RF Energy Harvesting - Literature review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

RF Energy Harvesting - - Literature review Example Energy harvesting allows for recycling and harvesting of wasted ambient electromagnetic energy to cater for the energy requirements of devices suing wireless technology such as wireless personal area networks (WPANs), wireless local networks (WLANs) and Cellular networks. In RF energy harvesting, electrical power is transmitted from one location to another without the application of an artificial conductor. As such, there is a significant requirement for rectennas to be present in the circuit as they important in the harvesting of ambient RF power. The rectennas should be preconditioned for efficient energy harvesting by ensuring good performance at low incident power density, relative high rectification efficiency at wide bandwidth and arbitrary polarization. The advantage of harvesting energy using rectennas is in its ability to generate unlimited energy due to it unlimited lifetime without the need of replacement as in batteries. Furthermore, the energy generated is green and ther efore suitable or energy sustainability (Suh & Chang, 2002). The term rectenna refers to a rectifying antenna that serves to combine the functions of high efficient rectifier circuits and an antennae at microwave power transmission systems. Rectennas were developed with the aim of completing the wireless power transmission system. The purpose of the rectennas is to convert electromagnetic wave into DC power after being received. Rectennas can exists in the their simplest form where they consist of multiple receiving antennae elements that enter a low pass filter circuits that is usually terminated at certain rectifying diodes. In RF energy harvesting, a rectenna is used due to its desirable characteristics; the efficiency of energy harvesting resulting from conversion of microwave power to DC power can reach 85% and they can be designed to cater for different desirable frequencies capable of harvesting RF power that is easy to design and economical

Changes in Technology Essay Example for Free

Changes in Technology Essay The many changes in technology over the years greatly impacted the development of early human societies. Agriculture, religion, and competition between groups are just a few of the many things that were greatly impacted by the changes in technology. New inventions and ways of thinking of things made a huge difference in the world. There have been many changes in technology through out the years and in the development of early human societies. There were many changes during and after the classical age when it comes to agriculture. The invention of crop rotation and irrigation helped a lot in agriculture. They made farming much quicker and easier. Jethro Tull’s inventions of the seed drill and horseshoe also helped speed up the farming process. The seed drill made planting easier by planting seeds deep in the ground so they aren’t washed away. Horseshoes allowed horses to plow much quicker than before, which increased productivity. The increase of farming also made life a lot easier by allowing for less nomadic living due to the crops being so close to home. These inventions, as well as having more food from farming, are the reason for agriculture being as technologically advanced as it is today. Like agriculture, religion was also hugely impacted. Religion has always been very important in human societies. In the early years, religions such as Christianity and Buddhism introduced the idea of mutual intolerance. Mutual intolerance was the acceptance of disagreeing with another religion. Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity are just a few examples of the religions in this time. Things such as improvements in tools and weapons changed competition between groups. As time went on, there were more and more developments when it came to agriculture, engineering, and tools. The tools becoming more advanced led to the ideas of better weapons. Because weapons and tools kept improving, they began to be used to obtain power more regularly. In turn, groups like the Aztecs, Toltec, Mayans, and Oaxaca began fighting with these weapons in competition between groups. These examples of change in agriculture, religion, and competition between groups show that technology greatly impacted the development of early human societies. Whether it was because of inventions or different perspectives on things, these societies were obviously greatly impacted. With this information, it is clear that there have been many changes in technology through out the years and in the development of early human societies.

Racial Stereotypes In Disney Movies

Racial Stereotypes In Disney Movies The objective of Disney films was to transport its viewers to a magical realm of enchantment and endless possibility. Disney offered a supposed alternate paradigm in which there was the promise of a Happily Ever After. It aimed at appealing to audiences young and old and hoped to find universal viewership. Walt Disney once stated that Of all of our inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language. And although it did reach audiences far and wide, for a young Indian girl watching The 1937 Disney adaptation of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, it gave her very little to identify with or relate to. Snow White, the first on-screen Disney Princess was rendered With lips as red as rubies and skin as fair as snow. Blatantly epitomising Western ideas of femininity and beauty, films like Snow White alienated the Non-western viewer. They created a fantasy that was centred on fixed archetypes of beauty and desirability which catered to the white, western population and had no room for anybody else. Eventually, the industry was criticised for its focus on a singular ethos and restriction to the First World. Consequently, the last decade of the 20th century saw Walt Disney Pictures release films that were now aimed at broadening its cultural spectrum. Alladin, debuted as Disneys first attempt to explore a different cultural terrain. Released in 1992, it was later followed by other culture specific films like Mulan and Pocahontas which opened in cinemas in 1998 and 1995 respectively. These films signalled a distinct departure from films that were pivoted around Western protagonists and their lived experiences. Although this new brand of films hoped to establish a sense of cultural inclusivity by venturing beyond the Western World, what became clearly evident in the process was a heavy dependence on racial stereotypes and caricatured depictions of culture. Elena Di Giovanni, in her essay Disney Films: Reflections of the Other and the Self, states that Disneys selection of certain cultures which it chose to portray, was not a choice that was arbitrary and unplanned. According to Di Giovanni, the reasons for selecting these cultures can be ascribed to precise cultural and ideological strategies. The cultures depicted in these films are either conventionally considered to be somehow inferior if juxtaposed with modern Western Civilisations and to the narrating American culture in particular, as suggested by the Saudi Arabian-born scholar Ziauddin Sardar. Edward Said was one of the first scholars to examine the complex relationship between the Orient and the Occident, one that he found to be a relationship of power, of domination of varying degrees of a complex hegemony In his 1978 publication of Orientalism, Said One of the first scholars to give a sharp account of these biased cultural encounters was Edward Said in Orientalisrn(1978). Even though primarily concerned with tracing the history of the Orientalist attitude by the West in literature, Said does not fail to consider the importance of new technologies and the media in the proliferation of this unjust tradition: One aspect of the electronic, post-modern world is that there has been a reinforcement of the stereotypes by which the Orient is viewed. Television, films, and all the medias resources have forced information into more and more standardized moulds. More recently, Ziauddin Sardar has echoed similar ideas in his 1999 publication of Orientalism, a book he writes, as assort of tribute to Saids work, therefore titling it the same. The main interest of Sardars book, whose approach is even harsher than Saids, lies in his detailed reflections upon the new, modern ways by which the Orientalist attitude manifests itself and is still spreading nowadays. By way of introduction to his work, Sardar declares that even though the project of Orientalism has way passed its sell by date, it is colonizing new territories, such new territories being related to the new geographies which are shaped and controlled by contemporary means of mass cornmunication like the cinema. A whole chapter of Sardars work is devoted to Orientalism in films, where the author sets out to explore the treatment and manipulation of other cultures within the discourse of cinema, across different genres, including cartoons, and where he makes ample reference to the Americ an hegemonic control of the cinematic medium. Sardar states that otherness is generally treated as a pattern book from which strands can be taken to draw up cultural representations which serve the purpose of entertaining audiences while reinforcing, by contrast, the superiority of the narrating culture. Thus, the the commodification of culture takes place whereby visual and verbal elements belonging to a distant world are taken and made suitable for smooth reception within more powerful socio-cultural settings. Aladdin, which was based on the Arab folktale of Aladdin and the magic lamp from One Thousand and One Nights, became the most successful films of 1992, grossing over $502 million worldwide. However, almost instantly, it was met with criticism from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. The movie quite literally translated into an Orientalist fantasy. With glaringly distorted depictions of Arab culture, and a few pointedly offensive remarks, the movie has gone down in history as one of Disneys most controversial films. The film, which is set in the fictitious kingdom of Agrabah, introduces an ensemble cast of characters: Aladdin, a young street urchin, Jasmine, a jaded princess, Jafar, an avaricious minister of Court and Genie, the ebullient prisoner of the lamp. Although the film seems to focus on the characters as individuals, it is difficult to dismiss the overall denouncement of Arab culture, as is evident in the treatment and presentation of Arab society in the film. The vilification of Arab men in the film can be observed quite clearly through their portrayal as thugs, sorcerers, pick-pockets or beggars. Their physical attributes also seem to echo the cultural bias, with their descriptions coloured by thick lips, missing teeth, heavy, menacing brows and hooked noses. However, what is interesting to observe, is the decidedly different treatment afforded to the central protagonists. Both the hero and heroine are presented as almost exact counterparts to the white, suburban youth of the west. Aladdin seems fairly content in disinheriting his Arabian heritage, as he is cleverly christened Al, and exhibits American mannerisms through his style of speaking in the film. In the same vein, the character of Jasmine is equally americanised. Jasmine, though sporting dark flowing hair and with darker skin than her counterpart princesses in earlier films, still retains blue eyes. Though Jasmine must reflect an Arabian image, the films producers seem to find i t necessary to leave at least a vestige of tangibility that Western audiences can relate to. What one is left to ponder is whether these characters would have appealed to western audiences, had they not been endowed with these traits? This example recalls Saids own observations on Orientalist attitudes. Bring in said here. And Elena di Giovanni A whole new world then move to another song that was in fact more noteworthy. Most noteworthy, however is the opening sequence of the film, which was later revised due to harsh criticism and protests. Aladdin opens with the expository song Arabian Nights which includes the lyrics PEDDLER: Oh I come from a land From a faraway place Where the caravan camels roam Where they cut off your ear If they dont like your face Its barbaric, but hey, its home The blatantly offensive final line had to be eliminated from the home video version of the film as a consequence of the numerous protests the Disney Company received after international release. However, all the other subtle and indirect hints at the American cultures position of supremacy over the narrated Other, which is deliberately kept ambiguous and undefined in historical-geographical terms, remain untouched, and continue to carefully shape the viewers perception. One of these subtle instances in the movie can be seen in the same opening sequence. The first words which are uttered by the peddler contain an unmistakable, conventional reference to the culture portrayed: PEDDLER: Ah, Salaam and good evening to you worthy friends. The worldwide-known Arabic greeting is, however, immediately followed by good evening, as if to compensate even for the faintest sense of estrangement the viewer might feel upon hearing salaam. Orientalist preconceptions find their way into the Disney adaptation of the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan. Walt Disney Pictures released Mulan in June, 1998 and it was the thirty sixth animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics. Mulan, which was once again infused with orientalist imagining of culture, uses a host of long-established, worldwide-known stereotypes on the visual as well as verbal levels. As Elina Di Giovanni points out, cultural metonymies are very often related to specific domains such as food, which provides universally identifiable socio-cultural references and ensures easy, if strongly stereotyped identification of different nations and peoples. In the case of verbal stereotypes, references to other cultures clichà ©d words and expressions tend to draw from common categories such as greetings, exclamations and titles. Greetings and exclamations, though not necessarily connected to the stereotyping of cultures, can nonetheless be frequently used to support cultural representations as they ensure simple and immediate identification. In the opening sequence of Mulan, the 1998 film which portrays the Chinese culture at the time of the invasions by the Huns, the visual and verbal cultural stereotypes employed do not contain any derogatory reference, but they are equally highly conventional. An instance of this can be seen in the portrayal and dialogue of the emperor of China who, incidentally, is always shown with the image of a golden dragon at his back to address his army generals in a situation of emergency. He is shown to exhibit a typical trait which is often associated with the Chinese culture, using words of wisdom to describe the fate of his country: EMPEROR: single grain of rice can tip the scale Moreover, one can note that the reference to the most popular element of the Chinese culinary tradition does not appear by coincidence in the emperors line. The shot which immediately follows features a large bowl of rice in the foreground with a pair of chopsticks lazily picking at the rice. This image is used in the film to introduce the protagonist herself, who will be very slowly revealed to the audience starting from her hand holding the chopsticks. But even more noteworthy, is that fact that the bowl of rice which alluded to in the beginning by the Emperor, and used in the introducing of the protagonist, Mulan is then later appropriated to serve American cultural interests by replacing the contents of the bowl(rice), with porridge and rashers of bacon and fried eggs, which make up Mulans breakfast. The bowl which contained rice in the opening scene has been deprived of its typical, if also highly conventional, Chinese content to be replaced by what looks more familiar to the American viewers, although totally remote from the eating habits of Chinese soldiers. Moving from visual to verbal examples, the use of language is an obvious vehicle for further consolidating the presence of American culture. It is worth pointing out that all the main characters in the films, although belonging to distant and exotic worlds, speak with perfect American accents. Moreover, they are very often characterized by the use of non-standard, colloquial or regional varieties of American English. This is the case of the dragon Mushu in Mulan, whose dialogue is generously punctuated with contemporary, informal American expressions. Similarly, in Aladdin, the most striking, informal and modem use of Ameriean English is to be found in the lines uttered by the genie of the lamp, appearing in different guises and often mimicking famous American personalities. His lines are filled with colloquial expressions as well as references to the contemporary American world. Pocahontas, which opened in cinemas in the year 1995, presented a thoroughly revised picture of a historical figure, appropriated suitably to appeal to western audiences. Modelled on the historical Native American figure ,Matoaka, who is more popularly known by the nickname Pocahontas, the film revamps and restructures the story of Pocahontas and showcases it as a tale where a culture under siege by British Colonialism, ends up being rescued by the White Messiah. The film clearly distorts historical facts and produces a tale that is made palatable to western audiences, with the White Settler rescuing the native tribe from a terrible fate, which, interestingly enough, would have been executed by his fellow men. The movie Pocahontas deviates from the true historical story in many ways. The most significant deviation is Pocahontas age and the nature of her relationship with John Smith. In the movie, Pocahontas is portrayed as a twenty year old woman who falls in love with John Smith, and he with her. From what we know of the historical record, she [Pocahontas] was a child when they met, probably between 12 and 14, and Smith was about 27, states Thomasina Jordan, the head of the Virginia Council on Indians, and herself a Wampanoag Native-American. However, it is not just her age that has been altered in the film version. Even her physical appearance is rendered far from factual. The on-screen Pocahontas is designed to be a tall, attractive figure, with dark, flowing hair and sharp features. This depiction in the film has been clearly designed to cater to the male fantasy of the young, exotic woman. Moulded from the Orientalist perspective, she is seen as the enigmatic princess, who captivates the young John Smith with her gentle spirit and exotic beauty. Moreover, the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas, was that of a young girl and an older man. The relationship that the two share in the movie is entirely fictitious and completely inaccurate. Another deviation is John Smiths attitude towards the Native Americans. In the movie, Smith defends the Native-Americans, and dons the mantle of the White Messiah. Abandoning his fellow men, Smith advocates the legitimate right of the natives to possess their own land. He states that the British are the intruders and have no authority to colonise and usurp the land of the natives. This heroism, is however absent in factual accounts of the story. In reality, Smith believed that the English had a right to the land and he was not an advocate for the Native-Americans. Disney also distorts the facts about Governor James Ratcliffe. In the movie they portray him as a villainous character. At the end of the movie he tries to shoot Chief Powatan, but shoots John Smith instead. After he does this, his own men make him a prisoner and send him back to England. However, this is not confirmed in the historical account. Thus, it is evident, that even through Disneys attempt to create a more panoramic view of Society and the world, by retelling tales rooted in different socio-cultutal contexts, it is unable to rid itself of omniscient Western ideals which dictate the ways in which Non-western cultures are received. The non-western cultures can only be understood when either juxtaposed with western traditions or appropriated to appeal to a western audience. The appeal of a non-white prince must be countered with distinctly Americanised mannerisms. Tales from the East seem only to be tangible if they propagate long standing stereotypes and reinforce Orientalist preconceptions. While Disney paints portraits of cultural landscapes and attempts to traverse into the world of The Other, the question remains as to whether it is possible for the West to tell tales of a Non-White civilisation, without all the trappings of stereotypes and exoticism. Can a Media Giant like Disney truly showcase different cultures, without insinuating Western Supremacy over them all? Can they truly paint with all the colours of The Wind?

The Importance of Freedom in Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Essay

Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† grabs its readers from the start and creates an unexpected twist at the end of the short story. Louise Mallard is given the news that her husband has died in a terrible train accident. To her surprise, he arrives home and â€Å"did not even know there had been one† (Chopin, 607). Upon the death of Louise who once believes she was a widow only to find that her husband is still alive, the confusion begins. The death of Louise is questioned by many critics as a state of shock, depression, and sadness. However, Mark Cunningham’s criticism of Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† states that her death was instead a discovery of freedom from the physical strains of her marriage with her husband and societal views on women. Cunningham argues that at the sight of her living husband, â€Å"Louise’s death lies elsewhere: in the joy† (Cunningham, 49), that she had finally escaped her marriage a nd the burdens it placed on her life. Cunningham also states that it’s possible that Louise didn’t actually even see her husband but that it doesn’t necessarily matter. Lastly, Cunningham argues that not only does she escape the strains of the marriage, but Louise also escapes society’s natural and degrading views on women and the place they hold in society. In best judgment, Cunningham does an exquisite job at defining the meaning of the significance of Louise’s death. However, I will argue that Louise Mallard’s sight of her husband is important to study because it emphasizes her desperate escape from her physically dangerous marriage, which also needs to be considered. I think emphasis should be placed on the idea of symbolism and the role it played in explaining Louise’s freedom from her marriage. It could be beneficial to ... ...opin, 607). Finally, Cunningham stated that it’s not important whether or not Louise saw her husband before she died. But, I think its important to address that she did see her husband, because this symbolizes her final stretch to freedom. Cunningham’s criticism was certainly successful in creating an understanding of why Chopin wrote the short story in the nineteenth century. Women were in a very tough place in society, but for some like Louise Mallard, there may have been other factors that made freedom such a desirable hope. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. â€Å"The Story of an Hour†. The Norton Introduction to Literature. 10th ed. Eds. Alison Booth & Kelly J. Mays. New York: W.W. Norton, 2010. 607-608. Cunningham, M. â€Å"The autonomous female self and the death of Louise Mallard in Kate Chopin’s Story of an Hour.† English Language Notes. 42.1 (2004): 48-55.

Preserving Water is Preserving Life Essay

There are various resources that the Earth provides its inhabitants, but the most important natural resource is water. However, despite the fact that water is an irreplaceable natural resource, humans tend to abuse without knowing the implications. It is necessary to save water not only because it is a very manageable resource (Padmavathy & Malarvizhi, 2006), but also because of the fact that water provides life to every living thing on Earth. Without it, life cannot be sustained: humans can survive weeks without food, but without water, they will only be able to survive for a few days. Apart from this, water also sustains the growth of life in forests, jungles which are the habitats of other species. Unfortunately, as much as the world would like to believe that nature’s resources would last forever, such is not possible. Water is a finite source, and only about 0. 024% of all the water resources in the world is accessible, while the rest of the world’s water supply consists of oceans and inaccessible freshwater in the deep earth (Dauvergne, 2005). Humans, animals, and plant life will not be able to subsist without water; plant life would not be able to grow, and animals which eat plants will not have any food supply. These animals will deplete in numbers, they will devastate the food chain and bigger animals which eat these animals will also lose their food supply. If animals continue to thin in numbers, they would eventually become endangered, and unfortunately, it is possible that they may become instinct. In order to preserve life on Earth, every individual should have the initiative to save water. There is a need to educate people of the implications of losing freshwater on Earth, for the first step to understanding would be education. If people pitch in and do their part for the preservation of water, life on Earth may have a chance in subsisting for generations. References Dauvergne, P. (2005). Handbook of global environmental politics. Cheltenham: Edward Elgas Publishing Limited. Padmavathy, S. & Malarvizhi. (2006). Conservation of protected water resource in household. In G. Chandrakumar & N. Mukundan, Water resource management: Thrust and

A Just War Where Fake Faces the Reality

A Just War Where Fake Faces the Reality Plato’s Concept of War: Learning to be Decent In spite of the fact that the mankind has been leading wars all the history long, the periods of peace and quiet changing with the devastating fights, most philosophers take the humane approach when considering the idea of war, thus regarding the latter as inappropriate.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Just War: Where Fake Faces the Reality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Among them was the great Plato, who understood that even the resilience of the world could not take constant battles one changes with another. Claiming that war can be neither just, nor rescannable, he claims it to be one of those inevitable but destructing things. In his early works, Plato seemed to take the position which nowadays could be called a humanistic one, considering that the states at war are destined to face terrible disorders. Plato considered that there were actually no winners i n this game, for even the states which win the war are to face the devastation, the famine and the misery of the war. Plato’s logic was that both countries are destined in be in ruins as the war ends, and the tasted of victory would be far too bitter to triumph. In his dialogue with Alchibiades he says that he finds the war unjust and contradicting human’s nature. Arguing Achibiadus back his reasoning of war as an action completely unjust, he says: Soc.: Now, what of this? Whom will you advised the Athenians to wage war against, those behaving unjustly, or those practicing the just things? Alc.: What you are asking is a terrible thing; for even if someone had it in his mind that war ought to be waged against those practicing the just things, he would not admit to it, at least.[1] The sarcasm of Socrates cannot but be admired. With controversial statements he pushes his opponent to thinking that war is an unjust witch with an ugly face, a thing which has nothing to do w ith humanity and decency.Advertising Looking for essay on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Augustine: Leading a Christian War Whenever there is a need to balance the justice between the states, either ruler has to resort to strict measures and to call people to protect their homeland and fight for the ideas which they appreciate most. According to Augustine, war can be used as a defense mechanism against the invaders or a weapon to fight with for people’s beliefs and faith. Augustine’s doctrine suggests that war can be just, and, moreover, that it has to be just. In his understanding, the sacred idea of protecting the homeland and the faith from the pagans and the unfaithful means more than the earthy life. The ideas of Augustine proclaim fighting for justice, and it seems that he was more than determined to win in his fight. Considering the just war as the means to restore the peace on the e arth, he interpreted the idea of war as the idea of serving the homeland and the religion of the forefathers. Taking into consideration Augustine’s understanding of peace and the peace in a state, it is possible to presume that Augustine considered war as another means of piece-making: Because the name â€Å"peace† is also frequently used with respect to things which are subject to death, where there is certainly no eternal life, we prefer to call the end of this city, where its highest good will be, â€Å"central life† rather than â€Å"peace†.[2] Thus, Augustine was gear up for war much more than Plato with his ideas of justice as peaceful problem-solving. Understanding that people are quite unlikely to submit to the other faith and other state ruler without struggling, Augustine considered war the only way to convert the unfaithful. To be more metaphorical, his idea of war was the position of a stronger state, while the mild ideas of Plato were the pos ition of the strongest state. The Two Ideas Compared Considering the viewpoints of both philosophers, it is necessary to say that Plato’s arguments on leading the war clash with the ideas of Augustine in quite a conflict. In contrast to the weighed and reasonable ideas of war which Plato suggests, Augustine molds the basis of the war ideology on the idea that war can be a means to achieve piece. In contrast to Augustine, Plato thinks that prudence and strategic thinking is the key element of war: â€Å"Don’t you know that when we make war we begin to wage war after accusing each other of some affront and what term we use when we begin?†[3] Plato wants to analyze the war, making it closer to a chess game where the leaders have to think logically and make its course more predictable.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A Just War: Where Fake Faces the Reality specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A brillia nt strategist, Plato emphasizes the importance of the soldiers as the layer of society which will help the rulers to achieve the glory and to make the lives of the citizens safe. As a philosopher, Socrates understands that every element in the chain of state life is important; once letting one element loose, the chain will get broken for good. Thus, Plato’s strategy-and-order structure sounds as a well-thought idea of a state. In contrast to Plato, Augustine suggests something completely different. What Augustine makes prior for the state is the faith and the religion. In Augustine’s understanding of the duty of the Christians, the latter are supposed to fight for their ideas as hard as they can. Avoiding expressing his ideas of what makes a just war, Augustine still made it clear that the three elements of justice must be present to call war a decent fight. â€Å"The three jus ad bellum criteria of rightful (or legitimate) authority, just cause, and right intention, and even hint at the connection between the latter come to be called jus in bello†[4]. Thus, Augustine admits that war can be just, and he insists that there are certain elements which make it such. Owing to the fact that â€Å"Augustine was never elaborate in his comments on just cause†[5], it is possible to suggest that the great philosopher was more of a tactician, while Plato was a strategist, which predetermined the difference in their understanding of war. Nevertheless, the great theories of the ancient philosophers survived the time testing and reached our epoch. Denying the possibility if just war, Plato’s ideas prove not a bit less important than the ones of Augustine, and vice versa. The ideal war is impossible, so people had better start making the ideal peace. Bibliography Reighberg, Gregory M., Henric Syse and Endre Begby. The Ethics of War:  Classic and Contemporary Readings. New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2006. Print. Footnotes . Reighberg, Gregory M., Henric Syse and Endre Begby. The Ethics of War: Classic and Contemporary Readings (New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 22 . Reighberg, Gregory M., Henric Syse and Endre Begby. The Ethics of War: Classic and Contemporary Readings (New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 78 Reighberg, Gregory M., Henric Syse and Endre Begby. The Ethics of War: Classic and Contemporary Readings (New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 22 Reighberg, Gregory M., Henric Syse and Endre Begby. The Ethics of War: Classic and Contemporary Readings (New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 81 Reighberg, Gregory M., Henric Syse and Endre Begby. The Ethics of War: Classic and Contemporary Readings (New York, NY: Blackwell Publishing, 2006), 82

How Athen took over leadership of sparta after the persian wars essays

How Athen took over leadership of sparta after the persian wars essays HOW ATHENS TOOK OVER LEADERSHIP OF SPARTA AFTER THE PERSIAN WARS During the period of Greek history from the last years of the Persian Wars till the beginning of the First Peloponnesian War, the primacy of Sparta declined whileAthens was gaining increased influence in Greece. The Athenian, Thucydides (460-400 BC), one among few contemporary historians, left behind the most creditable records about this period. Although he did not give enough documentation for many events he described, his Histories remained the main resource of the facts from that time. In consideration of the fact that he was an Athenian and a participant of the Athenian army, future historians could not entirely count upon his writing. In the 480-479 BC there was great anxiety about the strength and magnitude of the Persian threat. Although the Greeks had managed to force Persians retreat from the Greek mainland, the danger of reconquest by the Persians was still present. In the battle of Plataea (479 BC), the Greeks, under the Spartan regent and general Pausanians, obliterated the Persian army. The Greeks also won a naval victory at Mycale. Although the war drugged on for many years, these two victories marked the end of the Persian threat to Europe and the beginning of the period of Greek greatness. The idea of panhellenism - the awareness of Greek unity- appeared as a reaction to the fear of the Persian invasion. This is how Persia helped the Greece to recognise their identity, which gave significance to the year 479 BC to be marked as the beginning of the Classical Greek period. At the other side, the year 479 BC does not represent a vital turning-point in politics. Spartas control over her allies was still unbroken. After the Greeks triumph on Plataea, when the fear of the Persian invasion decreased, the idea of the united Greeks started diminishing. Phthonos (envy) was what characterised the relation...

Education System in Japan and Singapore Essay

Education System in Japan and Singapore Essay Education System in Japan and Singapore Essay Sample Education System in Japan and Singapore Essay Sample In a recent UNESCO report about the education system in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members states, it was noted that despite the differences in ideologies, political systems, development priorities, and education systems, members states of the ASEAN community share a common vision (UNESCO, 2014). For ASEAN +6 member states, including, Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Singapore education is the pillar of development that contributes to the community’s competitiveness. Exploration of education systems in the ASEAN community reveals that there are several countries with efficient education systems, including Japan and Singapore. The analysis will provide a better understanding why education system performs better in one national system than in another. In the same context, the comparison also provides tangible evidence and a practical lesson that would help researchers, policy makers, and professionals in the educational r ealm improve the efficiency of education system within their jurisdiction. This research paper compares and contrasts the education system in Singapore and Japan. Firstly, the paper gives a brief overview of the education systems in the two countries; then it discusses the similarities and differences in the next section. Education System in Japan In most scenarios where there has been an international comparison of national educations systems, Japan has emerged as one of the countries with the best education system. The roots of this accomplishment are traced to Japan’s culture and historical development. The Japanese education system has evolved from the dual system to a single-track school system through education reforms that were heavily influenced by the United States education system after the Second World War (NCEE, 2015a). Children at the age of six are registered in grade one of elementary school. School calendar starts in April and runs for three terms that end in March. All Japanese must attend school for 9 years, that is, six and three years at elementary and junior high school respectively. For foreigners, the nine years are not compulsory; hence they may go to local elementary or junior school as they wish (Tokyo International Communication Commitee, 2006). Private schools have created an environment that enrolls foreign students. After junior high school, students may opt to find employment or continue their education in high school and eventually go to university. Special schools and facilities are available for mentally or physically challenged students who may not be able to study at ordinary schools. Education System in Singapore Singapore has grown from a poor and illiterate history to one of the powerhouses in Asia (Ministry of Education [MOE], 2015; NCEE, 2015b). Singapore’s population of 4.7 million people enjoys healthy living standards that are comparable to most of the developed economies in the region. This achievement can be attributed to Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who understood that education is the central turbine of development and competitiveness of Singapore (NCEE, 2015b). In addition, education was used as a unifying platform for the clashing religious and ethnic groups. The Education System in Singapore is managed by the Singapore Ministry of Education, which is mandated to the administration and development of both public and private school (MOE, 2015). Unlike private schools, public schools receive their primary funding from the government. Typically, education spending in Singapore constitutes approximately 20 percent of the national budget. For instance, the national education bu dget in 2015 was $12.1 billion Singaporean dollars as compared to the $11.5 billion dollars in 2014 (MOE, 2015). As of this writing, there were over 360 primary, secondary and post-secondary schools supported by over 33,000 education officers (MOE, 2015). The core trait of Singaporean education is a bilingual advantage. While English is the primary language of communication, all students are expected to learn the official mother tongue. The bilingual policy enables students to access Asian cultures and become globally competitive (MOE, 2015). Teachers, school leaders, and allied educators are at the core of Singapore’s education system. Teachers are nurtured and motivated to grow and reach their professional and individual best. In alignment with their interests and aspirations, and to engrave the qualities specified in the Singaporean Teacher Growth Model, teachers in Singapore undertake comprehensive pre-service training at the National Institute of Education (MOE, 2015). Comparison and Contrast of Education System in Japan and Singapore As for September 2014, 73.2 percent of Japan’s GDP originated from the service sector and 25.6 percent from industry (NCEE, 2015a). Similarly, 70.6 percent of Singapore’s GDP originated from the service industry while 29.4 percent originating from the industry sector (NCEE, 2015b). Observably, the two countries rely on industry and service sector that require highly skilled labor and knowledgeable human resources. These can only be achieved through quality education or a high-performing education system. As noted by UNESCO (2014), both Japan and Singapore are highly industrialized countries in Asia and the Pacific region. Additionally, both countries have higher-performing education systems than countries such as Cambodia, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, and Nepal. Japan and Singapore have ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, globally committing themselves to offering free primary education to all children (UNESCO, 2014). The rights have been incorporated i nto the national legislation of Singapore and Japan. Despite this achievement, Singapore and Japan had not accepted or ratified the 1960 Convention against Discrimination in Education (CADE). To have a clear picture of the similarities and differences of the two education systems, several aspects of education management and policy frameworks are use compared and contrasted within the education system in Japan and Singapore. In addition, some emerging trends, including educational structure, financial and legal commitment to education, teacher policies and sector management, are highlighted. Financial and Legal Commitment to Education The fundamental principles for Japanese education system are engraved in the Constitution passed in 1946 and the Fundamental Law of Education of 1947, which was revised in 2006 (UNESCO-IBE, 2011a). The Japanese Constitution defines the right to receive education. As outlined in Article 26, Japanese are obligated to provide all girls and boys with basic education as defined by the law. In addition, the law states that the compulsory education shall be free. In addition, provisions relating to educational administration, school system as well as financial support are included in the Japanese School Education Law (UNESCO-IBE, 2011a). On the contrary, the legal framework of Education System in Singapore is outlined in the 1985 edition of the Education Act and the 1990 edition of the School Regulations (UNESCO-IBE, 2011b). The Compulsory Education Act was passed by the Singaporean Parliament in 2000, but compulsory education was realized from January 2013. The Private Education Act No. 21 of 2009 deals with the accreditation and regulation of private education entities in Singapore. Financial allocation to education is one of the indicators of government commitment to education. On average, Singapore, Japan, and other ASEAN countries allocate 14.7 percent of their national expenditure on education. Between 2007 and 2010 Japan and Singapore allocated 9 percent and 10 percent of their government expenditure to education respectively. In reference to expenditure on public education as a percentage of GDP, Japan spent slightly more than Singapore in the same period, as indicated in Figure 3 below. Education Structure The starting age and length of mandatory education vary slightly in the two countries. Formal education in Japan and Singapore starts at the age of 6. Both countries have 12 years of formal education divided into primary, lower secondary and upper secondary levels. Japan has 6+3+3 structure, which is also used in Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia (UNESCO-IBE, 2011a). By contrast, Singapore shares the 6+4+2 structure with Philippines. Japan and Singapore’s mainstream education systems are equipped with facilities to provide support to students with special education needs. The years of free and mandatory education in Japan and Singapore are 9 and 6 respectively. Despite a variance in the duration, both countries have legal provisions for compulsory education at the fundamental level of education. It should be noted that upper secondary education in Japan is provided free of charge, however, it is not mandatory. Arguably, compulsory education accounts for the high literacy levels in the two countries. In reference to pre-school, children aged between 4 and 6 are enrolled in Singaporean kindergartens (UNESCO-IBE, 2011b). Similarly, kindergartens in Japan enroll children aged 3-5 years (UNESCO-IBE, 2011a). Kindergartens are structured in three years: nursery, kindergarten 1 and kindergarten 2. The primary school level in Singapore consists of the foundation stage (Primary 1-4) and the orientation stage (primary 5-6). The standard subjects at the primary level include English, science, and mathematics. Science is taught from primary three (MOE, 2015). Before leaving the primary education level, students take the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) as depicted in Figure 2 above. In Singapore, students are admitted in secondary schools based on their PSLE performance. For example, students who performed extremely well in the PSLE can take Special course, whereas others are placed in either Normal or Express course (UNESCO-IBE, 2011b). Students who completed secondary education su ccessfully and have the pre-requisite qualification may join centralized institutes and junior colleges. Management and Administration of Education System In Singapore, education policies are formulated and implemented by the Ministry of Education (MOE). The Ministry has control over the development and administration of public or government-aided primary and secondary schools as well as junior colleges (UNESCO-IBE, 2011b). MOE also supervises private schools in the country. Conversely, education system in Japan is managed and administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). MEXT was formerly known as the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture (UNESCO-IBE, 2011a). MEXT advances education and promotes long-term learning. In addition, MEXT encourages sport, cultural and academic activities as well as progress in science and technology. Further, MEXT carries out religious administrative affairs. In Singapore, students with moderate or special educational needs get support from the National Council of Social Service Funds and the MOE through customized special education institutions (MOE, 2015). The aim of such institutions is to ensure that students have the values and skills they need to lead normal lives and contribute to the society as its independent members. The scenario is similar in Japan, where support comes primarily from the Ministry of Education. Singapore’s education system recognizes talent in students in both academic and non-academic domains. For example, Specialized Independent Schools in Singapore offer customized programs to develop students in diverse pathways, including sports, art, science and mathematics (MOE, 2015). These institutions develop a complete school approach to developing a nurturing environment that enables the student to discover and develop their interests and strengths for meaningful life and work. In both education systems, public-private partnerships (PPP) are strongly encouraged in the development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and can take place in various forms and levels (UNESCO, 2014). At the national level, PPPs can be established through an official meeting on issues such as the motivation of employer investment. At the school level, PPPs can be institutionalized through a discussion regarding how to improve workplace experiences. In Japan, PPPs are strongly encouraged because they promote skills training in the country. In Singapore, PPPs are encouraged because they leverage knowledge, skills and expertise of technology industry leaders. In addition, PPPs are encouraged because they establish networks with the private sector. They include Joint Centers of Technologies and Industry (IBT) schemes (UNESCO, 2014). TVET is provided in Japan by the Ministry or Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (MHLW). By contrast, TVET is provided in Singapore by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) and the Ministry or Education (MOE). As far as education system performance in concerned, both Japan and Singapore have engaged the private sector in provision and funding of education (UNESCO, 2012). The private sector involvement in national education takes various forms including private funding (donations and fees), community schools, private tutoring, publicly funded and privately managed schools, and full free private schools among others. It is worth highlighting that most basic education in Singapore and Japan is publicly offered by public schools or the government. While, the respective governments of the two countries offer free and compulsory education for the first 9 years of basic education, the role of the private sector played in primary education insignificant. However, this observation does not imply that the private sector, including communities and families, has no role. In fact, the private sector is of great importance in these countries. Private expenses on education include uniform, tuition fee, p rivate tutoring and textbooks. Teacher Policies and Standards The locus of teacher employment in Japan, including their selection, management and remuneration, rests with the regional government. By contrast, in Singapore, similar responsibilities rest with the central government. Irrespective of the level of devolution, both private and public sector plays a critical roles in the financing and provision of education. Typically, entrance to teacher training institutes requires graduation from the 12th grade (MOE, 2015; UNESCO, 2014). In both Singapore and Japan, entry to teacher training requires preschool, primary and secondary qualification. These qualifications are bundled with teacher-training certifications. Primary teachers undergo a two-year teacher training course whereas secondary teachers take three to four years of training. In Japan, secondary and elementary school teachers are trained at junior colleges and universities accredited by MEXT. In fact, the majority of elementary school teachers in Japan are graduates of four-year based programs at national universities (UNESCO-IBE, 2011a). Similarly, teachers in the corresponding levels in Singapore undertake university degree programs (MOE, 2015; UNESCO-IBE, 2011b). In Japan and Singapore, the duration of pre-service training is four years, which implies that teachers in these countries are highly qualified to teach students and achieve desirable educational outcomes for these students. The practice is consistent with the OECD average of PISA rankings (NCEE, 2015a). Unlike Singapore, in Japan teachers take a national entrance examination. Both countries have minimal teachers standards often enforced through regular licensure renewal or entrance examinations. Teachers in both countries benefit from professional support in terms of training workshops, peer consultations, support from inspectors and advisors and study opportunities for teachers (UNESCO, 2014; UNESCO-IBE, 2011a; UNESCO-IBE, 2011b). Rewards and incentives for teachers in these high performing education systems include salary increase, promotion and certificate of recognition (SIREP, 2010). Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Clearly, the approach is effective and generates results in international assessments such as OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Figure 4 below represents Singapore’s mean score compared to the United States and the OECD average for science, mathematics, and reading. Figure 5 is an illustration of Japan’s PISA means score in relation to the United States and OECD’s average. An analysis Figure 4 and Figure 5 indicates that Singapore has a better PISA mean score than Japan and the OECD average in reading, mathematics and science. According to OECD (2014), Japan remains one of the most attractive economies for foreign students. In 2012, 3.3 percent of foreign students were employed in Japanese tertiary institutions, which was a 0.1 percent growth from 2000. OECD (2014) noted that 3.3 percent was the largest percentage among all destination countries. Interestingly, 94 percent of foreign students came from Asia. In fact, 81 percent came from neighboring countries. This is a reflection of the education performance and popularity of the Japanese education system in the region. However, in the 2014 World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Rank, Japan was ranked at position six as compared to Singapore, which emerged at position 2 (NCEE, 2015a). In reference to INSEAD Global Innovation Rank 2014, Singapore emerged at position seven, whereas Japan was positioned at number 21. In summary, these rankings reflect the growth of Singapore’s education system in the last several years. For more than a decade, Japan and Singapore have been at the peak of global leagues of tables that outline children’s abilities in mathematics, reading and science. This has led to the significant development in Asia and attention from the West. This paper compared and contrasted education systems of Japan and Singapore. The analysis indicates that Japan has a relatively better education system than Singapore in various aspects. For instance, the number of years of free and obligatory education in Singapore and Japan are 6 and 9 respectively. This is a reflection of both financial and legal commitment of the respective governments in the education sector. In addition, Japan is one the most attractive destinations for foreign students. Contrastingly, only 1 percent of Japanese student at the tertiary level were registered overseas in 2011. Furthermore, Japan has one of the largest fractions of tertiary educated adults and the uppermost literacy proficiency level amid OECD count ries. It is evident from the research that improving education goes beyond making children attend classes. Effective education systems also involve ensuring that that the youth are well prepared for the world beyond their books and school grounds. It is in this regard that Singapore education system considers bilingual capability as a competitive advantage for their students in the region as well as in the ever increasingly globalized world. In other words, education is about providing avenues or platforms where the youth can find decent jobs, earn sufficient income, and contribute to their societies or communities as they fulfill their potential. In summary, a one-size-fits-all framework for developing an efficient education system is not feasible, but this paper provided an overview of the education system in Japan and Singapore with the hope that it may improve the understanding of the subject areas as well as strengthen education systems in other regions on the basis of experien ces and success of Singapore and Japan.

Public Relations Campaigns Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words - 1

Public Relations Campaigns - Lab Report Example It is necessary to tackle areas of the public relations campaign that are essential for the success organization of the Olympic Games. The main area of focus will be the 2012 London Olympic Games. Olympic Games have emerged as a significant international sporting event where several persons take part in diverse competitions. The event is held after every four years. It involves the participation of more than two hundred countries at any given time. Although the events are of international status, only good public relations exercise can ensure the success of the games. The organizers of such events have dedicated immense resources towards the public relations campaigns. A good example was the latest Olympic Games that held in London in the United Kingdom in the year 2012. The Olympic Games held in London majorly achieved its main objectives because many participants received their medals and raised the flag of their nations into the international limelight. However, there are doubts concerning whether the brand sponsors of the Olympics achieved their goals of conducting the public relations campaign for the games. While it is true that the games boosted the recession threatene d economy of the United Kingdom, the same cannot be true about all the products available for sale during that period (Matera & Artigue, 2010). A global public relations group called ECCO conducted an international survey on the effects of public relations campaign on the London 2012 Olympic Games and generated several findings. There is a wide held belief that the event changed Britain’s image on the positive note. It helped boost international trade and tourism for Britain. As a result, there have been increased positive perceptions about the products and services from Britain among the world community (Gregory, 2010). The intense public relation campaigns allowed the United Kingdom to

Patient-Centered Healthcare Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Patient-Centered Healthcare - Research Paper Example In healthcare services, patients feel valued and cared when they receive timely care, staff to provide them support during registration and other paper formalities, helping them understand different processes and reassuring them of their good health and recovery. Such service quality dimensions help increase patient satisfaction and loyalty towards respective physicians and thus assist physicians in retaining their customers amidst stiff competition. Ans. 2: In the reading, three kinds of PHRs are described along with mention of three healthcare systems which implemented this PHRs. Description of those kinds are: Tethered- the HER product called MyChart established by Epic Systems falls under tethered PHR category whereby patients can view their medical records and communicate with physicians for basic activities. However, the entire set up is provider filtered and comes under the aegis of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Stand-alone- PatientSite implement ed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical centre is a stand alone PHR system whereby updating health information is entirely in the hands of consumers and full fledged patient-doctor messaging and communication is facilitated by this system.

Quiz Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 6

Quiz - Essay Example Dr. Strangelove is one of the most satirical artistic works in history. The film was developed at a time when the entire country was terrified about the Soviet Union, yet it was developed with the approach of the issue by the use of humor instead of fear. Kubrick started the film as a drama but later found the whole situation so ridiculous that he had to laugh. The â€Å"big question† to be considered in this question is how human beings govern themselves (Landsburg 6). Governance is based on the fight for military and economic superiority by states that seek to rule others. This is depicted in the struggle by forces such as the USSR, Russia, and the United States in the film. Robert Oppenheimer is involved in the Manhattan Project that led to the development of the first atomic weapon. Oppenheimer believes that the atomic weapon came to make some states successful by improving their military superiority while other states would be affected by losing their citizens through deaths. This is the reason for his reference to Bhagavad Gita’s quote on the aspect of the destroyer of the worlds. The notion relates to Oppenheimer’s research in nuclear physics because it depicts the atomic bomb as a weapon that will destroy the world if not properly handled. The corset was so popular in the Victorian era because many women perceived it as a medical necessity. Women were believed to be fragile and always needed assistance in order to hold up. Even young girls needed to be laced up because of the weak nature associated with the female body. During the Victorian period, women were perceived as weak, and the corset was the most medically fit garment for them. Based on the â€Å"big question† on human beings, the corset was a violation of human rights. Based on the social construction, the society defines individuals. The society makes people perceive

The Issue of Performance Measurement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Issue of Performance Measurement - Essay Example This paper seeks to address the issue of measurement within the context of SWOT, PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis in response to Jengo Limited. The paper further illuminates on how budgeting would benefit Jengo Ltd’s in planning and controlling its inventory, recruitment, and cash management activities. Finally, it zeroes on how a balanced scorecard approach to measuring performance would benefit this company. SWOT analysis Broadly speaking, SWOT analysis is used to evaluate and aid in project formulation and strategic plans (Bohm 2008, p. 3). Just like Bohm notes, a SWOT analysis should be used in mapping out an organization’s Strengths and Weaknesses of the products and services and assess the extent to which they are in tandem and how they could possibly be improved. Beyond this, SWOT analysis is used to reflect on the Opportunities and Threats exposed by information accrued usually through evaluation of the external environment and through comparative studies (Bohm 2008, p. 3, Habour 1997, p. 38). POSITIVE NEGATIVE INTERNAL Strengths 1. Financially sound with good profit margins 2. An established name among customers 3. Offers quick modern services 4. Initiates Brand strategies 5. Many distribution channels 6. offers long-lasting, fashionable clothes by a variety of established designers 7. Sound management Weaknesses 1. Few branches across the United Kingdom 2. Poor planning in terms of staffing and training 3. Integration of operations worldwide 4. High prices 5. No product differentiation 6. Poor planning in budgeting and documentation EXTERNAL Opportunities 1. Emerging Markets in other parts of the United Kingdom and elsewhere 2. A number of interested companies to be shareholders including palisade Plc 3. Can use e-marketing strategy to further enhance market base 4. Support from Palisade Plc Threats 1. Stiff Competition from other clothing business providers in the United Kingdom 2. Competition from similar Business offeri ng the same services at cheaper prices 3. Government Regulation –business overregulated Porters Five Forces Analysis of Jengo This framework was developed by Michael Porter. The tool essentially enables businesses to deal with dynamic markets, gauge competitive ground and make decisions regarding entering target markets successfully (Friedman 1999, p. 5, Hoffman 2001). Further, it enables in identifying partner as well as implications that joint ventures may pose (Bradford & Duncan 1999). This is done by evaluating the following five key areas as espoused by Porter: New Entrants: At the moment for Jengo, there seem to be many potential businesses that may want to venture into clothing, fashion, and design business. Buyer’s Power: The buyers that Jengo has to seem to be solid. However, they seem to complain about prices. Alternatives should be provided since they may shift their loyalty. Substitute Products and Services: Certainly, there are alternatives to what Jango d oes and this may invite donors to look elsewhere. Power of Suppliers: The suppliers for Jengo are few and this means that they determine a great deal especially in strategy formulation within the company. Current Competition: Competition does exist as there are many companies who offer the same products even at lower prices.

Evaluate the authorities' handling of the 'Alex Nord' case. How would Essay

Evaluate the authorities' handling of the 'Alex Nord' case. How would you have handled this case - Essay Example Disturbed childhood with numerous problems in the house and parent-child relationship can greatly put a child at the risk of developing this disease (Rutter 1998). If a parent is suffering from this disorder or AOD misuse disorder, this can provide the child with a role model to follow, and can enhance his abnormal activities (MedicineNet). Discord between parents or between a parent and the child, or asymmetric parent behavior and attention patterns to the child can trigger an inclination towards antisocial behavior in the child (Rutter 1998). The diagnosis of this disorder is a crucial and very serious matter, as this disease, whereas grave in its nature, has no definite treatment (MedicineNet). People suffering from this disease do not readily opt for treatment and therapy, and often have to be forced to do so, especially by the law (MedicineNet). Medication has proved to be an ineffective means of curing the disease, as firstly, there is no definite medication for this, and secondly, any medicines that may be given can be, and often are, abused or neglected by the patient, so they prove ineffective (MedicineNet). The only workable method if treatment is through psychotherapy of the patient, either individual or in groups_ depending upon the particular case and the needs of the individual_ combined with in-house and outpatient treatments, vocational training programs, and participation in long-term group therapies (MedicineNet). This treatment method, though not completely curable, does help tremendously in leading the individual toward a more normal lifestyle, and helping him pinpoint his problems and abnormal behavior so that he can make an effort to abstain from such activities in the future. Often this disorder wanes with age, with patients reduced to just substance abusers (MedicineNet). The Alex Nord Case: the case under consideration is that of a 24 year old man, named Alex Nord, who has been diagnosed with antisocial

Operations Strategies at Marks & Spencers Clothing Industry Assignment

Operations Strategies at Marks & Spencers Clothing Industry - Assignment Example Tables of Contents Introduction Operations strategies include all actions that a firm conducts to support the main business strategy. Through development and implementation of such operations strategies firms create strong foundations in their markets thereby outcompeting other competitor firms. Through a particular operations strategy that firm will be able to develop products that win the market by outcompeting products from other companies. To make products succeed in the market, firms set their operations strategies in relation to cost, quality, service, flexibility, and other factors. The situation is similar even in the clothing industry. For instance, Mark’s and Spencer’s use some operations strategies in order to remain successful in the market (Johnson, 2003). This forms the core of this paper. Effects Product design process The product design process is important in developing products that will eventually succeed in the market. The design process must be very innovative (Hsiao, 2004). This process makes products as per the requirements of the customers. In most cases companies use feedback from customers to manufacturer products that meet the needs and requirements of the target customers. Good product designs heavily depend on individual designers (Hemoen, 2013). Marks and Spencer is one of the most successful retailers in the UK due to the numerous competitive advantages the company offers. This attaches to the design process that ensures the company offers good quality products at reasonable prices. The company’s competitive advantage is also because it only sells its own products. The company develops measures to reduce the cost of production through reducing the amount of materials and energy... This essay stresses that the qualifier for the Classic range product its classic and stylish identity, which define most of the classic range products. Another characteristic of the classic range is its good quality. Such order winning characteristics and qualifiers lure the customers into buying these products. The qualifier for Per Una is its high-fashion design trends that make it suitable for teenagers and the young generations full of new expectations. The autograph range display unique designs that are suitable for the design-lovers. All the three clothing ranges at Mark and Spencer relate to some specific operations objectives. These are quality, speed and cost. The classic range manufactures quality products from fabric of very high quality. In terms of speed, the Per Una is an exception since it has to catch up with the changing trends in the clothing industry. This paper makes a conclusion that operations strategies include are important for a firm as it supports the main business strategy of the firm in question. Firms set their operations strategies in relation to cost, quality, service, flexibility, and other factors. The product designing process will affect the operations performance strategies for Mark and Spencer Company. Segmentation is important in the business strategy of M&S because it helps in leading the clothing market. Operations performance objectives for the three clothing ranges at M&S include quality, speed, and cost.

The Issue of Performance Measurement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

The Issue of Performance Measurement - Essay Example This paper seeks to address the issue of measurement within the context of SWOT, PESTEL and Porter’s Five Forces Analysis in response to Jengo Limited. The paper further illuminates on how budgeting would benefit Jengo Ltd’s in planning and controlling its inventory, recruitment, and cash management activities. Finally, it zeroes on how a balanced scorecard approach to measuring performance would benefit this company. SWOT analysis Broadly speaking, SWOT analysis is used to evaluate and aid in project formulation and strategic plans (Bohm 2008, p. 3). Just like Bohm notes, a SWOT analysis should be used in mapping out an organization’s Strengths and Weaknesses of the products and services and assess the extent to which they are in tandem and how they could possibly be improved. Beyond this, SWOT analysis is used to reflect on the Opportunities and Threats exposed by information accrued usually through evaluation of the external environment and through comparative studies (Bohm 2008, p. 3, Habour 1997, p. 38). POSITIVE NEGATIVE INTERNAL Strengths 1. Financially sound with good profit margins 2. An established name among customers 3. Offers quick modern services 4. Initiates Brand strategies 5. Many distribution channels 6. offers long-lasting, fashionable clothes by a variety of established designers 7. Sound management Weaknesses 1. Few branches across the United Kingdom 2. Poor planning in terms of staffing and training 3. Integration of operations worldwide 4. High prices 5. No product differentiation 6. Poor planning in budgeting and documentation EXTERNAL Opportunities 1. Emerging Markets in other parts of the United Kingdom and elsewhere 2. A number of interested companies to be shareholders including palisade Plc 3. Can use e-marketing strategy to further enhance market base 4. Support from Palisade Plc Threats 1. Stiff Competition from other clothing business providers in the United Kingdom 2. Competition from similar Business offeri ng the same services at cheaper prices 3. Government Regulation –business overregulated Porters Five Forces Analysis of Jengo This framework was developed by Michael Porter. The tool essentially enables businesses to deal with dynamic markets, gauge competitive ground and make decisions regarding entering target markets successfully (Friedman 1999, p. 5, Hoffman 2001). Further, it enables in identifying partner as well as implications that joint ventures may pose (Bradford & Duncan 1999). This is done by evaluating the following five key areas as espoused by Porter: New Entrants: At the moment for Jengo, there seem to be many potential businesses that may want to venture into clothing, fashion, and design business. Buyer’s Power: The buyers that Jengo has to seem to be solid. However, they seem to complain about prices. Alternatives should be provided since they may shift their loyalty. Substitute Products and Services: Certainly, there are alternatives to what Jango d oes and this may invite donors to look elsewhere. Power of Suppliers: The suppliers for Jengo are few and this means that they determine a great deal especially in strategy formulation within the company. Current Competition: Competition does exist as there are many companies who offer the same products even at lower prices.

Operations Strategies at Marks & Spencers Clothing Industry Assignment

Operations Strategies at Marks & Spencers Clothing Industry - Assignment Example Tables of Contents Introduction Operations strategies include all actions that a firm conducts to support the main business strategy. Through development and implementation of such operations strategies firms create strong foundations in their markets thereby outcompeting other competitor firms. Through a particular operations strategy that firm will be able to develop products that win the market by outcompeting products from other companies. To make products succeed in the market, firms set their operations strategies in relation to cost, quality, service, flexibility, and other factors. The situation is similar even in the clothing industry. For instance, Mark’s and Spencer’s use some operations strategies in order to remain successful in the market (Johnson, 2003). This forms the core of this paper. Effects Product design process The product design process is important in developing products that will eventually succeed in the market. The design process must be very innovative (Hsiao, 2004). This process makes products as per the requirements of the customers. In most cases companies use feedback from customers to manufacturer products that meet the needs and requirements of the target customers. Good product designs heavily depend on individual designers (Hemoen, 2013). Marks and Spencer is one of the most successful retailers in the UK due to the numerous competitive advantages the company offers. This attaches to the design process that ensures the company offers good quality products at reasonable prices. The company’s competitive advantage is also because it only sells its own products. The company develops measures to reduce the cost of production through reducing the amount of materials and energy... This essay stresses that the qualifier for the Classic range product its classic and stylish identity, which define most of the classic range products. Another characteristic of the classic range is its good quality. Such order winning characteristics and qualifiers lure the customers into buying these products. The qualifier for Per Una is its high-fashion design trends that make it suitable for teenagers and the young generations full of new expectations. The autograph range display unique designs that are suitable for the design-lovers. All the three clothing ranges at Mark and Spencer relate to some specific operations objectives. These are quality, speed and cost. The classic range manufactures quality products from fabric of very high quality. In terms of speed, the Per Una is an exception since it has to catch up with the changing trends in the clothing industry. This paper makes a conclusion that operations strategies include are important for a firm as it supports the main business strategy of the firm in question. Firms set their operations strategies in relation to cost, quality, service, flexibility, and other factors. The product designing process will affect the operations performance strategies for Mark and Spencer Company. Segmentation is important in the business strategy of M&S because it helps in leading the clothing market. Operations performance objectives for the three clothing ranges at M&S include quality, speed, and cost.

College Education Essay Example for Free

College Education Essay It’s important to get a college education not only to be successful in the future but also to think for yourself and gain freedom through education, we can accomplish this by being educated liberally. Like Cronon, I think â€Å"a liberal education is about gaining the power and wisdom, the generosity and the freedom to connect† (Cronon; paragraph 18) to the real world. Finding a purpose to attend college should go beyond college itself, you should be motivated to learn something you have a passion for and will actually use and apply it to the world. †Truly educated people love learning, but they love wisdom more† (Cronon para 15). When learning you are just recycling information that the educators teach you just like Freire’s â€Å"banking system† but wisdom is what you incorporate to the â€Å"real world† and it is what is most valued than just being educated and not apply what you learned with other things. In my opinion liberal thinkers or people who are liberally educated want to be able to progress in life and not just do what they are told to do. They want to be able to think for themselves and come up with their own ideas. Liberal educated people want to â€Å"leave the world a better place than they had found it† (Cronon para 17). It takes wisdom and education to leave the world a better place than how it was before because it’s not an easy thing to do in a life time. Liberalists want to progress no just to benefit them but to benefit everyone else as well and I think they can accomplish this by using their wisdom and their college education. The way I see the banking system is that the educators are selfish because they only teach to their own convenience and they don’t let the receivers think for themselves. The receivers then don’t make any progress in life due to the fact that they are so used to just following the rules that are given to them by the educators. Liberal education is not like that. â€Å"Liberally educated people understand they belong to a community-and help that community flourish by making the success of others possible† (Cronon para 18). Liberalists want to succeed and want to see others succeed as well. â€Å"Liberal education must be that the freedom of the individual is possible only in a free community† (Cronon para18). When having the freedom you can think for yourself and not have others think for you like in a banking system and I personally think as well as Cronon explains that the only possible way to be gain freedom is by being liberally educated that way you learn to think for yourself and be able to be part of a free community. What is the whole point of going to college and get an education and when you graduate you will have no idea how to apply it or connect it to the real world. â€Å"Being an educated person means being able to see connections that allow one to make sense of the world and act within it in creative ways† (Cronon para 19). What’s the whole point of paying so much money for a college education if at the end you won’t know how to apply what you learned in college in the real world? If you don’t know how to apply things learned in college to the real world then you won’t be successful in the future and you practically gained no power or wisdom throughout your whole college education. Being educated can help you succeed in life and in the future if you know how to apply everything you learned in college to the real world once you graduate and help you and others succeed in your community and the real world. By being liberal educated can help you not only succeed in life but it can also help you gain freedom.

Android Operating System Analysis

Android Operating System Analysis Android (Operating System) Revolution in Mobile Technology Abstract Androids mobile operating system is based on the Linux kernel and it is a software stack for mobile devices. This operating system is one of the worlds best-selling Smartphone platform. Android involves many developers writing applications that helps in extended the functionality of the devices. There are currently over 1,50,000 applications available for Android. Android Market is the online application store run by Google, though applications can also be downloaded from third-party sites. Developers write in the Java language. The unveiling of the Android distribution on 5 November 2007 was announced with the founding of the Open Handset Alliance, a consortium of 80 hardware, software, and telecom companies devoted to advancing open standards for mobile devices. Most of the Android code is released by Google under the Apache License. The Android open-source software stack consists of Java applications running on a Java-based, object-oriented applicationlication framework on top of Java core libraries . Libraries written in C include SQLite relational database management system, WebKit layout engine, SGL graphics engine, SSL. The Android operating system, including the Linux kernel, consists of roughly 12million lines of code including 3million lines of XML, 2.8million lines of C, 2.1million lines of Java, and 1.75million lines of C++. Android logo Ascender Corporation designed the Android logo with the Droid font family. Version history After original release, many updates of androids have been seen. These updates focus on fixing bugs as well as adding new features. Each new version is developed under a code name based on a dessert item. The most recent released versions of Android are: 2.0/2.1 (Eclair), which introduced HTML5 and Exchange ActiveSync 2.5 support 2.2 (Froyo), which introduced speed improvements with JIT optimization , Wi-Fi and Adobe Flash support 2.3 (Gingerbread), which introduced the soft keyboard and copy/paste features, and added support for Near Field Communication 3.0 (Honeycomb), which supports larger screen devices and introduces many new user interface features, and supports multicore processors and hardware acceleration for graphics. The upcoming version of Android is: Ice Cream Sandwich, a combination of Gingerbread and Honeycomb into a cohesive whole, with a possible release in mid-2011. Hardware Running Android The main supported platform for Android is the ARM (Advanced Risc Machines) architecture.ARM is one of the most licensed and thus widespread processor cores in the world. It is used especially in portable devices due to low power consumption and reasonable performance. Now a days cell phones, note books and tablets, including the Dell Streak, Samsung Galaxy Tab, TV and other devices can use the functionality of Android . HTC Dream was the first phone to run android, released on 22 October 2008. Features Current features and specifications: Bluetooth, edge, 3G , WiFi support. Camera GPS, accelerometer support. GSM telephony support. Integrated browser based on the open source webkit engine Media support for common audio video, still image formats. Architecture Architecture Diagram Android architecture has four layers: 1. Application Layer : Android is one of skillful and modifiable OS because of its many applications.Top 25 applications in the list below Goggle voice Advanced task killer Drop box Evernote Droid Analytics Documents to go Amazon kindle Places directory Tripit Seesmic FCC Speedtest Astro File Manager Got To Do Gist TED Mobile Pandora Shazam Dial Zero Google Goggles Google Skymap Tricodor Fxcamera Photoshop Mobile Bump Barcode Scanner These applications are written in Java Language. Screen Shot: 2. Application Framework Layer: Android applications are written in the Java programming language. By the help of SDK tools Androids code is compiled with data and resource file. An archive file has .apk extension. All the code in a single .apk file is considered to be one application. By the help of this file, Android devices use to install the application. Android provides the ability to build extremely rich and innovative applications due to open source platform. These are the services which are provided by it like device hardware, access location information, run background services, set alarms, add notifications to the status bar, and much more. Developers have full access to the same framework APIs used by the core applications. The application architecture is designed to simplify the reuse of components; any application can publish its capabilities and any other application may then make use of those capabilities .This same mechanism allows components to be replaced by the user. Underlying all applications is a set of services and systems, including: Set ofViewsthat can be used to build an application, including lists, grids, text boxes, buttons, and web browser Access data from other applications (such as Contacts), or to share their own data by the help of content providers. AResource Manager, providing access to non-code resources such as localized strings, graphics, and layout files To display custom alerts in the status bar by the help of a notification manager. Lifecycle of applications can be maintained by an activity manager. 3. Libraries: Android system uses a set of C/C++ libraries which helps in functioning of its various components.. Android application framework exposes its functionalities for its users. Some of the core libraries are listed below: System C library a BSD-derived implementation of the standard C system library , tuned for embedded Linux-based devices Media Libraries many audio and video formats are supported by these libraries. These libraries support image formats like MPEG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, and PNG. Surface Manager manages access to the display subsystem and seamlessly composites 2D and 3D graphic layers from multiple applications LibWebCore a modern web browser engine which powers both the Android browser and an embeddable web view SGL the underlying 2D graphics engine 3D libraries an implementation based on OpenGL ES 1.0 APIs; the libraries use either hardware 3D acceleration (where available) or the included, highly optimized 3D software. FreeType bitmap and vector font rendering SQLite a powerful and lightweight relational database engine available to all applications 4. Linux Kernel Layer : The kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack. It contains the drivers for flash memory, camera, keypad, Audio, WiFi drivers , networking, file system access and inter process communication. Android relies on Linux version 2.6 for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. Software Development Kit The Android software development kit (SDK) includes a set of development tools viz. a debugger, libraries, a handset emulator documentation, sample code, and tutorials. Android developer website helps in downloading SDK. Currently supported development platforms include computers running Linux (any modern desktop Linux distribution), Mac OS X 10.4.9 or later, Windows XP or later. Instead of using Eclipse (official IDE) developers may use any text editor to edit Java and XML to create, build and debug Android applications. The SDK also supports older versions of the Android platform in case developers wish to target their applications at older devices. Android applications are packaged in .apk format and stored under /data/application folder on the Android OS. APK package contains .dex files ,resource files, etc. List of those features that android phones do better than the iPhone Browsing Desktop Connectivity PC Connection Multi-notification Endless personalization Market Goggle integration Open source Op[en to carriers Current Distribution The following pie chart and table is based on the number of Android devices that have accessed Android Market within a 14-day period ending on the data collection date noted below. Platform API Level Distribution Android 1.5 3 3.9% Android 1.6 4 6.3% Android 2.1 7 31.4% Android 2.2 8 57.6% Android 2.3 9 0.8% Data collected during two weeks ending on February 2, 2011

A Critical Analysis Of the Doctor Wont See You Now :: essays research papers

A Critical Analysis of "The Doctor Won't See You Now" Initially, James Gorman appears to be stating that physicians should not be ethically obligated to treat each and every "slob" that seeks treatment. The title of the essay, and the sarcastic tone, give evidence that the thesis is quite the contrary. Gorman does identify an alarming trend of physicians looking through a cynical eye with an example of a survey by the American Medical Association, published November, 1991. " Thirty percent of doctors surveyed said they felt no ethical responsibilities to treat AIDS patients" (page 62). This seems to set the tone of disgust for such physicians. Gorman further condemns such physicians by reminding the reader "doctoring is a profession, a calling requiring commitment and integrity" (page 63). Gorman confirms his argument with the first of many disenchanted views. Making a comparison that " old people who are on their way out anyway" (page 62) are responsible for rising health care costs. Gorman then becomes almost offensive when he suggests some AIDS patients deserve their predicament and others don't. At this point, the reader sees that Gorman is being very sarcastic and bitter towards physicians who mare share this view. In paragraph three, Gorman attempts to make an analogy between other professions and related obligations. In essence, the analogy equates the amount of money and personal taste one may have, with the level of care and/or attention one deserves. The analogy appears to be very inappropriate at first, however, this may be exactly what Gorman is trying to point out, making the reader more sympathetic to the thesis. Gorman begins to touch on a sound idea of preventative medicine in paragraph four, page 62, where he writes "... the medical profession is finally beginning to see that patients have a responsibility for their own health". The credibility of the previous statement is destroyed when Gorman goes on to make a false analogy, comparing doctors with small business, and suggests that their is no difference between the two fields. Gorman suggest that, like in small business, doctors should eliminate the "riffraff" in their establishments. Unfortunately, the definition of riffraff is never revealed. Gorman goes on further to suggest which diseases or ailments should not be treated without any reason except personal bias. The sarcastic tone is turned up a notch on the proverbial dial from ten to eleven. Making a hasty generalization would usually destroy credibility on an issue, but used with the tone and thesis of this essay, it actually supports Gorman's point. Gorman specifies carpal tunnel syndrome as a deserved ailment. In the last

Capital Punishment And Christianity :: essays research papers

Capital punishment has been stated as ‘murder in its worst form’ barbaric, disgusting, unusual and completely unnecessary. Should Christians really support the death penalty? Many Christians believe that the Bible has spoken to the issue, but others believe that the New Testament ethic of love replaces the Old Testament law. Some early Christian writers who discussed capital punishment were absolutely opposed to it. Christians were instructed to not execute a criminal, to not attend public executions and even to not lay a charge against a person if it might eventually result in their execution. One example is Lactantius (260 to 330 AD) who is primarily known for his books, ‘Introduction to true Religion’ and ‘The Divine Institutes’. He wrote in The Divine Institutes, Book 6, Chapter 20: â€Å"When God forbids us to kill, he not only prohibits the violence that is condemned by public laws, but he also forbids the violence that is deemed lawful by men. Thus it is not lawful for a just man to engage in warfare, since his warfare is justice itself. Nor is it [lawful] to accuse anyone of a capital offence. It makes no difference whether you put a man to death by word, or by the sword. It is the act of putting to death itself which is prohibited. Therefore, regarding this precept of God there should be no exception at all. Rather it is always unlawful to put to death a man, whom God willed to be a sacred creature.† Abolitionists believe that the offender should be required to compensate the victim’s family with the offender’s income from employment or community service. Their thinking is that someone can do more alive than dead. By working, the criminal inadvertently ‘pays back’ society and also the victim and/or the victim’s family. There is no reason for the criminal to receive any compensation for his work. Money is of no value in jail. One of the most well known examples of the criminal contributing to the betterment of society is the case of Leopold and Loeb. Leopold and Loeb were nineteen years old when they committed ‘The Crime of the Century’. In 1924 they kidnapped and murdered a fourteen year old boy just to see what it was like. They were both spared the death penalty and sentenced to life imprisonment. Together, their accomplishments include working at hospitals, teaching ill-iterates to read, creating a correspondence school, making si gnificant developments in the World War II Malaria Project and writing a grammar book.

Cemetery billing and mapping system Essay

1.0 INTRODUCTION Technology has grown over the years and has made the life of mankind much easier. Technology is all around us and shows no sign of disappearing. It helps enhance the quality of life and business by doing many of our everyday tasks, which leaves more time to spend on more demanding and tedious matters. Computers are a great aid for businesses in terms of making a system from different aspects faster, proficient, and reliable. Computerized systems can generate reports and records in a fraction of the time compared to manual methods. Today, many of the world’s successful companies use computers for record keeping and report generations. Only a few have yet to adapt to the idea of computerized systems and continue to use a manual method of writing and recording in logbooks. Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. is a privately owned cemetery located in Ampid II San Mateo, Rizal. Their main office is located at Door No. 12 Marietta Arcade MR Center, Marcos Highway, San Roque Marikina City. The cemetery first opened in November, 1973, by Mr. Romeo M. Liamzon. It is currently being led by their president Marietta Liamzon, the wife of the late Mr. Romero M. Liamzon. Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. offers memorial services and lots for the deceased. Having a computerized Billing and Tracking system will help provide a proficient way to record, organize, and store data, regarding the client’s information. The system will help lessen the time and workload of the companies’ employees by giving faster, organized, accurate, and reliable information and records. 1.1 Background of the Problem In today’s modern age, computer has become a way of life; it is very evident that a majority of the country’s businesses still have not yet adapted to high technology. Particularly in most independent companies, daily transactions are still done on paper or old computer practices. We all know that modern offices are now operating at great pace striving to serve as many clients as possible with the best of their abilities. Although, as the years roll by, the number of clients and customers have grown and various record cases arise from these manual methods of managing clients’ records. Paraiso Memorial Parks, Inc. is a private cemetery located at San Mateo, Rizal. It was formerly founded by Mr. Romeo M. Liamzon, the late husband of President Marietta Liamzon, on November 1973. It currently has more than 20,000 customers and still continues to increase. It has (28)twenty-eight hectares of lot which are classified into five different types of memorial lot (1) lawn lot, (2) court, (3)presidential, (4) family estate, and (5)apartments (see attachment D-all. ), and are classified into 3 kinds of lots which is (a)Regular lot (b)Special (c)Premium Special. Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. has surely grown over the years and along with it, its customers; the increasing numbers has been neglected over the years and therefore some of the processes of Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. are in need of modification or update. Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. is currently using a manual method of Billing and Tracking system. This manual method is prone to human errors and requires a considerable amount of time and effort. When computing the payments of a customer, wrong input into a ledger due to human errors can result in creation of a new entry, which consumes valuable time and effort. This leads to the delay of posting on the payments of a customer. There have also been cases where a page or the whole ledger is lost, damaged, or misplaced. It can be troublesome in finding the misplaced page or reproducing a damaged page. The filing of records is also a manual method of writing down information and then storing them into file cabinets. Records can be lost or misplaced from not being properly inserted into the file cabinets. If a request is made to view the record of a specific client, the employee must search through each folder of the file cabinet, which is very time consuming. Records and data lack security. Customer information is at risk to unauthorized viewing. Since there is no lock on the ledgers or file cabinets, anyone can gain access and view records or customer information. Once a customer has been issued a customer booklet, there have been cases where in a customer will forget to bring their customer booklet when giving a payment of installment. The employee will have a hard time finding the account of the customer since the contract number is unknown. They will search manually through each ledger, name by name. This becomes a problem since their ledgers are not organized in alphabetical order. In tracking a specific grave for customers, relatives, or visitors who do not know or remember the address of the lot, Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. will search through several blotters for the name or address of the requested lot. The blotters are not arranged in alphabetical order, so the employee must search thoroughly name by name. The tallying of the available lots in Paraiso Memorial Park can be strenuous with the large number of overall lots in Paraiso. In order to find out how many lots are still available for sale, employees must compile the information gathered from numerous blotters. 1.2 Overview of the Current State of the Technology Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. has valid agents that are authorized to assist old customers and especially new clients that are willing to buy. There are 20 transactions averaging per day and Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. has 20,000 customers (already fully paid) to serve. There are two ways to inquire a lot in Paraiso Memorial Park Inc.; these are the following; Inquiring to avail a lot in Paraiso Memorial Park First customers inquire through an agent in the park which is called â€Å"The Officer of the Day†. This agent usually holds a Plan of the Park, Pricelist of the kind’s lots in Paraiso Memorial Park, Sales Application Form, Individual Application for Creditor and Contract to Sell. Customers may then ask about the price of the lot, kinds and classification of lot, terms and condition of payments, and how the customer will pay (cash or check) and where. The Agent will occasionally accompany their client throughout the park if requested; if the customer is willing and agrees to buy the lot, the agent checks the lot plan if the requested lot is available or not, then double checking it by calling the main office located in San Roque, Marikina City. If the availability of the lot requested is confirmed available, the agent will then present the Sales Application Form and Customer Data Sheet, Application Form for Individual Application for Creditor, and Contract to Sell to be filled up by the customer. The said forms stipulate the policy of the company regarding lot utilization, rules, and regulations. The agent and the customer will begin scheduling a date and time for when they will go to the main office for verification of data and issuance of a deposit slip. This deposit slip will be presented to the bank (Life Saving Bank besides the main office) upon payment. Afterwards, they will return to the Main Office for the issuance of official receipt, and the customer booklet depending if customer is in installment basis. Inquiring to avail a lot in Paraiso Memorial Park Inquiry through the Paraiso Memorial Park main office; located in San Roque, Marikina City. There is also an agent there called â€Å"The Officer of the Day†. Customers inquire through this agent and follow the same steps and procedures as if at the park office inquiry, except the customer cannot survey the memorial lots. The checking of availability of the requested lot is also quicker, since the main office holds the blotter. Issuance of the â€Å"Certificate of Ownership† will be given within a month after the full payment to have it prepared and signed by the official signatory and a PHP500.00 fee will be charge. The Contract to sell will be given to the buyer once it is signed by the official signatory that is within a month of the first payment. Along with the Contract to Sell is the Perpetual Care Fund in a form of trust amounting to PHP 5, 500.00 to PHP 132, 000.00 depending on the lot. (See Attachment C-7) Paraiso Memorial Park accepts all kinds of Check, whether Post-Dated Check or Personal Check. When a customer gives a post-dated check Paraiso Memorial Park prints out in a paper the information on the post-dated check and signs it saying Paraiso Memorial Park Inc. receives the post-dated check. The Individual Application for Creditor is a form of Insurance wherein if the conditions are met, a PHP 20,000.00 will be deducted to the remaining balance of the buyer. (See Attachment C-3.) If the customer is unable to pay according to the payment terms, a penalty will be given depending on how long the customer is overdue. A three (3) month grace period is given before charging for the penalty interest. Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. offers up to six (6) terms of payment. (See Attachment C-21 and C-22). If the customer needs to use his/her memorial lot for burial purposes (Interment), she/he must pay in full or in cash in order for the lot to be used or utilized. Paraiso Memorial Inc. will provide an Interment Form which is only provided in the Main Office. The authorized (beneficiaries) customer will fill-out the interment form and apply for an interment. Issuance of deposit slip is also given by the cashier at the main office for paying the interment fees at the bank (Life Saving Bank beside the main office of Paraiso Memorial Park Inc.). After paying, the customer will then return to the main office for the issuance of Official Receipt. Then Information is now recorded into the interment sheet. When a customer is at-need (customer needs a memorial lot for immediate burial), he/she must pay in full or in cash in order for the lot to be used or utilized, take note that in this kind of transaction, the lot price is much higher than pre-need sales. The Sales Application Form, Customer Data Sheet and Contract to Sell are now manually recorded into two (2), one is the â€Å"Blotter† and the other is the â€Å"Subsidiary Ledger†. The Subsidiary ledger contains information about a single account, while the â€Å"Blotter† contains the information of the purchased memorial lot. The Tracking process or finding the availability of lots in Paraiso Memorial Park Inc. is done by manually scanning the lot plan and blotters. The lot plan is the map of Paraiso Memorial Park; this is categorized by Area and Garden, and is arranged by blocks/lots (see attachment C-25). Availability of the lot can also be seen here. The Blotter contains lot area, contract no., name of buyer, date availed and the remarks (if lot is fully paid or not). Paraiso Memorial Park, Inc. constantly updates their lot plan and blotters to remove the occurrence of double sales. The Park checks once a year the overall number of available lots up for sale. Currently Paraiso Memorial Parks has 25,000 lots. 1.3 Project Rationale A computerized billing and tracking system is very important in the succession of adaption on monitoring billings and customers of Paraiso Memorial Park Inc. This brings vast opportunities for development of Memorial Companies whereas data is already in their grasps. To the company, it is intended to take full advantage of current technologies that provide you with the ability to maximize your resources, increase productivity, improve accuracy and promote great cost effectiveness. To the employee, it is developed with functions which help save time and effort. It also provides an easy access to the authorized personnel only and performs automatic computation for billing. To the customer, the best information and services are ready to serve and a faster billing process is given, creating less hassle on paying bills. To the future researcher, this will guide them as a reference for their future subjects related in this study and can then be improved as technology and knowledge is growing. To STI College Marikina, this will serve as a reference to future students and will give them idea in creating or building a system of their own. This project aims to design and provide a methodology and its associated tools in order to support the integration of applications and process which have not necessarily been designed to coexist for memorial parks and competitive business.