Thursday, November 28, 2019

Everything You Wanted To Know About Generating a Technobabble-Free Press Release But Were Afraid To Ask - The Writers For Hire

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT GENERATING A TECHNOBABBLE-FREE PRESS RELEASE BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK Imagine yourself in the following situation: You’re the chief engineer of an up-and-coming technology company, and you’ve just led the launch of a ground-breaking systems control software package. You’re excited. You know your new product can meet a wider range of needs for industrial operators than competing solutions. You’ve published a detailed press release, and now you’re waiting to hear back from the tech press and trade publications. And †¦ crickets. Your big announcement does not seem to have drawn any attention or comments. You ask your team members to look into the matter, and they tell you sheepishly that only a handful of newspapers and blogs have taken note of your announcement. Moreover, they inform you that these outlets have either run the company’s statement in full or have condensed it into a brief blurb that uses exactly the same wording. You’re disappointed – and not sure what to do next. You’re proud of your new product and confident that it can find an audience. So far, though, your audience seems to be yawning. What happened? Perhaps you’ve fallen victim to technobabble. That is, perhaps you – and your communications team have spent enough time in the company of your fellow engineers, coders, systems architects, and other technical experts that you’re defaulting to the jargon you use with each other in the office. And as a result, the message you were trying to send out to potential buyers, not all of whom have the same level of familiarity with technical terms that you do, has been lost in a thicket of acronyms, abbreviations, and neologisms. Luckily, you aren’t alone.   Many, many other companies have written press releases that are all but incomprehensible to the average reader. Take, for example, this statement from Borealis: This press release is a difficult read for several reasons: The headline, â€Å"Borealis inaugurates EUR 15 million investment project mtm plastics GmbH,† gives few details about the topic at hand.The first paragraph devotes more space to describing the companies involved than to explaining what exactly is happening.The text is heavily loaded with technical terms.Most of the results of an internet search for more information on the topic consist of articles that are slightly reworded versions of the press release. Press Releases: Like Doing a Root Canal But how much does it matter if your press release is a difficult read? And if technobabble is truly a problem, how can you avoid it in press releases? To answer these questions, The Writers For Hire spoke to Joel Alpert, the founder and strategic and creative director of MarketPower, an Atlanta-based branding and marketing consultancy. Alpert, who worked for multiple weekly newspapers in the New York City market before moving into consulting, pointed out that press releases have their own problems even if they’re light on technobabble. â€Å"Most press releases are like doing a root canal,† he said. â€Å"They’re incredibly painful to listen to [or] to read. They’re terrible. They do the wrong things †¦ Just in the course of [working in journalism], you learn to hate press releases.† Journalists and editors are in a better position than most to critique public statements from businesses because they see so many of them, he explained. â€Å"Years ago in New York City, we certainly worked with press releases,† he said, referring to his past experience. â€Å"We got hundreds each week. You’d go through them; you’d throw most of them away. You’d edit them, and then you’d publish [them] in some form. When you do that often enough, you develop a sense of taste – of tolerance – for what you’re willing to put up with.† Your takeaway here? Journalists get a ton of releases, and many are poorly written. So make their job easier, and they’ll be more likely to pay attention to you.Tweet this Telling Your Story Unfortunately, the communication problem is not limited to interactions with the press. Companies that struggle to draw the attention of journalists and editors are also likely to have difficulty making a good impression on potential clients and customers. According to Alpert, the best way to avoid boring copy is to tell a story. When telling that story, a strong start is crucial, he remarked. â€Å"The first thing to do is to make the story interesting. And it’s got to be enjoyable, preferably fun,† he added. â€Å"The lead has got to be very strong [and go] right into a story that really engages the reader. Otherwise, the reader will probably throw it away immediately.† To achieve this aim, he said, companies may need to move beyond describing their newest products and services in a straightforward, just-the-facts-ma’am manner. Potential customers – even those who are looking for technological solutions to complex problems – may respond more positively to a different approach, he said. â€Å"You might not tell a story about the brand or about the company,† he said. â€Å"[Instead], you can tell something that expands on your brand or your interests by telling something that’s interesting. It could be a customer experience. So while that doesn’t seem, at face value, to be about the brand, it really is because you’ve told about how a customer interacted with the brand.† HelloPackage seems to be thinking along the same lines, if its press release dated September 14 is any indication. The package management system platform’s statement succeeds on several fronts: The headline and first paragraph draw attention to an easily relatable problem – namely, that of keeping track of more and more packages thanks to the expansion of delivery options.The second paragraph provides data to support the company’s argument without leaving readers to drown in a sea of numbers.The overall tone is collegial and engaging – and non-technical, despite the technical nature of the product.The statement explains clearly how the company can help resolve a real-world problem. If Borealis had taken this approach, the first paragraph of its press release might have read as follows: â€Å"For both manufacturers and consumers, plastics are cheap and convenient. They are also disposable – and piling up around the world, creating environmental hazards. Borealis, a leading provider of innovative solutions in the chemical industry, is contributing to clean-up efforts through the expansion of a plastics recycling facility in Niedergebra, Germany.† The Eyes Have It Hitting these high notes may seem like a tall order for companies involved in complex, high-tech operations. But there are concrete ways to optimize the content of press releases to help them reach laymen and experts alike, Alpert told The Writers For Hire. One technique is to keep press releases and other marketing materials brief, he said. â€Å"Keep it short because if you’ve got something that can be told more [succinctly], you’re getting that story published the way you want to have it, [rather] than getting it sliced to bits because someone feels like they have to take a pen or cursor to it,† he said. Another helpful strategy is to seek out striking imagery, he said. â€Å"There’s something you can do that really helps a lot, and that is [to be] visual,† he said. â€Å"Instead of saying something like ‘we’re growing quickly,’ you say ‘we’re growing in leaps and bounds.’ If that happens to [catch the readers eye], it’s a little more visual.† Even companies involved in heavily technical projects should make use of striking imagery, Alpert asserted. â€Å"Everything has an angle that can be made interesting,† he said. â€Å"I worked for a client in insurance compliance consulting, which is pretty dry stuff. And we had a whole theme of getting through the jungle of insurance compliance that was very visual, with all kinds of illustrations about escaping from the paper tiger in the jungle and cutting through the jungle with machetes. Everything became a way of cutting through the bureaucratic clutter that this industry is known for, and we made that interesting. And this particular client’s business started growing radically once we started doing this kind of stuff because it has a way of gaining the attention and interest of the target audience.† He continued: â€Å"[Something] that’s more engaging and more entertaining and more interesting will gain the attention of your audience – wherever it is, every single time, no exceptions. There’s no industry that can’t create some interesting thinking or analogy.† Borealis would probably have benefited from this approach. For example, the German company could have tweaked its statement to include a more evocative headline, such as â€Å"Borealis to scoop up more litter with EUR 15 million push to expand plastics recycling facility.† Likewise, with a few modifications to the original text, it could have offered a clear and succinct explanation of its investment program. More specifically, it could have used the following as its second paragraph: â€Å"The company is set to spend EUR 15 million on the expansion of a plastics recycling facility that it acquired through the acquisition of another German firm, mtm plastics GmbH, in 2016. The project aims to boost the capacity of the plant, which is located in Niedergebra, Germany, while also improving its ability to navigate the high-end market of plastic re-granulates.† Maintaining Credibility When reworked in this fashion, press releases can do a better job of capturing readers’ interest. But if the topic at hand is technical in nature, will an overhaul really do justice to it? According to Alpert, avoiding technobabble doesn’t have to entail a loss of credibility. â€Å"Sometimes a company has something that’s highly technical and it’s a big innovation, and you have to explain to [readers] why this big innovation has value,† he said. â€Å"That can and should be able to be done. That can also be made interesting and engaging.† He explained: â€Å"Sometimes in the cases of a technical product, you can be a little more technical in what you do because you want to gain some credibility †¦ [Your press release] may be seen by a CFO as well as a CTO, or it may be seen by a programmer or someone in customer service, and [those] audiences are really different. They have different tolerances for what they want to read.† Even so, he said, the desire to cater to expert readers is no excuse for a badly crafted press release. â€Å"No matter who it is, even if they have a technical background, they still want to be able to read it like a normal sentence and not [have it] sound like they’re sitting in a science class looking at the periodic table of elements,† he commented. This target is not out of reach, as the organizers of a technology conference in Wuxi, China can demonstrate. In this press release, the Organizing Committee of 2018 World Internet of Things Expo has accomplished several important goals: In the headline and first paragraph, it uses evocative phrases such as â€Å"pivotal leap,† â€Å"great breakthrough† and â€Å"years of cultivation.†It presents readers with a striking visual image by referring to the event as the â€Å"pearl† of Wuxi.The statement explains how consumers can benefit from the technologies showcased at the event.It references new technological developments without taking refuge in technobabble. Borealis would have done well to adopt a similar approach. For example, it could have played up the positive environmental impact of its plans by playing up the theme of cleaning up litter along the following lines: â€Å"The expansion project will add value to mtm plastics GmbH, which is already in the vanguard of efforts to recycle items that might otherwise be sent to landfills, including mixed post-consumer plastic waste and as one of Europes largest producers of post-consumer polyolefin recyclates.† Cross-Fertilization In any event, companies should certainly aim to stand out, given that media markets have changed so much over the last two decades. â€Å"I don’t think it’s a secret to say that press releases have been fighting for their survival for years,† Alpert said. â€Å"In electronic media, there are so many places to go for information, and social media tends to dominate over press releases. So press releases are not as popular as they used to be.† Even so, companies can attain the best of both worlds by writing press releases that bear more resemblance to social media posts. Alpert explained: â€Å"A press release tends to have a more corporate style, and social media tends to be more conversational. I would argue that press releases should be more conversational, or if not conversational, then minimally they should be engaging and absolutely interesting and readable.† The press release mentioned above serves as a good example of this informal approach. In similar fashion, this September 13 statement from MyRepChat strikes a friendly note: Instead of listing the software’s technical features at length, it uses brief summaries and quotes from its CEO to highlight the ways that the software helps its users. By contrast, Borealis uses a quote from its acting CEO that comes across as plodding and overloaded with buzzwords: â€Å"This investment in our mechanical recycling capabilities at mtm is key in realising our growth ambitions in the circular economy, and it underlines our continuing commitment to mtm. We need stepwise expansion projects to minimize down time, but also need to maintain existing facilities and business.† The company might have done better to preface this statement with something more descriptive, such as: â€Å"Borealis’ acting CEO Alfred Stern emphasized his company’s dedication to expanding its activities in the area of plastics recycling – and doing so without forcing mtm plastics GmbH to take a break from the important business of responsible handling of post-consumer waste.† Content Management In short, according to Alpert, avoidance (or judicious use) of technobabble is valuable for any company looking to bolster its bottom line. Clear communication â€Å"absolutely leads to sales,† he said. â€Å"That’s why we have so much marketing communication [and] so much chatter across every imaginable medium, from email and Twitter and Facebook on your phone to electronic billboards and ads in elevators.† As noted here, good writing skills are a crucial part of the solution, especially for companies involved in complex and technical industries that are not easy to describe to laymen. But they do not have to be the only tool in use. Indeed, technology – in the form of content management systems (CMSs) – can play a role. CMSs are software packages or apps that allow their users to collect, store, manage, and publish information, including text, graphics, and other materials. As companies accumulate collections of press releases and other public statements, they can use CMSs as an archive that stores older material: as a smart index that tags text and graphics so that they can be used in the most effective context, as a template that generates new material and calibrates it to specific audiences, as a sounding board that allows staff members to update and comment on press releases and other public statements, and as a publishing solution that formats material attractively. Pimcore, a German open-source software vendor, has pointed out that these systems help companies access the technological resources needed to streamline the process of composing and releasing marketing materials: â€Å"You don’t need to know HTML or any other programming language to build a website using a CMS. All you really need to know is how to use Microsoft Word and you will be able to create (using) your CMS to create web pages, blog posts, news articles, landing pages, and press releases.† (hyperlink to https://pimcore.com/en/resources/blog/why-you-should-be-using-a-content-management-system-cms_a981) In other words, CMSs can be a helpful complement to good writing skills. They can streamline the process of drafting press releases by helping companies to draw on their most successful marketing campaigns and statements of the past. Through tagging, they can help companies tailor their press releases to different audiences with different tolerances for technical information, while ensuring that the final product is well formatted and visually appealing.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Final Project Ms. Z Assesment Essays - Psychology, Free Essays

Final Project Ms. Z Assesment Essays - Psychology, Free Essays Final Project an Assessment of Ms. Z February 24, 2019 Final Project an Assessment of Ms. Z Introduction Ms. Z was referred to us pursuing a recommendations and advisement on returning to school to receive a four-year degree to further education goals and future employment opportun i t ies (Project Vignette two, n.d). She is also seeking diagnostic insights to enhancing her quality of life and dealing with her mental health issues. Ms. Z is a 35-year-old female of African American decent and is married with two children. She has received her high school diploma and has completed two years of college. C urrently she is employed at a local insurance agency as an office manager and her husband works there as well (Project Vignette two, n.d). Ms. Z has been dealing with mental health issue for approximately 17 years first receiving services at age 18 for "mood swings". Within the past three years she has experienced increased depression and was treated with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which did offer short-term relief. Ms. Z has also been admitted into a psychiatric hospital following a suicide attempt (Project Vignette Two , n.d) . Currently she is receiving anti -depressant medications and her husband offers a strong support system who currently assumes household duties when depression is unmanageable. However, her depressed moods continue interfering with daily activities (Project Vignette Two, n.d) . In order to better understand and receive a clearer picture of Ms. Z's educational and employment needs along with needed insights on her mental health issues she was administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale -Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Test and Assessment Development Analysis : Test One Administration Administration of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) consists of 567 statements that are answered true or false and takes 60 to 90 minutes to complete (Benet, 2016). T he MMPI-2 is administered, scored and interpreted by a psychiatrist who had separate training in MMPI use or a professional such as a clinical psychologist (Benet, 2016). The test can be either a computerized version or paper and pencil and be either a group setting or administered individually . The MMPI-2 is used to assess a wide-range of emotional, behavioral and personality disorders (Benet, 2016). However, it has also been utilized in other areas not associated to clinical psychology. Normed Populations The normative sample for the MMPI-2 involves 2,600 individuals ( 1,138 males and 1,462 females ). Individuals who are ages 18 and older and are selected representatives of the United States population with similar samples that originate from s everal military bases and federal Indian reservation (Benet, 2016; Butcher et al., 2001). What the test yields The MMPI-2 was d esigned to use as an unbiased personality test for the measurement of mental disorders. Furthermore, the MMPI-2 is used to the same degree as an assessment, screening, selection, and prediction applications in research and clinical settings (Benet, 2016; Butcher et al., 2001). The original MMPI was fostered to assist in the assessment of adult psychiatric patients, describing the severity and nature of their disorder also to measure any changes over time (Brokaw, 2013). Reliability and Validity Reliability is measured with test-retest data o f 82 males and 11 females , a retest was done after a median of 7 days (Benet, 2016; Wise, Streiner, and Walfish, 2010) . The c orrelation coefficients ranged from .67 to .92 for males (median r = .82), and from .58 to .91 for females (median r = .79) (Benet, 2016; Wise, Streiner, and Walfish, 2010). Development of additional validity indicators were developed for MMPI-2. Individuals who complete inventory in an invalid approach are identified by F B (Back F) scales (Benet, 2016; Wise, Streiner, and Walfish, 2010). Additionally, delivering an index of a client's tendency to react in ways that are not only inconsistent but also contradictory is identified as a Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN) scale was designed to identify random responding and a True Response Inconsistency (TRIN) scale was designed to identify fixed responses (Benet, 2016; Wise, Streine r, and Walfish, 2010). Cut Scores With the MMPI-2 answers are scored on four validity scales which evaluate the client's general test-taking manner and if

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Applying Alpro herd management system (information system) to a small Term Paper

Applying Alpro herd management system (information system) to a small dairy farm - Term Paper Example The system has also assisted dairy farmers to monitor and keep the health of their herds. The system has been designed to be user-friendly and to fit in with the routines of dairy farmers all year round. The system also impressively withstands the aggressive gasses and the high humidity that is usually present in the dairy unit environment. A dairy ranch with a herd size of approximately 150, one manager, and two skilled laborers can be managed using the ALPRO System. The side opening milking parlor used here may be organized to allow the 80 milking cows to exit or cross over to a single return lane on one side. Using a single return lane reduces the cost of parlor and the facilities used when catching or sorting the cows leaving the parlor. The single return lane allows the cows to be released individually after milking. For a six-stall side opening milking parlor, the ALPRO system is efficient and comfortable. It shortens the udder to milker distance making it easy to see and reach the cows during milking and avoid the sideways twitching related to udder inspection or cluster attachment. The layout allows for smooth movement between the cows and complete view of the cow in monitoring feeding during and after milking. It also allows easy separation of cows that need special individual attention. The system adapts to v arious cow traffic patterns, and milking routines for it is versatile. It widens the choice of building a suitable layout and makes the utilization of an existing farm building more practical. The ALPRO System incorporates simple electronic photocells that track the progress of the milking cows through the side opening milking parlor and transmits the information to an ALPRO controller. After a cow leaves a particular milking stall, the system automatically closes the gate behind the cow and opens the entry gate for another cow to enter thus preventing traffic in the milking parlor. Similarly, the automation reduces the need

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Ethical Legal Dilemma Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study I Week 3 Assignment

Ethical Legal Dilemma Advanced Practice Nursing Case Study I Week 3 - Assignment Example Though it may seem callous to say, the main objective is to draw a line that crosses both an ethical and a legal aspect of such a scenario in order to negate any sort of liability that may befall the hospital should anything happen (Grant & Ballard, 2011). Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) is a very controversial subject with both sides holding strong arguments on why it should or should not be accepted. On one hand its seen as the simple and outright killing of another individual yet on the other it can be said that such an act cannot be considered to be murder as it involves the willing participation of the so called victim (Lachman, 2010). What can be considered to be the best option as a result is the creation of a strong outline for the circumstances under which PAS is allowed for an individual (Calandrillo, 1998). This is due to the fact that in some cases an individual who is bound to die in the end is simply being given a choice of suffering through out till the end or choosing to go in a more peaceful manner but earlier than would have been the case. An individual should have the right to be able to make such a decision for themselves (Lachman,

Monday, November 18, 2019

Alfred The Great Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Alfred The Great - Research Paper Example King Alfred the Great is said to have quoted â€Å"I desired to live worthily as long as I lived, and to leave after my life, to the men who should come after me, the memory of me in good works." Alfred the Great is best remembered by many historians for his military feats. His victories against the Danes prove his capabilities as a great warrior. He is credited with having built the first royal navy to combat the Danes. Alfred adopted the Danish strategy of building fortified bases. The Danes were defeated by the army of Alfred in May 878 in the Battle of Edington. When Alfred finally managed to defeat the Danes, instead of avenging the attacks, exhibited true statesmanship. He entertained the defeated Danish monarch and signed the Treaty of Wedmore, whereby he accepted the Danish occupation of East Anglia. Wessex was secured for Alfred and this resulted in lasting peace. According to the peace treaty, Guthorn was baptized into the Christian faith and is troops from Wessex. Alfred Recognize the Danish control of East Anglia and a few parts of Mercia. In another treaty signed in 886 called the â€Å"Danelaw† the partition of England was formalized. After this, Alfred began fortifying his kingdom with forts to secure it from invasions. To augment his defenses, Alfred constructed a fleet of ships and thereby came to be famously called the â€Å"Father of the English Navy.† (Britannia) The life of King Alfred is a life of â€Å"quiet virtue and unobtrusive success.† (Alfred the Great: The Truth Teller, Maker of England, 848-899 by Beatrice Adelaide Lees). He does not arouse strong feelings of passion that inspire poetry. Instead he is remembered as a friend of the poor, an ally of the clergy and a scholar king. Being a scholar himself, he is known to have translated many Latin books into the tongue of the Anglo Saxons. One of Alfred’s contemporary works that was left unfinished was a Latin account by Asser, a Welshman who was Alfred’s

Friday, November 15, 2019

Implementation of a Remote Access Water Laboratory

Implementation of a Remote Access Water Laboratory   Introduction As information and communication technologies rapidly advance, so too does the spectrum of resource used in the field of education. One such resource is the use of online learning material and remote access laboratories for distance learning courses. One of the hallmarks of a distance learning course is the separation of teacher and learner in space and/or time, allowing the learner self-paced study at convenient times, and locations [1], [2]. Since its inception, distance learning has become a powerful tool for students in pursuit of education [4]. Context of Project The Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST) at Loughborough University is the largest and leading sustainable energy research centre in the UK, it has overseen the research and development of the most progressive renewable energy technologies [6]. The centre was the first in the UK to offer a postgraduate degree programme in the field of renewable energy systems technology, along with its innovative distance learning adaptation [6]. Laboratory exercises play a critical role in the education of science and engineering [11], it is important for effective distance learning courses to provide a hands-on laboratory experience [12]. Due to the influence of information, communication and computational technologies; remote labs are considered one of the five major shifts in engineering education over the past 100 years they have the capacity to provide a hands-on experience for distance learning students with significant advantages in accessibility, availability and safety [20], [21]. Problem Statement Figure 1-1 outlines the scope of the project. Water power has been exploited by human beings for many centuries; early water wheels driven by rivers or tides were used to grind wheat or drive machinery. As technologies matured and with the advent of electricity, water wheels had become water turbines designed to generate electricity from the energy stored within the water resource [8]. Over 70% of the earths surface is covered by water, with such a vast resource potential the importance of studying water turbines becomes apparent [9]. The current distance learning laboratory assessment for the Water Power module suggests the use of a simulation software to model a water turbine under different conditions; this is not sufficient for understanding the physical behaviour of the turbine as simulation labs can only produce preprogrammed results [4]. A remote lab utilises a software that allows students to gain experimental data using real instruments set in a lab on-campus using only a PC with the aid of the internet [7]. For distance learning students to gain a truer understanding of water turbine behaviour, it is proposed that the on-campus laboratory be modified for use as a remote lab. Aims and Objectives The aim of this project is to design a system that can be used in conjunction with the on-campus axial water turbine instrumentation, allowing remote access and control of the lab for distance learning students. The main objectives to facilitate this aim are outlined below: Identify the dynamic, controllable elements of the on-campus laboratory instrumentation. Design and build a system by which the dynamic elements can be controlled. Implement a method by which this system can be remotely accessed through the Learn server. Integrate the system with the current software used for the laboratory. Literature Review Remote Laboratories Introduction For 20 years remote access laboratories have been used in science and engineering education though they have since greatly impacted pedagogy in these fields, their potential in support of distance learning courses and the student autonomous learning experience has yet to be fully realised [10], [11], [15], [16]. Definition It can be difficult to assert what remote laboratories encompass as definitions provided in the literature are at times inconsistent [10]. A clear definition of remote laboratories will be established in the context of this project in order to avoid ambiguity. A remote laboratory is the framework that enables students to carry out a laboratory experiment, using real instruments, through the medium of the internet; eliminating the time and space constraints imposed by hands-on laboratories [14], [17]. Building Blocks There are four critical building blocks that form the foundations of a remote laboratory these must be well understood in order to achieve the desired aim [12]: Scheduling: Distance learning courses necessitate the flexibility of allowing students to decide when the can fit labs into their schedule. Remote-Access: It is necessary that the students can make a secure connection to the lab environment The Operating Environment: It is essential that the user interface of the system is easy to use and understand. Laboratory Assignment: The student must realise the aim of the lab and subsequently make the connection between theory and application. In Distance Learning Remote laboratories offer a very high level of flexibility, with access usually 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; meeting the needs of distance learning courses [10].   According to certain studies; remote labs have been as effective and had a comparable impact on students to hands-on labs [26]. Remote laboratories are not free of short comings; they require space, devices, and maintenance at times even greater than hands-on laboratories [13]. They are also designed as single-user applications; this removes the elements of interaction that hands-on laboratories offer. Other Laboratory Methods Simulated Laboratories Simulated laboratories; usually justified by their cost effectiveness and spatial advantages, have been shown to inspire cognitive thinking by allowing students greater freedom to explore and experiment [18], [19], [23], [24]. This however comes with its disadvantages; simulated laboratories are usually designed as single-user applications, subsequently isolating the students. Simulated laboratories are shown to not be equal in their standard across institutions [22]. Though they serve well in some cases; they are not an adequate substitute for hands-on laboratories, as they do not provide the range of possibilities produced when manipulating physical matter the results produced are preprogrammed [4]. Hands-on Laboratories Hands-on Laboratories have been shown to be a corner stone in engineering education as engineering students identify themselves as being essentially practical [25]. The results gathered from conducting a hands-on experiment provide natural results, and in this regard are far superior to those of simulated laboratories. Though the benefits of hands-on laboratory experiments are clear; disadvantages are also present. Laboratory management can be expensive, equipment requires regular maintenance and qualified staff are needed to supervise experiments [13]. The constraints of accessibility and availability render hands-on laboratory sessions impractical for distance learning students [20]. Conclusions Remote laboratories utilise software allowing students to gain experimental data using real instruments set in a lab on-campus using only a PC with the aid of the internet [7]. This allows the students to gain practical results from experimentation, eliminating the disadvantages of simulated labs while retaining its advantages. Proposed Methodology Figure 3-1 represents the overall approach that will be taken for this project. Figure 3-1 Overview of Methodology for Project Proposed Deliverables The final deliverable will be in the form of a completed system having integrated both hardware and software and having met the following requirements as shown in Table 4-1. Table 4-1 Requirements for System # Requirements Explanation 1 Easy to Use The system must be easy to access through the Learn server with an intuitive, and simplistic user interface. This allows the student to interact with the software without any great difficulty. 2 Easy to Maintain The system should have easy access points in case of failure parts should be replaceable. 3 Durable The system should have a high finish with sufficient build quality to last several years. 4 Reliable The system should have minimal components and moving parts, this reduces the chance of failure of the system as a whole. Projected Resource Requirements The projected resource requirements are shown in Table 5-1 below. Table 5-1 Projected Resource Requirements Hardware Requirements Software Requirements Technical Expertise MyRIO Hardware Package LabVIEW Electronics Understanding Electric Motors AutoCAD LabVIEW Competency Exterior Machined Parts Engineering Workshop Cost: The maximum cost of the hardware is expected to be in the region of  £600. Software should incur not cost. The maximum cost of machining of parts is expected to be in the region of  £400 Total maximum cost will approximate  £1000. References Perraton H. A theory for distance education. Prospects. 1981 Mar;11(1):13-24. Perreault H, Waldman L, Alexander M, Zhao J. Overcoming barriers to successful delivery of distance-learning courses. Journal of Education for Business. 2002 Jul;77(6):313-8. Cropley AJ, Kahl TN. Distance education and distance learning: Some psychological considerations. Distance Education. 1983 Mar;4(1):27-39. Hamza MK, Alhalabi B, Hsu S, Larrondo-Petrie MM, Marcovitz DM. Remote labs. Computers in the Schools. 2002 Dec;19(3-4):171-90. Feisel, L.D. and Rosa, A.J. (2005) The role of the laboratory in undergraduate engineering education, Journal of Engineering Education, 94(1), pp. 121-130. doi: 10.1002/j.2168-9830.2005.tb00833.x. Loughborough. Loughborough University. [place unknown: publisher unknown]. Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology [cited 2017 Feb 21]. Available from:. Sancristobal E, Castro M, Martin S, Tawkif M. Remote Labs as Learning Services in the Educational Arena. Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON). 2011. Duckers L, Watson S. Water Power 1. 1st ed. Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology: Loughborough University; [date unknown]. Oceanic N, Administration A. [place unknown: publisher unknown]. How much water is in the ocean?; 2013 Jun 1 [cited 2017 Feb 22]. Available from: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/oceanwater.html. Gomes L, Bogosyan S. Current trends in remote laboratories. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics. 2009 Dec;56(12):4744-56. Cooper M, Ferreira JMM. Remote laboratories extending access to science and engineering curricular. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies. 2009 Oct;2(4):342-53. Rigby S, Dark M. Designing a Flexible, Multipurpose Remote Lab for the IT Curriculum. Proceeding SIGITE 06 Proceedings of the 7th conference on Information technology education. 2006 Oct 19:161-4. Bochicchio MA, Longo A. Hands-on remote labs: Collaborative web laboratories as a case study for IT engineering classes. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies. 2009 Oct;2(4):320-30. Hua J, Ganz A. Web enabled remote laboratory (r-lab) framework. InFRONTIERS IN EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2003 Nov 5 (Vol. 1, pp. T2C-8). STIPES. Gravier C, Fayolle J, Bayard B, Ates M, Lardon J. State of the art about remote laboratories paradigms-foundations of ongoing mutations. International Journal of Online Engineering. 2008 Feb 18;4(1):http-www. Trevelyan J. Lessons learned from 10 years experience with remote laboratories. InInternational Conference on Engineering Education and Research 2004 Jun 27 (Vol. 11, p. 2007). Garcà ­a-Zubà ­a J, Là ³pez-de-Ipià ±a D, Orduà ±a P. Evolving towards better architectures for remote laboratories: a practical case. International Journal of Online Engineering, Special Issue REV. 2005 Nov 8. Corter JE, Esche SK, Chassapis C, Ma J, Nickerson JV. Process and learning outcomes from remotely-operated, simulated, and hands-on student laboratories. Computers Education. 2011 Nov 30;57(3):2054-67. Balamuralithara B, Woods PC. Virtual laboratories in engineering education: The simulation lab and remote lab. Computer Applications in Engineering Education. 2009 Mar 1;17(1):108-18. Marques MA, Viegas MC, Costa-Lobo MC, Fidalgo AV, Alves GR, Rocha JS, Gustavsson I. How remote labs impact on course outcomes: Various practices using VISIR. IEEE Transactions on Education. 2014 Aug;57(3):151-9. Froyd JE, Wankat PC, Smith KA. Five major shifts in 100 years of engineering education. Proceedings of the IEEE. 2012 May;100(Special Centennial Issue):1344-60. Budhu M. Virtual laboratories for engineering education. InInternational Conference on Engineering Education 2002 Aug 18 (pp. 12-18). Manchester, UK. Pyatt K, Sims R. Learner performance and attitudes in traditional versus simulated laboratory experiences. ICT: Providing choices for learners and learning. Proceedings ascilite Singapore. 2007 Sep:870-9. Powell RM, Anderson H, Van der Spiegel J, Pope DP. Using webà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ based technology in laboratory instruction to reduce costs. Computer Applications in Engineering Education. 2002 Jan 1;10(4):204-14. Edward NS. The role of laboratory work in engineering education: student and staff perceptions. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education. 2002 Jan;39(1):11-9. Corter JE, Nickerson JV, Esche SK, Chassapis C. Remote versus hands-on labs: A comparative study. InFrontiers in Education, 2004. FIE 2004. 34th Annual 2004 Oct 20 (pp. F1G-17). IEEE.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

High School Athletes Should Not Turn Pro Essay -- Professional Sports

High School Athletes Should Not Turn Pro Lebron James and Freddy Adu are both young athletes and with millions in their pockets with a countless number of endorsement contracts. Whether it is high school athletes skipping college and discontinuing the development of their education for millions of dollars, or teenagers signing contracts with businesses for massive amounts of money, youth sports programs are changing rapidly. However, American high school athletes are not financially, physically, or mentally prepared to tackle and endure the pressures of professional sports. Society today allows fourteen to eighteen-year-old athletes to make millions of dollars and eventually become stars. From Lebron James, signing with Nike for ninety million dollars before even stepping on the court, to Freddy Adu, signing with Major League Soccer to be the youngest professional to ever sign a contract in United States history, teenagers of today are changing. Freddy Adu is the youngest player on a major league team since Fred Chapman was fourteen years old and played baseball for Philadelphia in 1887. Adu, born in Ghana, signed with the MLS to play for D.C. United in 2003. He and his family moved to Potomac, Maryland in 1997 and he eventually became a United States citizen in 2002. He signed with Nike for one million dollars in 2000, becoming the youngest professional to sign an endorsement deal with Nike. Greg Couch, a writer for the Sun Times states, ?Are we ready for this? Because if Freddy Adu makes it big, then the battle to save little things like fun and imagi nation in youth sports is gone.? He is absolutely right. What happened to the main reason to play sports- have fun? These young children won?t understand fun after being demanded, day in and day out, from the most rigorous coaches to perform to a level they have not been exposed to yet. They haven?t been exposed to that level because they skipped the most important part of their life and career, and that is college. In rare cases, there?s one athlete that comes along and is very special. Sappenfield of The Christian Science Monitor says, ?In some instances, they are truly unique athletes. In others, they are simply the products of a new and hyper-competitive youth-sports system, lured to big-time athletics by bad advice and the prospect of outlandish wealth and rock star glory? (Sappenfield 1). Ki... ...n education and should get one before stepping out into the real world and being thrown into an atmosphere of fame, glory, and money. An atmosphere a teenager is not ready for. Works Cited Bae, Isamu. High School Athletes Should Go To College, Not The Pro Level. 1 June 2004. Silver Chips Online. 22 April 2005 . Carter, A. CinQue. Athletes Should Stay In School Before Relying On False Dreams. 29 Oct 1998. Daily Bruin. 22 April 2005 . Couch, Greg. And The No. 1 Reason Not To Turn Pro At 14?. 20 Nov. 2003. Chicago Sun-Times. 10 Apr. 2005 . Keller, Mandy. Bylaw Article 12: Amateurism. July 2003. The National Collegiate Athletic Association. 9 Apr. 2005 . Ryan, Joan. Little Girls in Pretty Boxes. New York. Warner Books. 1 Aug 2000. Sappenfield, Mark. Young, Gifted, and Rich- Behind the Sudden Rise of Teen Sports Superstars. 1 Dec. 2003. The Christian Science Monitor. 9 Apr. 2005 . Satterfield, Kathryn R. Ready For The Big League. Vol. 9 No. 8. 7 Nov. 2003. Time For Kids. 9 Apr. 2005 . Going Pro Early. A Game-Official Website of Smart Athletics. 9 Apr. 2005 . Head to Head. 9 Apr. 2005 . Your Take: Freddy Adu. 20 Nov. 2003. ESPN Soccernet. 10 Apr. 2005 . High School Athletes Should Not Turn Pro Essay -- Professional Sports High School Athletes Should Not Turn Pro Lebron James and Freddy Adu are both young athletes and with millions in their pockets with a countless number of endorsement contracts. Whether it is high school athletes skipping college and discontinuing the development of their education for millions of dollars, or teenagers signing contracts with businesses for massive amounts of money, youth sports programs are changing rapidly. However, American high school athletes are not financially, physically, or mentally prepared to tackle and endure the pressures of professional sports. Society today allows fourteen to eighteen-year-old athletes to make millions of dollars and eventually become stars. From Lebron James, signing with Nike for ninety million dollars before even stepping on the court, to Freddy Adu, signing with Major League Soccer to be the youngest professional to ever sign a contract in United States history, teenagers of today are changing. Freddy Adu is the youngest player on a major league team since Fred Chapman was fourteen years old and played baseball for Philadelphia in 1887. Adu, born in Ghana, signed with the MLS to play for D.C. United in 2003. He and his family moved to Potomac, Maryland in 1997 and he eventually became a United States citizen in 2002. He signed with Nike for one million dollars in 2000, becoming the youngest professional to sign an endorsement deal with Nike. Greg Couch, a writer for the Sun Times states, ?Are we ready for this? Because if Freddy Adu makes it big, then the battle to save little things like fun and imagi nation in youth sports is gone.? He is absolutely right. What happened to the main reason to play sports- have fun? These young children won?t understand fun after being demanded, day in and day out, from the most rigorous coaches to perform to a level they have not been exposed to yet. They haven?t been exposed to that level because they skipped the most important part of their life and career, and that is college. In rare cases, there?s one athlete that comes along and is very special. Sappenfield of The Christian Science Monitor says, ?In some instances, they are truly unique athletes. In others, they are simply the products of a new and hyper-competitive youth-sports system, lured to big-time athletics by bad advice and the prospect of outlandish wealth and rock star glory? (Sappenfield 1). Ki... ...n education and should get one before stepping out into the real world and being thrown into an atmosphere of fame, glory, and money. An atmosphere a teenager is not ready for. Works Cited Bae, Isamu. High School Athletes Should Go To College, Not The Pro Level. 1 June 2004. Silver Chips Online. 22 April 2005 . Carter, A. CinQue. Athletes Should Stay In School Before Relying On False Dreams. 29 Oct 1998. Daily Bruin. 22 April 2005 . Couch, Greg. And The No. 1 Reason Not To Turn Pro At 14?. 20 Nov. 2003. Chicago Sun-Times. 10 Apr. 2005 . Keller, Mandy. Bylaw Article 12: Amateurism. July 2003. The National Collegiate Athletic Association. 9 Apr. 2005 . Ryan, Joan. Little Girls in Pretty Boxes. New York. Warner Books. 1 Aug 2000. Sappenfield, Mark. Young, Gifted, and Rich- Behind the Sudden Rise of Teen Sports Superstars. 1 Dec. 2003. The Christian Science Monitor. 9 Apr. 2005 . Satterfield, Kathryn R. Ready For The Big League. Vol. 9 No. 8. 7 Nov. 2003. Time For Kids. 9 Apr. 2005 . Going Pro Early. A Game-Official Website of Smart Athletics. 9 Apr. 2005 . Head to Head. 9 Apr. 2005 . Your Take: Freddy Adu. 20 Nov. 2003. ESPN Soccernet. 10 Apr. 2005 .

Monday, November 11, 2019

Articles in Contrast

It can be interesting how two different newspapers will report the same news in a slightly different manner. This can be viewed in the following two articles that were recently published: â€Å"New commander for Mideast says ‘time is short' on Iraq future† [International Herald Tribune (IHT)] By Brian Knowlton (Published: January 30, 2007) and â€Å"‘Time is short’ for Iraq turnaround: US commander† [Agence France-Presse (AFP)] by Jim Mannion (Published: January 30, 2007) In summation, both articles inform the public that in Admiral William Fallon’s testimony to the US Senate, he stated his belief that a turnaround for success in Iraq is possible if a new strategy is implemented, but the window of opportunity for success is very small. There are two similar photographs that accompany the articles. The AFP stresses a long shot photo of Admiral William Fallon testifying before the US Senate while the IHT uses a similar photo, but one that is a closer, tighter shot. In both photos, the Admiral holds up his hands in a gesture of emphasizing his seriousness. The photos complement the story well as they provide a clear image of the Admiral. Both articles provide the basic facts of the situation that relates to the headline, but then segue into different subject matter. The IHP drifts into a discussion on the dangers that Iran poses to US and Western European interests while the AFP article drifts into reports about civilian casualties and loss of life/ While both articles are factual, it is obvious that both articles also have a certain bias to them. The IHP article clearly tries to label Iran as the main villain in the conflict while the AFP uses the article to make the US war effort look like a grim failure. Granted, Fallon touched on both issues in his testimony, but it is curious how both papers â€Å"cherry picked† what to report and how to report it. To a great degree, the IHP article was far more enjoyable because it had a glimmer of hope in its contents. The AFP article was downbeat and gloomy, emphasizing death and destruction. While the situation in Iraq is dire, there should always be a sense of hope present for the future. Bibliography Knowlton, Brian.   30 January 2007. â€Å"New commander for Mideast says ‘time is short' on Iraq future.† International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 30 January 2007. URL http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/30/news/policy.php Mannion, Jim. 30 January 2007. â€Å"‘Time is short’ for Iraq turnaround: US commander† Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 30 January 2007. URL http://news.yahoo.com/ s/afp/20070130/pl_afp/usiraqmilitaryfallon_070130204955   

Friday, November 8, 2019

AN OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING Essays

AN OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING Essays AN OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING Essay AN OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING Essay Chapter TWO LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0: Introduction Most major metropolitan countries face the turning jobs of urban conurbation, loss of natural flora and unfastened infinite, and a general diminution in the extent and connectivity of wetlands and wildlife home ground ( U.S Geological Survey, 1999 ) . Almost everyone has seen these alterations taking topographic point in their local environment but without a clear apprehension of neither the causes of these alterations or their impacts. Most of the land-use alterations occur without a clear and logical planning with any purpose to their environmental impact ( Ahadnejad, 2002 ) . Land usage alteration is influenced by temporal and spacial factors that interact This chapter will reexamine all available literature associating to this undertaking within the available clip to give penetration to what land usage and land screen are, alterations in land usage and land screen, the assorted causes of land-use and land-cover alteration, effects of land-use and land-cover alteration on environmental variables and poetry visa, the effects of land-use and land-cover on societal variables and poetry visa, the application of GIS/Remote Sensing in analyzing land-use and land-cover alteration, the restriction and some past plants done on the subject. 2.1: Land Use AND LAND COVER A modern state, as a modern concern, must hold equal information on many complex interconnected facets of its activities in order to do determinations ( Andersonet Al., 1976 ) . Land usage is merely one such facet, but knowledge about land usage and land screen has become progressively of import as the Nation plans to get the better of the jobs of haphazard, uncontrolled development, deteriorating environmental quality, loss of premier agricultural lands, devastation of of import wetlands, and loss of fish and wildlife home ground ( Andersonet Al., 1976 ) . Land usage informations are needed in the analysis of environmental procedures and jobs that must be understood if living conditions and criterions are to be improved or maintained at current degrees ( Andersonet al. ,1976 ) . 2.0.0 AN OVERVIEW OF REMOTE SENSING Remote Sensing is the scientific discipline and art of obtaining information about an object, country, or phenomenon through the analysis of informations acquired by a device that is non in contact with the object country or phenomenon under probe ( Lillesand and Keifer, 2004 ) . There are broad scope of applications of Remote Sensing including Meteorology, Engineering, Geomorphology, Climatology, Geology, Land Use and Land Cover categorization, function and function, Agriculture, oceanology, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Planning and Health. This thesis seeks to research and explicate the application of Remote Sensing in Land Use and Land Cover categorization, function and change.A Information transportation in the field of Remote Sensing is ever accomplished by the usage of electromagnetic radiation measured at different wavelengths which will be discussed subsequently in the class of this research. 2.0.1 TYPES OF REMOTE SENSING The types of Remote Sensing could be grouped based on either the energy beginning or in regard to the wavelength parts ( Richards and Jia, 2006 ) . Based on beginning of energy, Remote Feeling Systems that make usage of detectors that detect the reflected or emitted electro-magnetic radiation from the of course available energy from the either the Sun or the Earth itself are called Passive Remote Sensing while Remote Feeling Systems that make usage of detectors that provide their ain beginning of energy for light are known as Active Remote Sensing ( Lillesand and Kiefer, 2004 ) . The wavelengths at which detectors measures the spectral coefficient of reflection of object scopes from the Gamma Rays to the Radio Radio Waves. But with regard with wavelength part, the scopes applied in Remote Sensing include: Optical Remote Sensing devices which operates in the seeable, close infrared, in-between infrared and short moving ridge infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum sensitive to wavelengths runing from 300 nanometers to 3000 nanometer. Thermal Remote Sensing Sensors which operates in the thermic scope of the electromagnetic spectrum and records the energy emitted from the Earth features in the wavelength scope of 3000 nanometer to 5000 nanometer and 8000 nanometer to 14000 nanometers with the old scope related to high temperature phenomenon like forest fire, and subsequently with the general Earth characteristics holding lower temperature. Microwave Remote Sensing Devices which records the backscattered microwaves in the wavelength scope of 1 millimeters to 1 m of the electromagnetic spectrum. Most of these detectors have their ain beginning of energy ( active ) which has given them edge over other types of detectors because of their independency to endure and solar radiation. 2.0.2 ELECTRO MAGNETIC RADIATION ( EMR ) Harmonizing to Lillesand and Kiefer, ( 2004 ) , Electromagnetic radiation frequently abbreviated E-M or EMR is a signifier of energy that reveals its presence by the discernible effects it produces when it strikes the affair. Since energy is involved, it could farther be explained as the energy propagated through infinite in the signifier of bantam energy packages called a proton that exhibits both wave-like and particle-like belongingss. This signifier of energy conveyance differs from other manners of energy conveyance such as conductivity and convection in that electromagnetic radiation takes the signifier of self-propagating moving ridges in a vacuity. There are several types and categories of electromagnetic radiation harmonizing to the frequence of the moving ridge which includes wireless moving ridges, microwaves, THz radiation, infrared radiation, seeable visible radiation, ultraviolet radiation, X-rays and gamma beams in order of increasing frequence and diminishing waveleng th. For a assortment of grounds, there are some wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that are more normally used in Remote Sensing than other wavelengths ( Robert,et al. ,2005 ) . Distant Feeling Technology makes usage of the broad scope Electromagnetic Spectrum from a really short moving ridge Gamma Ray to a really long Radio Wave . Electromagnetic Spectrum Beginning:Education.co.uk Detectors on board Remote Sensing Platforms are used to enter electromagnetic radiation. As stated earlier, Remotes Sensing could be active or inactive based on the energy beginning. Concentrating on inactive Remote Sensing, utmost temperature and atomic activity on the surface of the Sun allows the emittance of a wide and uninterrupted scope of electromagnetic radiation. This electromagnetic radiation emitted from the Sun interacts with the ambiance, and interacts with the ambiance before being detected by a distant detector system in the air or in orbit ( Raber,et Al., 2005 ) . Some of the energy gets absorbed by mark stuffs like H2O and stones on the Earth s surface and these stuffs get heated as a consequence. The captive energy is so re-emitted at longer wavelength thereby doing the stuffs that absorbed the Sun s energy to go electromagnetic radiation themselves. A inactive Sensor like Landsat ETM+ and ASTER, which are both utilized in this research, will enter the electromagnetic radiation or spectral coefficient of reflection of mark stuffs based on the spectral declaration designed on the detector. Active detectors that emit their electromagnetic radiation are chiefly two types: Radar ( Radio Detection and Ranging ) , which harnesses microwave energy, and LIDAR ( Light Detection and Ranging ) , which harnesses the near-infrared or seeable energy ( Raber,et Al., 2005 ) . 2.0.4 REFLECTANCE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY Based on the atomic construction of Earth s objects, different objects absorb and emit electromagnetic radiation at different wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum ( Campbell, 2003 ) . In the seeable spectrum, these differences in brooding efficiency histories for the color fluctuations we see. Green workss for illustration appear that coloring material to the oculus because they reflect greater sum of green visible radiation than of bluish or ruddy visible radiation. Ploting the spectral coefficient of reflection degree of a given object or phenomenon by wavelength outputs a spectral coefficient of reflection curve, or spectral signature which harmonizing to Raberet Al.( 2005 ) is the Remote Sensing key to separating between one type of mark and another. Typical Spectral Reflectance Curves for Soil, Vegetation and Water Beginning:Lillesand and Kiefer, 1994 2.2.0 CAUSES OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE Identifying and understanding the major causes of land-use and land-cover alteration requires a clear apprehension of both how homo s decision-making procedures on land-use and how specific environmental and societal variables interact to act upon these determinations. It is besides really necessary to understand that determinations on land usage are made and influenced by environmental and societal variables across a broad scope of spacial graduated tables, from family degree determinations that influence local land usage patterns, to policies and economic forces that can change land usage regionally and even globally ( Eric and Helmut 2007 ) . The Land-use and Land-cover alteration theoretical account is normally governed by two wide complex sets of droving forces human demands ( social-economic factors ) and environmental characteristics and procedures ( biophysical factors ) ( Lambin, 2001 ) . 2.2.1 PROXIMATE VERSUS UNDERLYING CAUSES Harmonizing to Eric et al. , ( 2001 ) , the causes of land-use and land-cover alteration can be divided into two classs: Proximate ( direct or local ) andUnderlying ( indirect or root ) . The proximate, direct or local causes of land-use and land-cover alteration explains how and why local land screen and ecosystem procedures are modified straight by worlds, while implicit in causes explain the broader context and cardinal forces underpinning these local actions ( Eric et al. , 2001 ) . Proximate causes by and large operate at the local degree such as single farm land, individual families or simple communities while the implicit in causes of land-use and land-cover alteration originate from degree higher than the local degree including territories, states, or state ( regional ) or even planetary degrees, though complex interplays between these degrees of organisation are common. As a consequence of these complex interplays, underlying causes besides tend to be complex, formed by inte ractions of societal, political, economic, demographic, technological, cultural, and biophysical variables ( Eric et al. , 2001 ) . Some local-scale factors originate internally within the local degree and are hence endogenousto determination shapers and under local control. However, implicit in causes are usuallyexogenous ( arise externally ) to the local communities pull offing land and are therefore unmanageable by these communities. In general, implicit in causes tend to run more diffusely, frequently by changing one or more proximate causes. 1. Anderson, J. R, Hardy, E. E. , Roach, J. T. , and Witmer, R.E. , 1976, A Land Use and Land Cover Classification System for Use with Remote Sensor Data, United States Department of the Interior, Washington, United States Government Printing Office 2. Eric F. Lambin, B. L. Turner, Helmut J. Geist, Samuel B. Agbola, Arild Angelsen, John W. Bruce, Oliver T. Coomes, Rodolfo Dirzo, Gunther Fischer, Carl Folke, P. S. George, Katherine Homewood, Jacques Imbernon, Rik Leemans, Xiubin Li, Emilio F. Moran, Michael Mortimore, P. S. Ramakrishnan, John F. Richards, Helle Skanes, Will Steffen, Glenn D. Stone, Uno Svedin, Tom A. Veldkamp, Coleen Vogel and Jianchu Xu, 2001, Causes of Land-Use and Land-Cover Change: Traveling Beyond the Myths, Global Environmental Change, Volume 11, Issue 4, PP 261 269 3. Global Land Cover Facility, 2009, Measuring Man s Impact: Global Land Cover Change, Available online hypertext transfer protocol: //glcf.umiacs.umd.edu/services/landcoverchange/ , Last accessed 11Th December, 2009 4. Lillesand, T. M. And Kiefer, R. W. , ( Ed ) , 2004, Remote Sensing and Image Interpretation, New York, John Wiley A ; Sons 5. Mohsen Ahadnejad, 2002, Environmental Land Use Change Detection Assessment Using Multi-temporal Satellite Imagery, GIS Development Conference Proceedings, Map Asia, 2002 6. Raber, G. , Tullis, J. , Jenson, J. , ( 2005 ) , Remote Sensing Data Acquisition and Initial Processing, Earth Observation Magazine, July 2005 issue 7. Richards. J. A. , and Jia, X. , 2006, Remote Sensing Digital Image Analysis, Springer Verlag Berlin Heideelberg, Germany 8. USGS, 1999, Analyzing Land Use Change in Urban Environment, USGS Fact Sheet188-99

Wednesday, November 6, 2019

The Pleasure Drug in the Brave New World that is Only a Quic essays

The Pleasure Drug in the Brave New World that is Only a Quic essays The Pleasure Drug in the Brave New World that is Only a Quick Fix: Soma In the Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, most of the characters including Linda, Lenina, and even Bernard consume the perfect pleasure drug named soma to overlook their problems. This one-dimensional wonder drug has no real value and only temporarily disregards an unwanted feeling so that the character is not forced to confront the problem at that time. The drug spins the user into a hallucinogenic doze and takes all their worries away. In the Brave New World, soma is the religion of the people (Campbell 4). The characters depend on soma to get them through their hardships. The drug, however, does not solve their problems. Soma only creates a state of happiness with serenity and tranquility. Before somas purposes and effects can be revealed, soma must first be truly defined. Originated many years ago by the Iranians, soma has existed in earlier forms of hallucinogens and will continue to be developed in the future. Many suggestions have been made to what soma actually refers to. Some suggestions include the drugs opium, cannabis, and ephedra (Rudgley 1). Two bio-chemists actually suggest that Syrian rue is far more likely a candidate since its hallucinogenic effects are well-known in the Indo-Iranian homeland even today. (Rudgley 1). Although many suggestions have been made, the true identity of the drug Huxley uses in the story may never be discovered (Rudgley 2). Many synthetic drugs similar to soma are being produced today and more advanced pills will eventually be created in the future. Tomorrows neuropharmacology offers a much better form of soma than what Huxley uses in the Brave New World (Pearce 4). The exact history of the drug has not yet been found. Since pharmacology is rapidly advancing, chemists and pharmaceutical companies are very likely to create synthetic forms of soma in the future (Pearce 4). If the drug can be com...

Monday, November 4, 2019

Compare and contrast american pop culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Compare and contrast american pop culture - Essay Example In recent years, their message has changed in America to take out most of the gender references and focus instead on the street culture of the adolescent generation. In its reintroduction to the Saudi Arabian market, the company has taken a similar approach but modified it some to be more in keeping with the attitudes and beliefs of the Saudi culture. By comparing the advertising approaches of the Coca-Cola company in America in the past two decades with that of the Saudi campaign since its reintroduction in 1988, one can get a sense of how these cultures are different and the same. In the 1990s, Coke turned to the adolescent and pop markets for advertising inspiration in America. They didn’t focus on gender types at all, but instead worked to portray a healthy, balanced yet completely in tune and alive product that radiated energy. A television advertisement in the mid-1990s displayed a chalk drawing with several renderings of the circular Coca-Cola logo against a multi-hued background reminiscent of the 60s hippie styles. This even goes as far as to insert psychedelic-type paint styles and the insertion of the word â€Å"Always† in various ways that both serve to highlight the use of the product always, reinforce its place in the iconography of American culture (along with the use of the hippie artistic style) and associates itself with a new and energized pop culture that remains focused on the young. The bottle that becomes the focal point of this image does not have any of the detail Americans were used to seeing, even going so far as to leav e the label off, featuring nothing more than a brown bottle shape. By contrast, the commercials played in Saudi Arabia focused almost exclusively on people as one commercial limits the viewing area to the face of a woman wearing traditional head-covering and to the glass in which she is pouring her Coke. The labeled bottle of

Friday, November 1, 2019

Labour Laws Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Labour Laws - Essay Example This is certainly the case with Key Lime Printing. There is a feeling on the part of the workers that they are at best getting a very bad deal from a company that has already been in business for a relatively long time and should be able to do better. As a lawyer, there are a few issues that I shall seek to reinforce. I shall seek to inform the client, Joe Blow, that there is little legal recourse once the matter gets to this point. After all, the Notice of Certification from the labor relations board has already been received. There are three main issues that seem to underline the employees’ decision to unionize. First of all, there is the issue of pay. Pay disputes are always a minimum expectancy when it comes to labor relations. This is where most of the labor unrest that we witness centers around. The next issue lies with dismissal of employees. Fair or unfair dismissal is a contentious issue that cannot be resolved anytime soon. On the part of the dismissed employee, thei r default position is that the dismissal is always unfair (Cihon & Castagnera, 2010). Finally, there is the whole issue of unionization. I shall seek to show my client his rights and responsibilities as far as unionization of employees is concerned. The first issue deals with income. I shall handle this issue in two parts. The first part shall be with relation to the right amount that each employee should receive. This is an extremely complicated issue. If each one of us were given the option to suggest how much we want to be paid, then we might suggest amounts that are impractical for the profitable conduct of business. We cannot leave this weighty decision to the employers alone either. There is a need for both the employer and the employee to sit down and discuss each of their positions as far as remuneration is concerned. My client does not seem to have done this. Therefore, first step during the anticipated meeting shall be to hear each side’s position in as far as salar ies are concerned (Pay and Wages, 2013). The second angle in as far as salaries are concerned is the nature of employment. There is the need to find the right balance between benefits, commissions and salaries. The idea of only paying a commission to the three workers without either salaries or benefits is a very emotive one. Initially, it was thought that being paid on commission motivated the workers to apply themselves fully so that in a way they can ‘determine their own salaries’. This is not the case anymore. Finding business is not guaranteed, yet at the end of the month these employees have bills to pay and other responsibilities to fulfill. This needs to be looked at considering that the leading light in this revolt is an employee who is subject to this draconian employment terms (Pay and Wages, 2013). Dismissal is another issue that needs to be addressed. Arguably, perhaps it is the place where the bitterest battles with regard to employee rights are witnessed. There should be a firm basis for any dismissal that is effected in the workplace. After all, this is a place where people from different backgrounds coalesce to satisfy their needs for employment. Additionally, in such a place one cannot dismiss the effect of culture and background on general conduct and productivity in the workplace. Therefore, dismissal must be looked at with this backdrop in mind. There seems to have been instances where the foreman, Top, dismissed employees. He has no right to do this. This is un-procedural. There needs to be a properly laid procedure through which dismissals are carried out. Only the owner, Blow, should have the power to mete out such punishment. In most cases, dismissal should be the last resort (Arthurs & Carter,