The Limitations Of Introspection And Behaviorism - 1351 Words

Paper Assignment #1 From Chapter 1: What were the intrinsic limitations of introspection and behaviorism, and how did these limitations lead to the â€Å"cognitive revolution†? â€Å"This is because how people act is shaped by how people they perceive the situation, how they understand the stimuli, and so on,† (Cognition, pg. 13). This quote explains that studying the behaviors of the brain is somewhat of a difficult topic to study, since all individuals perceive information in their own way. When looking to describe the limitations of introspection and behaviorism it is important that you first understand what the words introspection and behaviorism stands for. Introspection is the ability to â€Å"observe and record the content of our own mental lives†¦show more content†¦As for the evidence of the working memory system, two British researches, Alan Baddley and Graham Hitch, have proposed a model in how to explain the working memory system. They have suggested that the system contains many different parts, and that the main working part of the system is the central executive. This central part is able to delegate tasks for the low-level à ¢â‚¬Å"assistants† to handle, since these assistants are not able to actually analyze a situation on their own. The articulatory rehearsal loop is one of the assistances that allows a person to remember, and is the most beneficial in many ways. This assistant allows you to recall information that is previously stated by repetitively stating the information in our head, which is known as subvolcalization, or silent speech. Furthermore, Baddley and Hitch’s model suggest that we are able to see the existence of this working memory through â€Å"sound-alike† errors, because our bodies rely on this rehearsal loop or memory to recall information. In a study, there was a control group which was given a normal digit-span test. In the other group, people were asked to perform concurrent articulation when they took the test. Although this concurrent articulation is not difficult, it does affect the use of the articulatory loop and decreases the memory. With that being said, manipulation of aShow MoreRelatedThe Introspection And Behaviorism Movements1323 Words   |  6 PagesThe introspection and behaviorism movements in psychology both had certain flaws and limitations that did not allow them to examine underlying cognitive processes. However, their flaws in studying psychology were on opposite sides of the same coin. The reconciliation of these two flawed fields, along with some other methods, led to the â€Å"cognitive revolution† and the eventual emergence of cognitive psychology (Cognition, p. 13) First, the introspection movement, led by Wundt and Titchener, soughtRead MoreHistory of Cognitive Psychology1666 Words   |  7 Pageshappened in the late 1950s, something so dramatic that it is now referred to as the ‘cognitive revolution,’ and the view of mental processes that it spawned is called ‘cognitive psychology.’ What happened was that American psychologists rejected behaviorism and adopted a model of mind based on the computer† (McClelland, 2001). â€Å"Cognitive Psychology has at least three diï ¬â‚¬erent meanings. First, the term refers to ‘a simple collection of topic areas,’ that is, of behaviorally observable or theoreticallyRead MoreOrigins of Behaviorism Essay1714 Words   |  7 PagesOrigins of Behaviorism Behaviourism originated with the work of John B. Watson from 1913. BehaviourismRead MoreWhy Learning Theories Are Relative And How They Affect Behavior Essay1647 Words   |  7 Pagescan provide educators a means by which to plan, conduct and assess instructional lessons. It follows, then, for the educator to be fully aware of the underlying aspects behind any theory in which they attempt use during any instructional event. Behaviorism Behavioral learning theories began their evolution as explanations from experimental studies performed on animals. Consequently, this would ultimately lead scholars to draw comparisons between animals to child learning and then child learning toRead MoreApplying Learning Theory to Life1015 Words   |  5 Pageslearning (Jayakumar, 2010). In addition, it is also essentially important that a training module be created in a systematic manner, relating to the various learning levels and multiple intelligences, so to reach and encompass all learning types. Behaviorism is the psychology theory initiated from John B. Watson, and is grounded on the belief that behaviors can be measured, modeled and trained, as well as manipulated and changed (Cherry, 2013). This theory of learning is established on the concept thatRead MoreConsumer Buying Behavior1597 Words   |  7 Pages 1.5 Behaviorist Approach Behaviorism essentially is explained by external events and that all of the things that organisms do can be regarded as behaviors. There are different branches of behaviorism that differ each other in subtle ways. The classical behaviorism by John Watson considered study of behavior with absolutely no mental life or internal states. Skinner on the other hand founded â€Å"Radical Behaviorism† which acknowledges the mental life and introspection how still considers them as secondaryRead MoreThink, Feel, Act : The Story Of Emotion1869 Words   |  8 Pageslot of ways, the study of mind is little different from the study of soul, and thus, cognitive theories are no more scientific than the dualist theories they replaced. Another criticism for the Cognitive approach to emotion lies in the natural limitations of the theories. Both Schachter-Singer and Cognitive Appraisal theory uphold thought as vital for emotional perception, meaning emotions arise only in cognitive beings. Nowadays, many animals are thought to be capable of thought, but applyingRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind And Behavior1264 Words   |  6 Pagesmethods to study empirical data objectively. So I ve chosen to start in the year 1879 with the official opening of the first psychology laboratory by German physiologist Wilheim Wundt 1832-1920, although, nowadays his methods of experimental introspection are criticized for being too subjective and unreliable, his introduction to the idea of using laboratory apparatus and scientifically measuring Psychology, watered the seed for the growth of Psychology as a science for future psychologists. SuchRead MoreProgrammed To Be Free: Exploring Andrew Niccols Gatacca Essays1235 Words   |  5 Pagessuccess. The main premise of determinism is the following: all events are caused and there is nothing that we can do to avoid it. There are several forms of determinism: social, religious, biological, psychological. B.F.Skinner, father of radical behaviorism supported the idea that â€Å"freedom is a myth† and tried to prove how behavior responds to natural laws and to a stimuli- response model. Skinner’s ideas are still a subject of study and neuroscientists have a lot to say about determinism. Recent experimentsRead MoreFour Main Perspectives in Psychology2425 Words   |  10 Pagesand addiction. It is highly scientific as there are many experiments to support this theory. It emphasizes on objective measurement and data that can be quantitively measured. It also linked the way in which humans and animals learn behaviour. Limitations of behaviourism include that the scientific way in which the experiments are conducted tend to have low level of ecological validity. Humans also have personal agency and do not follow the deterministic laws of science. Cognitivism believes that

Discussions / Technology Management Operations Free Essays

Project management is an essential process that should be applied in operations in a company to ensure success leading to quality improvements. Toyota has practiced project management in most projects or initiatives carried out. In most cases, workers have been encouraged to carryout self tests when carrying out a given duty to ensure product conformity. We will write a custom essay sample on Discussions / Technology Management Operations or any similar topic only for you Order Now Toyota Company has carried out various statistical tests such as chi-square, hypothesis tests and came up with multiple regression tests to analyze the fitness of a new brand in the market (Tata Interactive Systems, n. d). Moreover, Toyota Company has trained its employees regularly to ensure they are the required expertise to achieve a continuous quality improvement in the company translating to improved customer satisfaction and cost efficiency production. TPS has been used as a potential through which improved quality productions can be achieved (Toyota Motor Corporation, 1998). Project Management concepts and their Applications in the workplace Toyota Production Systems (TPS) has been used as a way through which development can be achieved amongst people working in the global manufacturing arena. Toyota motor manufacturing Canada (TMMC) based their management processes on wise decision-making to ensure quality productions and continuous improvements (Johnson, n. d). TMMC has localized most of its operations to ensure increased market reachability and reliability through long-term relationship with its customers leading to increased profitability and market leadership in automobile productions. TMMC has developed strategies through which quality improvements can be achieved in the organization. TMMC has formed joint ventures with other companies to ensure profitability through shared responsibilities leading enhanced competitive advantage and sustainability in the market (Toyota’s driving force Baseline, 2006). TMMC that came up with the TPS as an initiative through which continuous quality production can be achieved in Toyota Company. TPS has been used for restructuring the production processes in the automobile companies leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness (Johnson, n. d). TMMC has used a just-in-time management system where production patterns are based on specific orders on demand to ensure no wastage of resources through reduced inventories and defects in production (Toyota Motor Corporation, 1998). Just-in-time production management system will be used in the company to eliminate non-value adding processes leading to reduced lead-time and increased customer satisfaction. TPS emphasizes on employee empowerment not necessarily through freedom but also through trainings, collaborations or joint ventures and to facilitate communication amongst stakeholders. Top management introduced new initiatives to the company upon approval by the internal stakeholders as a way through which the new project can be communicated and made visible in a company. Toyota Company implemented performance metrics through which business operations could be monitored to ensure cost efficiency (Johnson, n. d). In Toyota company, a flexibility system have used that emphasizes on continuous assessment of production operations to identify any defects and therefore find out the necessary remedies in time to avoid wastage of resources leading to improved productions (Toyota Motor Corporation, 1998). Performance levels have been assessed to ensure the right expertise required for any production is achieved to meet customer requirements. Quality performance standards have been set where workers monitor themselves by comparing quality of their productions with others in the company to ensure it conforms to the required standards (Toyota Motor Corporation, 1998). Workers have been encouraged to respond to presence of an error or defect in a product development phase positively to make the necessary decisions on how to go about it for example by using Six Sigma or multiple regression tests to ensure customer satisfaction. You have to identify possible causes of a problem, possible consequences and ways through which they can be reduced without incurring a lot of losses. In Toyota Company training is very essential and they consider this as a way through which employee empowerment can be achieved leading to improved productions to ensure success through improved customer satisfaction for example through asking yourself the why questions as you design a system (Toyota Motor Corporation, 1998). Toyota has encouraged interaction amongst its employees to harmonize the multicultural differences leading to dedicated teamwork towards achieving common company goals. TPS use in the company was aimed at proving a lasting solution to the critical threats in the production or product development life cycle in a cost effective way. Toyota has always carried out customer awareness tests for their products in the market by designing simulated designs and testing for product fitness in the market using a chi-square test (Tata Interactive Systems, n. d). Toyota has made various versions of simulated designs and carried out numerous regression tests to ensure a product is accepted in the market. The various simulated design versions is a potential way through which customer satisfaction can be easily achieved and in the same way new products will be easily developed through the different versions by simply making little improvements. Toyota has always carried out different tests such as chi-square in different places in the world to determine the brand fitness in the market depending on how many people are aware of it (Johnson, n. d). Conclusion Toyota is a very successful automobile manufacturing company in the global arena. Toyota has managed well its projects by carrying out different tests based on its products awareness and fitness in the market. Toyota has carried out multiple regression tests of its new products using simulated product designs developed in the markets to ensure customer satisfaction (Tata Interactive Systems, n. d). Employees have been encouraged to produce as many designs as possible to help them meet customer requirements. The employees are to asks themselves the why questions severally on every design produced that does not meet customer specifications to find possible solutions based on the decision made with the available information collected (Toyota’s driving force Baseline, 2006). Reference: Johnson, W.H.A. (n.d.). Toyota Motor Manufacturing Company Canada (TMMC): The Lexus RX 330 Line. Waltham, MA: Department of Management, Bentley College. [Viewed on 27th June 2009] Available at http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jstewart/Amba604/TMMCCase_Final.pdf Tata Interactive Systems (n.d.). Research methods for managerial decisions. [Viewed on 27th June 2009] Available at http://info.umuc.edu/mba/public/TIS/statistics/statistics_simulation.html Toyota’s driving force Baseline. (2006). [Viewed on 27th June 2009] Available at http://www.baselinemag.com/c/a/Past-News/Toyotas-Driving-Force/ Toyota Motor Corporation. (1998). The Toyota production system. [Viewed on 27th June] Available at http://www.toyotageorgetown.com/tps.asp How to cite Discussions / Technology Management Operations, Essays

By Means Of Power Essay Example For Students

By Means Of Power Essay By Means of PowerBoth Adrienne Rich and Audre Lorde, in their respective poems entitled Power, convey the idea that ones identity and sense of worth is defined by what they are willing to give up. This message is energized by the emotion the authors evoke through their ability to communicate a sense of experience. It is this experience as mothers and highly intelligent feminists that allow us to feel the unconditional caring towards humanity they are encouraging in their poems. In the opening lines of Lordes Power, The difference between poetry and rhetoric/is being/ready to kill/yourself/instead of your children(1-5), she immediately stresses the importance of putting your child before yourself. This is a metaphor for putting the needs of what is truly important before the needs of oneself. It is not only stated simply and bluntly, but the way the lines are broken up accent the idea. Ready to kill(3) is on its own line, while yourself(4) is on the next. This is the theme that is running throughout the entire poem. In the next section of Lordes poem she describes a dreamlike situation. This is where her son has been shot, probably in the face. Although blood from his punctured cheeks and shoulders/is the only liquid for miles(9-10), my mouth splits into dry lips(12). With the death of her boy she is willing to sacrifice her own need of any quenching of her lips. She is thirsting for the wetness of his blood(14) but it is more important to resist the temptat ion, trying to make power out of hatred and destruction(18). The power displayed in the third section of Lordes Power is that of hatred. A policeman has shot down a 10-year-old in Queens(21). This he justifies by saying I didnt notice the size or nothing else/only the color(26-27). This officer has taken the power entrusted into him by the citizens and used it for his own good. Or not even his own good but what he might consider beneficial to his people. This directly opposes what Lorde was saying at the beginning of the poem. He is not ready to kill himself instead of his children. And although he has actually killed a boy here that is not the only thing he has killed. He killed the idea of allowing someone else to have interests above what he might agree with. That same officer was acquitted for his crimes in the following section of the poem. The people who had the power to bring him to justice abused that power and by setting him free. The 11 white men who said they were satisfied/justice had been done(31-32) also used their power in numbe rs to corrupt the power of the one women who probably had the decency and power to know right from wrong. they had dragged her 410 black womans frame/over the hot coals of four centuries of white male approval/until she let go of the first real power she ever had(35-37). She had the opportunity to make a difference and she let her power go to the wayside. In looking at Adrienne Richs Power one senses the same theme as in that of Lordes Power. This is the tenet that one must put the good of a greater or another before that of oneself. This is what gives people true power and is evident in Richs depiction of Marie Curie. Marie Curie was born in Poland and would become famous for her research into radioactivity. She died as a result of this research and the over-exposure to the element she was working with. In living with the knowledge that she was suffering from ailments due to her work Curie she became a more empowered and powerful person. The idea that she must have known she suffered from radiation sickness(7) yet continued on in the search proved that her wounds came from the same source as her power(17). The wounds were her power. Curie knew that she had suffered and did not back down or fall to the wayside, she was up for the challenge. The element/she had purified(9) was important for the greater good of mankind, and Curie put th at before herself. The convictions that the people these two authors herald in their works are some of the noblest. There is no way to understand the power these women feel in standing for what they believe in. The belief that doing for others is more important than doing for yourself and that in turn you will receive a sense of power that only comes in not asking for it is greater than any sense of power taken by force or fraud.

Tribulations of a Naturalist Essays - Knowledge, Epistemology

Tribulations of a Naturalist No matter; was not my splendid income supposed to cover everything, food for the mind as well as food for the body? Jean Henri Fabre writes this line in his Tribulations of a Naturalist, discussing the matter of knowledge being necessary for human life. Man has an innate desire to understand his surroundings and is the only creature who feels the need to obtain knowledge. Throughout time, humankind has constantly strived to expand its knowledge, always reading and writing on what we know and do not know. From caveman to scientist, humans have gained a world of knowledge through their thirst for information and are still far from knowing everything. People spend entire lifetimes trying to understand the inner workings of nature and are constantly discovering new information on it. Knowledge is limitless, and mankind will always try to understand everything, even though it is impossible. As humans, we will never be content with what is already known; we are forever filled with curiosity. No other animal feels the need to study the world around them; every creature is at peace with following the orde r set out for them and cannot be found questioning the meaning of their surroundings. We are always looking for new ways to do things, and for the meaning behind nature. All the knowledge we seek after is infinite, and can never be fully known, no matter how many lifetimes are spent trying to obtain it. Mankind will always be questioning what is known, and trying to answer what is not.

Free Essays on Dads Home

Dad’s home The house slowly rumbled as the garage door opened and I started to think to myself â€Å" Dad’s home.† So, I casually walked up the stairs of our secluded home in the middle woods. As I reached the top of the steps, I heard the beep of a very annoying alarm system. â€Å"Hey dad!† I muttered nerveously, thinking that he was going to get after me again about something being wrong with the way something looks inside the house. Unexpectedly my dad said, â€Å"Hey chief. How are you?† the same thing that he usually says to people that he knows, but forgets their names. Trying to keep things as short as possible I said, â€Å" I’m good, but I need to take out the trash though.† So, I bagged up the smelly trash and walked outside in what seemed a mile to put the smelly trash into an even smellier trash. After that, I came back inside a â€Å" dear OL’ dad,† was inspecting the entire house. â€Å"Well, you kind have been keeping up with the cleaning,† he told me as he tilted his head to the side to look out the window into the woods as if something was staring back at him†¦ it was most likely the reflection of the sun off a leaf of a tree. I replied with a quick â€Å" yeah, I suppose.† Then slowly tried to hurry down the stairs to return to what I was doing before he came home, which was nothing. Just as I approached the third step he gestured a quick â€Å" leaving so soon?† Thinking on my toes I said, â€Å" I have quite a bit of homework I had to do and I was planning on going out later tonight so, I was going to do it so I won’t have to think about it later.† I got downstairs and lay on my bed. Just as I started to get comfortable he yelled â€Å" Court!† I said to myself â€Å" aw†¦here we go again.† I quickly bolted up the stairs as if I was that comic character, Flash; just to see him about ten feet away from the phone that was sitting on a chair. â€Å" Can you hand me the phone?† he said. As much as I wanted to... Free Essays on Dad's Home Free Essays on Dad's Home Dad’s home The house slowly rumbled as the garage door opened and I started to think to myself â€Å" Dad’s home.† So, I casually walked up the stairs of our secluded home in the middle woods. As I reached the top of the steps, I heard the beep of a very annoying alarm system. â€Å"Hey dad!† I muttered nerveously, thinking that he was going to get after me again about something being wrong with the way something looks inside the house. Unexpectedly my dad said, â€Å"Hey chief. How are you?† the same thing that he usually says to people that he knows, but forgets their names. Trying to keep things as short as possible I said, â€Å" I’m good, but I need to take out the trash though.† So, I bagged up the smelly trash and walked outside in what seemed a mile to put the smelly trash into an even smellier trash. After that, I came back inside a â€Å" dear OL’ dad,† was inspecting the entire house. â€Å"Well, you kind have been keeping up with the cleaning,† he told me as he tilted his head to the side to look out the window into the woods as if something was staring back at him†¦ it was most likely the reflection of the sun off a leaf of a tree. I replied with a quick â€Å" yeah, I suppose.† Then slowly tried to hurry down the stairs to return to what I was doing before he came home, which was nothing. Just as I approached the third step he gestured a quick â€Å" leaving so soon?† Thinking on my toes I said, â€Å" I have quite a bit of homework I had to do and I was planning on going out later tonight so, I was going to do it so I won’t have to think about it later.† I got downstairs and lay on my bed. Just as I started to get comfortable he yelled â€Å" Court!† I said to myself â€Å" aw†¦here we go again.† I quickly bolted up the stairs as if I was that comic character, Flash; just to see him about ten feet away from the phone that was sitting on a chair. â€Å" Can you hand me the phone?† he said. As much as I wanted to...

DefaultTableModel Class in Java Stores Data for the JTable

DefaultTableModel Class in Java Stores Data for the JTable TheDefaultTableModel class is a subclass of the AbstractTableModel. As the name suggests it is the table model that is used by a JTable when no table model is specifically defined by the programmer. The DefaultTableModel stores the data for the JTable in a Vector of Vectors. Although theVector is a legacy Java collection it is still supported and there is no issue with using it unless the additional overhead caused by using a synchronized collection is a problem for your Java application. The advantage of using theDefaultTableModel over a custom AbstractTableModel is you dont have to code the methods like add, insert or delete rows and columns. They already exist to change the data held in the Vector of Vectors. This makes it a quick and easy table model to implement. Import Statement import javax.swing.table.DefaultTableModel; Constructors TheDefaultTableModel class has six constructors. Each can be used to populate of the DefaultTableModel in different ways. The first constructor takes no arguments and creates aDefaultTableModel which has no data, zero columns and zero rows: DefaultTableModel defTableModel DefaultTableModel(); The next constructor can be used to specify the number of rows and columns of aDefaultTableModel with no data: DefaultTableModel defTableModel DefaultTableModel(10, 10); There are two constructors that can be used to create aDefaultTableModel with column names and a specified number of rows (all containing null values). One uses an ​Object array to hold the column names, the other ​a Vector: String[] columnNames {Column 1,Column 2,Column 3}; DefaultTableModel defTableModel DefaultTableModel(columnNames, 10); or DefaultTableModel defTableModel DefaultTableModel(columnNames, 10); Finally there are two constructors used to populate theDefaultTableModel with row data along with column names. One used Object arrays, the other Vectors: Object[][] data {{1,1,1},{2,2,2},{3,3,3},{4,4,4}}; String[] columnNames {Column 1,Column 2,Column 3}; DefaultTableModel defTableModel DefaultTableModel(data, columnNames); or Vector rowData new Vector(); rowData.add(1); Vector data new Vector(); data.add(0, rowData); Vector columnNames new Vector(); columnNames.add(Column 1); DefaultTableModel defTableModel DefaultTableModel(data, columnNames); Useful Methods To add a row to theDefaultTableModel use the addRow method along with the row data to add: Object[] newRowData {5,5,5,5}; defTableModel.addRow(newRowData); To insert a row use theinsertRow method, specifying the row index to insert and the row data: Object[] insertRowData {2.5,2.5,2.5,2.5}; defTableModel.insertRow(2,insertRowData); To delete a row use theremoveRow method, specifying the row index to delete: defTableModel.removeRow(0); To get a value in a table cell use thegetValueAt method. For example, if the data at row 2, column 2 contains an int: int value tabModel.getValueAt(2, 2); To set a value in a table cellsetValueAt method with the value to set along with the row and column index: defTableModel.setValueAt(8888, 3, 2); Usage Tips If aJTable is created using the constructor that is passed a two-dimensional array containing the row data and an array containing the column names: Object[][] data {{1,1,1},{2,2,2},{3,3,3},{4,4,4}}; String[] columnNames {Column 1,Column 2,Column 3}; JTable exampleJTable new JTable(data, columnNames); then the following cast will not work: DefaultTableModel dft (DefaultTableModel)exampleJTable.getModel(); A runtimeClassCastException will be thrown because in this instance the DefaultTableModel is declared as an anonymous inner class in the JTable object and cannot be cast. It can only be cast to the TableModel interface. A way around this is to create your own DefaultTableModel and set it to be the model of the JTable: JTable exampleJTable new JTable(); DefaultTableModel defTableModel new DefaultTableModel(data, columnNames); exampleJTable.setModel(defTableModel); Then theDefaultTableModel defTableModel can be used to manipulate the data in the JTable. To see theDefaultTableModel in action have a look at the DefaultTableModel Example Program.

NASA Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

NASA Project - Essay Example Multiple measurements and models have been put in place to improve and create an understanding hence improving on precision. Sea surface temperature comprises a three grid map in the western part of Atlantic is 2500 lines and 3900 samples. Mediterranean Sea is 2048 lines and 4096 samples and Mediterranean area which are 220 lines and 1350 samples. It is considered to be the most known sources of NO2 are in the combustion engines, pulp mills and thermal power stations. Its consequences include rivers are loaded with excess of this nutrient, excess deposits will pollute large water bodies. On the human consequences, the eyes, throat, nose and repertory system irritates when one come in contact with it. If a person gets exposed more often, it will lead to a chronic bronchitis which may lead to asthma disease. Children are at the high risk of being infected with respiratory infections. The intention of Giovanni interface is to provide an introduction to learners on environmental issues globally, regionally and also touches on local climatic changes. It is normally used by teachers and learners. This has been set on the DICCE-G basic portal to create relevance in detail thus enabling the user to come up with local climate change and thus expanding the idea into a global perspective. Giovanni is an application used alongside with the web in order to investigate the earth’s scientific data. It collects and analyzes data without necessarily downloading the data. It is also an interactive online infrastructure. Giovanni is used by researchers, teachers, policy makers, modelers, proposal writers and students. In order to use a Giovanni a web browser is required. The procedures are self explanatory and thus easy to

UNIT 2 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

UNIT 2 INDIVIDUAL PROJECT 2 - Essay Example rt from the external short and long-term creditors of the company, the investors and lender’s interested in a company consider ratios as an important indicator for decision making. The investors look to measure the capacity of the firm to provide them with adequate return on their investment. Similarly banker’s who look to lend money or advance money to any firm would use the below ratios to assess the capacity of the borrower firm to repay the debt. As we know the primary purpose of every firm is to maximize shareholder’s wealth. The bottom line of the company is the prime focus for both the management and the external investors / lenders of the company. Thus, the net profit ratio helps us understand the percentage of net profit after all expenses to the total revenue of the company. It is an indicator of how well the company’s management has worked not only towards accelerating revenues, optimizing costs including cost of borrowed funds but also providers the owners an understanding that there would be adequate return on their capital employed. A higher net profit would mean adequate returns to the shareholders and the lenders. â€Å"Debt-Service Coverage Ratio† is an important ratio for every banker or lender who is looking to finance or provide funds as borrowings to the company. This ratio is indicative of the capacity of the company to make enough earnings before tax to ensure that the loan is being serviced. In other words, the ratio (if above 1.5) indicates that the organization makes enough earnings to repay interest and principle payments of the funds borrowed on a monthly basis. Indeed, the banker or the lender considers this ratio as a prime indicator of the capacity of the firm to repay back the debt that they fund. ROCE is one of the important ratios used to understand the return on investment or capital employed. The term capital employed means long term funds supplied by creditors and owners of the firm. This ratio helps in measuring or

Are Governments Controlling The Internet Essay Example for Free

Are Governments Controlling The Internet Essay Prior to the 21st century society greatest inventions were the automobile, the telephone, the airplane as a means of communication and transportation. Now individuals are blessed with the Internet. It is commonly regarded that the Internet is a manifesto of technology that allows human beings to interact with one another using networking services. The Internet has broken down the barriers and means of traditional communication. In cyberspace, people can talk with each other regardless of location. It can be defined as a â€Å"unique medium† with no geographical location but available to anyone (p. 21). It is not only used for communication but information searching, listings of products and services, advertising of large/small businesses, and much more. In essence, the Internet can be regarded as a separate entity from our own physical world – a digital utopia. The question being raised is, with the large scale of the internet, how is it maintained or even controlled? Jack Goldsmith and Tim Wu’s book Who Controls the Internet? Illusions of a Borderless World gives a perfect example of how the Internet is being directly (and indirectly) controlled by territorial government. As each section of the book is uncovered, it is clearly pointed out that national governments through control of local and global intermediaries and coercion exercise dominate control over the digital empire. The book is subdivided into three large sections. In the first section Wu and Goldsmith marks the impression to the readers that the Internet is in fact a â€Å"libertarian state† where users can freely express themselves. The authors argue at the commencement of the Internet there are no actual â€Å"rulers† or â€Å"governors† of the Internet rather it was the upheaval of a Digital American Revolution, that’s built on â€Å"language and reason and our fail in each other† (p. 22). The authors later indicate that it was open because it was willing to â€Å"accept almost any kind of computer or network†. Thus it is a society that is ruled by the humanity that resides within the Internet. â€Å"Humanity united might do better than our lousy systems of government, throw away the constructs of the nation-state, and live in some different but better way† (p. 7). Section two establishes that users from different geographical regions want their information presented in their local language. As the author pointed that language is one of the most important aspects on the internet. It gives the example that people in Brazil, Korea and France do not want English versions of Microsoft products but rather want a version they can fully understand (p. 50). As the next section unravels we start to notice how digital humanity needs rulers and starts to get involved how national governments are governing the borders of the internet. It proves that government uses coercion and local intermediaries to restrict and even block content that is on the internet. An example would be Nazi merchandise and hate sites appearing on French networks and even an incident in China where a 15 year old girl Liu Di was punished by the Chinese government when she was making an argument comparing the Chinese government and a prostitute. It also points out how controlling Governments can be a beneficial factor in regulating illegal activities such as file sharing and copyrighting. The final section of the book shows how the government aims to make the borders of the Internet a haven that protects its citizens from harm. This section explores the aspect of globalization and competing countries in controlling the Internet. Europe, U. S. and China all wishes to have a centralized power over the Internet. If two out of three countries that are in favour of online gambling while the one third is not, how can a borderless digital society solve this problem? The sections encourages decentralized governments to work together to adapt to people’s needs and respond in a more positive manner (p. 53). For the struggle of ultimate control lies within national governments – and a problem of clashing government interests and priorities can be a serious concern for the future of the Internet (p. 171). Wu and Goldsmith both agreed that this is the â€Å"beginning of a technological version of the cold war, with each side pushing its own vision of the Internet’s future† (p. 184). In order for the book to draw readers closer into fully understanding the Internet the authors must not only make a compelling argument but the style and construction of the book is also important. This essay will discuss four areas in which the book was successful or non-successful into helping readers understand the importance of national governments and their role on the Internet. The notable points in creating a compelling argument lie within the thesis, the method(s) of research, the evidence that supports the thesis and the overall evaluation/recommendation. The first point that’s important in this book is the thesis. The thesis is the main point the authors are trying to make throughout the entire book. In the book Who Controls the Internet Wu and Goldsmith stated their thesis in the conclusion rather than the introduction. Instead they decided to allure readers by telling a short story in the introduction to foreshadow readers into the overall point of the book. In my opinion the thesis of the book can found on page 180 where it reads â€Å"Beneath of fog of modern technology, we have seen the effects of coercive governmental force on local persons, firms and equipment† (p. 180). Ironically, this is not the thesis that users anticipated on hearing when they decide to read the book. On the back cover of the book it reads â€Å"a book about the fate of one idea – that the Internet might liberate us forever from government, borders and even our physical selves†. (Wu and Goldsmith) Wu and Goldsmith prompted readers with a general idea then throughout the book used examples and heated evidence to prove that idea wrong. It gives readers the perception that the Internet is in fact a challenge to governmental rule rather than the idealistic entity of freedom and liberty. The thesis was not always stated at the end of the book rather the author hinted their thesis throughout chapters to reinforce their main point along the way. For instance in chapter 5, Wu and Goldsmith talk about how local intermediaries are present and how government uses coercion to control these intermediaries, thus â€Å"ruling the internet† (p. 65). The authors stated that it would be extremely easy for individuals to â€Å"overlook how often governments control behavior not individually, but collectively, through intermediaries† (p. 68). The authors use the example of HavenCo to reinforce their thesis. In the book HavenCo was described as â€Å"the first place on earth where people are free to conduct business without someone looking over their shoulder† (p. 65). Shortly after, HavenCo became the object of negativity where porn and other offensive content were being hosted. Due to their business model they would not seek out cooperative intermediaries. However falling into a downward spiral, HavenCo became desperate so they looked towards national governments for assistance. However the government would not oblige since it was hosting offensive content and demanded that HavenCo remove the material. Of course, without this aspect â€Å"HavenCo was nothing†. And now without the support of powerful government officials and intermediaries HavenCo is now a â€Å"jumbled pile of network equipment, rotting and obsolete† (p. p. 84-85). The authors presents the readers with a clear and indirect thesis in each chapter, and as each chapter passes they are vividly trying to reinforce their thesis by providing real life evidence that happens in the midst of the digital society. Other notable examples that are highlighted in the book that supports the thesis would be the Chinese government sometimes with help from Yahoo, seize political dissidents and put them in prison (p. 181). Next, the government that are threatening Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and search engines and credit card companies with fines so that they can filter out offensive net communications. And, it is clear that Jon Postel and the Internet’s founders give up control over their creation under implied threats of governmental force. And finally, under the aspect of file sharing (where it was debated it would be hardest to control) governments have executed hidden but important ways to fuel coercion on the economy of file-sharing and â€Å"tilts the playing field to favour law-abiding companies like Apple† (p. 181). The authors have a very climatic way to communicate their thesis to the reader, By presenting support evidence and a strong conclusion they are in fact proving to readers that the government does control the internet. The next section uncovers the methodology that the authors used to present their topic. In order to prove their thesis they need an abundant amount of information. Not only does this information provide historical insight in the topic but it grants validity in the matter. In the book the authors have presented much needed evidence that governments control the internet, as each chapter is unraveled the readers are engulfed with powerful side stories of the lives of specific individuals that resided in the digital age. The book uses a combination of statistical information and encoded facts, personal biographies and appealing stories. If we direct our attention to the sources at the end of the book we notice that the authors use a hefty number of secondary sources. The only notable errors that are present in their methodology were that the sources they used were a little out of date. Old sources will lead to skewed results and that might cause a misinterpretation of the research. The book was written and published in 2006 but the majority of sources they used were within the 1998-2001 timeframe. Although they did use several sources that were recent (2005) it still does not change the fact that the Internet and technology are always changing in real time. With this change it’s rather hard to keep up and readers can be misinformed of with irrelevant information rather than significant information. Although with these slight flaws in the book, the methods were applied correctly in the sense that it is very easy to understand. They have broken the entire book into three parts; each part builds up information for that peak ending (or thesis). The methods were appropriate in the sense that the authors had a balance of evidence to support their claim. For example, the information gathered was not all focused on the government’s point of view but rather an equal split between government, organizations and individuals. It would be naive to think that a proper thesis can be proved without the support of evidence. Methodically the authors predominately still influence the readers with horror stories and statistics of government coercion on digital societies to prove their thesis. For example, the chapter on China outlines President Bill Clinton’s visit to the foreign land. Clinton observed that users required national ID cards before logging on. Regulated cafes also featured cameras pointed directly at the computer screen and police officers would occasionally monitor users right behind their back (p. 97). In China the Internet is far from being a liberating force but rather it is the major attraction for government surveillance. As previously mentioned Liu Di was arrested on personally insulting the government over the Internet, shortly after Liu Di’s story was printed in the press as a warming to all other civilians using the Internet. Throughout the book we see many stories that mimic the true horrors of the Internet, presented in a non-fictitious way to leaves readers shunned into believing the overall message of the book. Other factual occurrences that are displayed in Wu and Goldsmith’s methodology are the Kazaa/Napster case where digital piracy was at its initial state. Napster, a company located in the United States was battling with court officials to stay alive. With no luck, a simple U. S. ourt order was easily enforced and that led â€Å"to a total system collapse† (p. 108). Another factor that stands out with the evidence was that it’s very diverse in the geographical sense. The authors not only present their ideas from the American standpoint but tackles on other regions of the world. In the introduction the authors commences a deep discussion on global borders of the internet, the evidence and support was from a simply disgruntled individual that didn’t like seeing Nazi merc handise on the French site of Yahoo (p. p. 1-10). By using this intrinsic method of communicating the thesis they are successful in the sense of drawing readers. This chapter rather than supporting the thesis, they argue against it saying that the Internet â€Å"cannot be regulated†. Using factual data, they are offering both sides of the story in a very objective manner. This helps readers understand the thesis a little better and perhaps even raise serious questions on a political, global and technological standpoint. Who Controls the Internet is a very accurate portrayal of the digital society. It tells readers the important message that originally the Internet was designed to liberate individuals and it was designed to escape government and borders, but without the government mingling in affairs the Internet as we know it today wouldn’t flourish. One of the few appealing factors of this book is that it speaks out in a very clear and engaging style. Within each chapter the author conveniently uses sub-headings to divide important topics and that each chapter features several compelling stories. The two authors, who are both lawyers does an excellent job of communicating the legal issues to the readers without heavy use of legal jargon. Despite the many praises the book gets, it still has some flaws. In my opinion the flaws are contained within the unnecessary pictures and images that are included. Many (if not all) of the pictures are unneeded. For instance on page 4 it shows a rather large photo of the Palais de Justice, where the Yahoo case was litigated and similarly on page 66 shows a picture of Sealand where HavenCo was initiated. Although visualizations are nice they have no purpose in proving the thesis. How can a picture of Jon Postel who is described as â€Å"a rambling, ragged look, living in sandals, and a large, unkempt beard† help readers understand the dominate government forces on the Internet. In another part of the book Wu and Goldsmith dedicated half a page to Steve Jobs and as a background; shows a skull and sword insignia and was labeled â€Å"Piracy†. In retrospect the authors should have gotten rid of filler photography and replaced it with diagrams, which brings up the next flaw, the limited use of diagrams within the book. A diagram can help readers understand the point the author is trying to prove in either a passage or chapter. Back to the Steve Jobs example, if the authors showed using a diagram how Apple and national governments were combating internet piracy it would strengthen their thesis in proving that government controls most sides of the Internet. Or even a timeline that showed how government intervened with such programs such as Napster, Kazaa and then taking on Apple. This book appeals to a large audience of graduate, undergraduate students and professors teaching either politics or information technology. The benefits include that readers of this book can raise important questions and use these questions as the foundation for political debates. The content is not the only contributing factor in a well rounded book, Wu and Goldsmith does an excellent job in constructing the book that’s easily presentable to the reader. Even an individual with very little prior knowledge of the Internet can understand the book. Each term is defined when it is firstly introduced. Next, at the end on page 187 the authors implemented a â€Å"frequency used abbreviations† section and the definition in case the reader is having a hard time following due to the technological jargon. In conclusion, there are four areas that were used to critically analyze the book. They are the thesis, the methodology, the evidence used to construct the book and the personal evaluation. This book presents many important topics that relate to past, presents and futures of the technological era. It is telling a story where digital democracies suffer at the ends of coercive governments. It is not just powerful nations have the power to reshape the Internet’s architecture, more specifically it is the United States, China and Europe using their dominate power to reestablish their own version of the Internet.

Political Economy Essay -- Mass Media News Mediated Messages

Political Economy   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Our society is strongly influenced by all sources of media. The media shows us what is going on in the world news, fashion and much more. The media is our connection to the world and what goes on all around us. The political economy approach looks at the influence that ownership control, advertising and audience spending has over the mass media and the mediated messages we receive on a daily basis.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Political economy believes that everything about media products is created through structural features (ownership, advertising and audience spending). The industries and businesses that the media works for and out of are organized through the economic and political factors of our economy. Political economy stresses that private ownership has a major influence on the content and structure of the media.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  There are three viewpoints on ownership control Kevin Williams discusses in Understanding Media Theory. First, Marxist political economy believes that there is a direct link between ownership and control. An owner determines who, what facts and what ideas the public actually sees. Second, Structuralists say it is impossible to have a direct relationship between ownership and control. Structuralists believe that an owner is not physically able to keep up with the operations of mediated messages made on a daily basis. There are too many messages made for an owner to look over and ok before production. Instead Structuralists believe to have alloc...

Dingo Digestion Comparison Essay

The Koala is the only mammal, other than the Greater Glider and Ringtail Possum, which can survive on a diet of eucalyptus leaves. Gum leaves contain only about 50% water, very little nitrogen, large amounts of fibre and potentially toxic oils. Koalas are found to have molars premolars to physically break down the food. Plants contain cellulose, which can only be broken down to release cell contents after much crushing and grinding. Koalas use microorganisms that live symbolically in their digestive system to help them. The breakdown of cellulose occurs during a fermentation process in a specialised part in the digestive tract. These structures are found in either the fore-gut or the hind-gut of different parts of the digestive system. Cow A cow’s diet is grass which is a quiet inactive process. The main nutrient in plant material is the complex carbohydrate cellulose, which must be broken down into smaller molecules before it can be absorbed. They have bottom incisors, top and bottom molars for chewing and grinding. A cow has a stomach with 4 chambers in due to cows requiring a complex digestive system. A cow digestive system must rely on the activity of microorganisms do this. These microorganisms are found in specialised fermentation chambers in the gut. The process is slow and efficient. Cellulose is difficult to digest making it difficult for the animal to access nutrients inside the cell. Dingoes A dingo’s diet is very different to a cow and koalas diet. Dingoes are predators to rabbits, kangaroo’s and rats. A dingo is a carnivore therefore it only eats meat. A dingo’s digestive system is short and not as complex as an herbivores due to the fact that if they don’t have to digest cellulose or consume large quantities of food because meat has more energy than plants. Conclusion In conclusion a koala and cows digestive system is much more complex and long rather than a meat eater; dingo’s digestive systems are fast and not at all complex.

Humans Live in a World Where Everything Tries to Make You Something Else Essay

Identity is now so hard to define. No longer as simple as whom am I? Identity is it solid or fixed? Neither is it constantly changing from birth till death. In addition to the problems faced with growing a developing an individual also faces problems from ideas surrounding personal problems. These can be examples from the environmental influence, such as arriving into a new school or even a new culture. These experiences can be both positive and negative though, negative as they may leave an individual disillusioned with their direction and place in life, yet positive in the way that an individual may feel reinvigorated and their perception of personal boundaries removed. Growing up in Australia is a short collection of stories from various artists that entails their stories of being different to others and the challenges that they faced in order to fit in when their identities are so different. Sticks and Stones and Such Like by Sunil Badima is a story about How being different, can isolate an individual and make it difficult for them to belong. The main difference in this story is the name Sunil, it singled him out and showed his different nature compared to everyone else. The way that people couldn’t pronounce it only served to exacerbate his push for a more ‘western’ name, Neil. This changing of an identity, from the Indian Sunil to the Aussie Neil, represents how people are willing to change and conform in order to fit in and be accepted by others, even going so far as to forego cultural preoccupations. How to be Japanese by Leanne Hall is a story that Discusses the stereotypes that exist, the racial prejudices that those from a culture deemed the minority are subject to. An individual cannot control how they look yet they’re judged about this. The cultural differences usually hinder an individual, whereby once cultural values sporting exploits as that of success another views success educationally as high marks, yet it is the minority group which is subjected to being stereotyped. This stereotyping is an action that removes an individual’s identity, placing an individual into a wider group whereby they lose their identity, given a set of predetermined characteristics, which is extremely common amongst the racial groups, e. g. the Japanese love hello Kitty. Reveals how a loss of identity can occur as an individual is adjudged to be something else before qifference, alienating them, difficult to conform. A personal identity is impossible without belonging to a family, society and culture. Without Belonging to a group somewhere an individual cannot hope to find their identity, the two are inextricably linked. Without a place in the world, an individual is lost and cannot hope to find their place. This is shown progressively throughout the film of ‘Skin’. Because Sandra is coloured and her parents and brother are white, she is constantly confused about her identity and who exactly she is. rBelonging is an innate predisposition that majority of the populous seek the feeling of acceptance and a place in the groups ranks offers. Once Sandra relises she can’t find this within her family and the society she grew up in she looks to the Black people of South Africa to find a sense of belonging. Belonging to a group offers a sense of security and acceptance that people seek. It is through this environment that an individual will learn and their identity flourishes under the experiences of the group and that of their own, belonging to a group reaffirms our own identity. Whilst belonging to a group may culminate in the formation of an identity, this may not be the true potential of the individual. This influence may upon an individual’s identity may be detrimental, their identity a mere extension of the group’s prerogative. May also lead to an individual being stereotyped and/or alienating their past. Therefore those that cannot belong or alienate themselves from the rest of society struggle to find their place in the world, they are constantly drifting, the question of who am I, left unanswered. This is emphasised throughout the film Skin as Sandra is constantly changing her state as a white South African to a colored South African, so that she is able to find a sense of identity and belonging. People are put into groups, like family and school, and this is a struggle when it conflicts with identity. Whilst belonging to a group, the choice to conform is one that most people must make, we are all born into a group of some degree. Yet it is this place within a group, the arrangement of parameters that can lead to conflict surrounding an individual’s identity. When we are born, we are born into a family environment, born into a group already. Yet through this group, as individual’s we learn and model ourselves off the actions of those in the group, the decisions and perceptions of its members are reaffirmed onto our own. Yet this predetermined group can cause problems for our identity as individuals. This family whilst providing a base from which an identity can develop, also masks an individual’s identity, the individual may have of been raised in the interests of the group, unfulfilling their true potential. Moreover this placement of an individual occurs through other avenues of life as well. At school an individual may be labelled, stereotyped in a particular way based upon something as simple as they way in which they dress. This stereotyping and prejudice can breed only conflict within an individual as they struggle to determine who they truly are, are they the person they are perceived as? Or are they more? Furthermore in order to fit into a group, an individual’s conformity may be misaligned with the values and perceptions of this group, only giving birth to further conflict surrounding an individual’s identity. They struggle to find who the truly are, their true identity against the restraints that conformity offers them. There is conflict between identity and belonging. Where conflict is resolved it is good for the individual’s identity. The need to belong is an innate predisposition for most humans. As we are social creatures we seek a place in the world, a place where we can be accepted, a place of security. Yet in our willingness to conform, conflict can arise between an individual’s identity and that of the group. This discrepancy something that breeds only discontent as an individual discovers that the interest of the group may be misaligned to those of their own. Furthermore in a group the needs of the group are put before those of the individual, thereby stifling the true identity. Yet this creates further conflict as some of the decisions of the group, the choices that it makes may not be reflective of those of the individual. As the individual takes second wrung to the needs of the group, the individual may become discontent about where they are, questioning their own identity.

The film Goodnight and Good-luck and the play, The Crucible Essays

The film Goodnight and Good-luck and the play, The Crucible Essays The film Goodnight and Good-luck and the play, The Crucible Paper The film Goodnight and Good-luck and the play, The Crucible Paper Essay Topic: Play The Crucible The play, The Crucible, was set in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 16th century. This is a period made famous for the witch trials that took place in the town. The film Goodnight and Good-luck, was set in America during the 1950s shortly after television had made its debut. The two pieces both explore issues surrounding injustice, an individuals credibility and peoples reputations and reactions to information put forward. In Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, there are many ways in which people are portrayed in negative aspects from those in authority. The witch trials that took place were based mainly upon false accusations from Abigail Williams against a whole host of individuals, the main one being Elizabeth Proctor. These allegations formed the basis for the witch trials to commence, with more people accused of witchcraft as the trials ventured further. For those accused, the punishments they faced, more or less meant that their fair go at life was diminished, given that there were no redeeming paths for justice. Other people became involved with the trials as they progressed and they themselves became entangled in the intricate web of allegations. Their credibility was placed under intense scrutiny, as were their pasts, and they too stood accused of actions that had no bearing on the trials at hand. John Proctor, Elizabeth Proctors husband, was one person who became involved with the trials defending his wife. It got to the point where his reputation became tarnished as a result of the constant discrediting of the information he bought forward. One of the points he raised was that Abigail had been a servant to he and Elizabeth and had been dismissed by Elizabeth as a result of an affair that took place between Abigail and Proctor. Proctors reasoning for the accusations placed against Elizabeth, stated that they were an attempt from Abigail to regain his loyalty by killing Elizabeth. After he had explained this to the judges, he was asked to sign the paper on which the transcript of what he had said was written, however, he would not. He then made this comment: Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and I sign lies to myself! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them hang! How can I not live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave my name! The Crucible Act Four, Page 124. The judges did not take kindly to this comment and decided that he must have been lying and subsequently came to the conclusion that he must hang. In the end, he managed to successfully defend Elizabeth, however, in the process he dirtied his own name and was subsequently sentenced to death. In George Clooneys Goodnight and Good-luck, one main portrayal of injustice occurred as a result of United States Military actions against an air force officer named Milo Radulovich, whose father allegedly had connections to the communist movement in the United States. He was asked to resign his position in the air force as a result of his fathers past actions, as he was considered a risk to national security even though he himself had not committed any offences and had a clean slate. The person who decided that Milo Radulovich was to leave the air force was Senator Joseph McCarthy. Other people once again became involved with the case, claiming that the actions taken out against the officer were unjust and that it was against the constitution. One person who became deeply involved in defending the victim and publicly making known the injustice that had taken place was Edward Murrow of CBS news. He said this about Senator McCarthy publicly on his CBS documentary show See it now. His primary achievement has been in confusing the public mind, as between the internal and the external threats of Communism. We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. We must remember always that accusation is not proof and that conviction depends upon evidence and due process of law. We will not walk in fear, one of another. We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason, if we dig deep in our history and our doctrine, and remember that we are not descended from fearful men. Source: Goodnight and Good-Luck As a result of Edward making his views known publicly, he came under fire from the authorities. He was placed under intense public scrutiny and was subjected to slander and discrimination campaigns administered by Senator McCarthy. These campaigns publicly accused Edward Murrow of taking sides and publicly broadcasting his views without knowing the whole story. The accusations were later backed up by Senator McCarthy appearing on See it now, on which he made further efforts to discredit Murrow, however these efforts did not go down well with the viewers and bought a further decline in his popularity. In the end Milo was reinstated, and McCarthys popularity was at an all time low. In conclusion, from both pieces of literature, we can see clearly that injustice handed down upon people from authorities, and the way people who tried to defend how the victims were treated, reduced their chance at a fair go in life. In each case, those originally accused, Elizabeth Proctor and Milo Radulovich, were let off the hook and their fair go at life restored. However, Edward Murrow and John Proctor suffered as a result of it. Edward Murrow managed to win over the public opinion, thus restoring an element of quality to his life but, John Proctor lost his life as a result of the trials, thus eliminating any chance he had at a fair go in life.

ALGORITHM - MEANING

ALGORITHM MEANING In the most basic sense, an algorithm is a process- a set of detailed instruction that must be carried out in a particular order and follows logic to attain a given result. An algorithm is a well-defined procedure or set of rules guaranteed to achieve a certain objective. You use an algorithm every time you follow the directions to put together a new toy, use a recipe to make cookies, or defrost something in the microwave (personal algorithms). When the term algorithm used in math, it typically refers to a set of steps or procedures used to solve a mathematical computation. In mathematics, an algorithm is a specific series of steps that will give you the correct answer every time. For example, in grade school, you and your classmates probably learned and memorized a certain finite steps or procedures for addition, subtraction and multiplying etc. (standard algorithms). Algorithm are of two type: informal (personal) and formal (standard) algorithm. An informal algorithm is a procedure that the student him/herself figured out while a formal algorithm is a process and procedure that has been taught to them. It may or may not be similar to a conventional algorithms (formal algorithms). Examples on Informal Algorithms Examples on Formal Algorithms 1. ADD the given numbers 109 + 207 Jimmy did like this. David did like this. =100+9+200+7 109-9=100 =300+16 207-7=200 =316 200+100=300 9+7=16 300+16=316 2. Multiply the given number 25Ãâ€"13 25(20+5) x13(10+3) ————– 15 60 50 + 200 ————— 325 1. ADD the given numbers 109+207 1 109 + 207 ——– 316 ——– 2. Multiply the given number 25Ãâ€"13 1 25 x13 ———— 75 +25x ———— 325 MERITS OF INFORMAL ALGORITHMS They learn to think and use their common sense, as well as new skills and knowledge. Students who invent their own procedures: Learn that their intuitive methods are valid and that mathematics makes sense. Become more proficient with mental arithmetic. Are motivated because they understand their own methods, as opposed to learning by rote. Become skilled at representing ideas with objects, words, pictures, and symbols. Develop persistence and confidence in dealing with challenging problems. ADVANTAGES OF THE FORMAL ALGORITHMS Plunkett (1979), Thompson (1997), Usiskin (1998) and other writers offered several reasons for this. These included :  ¢ Standard algorithms are powerful in solving classes of problems, particularly where the computation involves many numbers, where memory may be overloaded.  ¢ Standard algorithms contracted, summarizing several lines of equation involving distributivity and associativity.  ¢ Standard algorithms are automatic, being able to be taught to, and carried out by, someone without having to analyze the underlying basis of the algorithm.  ¢ Standard algorithms are fast, with a direct route to the answer.  ¢ Standard algorithms provide the written record of computation, enabling teachers and students to locate any errors in the algorithm.  ¢ Standard algorithms can be instructive.  ¢ For teachers these are easy to manage and assess. DISADVANTAGES OF THE FORMAL ALGORITHMS Kamii and Dominick (1998), McIntosh (1998), and Northcote McIntosh (1999) have potential dangers that can be summarized as follows :  ¢ They do not correspond to the ways in which people tend to think about numbers.  ¢ They encourage children to give up their own thinking and creativity, leading to loss of ownership of ideas .  ¢ The traditionally-taught (standard) algorithm may no longer be the most efficient and easily learned.  ¢ They tend to lead to blind acceptance of results and over-zealous applications. Given the focus on procedures that require little thinking, children often use an standard algorithms when it is not at all necessary.  ¢ There is a high probability that the students will lose conceptual knowledge in the process of gaining procedural knowledge. There is also the use of relevance. Students use standard algorithms for only a small proportion of their calculation.

Employment information report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Employment information report - Essay Example After much investigation, I have found that Akzonobel is a Dutch based multinational organization which is known for producing premium quality specialty chemicals, performance coatings and decorative paints. The company has its headquarter in Amsterdam and is divided into eleven business units. Akzonobel employees over more than forty thousand people in over eighty countries. The company is known to be making increasing profits each year and as of year 2014, the sales recorded were around fourteen billion. Akzonobel has a history of mergers and acquisitions. The recent merger took place with ICI paints in the year 2008. Akzonobel is a company where the growth of organization is as important as the growth of its employees. Here, people come from diverse backgrounds where they are allowed to perform freely based on their skills, experiences and talents. With extensive training, mentoring and coaching, the skills of employees are enhanced and the career development is given much signifi cance. Along with a handsome compensation package, the employees are offered a challenging yet comfortable environment where they could build up on their knowledge for present as well as future performance. As mentioned, I would like to apply for the position of HR manager in Akzonobel. After looking at the job responsibility listed on the web as well as interviewing one of the HR managers, I have made a summary of the job requirements and duties. Akzonobel has listed down the features which must be present in a candidates’ profile in order that his application be considered. He must have minimum of master’s degree in human resource, certification would be considered as a plus. The company will prefer someone who has been working in the same position with a multinational organization for at least five to ten years. The candidate is expected to be a local of the country so that he could understand and practice his knowledge as per the geographical