Correlation between nursing culture and the change of nursing practice Thesis

Connection between's nursing society and the difference in nursing practice - Thesis Example The nursing discipline has been using research proof since more than 30 years, state Estabrooks, Winther and Derksen (2004). Be that as it may, researchers keep on being not able to distinguish what impacts research use. Singular determinants of exploration use are not considered in research discoveries singular components anticipating research use. Further, Scott-Findlay and Estabrooks (2006) found that in research ventures on nursing hierarchical culture, where singular determinants were considered, the agents regularly examined determinants not agreeable to change, for instance age, sexual orientation, and long periods of nursing experience. Thinking about the way that most of human services experts incorporating medical attendants work in complex associations, it is essential to move center towards examining determinants of examination usage for medical caretakers all in all, at the authoritative level. Nursing society assists with deciding nursing authoritative effect on nursesà ¢â‚¬â„¢ practices, especially comparable to explore use practices. In this manner, Scott-Findlay and Estabrooks (2006, p.499) see that â€Å"in nursing, one authoritative angle, hierarchical culture, is progressively refered to as a critical effect on the utilization of examination by clinicians†, for example, attendants associated with clinical practice. As per Del Bueno and Vincent (1986), in nursing, the term hierarchical culture previously showed up in 1986. Among a predetermined number of authoritative culture systems in the accessible writing, one of the most regularly utilized structures is that of Schein (1992). Culture is refered to at three crucial levels, in a various leveled way; these include: noticeable ancient rarities, qualities, and essential fundamental presumptions. Antiques are the most available components of culture, being noticeable and substantial. Qualities are the particularly communicated standards, social standards and belief systems considered to have inborn worth and significance inside the association. Suppositions are the deepest or center components of culture, they give desires that sway observations, ideas and emotions about the association, for example, the field of nursing. As per Scott-Findlay and Estabrooks (2006, p.499), â€Å"assumptions are the underestimated convictions about the real world and human instinct that experts in an association share†. In this manner, ancient rarities are appearances of qualities, while values are signs of presumptions. The three degrees of nursing society continually and more than once impact one another. Postulation Statement: The reason for this paper is to explore nursing society, and look at its effects on the difference in nursing practice, with an accentuation on proof based practice and nursing research. Nursing Culture comprises a lot of meanings of reality normally put stock in by a gathering of individuals sharing a particular lifestyle. Meanings of hierarchical cu lture community on suffering properties of culture, for example, qualities, suppositions, and convictions that manage the procedures inside the gathering. As in many gatherings and associations, on account of nursing likewise, culture is considered as the ‘

Plastics Essays - Plastics, Thermoplastics, Dielectrics, Free Essays

Plastics Essays - Plastics, Thermoplastics, Dielectrics, Free Essays Plastics The Recycling of Thermoset Materials into Thermoplastic Composites Theoretical Thermoset procedure scrap costs organizations a great many dollars yearly. Explicit thermoplastics could profit by the expansion of reused thermoset material. The joining of thermoset regrind into thermoplastic material would give a practical option in contrast to the thermoset piece that is right now sent to the landfills. Hypothesis and Background At the point when a thermoset part has been cross-connected, that material either must be utilized in the application it was planned for, or tossed out. In process scrap, for the most part shear sand/saw grindings and other waste, is delivered to the landfill for removal. The absence of reusing in the thermoset business brings about higher last costs for the customer. Building up a commonsense technique to reuse thermoset materials would make a financially attainable composite material. The expansion of the regrind would diminish the necessity for costly virgin material, diminishing the composite materials cost. This would furnish the thermoset and thermoplastic ventures with considerable reserve funds. Thermoset regrind, from Haysite Re-Inforced plastics, polypropylene co-polymer from ExxonMobil, and Silane Q1-6106 from Dow Corning were utilized to make the new composite. At Haysite, the regrind is a result of the sanding of enormous cover sheets of fiberglass-fortified polyester. Each sheet is sanded to definite size, with the waste residue being sent to the landfill. The residue utilized in this examination was taken from Haysite's EMD product offering. This regrind comprises of roughly 30% glass strands, 31.5% calcium carbonate filler, 20% polyester saps, and the last 18.5% of the blend is included natural impetuses, shades, and follow measures of profoundly thought synthetic compounds. The silane goes about as a coupling operator between the polypropylene and the regrind on a sub-atomic level. The silicon and oxygen atoms, present in the silane, structure solid ionic bonds between the glass particles in the regrind. This piece of the silane-coupling specialist additionally shap es auxiliary power bonds with the chains of the propylene polymer. Van der wal powers may make bond quality between the glass strands and the polypropylene too. The polyester sap part of the reground material additionally uses van der wal powers. These powers feebly bond the tar particles to the virgin propylene. The sap and glass fiber part of the regrind is ideal whenever attached to the polypropylene legitimately. The silane doesn't give any holding powers between the calcium carbonate and propylene particles. Calcium carbonate is likewise hygroscopic which may require material drying if properties are influenced by the water retention. Dow Corning's Silane Q1-6106 is a high consistency fluid, and thinks about best to a waxy gel. The expansion of the silane give critical wetting between the materials, which causes clustering. Various, more affordable materials can recreate the wetting normal for the silane, nonetheless, the atomic holding benefits are not duplicable with these different materials. Exploratory Blending Initially, it was suggested that the material be intensified through expulsion and palletizing with ensuing infusion shaping. A regrind level of 20% and 30% was chosen to guarantee the money related advantages would exceed the expenses related with silane and the aggravating of the composite material. Additionally, a more affordable option was attractive as the expenses of the general procedure would rise and take away from the cost reserve funds gave by the utilization of the thermoset regrind. At the point when it became clear that the material could be straightforwardly infusion formed, this option was chosen over the expulsion activity. Generally speaking, the method followed was perfect, proficient, and could be utilized to deliver enormous amounts of the composite material in a brief timeframe. Blending was preformed to the accompanying rules. A five-gallon container was fixed with two trash sacks, and loaded up with 4.35 kilograms of the virgin polypropylene. Next, the pitch was wetted with 0.17 kilograms of silane. The blend was then tumbled to abstain from bunching in a particular region and to forestall poor circulation of the silane. The subsequent wetting additionally comprised of the 0.17 kg of silane and a subsequent tumbling. The regrind was then coordinated into this blend by parting the sum down the middle, and including the regrind in two clusters of 0.99 kg each. After every expansion of regrind the material was tumbled. To deliver the 20% stacked parts, half of the 30% regrind stacked parts were reground into typical pellet size and blended in with

Sexual abstenance Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Sexual abstenance - Research Paper Example Restraint from sex is accepted by most guardians and strict gatherings to be the main satisfactory technique for contraception for young people. In such manner, the article intends to proffer issues relating to sexual forbearance. The talk would at first characterize sexual forbearance and decide its short chronicled foundation. In like manner, the impacts of forbearance just methodology in sex training would be analyzed. At long last, a few proposals and suggestions on utilizing restraint in sexual training would be introduced. Sexual restraint is characterized as â€Å"the practice of deliberately forgoing sex and (typically) other sexual movement. Sexual forbearance is regularly viewed as a subset of conduct with regards to modesty as the last alludes likewise to demeanor and plan and not negligible mechanics. Sexual forbearance is normally upheld in the classes of strict/moral concerns and wellbeing/social worries, with a noteworthy cover between the two† (WordIQ, standard. 1). In an article distributed by Avert on restraint and sex instruction, the conversation gave away from of forbearance based way to deal with sexual training which supports restraint from sex until marriage. The Federal Law in the United States listed learning destinations of restraint instruction, indeed: In an investigation led via Planes, et.al. on definitions and instances of restraint to Spanish University understudies, the discoveries uncovered that the present comprehension of the term is equivocal coming about to dangerous sexual practices (Planes, et.al, 172). A table showed in the exploration on the meanings of the significance of the term forbearance by sexual orientation gave â€Å"778 models or meanings of abstinence† (Planes, et.al, 170) approving the different comprehension of understudies on the precise meaning of the term. The talk gave by WordIQ followed the improvements on sexual opportunity to the First World War which shows that the

Supply Chain Management In Indian Retail Industry - Free Essay Example

Retail, one of Indias largest industries, has presently emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast paced industries of our times with several players entering the market. Accounting for over 10 per cent of the countrys GDP and around eight per cent of the employment retailing in India is gradually inching its way toward becoming the next boom industry. As the contemporary retail sector in India is reflected in sprawling shopping centers, multiplex malls and huge complexes offer shopping, entertainment and food all under one roof, the concept of shopping has altered in terms of format and consumer buying behavior, ushering in a revolution in shopping in India. This has also contributed to large scale investments in the real estate sector with major national and global players investing in developing the infrastructure and construction of the retailing business. The trends that are driving the growth of the retail sector in India are ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Low share of organized retailing ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Falling real estate prices ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Increase in disposable income and customer aspiration ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ¢ Increase in expenditure for luxury items Another credible factor in the prospects of the retail sector in India is the increase in the young working population. In India, hefty pay-packets, nuclear families in urban areas, along with increasing working-women population are emerging opportunities in the services sector. These key factors have been the growth drivers of the organized retail sector in India which now boast of retailing almost all the pref erences of life Apparel Accessories, Appliances, Electronics, Cosmetics and Toiletries, Home Office Products, Travel and Leisure and many more. With this the retail sector in India is witnessing a rejuvenation as traditional markets make way for new formats such as departmental stores, hypermarkets, supermarkets and specialty stores. The retailing configuration in India is fast developing as shopping malls are increasingly becoming familiar in large cities. When it comes to development of retail space specially the malls, the Tier II cities are no longer behind in the race. If development plans till 2007 is studied it shows the projection of 220 shopping malls, with 139 malls in metros and the remaining 81 in the Tier II cities. The government of states like Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) are very upbeat about permitting the use of land for commercial development thus increasing the availability of land for retail space; thus making NCR render to 50% of the malls in I ndia. India is being seen as a potential goldmine for retail investors from over the world and latest research has rated India as the top destination for retailers for an attractive emerging retail market. Indias vast middle class and its almost untapped retail industry are key attractions for global retail giants wanting to enter newer markets. Even though India has well over 5 million retail outlets, the country sorely lacks anything that can resemble a retailing industry in the modern sense of the term. This presents international retailing specialists with a great opportunity. The organized retail sector is expected to grow stronger than GDP growth in the next five years driven by changing lifestyles, burgeoning income and favorable demographic outline. Another cap to the retailing industry in India is allowing 51% FDI in single brand outlet. The government is now set to initiate a second wave of reforms in the segment by liberalizing investment norms further. This will no t only favor the retail sector develop in terms of design concept, construction quality and providing modern amenities but will also help in creating a consumer-friendly environment. Retail industry in India is at the crossroads but the future of the consumer markets is promising as the market is growing, government policies are becoming more favorable and emerging technologies are facilitating operations in India. And this upsurge in the retail industry has made India a promising destination for retail investors and at the same time has impelled investments in the real estate sector. As foreign investors cautiously test the Indian Markets for investments in the retail sector, local companies and joint ventures are expected to be more advantageously positioned than the purely foreign ones in the evolving Indias organized retailing industry. Objective of the Study To understand the Importance of Supply Chain Decisions and Supply Chain Modeling Approaches in the retail majors, and try to understand the significant role played by the logistics and the supply chain system of the retailers on the economies of scale of the organization Literature Review Importance of Logistics SCM A supply chain is a network of facilities and distribution options that performs the functions of procurement of materials, transformation of these materials into intermediate and finished products, and the distribution of these finished products to customers. Supply chains exist in both service and manufacturing organizations, although the complexity of the chain may vary greatly from industry to industry and firm to firm. Below is an example of a very simple supply chain for a single product, where raw material is procured from vendors, transformed into finished goods in a single step, and then transported to distribution centers, and ultimately, customers. Realistic supply chains have multiple end products with shared components, facilities and capacities. The flow of materials is not always along an arbores cent network, various modes of transportation may be considered, and the bill of materials for the end items may be both deep and large. Trad itionally, marketing, distribution, planning, manufacturing, and the purchasing organizations along the supply chain operated independently. These organizations have their own objectives and these are often conflicting. Marketings objectives of high customer service and maximum sales dollars, conflict with manufacturing and distribution goals. Many manufacturing operations are designed to maximize throughput and lower costs with little consideration for the impact on inventory levels and distribution capabilities. Purchasing contracts are often negotiated with very little information beyond historical buying patterns. The result of these factors is that there is not a single, integrated plan for the organizationthere were as many plans as businesses. Clearly, there is need for a mechanism through which these different functions can be integrated together. Supply chain management is a strategy through which such integration can be achieved. Supply chain management is typically vie wed to lie between fully vertically integrated firms, where the entire material flow is owned by a single firm and those where each channel member operates independently. Therefore coordination between the various players in the chain is key in its effective management. Cooper and Ellram [1993] compare supply chain management to a well-balanced and well-practiced relay team. Such a team is more competitive when each player knows how to be positioned for the hand-off. The relationships are the strongest between players who directly pass the baton, but the entire team needs to make a coordinated effort to win the race. Research Problem To understand the intricacies involved with the following aspect of supply chain management Supply Chain Decisions We classify the decisions for supply chain management into two broad categories strategic and operational. As the term implies, strategic decisions are made typically over a longer time horizon. These are closely linked to the corporate strategy (they sometimes {it are} the corporate strategy), and guide supply chain policies from a design perspective. On the other hand, operational decisions are short term, and focus on activities over a day-to-day basis. The effort in these type of decisions is to effectively and efficiently manage the product flow in the strategically planned supply chain. There are four major decision areas in supply chain management: 1) location, 2) production, 3) inventory, and 4) transportation (distribution), and there are both strategic and operational elements in each of these decision areas. Location Decisions The geographic pla cement of production facilities, stocking points, and sourcing points is the natural first step in creating a supply chain. The location of facilities involves a commitment of resources to a long-term plan. Once the size, number, and location of these are determined, so are the possible paths by which the product flows through to the final customer. These decisions are of great significance to a firm since they represent the basic strategy for accessing customer markets, and will have a considerable impact on revenue, cost, and level of service. These decisions should be determined by an optimization routine that considers production costs, taxes, duties and duty drawback, tariffs, local content, distribution costs, production limitations, etc. (See Arntzen, Brown, Harrison and Trafton [1995] for a thorough discussion of these aspects.) Although location decisions are primarily strategic, they also have implications on an operational level. Production Decisions The strategic decisions include what products to produce, and which plants to produce them in, allocation of suppliers to plants, plants to DCs, and DCs to customer markets. As before, these decisions have a big impact on the revenues, costs and customer service levels of the firm. These decisions assume the existence of the facilities, but determine the exact path(s) through which a product flows to and from these facilities. Another critical issue is the capacity of the manufacturing facilitiesand this largely depends on the degree of vertical integration within the firm. Operational decisions focus on detailed production scheduling. These decisions include the construction of the master production schedules, scheduling production on machines, and equipment maintenance. Other considerations include workload balancing, and quality control measures at a production facility. Supply Chain Modeling Approaches Clearly, each of the above two levels of decisions require a different perspective. The strategic decisions are, for the most part, global or all encompassing in that they try to integrate various aspects of the supply chain. Consequently, the models that describe these decisions are huge, and require a considerable amount of data. Often due to the enormity of data requirements, and the broad scope of decisions, these models provide approximate solutions to the decisions they describe. The operational decisions, meanwhile, address the day to day operation of the supply chain. Therefore the models that describe them are often very specific in nature. Due to their narrow perspective, these models often consider great detail and provide very good, if not optimal, solutions to the operational decisions. To facilitate a concise review of the literature, and at the same time attempting to accommodate the above polarity in modeling, we divide the modeling approaches into three areas N etwork Design, Rough Cut methods, and simulation based methods. The network design methods, for the most part, provide normative models for the more strategic decisions. These models typically cover the four major decision areas described earlier, and focus more on the design aspect of the supply chain; the establishment of the network and the associated flows on them. Rough cut methods, on the other hand, give guiding policies for the operational decisions. These models typically assume a single site (i.e., ignore the network) and add supply chain characteristics to it, such as explicitly considering the sites relation to the others in the network. Simulation methods are a method by which a comprehensive supply chain model can be analyzed, considering both strategic and operational elements however, as with all simulation models; one can only evaluate the effectiveness of a pre specified policy rather than develop new policy. It is the traditional question of What If? versus Whats Best? Network Design Methods As the very name suggests, these methods determine the location of production, stocking, and sourcing facilities, and paths the product(s) take through them. Such methods tend to be large scale, and used generally at the inception of the supply chain. The earliest work in this area, although the term supply chain was not in vogue, was by Geoffrion and Graves [1974]. They introduce a multi-commodity logistics network design model for optimizing annualized finished product flows from plants to the DCs to the final customers. Geoffrion and Powers [1993] later give a review of the evolution of distribution strategies over the past twenty years, describing how the descendants of the above model can accommodate more echelons and cross commodity detail. Breitman and Lucas [1987] attempt to provide a framework for a comprehensive model of a production-distribution system, PLANETS, that is used to decide what products to produce, where and how to produce it, which markets to pursue and what resources to use. Parts of this ambitious project were successfully implemented at General Motors. Cohen and Lee [1985] develop a conceptual framework for manufacturing strategy analysis, where they describe a series of stochastic sub- models, that considers annualized product flows from raw material vendors via intermediate plants and distribution echelons to the final customers. They use heuristic methods to link and optimize these sub- models. They later give an integrated and readable exposition of their models and methods in Cohen and Lee [1988]. Cohen and Lee [1989] present a normative model for resource deployment in a global manufacturing and distribution network. Global after-tax profit (profit-local taxes) is maximized through the design of facility network and control of material flows within the network. The cost structure consists of variable and fixed costs for material procurement, production, distribution and transportation. They validate the model by applying it to analyze the global manufacturing strategies of a personal computer manufacturer. Finally, Arntzen, Brown, Harrison, and Trafton [1995] provide the most comprehensive deterministic model for supply chain management. The objective function minimizes a combination of cost and time elements. Examples of cost elements include purchasing, manufacturing, pipeline inventory, transportation costs between various sites, duties, and taxes. Time elements include manufacturing lead times and transit times. Unique to this model was the explicit consideration of duty and their recovery as the product flowed through different countries. Implementation of this model at the Digital Equipment Corporation has produced spectacular results savings in the order of $100 million dollars. Rough Cut Methods These models form the bulk of the supply chain literature, and typically deal with the more operational or tactical decisions. Most of the integrative research (from a supply chain context) in the literature seems to take on an inventory management perspective. In fact, the term Supply Chain first appears in the literature as an inventory management approach. The thrust of the rough cut models is the development of inventory control policies, considering several levels or echelons together. These models have come to be known as multi-level or multi-echelon inventory control models. For a review the reader is directed to Vollman et al. [1992]. Multi-echelon inventory theory has been very successfully used in industry. Cohen et al. [1990] describe OPTIMIZER, one of the most complex models to date to manage IBMs spare parts inventory. They develop efficient algorithms and sophisticated data structures to achieve large scale systems integration. Significance of the Study The key aspects of retail marketing are an attitude of mind. The 2004 NRF Foundation/American Express 2004 Customer Service survey showed 99 percent of shoppers report customer service being important when deciding to make a purchase, NRF reported. The most important elements of good customer service to traditional shoppers revolve around retail employees and the store environment, according to the survey, with nearly two thirds of shoppers finding it extremely important for retail employees to be courteous (67 percent) and treat shoppers like valued customers (65 percent). The report also stated consumers dislike being pressured to buy merchandise (69 percent) and find it extremely important that employees are available to ask for help (61 percent). Environmental factor for them is a neat and clean store, which 60 percent of shoppers said is extremely important. Retail marketing decisions are driven by what the shoppers need and want. Consumers are individuals who purchase products or services for personal consumption and in the retail context it is critical to realize that management can not be effective unless it has an understanding of the process of how retail consumers make decisions and act in relation to retail products. Blackwell, Miniard and Engel (2000) define the initial step of this decision-making process as need recognition in terms of emotional and psychological needs recognition. However the extent to which the consumer intends to resolve the problem depends on the relative perceived importance of the problem to them and the degree of difference between the current and desired situation. If the problem recognition is of a sufficiently strong degree then information search and evaluation of alternatives stages will occur. What the customers regard as value and what they buy is decisive. It can therefore be seen that potential customers go through a series of stages before they choose a brand or product to purchase. Hence branding strategies used by retailers need to be aware of elements in these first stages which might have an effect on later choices. Additionally a determinant of the degree to which customers evaluate a brand is their level of involvement, i.e. high levels of involvement mean extensive evaluation processes, (Hawkins, Best and Coney, 1989). Price is often seen as an indicator of involvement level because people spend more time searching and comparing prices. The essential elements While many elements may make up a firms retail marketing mix, the essential elements may include  ·Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Store location,  ·Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  merchandise assortments  ·Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Store ambience,  ·Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  customer service,  ·Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  price,  ·Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒâ€šÃ‚  Communication with customers Research Methodology Research methodologies play a vital role in defining the effectiveness and success of the research carried out. I have used Case study approach in understanding the difficulties that have occurred. Methodology in the process of research can be defined as a framework which helps us in understanding the research process or they can be defined as the mechanisms utilized for collecting the data for interpretation to deliver the best outcomes. Cohen, Manion and Morrison (2007) states thatÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬- the design of the research is covered by the notion of fitness for purposeÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬- which help in determining the methodology and research design. The process of research is an urge of searching for the facts that leads to a path of initiating a new technology/knowledge. Paradigm of Research Research paradigm may be defined as the assumptions made by an individual in order to guide him to deliver the best outcomes. The paradigm of the research can be understood based on the three levels The research methodology is well understood by the following assumptions: The three research paradigms which are considered important to conduct the research effectively by (Oates, 2006) are stated below: Positivism Constructivism and Critical Theory. Research Methodologies used: Qualitative Vs Quantitative A research can be either of the forms of the inquiry I, e Qualitative or Quantitative. Qualitative research method is the one that concentrates on identifying the complexity in the nature and ate also attempts in answering the questions WHY? And HOW? This kind of researches can be done only by the humans participating in the real world context mainly because of the ability of the humans to understand, confine and then co-relate them in real practice. Quantitative research method follows a very organized approach. Quantitative methods are basically utilized to understand the depth of the problem which answers the questions like HOW MANY? Inductive and Deductive: Inductive way of research is the one that comprises of the assumptions made previously about a topic and theories are build later taking this assumption as the base which means a solution is developed based on the assumption made rather than testing to prove whether or not the assumption made i s correct or wrong, where as the deductive approach comprises of the established hypothesis which is chosen initially and tested to verify the truth in it. Oates (2006) and Hyde (2000) state that both the inductive and deductive approaches make use of qualitative and quantitative process and several methods of collecting data during their research. The research approach that has been chosen for my dissertation concentrates on getting the inputs from various participants/victims (such as students, a technical consultant and a) in order to deliver a solution from the improvements that have generated from the previous problems. The current research makes use of the inductive way of approach for proposing an effective solution for the difficulties in the research depending on the observations, action and the practice. It utilizes not just quantitative but also qualitative inquiry modes. Suitable methodologies for this research  · Action research: (Elliott, 1978) has stated that action research ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢combines the diagnosis with reflection and focuses on the issues that are practical identified by the participants which are complex and at the same time which are capable of being changedÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬-. A new concept has emerged about how the action research can find out several ways of integrating themselves to obtain the sustainable organizational development (Mc Niff and Whitehead 2000). Case study approach: This kind of research methodology is mainly used for building the theories to analyze the complex problems. Case study approach gives a clear understanding of the possible events like the organization, people and the social movement. Case study is defined as the ÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢the study of a complexity of a specific instance for understanding the activities in the context of the real worldÃÆ' ¢Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬- (Helen Simons, 2009). A case study approach focuses on the real world context in a much detailed way. It takes a specific case in the firm or an institution rather than testing the generalized theory. The four stages involved in this approach: Design Conduct Analyze and Developing the conclusions and implications. (Yin.R,1994) Data collection: There are several ways of collecting the data as stated by (Cohen,Manion and Morrison, 2007) and supported by (Elliot, 1991) are as follows: Questionnaires Conducting tests Interviews Role play Accounts This type of data collecting methods are mainly used when the researcher needs the following aspects (Oates, 2006) Necessity to acquire the clear view When asking the complex questions using open-ended method or whose logic should be expressed differently to different individuals. To express the feelings, emotions and experiences which cannot be observed easily when using predefined questionnaire method. Conclusion At present most retailers in India comprise invested majorly into the front end, but comparatively little on the back end and supply chain. Still in countries like the USA, Germany and England, where organized retail is highly developed; supply chain efficiency is a major unease. The trend of retail sector in India is different from other countries around the world. The organized retail sector in India is highly fragmented and there are huge inefficiencies in the supply chain. In India, Future group derives significant economies of scale in managing their supply chain. With more than 170000 products, the company maintains a strong supplier relationship in a partnership mode, avoiding the exploitative supplier buyer transactional philosophy. The IT enabled back-end operations and supply chain management increases the reliability and efficiency of the business. As part of the operation, Future Group is also undertaking to reduce its warehousing costs through a consolidation pr ocess. In a country like India, where most retail stores are located in the heart of the city-where rents are high and storage space is scarce-supply chain management has even more serious business implications. Future Logistics now handles two-and-a-half million SKUs (or stock keeping units) a day across the Future Groups various retail formats around the country. By 2010, this number is expected to increase to more than 30 million SKUs a day. Even with 98% accuracy, some 600,000 pieces will not be delivered correctly, resulting in an estimated sales loss of more than Rs 4 crore a day. The biggest driver in consumer logistics is going to be zero defect in managing the supply chain. While infrastructure, technology, automation, processes and people will all play an important role, zero defect can only be achieved through vertical integration across the entire supply chain-from raw material supply, production, wholesale and retail. The different parts of the supply chain will no l onger be able to work in silos as they do today. Need for efficient logistics Before heading for transformation in-depth of logistics, let us first have a fleeting look through the need of good logistics system in India: Ensure coordination: To ensure perfect coordination with in various units of a retail venture like suppliers, manufacturers, and vendors. Perfect timings: To ensure that consumers get the right product at the right time and at the right place. Continuous supply: To ensure resourceful supply to retail stores across various geographic areas is seamless and consistent. Continuous growth: To achieve profitable and sustainable growth of retail operations in the long run. Optimum inventory: To achieve optimal inventory levels and reduce wastage of products.

Example of ANOVA Calculation

One factor analysis of variance, also known as ANOVA, gives us a way to make multiple comparisons of several population means. Rather than doing this in a pairwise manner, we can look simultaneously at all of the means under consideration. To perform an ANOVA test, we need to compare two kinds of variation, the variation between the sample means, as well as the variation within each of our samples. We combine all of this variation into a single statistic, called the ​F statistic because it uses the F-distribution. We do this by dividing the variation between samples by the variation within each sample. The way to do this is typically handled by software, however, there is some value in seeing one such calculation worked out. It will be easy to get lost in what follows. Here is the list of steps that we will follow in the example below: Calculate the sample means for each of our samples as well as the mean for all of the sample data.Calculate the sum of squares of error. Here within each sample, we square the deviation of each data value from the sample mean. The sum of all of the squared deviations is the sum of squares of error, abbreviated SSE.Calculate the sum of squares of treatment. We square the deviation of each sample mean from the overall mean. The sum of all of these squared deviations is multiplied by one less than the number of samples we have. This number is the sum of squares of treatment, abbreviated SST.Calculate the degrees of freedom. The overall number of degrees of freedom is one less than the total number of data points in our sample, or n - 1. The number of degrees of freedom of treatment is one less than the number of samples used, or m - 1. The number of degrees of freedom of error is the total number of data points, minus the number of samples, or n - m.Calculate the mean square of error. T his is denoted MSE SSE/(n - m).Calculate the mean square of treatment. This is denoted MST SST/m - 1.Calculate the F statistic. This is the ratio of the two mean squares that we calculated. So F MST/MSE. Software does all of this quite easily, but it is good to know what is happening behind the scenes. In what follows we work out an example of ANOVA following the steps as listed above. Data and Sample Means Suppose we have four independent populations that satisfy the conditions for single factor ANOVA. We wish to test the null hypothesis H0: ÃŽ ¼1 ÃŽ ¼2 ÃŽ ¼3 ÃŽ ¼4. For purposes of this example, we will use a sample of size three from each of the populations being studied. The data from our samples is: Sample from population #1: 12, 9, 12. This has a sample mean of 11.Sample from population #2: 7, 10, 13. This has a sample mean of 10.Sample from population #3: 5, 8, 11. This has a sample mean of 8.Sample from population #4: 5, 8, 8. This has a sample mean of 7. The mean of all of the data is 9. Sum of Squares of Error We now calculate the sum of the squared deviations from each sample mean. This is called the sum of squares of error. For the sample from population #1: (12 – 11)2 (9– 11)2 (12 – 11)2 6For the sample from population #2: (7 – 10)2 (10– 10)2 (13 – 10)2 18For the sample from population #3: (5 – 8)2 (8 – 8)2 (11 – 8)2 18For the sample from population #4: (5 – 7)2 (8 – 7)2 (8 – 7)2 6. We then add all of these sum of squared deviations and obtain 6 18 18 6 48. Sum of Squares of Treatment Now we calculate the sum of squares of treatment. Here we look at the squared deviations of each sample mean from the overall mean, and multiply this number by one less than the number of populations: 3[(11 – 9)2 (10 – 9)2 (8 – 9)2 (7 – 9)2] 3[4 1 1 4] 30. Degrees of Freedom Before proceeding to the next step, we need the degrees of freedom. There are 12 data values and four samples. Thus the number of degrees of freedom of treatment is 4 – 1 3. The number of degrees of freedom of error is 12 – 4 8. Mean Squares We now divide our sum of squares by the appropriate number of degrees of freedom in order to obtain the mean squares. The mean square for treatment is 30 / 3 10.The mean square for error is 48 / 8 6. The F-statistic The final step of this is to divide the mean square for treatment by the mean square for error. This is the F-statistic from the data. Thus for our example F 10/6 5/3 1.667. Tables of values or software can be used to determine how likely it is to obtain a value of the F-statistic as extreme as this value by chance alone.

Piagets Four Stages of Cognitive Development - 1621 Words

Describe Piaget’s four stages of cognitive development. Based on this understanding describe how you would tailor a coaching session to suit the needs of a child who is 6 years old. â€Å"The influence of Piaget’s ideas in developmental psychology has been enormous. He changed how people viewed the child’s world and their methods of studying children. He was an inspiration to many who came after and took up his ideas. Piagets ideas have generated a huge amount of research which has increased our understanding of cognitive development.† (McLeod 2009). Piaget purposed that we move through stages of cognitive development. He noticed that children showed different characteristics throughout their childhood development. The four stages of†¦show more content†¦Whilst playing around, teddy actually messed up one row of sweets. Once he was safely back in a box the children were asked if there were the same number of sweets. The children were between four- and six-years-old, and more than half gave the correct answer.† (McLeod 2009). They claimed that Piagets tasks prevents a child from conserving at an younger age. The Formal Operational stage- This stage occurs to a child who is above the age of twelve and goes onto their adult life. The child no longer requires material objects to think logically, they start to imagine and also start to predict outcomes. Advanced tactical knowledge is developed at a later stage. Everything the child does, the actions and thoughts are organised systematically. The child begin to manipulate ideas using his/hers brain. In problem solving children at the formal operational stage use a more strategic approach where as in the earlier stages the children and infants used a trial and error method to solve problems. The â€Å"third Eye Problem† used by Piaget was a successful way to demonstrate the difference between the earlier stages and the formal operational stage. Children of the concrete operational stage were asked where they would place an extra eye if they were given one and most of them answered with â€Å"on my forehead† compared to when chil dren from the formal operational stage were questioned, they replied by suggesting,Show MoreRelatedJean Piagets Four Stages Of Cognitive Development1326 Words   |  6 PagesTheory Overview Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development proposes that the developmental process of a child is the result of their brains maturity, their nervous system, and environmental factors. He believes the foundation of a childs ability to learn is through discovery learning (Gordon Browne, 2016). Piaget suggests that a child’s logic of thinking is different from that of an adults. Children’s cognitive performance is directly related to the stage of development that they are in currentlyRead More Piagets Four Stages of Learning in Cognitive Development Essay example1064 Words   |  5 PagesJean Piagets Four Stages of Learning in Cognitive Development Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist who did work on the development of intelligence in children. His studies have had a major impact on the fields of psychology and education. Piaget liked to call himself a genetic epistemologist (is a person who studies the origins of human knowledge) His theories led to more advanced work in child psychology. Piaget does work involving both experimental and observational methods. Piaget believedRead MoreEssay on Piagets Learning Theory in Elementary Education1549 Words   |  7 PagesPiaget’s Learning Theory in Elementary Education In order to support children’s growth educators try to provide a stimulating classroom environment. 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The Theory of Cognitive Development places f ocus on human intelligence and developmental thinking. â€Å"InfluencedRead MoreCognitvie Development1150 Words   |  5 PagesCognitive Development in Children Elteen Herman Sinte Gleska University PY 100 General Psychology Haelee Engel December 12, 2012 Introduction†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Cognitive Development What is Cognitive Development? †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Piaget’s Theory on Learning †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. How Cognitive learning can differ through cultures†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. Cognitive Teaching Identifying children who may have a learning disability†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ What parents and teacherRead MoreJean Piaget s Cognitive Theory Essay1750 Words   |  7 Pageswell-renowned twentieth century scholar responsible for the development of the Cognitive Theory, focusing on how people think over time, which, in turn, reflects in how how attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors are shaped. Jean Piaget observed and divided the Cognitive Theory into four periods of cognitive development, which occur in the following order: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. 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Secondly Piaget’s ideas about cognitive change and the four stages of development from birth which are the sensorimotor stage, the pre-operational stage, the concrete operational stage and the formal operational stage and how this impacts development. Thirdly the mainRead MoreCompare and contrast Piaget‚Äà ´s and Vygotsky‚Äà ´s theories of cognitive development in children1274 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Compare and contrast Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s theories of cognitive development in children. This essay will compare Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s theories of cognitive development in children. Also, show the differences between the two psychologist’s theories. Thus, by showing their similarities like in language and adaptation theories. Further, differences like Piaget’s theory on cognitive developmental stages and the schemas which are build to learn or accommodate new words or things. Vygostky’sRead MorePiaget’s Stage Theory in my eyes was four key stages of development marked by shifts in how they1000 Words   |  4 Pages Piaget’s Stage Theory in my eyes was four key stages of development marked by shifts in how they understand the world. To me Piaget’s theories had a major impact on the theory and practice of education. Her first theory was â€Å"A focus on the process of children’s thinking, not just its products. In addition to checking the correctness of children’s answers, teachers must understand the processes children use to get to the answer. Appropriate learning experiences build on children’s current level

Should Internet Have A Tax Essay Example For Students

Should Internet Have A Tax? Essay In 1998, retailers sold nearly $8 billion goods and services to consumers over the Internet, or on-line, while business to business online commerce was valued at an estimated $17 billion. Business weekly magazine (June 22, 1998) predicted that Internet commerce would increase the U.S. gross domestic product (GPD) by between $10 billion and $20 billion annually by 2002. They argue that imposing new Internet taxes, at least during the next few years, would bog down the Internets growth and stunt a sector of the economy that is currently flourishing. For now industry leaders say it is important to build consumer confidence in the Internet by refraining from imposing taxes or other regulatory barriers that may deter people from shopping on line. Internet retailers must charge a sales tax only if the company has some kind of physical presence, such as a warehouse or an office, in the state where the customer is buying the item. Otherwise, companies do not have to add the sales tax to the purchase price. In 1997, Sen. Ron Wyden introduced the legislation that developed into the Internet Tax Freedom Act. The ITFA called for a moratorium of approximately six years on the taxation of Internet transactions, access, or communications. Wyden called the moratorium a time out period that would give the Internet the opportunity to continue to grow. The goal of the legislation was to give lawmakers and Internet industry time to figure out a national taxation policy. Many businesses, he says, would be scared away from the Internet if they were burdened with the responsibility of monitoring and enforcing a thicket of conflicting sales taxes imposed by various states and municipalities.Indeed the potential loss of tax revenue for states and municipalities is one of the biggest concerns. Unlike the federal government, which does not impose a sales tax, states are heavily dependent on sales taxes to raise revenues. Sales taxes comprise 49% of tax revenues collected by the states, while state income taxes comprise only 33%, according to the federal statistics. Critics of the ITFA say that if states municipalities are not permitted to collect taxes on Internet transactions, they could lose much needed revenue that helps pay for government services such as highway construction and public education. Others say that not collecting sales tax from the Internet is inherently discriminatory since businesses that do not engage in electronic commerce must still charge sales taxes. It is fundamentally unfair that Main Street retailers should be required to collect a sales tax while Internet and mail order vendors can sell the same goods and not be required to collect a sales tax, argues Utah Gov. Michael Leavitt. Once consumers and businesses become accustomed to tax-free shopping on the Internet, there may be a backlash against attempts to impose sales taxes when the moratorium ends. Government should impose a tax on all items sold over the Internet. The simplest and easiest to implement, would be a flat rate that applies to all states. I think that if there is no tax collected from these sales, each state will start to suffer from lose of revenue that helps pay for some of lifes necessities such as roads, education, and law enforcement. I think that Congress knew that there was a problem and by putting a moratorium, it would give them time to come up with some ideas. But by the time they come up with ideas it will be to late. If they do enforce a tax on Internet sales, people will either pay it or start going back to Main Street businesses, then we have a problem because Internet will no longer have the same sale volume. If they do not enforce a tax, I think that the Main Street businesses will either shut their doors or go to the Internet for their sales. In the latter event they will probably still shut their doors and move to an office building. Why have a huge store that they no longer need when they can run everything from a computer. .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 , .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .postImageUrl , .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 , .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:hover , .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:visited , .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:active { border:0!important; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:active , .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3 .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u41fab4e8818473a00013b66843bcdac3:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Cyber-Crime is a Serious Problem Essay I think government should put a tax on Internet sales. BibliographyReferencesCoy, Peter. You Aint Seen Nothin Yet. Business Week (June 22, 1998) p. 130 Denver Post. Then Internet Tax Dodge. (March 2, 1998) p. B6Gleckman, Howard. The Tax Man Eyes the Net. Business Week (April 6, 1998) p. 131Gruenwald, Juliana. Moratorium on Internet Taxes Advanced by House Pannels. Congressional Quarterly Weekly (October 11, 1997) p. 2475Hof, Robert; McWilliams, Gary; Saveri, Gabrielle. The Click Here Economy. Business Week (June 22, 1998) p. 122Social Issues

Voice Recognition Essays - Automatic Identification And Data Capture

Voice Recognition The future is here! Computers deciphering speech, cars commandeered by satellite and miracles of miniaturization are a reality. Are you ready to take advantage of this technology? Voice recognition along with these other new advances in technology are going to vastly increase the accessibility and function of personal computers. As viable working speech recognition software reaches the people the way we work with computers will be transformed. This hands-free technology will allow our words per minute to be dictated by our ability to express coherent ideas verbally, versus our typing skills. At first we may have to tolerate some clunky or limited command interactions but as the software evolves we can expect to see even greater accessibility for people of lesser computer skills. For those who use computers daily, hand held computers with voice input will increase their own ability to multitask. We'll soon be able to walk, talk, word-process and chew gum all at once. The miniaturization of technology is putting greater power in our grasp daily. The personal computer will soon be off our lap and in our palm. What used to take up the space of a desk may soon be no larger than a Walkman. This technology is bound to put a dent in your pocketbook, however we can expect that competition in the market will eventually lower prices. Advancements in heads up display, or HUD technology will further integrate the computer with our everyday lives. Developed early on for fighter pilots, the military now has a lightweight headgear unit for the foot soldier. This marriage of information at a glance and sustained interaction with the non-virtual world will be a breakthrough for ease of use in the civilian domain. If you thought Walkmans were annoying, we may now have to listen to the chatter of these people walking around with their computer headsets. Those with the latest in guidance and navigational technology in their automobiles will now be able to compute on the commute. As these couplings of advancement in technology become a reality an even broader segment of the population will have access to these tools. Whether or not these advancements will increase a connectedness through communication amongst people or further detachment in the first person remains to be seen. I personally am excited at the thought of having this technology at my side in the not so distant future. How soon will we have the voice recognition software? Three companies; Dragon Systems, Lernout & Hawspie and IBM, are selling remarkably good software that lets you speak into a microphone to dictate documents and control your PC. The programmers certainly have their work cut out for them. Will we forgive them if we dictate "Recognize Speech" and it comes out, "wreck a nice beach"? I believe as the technology continues to be refined, voice interfacing will become par for the course. Technology advancements have brought us an ease of use, which with continuing development promises to draw more people closer yet to their PC's. Fifteen years ago computers were a hobby at best for the public at large. The early Tandy's and Commadore 64's had little practical application and "multi-tasking" was a gleam in the BASIC programmer's eye. With the rapid pace of advancements, one can only imagine what the next fifteen years hold in store. Voice Recognition Essays - Automatic Identification And Data Capture Voice Recognition The future is here! Computers deciphering speech, cars commandeered by satellite and miracles of miniaturization are a reality. Are you ready to take advantage of this technology? Voice recognition along with these other new advances in technology are going to vastly increase the accessibility and function of personal computers. As viable working speech recognition software reaches the people the way we work with computers will be transformed. This hands-free technology will allow our words per minute to be dictated by our ability to express coherent ideas verbally, versus our typing skills. At first we may have to tolerate some clunky or limited command interactions but as the software evolves we can expect to see even greater accessibility for people of lesser computer skills. For those who use computers daily, hand held computers with voice input will increase their own ability to multitask. We'll soon be able to walk, talk, word-process and chew gum all at once. The miniaturization of technology is putting greater power in our grasp daily. The personal computer will soon be off our lap and in our palm. What used to take up the space of a desk may soon be no larger than a Walkman. This technology is bound to put a dent in your pocketbook, however we can expect that competition in the market will eventually lower prices. Advancements in heads up display, or HUD technology will further integrate the computer with our everyday lives. Developed early on for fighter pilots, the military now has a lightweight headgear unit for the foot soldier. This marriage of information at a glance and sustained interaction with the non-virtual world will be a breakthrough for ease of use in the civilian domain. If you thought Walkmans were annoying, we may now have to listen to the chatter of these people walking around with their computer headsets. Those with the latest in guidance and navigational technology in their automobiles will now be able to compute on the commute. As these couplings of advancement in technology become a reality an even broader segment of the population will have access to these tools. Whether or not these advancements will increase a connectedness through communication amongst people or further detachment in the first person remains to be seen. I personally am excited at the thought of having this technology at my side in the not so distant future. How soon will we have the voice recognition software? Three companies; Dragon Systems, Lernout & Hawspie and IBM, are selling remarkably good software that lets you speak into a microphone to dictate documents and control your PC. The programmers certainly have their work cut out for them. Will we forgive them if we dictate "Recognize Speech" and it comes out, "wreck a nice beach"? I believe as the technology continues to be refined, voice interfacing will become par for the course. Technology advancements have brought us an ease of use, which with continuing development promises to draw more people closer yet to their PC's. Fifteen years ago computers were a hobby at best for the public at large. The early Tandy's and Commadore 64's had little practical application and "multi-tasking" was a gleam in the BASIC programmer's eye. With the rapid pace of advancements, one can only imagine what the next fifteen years hold in store.

Dont Let These 3 Tools Out of Your Sight

Dont Let These 3 Tools Out of Your Sight Whether you’ve taken a break from work for family or personal reasons or have been in the same job since printer paper had those tear-off edges, it’s important that you keep your skills current. This obviously applies to your technical skills and job-specific responsibilities, but here are some simple professional areas to make sure you’re keeping up with the times. 1. GmailAside from their professional email address (their names @ employer.com), my parents still share a personal email address. Until AOL got hacked a year ago, it was an AOL.com address. This is not how to be current.I give this advice to the college freshmen I teach too- get yourself a gmail address with your real name in it. If yours is taken, try a combination with initials or underscores, but don’t get cute with the numbers. In fact, just don’t get cute at all- avoid RollerSkateDiva@Hotpants.com, for example.2. LinkedInWhile my dad is an avid Facebook oversharer (don’t wor ry, I made sure his profile went friends-only once he retired), my mom doesn’t want her face anywhere on the internet. If she’s looking for a new job someday, I worry that she won’t have the kind of positive professional presence that most employers look for. I’m lobbying to get her to set up a LinkedIn profile- it will only have professional information, it allows her to connect with colleagues and potentially useful members of her extended network, and it puts her firmly in control of the reputation her name has online.If you have a LinkedIn already, congratulations! Welcome to 2009! Make sure your summary has up to date contact info, including phone, your new professional email, and a few highlights from your resume’s achievements section.3. SkypeThis is apparently the post where I heckle my nearest and dearest, but my husband has some kind of Skype-induced rage syndrome. Somehow, every time he logs on to use it when he’s working from hom e or out sick, it won’t load or glitches or takes forever to update (the way programs you haven’t opened in a million years often do).My recommendation, should you be in the market for interviews that may ask you to call in over Skype, is to set up your profile (and give it a professional, recognizable handle) a few days early, and practice with a friend or relative you should really be calling more anyway. Practice logging in, locating your contact, initiating and receiving a call, and hanging up so you’ll be ready and professional come game time.  Staying Current is Key to Managing a Successful Career  Read More at www.social-hire.com

HW1 Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

HW1 - Research Paper Example Of all the above solvents the use of diisobutyl ketone is less hazardous since it is miscible with most organic solvents and immiscible with water, it has a slow evaporating rate but has a high boiling point, has a good viscosity reduction, reduction of surface tension in high-solid coating. The major damage can be caused by spillages of which may result in irritation and burns to the eyes, nose, throat and skin, rashes to the skin, there might be cases of skin allergy with rash and itchiness. This can be control via the use of Butyl neoprene (gloves and boots), coveralls and respirators (full facepiece APR with OV cartridges 20ppm supplied air.). The basic function of any respirator is usually to protect from inhaling of hazardous chemicals or gases, they include full face piece respirator, half mask piece respirator, quarter mask respirator. The full face piece covers the greatest area from around the hairline to the chin as compared to half mask which covers from nose to chin and quarter mask which covers only the eye and the nose, hence the most appropriate to use is the full face piece since it ensures maximum area covered hence high protection. As mentioned above other hazards may include reactive hazards, this are mostly caused by release of gases which in turn burns/explode or causes high pressure hence inflicting injury to a person. Also there is pyrophoric hazards, this are chemicals that ignite in the air at a temperature of about 130oF e.g. lithium, powered aluminum etc. the best way to prevent this is by seeking of toxicity data from literature, private sources or even

Financial Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

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The Siete Partidas in regards to the Jewish people in Iberia Term Paper - 1

The Siete Partidas in regards to the Jewish people in Iberia - Term Paper Example They also introduced Islam and new ideologies. The end result was constant conflict and stratification. The Muslim Spain (al-Andalus) had to tighten their political and military system so as to ensure an intensive and effective regime that would gain control of the earlier occupants, with minimum opposition, attacks and revolts. Having gained dominion over the peninsula, the al-Andalus sought to introduce the political and administrative systems and structures that they were conversant with those that were already established in the East. For instance, they destroyed the monarchy that characterized the Visigothic system and substituted it with emirate system3. Under this system, the al-Andalus was to form an administrative unit, with an Arab military ruler from amongst the Muslims in Muslim Spain. Technically, this administrative unit would be said to be a sub unit under Damascus at first, as the ruler pledged loyalty to the Umayyad caliph (the overall ruler) in Damascus. However, a few years later, this emirate gained its independence when `Abbasids took over leadership, killed members of the Ummayad family and defied the traditional requirement of pledging loyalty to the Caliph in Damascus. However, some Muslims, in theory continued to recognize the caliphate of Baghdad. The emirate was divided into provi nces, each headed with its functionaries. Under Emirate system, the overall political head that would be in charge of the entire Muslim Spain was called the amir. The final administrative authority was also vested in the amir. As administrative and political head, Amir made all the political; and administrative decisions that pertained to the provinces. He was also in charge of appointing all the functionaries. He also decided on issues pertaining to taxation, like the quantity of tax to be levied at particular place and

The Fairytale of Alice Walkers Color Purple Essay -- Color Purple Ess

The Fairytale of The Color Purple It is important for one to distinguish between the "real" outcome of economic achievement as described in The Color Purple by the lynching of Celie's father, and its "alternative" economic view presented at the end of the novel depicting Celie's happiness and entrepreneurial success. To distinguish between these outcomes it is necessary to relate the novel to two Models (Historical and Empirical Data, Manners and Customs) of representation in the "real" and "alternative" worlds of The Color Purple. By focusing on the letters describing the lynching of Celie's father, and the letter describing Celie's economic stability and happiness (found in last letter), we will have established a clear distinction between the real and alternative worlds in relation to the economic situations presented throughout the novel. Manners and customs in the "real" generally work to maintain order, decorum, and stability. Within the novel the reality was that blacks had to work for whites on whatever terms were available. When using manners and customs to depict the real world of the novel, it is evident we are examining an external world based in a society where the white oppressor governs the oppressed black populace. The economic realities of white land ownership, near-monopoly of technical and business skills and control of financial institutions was in fact the accepted norm (Sowell 48). When presenting the term fact - we must account for the introduction of a second model, "historical and empirical data" in representing the real world of The Color Purple. As illustrated in the pages of American history books, it is evide... ...ntity with which the novel leaves us uses fairytale explanations of social relations to represent an alternative world. This fairy tale embraces America for providing the black nation with the right and the opportunity to own land, to participate in the free market, and to profit from it. Indeed The Color Purple is a fairytale; a world in which sexual exploitation can easily be overcome; and a world of unlimited access to material well-being (Hooks 223). By emphasizing on the letter dealing with the lynching of Celie's father and the last letter of the novel establishing Celie's economic independence we have illustrated the real and alternative worlds in relation to the economic prosperity of the black individual. Thus creating an illusionary fantasy world by combining or mediating between the novel's social realism and its alternative.

The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 29

My Movie's Montage Explaining how I learned Tiffany's routine and became an excellent dancer would be difficult – mostly because our rehearsals are long and grueling and extremely boring. We do the same little things over and over again endlessly. For example, if I had to lift a finger in the air for the routine, Tiffany would make me do it a thousand times every single day until I could do it to her liking on command. So I will spare you most of the boring details. To make things even more complicated, Tiffany has forbidden me to document our rehearsals in any thorough manner that would allow others to steal her training techniques. As she wants to open up a studio someday, she is very guarded about her methods – and her choreography too. Luckily, as I am starting to write this part, I remember that in every one of his films, whenever Rocky needs to become a better boxer, they show clips of him doing one-arm push-ups, running on the beach, punching slabs of meat, running the stairs of the art museum, gazing at Adrian lovingly, or being yelled at by Mickey or Apollo Creed or even Paulie – all while his theme song plays, which is perhaps the greatest song in the world, â€Å"Gonna Fly Now.† In the Rocky movies, it only takes a few minutes to cover weeks of training, and yet the audience still understands that a lot of preparation went into the actual development of Rocky's boxing skills, even though we only get to see a few clips of the Italian Stallion working hard. During a therapy session, I ask Cliff what this movie technique is called. He has to call his wife, Sonja, on his cell phone, but she knows the answer and tells us that what I am trying to describe is called a montage. So that is what I am now going to create below, my movie's montage. Maybe you'll want to play â€Å"Gonna Fly Now† on your CD player, if you have a copy handy – or you could put on any song you find inspiring – and read along to the music. Music is not required, however. Okay, here it is, my montage: In anticipation of our big performance, I'm running a little faster with Tiffany every day. We push ourselves, and when we get to the park, we sprint the last mile to her house and get really sweaty. I always beat Tiffany, because I am a man, yes, but also because I am an excellent runner. See me pumping iron: bench press, leg lifts, sit-ups on the Stomach Master 6000, bike riding, squats, knuckle push-ups, curls – the works. â€Å"Crawl!† Tiffany yells. So I crawl on the hardwood floor of her dance studio. â€Å"Crawl like you have no legs and you haven't eaten for two weeks and there's a single apple in the middle of the room and another man with no legs is also crawling toward the apple. You want to crawl faster, but you cannot, because you are maimed. Desperation flows out of your face like sweat! You are so afraid you will not get to the apple before the other legless man! He will not share the apple with – no, no, no. Stop! You're doing it all wrong! Jesus Christ, Pat! We only have four weeks left!† â€Å"Jeanie,† I hear my father say. He is in the kitchen eating his breakfast. I am on the basement stairs listening. â€Å"Why does Pat close his eyes and hum every time I mention the Eagles? Is he going crazy again? Should I be concerned?† â€Å"What's this I hear about you missing the Saints game?† Jake says through the telephone when I call him back sometime after 11:00 p.m. He has called two nights in a row, and the note my mother left for me on my pillow read Call your brother back no matter how late. IMPORTANT. â€Å"Don't you want to see what Baskett does this week? Why are you humming?† â€Å"When you are a dancer, you are allowed to put your hands anywhere on your partner's body, Pat. It's not sexual. So when you do this first lift, yes, your hands will be cradling my ass and crotch. Why are you pacing? Pat, it's not sexual – it's modern dance.† See me pumping iron: bench press, leg lifts, sit-ups on the Stomach Master 6000, bike riding, knuckle push-ups, curls – the works. â€Å"I'm Okay, Pat. I'm fucking fine. You're going to drop me a few times while we're learning the lifts, but it's not because you're not strong enough. You need to center your palm directly at the base of my crotch. If you need me to get more specific, I will. Here. I'll show you. Put out your hand.† â€Å"Your mother tells me you will not discuss Eagles football with your – why are you humming?† Cliff asks. â€Å"I did not mention that certain saxophonist's name. What's this all about?† â€Å"I never thought I would say this, but maybe you should consider taking a break from your dance training and watch the game with Jake and your dad,† my mother says. â€Å"You know I hate football, but you and your father seemed to be making a connection, and Jake and you are just getting back to being brotherly again. Pat, please stop humming.† â€Å"For the second lift you need to look up at me, Pat. Especially just before I go into the flip. You don't have to look at my crotch, but you have to be ready to push up so I'll get more height. If you don't give me a push when I bend my knees, I won't be able to complete the flip and will probably crack my head open on the floor.† â€Å"I know you can hear me through the humming, Pat. Look at you!† my father says. â€Å"Curled up in your bed, humming like a child. Birds lose by a field goal in New Orleans, and your boy Baskett had zero catches. Zilch. Don't think your dancing through the game didn't affect the outcome.† â€Å"You look like a retarded snake! You are supposed to crawl with your arms – not slither or wiggle or whatever the fuck you are doing down there. Here. Watch me.† In anticipation of our big performance, I'm running a little faster with Tiffany every day. We push ourselves, and when we get to the park, we sprint the last mile to her house and get really sweaty. I always beat Tiffany, because I am a man, yes, but also because I am an excellent runner. â€Å"What's Tiffany holding over you?† Ronnie says. We are in my parents' basement. I have already spotted him as he benched one wimpy sixty-pound rep, and now he is taking a break. This is a surprise visit disguised to look like a prework lifting session. â€Å"I told you to protect yourself. I'm telling you, Pat, you don't know what that woman is capable of. My sister-in-law is capable of anything. Anything!† â€Å"You're making the sun with your arms. In the center of the stage, you represent the sun. And when you make the huge circle with your arms, it has to be slow and deliberate – just like the sun. The dance is one day's worth of sun. You are going to rise and set all onstage – to the flow of our song. Understand?† â€Å"I want you to talk to Tiffany and tell her it's important for you to watch the Eagles game with your father,† Mom says. â€Å"Please stop humming, Pat. Please, just stop humming!† â€Å"The second lift is the hardest by far, as it requires you to go from a squatting position to a standing position with me standing on your hands, which will be just above your shoulders. Do you think you're strong enough to do this, because we can do something else if you are too weak, but let's try it now and we'll just see.† â€Å"Why is this dance competition so important to you?† Cliff asks me. I look up at the sun painted on the ceiling of his office and smile. â€Å"What?† he says. â€Å"The dancing lets me be that,† I say, and point up. Cliff's eyes follow my finger. â€Å"It lets you be the sun?† â€Å"Yes,† I say, and smile again at Cliff, because I really like being the sun, exactly what allows clouds to have a silver lining. Also, being the sun is what will provide me with the opportunity to write letters to Nikki. â€Å"Please stop humming into the phone, Pat. I'm on your side here. I understand wanting to learn an art for a woman. Don't you remember my playing the piano for you? But the difference is that Caitlin would never ask me to miss an Eagles game, because she knows it's more than just football to me. I can hear you fucking humming through the phone, Pat, but I'm just going to keep talking, all right? You're acting crazy, you know. And if the Eagles lose tomorrow against the Buccaneers, Dad is going to think you cursed the Birds.† â€Å"Okay, you know your routine – roughly, anyway. So now I want you to watch mine. I'll say ‘lift' when it's time for one of your lifts, just so you know when they're coming. But don't worry, because as long as you do your routine, I'll make sure we link up with the lifts. Okay?† Tiffany is in tights and a T-shirt like every other day, but she transforms her face just before she pushes play on the CD player. So solemn. Those sad piano notes and those two dueling voices fill the room, and Tiffany begins to dance beautifully but sadly. Her body moves so gracefully, and it is only now that I understand what she means by crying through movement. She jumps, she rolls, she spins, she runs, she slides. She yells â€Å"Lift!† and then falls to the floor dead, only to explode upward in resurrection when the music picks up again. And her dancing is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I could watch her dance for the rest of my life, and strangely, watching Tiffany soar around the dance floor makes me feel like I am floating over waves with baby Emily. Tiffany is that good. â€Å"Your father has stopped eating dinner with me, Pat. He's not taking walks with me either. Ever since the Eagles lost to the Buccaneers, he's back to his – Pat, please stop humming. Pat!† In anticipation of our big performance, I'm running a little faster with Tiffany every day. We push ourselves, and when we get to the park, we sprint the last mile to her house and get really sweaty. I always beat Tiffany, because I am a man, yes, but also because I am an excellent runner. â€Å"I don't think you understand how much this means to my sister,† Veronica says, and I am shocked to see her and baby Emily in my basement gym. â€Å"Do you know that since Tommy passed, she has never asked her family to see her dance? In fact, for two years she's banned us from attending any of her performances. But this year she thinks she is going to perform flawlessly enough to invite her family – she's convinced, in fact – and while I am glad to see her so happy, I'm afraid to even think about what she might do if you guys screw up the performance. She's not a stable person, Pat. You do understand that, right? You do understand that your performing poorly will result in months of serious depression? So I need to ask you how are the rehearsals really going? Do you truly think you can win? Do you?† Before I turn off the lights, I stare into framed-picture Nikki's eyes. I see her freckled nose, her strawberry blond hair, her full lips. I kiss her so many times. â€Å"Soon,† I say. â€Å"I'm doing everything I can. I won't let you down. Remember – ‘Forever's gonna start tonight.'† See me pumping iron: bench press, leg lifts, sit-ups on the Stomach Master 6000, bike riding, knuckle push-ups, curls – the works. â€Å"The Asian Invasion will pick you up at – † Cliff nods at me and smiles. â€Å"Ah, the humming again. Your mother tells me you won't talk to anyone about Eagles football, but you aren't seriously going to miss a home game, are you?† â€Å"The most important thing is to make the lifts look effortless, as if you are holding up air. I should appear to be floating. Understand? Good, because I need you to stop shaking during the routine, Pat. You look like you have fucking Parkinson's disease, for Christ's sake.† â€Å"How does a four-and-one team lose three games straight?† Dad yells down from the top of the basement steps. â€Å"A team that beat the Dallas Cowboys handily? A team with a first-ranked offense and more sacks than any other team in the league? You can hum all you want, Pat. But that don't change the fact that you took the good luck away from the Birds and are ruining our season!† See me pumping iron: bench press, leg lifts, sit-ups on the Stomach Master 6000, bike riding, knuckle push-ups, curls – the works. â€Å"Okay. Not bad. You got the crawling down, and one of the lifts doesn't look awful anymore. But we only have a week left. Can we do this? Can we do this?† â€Å"I bought you a present,† Tiffany tells me. â€Å"Go into the powder room and try it on.† In her studio's washroom, I remove a pair of yellow tights from a plastic bag. â€Å"What's this?† I call out to Tiffany. â€Å"It's your outfit. Put it on, and we'll have a dress rehearsal.† â€Å"Where's the shirt?† â€Å"Again,† Tiffany says, even though it is 10:41 p.m. and my elbows feel as though they might explode. I am dancing on raw nerves. I am dancing on bone. â€Å"Again!† Eleven fifty-nine p.m. â€Å"Again,† Tiffany says, and then takes her place at the left side of the studio. Knowing that arguing is no use, I drop to the floor and prepare to crawl. â€Å"This might tickle some,† Tiffany says just before she slides her pink lady razor through the shaving cream coating my chest, and then she shows me how much hair is in the teacup she rinses the blade in. I am lying on a yoga mat in the middle of her dance studio. My chest is covered with some sort of green aloe shaving gel that turns white when you make foam. Being shaved by Tiffany sort of makes me feel strange, as I have never been shaved by a woman before and have never had my torso shaved at all. When she lathers me up, I close my eyes, and my fingers and toes tingle wildly. I sort of giggle each time she shaves a line of hair off my chest. I sort of giggle each time she shaves a line of hair off my back. â€Å"We want those muscles to gleam like the sun onstage, right?† â€Å"Why can't I just wear a shirt?† I say, even though – in a weird sort of way – I secretly enjoy being shaved by Tiffany. â€Å"Does the sun wear a shirt?† The sun does not wear yellow tights either, but I do not say so. In anticipation of our big performance, I'm running a little faster with Tiffany every day. We push ourselves, and when we get to the park, we sprint the last mile to her house and get really sweaty. I always beat Tiffany, because I am a man, yes, but also because I am an excellent runner. Two days before the competition, just before we are about to perform the routine for the twenty-fifth time that day – twenty-five being Tiffany's favorite number – she says, â€Å"We need to do this flawlessly.† So I try my best, and as I watch bits of our routine in the mirrors that surround us, I think, We really are dancing flawlessly! I am so excited when we finish, because I know we will win – especially since we have improved ourselves so much with sacrifice and hard training. This mini-movie will have a happy ending for sure! But something about Tiffany's demeanor is off as we take our water break. She is not yelling at me, nor is she using the f-word, so I ask, â€Å"What's wrong?† â€Å"How many people did you recruit to come to the competition?† â€Å"I asked everyone I know.† â€Å"Veronica tells me your family is mad at you for abandoning the Eagles.† â€Å"Not my mom.† â€Å"I'm worried that if we don't get enough fans there to cheer for us, the judges might be swayed by another dancer's larger fan base. We might not win, and then I would not be able to act as your liaison, Pat.† â€Å"Maybe if you are not doing anything tomorrow night, you might want to bring your wife and children to my dance recital,† I tell Cliff. â€Å"We've really got a good routine, and I think we can win if only we have enough audience support, and I don't think that my father or brother will be likely to show up, so – â€Å" â€Å"After tomorrow night, you'll be done with these long rehearsals?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"So you will be able to go to the Redskins game on – â€Å" â€Å"Hmmmmmm.† â€Å"Just tell me this, if I go to the dance recital, will you go to the Eagles game with us on Sunday? The Asian Invasion misses you, and truthfully, we sort of feel like you've cursed the Eagles by abandoning them mid-season. Poor Baskett has only caught two balls in the last three games and had zero catches last week. And the Birds have lost three straight. We miss you down at the Linc, Pat.† â€Å"I can't talk about that subject until my dance recital is over tomorrow night. I can only say that I need to recruit as many people as possible to cheer for Tiffany and me so the judges will be swayed. Let me just say that winning is really important, and Tiffany says that crowd reaction can sway the judges.† â€Å"If I come, will you talk to me about that-thing-you-are-not-allowed-to-talk-about after your performance?† â€Å"Cliff, I can't talk about that until after the performance.† â€Å"Well then, neither can I tell you whether I will be at your performance,† Cliff says. At first I think he is bluffing, but he doesn't bring up the subject again, and by the end of our therapy session I feel as though I have blown my shot at getting Cliff to bring his wife to my recital, which makes me feel very depressed. Hello, you've reached Jake and Caitlin's machine. Please leave a message after the beep. Beep. â€Å"Jake. Sorry to call so late, but I just got done rehearsing. I know that you are mad at me because you think I jinxed those-people-who-make-me-hum-at-the-present-moment, but if you bring Caitlin to my dance recital, there's a chance I might be able to do that thing we used to do on Sundays, especially if you cheer for Tiffany and me very loudly. We need people to cheer for us, because the judges are sometimes swayed by the audience. It's really important that we win this competition. So as your brother, I'm asking you to please bring your wife to the Plaza – â€Å" Beep. I hang up and redial the number. Hello, you've reached Jake and Caitlin's machine. Please leave a message after the beep. Beep. â€Å"That's the Plaza Hotel at – â€Å" â€Å"Hello? Is everything okay?† It's Caitlin's voice, which makes me nervous, so I hang up, fully realizing I have blown my shot at getting Jake to come to my dance recital. â€Å"Pat, you know I'll be there. And I'll cheer so loudly for you, but winning isn't everything,† my mom says. â€Å"It's the fact that you were able to learn to dance in only a few weeks that is impressive.† â€Å"Just ask Dad, okay?† â€Å"I will. But I don't want you to get your hopes up. A dance recital is not something he would have attended even if the Eagles won the last three games.†

5 Free Online Academic Writing Courses

Mastery of academic writing is crucial for anybody who is going to pursue a career in science. If you always had trouble putting words together on paper, don’t worry – academic writing is an entire discipline of its own, with its own rules and principles, and a good writer per se is not a prerequisite to excel in it. There are courses that can make your entry into the field easier; and it is no wonder that in this day and age some of these courses are available online for free – and in this case ‘free’ doesn’t always mean ‘bad’, mind you. 1. Writing a First Year Report – available at the University of Edinburgh For those entering the field of academic study this may be the one to start with. It offers both basic and advanced information necessary for successfully writing a course work or a first year report as it is called in some schools, covering points from the correct way of composing an introduction to formatting the literary references. Even if standards in your particular school are a little bit different, it may be of great help, as academic world has notably similar approaches to research in most universities and disciplines alike. 2. Technical Writing – available at New Jersey Institute of Technology Aimed primarily at advanced writers, this course offers great insights into the intricacies of technical writing. Created by members of NJIT, it contains almost 40 video lectures, providing the students with theory for solution of various complex and complicated technical problems. This course is especially valuable because it is more concerned with general recommendations on academic writing that will be useful in any scientific paper rather than with formal advice, the usefulness of which may be limited to a particular school. 3. The Writing Process – available at Purdue University Purdue University is well-known for its Online Writing Lab (OWL), providing access to a wide variety of online information sources on academic writing and accompanying topics. This particular course ranges from general topics like proofreading tips and dealing with writer’s block to recommendations on thesis statements, pre-writing, reverse outlining, audience analysis and much more. And it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that OWL in general is a goldmine of other kinds of useful information as well. 4. Critical Reading and Writing – available at University of Massachusetts at Boston The primary aim of this course is to help students develop their reading and writing skills to college level using critical exploration of the US foreign policy as a subject matter. It exists in the form of text documents and PowerPoint presentations, as well as additional materials in other formats. 5. Writing and Reading the Essay – available at Massachusetts Institute of Technology As is clear from the name, the course is centered around the essay as a form of academic writing. Students study a number of essays, learn why good and bad essays are good and bad, how they are to be written to reach the desired effect and much more. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to learn things. You won’t get credits for these courses, of course – but you will learn, and that’s what important.