Green Technology against Global Warming Research Paper

Green Technology against Global Warming - Research Paper Example Green Technology involves the design, operation, construction, renovation and maintenance, and even demolition. All these processes must be environmentally responsible for mitigating the effect of global warming. The green building and the technology behind it strives to reduce the effect of the built environment is having on the natural environment and human health by implementing the following; reduction of the effect of pollution, wastes,   and environmental degradation, improvement of the employees productivity, and efficient use of water, energy and other naturally available resources. The Green industry technology is being embraced by every country in the world; this is towards the concerted effort to reduce check on the global warming. The technology provides employment to any individual in the world and several firms have associated themselves with the technology. In the United States alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on March 2012 that the industry employs about 3.1 million employees (Rider, Glass, & McNaughton, 2011). This translated to about 2.4% of the total national employment in the nation according to the 2010 statistic in the US, the report further cited (Rider, Glass, & McNaughton, 2011). The industry contributes significantly to the environment in more than one way. The technology employs many factors in ensuring that the environment remains undisturbed and therefore fit for human and plants habitation by ensuring the following;   that there is a significant reduction in the waste that is discharged into the environment as well the pollution of the environment. The technology also prevents environmental degradation, which involves depleting resources such as water, air, and soil (Yudelson, 2007). The technology also takes care of the ecosystem and the vast flora and fauna in their various habitats. The technology ensures the ecosystem of remains stable and that the environment disadvantages no organism.

Chart and Reflection Essay Example for Free

Chart and Reflection Essay The Somebody-Wanted-But-So chart is an excellent way to summarize important information from history. In it, you identify a person or group of people; their goal, need, or want; what conflict of interest stood in the way; and the outcome. This strategy works great because history depends on the needs, wants, and actions of humans. Part 1 – Complete the following chart using information from the lesson. One example appears for you. Somebody Wanted But So President Abraham Lincoln the nation to heal as quickly as possible from the Civil War and planned to reunify the nation quickly he was assassinated in 1865 only days after Robert E. Lee’s surrender plans for Reconstruction were taken over by Vice President Andrew Johnson, who became president after Lincoln’s death President Andrew Johnson To continue the Reconstruction Congress kept over-riding his request Radical Republicans started the Radical Reconstruction. Radical Republicans Southerners to be punished for re-unifying with the Union. President Hayes took office and removed the federal troops from the south Federal protection for African American voters and pro-republicans, including freedmen, was over. Southern Democrats To have federal troops removed from the south and to have a southern Democrat named in the cabinet. Hayes accepted this request and removed the federal troops while also naming a southern democrat in his office. The reconstruction policy came to an end after the federal troops were removed from the south. Part 2 – Answer the following questions in a complete paragraph of your own words. What was the  main issue relating to Reconstruction that divided Republicans at the end of the Civil War? If you had been a member of Congress at the time, what type of plan for Reconstruction would you have supported and why? There were many different opinions which had divided Republicans at the end of the Civil War. One of these opinions was about the punishment that confederate leaders should receive. Whether the confederate leaders should be punished as traitors or just pay for damages was the main topic of interest. I probably would have supported Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson’s plan for Reconstruction. They sought a perfect unification of America which was the ideal way to end things. It wasn’t their fault that the plan didn’t work either, if it wasn’t for Lincolns assassination and the Radical Republicans taking the policy from Johnson, all would have been well.

Multiculturalism in Lebanon

Multiculturalism in Lebanon Lebanon is a country with a long history which made it what it is today, a multicultural country. In a book called Geopolitique du conflit libanais by Georges Corm, written in French, the Lebanese situation and how it got to the state it is now culturally is explained. This book starts off by saying that everywhere in the world, be it Paris, London or Geneva, the Lebanese is used to be seen in the refined, cosmopolitan world of high finance, international negotiation, and real estate promotion. The author says about the Lebanese, quoting, on a trop coutume de le voir, pignon sur rue (Corm, 1986: 5) which literally means we are extremely used to seeing him, gable on street, the Lebanese. To be able to understand the multiculturalism of the individual carrying the Lebanese nationality, it is primordial to understand major highlights of this countrys history. Corm (1986: 6) highlights the impact several historical moments had on Lebanon and the development of its culture. As is known to all, Lebanon was under French mandate for a very long time. However, before the French occupation, in the previous century, Lebanon had been occupied by the Ottoman Empire. This Ottoman Empire occupation led Napoleon the Third to send an expedition in order to protect the Christians of Lebanon against the ferocity of Ottoman soldiery (Corm, 1986: 10). In 1975, a civil war exploded in Lebanon. Many times, foreign and powerful countries intervened. In 1976, France, ancient occupational force, mentioned the possibility of bringing in Lebanon French troops (army) (Corm, 1986: 9). In 1978, soldiers belonging to the United Nations came to establish their troops in Lebanon. Moreover, in 1981, the United Nations of America also intervened in this civil conflict. Lebanon being a country based on confessionalism (divided into religious groups) (Corm, 1986: 6), the conflict became vaster when there was a separation between the Lebanese populations due to religion. The Christian Maronites asked for the French intervention, while the Druzes asked for British intervention (Corm, 1986: 210). From all of the above, we can see that countries encompassing many different and diverse cultures intervened in Lebanon imposing their language (that is, French and English), and their principles. For example, Lebanese children attending French schools were forbidden the practice of Arabic language within the school walls. In a way, this is the basis of what gave the Lebanese individual the easiness to adapt. The Lebanese got this acceptance of adaptation when he immigrated to other foreign destinations where life promised to be better. Corm (1986: 20) describes a typical Lebanese person as a citizen of the Lebanese capital, Beirut city of patricians, merchants, artisans, and jurists ready to serve any new conqueror. Whether the conqueror was Egyptian, Iranian, Byzantine, French, American or British, it didnt matter. The only thing that mattered to a Lebanese person was that business was stable and always on the run (Corm, 1986: 29). Because of the influence of the West in a country considered as being Oriental, Lebanon was thereof called this junction between the Orient and the Occident (Corm, 1986: 15). The area of study: Culture can be defined as a body of learned behavior, a collection of beliefs, habits and traditions, shared by a group of people and successively learned by people who enter the society (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 33). Society in this context can apply to any level of culture, like nation, organization or profession. While in most instances, a persons nationality is a sufficient indicator of their culture (where the culture is the norm of that nationality), many societies now contain a variety of ethnic groups and individuals may easily be influenced by cultures other than their apparent nationality (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 33). A specific ethnic group can be characterized by its language, politics, attitudes, economy, religion, values, customs, education, etcà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 34). A specific ethnic group can also be called a Diaspora. Many definitions were given as to the word Diaspora. Generally, Diasporas are communities that define themselves by reference to a distant homeland from which they once originated (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 1). When an ethnic group or a group belonging to a specific ethnicity, culture, religion, national identity and sometimes race (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 3) are dispersed (that is, dislocated and then relocated voluntarily or not) around the globe, this is what can be called a Diaspora. Coles and Timothy (2004: 4) mention Sheffers notion of a modern Diaspora as residing and acting in host countries while still maintaining strong sentimental and material links with their countries of origin. They therefore have collective memories (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 5) of their traditional country, and they face the same situation as their co-ethnic members (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 5). Diasporas are also divided into two distinct categori es. The first category consists of victim Diasporas who have had a traumatic displacement from their territory (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 6), and the second is the labour Diaspora which is scattering in pursuit of work (Coles and Timothy, 2004: 6). This brings up the cultural aspect of this study. Coles and Timothy (2004: 7) state that Diasporic communities move between regions and do not occupy a single cultural space, which leads to hyphenated communities which constitute the semantic coupling of the homeland and the host state. This affects the process of adaptation, assimilation or internalization of a host countrys culture (Joynt and Warner, 1996: 166). The field of consumer behavior is the study of the processes involved when individuals or groups select, purchase, use or dispose of products, services, ideas or experience, to satisfy needs and desires (Solomon, Barmossy, Askegaard and Hogg, 2006: 6). In addition, people can express their self and their cultural and religious belonging through consumption patterns and sometimes there are cultural clashes (Solomon, Barmossy, Askegaard and Hogg, 2006: 6). This is what links culture and the behavior of Diasporas in host countries to the field of consumer behavior. Accordingly, Nguyen and Polonsky (2003: 1561) say that the number of migrants and migrant communities in first world countries has increased significantly and that the constant process of acculturation and motivations (Nguyen and Polonsky, 2003: 1561) is important in consumption because migrants frequently want to maintain links to their home country (Nguyen and Polonsky, 2003: 1561). This study aims at understanding more clearly the consumer behavior concerning the members of a Diaspora community. In relation to this, the fact that consumer behavior also depends on the type of product consumed has to be taken into consideration. Research suggests that many different social situations have different norms of ethnic behavior (e.g. type and amount of food and drink considered appropriate), suggesting that the relationship between ethnicity and behavior is affected by the type of product being considered (Stayman and Deshpande, 1989: 363). Food and commodities products are more cultural. Therefore, to study culture affecting consumption motives (Henry, 1976: 123), a product class for which specific value orientations can be reasonably expected to affect choice significantly (Henry, 1976: 123) must be selected in a study. Thus, food is chosen in this research for the study of the behavior of Diaspora consumers because food is more than a means of nourishment and sustenance; it is also a key cultural expression, it can provide us with a taste of home and serve to reaffirm ties to their culture of origin (Penalosa, 1994: 41). Sometimes members of a Diaspora can reject some of the consumption patterns (Penalosa, 199 4: 42) that are characteristic of the host country. Furthermore, the products brand and the image that the brand gives to the consumer are also important to consider as cultural values penetrate the creation and perception of commercial symbols (Aaker, Benet-Martinez and Garolera, 2001: 494). To summarize, the cultural function of consumption means that the cultural context should, among other things, be taken into consideration when studying the meaning of objects for consumers and the use they will make of those objects (Wallendorf and Arnould, 1988: 533). There are country differences that can be used to interpret cultural differences in norms, attitudes, behavioral patterns, and important macro socioeconomic variables (Aaker, Benet-Martinez and Garolera, 2001: 499). Examples of country differences are conservatism versus autonomism and hierarchy/mastery versus egalitarian commitment/ harmony that relate to self-enhancement versus self-transcendence (Aaker, Benet-Martinez and Garolera, 2001: 504). These are typical differences between Lebanese and French cultures (Orient versus West). In this study, a questionnaire was distributed online to members of the Lebanese Diaspora in Paris, and semi-structured in-depth interviews were carried out with Lebanese people who had lived or are currently living in Paris. Subsequently, the data collected from the questionnaire was tested on SPSS 15 and a factor analysis was run. As for the interviews, major themes were identified as well as interpreted. Many limitations stood in the way of this study. To list a few, time constraints did not allow enough questionnaires to be collected thus making the statistical analyses less credible. In addition, English was the language used in the questionnaire while the Lebanese in Paris are mainly francophone, and the interviews were carried out in French thus not translating exactly the emotions and the real meaning of the interviewees words. Objectives and Research questions of the study: Following the aim and context of the study, research questions and objectives were derived. This study will aim to examine the socio-cultural aspect of consumer research while focusing on one durable good. Hence, this study focuses on food as it is the most culturally influenced product and as its value orientations affect choice significantly. The last objective aims to show that consumers have purchasing habits and patterns that allow them to express their cultural identity by investigating the attitude and consumption habits of Diaspora consumers when it comes to food. The research questions derived from these objectives and that guided this study are the following: Are Diaspora consumers influenced by the host countrys brands and the way they are marketed? Do Diaspora consumers try to influence other consumers who come from different cultural backgrounds? (relating to the socialization aspect) Which identity do they try to construct while living in a foreign country? Do they preserve their cultural identity or seek a new or different one? And if the latter is true, why? Structure of the study: In the first chapter, the general literature concerning consumer behaviour in a cultural and ethnic context will be reviewed. Following from this, the details of the method used will be specified. Third, the results of the research carried out will be presented and discussed as well as interpreted, before concluding with the limitations of this study as well as its implications for further research.

Police Brutality: Black Lives Matter Essay -- Use of Excessive Force, R

A father purchased a toy gun as a birthday gift for his young son. His son went outside to play and and encountered a police officer who shot him seven times. This incident occurred in Sonoma County in October 2013. A similar incident occurred in November 2014 when Cleveland police killed a 12-year-old boy carrying a toy gun. Use of excessive force by police is common in impoverished "black" or "brown" communities. The website, uslegal.com, defines police brutality as: Police brutality is a civil rights violation that occurs when a police officer acts with excessive force by using an amount of force with regards to a civilian that is more than necessary. Excessive force by law enforcement officers is a violation of a person's rights. Excessive force is not subject to a precise definition, but it is generally beyond the force a reasonable and prudent law enforcement officer would use under the circumstances (â€Å"Police Brutality Law & Legal Definition†,2013). Cases of brutality from people, who are supposed to protect against it, have existed even when the United States was a fairly new country. The oppression by people in power, even the U.S. Constitution excludes â€Å"Illegal persons† as three fifths of a person, which includes slaves, immigrants, and Native Americans. Another example of oppression by individuals in power would be during the Indian Removal Act of 1830, millions of native peoples were removed from lands that they had been living on and cultivating for generations. Although many tribes had tried to fight this removal, the Cherokee tribe had fought this act through the court system, which had granted them to stay on their land. The United States President, Andrew Jackson, disregarded the court's decision to gra... ...vidge, A. (2013). Hundreds rally statewide against police brutality in wake of Lopez death. Available at: http://www.ktvu.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/hundreds-rally-statewide-against-police-brutality-/nbnmT/ â€Å"Police Brutality Law and Legal Definition† (2013). Uslegal.com. Available at: http://definitions.uslegal.com/p/police-brutality/ Rodney King Beating and Riots. CNN documentary (Full length). (2011, March 6). YouTube. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWhYmb1sANM Police Brutality Statistics. (2011, April 13).| Cop Block. Retrieved December 18, 2013, Available at: http://www.copblock.org/2841/police-brutality-statistics/ Goodman, B. & Dewan, S. (2007, April 27). Prosecutors Say Corruption in Atlanta Police Dept. Is Widespread. The New York Times. Retrieved December 18, 2013, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/27/us/27atlanta.html

Educational Technology Essay

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using and managing appropriate technological processes and resources.† The term educational technology is often associated with, and encompasses, instructional theory and learning theory. While instructional technology is â€Å"the theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning,† according to the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) Definitions and Terminology Committee,educational technology includes other systems used in the process of developing human capability. Educational technology includes, but is not limited to, software, hardware, as well as Internet applications, such as wikis and blogs, and activities. But there is still debate on what these terms mean.[3] Technology of education is most simply and comfortably defined as an array of tool s that might prove helpful in advancing student learning and may be measured in how and why individuals behave. Educational Technology relies on a broad definition of the word â€Å"technology.† Technology can refer to material objects of use to humanity, such as machines or hardware, but it can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. Some modern tools include but are not limited to overhead projectors, laptop computers, and calculators. Newer tools such as â€Å"smartphones† and games (both online and offline) are beginning to draw serious attention for their learning potential. Media psychology is the field of study that applies theories in human behavior to educational technology. Consider the Handbook of Human Performance Technology. The word technology for the sister fields of Educational and Human Performance Technology means â€Å"applied science.† In other words, any valid and reliable process or procedure that is derived from basic research using the â€Å"scientific method† is considered a â€Å"technology.† Educational or Human Performance Technology may be based purely on algorithmic or heuristic processes, but neither necessarily implies physical technology. The word technology comes from the Greek â€Å"techne† which means craft or art. Another word, â€Å"technique,† with the same origin, also may be used when considering the field Educational Technology. So Educational Technology may be extended to include the techniques of the educator. A classic example of an Educational Psychology text is Bloom’s 1956 book, Taxonomy of Educational Objectives.Bloom’s Taxonomy is helpful when designing learning activities to keep in mind what is expected of—and what are the learning goals for—learners. However, Bloom’s work does not explicitly deal with educational technology per se and is more concerned with pedagogical strategies. According to some, an Educational Technologist is someone who transforms basic educational and psychological research into an evidence-based applied science (or a technology) of learning or instruction. Educational Technologists typically have a graduate degree (Master’s, Doctorate, Ph.D., or D.Phil.) in a field related to educational psychology, educational media, experimental psychology, cognitive psychology or, more purely, in the fields of Educational, Instructional or Human Performance Technology orInstructional Systems Design. But few of those listed below as theorists would ever use the term â€Å"educational technologist† as a term to describe themselves, preferring terms such as â€Å"educator.†The transformation of educational technology from a cottage industry to a profession is discussed by Shurville, Browne, and Whitaker. Definition of terms Evaluation is a systematic determination of a subject’s merit, worth and significance, using criteria governed by a set of standards. It can assist an organization to assess any aim, realizable concept or proposal, or any alternative, to help in decision-making; or to ascertain the degree of achievement or value in regard to the aim and objectives and results of any such action that has been completed. Technology is the making, modification, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems, methods of organization, in order to solve a problem, improve a preexisting solution to a problem, achieve a goal, handle an applied input/output relation or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures. Technologies significantly affect human as well as other animal species’ ability to control and adapt to their natural environments. Educational technology is the use of technology to improve teaching and learning. the treatment of the process by which people learn, as a systematic process based on objectives, with strategies and systems to achieve them; a set of expensive tools sold to schools purporting to improve learning but not actually proven to do so information and communication technology (ICT), is often used as an extended synonym for information technology (IT), but is a more specific term that stresses the role of unified communications[1] and the integration oftelecommunications (telephone lines and wireless signals), computers as well as necessaryenterprise software, middleware, storage, and audio-visual systems, which enable users to access, store, transmit, and manipulate information. Classifications of Educational Technology When we hear the word technology today, we would immediately think of the mediated instructional materials particularly those, which are computer-based. But technology also includes the indigenous materials which have been used in the past and which have been proven as reliable. They have proven their worth especially to the teachers in the early days. According to the Equilibrium Theory of Education, the schools which are supposed to transmit accumulated knowledge and skills to students, that students are given balance of the old and new learning so that they will not lose track of the finest pedagogical culture which have been developed and accumulated all through the years. The classification of Educational Technology is divided into two which is the following: * Material Technology Material Technology is divided by two which is the lo-tech paper technology and the hi-tech mediated technology Lo-tech paper technology * It is also called traditional instructional materials; these are indigenous materials usually real objects or those that are made of paper and cardboards. They are still here to stay because not all schools are equipped with technology tools and not all teachers are ready to embrace modern technology. Hi-tech mediated technology * Often called as the mediated technology, it includes those, which are presented using media equipment or hardware. The most persuasive modern technology for teaching and learning in these contemporary times is the computer and its various applications. In fact all educational efforts are being geared toward its used. Its effectiveness in teaching and learning has been widely recognized. * Non-Material Technology This includes theories, laws, principles, methods and strategies of teaching. They evolved results of researches and studies in order to facilitate teaching and learning. Applications of Educational Technology A proper application of educational technology can result to improved sensation and perception that will lead to quality learning. Educational technology transcends geographical barriers, expose students to experiences beyond classroom, disseminate instruction across large areas and make education more accessible to more people. If Educational Technology is properly selected and used the students can do the following: * Arouse and sustain the interest and attention of the students. * Concretize concepts and ideas to promote meaningful learning. * Make learning more permanent by providing rich experiences. * Provide self-activities for independent learning. * Increase one’s vocabulary by eliminating verbalism * Promote continuity of thought * Increase the quality of learning while decreasing the time spent * Check student’s preparedness * Make learning more interactive * Choosing and applying educational technology . Evaluation in Educational Technology As education systems, in particular Technology Education, adapt to new expectations for secondary students entering an uncertain workforce, the time is appropriate to investigate the need for school facilities to meet these present demands and those that continue to change curricula. This study has been conducted in order to determine the facility requirements for the delivery of the evolving technology/manual arts curriculum in Queensland. A set of validated design criteria for evaluating technology education and vocational education settings was developed and trialed to assist the designer of such facilities to meet the needs of this area on schools designed in different eras from the 1960s to the present. A review of the published literature would indicate that little has been written on this aspect of facilities design. While related studies have been conducted in North America, they were not confined to the designing of the facilities and only had specific relevance in that coun try. An expert group consisting of prominent Queensland educators provided the impetus for developing the criteria which had been generated through a systematic search of the literature. The methodology utilised to involve the expert group was the Nominal Group Technique. After the criteria had been developed, they were validated by questionnaire through a 30% random sample of practicing heads of department across Queensland in both state and independent systems. A trial evaluation using current facilities was subsequently conducted to determine the effectiveness of the criteria in terms of teacher acceptability as well as establishing a pattern of needs for modification. Practitioners who use the facility for teaching technology education and/or vocational education could use the set of criteria to evaluate their facility in a similar manner to that of evaluating their students. Such evaluations could then become the basis for ffiture school planning and budgetary allocations as well as asset management of existing facilities. The study proved to be valuable as the validated criteria have the potential of being used as a tool by teachers to evaluate their facilities. At the systems level of operation, the criteria will provide assistance for designers, architects and teachers to prepare informal educational briefs. Such briefs would provide a consistent approach to the some times difficult task of clearly defining the function of a facility. The modem facility must meet the needs of current curriculum and be sufficiently flexible and adaptable to provide the educational requirements well into the twenty-first century. These developed criteria will gr eatly assist in this process. Overview It is a great honor for me to join in the celebration of the 100th birthday of National Taipei Teachers’ College. In the United States, this year is also the 100th anniversary of a famous march, the â€Å"Stars and Stripes Forever,† composed by the revered bandmaster, John Phillips Sousa in 1896. I learned this when I attended a band concert this fall, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Department of Bands at Indiana University. During the concert I was thinking about what I might say today, and I realized that National Taipei Teacher’s College, the IU Department of Bands, and the â€Å"Stars and Stripes Forever† are all 100 years old this year. I plan to talk today on the topic: evaluation of use of information technology in education. First, I will discuss the use of information technology as a lever for change in educational systems and practice. Second, I will talk about the development of criteria for evaluating information technology systems in K-12 education. During 1993-95, I played a central role on a team of faculty and graduate students at Indiana University who helped develop these criteria for the National Study of School Evaluation. I will provide a brief overview of the criteria for use of information technology in K-12 education in the United States. Finally, I will share my personal philosophy on use of technology in education. Stability and Change in Education The publication of A Nation at Risk in 1983 helped to renew U.S. efforts to further improve public schooling. We have given names to these reform efforts such as: site-based management, school restructuring and educational systems design (cf. Banathy, 1991; Reigeluth, 1992; Frick, 1993). One difficulty in changing a system is that it tends to remain the same. Systems try to attain and maintain some level of stability (cf. Maccia & Maccia, 1975; 1966). The big challenge is: How can we overcome this stability in our education systems in order to make positive changes, without harming what is already good and should not be changed? One educator in Indiana has joked that the problem of getting our schools to change is like trying to change the direction of a big elephant going 100 miles per hour. Indicators of Quality Information Technology Systems in Education The National Study of School Evaluation recently published Technology: Indicators of Quality Information Technology Systems in K-12 Schools (NSSE, 1996). This publication provides: * a vision for student learning in technology through suggestions of performance indicators at the elementary, middle and high school levels, * indicators for judging how a school’s instructional system supports learning achievement in technology, and * indicators for evaluating how a school’s organizational system supports its vision. History of Educational Technology during ancient times There is no written evidence which can tell us exactly who has coined the phrase educational technology. Different educationists, scientists and philosophers at different time intervals have put forwarded different definitions of Educational Technology. Educational technology is a multifaceted and integrated process involving people, procedure, ideas, devices, and organization, where technology from different fields of science is borrowed as per the need and requirement of education for implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems involved in all aspects of human learning. Educational technology, broadly speaking, has passed through five stages. The first stage of educational technology is coupled with the use of aids like charts, maps, symbols, models, specimens and concrete materials. The term educational technology was used as synonyms to audio-visual aids. The second stage of educational technology is associated with the ‘electronic revolution’ with the introduction and establishment of sophisticated hardware and software. Use of various audio-visual aids like projector, magic lanterns, tape-recorder, radio and television brought a revolutionary change in the educational scenario. Accordingly, educational technology concept was taken in terms of these sophisticated instruments and equipments for effective presentation of instructional materials. The third stage of educational technology is linked with the development of mass media which in turn led to ‘communication revolution’ for instructional purposes. Computer-assisted Instruction (CAI) used for education since 1950s also became popular during this era. The fourth stage of educational technology is discernible by the individualized process of instruction. The invention of programmed learning and programmed instruction provided a new dimension to educational technology. A system of self-learning based on self-instructional materials and teaching machines emerged. The latest concept of educational technology is influenced by the concept of system engineering or system approach which focuses on language laboratories, teaching machines, programmed instruction, multimedia technologies and the use of the computer in instruction. According to it, educational technology is a systematic way of designing, carrying out and evaluating the total process of teaching and learning in terms of specific objectives based on research. Educational technology during the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age Educational technology, despite the uncertainty of the origin of the term, can be traced back to the time of the three-age system periodization of human prehistory; namely the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. Duringthe Stone Age, ignition of fire by rubbing stones, manufacture of various handmade weapon and utensils from stones and clothing practice were some of the simple technological developments of utmost importance. A fraction of Stone Age people developed ocean-worthy outrigger canoe ship technology to migrate from one place to another across the Ocean, by which they developed their first informal education of knowledge of the ocean currents, weather conditions, sailing practice, astronavigation, and star maps. During the later Stone Age period (Neolithic period),for agricultural practice, polished stone tools were made from a variety of hard rocks largely by digging underground tunnels, w hich can be considered as the first steps in mining technology. The polished axes were so effective that even after appearance of bronze and iron; people used it for clearing forest and the establishment of crop farming. Although Stone Age cultures left no written records, but archaeological evidences proved their shift from nomadic life to agricultural settlement. Ancient tools conserved in different museums, cave paintings like Altamira Cave in Spain, and other prehistoric art, such as the Venus of Willendorf, Mother Goddess from Laussel, France etc. are some of the evidences in favour of their cultures. Neolithic Revolution of Stone Age resulted into the appearance of Bronze Age with development of agriculture, animal domestication, and the adoption of permanent settlements. For these practices Bronze Age people further developed metal smelting, with copper and later bronze, an alloy of tin and copper, being the materials of their choice. The Iron Age people replaced bronze and developed the knowledge of iron smelting technology to lower the cost of living since iron utensils were stronger and cheaper than bronze equivalents. In many Eurasian cultures, the Iron Age was the last period before the development of written scripts. Educational technology during the period of Ancient civilizations According to Paul Saettler, 2004, Educational technology can be traced back to the time when tribal priests systematized bodies of knowledge and ancient cultures invented pictographs or sign writing to record and transmit information. In every stage of human civilization, one can find an instructional technique or set of procedures intended to implement a particular culture which were also supported by number of investigations and evidences. The more advanced the culture, the more complex became the technology of instruction designed to reflect particular ways of individual and social behaviour intended to run an educated society. Over centuries, each significant shift in educational values, goals or objectives led to diverse technologies of instruction. The greatest advances in technology and engineering came with the rise of the ancient civilizations. These advances stimulated and educated other societies in the world to adopt new ways of living and governance. The Indus Valley Civilization was an early Bronze Age civilization which was located in the northwestern region of the Indian Subcontinent. The civilization was primarily flourished around the Indus River basin of the Indus and the Punjab region, extending upto the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley and the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, (most of the part is under today’s Pakistan and the western states of modern-day India as well as some part of the civilization extending upto southeastern Afghanistan, and the easternmost part of Balochistan, Iran). There is a long term controversy to be sure about the language that the Harappan people spoke. It is assumed that their writing was at least seems to be or a pictographic script. The script appears to have had about 400 basic signs, with lots of variations. People write their script with the direction generally from right to left. Most of the writing was found on seals and sealings which were probably used in trade and official & administrative work. Harappan people had the knowledge of the measuring tools of length, mass, and time. They were the first in the world to develop a system of uniform weights and measures. In a study carried out by P. N. Rao et al. in 2009, published in Science, computer scientists found that the Indus script’s pattern is closer to that of spoken words, which supported the proposed hypothesis that it codes for an as-yet-unknown language. According to the Chinese Civilization, some of the major techno-offerings from China include paper, early seismological detectors, toilet paper, matches, iron plough, the multi-tube seed drill, the suspension bridge, the wheelbarrow, the parachute, natural gas as fuel, the magnetic compass, the raised-relief map, the blast furnace, the propeller, the crossbow, the South Pointing Chariot, and gun powder. With the invent of paper they have given their first step towards developments of educational technology by further culturing different handmade products of paper as means of visual aids. Ancient Egyptian language was at one point one of the longest surviving and used languages in the world. Their script was made up of pictures of the real things like birds, animals, different tools, etc. These pictures are popularly called hieroglyph. Their language was made up of above 500 hieroglyphs which are known as hieroglyphics. On the stone monuments or tombs which were discovered and rescued latter on provides the evidence of existence of many forms of artistic hieroglyphics in ancient Egypt. Educational technology during Medieval and Modern Period Paper and the pulp papermaking process which was developed in China during the early 2nd century AD, was carried to the Middle East and was spread to Mediterranean by the Muslim conquests. Evidences support that a paper mill was also established in Sicily in the 12th century. The discovery of spinning wheel increased the productivity of thread making process to a great extent and when Lynn White added the spinning wheel with increasing supply of rags, this led to the production of cheap paper, which was a prime factor in the development of printing technology. The invention of the printing press was taken place in approximately 1450 AD, by Johannes Gutenburg, a German inventor. The invention of printing press was a prime developmental factor in the history of educational technology to convey the instruction as per the need of the complex and advanced-technology cultured society. In the pre-industrial phases, while industry was simply the handwork at artisan level, the instructional processes were relied heavily upon simple things like the slate, the horn book, the blackboard, and chalk. It was limited to a single text book with a few illustrations. Educational technology was considered synonymous to simple aids like charts and pictures. The year 1873 may be considered a landmark in the early history of technology of education or audio-visual education. An exhibition was held in Vienna at international level in which an American school won the admiration of the educators for the exhibition of maps, charts, textbooks and other equipments. Maria Montessori (1870-1952), internationally renowned child educator and the originator of Montessori Method exerted a dynamic impact on educational technology through her development of graded materials designed to provide for the proper sequencing of subject matter for each individual learner. Modern educational technology suggests many extension of Montessori’s idea of prepared child centered environment. In1833, Charles Babbage’s design of a general purpose computing device laid the foundation of the modern computer and in 1943, the first computing machine as per hi design was constructed by International Business Machines Corporation in USA. The Computer Assisted instruction (CAI) in which the computer functions essentially as a tutor as well as the Talking Type writer was developed by O.K. Moore in 1966. Since 1974, computers are interestingly used in education in schools, colleges and universities. In the beginning of the 19th century, there were noteworthy changes in the field of education. British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), right from its start of school broadcasts in 1920 had maintained rapid pace in making sound contribution to formal education. In the USA, by 1952, 20 states had the provision for educational broadcasting. Parallel to this time about 98% of the schools in United Kingdom were equipped with radios and there were regular daily programmes. Sidney L. Pressey, a psychologist of Ohio state university developed a self-teaching machine called ‘Drum Tutor’ in 1920. Professor Skinner, however, in his famous article ‘Science of Learning and art of Teaching’ published in 1945 pleaded for the application of the knowledge derived from behavioral psychology to classroom procedures and suggested automated teaching devices as means of doing so. Although the first practical use of Regular television broadcasts was in Germany in 1929 and in 1936 the Olympic Games in Berlin were broadcasted through television stations in Berlin, Open circuit television began to be used primarily for broadcasting programmes for entertainment in 1950. Since 1960, television is used for educational purposes. In 1950, Brynmor, in England, used educational technological steps for the first time. It is to be cared that in 1960, as a result of industrial revolution in America and Russia, other countries also started progressing in the filed of educational technology. In this way, the beginning of educational technology took place in 1960 from America and Russia and now it has reached England, Europe and India. During the time of around 1950s, new technocracy was turning it attraction to educations when there was a steep shortage of teachers in America and therefore an urgent need of educational technology was felt. Dr. Alvin C. Eurich and a little later his associate, Dr. Alexander J. Stoddard introduced mass production technology in America. Team teaching had its origin in America in the mid of 1950’s and was first started in the year 1955 at Harvard University as a part of internship plan. In the year 1956, Benjamin Bloom from USA introduced the taxonomy of educational objectives through his publication, â€Å"The Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, The Classification of Educational Goals, Handbook I: Cognitive Domain†.

Inbreeding Depression

Inbreeding Depression Free Online Research Papers There is currently 1.5 to 1.8 million species in the world that have been successfully named and classified. Of this number a vast amount already has, or is in the process of extinction. Loss of habitat, over-exploitation of wildlife for commercial purposes, the introduction of harmful exotic species, environmental pollution, and the spread of diseases pose serious threats to the world’s biological heritage. This is of key concern as the removal of a single species can set off a chain reaction in the ecosystem affecting many others. This is especially true for keystone species, whose loss can transform or undermine the ecological processes or fundamentally change the species composition of the wildlife community. (U.S Fish And WildLife Service, 2005)Is there a method in which these species can be saved from extinction and reintroduced into the wildlife? A zoological garden shortened to zoo, is an institution in which animals are exhibited in captivity. In addition to providing visitors with an entertaining spectacle, modern zoos are also involved with conservation biology (PA, 2005). Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of the earth’s biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction (Soule, 1986). Zoos meet there conservation role through captive breeding, the process of raising plants or animals in controlled conditions to produce stock for release into the wild, education, research, animal welfare, environmental enrichment, reintroduction and support for in situ conservation of species (F, 2008). Despite many efforts being made into conserving species, there are however some major cons traints faced by zoos in meeting their conservation role while at the same time providing opportunities for the public to learn more about and enjoy nature in artificial forms. One major constraint faced by zoos, is the cost and time to conserve some species. Large species breed at a much slower rates than other species and undergo seasonal breeding and require extensive fostering. An average cost of 1 million dollars in the USA is needed per year/per zoo. Therefore zoos require continued funds by tourism, and other methods in order to keep these species conserved. Other consequences arise within species themselves. Species that are kept conserved in zoos for a long period of time, result in a loss of behaviour in the wildlife, and essentially the species become adapted to zoo life. Species that have been kept in zoos for a long period of time, are in the habit of extensive care and nourishment, and therefore become adapted to living in a predator free environment. However, when let out into the wild, these species have no experience in searching for food and avoiding predators therefore natural selection will select for these traits that are advantageous in captivity, but deleterious in the wild population. A major approach that is taken to conserve an endangered species is inbreeding, which is breeding between closely related species, most often a result of population bottleneck. This is a major comeback for conservation as inbreeding often results to -inbreeding depression which is a reduction in the species fitness, and eventually leads to reductions in genetic variability. In a population where inbreeding occurs most offsprings will have recessive deleterious traits and these traits will be masked by heterozygosity, and so natural selection will select against heterozygote’s. (Lynch, 2005) Inbreeding depression is a major consequence of captive breeding, as seen in species such as Lion population, South China Tiger, and the California Condor. These are just a few out of the numerous numbers of endangered species, which have undergone captive breeding and have been made an attempt at to keep conserved in the wildlife population. In order to illustrate the detrimental effects of Inbreeding depression, Packer et al, 1990 examined the declining lion population in Ngorongoro Crater which is an extinct volcanic caldera located at the western edge of the Gregory Rift. The lion population estimated to be at about 60 to 75 individuals over the period 1957-1961. In 1962 however, the lion population suffered an extraordinary outbreak of Stomoxys calcitrans biting flies that reduced the population to about nine females and one male. (C.Packer, 1991) Because of the drastic reduction in population size, there was extensive inbreeding amongst the survivor species. As examined by Packer et al, 1990 Ngorongoro Crater was largely repopulated by descendents of a group of four females. Each successive cohort of cubs belonging to these four females subsequently became established breeders and mated with only seven breeding males that immigrated to the Crater all during the period shortly after the outbreak. However once the sur viving females had bred successfully, the large coalitions of males prevented any further immigration which further increased inbreeding and therefore levels of heterozygosity subsequently declined by 10 percent. With a decline in levels of heterozygosity there is evidence that shows impaired reproduction in the Crater lions and higher proportion of abnormal sperm, which reduces sperm quality such that it penetrates female eggs at a very low rate. As a result productivity of the Crate population has declined since the 1970’s and as predicted the average levels of heterozygosity in this population will continue to decline in the future in the absence of any male immigration. A similar study of a lion species named Panthera Leo, abundant in Africa suffered population bottle neck due to loss of habitat. (Bjorklund, 2003) And this resulted in reduced genetic diversity which is correlated with reduction in survival. This results in a higher population decline and can increase the rate of extinction. Therefore, as demonstrated by Packer et al, and Bjorklund et al, reduction in population size of a species promotes inbreeding which causes a decline in genetic diversity, and ultimately has detrimental effects on the species. Inbreeding depression has also been observed in the South China tiger, by study done by (Y.C. et al, 2007). The South China Tiger (Panthera Tigris Amoyensis) is a subspecies of tiger native to forests of southern China. Of the currently present 5 tiger species, the South China Tiger is the rarest and the most critically endangered due to factors including hunting, poaching and habitat loss. However one of the most serious threats to tiger’s survival is the use of tiger products in traditional Chinese medicines. The tiger bone is considered to be one of the most valued as a treatment to various conditions. (Tilson, 1997) Due to these factors the individuals declined from a reputed number of 4000 species in 1950’s and continued to decline until the mid 1990’s when the number of free ranging species was estimated to be fewer than 20 individuals(Gilson et al.2004). In the 1950’s however four females and two males were captured from the wild and were used to fo und a captive population. (Y.C.Xu, 2007). Because of the vast decrease in population number, the 6 founder population were enforced to inbreed in the 1970’s and continues to inbreed because of comeback such as their mating behaviour. Female tigers can only mate when they reach maturity at 3 years of age and only in temperate climates seasonally. Because of this only a small number of tigers are able to breed in each generation which lead to inbreeding depression in 1972. As observed by (Y.C.XU et al, 2007) inbreeding depression in the population shows low level of juvenile survivorship due to the loss of genetic variation and because of this infants were not able to adjust to the changing environmental conditions. Also because of low fertility and fecundity, reproductive difficulties were observed amongst the species. As a result the small number of founders and inbreeding depression contribute to a major challenge of conserving the South China Tiger. Inbreeding depression has also occurred in the wild population of the California Condor that ranged from British Columbia to Baja California in the 19th century (Vickey, 2000). During that time period, the species faced dramatic population decline caused by high mortality rates due to exploitation, habitat destruction and the most prominent factor lead poisoning. It wasn’t until the 1987, that all the remaining population of 27 individuals of which 14 were males and 13 are females were captured and brought into captivity. (Phillip, 1995) Due to the small population size, there was extensive inbreeding which led to the loss of genetic variation and changes in allele frequency. The population also harvested a vast amount of deleterious recessive alleles, which are usually depleted of the population by natural selection. Before the decline in the Condor population there is much genetic variability, and therefore recessive deleterious alleles are hidden from natural selection by d ominant alleles. However when the population declined, and inbreeding was enforced, close relatives that mate one another likely carry the same recessive deleterious alleles. Accordingly when relatives mate the offspring may inherit two copies of the same recessive deleterious allele expressing it. According to the study conducted by (Ralls et al. 1999), captive flocks had produced five deformed embryos that exhibited Chondrodystrophy, and died near the time of hatching. Chondrodystrophy, a recessive deleterious allele in chickens, is a condition where the abnormal development of cartilage affects bone growth before birth, and eventually leads to dwarfism. Chondrodystrophy in birds can be caused by a variety of factors such as mycoplasma infections and dietary deficiencies, particularly of manganese. (Ralls et al. 1999). Therefore inbreeding depression exposes Chondrodystrophy in offsprings, which results in a high mortality rate and ultimately reduction in population and stability of species extinction. Other species that are affected by recessive deleterious alleles caused by inbreeding are Golden Lion Tamarin’s (Leontopithecus rosalia rosalia). According to study done by (Bush et al. 1996), Golden Lion Tamarin’s are native to the forests of Brazil and are widely endangered with a captive population originating in 1982 due to extensive deforestation. The current captive population of 494 individuals underwent inbreeding, which resulted Diaphragmatic defects, a disease caused by recessive deleterious alleles. A diaphragmatic defect is a rare syndrome characterized mainly by a defect in the diaphragm that allows some of the abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity, and involved missing or formation of abnormal bones in the arms or legs. (M., 1980) Therefore inbreeding depression was observable in the Lion population and posed major consequences. As seen in the California Condor and Golden Lion Tamarin, low genetic diversity caused by reduction in population will result in inbreeding depression. This will unmask of recessive deleterious alleles in the offsprings of the parental generation, and will result in the depletion of these individuals due to natural selection. Today, more species are alive on the planet than ever before. Estimates place the number of species between 10 to 100 million, with only 1.5 to 1.8 million identified with Latin names (Lacy, 1997). Of this number studies indicate that 2 to 3 species are going extinct yearly due to a wide number of reasons such as exploitation, habitat destruction, pollution, global warming, introduction of exotic species, and the spread of diseases. Why should we initially care about species going extinct? Major concern isn’t about extinction of a single species, but rather the ecosystem it belongs to, and the interaction with other species. Some species play a vital role in there ecosystem, that if lost due to extinction, it could affect a numerous number of species. Zoos across the world now hold a major role in conserving these species. Species that are headed towards extinction are captured from the wild and placed in zoos in which they are provided an artificial habitat much like their ow n. With the rather small population of species, professionals employ captive breeding amongst them. It is the process of capturing animals from the wild and mating them in captivity in order to increase the number of species under protected conditions. (Waugh, 1988) Despite many species that have been reintroduced into the wild as a result of captive breeding, there is a downfall. Firstly, captive breeding programs focuses only on a few charismatic endangered species, and neglects the numerous number of other species that are in the process of extinction. It is also very costly to train individuals to capture species from the wild, and provide them with their mimicry habitat and other resources they require. A major consequence faced by conservation however, is inbreeding depression seen in species that mate relatives, or siblings. Major consequences of Inbreeding depression are seen in the Lion population, South China Tiger, and California Condor. Because of their relatively small population due to factors such as habitat destruction, these species were captured from the wild, and had gone through inbreeding. A major consequence of inbreeding is the reduction in fitness and the loss of genetic diversity. As the closely related species kept on inbreeding within themselves, it was only those alleles that were being expressed. With a loss of genetic diversity, offsprings of those individuals are not able to withstand the changing environment. Other consequences of inbreeding seen in California Condor, is the expressivity of a recessive deleterious allele. The offsprings exhibited diseases caused by these recessive alleles. Hence, when a population undergoes a bottleneck affect, most zoos try a technique commonly knows as inbreeding to try and preserve a species. Inbreeding also has its consequences as it is apparent in the three species discussed above. The most direct effect of inbreeding is inbreeding depression as it causes a reduction in population number. Research Papers on Inbreeding DepressionGenetic EngineeringRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesPETSTEL analysis of IndiaOpen Architechture a white paperNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceDefinition of Export QuotasQuebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal Immigration

Neck and kiss Essays

Neck and kiss Essays Neck and kiss Essay Neck and kiss Essay Petrucio talks to Babtista about how Kate has won him over. She hung about my neck and kiss on kiss. Kat is waiting for Petrucio and is kept waiting. Kat feels rejected and feels worse even though she is used to feeling rejected and unimportant and the fact she is angry. This shows how the wooing is working and Kat has allowed herself to ruin her message of being strong against Petrucio and she therefore feels humiliated. 21st Century audiences feel sorry for her and are angry towards Petrucio although a 16th Century audience feel she is getting what she deserves. Its hard to tell whether the fact that if she is humiliated or the fact she loves Petrucio and he has hurt her. The gut feeling is though that she loves him. This is an act of control by Petrucio and the torturing her mentally is a part of the act of taming her. No one will speak to Kat, as she is unopinionated and submissive. Kat is fed up and lonely, she wants to marry and conform as this will mean she has more chance of being accepted in society. Petrucio hits the vicar to show off by being rude. He wants to go immediately. Petrucios very odd behavior is allowed and gets away with it. Although Kat has done nothing wrong her behavior is seen just as bad as his. A 16th Century would have accepted this although a 21st Century would have found this ludicrous and totally unacceptable. Petrucio is allowed to speak his mind and hit people, which she is not. This is another act of Petrucios power. In Act Four Petrucio shows his power again by the treatment of his services. He mistreats the servants as an example to Kat. He shows his power and control by using physical actions. This is because as its a play and it needs audiences reactions. He mentally tortures her and physically now he verbally tortures her to make the taming complete and to make her crack.  In Act four Shakespeare uses animal imagery. Petrucio says, My falcon now is hang and passing employ. A falcon is a predator and wild. If they are well trained it reflects well on their falconer (tamer) this animal imagery of Kat describes her very well and how if she is well trained it reflects well on Petrucio. Petrucio gives trust and loyalty a reward. He looks for the respect and when Kat is good he gives her freedom. He takes things away from her, which she needs to survive. Kat gives a large speech and begs to Grumio for something to eat. She doesnt want to walk out and cant give in. She has strong stamina and inner strength. Kat wants to conform and wants to be like other women. Petrucio doesnt let her do it because he doesnt see her tamed. This is shown when he says, When you are gentle, you shall have one too . Petrucio takes Kat to his mothers house to conform. Petrucio is trying to make her something in time and because of the treatment she has received she gives in. Kat though pretends and plays the game to get her own way. You can tell this by her sarcastic over the top language she uses. Kat is seen as strong as it took long tom tame her, which appeals to the female audience. The big question though is if she is silenced or has she transformed, but for her to be transformed this would be too hard a possibility but there is no real answer. The audience therefore has to make their own mind up. Kat uses hyperbolic language as she has been with Petrucio for a long time and she sounds like him because he uses hyperbolic language. Katerinha also lectures Bianca and the widow saying they should give in to their men. At the end of play Kat gives an exaggerated speech, which is in verse as it is more formal. She states how women need to obey men and women are weak and feeble towards men. She speaks ironically similar to sarcasm. A 21st Century audience thinks she is playing the game and she has learnt to do so, so she can get what she wants. She has been accepted which is more than being independent to her. Also being accepted means she not only gets the basics but luxuries as well. She has lossed her old self and her aggression. She also now uses much better language in her speech. Her controlled speech shows her control over herself and her controlled developed manner.

Marketings Role in the Organization †Essay

Marketings Role in the Organization – Essay Free Online Research Papers Topic: If the premise is that marketing creates value, then explain marketing’s role in the organization. In the modern economic society, marketing has been very close to everyone’s life. There are also some organizations such as enterprises, schools, institutions and government which are adopting various marketing activities every day in order to create more benefits for themselves. Drucker (1974) has stated that the purpose of marketing is to make selling surplus. The aim of marketing is to fully realize and understand customers, in order to enable products or service to fit customers and sell itself. Thus, marketings role as a driver of an organizations value chain will be stressed as value chains are increasingly shaped by consumer expectations and demands. This essay will clarify how the marketing’s role in Sony to be a value creator in various ways. In order to illustrate how marketing create value to the firm, it is necessary to understand the definition of marketing. What is marketing on earth? Marketing is a managerial function and a set of courses for communicating, creating, managing customer relationships and delivering value to customers in ways that benefit the organization and its stakeholders (American Marketing Association),date?. Marketing, by means of exchanging, results in obtaining the required products and service. Exchanging, the proceeding steps of value creation, usually will benefit mutually and further the exchanging of mutual values. The essence of marketing is aimed at creating customers’ value and satisfaction. A precise definition to the studies of marketing as given by Kotler (2004) is that the profitably contented with the requirement. Moreover, marketing assigns all those activities which accelerate services or the movement of goods from the producer to the consumer. In other words, it means those activities connected with distribution, advertising, promotion, merchandising, product planning, publicity, research and development, transportation, sales and services or warehousing of goods (Indiainfoline, 2002). Sony is a company with a reputable name and a great trade of brand recognition worldwide. The company rapidly presented itself to the world as a technological inventor capable of creating many consumer-friendly first such as the Walkman, the transistor radio, and the camcorder, although it started a small Japanese telecommunications company in Tokyo. Based on Southgate (1994), a brand is not a name, graphic device or logo. It is a part of intangible values in the minds of consumers. A strong brand is therefo re alive, complex, rich and enormously powerful. However, Sony is facing profits and sales are down or are gradual down, RD and capital investment cost are arising, competitors are moving in with copycats, the struggle between VHS and Beta and the research for a smash hit product such as the Walk-in or the Trinitron. According the survey of Business Week (2005), Sony, No.28, which declines 16% in brand value in the 2005 ranking. Although the firm is pioneered the Walkman, left Apple to reform portable MP3 players, as well as digital downloading and organizing of music. Thus, the RD group becomes a key element of corporate strength, or weakness, with the company highly dependent on its ability to deliver significant new technology, when expected (Webster, 1990). Similarly, Urban and Hauser (1980) indicated that the firm need a strategy for development. It must learn and understand how consumers perceive products, what needs exist, what consumer preferences are relative to the needs, and how consumers choose among products. This essay focuses on deep product strategy as a value creator to Sony. Marketing acts a central role in translating marketing information into products and afterward positioning these products in the target market from new product development process (Song, Montoya-Weiss, Schmidt, 1997). Also, the effective development and management of products can be an important factor in determining whether a company will succeed in gaining business from the major account market (Turner, 1990). Sony implemented restructuring plan recently, pointed at putting the struggling consumer electronics giant back on its feet, but got a doubtful response when the company presents of its new Walkman type a portable music player. A news from Taipei Times (2005) described that Sonys content-to-product strategy and the new plan disappointed those looking for a more radical departure at a company that is struggling with the likes of Apple, which marries style and high-tech sophistication in its must-have iPod music player. The company’s plan lacks in details and similar to earlier plans which have not worked, Nomura Securities analyst Eiichi Katayama told. New products are a necessary response, if the firm is to retain its marketing effectiveness, to changing customer preferences and dynamic competition in the marketplace. A stagnant product line is good evidence that an industrial firm has failed to keep up with advancing technology and the state-of-the-art in its industry (Webste r, 1990). In addition, a source of new product stimulus is a customer request to produce a specific product that the customer has designed (Urban Hauser, 1980). Sony needs to approach an effective managerial strategy of new product development that is likely to achieve success, but at the same time minimize risk. According to Magrath and Higgins (1992), innovation need satisfy consumer needs. These needs may relate to new product designs with appeal, new product uses, or the innovative developing of new groups of product users. Moreover, a more sophisticated strategy to react to competition is the â€Å"second but better† strategy. The firm waits until the competitor’s product is revealed and then not only copies it, but improves on it. The objective here is to be flexible and efficient so as to produce a product that will be superior to the competition without incurring the heavy market developmental expense for the product. Another approach to development is through the notion that someone must buy a product. The marketing strategy is based on finding consumer needs and then building a product to fill them (Urban Hauser, 198 0). Similarly, a firm’s new product strategy is increasingly recognized as a critical part of the total business plan. The key product strategies are developing highly innovative products, introducing products that meet customer needs more effectively, and introducing products with unique features for customers (Cooper, 1983). Sony flaunted its PSX, the enhanced PlayStation 2 video-game machine. It also works as analog TV, a DVD recorder, music player and digital photo album. The design of a single machine that has a little bit of everything seems logical and attractive to customers. Some analysts argue that audiovisual equipment and the game machine dont necessarily go together since the life cycles of AV machinery are much shorter, requiring constant upgrades. Moreover, the product doesn’t match the market, Kazumasa Kubota says, analyst with Okasan Securities Co. in Tokyo. The PSX may sell in amounts when it first goes on sale, but it will be hard to keep the sales going (Kageyama, 2003). Many as 90% of new products may fail in the market because many companies are scrambling to develop innovative high technology products. Then a definite need for the product exists in the market which must be determined. In addition, competitive products must be analyzed to assess by the market and segmented to i dentify target markets that will obtain greatest profits from the product and offer competitive advantages (Lucas Bush, 1984). Sony made itself into poor positioning and misunderstands of consumer needs. Urban and Hauser (1980) stated that positioning is the identification of a set of psychological need attributes and the description of the level of each attribute for a new product. The companies should pay much attention to the positioning issue as their discuss new product design. One of the major efforts in successful new product design is to define a good psychological positioning and a set of physical features to back it up. In order to avoid products failure, Moon (2005) analyzed companies can change customers mentally classify their products by positioning these products in unexpected ways. The firms through reverse, breakaway and stealth positioning are to shift consumers’ thinking in order to create a profitable place to ply their merchandises. In addition, different customers are likely to have different needs requiring some adjustment of the product. This means that the selection of custome rs, market segmentation strategy, is the key, long-term strategic choice for the industrial firm (Webster, 1990). Indeed, product position is strategically important because it can take years to create, it is difficult to change, and it affects business success and competitive strategy. A product or service position involves the set of associations with the product. It is created over time, often from a large assortment of sources such as the product design, the advertising, the store in which it is bought, and who uses it (Aaker, 1988). A product does not have novelty to benefit from original new positioning, nor does it have to be past its prime. The old rule of the product life cycle is by simply challenging consumers notions. Thus, from time to time, it makes sense for a company to review its product portfolio. Such a review can usefully be conducted once or twice per year. Grouping products according to approximate stage in the product life cycle may be a useful first step: new products; growth products; mature products; and declining products. Effective marketing may be successful in retarding the inevitable progress of the product life cycle and may bring the market back to an earlier stage, such as moving from maturity back to growth (Webster, 1990). Because of global competition and rapid technological advances, high technology products such as digital cameras and notebook computers have short life cycles. The company may upgrade its characteristics over time for renewing the competitiveness of a product. Wh ile products contain a set of features with some alternatives for each, design involves complex decisions: which features to upgrade, when to upgrade, and what alternatives should be chosen. The decisions will help managers in deciding the content and timing of promotions to maximize life cycle profit. And it merges traditionally made by various operations in the enterprise (product design, process design engineering, marketing, production planning and supply chain management) (Damodaran Wilhelm, 2005). Today, marketing’s role in the organization has become more and more important. Proper market strategy, intelligent product definition and execution of without mistakes will separate winners from losers in a market economy with very little opportunities for error. Sony is trying to pursue innovation by diversifying its core technologies. But the firm neglects a customer-need orientation as an organizing principle for new product development. For example, the new portable walkman is not satisfying consumer demands. Understanding the needs of the customer is an axiom found in all product development literature. As the result, companies should evaluate and refine to produce a product with consumer psychological attributes which indicate a high probability of success in the market. In addition, the new product marketing program requires careful definition of market segments. Positioning is a central strategic issue in the marketing of new products, although positioning is often th ought to apply only in a consumer market context. Sony’s product positioning such as PlayStation 2 doesn’t match the markets. In order to avoid new products failure, the firms can change consumer’s thinking through reverse, breakaway and stealth positioning. Without developing and marketing new products, a firm must struggle to keep profitable growth. Also, a strategic view of the product portfolio can help to stimulate the development of new products. Research Papers on Marketing's Role in the Organization - EssayMarketing of Lifeboy Soap A Unilever ProductDefinition of Export QuotasThe Project Managment Office SystemResearch Process Part OneHip-Hop is ArtAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfRelationship between Media Coverage and Social and

Research Methodology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 4

Research Methodology - Essay Example 75). Descriptive research explores and describes phenomena based on real-life situations. It helps provide new information about a topic which has not been completely explored. It describes concepts and relationships and provides more data from which more quantitative research can be conceptualized (Punch & Punch, 2005, p. 75). Correlational research on the other hand examines the relationship between two of more variables and determines if the relationship is negative or positive. A positive correlation means that the variables vary together and they either increase or decrease together; for negative correlation, variables vary in opposite directions or have an inverse relationship (Punch & Punch, 2005, p. 75). Quasi-experimental researches seek to determine the cause and effect relationships of independent and dependent variables. A treatment is usually implemented in this research and the effects are reviewed using selected methods of measurement (Trochim, 2006). Finally, experime ntal research is the type of research which helps to establish cause and effect of phenomenon (Davis, 1997). The causality between variables is tested here under highly controlled conditions. The quantitative research has its strengths and weaknesses. It is advantageous because its methods are quantifiable, reliable, and applicable to a larger population (Weinreich, 2006). It also states the problem in specific terms and clearly specifies the independent and dependent variables being reviewed (Weinreich, 2006). It also follows the original research goals and comes up with objective conclusions and results, thereby ensuring reliability of data from controlled observations and mass surveys. Quantitative research also eliminates and minimizes the subjectivity of judgments. Finally, it allows for a longitudinal assessment on the ensuing performance of subjects (Matveey,

Entering HVAC Market Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Entering HVAC Market - Assignment Example Keeping in mind the recent merger with the firm providing technological expertise in wireless communications the report outlines Goals and Plans needed to be devised by the firm, ways in which it can innovate in order to capture the new market the firm is venturing into, needs as ways to train employees and emphasizes the importance of strategic leadership. This report should be helpful to prepare the firm for a change and reorganizing it needs in order to survive the HVAC market. It outlines ways to innovate and brings forth the innovation process. It brings into account organizational behaviors and motivation factors which are beneficial to the company. It also provides an effective model for the sequence of changes. In view of the recent merger of the firm providing security system and our venture into the area of Eco-Friendly HVAC Systems a change in the organizational behaviour is in order. To make our company goal directed and structured activities such as Planning, Organising, Controlling and Leading must be rationalized. Our operations are now just not restricted to providing IT network equipment like LAN's and Firewalls. The merger has brought in the expertise in wireless technologies and thus broadened the horizon. Thus the foremost essential part of the strategic itinerary is to setup the goal and device a plan to achieve the set goal. A bottom up strategy for devising a mission statement is advisable. Firstly specific, measurable targets should be set up for each individual and departments forming the operational goals. Tactical goals should be conveyed to the middle management aiding the functions of major divisions of the firms. The senior management should be aware about short term and long term goals about the position of the firm in the market in future. Finally a Mission Statement has to be devised to be presented to the external players depicting the overall intent of the firm. In order to achieve these goals a particular strategy or a long term course of action needs to be in place. A few success indicators and corresponding strategic enablers must be considered in this context. Market Penetration Agility, Market Share Momentum, Rate of Return Factor and Shareholder Value Growth must be measured in terms of our technology standards meeting the market requirements, differentiation and compelling competitive advantage, strength relative to other economic value players (customers, competitors, suppliers, and channel members) and Proactive CRM, support, operational excellence, derivative products respectively.The Management By Objectives (MBO) approach is the one most likely to provide beneficial results. The following figure explains the working of the MBO approach. The Management By Objective approach:: Managerial Planning and Goal Setting. -Daft and Marcic 2008 Three approaches might be considered while developing a strategy to enter the new market of Eco-Friendly HVAC Systems production: The Position approach, Resources approach or the Opportunistic approach.

Epidemiologic Investigation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Epidemiologic Investigation - Essay Example In the context of this project, the disease agent is a particular strain of E. coli that is well regarded as a food borne pathogen responsible for an infectious diarrheal disease. By definition, the characterization of the disease is intimately related to characterization of the agent that initiates or perpetuates the disease process. The E. coli talked about here is an enterotoxigenic strain of E. coli, which is a biological agent which exhibits certain host-related biological properties such as infectivity, pathogenicity, and virulence. Since an individual almost always contract a disease from his environment, when an epidemic of infectious disease occurs, the cause usually lies in the environment. Therefore, in any specific population, in order to be able to prevent outbreak of any disease state and to be able to intervene, the conditions prevailing any health-related event or state can be investigated, and appropriate measures can be taken to apply the findings of such studies for controlling the health problems preemptively. FoodNet or the Food Borne Diseases Active Surveillance Network was developed by CDC in the Emerging Infections Program. In this program, data are collected 10 US states in relation to the disease burden caused by Escherichia coli 0157:H7 strains that are known to be transmitted through food. This program quantifies and monitors the incidence of these infections by conducting active surveillance for laboratory-diagnosed illness. This epidemiologic event has great implications in public health. From the epidemiologic point of view, this is important since FoodNet quantifies and monitors these infections by conducting active population-based surveillance for laboratory-confirmed illness. The epidemiologic methods are used as surveillance tools, and these essentially scrutinize continuously the factors that would have determined the occurrence and distribution of this disease to be able to effectively control and prevent the disease. These essentially include collection, analysis, inter pretation, and distribution of relevant data for action. Escherichia coli is an emerging cause of food borne illness in the United States. Although most of these illnesses are mild, severe infections and serious life-threatening infections do occur. This has posed challenges to public health and public health administrations since there is change in the newly identified strains of the pathogens. With that, novel vehicles of transmission, changes in food production, and an apparent decline in food safety awareness might have aggravated the problems leading to these illnesses. There are several types of national surveillance systems for diseases that are food borne. These epidemiologic tools include outbreak surveillance, passive laboratory based surveillance, and active surveillance. Communicable diseases may be transmitted from the reservoir or the source of infection to the susceptible individuals in many different ways depending on the infectious agent, portal of entry, and the local ecological conditions. It is important to note that mu ch of the data about the vehicles and modes of transmission of these food borne diseases come from epidemiologic investigations of the outbreaks. From the public health point of view, the

Acer Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Acer Group - Essay Example When Stan Shih founded the Acer group of companies in 1976 it was more than obvious that the firm was bound to take some huge strides with this celebrated founder who made news worldwide by commercialising Taiwan's initial desktop calculatorToday Acer boasts of commendable rankings in the industry by being No. 4 in the Personal Computer market, No. 3 in the market for notebooks and No. 3 as a computer manufacturer in the face of huge competitors like Sony and others. Stan is about to retire in three years and Acer has suffered a loss of $29 million in the PC industry so Stan has diverted his expertise and attention towards making the company even more competitive in order to give it a strong foundation of support after he retires. Aspire is a large brand for Acer under which they have produced a number of technological products in the world. Aspire has had problems during the development stage whereas if these problems were dealt with proficiently then this brand would have had a tru ly aspiring brand image. Acer and Stan need to focus on the leverage points namely; efficiency (economies of scale and comparative advantage globally), knowledge leverage (strategic use of human resources and ideas on a global platform) and responsiveness (to embrace local consumer demands) (Bartlett & Ghoshal; 1989).Stan must disapprove Aspire's continued development because it is important to a put a halt to further developments in order to study the current problems it's facing. The existing discrepancies must be removed in order to develop further otherwise the problems might become deep rooted and also fatal. It is important to climb the first few steps of a ladder efficiently without being in danger of falling down and getting hurt before reaching the top. Acer faced problems during the development of Aspire and these problems still exist. Acer is a large multinational operating in Asia, Europe, and America etc. Obviously, the company has regional departments in these countrie s and in order to maintain a strong brand image in the market a common goal, strategy and communication strategy are required. Acer lacks these and due this they faced problems in positioning themselves as a strong brand when it comes to Aspire. It is important for all regional offices around the world to share a similar spirit of growth, values, standards, communication strategies etc in order to take mutual decisions as a company on the whole and not just as a regional office. Aspire has a number of brand extensions and product types being sold under one brand name and the company has not been able to position each extension with a common goal or insight in mind. Aspire is known to be a very adaptable brand since it has been changed to suit the consumer demands for every different region in a different way. This has caused major brand identity problems for Acer and Aspire. The same brand under Aspire has been positioned to be a luxurious and elite brand in Singapore and the opposi te in Europe. But it also shows that Aspire is doing a good job when it comes to responsiveness in the leverage points. This has weakened the brand equity for Aspire and has resulted in brand dilution. This shows that a strong corporate culture is absent in Acer and this results in a weak brand image and positioning for any company or brand because then customers do not know how to relate with the brand. All the regional departments and offices are working on their own values and standards to fit the culture, demand or society of the region. Due to the lack of a strong organisational culture it is evident that synergism is absent and the company is leaving loopholes for failures. All these problems must be looked into and it is important for Stan and Acer to come up with a solution before approving any further developments for Aspire.

Schopenhauer's will Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Schopenhauer's will - Essay Example The World as Representation or Idea: Platonic Idea - only adequate objectification of the will. It is the object of art and hence knowable as an object of perception. The platonic idea is an independent idea and independent of the principle of sufficient reason. Idealism is a theory of the ultimate reality. Knowledge may either be intuitive or abstract. Intuitive knowledge is derived from primary idea; abstract knowledge from secondary idea. We may know ourselves as willing, but we cannot know ourselves as knowing. A knowing subject cannot become a known subject. The act of willing arises from a need or desire for something and is therefore a manifestation of deprivation or suffering. The fulfillment of a wish terminates the act of willing. The gratification of a desire or wish is a negative condition. It provides only temporary deliverance from the need of suffering. The will cannot be guided by the intellect but the intellect can be guided by the will. The freedom of the will is negative. It is only a denial of necessity. The will wants everything for itself. Egoism concentrates the self interest of each one. Voluntary renunciation of egoism is achieved by a denial of the will to live. Justice is achieved when the affirmation of the will to live by one individual does not conflict with the will to live of another individual. Conscience constitutes our self-knowledge of how our action may manifest the reality of the will. Virtue may proceed from the intuitive knowledge. Denial of the will is seen in asceticism. Suicide is not a denial of the will to live because it is not a rejection of personal well-being. The will is free to deny itself or suspend. The denial of the will does not produce nothingness which is a negative of being....Known and unknown forces act to form sensations. In our mental state we encounter some thing phenomenal-that is our will. The will inner side is for immediate consciousness or willing and the outer for intelligence or bodily motion. The will is beyond the realm of space, time and causality. It is a blind incessant impulse independent of our perception-an inner consciousness of our own existence, our feelings and desires. It is a reality. According to Schopenhauer, reason is the faculty of producing or comparing concepts, understanding is the faculty for comparing perception. Concepts maybe thought of but not perceived. The effects of concepts are language, action and science. Platonic Idea - only adequate objectification of the will. It is the object of art and hence knowable as an object of perception. The platonic idea is an independent idea and independent of the principle of sufficient reason. Suicide is not a denial of the will to live because it is not a rejection of personal well-being. The will is free to deny itself or suspend. The denial of the will does not produce nothingness which is a negative of being. Ethical conduct is negative and requires a denial of the will to live. Concern for others is contrary to self-interest. Schopenhauer's views are pessimistic. His pessimistic pervades almost all areas of his work.

Renewable Energy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Renewable Energy - Essay Example Hydropower has a significant role to play in the advancement of renewable energy around the globe, with a majority of nations relying on it to some extent in the generation of energy (Kaygusuz, 2009). This energy source is environment friendly and produces negligible greenhouse gases. In addition, a system is striking in its cost-effectiveness since it converts 95% of energy inherent in the moving water into electric energy. Compared to sources like fossil fuels, which produce 60% efficiency, the potential for hydroelectric power is enormous. Hydropower was first used by ancient generations for the driving of wheels to make work easier. Over generations, the energy source evolved and was finally utilized for the generation of electricity, with authorities being struck by its renewable nature. The energy source only utilized the flowing water’s energy to produce electricity without decimating the water supply. This was especially significance since the water sources were the lifeline of the populations living along them and down-stream to them (Kaygusuz, 2009). Its development was aided by human’s need to find an energy source that was not decimated over time. Most energy sources at the time were used in large quantities that were obviously not sustainable in the occurrence that technology either remained on its course, or increased to require more energy. The greenhouse gas emitting nature of fossil fuels is the other factor that greatly affected the development of this source. Hydropower showed excellent po tential in the cutting of these gases (Kaygusuz, 2009). Hydropower has come a long way to provide one fifth of the world’s power requirements (Kaygusuz, 2009). These projects were started in rural areas since estimates showed that the world’s rural population would grow by 95%. The highest demand was also forecasted to come from developing countries, which have been highly receptive of the energy. This was driven by the fact that the energy source was not liable to market fluctuations. Most governmental authorities around the world have turned to this energy source due to its combination of water management and its renewable nature. 2. Biomass Use as a Transitional Strategy for a Sustainable and Clean Energy System The greatest factor that made biogas desirable was its contribution to development that was desirable. Its attractiveness was further enhanced by low cost for conversion of resources into usable energy, as well as the availability of the resources, which was local. This made the energy source secure, thus desirable (Kaygusuz & Keles, 2009). Its usefulness in rehabilitation of degraded land via the use of exhausted resources as manure also led to most governmental

Acer Group Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Acer Group - Essay Example When Stan Shih founded the Acer group of companies in 1976 it was more than obvious that the firm was bound to take some huge strides with this celebrated founder who made news worldwide by commercialising Taiwan's initial desktop calculatorToday Acer boasts of commendable rankings in the industry by being No. 4 in the Personal Computer market, No. 3 in the market for notebooks and No. 3 as a computer manufacturer in the face of huge competitors like Sony and others. Stan is about to retire in three years and Acer has suffered a loss of $29 million in the PC industry so Stan has diverted his expertise and attention towards making the company even more competitive in order to give it a strong foundation of support after he retires. Aspire is a large brand for Acer under which they have produced a number of technological products in the world. Aspire has had problems during the development stage whereas if these problems were dealt with proficiently then this brand would have had a tru ly aspiring brand image. Acer and Stan need to focus on the leverage points namely; efficiency (economies of scale and comparative advantage globally), knowledge leverage (strategic use of human resources and ideas on a global platform) and responsiveness (to embrace local consumer demands) (Bartlett & Ghoshal; 1989).Stan must disapprove Aspire's continued development because it is important to a put a halt to further developments in order to study the current problems it's facing. The existing discrepancies must be removed in order to develop further otherwise the problems might become deep rooted and also fatal. It is important to climb the first few steps of a ladder efficiently without being in danger of falling down and getting hurt before reaching the top. Acer faced problems during the development of Aspire and these problems still exist. Acer is a large multinational operating in Asia, Europe, and America etc. Obviously, the company has regional departments in these countrie s and in order to maintain a strong brand image in the market a common goal, strategy and communication strategy are required. Acer lacks these and due this they faced problems in positioning themselves as a strong brand when it comes to Aspire. It is important for all regional offices around the world to share a similar spirit of growth, values, standards, communication strategies etc in order to take mutual decisions as a company on the whole and not just as a regional office. Aspire has a number of brand extensions and product types being sold under one brand name and the company has not been able to position each extension with a common goal or insight in mind. Aspire is known to be a very adaptable brand since it has been changed to suit the consumer demands for every different region in a different way. This has caused major brand identity problems for Acer and Aspire. The same brand under Aspire has been positioned to be a luxurious and elite brand in Singapore and the opposi te in Europe. But it also shows that Aspire is doing a good job when it comes to responsiveness in the leverage points. This has weakened the brand equity for Aspire and has resulted in brand dilution. This shows that a strong corporate culture is absent in Acer and this results in a weak brand image and positioning for any company or brand because then customers do not know how to relate with the brand. All the regional departments and offices are working on their own values and standards to fit the culture, demand or society of the region. Due to the lack of a strong organisational culture it is evident that synergism is absent and the company is leaving loopholes for failures. All these problems must be looked into and it is important for Stan and Acer to come up with a solution before approving any further developments for Aspire.