countries and their cultures without knowing our facts can cause us to have communication barriers with other countries. It is impossible for countries to see eye to eye on things if their relationship is based on what they believe they know about each other. We cannot have progress and reach a mutual agreement on issues if we do not even know the truth about other countries. Stereotypes not only cause miscommunication but it will also lead into countries arguing which will lead into disagreements. By stereotyping other countries and cultures just makes it much harder to expand our ideals and values. I never thought that globalization and stereotypes go hand in hand with one another. When we think of globalization we automatically think of the outcome as being good but that is not always the case. Globalization can take a negative toll on countries and can cause them to completely develop in a new way. Globalization is supposed to be benefiting countries so that they can improve and introduce them to new things that they have not been exposed to before. We are supposed to be helping them to come up not bring them down. Globalization contributes and relies on stereotypes, which are not a good thing. Stereotypes are not accurate and therefore are not a valid point to rely on when we are trying to offer new ideas to different countries and cultures. The United States needs to find a new approach when it comes to globalization because our current approach in not the correct way to go about different situations and topics which have to deal with other countries. We have to learn to stop assuming things about other countries and start improving our communications with them and then there will be no more false notions between each other. If globalization is a network of communication between countries there should not be any false stereotypes between each other. This means that we are obviously doing something wrong to deal with other countries. So in order for the United States and other countries to improve on the way in which we handle globalization we have to start by working with each other and getting to know each other and understanding what works for us and what does not. Work Cited Alli, Lorraine. â€Å"Not Ignorant, Not Helpless.† The New World Reader. 3rd Edition. Gilbert H. Muller (ed.) Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 26-27. Print Bordo, Susan. â€Å"The Globalization of Eating Disorders.† The New World Reader. 3rd Edition. Gilbert H. Muller (ed.) Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008. 17-21. Print

general lee essays

general lee essays The United States Civil War was the single most greatest war that was fought by our country. Their were 3 million that fought, and 600,000 the died from both the North and the South. The Civil War was also the only war that was ever fought on American soil, by Americans. The Civil War had many great and historical battles, and the era also had several great leaders. The Union had legendry President Lincoln, and Former General, and former President Grant. The Confederates also had a great leader, Robert E. Lee. General Lee was one of the best Generals that ever lived, with his great leadership qualities, and brilliant mind for winning battles. General Lee was a major factor in why the Civil War lasted as long as it did, because of General Lees greatness, he held off the far superior Union Troops for nearly three years. The idol of the South to this day, Virginian Robert E. Lee had some difficulty in adjusting to the new form of warfare that unfolded with the Civil war, but this did not prevent him from keeping the Union armies in Virginia at bay for almost three years. General Lee though, had a tough time of choosing who to side with when the first of the southern states decided to leave the Union, General Lee is quoted in saying in a letter to his sister, With all of my devotion to the Union and the feeling of loyalty and the duty of an American citizen, I have not been able to make up my mind to raise my hand against my relatives, my children, my home. I have therefore resigned my commission in the Army, and save in defense of my native state, with the sincere hope that my poor services never be needed, I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword against my heritage. After General Lee decided to side with the confederate armies, he was cherished by the south, and hated by the north. Onc e General Lee resigned as colonel 1st cavalry of the Union forces, and left to fight for the Confederates, they pu...

Free Essays on The Sick Rose

â€Å"The Sick Rose† by: William Blake (page 180) The question for this journal asks you to choose a poem thus far that is completely determined by one single word. William Blake’s â€Å"The Sick Rose† is a prime example of how this works. If the word â€Å"sick† never appeared in the title, then it would just be called, â€Å"The Rose.† A poem that was written about an ordinary rose would seem very redundant and maybe even boring. There is only so many times that one can say how beautiful a rose is and how it is the symbol for love. Once you add the word, â€Å"sick† to the title, you have a whole other ball game. The entire tone and direction of the poem changes when you are talking about a rose that is sick. The very first line of the poem sets the tone for what is to follow, â€Å"O rose, thou art sick,† (page 180, line 1). You now know that the poem is going to have a slow, dismal tone that will eventually end with the death of the sick rose. In the lines following the first, the speaker talks about what caused the rose to become sick. I really enjoyed how he described what was going on. I could actually picture the rose being â€Å"attacked† by a tiny worm that was in love with everything that the rose has to offer. In the end, the worm’s love becomes the rose’s demise.... Free Essays on The Sick Rose Free Essays on The Sick Rose â€Å"The Sick Rose† by: William Blake (page 180) The question for this journal asks you to choose a poem thus far that is completely determined by one single word. William Blake’s â€Å"The Sick Rose† is a prime example of how this works. If the word â€Å"sick† never appeared in the title, then it would just be called, â€Å"The Rose.† A poem that was written about an ordinary rose would seem very redundant and maybe even boring. There is only so many times that one can say how beautiful a rose is and how it is the symbol for love. Once you add the word, â€Å"sick† to the title, you have a whole other ball game. The entire tone and direction of the poem changes when you are talking about a rose that is sick. The very first line of the poem sets the tone for what is to follow, â€Å"O rose, thou art sick,† (page 180, line 1). You now know that the poem is going to have a slow, dismal tone that will eventually end with the death of the sick rose. In the lines following the first, the speaker talks about what caused the rose to become sick. I really enjoyed how he described what was going on. I could actually picture the rose being â€Å"attacked† by a tiny worm that was in love with everything that the rose has to offer. In the end, the worm’s love becomes the rose’s demise....

Scholarships Are Hard to Win Draft a Dazzling Essay

Scholarships Are Hard to Win Draft a Dazzling Essay Scholarships Are Hard to Win: Draft a Dazzling Essay A great scholarship essay provides unique insight into an applicants ambitions. Writing a winning scholarship essay depends on your creation of something exclusively yours. Dig deep into your personal drive and passion, look inward, and develop an essay that only applies to you and your experience. Judges reward individuality. A winning scholarship generally follows these basic principles: Understand the Scholarship Committee’s Evaluation Criteria Scholarship committee judges typically rely on two key criteria for evaluating scholarship application essays: leadership and community impact. Leadership Scholarship essays should convey the extent of leadership experience, the results, and degree of accomplishment. They should also demonstrate your passion, sincerity, and inspiration to get involved in a project. Describe your obstacles, how you overcame them, and how the experience helped shaped you as a leader. A scholarship is an investment in your future, so if you plan to continue your involvement in a particular leadership activity, let the judges know. Community Impact Essays about community impact should convey your long-term commitment to community activity. Provide a genuine and specific reason why helping others is important to you. Your essay should also show the impact you’ve had on your community (i.e. what would be different for the people involved, if you didnt volunteer your time?) Lastly, express what community service, sharing, and giving has taught you. Identify Key Themes If the essay question inquires, Where have you demonstrated leadership or innovation, and how did it make a difference in your work or community? recognize the key themes center around community and leadership. Comprehend the Meanings of Key Themes Once you identify key themes, it is equally important to reflect the â€Å"true† meaning of these ideas. The more comprehension you have for the scholarship committee’s motivation for creating these themes, the more examples you will be able to provide from your personal experience, demonstrating your abilities and contributions. Use Synonyms/Keywords from the Scholarship Statement Repeating keywords stated in the scholarship/essay requirements demonstrates your commitment to the question being asked. Use synonyms whenever possible; avoid merely repeating the question or mission statement. Engage Your Readers from the Beginning An engaging start to your essay draws in the judges and shows you are an ideal candidate who shares their commitment to the topic. This helps convince judges to invest in you and support your intended path. If you are finding it difficult to complete a scholarship application essay, consider using essay writing services. specializes in scholarship and university application essay writing. For more information about our services, please contact us via our website, or call 1-800-573-0840.

Usability Testing and Heuristic Evaluation Essay

Usability Testing and Heuristic Evaluation - Essay Example Usability Testing and Heuristic Evaluation Learnability affects how fast a user can learn and use the system after undergoing a certain amount and duration of training. Efficiency affects the amount of tasks a user can perform in a set amount of time. Meanwhile, memorability enables a user to use the system after a period of inactivity without having to relearn its operation. Low error rate refers to the number of problems encountered by the user and the ease of correcting such errors. Lastly, satisfaction generally refers to the overall user perception of the system serving its intended purpose. Usability Testing The term usability testing has been generally referred to as any method used to evaluate a system or product. For the purpose of clarification, the term usability testing shall be used in this paper as a distinct empirical method of system evaluation with the goal of identifying usability issues and developing recommendation on how address such issues. Rubin and Chisnell described usability testing as a process of r ecruiting people as test participants to evaluate the system based on a series of usability guidelines. Test participants are normally composed of individuals whose profiles represent the target user audience. The inclusion of test participants based on real world parameters is what makes usability testing unique among other usability assessment methods. In this method, test participants are selected from the target user audience and are asked to perform specific tasks using a prototype of the system. During the duration of the test, user performance and reactions to the product are observed and recorded by a facilitator (Fiset, 2009). In essence, usability testing is a research tool which originated from conventional experimental methodology. The range of usability tests that can be performed is significantly broad, allowing the developer to tailor-fit approaches according to the test objectives, time constraints, and resources available (Rubin & Chisnell, 2008). Since it originate d from conventional approaches for controlled experiments, usability testing follows formal methods which include: (1) hypothesis formulation; (2) random sampling of participants; (3) utilization of experimental controls; (4) utilization of controlled groups; and (4) composition of sample size to determine statistical differences between groups (Rubin & Chisnell, 2008). Fiset (2009) outlined the following basic steps in conducting usability assessments: (1) definition of test objectives; (2) enumeration of tasks; (3) developing a prototype or mock-up of the system; (4) performing a preliminary validation test on prototype; (5) recruiting test participants; (6) preparing forms, venue, and equipment; (7) determining level of confidentiality of acquired data; (8) conducting the test proper; (9) filling out of evaluation questionnaire; (10) analysis and consolidation of results; (11) writing down of recommendations. The objectives of the usability test are normally determined by the pha se of system development the test will be carried out. Initial usability tests usually involve performing specific tasks based on the system design. As development progresses, additional objectives may be added such as identification of number errors, gauging user satisfaction, measuring time spent completing a

Identify Gaps or Weaknesses of the Research or Outcomes Essay

Identify Gaps or Weaknesses of the Research or Outcomes - Essay Example Weaknesses refer to the quality of lacking strength or firmness. It refers to a state of having defective or inadequate character. The researcher finds Corporate Social Responsibility as an area of major concern in the society. All people and the government should emphasize on it since it addresses many issues affecting the diverse community. Research shows that there is numerous violations to CSR and the government should undertake measures to curb it. Description of research is unfocused and thus inefficient in describing the purpose of research There are many people who question the validity and authenticity of Corporate Social Responsibility since there is evidence of contradiction between what corporations do and say. This makes the description of the research appear as unfocussed or inefficient in describing its purpose. Despite that companies adhere to the rules governing Corporate Social Responsibility, impunities persist. These include the global economic crisis and other et hical issues involving pharmaceutical companies, child labour, and sweatshops. People, therefore, do not realize the relevance of Corporate Social Responsibility in the society since impunity and corporate abuses is increasing (Westhuizen and Maree, 2009). The hypothesis is doubtful, ill-defined, and unsound as the evidence is insufficient The research does not give comprehensive analysis of a wide range of information to assess the credibility of the information. To determine whether Corporate Social Responsibility is still significant, it carries out a documentary analysis of some articles only. The research should not rely on documentary analysis of articles only but should gather information from different sources. It should gather information from websites, journals, newspapers, research, and other documentaries that will enhance the credibility of the information. This will ensure that the research is thoroughly reliable and appropriate for decision making since it is credible . The research is inconsistent in defining Corporate Social Responsibility and gives various definitions that differ. This is an indication that the research is doubtful, unsound, insufficient or ill-defined since it has inconsistencies that should not exist. This definition makes it ambiguous to decision makers and deters them from assess the impacts of its each dimension to the company (Narayan, 2002). There are various ways that the researchers should design their method of research to overcome the weaknesses or plug the gaps. One of the major ways of achieving this role is by providing sound and sufficient evidence. The researchers should gather information for or against Corporate Social Responsibility from many different sources to avoid ambiguity. They have only relied on a few documentary articles. They do not provide sufficient information that one needs to make a viable conclusion about Corporate Social Responsibility. For a paper to have credibility of information, it sho uld ensure that it should gather information from different sources at different periods (Hoque, 2006). The fact that people question the validity and authenticity of Corporate Social Responsibility makes the description of the paper appear as unfocussed. Companies claim to follow the Corporate Social Responsibility rules, yet impunity is at the highest marked by various ethical problems in the society like child labour. This is an indi

The Skills In The Identification Of The Hypothesis Essay

The Skills In The Identification Of The Hypothesis - Essay Example There is a suggested cohort study that revolves around the interaction of three variables namely age, cohort and period factor related to the time of study but the regression between the said factors can produce insignificant relationship since the said factors can be considered as demographic values used for baseline data gathering and establishment.   This was perceived to cause a statistical error on the basis of colinearity (Cole et al., 2008).   A suggested method to resolve such issue is the application of partial least squares (PLS) to study the different variables involved which can yield significant data since the method is not totally dependent upon the gathered data and other variables such as repeat purchase and type of brand can also be analyzed (Cole et al., 2008).  Based on the study of the article undertaken it can be considered that the hypothesis then,   is that changes that are associated with the age of a person have effects on the cognition, setting goals , habits, and choices.   Results have confirmed the hypothesis.   The older population can base their choices regarding product and brand choice on a wider perspective compared to the younger population.   The differences can be attributed to different points which include the fact that older consumers possess different fundamental psychological attributes.   Although this is the case there are other factors that can also affect brand choice including the individual experience of the consumer, the environmental effects and the importance of the product (Cole et al., 2008). The hypothesis was confirmed but the further study and exploration of the topic are required to be able to answer the question in the manner the age-related factors affect older consumer’s brand choice.

Resource Estimates and Budgets Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Resource Estimates and Budgets - Research Paper Example The following discussion will emphasize each activity in terms of its time and cost resources and identify the variances as a result of differences in the baseline and actual performance. Planning Planning activity is the first activity of the project in which 15 days were specified as baseline duration. Due to efficient utilization of time, the project team completed this activity in just 12 days sparing 3 days for the next activity to be commenced. In terms of cost resources, the project team managed to save $4,000 in respect of material cost whereas the company had to pay extra $2,000 for the wages to the labor. Overall, the company performed better and managed to save both time and cost resources. Development This was the biggest activity for the project team in terms of both time and cost resources such that the baseline duration for this activity was kept for 44 days and total cost estimates were reserved for around $55,000. This activity also went successful such that the proj ect team saved 4 days as well as $4,500 on overall basis. Testing After the development, the next activity was the testing of the product which had been developed at the previous stage. Baseline resources for this activity included 10 days of duration and $27,000 in terms of total cost. Since the previous two activities saved around 7 days in total, therefore, the testing activity took more time and underwent with serious stress testing procedures. In this whole practice, the project time consumed around 15 days and spent around $27,000. Overall, the activity could not perform up to the mark in terms of both time and cost estimates. Commercial Viability Testing activity led the project to the commercial viability of the product such that the product was experienced by different types of consumers and analysts to check how the product is perceived. Baseline resources in terms of time and cost were set to be 15 days and $37,000 respectively. The overall activity completed in 13 days s aving 2 more days, but the company had to pay the extra cost $3000 for this activity. Branding The moment commercial viability was affirmed by the project team and it was decided that the product was ready for its commercial production and launch in the market, the branding activity took place such that effective marketing and advertising campaigns were launched by the project team. Around 21 days were kept as the baseline period for the completion of this activity and $20,000 were specified as the cost of this activity. Project team almost completed the activity in 20 days with 1 day to spare but, on the other hand, incurred around $21,500 showing an adverse variance of $1,500. Product Launch Actual product launch was the last activity of this project and only 5 days were specified for the completion of this activity, but the activity actually took around 10 days utilizing the previous 5 slack days. In terms of cost estimates, the activity was assigned around $20,000 on overall bas is. However, the activity underperformed in this activity as well and incurred around $4,000 in excess of the baseline cost of $20,000. Conclusion Overall, the project remained partially successful in achieving its desired results such that time resources have been utilized effectively as the project team managed to

In depth analysis about article Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 5

In depth analysis about article - Essay Example The "instrumental view" implies that the right is important for the accomplishment of the deed but if it is not fulfilled, there is no moral issue. The "constraint view" obliges that the right be fulfilled without taking into account moral issues. Gasoline has to be purchased by the end user at the price it is being sold. The "goal view" differs as it is intrinsically important but it is not required. It is considered essential if the goal is to be completed, taking into account the infringement of other peoples fulfillment of their personal rights. The goal view encompasses moral accounting. Dual roles of rights exist where some rights may be intrinsically important and instrumentally valuable: the right to be free from hunger, the right to work. These imply the duality of the instrumental and goal view. The intrinsic value of a right is subjective and can be considered positive or negative. All moral assessments of a right must include the political, social and moral acceptation and consequences. Starvation is in relation to the structuring of property rights. In simplistic terms, the right to property is the right to food. Henry George said "Give the product to the producer". The Neoclassical theory does not take into account casual influences. The classical labor theory ignores internal conflicts; and the socio/psychological theory does not take into account the level of production. Starvation must take into account a system of encompassing all property right theories which encompasses also the positive and negative intrinsic moral values. One of the principle causes of famine is the lack of a legal system of property rights or entitlements. The entitlement approach is the "endowment" which includes man power, fields, factories, labor, etc.; and exchange entitlement mapping of production or trade (production and distribution channels). If the system does not produce enough food or the distribution of food is poorly managed famines

Resource Estimates and Budgets Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Resource Estimates and Budgets - Research Paper Example The following discussion will emphasize each activity in terms of its time and cost resources and identify the variances as a result of differences in the baseline and actual performance. Planning Planning activity is the first activity of the project in which 15 days were specified as baseline duration. Due to efficient utilization of time, the project team completed this activity in just 12 days sparing 3 days for the next activity to be commenced. In terms of cost resources, the project team managed to save $4,000 in respect of material cost whereas the company had to pay extra $2,000 for the wages to the labor. Overall, the company performed better and managed to save both time and cost resources. Development This was the biggest activity for the project team in terms of both time and cost resources such that the baseline duration for this activity was kept for 44 days and total cost estimates were reserved for around $55,000. This activity also went successful such that the proj ect team saved 4 days as well as $4,500 on overall basis. Testing After the development, the next activity was the testing of the product which had been developed at the previous stage. Baseline resources for this activity included 10 days of duration and $27,000 in terms of total cost. Since the previous two activities saved around 7 days in total, therefore, the testing activity took more time and underwent with serious stress testing procedures. In this whole practice, the project time consumed around 15 days and spent around $27,000. Overall, the activity could not perform up to the mark in terms of both time and cost estimates. Commercial Viability Testing activity led the project to the commercial viability of the product such that the product was experienced by different types of consumers and analysts to check how the product is perceived. Baseline resources in terms of time and cost were set to be 15 days and $37,000 respectively. The overall activity completed in 13 days s aving 2 more days, but the company had to pay the extra cost $3000 for this activity. Branding The moment commercial viability was affirmed by the project team and it was decided that the product was ready for its commercial production and launch in the market, the branding activity took place such that effective marketing and advertising campaigns were launched by the project team. Around 21 days were kept as the baseline period for the completion of this activity and $20,000 were specified as the cost of this activity. Project team almost completed the activity in 20 days with 1 day to spare but, on the other hand, incurred around $21,500 showing an adverse variance of $1,500. Product Launch Actual product launch was the last activity of this project and only 5 days were specified for the completion of this activity, but the activity actually took around 10 days utilizing the previous 5 slack days. In terms of cost estimates, the activity was assigned around $20,000 on overall bas is. However, the activity underperformed in this activity as well and incurred around $4,000 in excess of the baseline cost of $20,000. Conclusion Overall, the project remained partially successful in achieving its desired results such that time resources have been utilized effectively as the project team managed to

Lived Experience of Anxiety Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Lived Experience of Anxiety - Essay Example Chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and other mental disorders are associated with anxiety. Anxiety is common among patients undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning, a modern technology in radiography that gives images of human tissues. Some researches have indicated that about 25-37% of patients undergoing the scan experience moderate to high levels of anxiety (Tornqvist et al, 2006). The causes of anxiety among patients during MRI scanning are varied. Some of the causes are the scan environment and the levels of noise. MRI scans can take between 25 and 60 minutes (Royal Adelaide Hospital, 1998) or even more and the patient is required to stay still in this period to get good result (Tornqvist et al, 2006). Short breath in the scanner may cause anxiety. Anxiety is also caused by fear of the results that may be revealed by the scan. The anxiety can increase in certain instances leading to the disruption of the scanning process. This is disastrous to the patient a s well the health-providing center. 2. Aim and purpose of the study The main aim of the study is to illuminate the lived experience of patients during an episode of anxiety. The study seeks to provide an answer to the given research questions: what are the general experiences of the patients during the MRI scanning process and how did they manage the difficulties. It will help identify the approaches that can help the radiographers to support the patients with anxiety during MRI scan to avoid the odds associated with premature termination of the scanning process. 3. The study approach- phenomenology The study will apply phenomenology approach in getting information on the above topic. Phenomenology, as a study discipline, involves the study of different structures of an individual’s experience or consciousness (Smith, 2008). The discipline is concerned with the appearance of events and things in the experience of an individual, the way these things are perceived, and the ulti mate meanings that they have in the experiences of the individuals (Smith, 2008). Phenomenological approach in research involves seeking the information on first-hand experience. The approach is concerned with probing into a given phenomenon and further investigation to have a better understanding of some lived experience (Tornqvist et al., 2006). It involves an encounter with the individual, who is supposed to share his or her experience freely, with little guidance/ influence from the interviewer. A study of this nature seeks to give ‘insightful descriptions of patients’ pre-reflective experiences’ (Tornqvist et al, 2006, p.955). The research seeks information of this nature and hence the phenomenology approach is best suitable here. 4. The data collection method and qualitative The participants for the study will be drawn from the list of patients who have undergone MRI scan at the college hospitals. The researcher has accessed the patients register, through a permission from the management of the hospital, to get the contacts of these patients. Twenty individuals will be required to participate in the interview. Since some of the individuals contacted may decline to participate in the study, the researcher obtained randomly selected contacts of about 35 patients who had undergone MRI scan within the month of January 2012. The data collect

Vector Graphics Essay Example for Free

Vector Graphics Essay Vector graphics is the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygon(s), which are all based on mathematical expressions, to represent images in computer graphics. Vector, in this context, implies more than a straight line. Vector graphics are based on images made up of vectors (also called paths, or strokes) which lead through locations called control points. Each of these points has a definite position on the x and y axes of the work plan. Each point, as well, is a variety of database, including the location of the point in the work space and the direction of the vector (which is what defines the direction of the track). Each track can be assigned a color, a shape, a thickness and also a fill. This does not affect the size of the files in a substantial way because all information resides in the structure; it describes how to draw the vector. Same as object-oriented graphics, refers to software and hardware that use geometrical formulas to represent images. The other method for representing graphical images is through bit maps, in which the image is composed of a pattern of dots. This is sometimes called raster graphics. Programs that enable you to create and manipulate vector graphics are called draw programs, whereas programs that manipulated bit-mapped images are called paint programs. Vector-oriented images are more flexible than bit maps because they can be resized and stretched. In addition, images stored as vectors look better ondevices (monitors and printers) with higher resolution, whereas bit-mapped images always appear the same regardless of a devices resolution. Another advantage of vector graphics is that representations of images often require less memory than bit-mapped images do. Almost all sophisticated graphics systems, including CADD systems andanimation software, use vector graphics. In addition, many printers (PostScriptprinters, for example) use vector graphics. Fonts represented as vectors are called vector fonts, scalable fonts, object-oriented fonts, and outline fonts. Note that most output devices, including dot-matrix printers, laser printers, and display monitors, are raster devices (plotters are the notable exception). This means that all objects, even vector objects, must be translated into bit maps before being output. The difference between vector graphics and raster graphics, therefore, is that vector graphics are not translated into bit maps until the last possible moment, after all sizes and resolutions have been specified. PostScript printers, for example, have a raster image processor (RIP) that performs the translation within the printer. In their vector form, therefore, graphics representations can potentially be output on any device, with any resolution, and at any size. Raster Graphics In computer graphics, a raster graphics image, or bitmap, is a dot matrix data structure representing a generallyrectangular grid of pixels, or points of color, viewable via a monitor, paper, or other display medium. Raster images are stored in image files with varying formats A bitmap corresponds bit-for-bit with an image displayed on a screen, generally in the same format used for storage in the displays video memory, or maybe as a device-independent bitmap. A bitmap is technically characterized by the width and height of the image in pixels and by the number of bits per pixel (a color depth, which determines the number of colors it can represent). The printing and prepress industries know raster graphics as contones (from continuous tones). The opposite to contones is line work, usually implemented as vector graphics in digital systems. What is the difference between vector and raster graphics? Answer: The difference between vector and raster graphics is that raster graphics are composed of pixels, while vector graphics are composed of paths. A raster graphic, such as a gif or jpeg, is an array of pixels of various colors, which together form an image. A vector graphic, such as an . eps file or Adobe Illustrator? file, is composed of paths, or lines, that are either straight or curved. The data file for a vector image contains the points where the paths start and end, how much the paths curve, and the colors that either border or fill the paths. Because vector graphics are not made of pixels, the images can be scaled to be very large without losing quality. Raster graphics, on the other hand, become blocky, since each pixel increases in size as the image is made larger. This is why logos and other designs are typically created in vector format the quality will look the same on a business card as it will on a billboard. Vector Graphics typically are generated using drawing or illustration programs (e. g. , Adobe Illustrator) and are composed of mathematically-defined geometric shapes—lines, objects and fills. Since vectors entail both magnitude and direction, vector elements thus are comprised of line segments whose length represents magnitude and whose orientation in space represents direction. Vector graphics usually are easily modified within the creating application and generally are not affected detrimentally by scaling (enlarging or reducing their size). Because vector elements are mathematically-defined, scaling simply requires modification of their mathematical locations. However, vector files do not support photographic imagery well and often can be problematic for cross-platform exchange. Vector graphics typically are saved as EPS format. This makes vector graphics ideal for logo design. Creating a vector logo is more difficult but the effort pays for itself when the vector logo file is sent to printers or sign makers etc. The vector logo can be scaled up or down with out losing quality and would enable smooth transition between various media. Raster Graphic Images are produced by digital image capture devices: digital scanners or digital cameras, or by pixel editing programs (e. g. , Adobe Photoshop). Raster images are composed of a matrix (grid) or bitmap of digital picture elements (pixels). Pixels are squares or rectangles described as black, white, gray or color. Raster images typically are saved as TIFF format, but can be saved as EPS as well. Whereas conversion from vector to raster is easily accomplished, raster conversion to vector is much more difficult (and often is not possible). Raster images typically are easily shared across various platforms, but can be more difficult than vector graphics to modify. As well, raster graphics are impacted by scaling. Creating a raster logo design using Adobe Photoshop might be ideal for web only usage but if you are serious about branding, then the resulting raster PSD logo file will be of limited use. When sent to a printer or sign maker and when they try to scale the raster logo, the quality deteriorates and pixellation occurs. Yes, agreed, creating the raster logo design in Photoshop would enable a designer to pile on stunning effects (such as drop shadows, beveling, blurring etc). But the final deliverable will have limited uses.

A Report in Soil Science: Soil Water Budget

A Report in Soil Science: Soil Water Budget SOIL WATER BUDGET INTRODUCTION Soil is the most crucial factors for life on Earth. Soil is linked to everything around us and performs many important roles in sustaining life on Earth. One of those is for providing the basis for food and biomass production. However, this role is being affected by the degradation of soil. Hence, an understanding of soil is needed for finding an optimal measure for soil management. As a matter of facts, numerous factors are needed for the soil formation. Water is one of the most important constituents in any soil. Without water, soil formation would not be possible. Moreover, water availability in soil is a significant factor that affecting the crop growth. However, in many area crops, soil water is not properly managed which will lead to a poor yield. Therefore, an understanding of the hydrological cycle is essential for the effective management of soil water. Especially, in the hydrological cycle, the water budget is used as an approach to reflect the relationship between the input and output of water through a region. In particular, the balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration potential will help us to directly compare the water supply and the natural demand for water as well as to determine the time when there is much rain and when there is not enough. Studying soil water budget makes it possible to determine if there is a water shortage that can reduce yields or if there is excessive water application that can result in water logging or leaching of nitrates below the root zone. Moreover, it can build knowledge of the soil and water storage and supplying capacity of each irrigated. II. WATER BUDGET Water budgets are used for accounting the inputs, outputs, and changes in the amount of water by breaking the hydrological cycle down into components. Basic components of water budgets are precipitation (rainfall), evapotranspiration (the upward flux of water from the land surface to the atmosphere, a combination of evaporation from the soil and transpiration by plants), surface-water (such as streams and lakes) and groundwater flow (aquifers) into and out of the watershed, change in surface-water and groundwater storage, change in snow and ice storage, and human withdrawals and inter-basin transfers. The water budget affects how much water is stored in a system. And the stored water is calculated by the following formula: Stored Water = (Rain + Irr.) (Runoff + ET + Drainage) Where Irr is abbreviated for irrigated water, ET is abbreviated for evapotranspiration. For instance, in wet seasons, precipitation is greater than evapotranspiration, it means (Rain + Irr.) > (Runoff + ET + Drainage), which creates a water surplus. Ground stores fill with water, which results in increased surface runoff, higher discharge and higher river levels. This means there is a positive water balance. Contrastly, in drier seasons, evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation ((Rain + Irr.) . As plants absorb, water ground stores are depleted. There is a water deficit at the end of a dry season. The storage ability depends on depth and texture of the soil. Drainage and runoff only happen when the bucket is full. III. THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER BUDGET They provide scientific measurements and estimates of the amount of water in each component and calculate the movement of water among the different components – the flux or flow of water. The result is a budget that is a hydrologic record comparable to deposits, withdrawals, and changes in the balance of a checking account.   Soil water budget is the balance of water in the soil; this is the net result of the combined effects of precipitation (P) and potential evapotranspiration (PE). . The storage ability of the water budget is greatly influenced by the depth and the texture of the soil. The drainage and runoff of water in the soil occur when the budget is full and they are considered as recoverable losses while evaporation and transpiration are considered as non-recoverable losses. Water budget can be used to help manage water supply and predict where there may be water shortages. Likewise, it is also used in irrigation, runoff assessment, flood control and pollution control. Further it is used in the design of subsurface drainage systems which may be horizontal (i.e. using pipes, tile drains or ditches) or vertical (drainage by wells). To estimate the drainage requirement, the use of a hydrogeological water balance and a groundwater model may be instrumental. Why need soil water budget: – Optimize water use – Determine irrigation needs Increased soil moisture will result in: higher yields, through maximised rainfall utilization recharge of groundwater and thus securing the water level in wells and the continuity of river and stream flows reduced risk of yield losses due to drought A sound irrigation scheduling program can help an operator: prevent economic yield losses due to moisture stress. maximize efficiency of production inputs. minimize leaching potential of nitrates and other agrichemicals below the rooting zone. conserve the water resource and maximize its beneficial use. This publication describes some best soil moisture management strategies and monitoring techniques that an irrigating farmer should consider in managing irrigation water and soil moisture for optimum crop production and least possible degradation of ground water quality. Understanding the process of soil-water budget, By calculating the Stored water in the soil, With the use of a soil water balance or budget, daily evapotranspiration (ET) amounts are withdrawn from storage (or the balance of plant available water) in the soil profile. Rainfall or irrigation amounts are added to soil water storage. Should the water balance calculations project soil water to drop below some minimum level, irrigation is indicated. Weather forecasts enable prediction of ET rates and projection of soil water balance to indicate whether irrigation is needed in the near future. Likewise, it is also used in irrigation, runoff assessment, flood control and pollution control. Further it is used in the design of subsurface drainage systems which may be horizontal (i.e. using pipes, tile drains or ditches) or vertical (drainage by wells). To estimate the drainage requirement, the use of a hydrogeological water balance and a groundwater model may be instrumental. In the complete view of the panorama of the earth, all organisms live on or beneath the soil. Therefore, the systems of flows that are happening on Earth have consequences on nature. Mainly, the soil biota is greatly affected by the movement of water in the soil. Soil water affects both the temperature and its aeration activities so it affects the movement and predation of microorganisms in the soil. When the soil pores are so much filled with water, the organisms tend to be disoriented for the sudden change in their environment as well as for the lack of air. The oxygen needed by the organisms depletes that later on leads to anaerobic condition which is hardly a good condition for soil biota. Moreover, if the soil is very dry, plants takes too much energy in order to remove water from the small pores that is why the plants inhabiting the area tend to suffer from difficulty to extract sufficient amount of water through the roots—this phenomenon is called as the permanent wilti ng point—the condition which plant hardly recover. In addition, irrigated soils contain significant amount of salt which develops osmotic pressure that slows down the uptake of water by the plants that doesn’t help them for good growth. Thus, significant increase in slow growth might also mean the slow production of food for all organisms in the ecosystem. IV SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION The following are the summary of the main points of the report: Soil water budget, is a balance in a net result of hydrological cycle in nature in which the inputs, output Larger pores conduct water more rapidly in saturated soils than smaller pores while in unsaturated soil condition, smaller pores conduct water movement more rapidly. Coarse over Fine– Water build up over fine soil because water moves faster through coarse soil. Fine over Coarse– Water movement will temporarily stop until fine soil is nearly saturated. There’s always flow in every system and those flows are very much necessary even the tiny little bits of details of it. Once subjected to changes, could lead to negative flaws. BIBLIOGRAPHY SAI Platform. (2010, June). Water Conservation Technical Briefs—The Importance of Soil to Water Use. From http://www.saiplatform.org/uploads/Modules/Library/SAI%20Technical%20Brief%205%20%20The%20Importance%20of%20Soil%20to%20Water%20Use.pdf Irrigation Management—Chapter 3, Soil Water. From http://croptechnology.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1130447123topicorder=3maxto=13minto=1 Food and Agriculture Organization. Physical Factors Affecting Soil Organisms. From http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/soil-biodiversity/soil-organisms/physical-factors-affecting-soil-organisms/en/

Existing Global Institutions and their problems :: Essays Papers

Existing Global Institutions and their problems In an increasingly connected and interdependent world, global institutions play an important role in promoting stability and guiding developing countries towards becoming market economies. This process and the importance of this role was never more clear than during the 1990s. In Eastern Europe, a host of new countries appeared on the world map franticly began running towards capitalism and prosperity. The premier international institution, the International Monetary Fund, was given the difficult task of crediting emerging economies and providing the western know-how to build strong market economies. Alas, in many cases, it failed. Possibly, the most tragic example was that of Russia. Some argue that the fund had modest desings and was fundamentally uncapable of this great project. This essay will explore why the fund failed, how its decisions were made, and what must be done in an ideal institution that would be able to accomplish the task. Currently, or over the last decade, the fund was in a peculiar situation. It essentially gave loans to countries that were politically important to the west, such as Russia and Brazil, repeatedly bailing them out of crises which their poor policies led it to. The fund also prescribed certain reforms and policies that should improve the economy over the long tuerm. Unfortunately, these recommendations were all too often either incorrect, as in Asia, or were ignored altogether, as in Russia. The reason is the simple moral hazard. There was no real reason to comply and change inside, when a state knew that they will be given the loan anyway, for the west had political reasons such as the fear that the country will renounce democracy and the like. It is important to refute the illusion early on that the IMF was truly international or independent body. It was, and is massively underfunded ant the result is that its directors have to ask the US treasury department for funds, giving the bosses of the treasury such as Robert Rubin and Larry Summers immense influence over the fund's policies. Therefore, while the fund essentially promoted policies of the American government, or the "Washington concensus", it was often used as a scapegoat. Whenever something was wrong, such as a crisis precipitating due to poor and not peer-accepted recommendations, as was the case in Asia in 1998, few blamed the department of the Treasury of the Clinton administration. Problems were attributed to the fund, which is labeled as international, and to such mysterious and ill-understood phenomena such as globalization.

Biography of Robert Frost Essay -- American Poets Robert Frost Biograp

â€Å"Rightly or wrongly, Robert Frost has achieved a reputation as a poet of nature†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Gerber 155). Yes, Frost does use imagery of nature in his poems, but to say he is a â€Å"nature poet† is distorting his poetry by overlooking the poem’s darker complexions (Gerber 155). An aspect of his poems that is frequently overlooked is the main character’s internal conflict. In â€Å"The Road Not Taken† and â€Å"Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening† characters are faced with an inner conflict metaphorically described by nature. In these two poems Frost uses nature to hide the reality of how self-conscious the main character actually is. Robert Frost was born in San Francisco, California on March 26, 1874. When his father died in 1885 he moved to Massachusetts with his mom and sister (Sweeny and Lindroth 5). He spent his whole life in the Massachusetts area. â€Å"Frost attended high school in that state, and then Dartmouth College, but remained less than one semester† (Michalowski). At the age of thirty-eight Frost decided to move him and his family to England. While in England his first book, A Boy’s Will, was published in 1913. A few years later he returned to America where his second book, North of Boston, was published (Michalowski). Although he spent three years of his life in England, â€Å"†¦little of his verse reflects any specific English imagery† (Sweeny and Lindroth 11). Massachusetts and other New England areas were the setting for the majority of Frost’s poetry. The nature in the New England area played a big role in his life and influenced his poetry a lot (Sweeny and Lindroth 7). â€Å"Nine generations of New Englanders had produced Robert Frost, and he in turn produced in his poetry a distillation of all that is New Engla... ...chusetts. 1982 Michalowski, Jay. â€Å"Biography of Robert Frost†. The Robert Frost Web Page. 3 May 2015 http://www.robertfrost.org/indexgood.html Richardson, Mark â€Å"Robert Frost† Modern American Poetry. 5 April 2015. http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/frost/frost.htm Sweeny, John David and Lindroth, James. The Poetry of Robert Frost. New York: Monarch Press, 1965 Van Doren, Mark. â€Å"Robert Frost’s America: June 1951† The Atlantic Online. 5 April 2015. The Atlantic Monthly http://www.theatlantic.com/unbound/poetry/frost/vand.html Wakefield, Richard. â€Å"Thomas Eakins and Robert Frost: â€Å"To be a natural man in a man-made world.† Proquest Online. 5 April 2015. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?TS=1049560053&RQT=309&TS=1049559567&Did=000000056482194&Fmt=3&Deli=1&Mtd=1&Idx =20&Sid=3&Button.x=0&Button.y=0&TS=1049559631&Button.x=0&Button.y=0&TS=1049560082

Representation of gender in Men Behaving Badly and Absolutely Fabulous Essay

Compare how the representation of gender is constructed by the way character’s appearance and dialogue in your two chosen television programmes In comparing Men Behaving Badly and Absolutely Fabulous I will find both differences and similarities in gender construction. Absolutely Fabulous is heavily set towards extreme female stereotypes and the male characters are mainly weak, whereas in Men Behaving Badly the male characters are more dominant and their attitudes and relationships to the female characters is more obvious. In the Absolutely Fabulous episode Menopause, there are many stereotypes regarding women. Through Edina we see the woman struggling to be a mother, have a career and delay the ageing progress. Edina wears clothes inappropriate to her age and applies a lot of vibrant coloured makeup to try and make herself appear youthful and fashionable which she miserable fails to do. Edwina’s language throughout the episode is far from the traditional stereotype of women being ladylike and polite. Edina is much the opposite, a very loud and flamboyant woman. This contributes much to her character as it emphasises her struggle to keep herself young and stylish. In this particular episode we see Edina’s PR company failing to strive alongside the rival company, and it shows the viewers Edina’s desperate desire to become famous and popular, which gives reason to her appearance. Edina’s attitude of old age is revealed when Patsy, her best friend and the person she is most clo se to, shows signs of age. Edina shrieks in horror at Patsy’s weak bones, and insists the menopause support group sit on bin bags. Although these actions are extreme, viewers who also fear the problems ageing brings may relate to her panic. The role of Patsy is played even more raucous and brash then Edina. Patsy’s character wears much more sophisticated clothes then Edina, although her make up is not as vibrant it is still thickly implied. This implies perhaps Patsy is just as scared of ageing as Edina, and her makeup is there to cover up tell-tale signs of ageing such as wrinkles and lines. In this episode Patsy appears in Edina’s daughters daydream, and in this we see Patsy acting the opposite of how she usually does. Patsy decides to have a baby, constantly wears an apron and speaks much more polite and quietly then her normal self. Through this opposite view of Patsy we get an idea of what her characteristics are normally. Through her dialogue in this daydream we hear comments that imply Patsy has never had a maternal instinct before. In telling Edina of her decision to have a baby, Edina cries â€Å"But you don’t have ovaries!† to which Patsy calmly replies â€Å"I do! They found them lodged up by my ribs were that silly Arab doctor put them!† Patsy’s dialogue conveys a lot of information about her character to the audience. The way Patsy reacts to her easily broken wrist shows her denial at the seriousness of her condition, and her reluctance to go to the doctor shows deep down she knows she is ageing. Patsy and Edina’s lifestyle is not that of responsible middle age women, at the very beginning of this episode we see the two of them using drugs and in their confusion mistaking a phone ringing for illogical things such as bees and shoes. The responsible character in the house is ironically Edina’s daughter Saffron. Saffron is a young university student and this group would normally be stereotyped as being careless, rebellious and wild, though in a reverse stereotype Saffron is in fact very sensible and intelligent! Saffron is dressed in smart trousers and a brown woolly pullover, has unruly hair and wears smart glasses. These clothes are not the sort of fashion for a girl her age, and it emphasises her reversal on the normal student stereotype. It is amusing to the audience as the mother and daughter seem to take on each other’s normal stereotypical characteristics. Edina hanging out with her best friend taking drugs, and Saffron attempting to control her. In comparison, the male characters of Men Behaving Badly lack responsibility and this relates to Edina’s neglect of parental duty. Gary shows lack of responsibility in his relationship with Dorothy, as he can’t seem to decide whether to kick out his best friend Tony or his girlfriend. As a thirty year old men it would seem obvious to choose Tony to leave, but the fact he debates over makes the scenario seem immature and amusing to the viewers. Gary is dressed smartly and although he runs a security company, he dresses his ageing employers in absurd security outfits which highlights his childish side. Gary talks in slang about Dorothy, referring to her as ‘his bird’ which shows he perhaps doesn’t respect her as a girlfriend quite as much as he should do at his age, as the term is more used with younger men as references to their new and latest conquest. Gary seems to value his late night drinks with his ‘mate’ Tony so much he actually considers Dorothy second best to him, and the stress of their reactions causes him to have nightmares ending in tragedy over him, which is ironic since they both move out in the end! Tony’s character is much more ‘laddish’ then Gary as he seems much more lazy and careless. Tony has no job and spends the entire episode thinking of ways to get his female neighbour into bed, and then attempting to tattoo himself. His clothes are scruffy and look old and well worn and he doesn’t seem to make much effort with his appearance. Tony is being stereotyped as what some people would perceive as a ‘normal man’, though perhaps more exaggerated than normal. His love of beer and his ‘mates’ make him fit the male pub crowd, his scruffy clothes and lack of interest in his appearance and his casual language and constant use of swearing is all seen as very manly. His attitude to Debs, his neighbour, is also a typical stereotype of men that only think about sex. Debs is a single, blonde attractive woman upstairs from the other three characters, and is constantly lusted after by Tony. Deb’s clothes are fashionable and sophisticated and she acts very ladylike. Deb’s appearance shows she looks after herself and takes time with her makeup and clothes. Deb’s character contrasts with the characteristics of Dorothy, who simply rushes out of the door once she is dressed in her nurse’s uniform. Dorothy is dark haired and is in a relationship with Gary, Dorothy looks smart but doesn’t seem to bother much with her appearance and make up, which shows her relaxed attitude around Gary. It highlights the idea that when women are single they make more effort with themselves, and it relates to Gary’s attitude to living with Dorothy. â€Å"Living with your bird is a bit like living at home with your parents. You have to keep your room tidy and you can’t put up the posters you want!† Dorothy uses sarcasm around Gary, and it seems she is just as bored of him as he is of her. Dorothy does not seem to show much affection to Gary, when she addresses him she uses a flat tone with not much emotion in her voice. Through Dorothy’s dialogue the viewers can pick up on faults in their relationship and her attitudes to Gary.

Firoozeh Dumas Essay

â€Å"To deny someone and education is not just a crime but a sin, because you are denying that person the opportunity to realize who he or she is meant to be. † This quote represents Firoozeh Dumas’s view on learning and becoming the person that she is today. Through her hardships, struggles, good times and the bad times, she has matured and learned a great deal. In the autobiography Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas, the themes or clashing cultures, new environments, and learning through experience comes into play. The story begins as Firoozeh moves with her family to the United States in 1972, as a seven-year-old. From the moment her airplane lands, she starts to see differences; not only in the geography of the land and the appearance of the people, but the look of the whole place. She is used to bustling cities in Iran, crowded with enthusiastic workers, shoppers, and people socializing. In contrast, her new neighborhood in America seemed fairly unexciting; she describes it as uniformed houses, all the lawns in perfect order, as if everything was constantly being maintained to achieve the ideal look. But little did she know that this was only the beginning of differences. Entering a new school would open a whole other orbit of biculturalism. As she enters school, she sees everyone; completely different looking from her, and all of them fluent in English. Curious classmates peered around her desk, examining her from head to toe trying to figure out who she is; what type of creature she is and where she comes from. To make things even worse, Firoozeh’s mother decides to attend school with her, to learn proper English. This leads to ultimate humiliation for Firoozeh. Not only is she an immigrant student, but an immigrant student with her mother in elementary school with her. Students constantly ask her where she comes from, as if she’s an alien of some sort. She slowly learns to respond by saying â€Å"You know, the country where Persian cats come from. † She hopes to one day learn English properly so she can fit in and communicate with her fellow students. Her first day is completely confusing as she tries to embrace all that is happening around her. On the way home, the bus driver drops Firoozeh and her mother a few blocks away from their house. Not so familiar with the location, they get further confused and can’t recognize their own home. To them, the homes all look alike, and can’t distinguish their own from the rest. These incidents represent the difficulties that Firoozeh goes through in her first couple of months in America. However, after a couple of months time, she learns more and more about the American culture and believes she is on her way to â€Å"Americanization. † During summer vacation, the family celebrates their first year completed in America by voyaging to Disneyland. Being a child, Firoozeh is completely star-struck and amazed by the tiny world created for the sole purpose of entertaining people. All her favorite Disney characters that she had only heard the names of in Iran were now walking amongst her in real life! Firoozeh wasn’t the only one who enjoyed herself. Her father Kauzem described Walt Disney as a â€Å"†¦ genius, a man whose vision allowed everyone, regardless of age, to relive the wonderment of childhood. † (p. 17) Their lives in America seemed to be improving, until the Iranian Revolution ten years later. Firoozeh, now a seventeen year old, was again suffering from racism everywhere she went. People were now staring at her again, questioning her and calling her a terrorist, just because of what was happening in her country. The pain of not fitting in was now something she became accustomed to, and she decided to overcome it by further educating herself. She was thankful to have the opportunity to be educated, and she wanted to take advantage of her chance. Firoozeh spent high school learning French, until she got fluent in it. She was offered an opportunity to travel to Paris for two months because of her immense skill and fluency at the language. There, she again faces racism, where she is interviewed and labeled as a seventeen-year-old spy. She begins to ignore the racism around her, and advances in her studies. From education, she learns who she really is. The strength is now ingrained in her and she knows who she is: a young Iranian woman who has succeeded through many hardships. Nothing can stop her from learning, the main factor that helped her develop her personality. The main conflict she faces over and over again throughout the story is intense racism and not being able to fit in with every other American. By end, she realizes that by using education she can overcome all her struggles. Firoozeh Dumas ends up marrying a Frenchman who she meets in college, and they both live happily together. She realizes that her own encouragement and drive to study has brought her all the way to college, and finds her a perfect partner. As she said before, education is what helps a person realize what they are meant to be. In my opinion, the character goes through many hardships; and just as things begin to turn up, she again falls into another political conflict because of the Iranian Revolution. With these multiple problems she has to face, she realizes that one key factor can help her survive through it all: education. She knew that as long as she kept studying and taking advantage of the right of education, she will succeed; and she did. I think she dealt with her hardships perfectly and came out extremely strong at the end. This book is an ideal representation of an immigrant girl coming from Iran. It shows the perfect perspective of what someone like Firoozeh might think, and the problems they will face. It gives an opportunity for the reader to advance their knowledge on a new culture, to see an Iranian immigrant’s point of view. By adding some humor in the story, it becomes even more entertaining and interesting to learn about Firoozeh’s struggles. This book has given me an increased amount of respect for people who come from a different country. Firoozeh’s education helped her go extremely far and be successful in life, and I hope the same will happen to me because I’m blessed with the right of education that Firoozeh describes.

Information Management Master Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Information Management Master - Essay Example To do the changes, Information Management Process should contain the steps of designing records systems, documenting records systems, training records practitioners and other personnel, converting records to new records systems, formats and controls, setting standards and measuring compliance and performance against them, and determining retention periods and making decisions about records which have continuing value, in keeping with the regulatory environment. If Justafye considers my proposal and give me the opportunity to implement them, then our industry will be able to recover the losses that have been occurred for the disaster more or less. And I also believe that it will ensure our industry's effective Information Management. Justafye Industries is a large service based organization in a prominent metropolitan area. Justafye Industries has been operating for over 20 years and currently has a staff of 375. Most of their systems are highly technologically equipped. In past, individual staffs were responsible for maintaining organizational records of their own activities. No centralized guidelines existed for managing information. All staffs were aware of keeping everything for three years - just in case of any emergency; then destroy and make sure that they have a hard copy with them. All space within the building of Justafye is currently occupied with the exception of a small area in the basement, which has flooded on a number of occasions in recent times. Understandably there is much work to do in bringing some order into the information stored by Justafye Industries and in convincing staff to progress systems for records/information management.4 1-2: Problem Statement: 1. As a Corporate Information Manager, I will have to mention what changes should be made to the records or information division and its employee. 2. Finally I will have to recommend specifically for bringing about such change as soon as possible. CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH DESIGN 2-1:

Communication and Diversity challenges in the Workplace Research Paper

Communication and Diversity challenges in the Workplace - Research Paper Example On the other hand, workplace diversity entails the range of dissimilarities among individuals in an organization. Diversity incorporates background, race, education, gender, organizational function, ethnic group, cognitive style, age, tenure, personality, among other components. Diversity also entails how individuals perceive themselves and other people. These perceptions have an impact on the interaction of individuals. The human resource department in an organization should adequately deal with issues, for example, change and adaptability, and communication for a large number of workers to work properly in an organization. Moreover, profitable organizations realize the significance of rapid action and are willing to utilize resources so as to manage diversity in their organizations. This paper will look at communication and diversity challenges in the place of work. Effective and efficient communication is extremely essential for the success of organizations that every member of an organization should be proper communicators. A manager has a duty to ensure all workers have efficient communication skills. In addition, adequate communication in an organization plays a significant part in establishing everlasting worker motivation. Organizations that have well established communication benefit from enhanced relationships between individuals. It is essential that both management and workers have efficient communication between them because this will ensure organizational functions run smoothly. In addition, proficient communication skill will help members of an organization enhance time management in their places of work. The ability exists for a manager to supervise his own time as well as keeping the workers concentrated on deadlines. Comprehending the communication course opens numerous opportunities to enhance productivity (Eunson 2007, 51). Organizations face a number of communication challenges in the workplace. First, language barrier may turn into a commu nication problem. There may be language barrier between individuals of different levels of work experience, ages, and ethnic background. Language barrier may create a misunderstanding or slow down communication that makes communication inadequate. Second, Effective and efficient communication in the workplace depends on professional connection aimed at helping in the continued development of the organization or everyday functioning of the organization (Gerson and Gerson 2007, 78). When workers allow personal concerns to have an impact on company communication, a communication difficulty arises and could exist for long before being discovered and resolved. Individuals who decline to communicate on the basis of personal conflicts may destroy the organization’s capability to engage in business and as a result, slow or deter the development of the organization. Third, one direction communication may result into an inadequate way of exchanging information all around the company. M anagerial staff and workers should give feedback every time so as to enhance the quality of information being passed on and the way in which the information is communicated. For instance, if the human resource department frequently communicates information in a way that is confusing to other individuals in the organization, then the human resource department needs to be made aware of the communication issues or else the information coming from the human resourc

Why the Diagnosogenic theory of stuttering onset has been dispelled by Essay

Why the Diagnosogenic theory of stuttering onset has been dispelled by recent literature - Essay Example Neurophysiology- Recent research has shown that people who stutter process speech and language in different areas of the brain than those who do not stutter. Family dynamics-High expectations and fast-paced lifestyles can contribute to stuttering. Technically known as dysphemia, it has sometimes been attributed to an underlying personality disorder. Brain scans of stutterers have found higher than normal activity in brain areas that coordinate conscious movement, suggesting that in people who stutter speech occurs less automatically than it does in most people. In 1939, a controversial study, on the possibility of "creating a stutterer", was conducted by University of Iowa speech pathologist, Wendell Johnson and his graduate student Mary Tudor. The study tried to create stutterers over the course of 4 months, using 22 unwitting orphans from the Soldiers and Sailors Orphan's Home in Davenport, Iowa. Ethically acceptable at the time, it was designed to induce stuttering in normally fluent children and to test out Johnson's "Diagnosogenic theory" a theory suggesting that negative reactions to normal speech disfluencies cause stuttering in children. The study divided the orphans into 3 groups. 6 normally fluent orphans would be given negative evaluations and criticisms regarding their speech, another group of 5 orphans who allegedly already stuttered would also receive that treatment, and the remaining 11 would be treated neutrally. The study concluded that the children given negative evaluative labeling went on to develop persistent, permanen t stutters. The study was influential at the time, with many speech pathologists and child-health and educational professionals accepting Johnson's theory. In 1988, Silverman first reported the results of this study in the Journal of Fluency Disorders and labeled it "The Monster Study". In June 2001, the San Jose Mercury News revealed this study to the public for the first time, leading to widespread controversy and debate about scientific ethics. Soon after, University of Illinois professors Nicoline Ambrose and Ehud Yairi wrote a paper discrediting the 1939 study, revealing flaws in data collection and method, as well as pointing out that none of the orphans actually did develop a permanent stutter. The relevance of the Ambrose-Yairi study 63 years later is that the authors conclude, in effect, that the 1939 thesis did not prove the theory with which it is credited. In other words, the researcher did not, and could not have, "caused stuttering" in the subjects. For this and many other reasons the authors also conclude that most all of the ethical criticisms of the study are misplaced and unjustified. While criticism of a developing child's speech can certainly make a present stutter worse, it does not create a stutter. The major findings, as have been reported over the last several years in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (JSLHR), question longstanding concepts about the onset and developmental trends of early childhood stuttering. Like most other speech disorders, stuttering onset was gradual and occurred under uneventful circumstances, that early symptoms included only easy repetition of syllables and words, and that parents helped create the problem by reacting negatively to normal disfluencies. Stuttering onset was sudden in at least one-third of the children, was severe in nature,