Monday, August 24, 2020

Effects of Rising Technology Essay

In the twenty first century, advancement and consistent utilization of innovation have incredibly affected people, and their approaches to moving toward media. Numerous individuals accept that innovation has improved the personal satisfaction of the individuals at an extraordinary profundity, while others consider it to be a power that has gotten away from human control. Present day innovation, for example, Internet, may assist individuals with taking care of issues or assemble data quicker than a common person is prepared to do. Simultaneously, it can likewise devastate one’s public activity and communications with people if legitimate equalization isn't kept up. While people’s contemplations with respect to the different sides are fascinating, the inquiry is, are the pessimistic impacts progressively dwarfing the constructive ones? In the exposition â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid† composed by Nicholas Carr, and â€Å"The Multitasking Generation† by Claudia Wallis, we are given manners by which innovation influences the every day way of life of person. Despite the fact that the two creators see a portion of the advantageous employments of current innovation, they eventually pinpoint the negative impacts of it to a huge degree. While the terrible impacts stay steady between the two creators, they present various parts of ways people are being influenced †Carr, accentuating on how innovation (Internet for this situation) has radically changed the manner in which people procure and present data, and Wallis, concentrating on how innovation (Media Multitasking) weakens social associations among people. In today’s world, employments of innovation have become undeniably more productive than any other time in recent memory, and it is just expanding. Web itself alone, has walked onto turning into the advanced force wellspring of straightforwardness and effectiveness. At the point when one catches wind of ‘efficiency’, an idea of completing much less measure of time spent, triggers to his psyche. At the end of the day, sparing time while completing the most extreme work is the key, and that is the thing that Internet conveys to human. In â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid†, Carr communicates his accommodation of utilizing Internet to do his examination, â€Å"Research that once required days in the stacks or periodical rooms of libraries should now be possible in minutes† (Carr 1-2). He recognizes the way that Internet makes his activity as an author simpler, by saying that Internet is giving out data quicker than previously. The advantages are not just restricted to simple access of Internet. The Internet is likewise taking over people’s day by day life rather rapidly as it tends to be modified to play out specific elements of any data preparing gadget. â€Å"It’s turning into our guide, our clock, our print machine, and our typewriter, our adding machine, and our phone, and our radio and TV† (Carr 4), says Carr, as he alludes to a portion of the gadgets utilized regularly, to clarify the idea of Internet being an amazing registering framework. Wallis, in the article â€Å"The Multitasking Generation†, additionally ponders some beneficial outcomes of innovation. Through the idea of â€Å"media multitasking†, or â€Å"listening to iTunes, viewing a DVD and IMing companions all at the equivalent time† (Wallis 3) to make reference to a couple, Wallis alludes to kids having the option to assimilate numerous assignments at the same time, while perhaps serving the children with certain advantages. One may be interested to ask in what manner can innovations, for example, media be advantageous to kids? Shockingly, as indicated by Wallis, â€Å"Piers†, the fourteen years of age child in the Coxes family, â€Å"repairs the family PCs and DVD player. † â€Å"Bronte†, Piers’ twin sister, â€Å"uses computerized innovation to form expound photograph arrangements and make a narrative of her father’s progressing treatment for cancer† (Wallis 3). In the statement, Wallis communicates the way that even youngsters today, know about the valuable intensity of innovation, and they are very equipped for exploiting it. While the two creators present a portion of the beneficial outcomes of innovation, as referenced above, to us, every one of them tends to various issues on how precisely employments of innovation and mechanical upgrades contrarily sway human life. As individuals become dependent on the significant web productivity, things being what they are, the Internet serves to be very hurtful towards human cognizance in to such an extent that it reduces the limit of human focus and consideration. As Carr says in â€Å"Is Google Making Us Stupid†, â€Å"media gracefully the stuff of thought, yet they likewise shape the procedure of thought† (Carr 2). At the end of the day, Internet is controlling and changing the manner in which we think or expend data and in this way, complimenting our own insight into â€Å"artificial intelligence† (Carr 8). Individuals these days are so used to the data gave by the Internet that they don't depend on their own insight or think on their own like they used to preceding the approach of Internet. An occasion that mirrors this thought of self-control is appeared in Carr’s own announcement, â€Å"Once I was a scuba jumper in the ocean of words. Presently I flash along the surface like a person on a Jet Ski† (Carr 2). Despite the fact that Carr doesn't go onto to state that he is getting vacuous, he accepts that his psyche is changing because of investing such a great amount of energy in the web in the course of the most recent quite a while. Previously, he was a lot of connected into perusing and profound thought, while now he doesn't have the persistence to do as such. Skimming is by all accounts the quick and proficient approach to get over it. Carr’s thought exhibits people’s powerlessness to retain any protracted writings in light of over the top access to media, demonstrating to the pessimistic effects that media have on people. In spite of the fact that Wallis in â€Å"The Multitasking Generation† infers a comparable idea of negative impacts of innovation on people as Carr, Wallis follows an alternate viewpoint to address the issue. While performing various tasks permits exercises to be done in equal trying to accomplish the potential results all the more proficiently, it is generally, both truly and intellectually difficult to carry out numerous responsibilities simultaneously with precision. To add that to a huge degree, the manner in which it influences people is that it decays people’s capacity to collaborate with one another in the general public. â€Å"The mental propensity for partitioning one’s consideration into numerous little cuts has huge ramifications for the manner in which youngsters learn, reason, socialize†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Wallis 3), shows performing various tasks as the factor, which youthful ages today don't know about, the way that they are being progressed to a darker side of the general public. Indeed, even the guardians admit, â€Å"we don’t get out together to have a social life† (Wallis 3), unmistakably communicating their emotions towards the progressions that are being brought about by trend setting innovation. And keeping in mind that individuals are moving to these changes, society is being influenced overall. As utilization of current innovation is flourishing, the straightforwardness and effectiveness in life are likewise rising. Be that as it may, as individuals proceed onward, there will be numerous discussions over the unnecessary utilizations of innovation in type of media. There will be more worries on whether the negative impacts will supersede the constructive outcomes soon. Starting at now, both Carr and Wallis underscore on the adverse effects of innovation on people; be that as it may, Carr passes on that innovation contrarily controls people’s perspective and engrossing data, while Wallis accepts that innovation decreases people’s capacity to concentrate on specific errands and association with others in the general public.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Why Developed Countries Should Not Produce Nuclear Power

Presentation Nuclear force is frequently evolved from the splitting of atomic components to create heat (Howtopowertheworld, 2010, p. 1). Throughout the years, created nations have been at the cutting edge in the improvement of this wellspring of vitality, with ebb and flow world measurements evaluating that, there are around 31 nations which create atomic power.Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on Why Developed Countries Should Not Produce Nuclear Power explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More Though atomic force age is gradually picking up conspicuousness on the planet, particularly since the world is looking for additional wellsprings of environmentally friendly power vitality, atomic vitality is a one of a kind wellspring of vitality since it bears interesting attributes which recognize it from different wellsprings of vitality. For example, atomic vitality has been recognized to be a risky wellspring of vitality, particularly if a mishap occu rs (Howtopowertheworld, 2010, p. 1). This is the motivation behind why a few nations are against its utilization. For example, created nations, for example, Australia and Austria are immovably restricted to the advancement of atomic vitality (Breeze, 2005). The year 2011 saw the most exceedingly awful atomic fiasco in late time, with radiation fears ready, at Japan’s Fukushima plant, when the nation was hit by a wave and quake, which influenced the atomic plant. Considering these worries, a few nations are gradually auditing their atomic force age systems. This examination brings up that, created nations, which have been at the bleeding edge in the age of atomic vitality, should quit doing as such, in light of the fact that the weaknesses of atomic force age enormously exceed their favorable circumstances. This reality is bolstered by examine considers recommending that: atomic vitality has the capability of being utilized for psychological warfare; atomic vitality produces h azardous radioactive waste and atomic vitality is exceptionally exorbitant, and if there should be an occurrence of an atomic debacle, the outcomes might be extremely serious. Radioactivity is the significant concern related with atomic force age. Truth be told, in the ongoing Fukushima atomic force age fiasco, occupants were encouraged to empty encompassing districts (around the atomic force plant) to lessen the odds of being influenced by radioactivity. The peril of radioactivity is extreme since it might take a huge number of years to decrease radioactive beams to safe levels (Howtopowertheworld, 2010, p. 1). This reality implies that, if an atomic debacle ever occurs, ages of human lives may live with its outcomes and this will clearly adversy affect humankind. The impacts on mankind can in this way not be belittled in light of the fact that reviews have indicated that, atomic force radioactivity may effectsly affect the human’s conceptive framework, and it additionally h as the capability of causing consumes, looseness of the bowels, heaving and other serious wellbeing impacts. This is a piece of the issue related with atomic force age in light of the fact that with radioactivity, it might be extremely hard to recognize radioactive waves, much following quite a while (Furry Elephant, 2011). Despite the fact that radioactive waves delivered from atomic force age may not be straightforwardly assimilated through the human skin, all things considered, individuals may ingest certain radioactive core, in things, for example, nourishments, which are debased with the substance.Advertising Looking for examine paper on other innovation? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The way wherein radioactivity influences individuals are various and this is the reason most nations restricted the significant of food from Japan when it encountered its atomic debacle. At the point when these radioactive components ar e ingested into the human framework, it turns out to be hard to control them, not to mention dispose of them, since they can influence the human DNA, because of their high capacity to ionize. This may along these lines cause malignant growth, among other adverse wellbeing impacts, which additionally have the capacity of causing demise. Considering radioactivity has a high capability of influencing all parts of life, it beats sense, enduring exercises which may conceivably prompt the event of such a catastrophe. In the event that such a debacle strikes, humankind will conceivably not be the equivalent and from this understanding, it doesn't bode well for created countries to open mankind to such kind of deadly impacts. Potential Terrorist Applications The tremendous force atomic force age has; makes it a prime instrument of psychological oppression. Atomic force age can be utilized to make atomic bombs, which are extremely deadly and can be utilized to wage fear on a given country. F or example, there is sufficient proof progressed by researchers to recommend that, atomic force can be utilized to smooth a whole city, murdering a huge number of individuals at a go (TMIA, 2011). Late occasions have seen the US guarantee that, few nations over the globe, for example, Iran and Iraq are making atomic bombs, which may affect world harmony. Regardless of whether these charges are valid or not will be not the subject of this examination, however the circumstance uncovered how atomic force can be utilized to cause a great deal of distress, and perhaps destabilize world harmony. In any case, ongoing investigations uncover an additionally destroying danger to a country’s harmony after it was avowed that, an assault on an atomic force plant by fear mongers, is likewise another methodology to wage an atomic war against a country (TMIA, 2011). Clearly, reality behind this declaration comes from the way that, an assault on an atomic force plant would add up to an outflo w of radioactive beams which would influence a nation’s populace. This fear based oppressor procedure is simpler than collecting an atomic bomb or conveying an atomic bomb to a psychological militant objective. Additionally, this sort of assault is lethal and its consequences for human lives are impossible. From this examination hence, we see that, whenever created countries keep delivering atomic vitality and building progressively atomic plants, they increment their powerlessness as an objective of psychological oppression, and clearly presenting their residents to the unfriendly impacts of atomic force age. Significant expense of Building Nuclear Facilities and the Small Possibility of Accidents The expense of building new atomic force plants to create power, or give elective wellsprings of vitality is faltering and far off for some countries.Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on Why Developed Countries Should Not Produce Nuclear Power explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More With an ineffectively performing world economy and with expanded obligation troubles for some significant world economies, for example, America, it looks bad for created countries to keep creating atomic force †directing a great deal of assets to such undertakings, while different divisions of the financial parts of the economy, for example, wellbeing, training and such like elements remain underfunded. In the US, it is evaluated that, the expense of intensity, created from atomic plants is triple that of the ordinary rates paid for power produced using other elective wellsprings of vitality, for example, hydroelectricity (Yanak, 2009, p. 1). It is additionally assessed that, the expense of paying for atomic vitality is multiple times the expense of effectiveness got from such a vitality cost. The high rates to be paid for atomic vitality clearly radiates from the significant expenses related with atomic force age, and speculators or gove rnments need to pass this expense down to the purchasers to recoup such significant expenses. This sort of situation just uncovered residents in created countries to significant expenses of vitality. At the point when contrasted with other elective vitality creation techniques, atomic vitality stands apart as the most costly vitality source at any point developed by humankind. The creation of atomic vitality subsequently not just stands as an issue of basic monetary significance, yet additionally a matter of moral concern, thinking about a redirection of huge money related assets to vitality creation, adds up to a hardship of other financial obligations which governments in created nations should give. End Nuclear force age in created nations, however a smart thought at face esteem, is damaged with a ton of debate in regards to its wellbeing and effect on human lives. Despite the fact that its colossal monetary expenses can be carried by a few governments in created nations, it ough t to be gotten that, there should be a money saving advantage investigation to evaluate the expense and potential advantages that originate from atomic influence age. With a few increasingly significant obligations that administrations need to perform, it isn't moral to redirect a great deal of state assets to create atomic vitality, to the detriment of other state needs. Notwithstanding these worries, atomic vitality has been gone to a policy driven issue, with nations exchanging allegations and counter-allegations in regards to the creation of atomic weapons, since it is realized that, atomic vitality can be utilized to advance demonstrations of fear based oppression, in this way destabilizing world peace.Advertising Searching for inquire about paper on other innovation? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More The impact of an atomic fear act is tremendous and impossible. Radioactivity is likewise another motivation behind why created nations should quit delivering atomic vitality since they open their residents to the dangers of radioactivity if an atomic mishap occurs. On the whole, the components recognized in this investigation uncover cut off negative impacts of atomic force age and from the whole examination, it is incomprehensible for any administration to exist if such disasters ever happen to their residents. To shield residents from such unfavorable impacts, it is significant for created nations to stop atomic force age. References Breeze, P. (2005). Force Generation Technologies. New York: Newnes. Hairy Elephant. (2011). Why Study Radioactivit

Monday, July 20, 2020

Before You Crowdfund an Invention, Consider Patent Protection

Before You Crowdfund an Invention, Consider Patent Protection Are you an inventor? Do you have an invention that works just as you expected?It all starts with a crazy idea which you believe in so much that you put in the effort to bring it to life.But the journey is never smooth. You will often get close to the working product only for a small hitch to take you several steps back.If you have developed anything from scratch, either a physical product to a virtual one like a software product, you know this process.So, when your eureka moment comes and everything works perfectly, you have a lot to celebrate.And the next logical step is to get funding so you can develop your product in large scale and sell.And where do you get funding from?Easy. You crowdfund. Right?Crowdfunding has gained a lot of popularity as startups seek to launch their business ideas despite having little cash.The idea is to have many people, referred to as backers, contribute small amounts to reach the desired amount.WHY CROWDFUND?The ease and convenience of getting funding through crowdfunding platforms is unmatched.Moreover, this funding avenue offers more than just funding opportunities.Crowdfunding also provides some good benefits which are worth appreciating:More Efficient Than Traditional FundingOne of the reasons crowdfunding is popular is the ease of access to backers.Backers don’t necessarily need to value your idea as banks would, before getting on board with it. It therefore becomes easier to access funding than if you visited a bank for a loan.In many cases, banks will require some form of security. Apart from that, the process is longer and tiresome.And since banks will consider your financial status before lending you any money, you may not stand a chance if you’re not a transacting customer.But what do backers require before giving you funds?All you have to do is win them using your invention and allow them to be first in experiencing it.Backers are people who love being ahead of others.They want to have the most novel of products so they enjoy their value as well as stand out from the crowd.This is why a platform like kickstarter has over 16.7 million backers.Check out the below official statistics about the platform. Source: KickstarterWhere you have such a big number of people willing to buy a new product before others can, the opportunities are unlimited.Also, launching your funding campaign on crowdfunding platforms is as easy as creating an online profile.Running the whole campaign, depending on the product and the duration you specify, can be very short.Indicator of Consumer InterestCrowdfunding also gives you an opportunity to gather customer feedback before having any real customers. You can look at this as product validation.If your invention is really cool and many people are eager to have it, then you know that your product is a success.Going through the comments from backers and potential fans of your product, you’ll see how much the market needs your product.There’s nothing as great for an entrepreneur as having the assurance that your product has a ready market.If the crowdfunding population wants your product, then so will the normal market outside the platform.Provides Cheap Bu t Excellent MarketingAnd with that assurance comes something else very critical for the “normal market.” That thing is marketing.You can look at the crowdfunding platform as a different world from the one you live in. In the crowdfunding world, people are eager to get new stuff. But in the “real” world, the skeptics could outnumber the potential customers.Furthermore, if you have no business experience or are little known, the chances of your business kicking off are slim.But not so if you first go through a platform like kickstarter or Indiegogo.Once the people in these platform go back to the “real” world of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc, they will spread the news.They will create lots of awareness and publicity about the new invention in town.And if you have a website and social media pages, they can share links and help get the word out there.This is what social media marketing is all about.However, the beauty here is that you don’t labor so much. Just do the r ight campaign in the crowdfunding platform and so much more will follow.CROWDFUNDING RISKSBut the benefits of crowdfunding do not in any way mean that there are no risks. In fact, the risks involved are big. These risks are the reason behind writing this article.By the time you’re done reading, you’ll understand what to do to stay safe.The information will help you avoid losing your invention to someone who never worked for it.Here are two of the biggest risks you should be aware of.Stolen IdeasThe problem with crowdfunding is that the platforms are public in nature. And the public nature we’re talking about here is the internet.That means that your fresh and unique ideas are basically visible to the whole world.This was designed and intended to be good for you as an inventor. And indeed, the benefits are great.The fact that you can get publicity from anywhere in the world increases your chances of hitting your funding target.But it’s in that same benefit where the problem l ies.And the problem is made worse by the fact that you have to share lots of information about your invention to get funding.The question is, how safe is the information you’re sharing?Had you been having a discussion with an individual, you could easily get him to commit to secrecy.But on the internet?That’s impossible.People from all over the world are looking for money.And just as thieves want money they never worked for, so do some people want to run with ideas which were never theirs.When you describe on the internet how a product works, it takes an expert in the field very little effort to make minor changes to the concept and make money with it.This is the birth of a competition which you’re likely unaware of.You go ahead to produce your product and find that someone has something which works better than your product.“How come?” you ask.Well, your idea was on the internet. Once on the internet, the safety of your invention is no longer guaranteed.Stolen InventionsA worse case is where the actual invention, not just the concept, is stolen.When this happens, the product which competes with you is a copycat, not a slightly different one. This is where everything is exactly like what you worked on in your private lab.This situation can be very heartbreaking because not only is it daylight robbery, but you can’t even distinguish your product from the robber’s.What’s worse is that you may not be able to do anything about it. You can lament, accuse, claim, threaten etc. But changing the situation altogether is extremely difficult.That was the situation in which an Israeli inventor found himself in. His invention wasn’t “improved” upon. It was replicated exactly as he had invented it.Yekutiel Sherman was sure he was going to become rich from exploiting the global selfie trend. Instead of relying on the traditional selfie stick, he designed a smartphone case which doubled as a selfie stick.All you needed to do was pull back the “stick” from the back of the cover, adjust the phone position and voila!But unknown to him, someone was keen on reaping where he had not sown. Just seven days into the kickstarter campaign, someone had stolen the invention, manufactured the product and was already selling it.Seven days is all it took for Yekutiel’s invention to make someone else rich.And that’s not all. Whereas the original product was to retail at $47.41, the copycat was on sale at $8.18. You can guess what the reaction of the backers was like when they got the news.HOW TO PROTECT YOUR INVENTIONIt’s always wise to learn from other people’s experiences. You don’t have to go through a similar situation so as to learn.This article teaches you how to protect your invention through patenting.Patenting is the only real protection you can have for your invention. The challenge however is that patenting is not easy.First, it’s a process and second, it’s costly.But does that mean that you should gamble and leave your invention vulnerable?Certainly not.There are steps you can take to safeguard your hard work and ensure you benefit accordingly from its commercialization.Here is what you should keep in mind as you seek to fund your invention.Patent Before Revealing Your InventionThe safest way to protect your invention is by patenting it before you go to source for funds.This is advisable whether you’re crowdfunding or looking for an angel investor or a venture capitalists.When you apply for a patent, you won’t get the patent immediately. It will take some time before the United States Patent and Trademark Office clears your invention for patenting. However, in the course of that time, your invention is well protected.As you go for patenting, it’s important that you understand that there are different protections that you can benefit from.Apart from protecting the invention itself, you can also protect your trademark and have copyrights for any written material used specifically to market you r product.The below video from the USPTO explains the differences between a patent, trademark and copyrights. Having done this, you can safely go ahead and describe your invention as required by backers.In fact, you can even say that your invention is already patented. That statement in itself will be a deterrent.In the event that someone steals your idea or the invention, you can take legal action against him.Patent Within One Year of Revealing Your InventionIn case you have already exposed your unique solution to the whole world without patenting, you can still do it.Normally, you are allowed by the law to apply for a patent within one year of disclosing your invention to the public. You should be relieved to know that all hope is not lost.However, you need to move quickly. If someone else beats you to that application, you might have difficulties getting the patent for yourself.It can be frustrating for you to start the process only to discover that someone else did it before you .At this point, you will have to prove ownership.Simply mentioning your crowdfunding campaign as evidence that you are the owner of the invention may not suffice in a court of law.Of course you can argue out your case logically.But will you be able to prove that the other party doesn’t have the knowledge you have? The idea? The resources?The best thing to do if you have an invention out there, just apply for the patent as soon as possible.Patenting is a “First To File” ProcessTo see the challenge in the situation of not patenting first, it might help to realize that the process works on a first come first served basis. It’s referred to as the “First To File” process.It is simple. The first person to file for a patent, he’s the one considered the owner of the patent.This idea was a solution to curb the cases of people trying to steal already-existing inventions being ignorant of secured patents.It’s pretty obvious that someone will steal an idea after seeing or hearin g about it.As such, it’s only natural for such a person to try and patent after the original owner already did it.But in the event that the original owner never patented the innovation, then he is at a loss.In the eyes of the USPTO, he will be the one to prove ownership; not the alleged thief to prove his.In fact, the thief can even be the one suing the owner. Taking the first step can be his defensive move to keep the product.Consider Making a Provisional Patent ApplicationWith the costs involved, it’s quite understandableâ€"though not at all excusableâ€"that many would opt for the risks. In any case, haven’t many entrepreneurs started off this way?But to help you safeguard your upcoming business, the government made it possible to get the same protection at a lower cost.You do this by applying for the provisional patent.A provisional patent application is different from the regular patent. Its purpose is to create room for you to apply for the regular patent later on. The du ration you’re given to apply for the regular patent is 12 months.If one year passes without you doing so, then the protection you had is forfeited.In the event that you have a lawsuit concerning your invention and you provide your provisional patent, the ruling will likely be in your favor.Keep in mind that the judge will consider other factors surrounding the case too.Patent Your Invention in Other Countries Too (Especially China)If you live in the US, patenting your products with the USPTO is key for business.But that patent cannot protect your products outside the US.If your idea is stolen by someone in another country, your US patent won’t help you in a legal battle.The argument here is simple: other countries can also make inventionsâ€"and they do.For that reason, you will do well to consider patenting your product in other countries too.This is especially so if you intend to sell it outside the US.Still, even if you’re only selling it in the US, e-commerce can enable som eone else sell the product online.As long as he is not a US citizen, you can’t stop him from doing so.Most US inventions are sold within its borders. If they cross the borders, they often land in ally states who might respect US patents. One longstanding friendly country is the UK. Unfortunately, that cannot be said of all others.China is known to steal intellectual property. The Israeli innovation mentioned above is not a rare case.The US-China trade war which started in 2018 raises this issue. And not only is it from a purely business perspective, but also from a military one.It has been reported that the Chinese J-20 fighter jet was built using data stolen from US military systems. Going by these reports, then you can see how much of a problem stealing inventions is.MORE TIPS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR INVENTIONApart from these steps you can take to protect your invention, there are a couple other things you can do to increase your business success rates.Here are some things to consider even when you’re making your product known to backers.1. Don’t Expose Your Trade SecretsIntellectual property is a term which covers many different things.. Generally, anything that is derived from the mind through creativity qualifies to be called intellectual property.This can include music, poems, software code, drawings, fashion clothing designs, car designs etc.Still, there are other pieces of information which are very critical to the business or the successful operation of an invention. Such are what are called trade secrets.These include things like formulas, processes, practices and other technical information which give you an economic advantage. These are the things which when your competitor knows, he’ll be able to produce an exact replica of your product.Let’s consider the example of a car manufacturer. For him, trade secrets can include the exterior design, technical engine specifications, materials used to create the engine or body, suspension design etc.If a competitor got these details, he could make something similar or even better.This will take away the competitive edge the original inventor had.2. Clearly Differentiate Your Invention from OthersWhen applying for a patent, you have to show that your product is truly unique.This is the basis of calling it an invention. There must not exist anything similar to it.Of course, there can be some sort of similarity and this is where the problem arises.In such a case, it’s your ability to describe and elaborate on the uniqueness that will get you a patent.Ensure you are technical and detailed with your illustrations.3. Be Careful with Stranger “Co-Inventors”As you market your new product on the crowdfunding site you choose, beware of those who comment giving you advice on how you can make your invention better.This is good feedback that will come in handy later.However, it’s wise to remember that unexpected challenges can never be completely avoided.The same way someone may try ste aling your idea, the same way someone may try to do it by indirectly contributing to it. If you include his contribution to the final product, he can then claim a part of it since his ideas are implemented in it.In business, feedback from customers is used to improve products and services. Customers are happy about it and the company also benefits through additional sales and increased revenues.Take note however that this is where the company is established. In your case, you aren’t. You probably haven’t even started your campaign. The chances of someone trying to play a trick on you is high.How do you recognize such people?They will often be busy giving you ideas even when everyone else is not.Or if everyone is excited and giving you their thoughts, they are more dedicated and seem too interested in getting their ideas accepted.They can even follow up through frequent communication to see whether you incorporated their thoughts into the final product.Note that it doesn’t mean that anyone who is very excited about your invention is out to rob you.To ascertain that, you’ll have to take your time or maybe just go by your instincts.4. Protect Your Brand TooIf you’re set to run your own business, you might be having other intellectual property ready for take-off.Two of these are your brand name or exact name of the final product and your trademark.Do not reveal this information when crowdfunding. These can be stolen too, especially if they are catchy and easy to market.The name of the upcoming company or product can be used to register domains and even set up websites and blogs. If this happens, you’ll have a hard time getting started since searching for an appropriate domain name can be challenging.You may struggle coming up with the right name which is also available. This will delay your progress unnecessarily.5. Be Ready to ManufactureSince manufacturing is a big challenge and you can be beaten at it, try and seal a manufacturing deal before launch ing your campaign. This will help save the time used looking for a manufacturer after the funds have been secured.Depending on what you’re manufacturing, consider Chinese manufacturers.Although the Chinese are the ones commonly accused of insincerity, they happen to have cheap raw materials and labor.These two resources make manufacturing in Chine cheaper than in other countries.If you’re in a position to, visit your preferred manufacturer and see his work. Depending on the internet too much can cost you. You might fall into the hands of fraudsters.6. Set Up an Online StoreAfter you have done all that, set up an online store for selling your own product. This can be implemented in various ways.If you only have one product, then you won’t have much work to do. A simple plugin for your website or blog will be enough.If you’re selling many products, consider going fully e-commerce.You can also sell your product on Amazon. That will help you avoid the extra work of building your own e-commerce website.CONCLUSIONWith all the work you put in to invent your product, be wise to follow the advice given here.You will be able to enjoy the fruits of your own labor if you protect your invention.You can also consult an attorney for further help with these matters.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

A Framework Of Duties And Responsibilities Business Essay - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2355 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Business Essay Type Narrative essay Did you like this example? An organization structure is a set of planned relationships between groups of related functions and between physical factors and personnel required for the performance of the functions. The organization structure is generally shown on an organization chart. It shows authority and responsibility relationships between various positions in the enterprise by showing who reports to whom. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "A Framework Of Duties And Responsibilities Business Essay" essay for you Create order Organization structure lays down the pattern of communication and coordination in the enterprise. Though organization structure is very important, it is not an end in itself. According to Peter.F.Drucker, Organization is not an end in itself, but means to the end of business performance and business results. Organization structure is an indispensable means; and the wrong structure will seriously impair business performance and may even destroy it. Organization structure must be designed so as to make possible the attainment of the objectives of the business for five, ten, fifteen years hence Importance of organization structure: Sound organization structure can contribute greatly to the survival continuity and stability of the enterprise. The need and the importance of organizing and the organistaional structure can be understood more precisely on the basis if the following points: Facilitates Administration Sound organization helps in the performance of management functions like planning, staffing, directing and controlling. Inadequate organization may result in duplication of work and efforts and some of the important operations may be left out. Sound organization facilitates the performance of various managerial functions by division of labor, consistent delegation or job definition and clarity of authority and responsibility relationship. Promoters Growth and diversification Sound organization designed in scientific principles can create conditions conducive to planned expansion and diversification of the activities of the enterprise. It can help in keeping the various activities under control and increase the capacity of the enterprise to undertake more activities. Coordination Organization is an important means of bringing coordination among the various departments of the enterprise. It creates clear-cut relationship between the departments and helps in laying down balanced emphasis in various activities. It also provides for the channels of communication for the coordination of the activities of different departments. Optimum use of technological innovation A sound organization structure is flexible to give adequate scope for the improvement in technology. It facilitates introducing changes in the enterprise by modifying the authority and responsibility relationship in the wake of new developments. Optimum use of Human Resources Sound organization matches the jobs with the individuals and vive-versa. It ensures that every individual is placed on the job for which he is best suited. This helps in the better use of individuals working in the enterprise. Stimulates Creative Thinking An organizational structure based on clear-cut demarcation of authority, higher range of responsibility, discretionary freedom granted to personnel, incentives offered for specialized work, etc. will certainly foster the spirit of constructive and creative thinking. Such an atmosphere will give an opportunity for the staff to display their hidden creative talents which in turn will lift enterprise to achieve higher goals of business. Training and Development An effective organization facilitates delegation of authority which is an important device for training and developing the personnel. Delegation of authority is also an important means of directing the subordinates. It prepares them to take more responsibilities whenever need arises. Determinants of organizational structure Organization structure provides a basis or framework within which managers and non-managerial employees perform the joins assigned to them. In other words, organization structure may be considered as the core element around which various functions are performed and several processes operate. The stricture of organization is consciously designed by the management. However, in designing the structure the following factors are to be considered: Objectives and Strategy Design of structure begins with the identification of organizational objectives. There is a way of designing what the main structure of the organization should be, without an understanding of what the organization is for and what it is trying to achieve. Environment Organization is a system and every system has its boundaries. Beyond the boundaries there exists external environment which affects not only the foundation and functioning of the organization but also is structure. Technology An organization is a socio technical system. Technological aspect which refers to the manner in which various activities will be performed is an important part of organizational structure. People Organizations are formed by and operated through people. Large number of people are employed for both managerial and non managerial jobs and various activities are assigned to them and finally they put in authority relationships. Size There are several criteria to determine size of an organsiation such as number of persons employed, amount of capital invested, volume of turnover, and physical capacity. Forms of organization on authority relationships are: Line organization Line and Staff organization Functional organization Forms of organizational structure Functional structure In a functional structure activities are grouped and departments are creates on the basis of specified functions to be performed. Activities related to a function are grouped in a single unit with a view to give a well defined direction to the whole group. For instance, in an industrial enterprise, the major functions like production, finance, marketing, personnel may be grouped into different departments as shown in the figure. Managing Director Personnel manager Marketing manager Production manager Finance manager Advertising Customer service Sales Marketing researchThis type of structure is highly suitable for an enterprise engaged in production and distribution of a single product or a small number of products. It is very useful where it is desired to introduce specialization in the performance of various functions like production, finance, marketing, etc. But where it is required to handle multiple products, functional organization may prove to be insufficient. Divisional structure It is formed by crating a set of autonomous units or divisions which are coordinated by the central headquarters. For example, a company may have three divisions to manage textiles, cement and shipping. But to coordinate their functioning, certain essential services such as Corporate Planning, Finance, Legal and Research and Development are organized at the headquarters as shown in the figure. This structure is popular with giant firms dealing in multiple products and operating in different geographical regions. The products are often unrelated and require different emphasis on different functions. And the territories served by the firm have their unique problems Company Headquarters Research and Development Legal Finance Corporate planning Textiles division Cement Division Shipping Division Finance Marketing Finance Marketing Production Production Customer Based Structure Departmentation by customers may be followed in enterprises engaged in providing specialized services to different classes of customers. Under this, customers are guide for grouping the activities. The management groups the activities on t he basis to cater to the requirements of clearly defined customer groups. For instance, a big automobile servicing enterprise may organize its departments as follows: heavy vehicle servicing division, car servicing division, and scooter servicing division. Many educational institutions follow this type of deparmentation. They offer day courses, evening courses and correspondence coursed to meet the requirements of different types of students. Similarly, a commercial organization may be divided into wholesale, retail and export departments as shown in the figure. Company headquarters Research and development Corporate planning Finance Retail division Marketing Wholesale division Export division Example of Coca-Cola: Coca-ColaÂÂ  is aÂÂ  carbonatedÂÂ   drink sold in stores, restaurants, andÂÂ  vending machinesÂÂ  in more than 200 countries. It is produced byÂÂ  The Coca-Cola CompanyÂÂ  ofÂÂ  Atlanta,ÂÂ  Georgia, and is often referred to simply asÂÂ  CokeÂÂ  (a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company in the United States since March 27, 1944). Originally intended as aÂÂ  patent medicineÂÂ  when it was invented in the late 19th century , Coca-Cola was bought out by businessmanÂÂ  Asa Griggs Candler, whose marketing tactics led Coke to its dominance of the world soft-drink market throughout the 20th century. The company producesÂÂ  concentrate, which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers throughout the world. The bottlers, who hold territorially exclusive contracts with the company, produce finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. The bottler s then sell, distribute and merchandise Coca-Cola to retail stores and vending machines. Such bottlers includeÂÂ  Coca-Cola Enterprises, which is the largest single Coca-Cola bottler in North America and western Europe. The Coca-Cola Company also sells concentrate forÂÂ  soda fountainsÂÂ  to major restaurants andÂÂ  food serviceÂÂ  distributors. The Coca-Cola Company has, on occasion, introduced other cola drinks under the Coke brand name. The most common of these isÂÂ  Diet Coke, with others includingÂÂ  Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola, Diet Coke Caffeine-Free,ÂÂ  Coca-Cola Cherry,ÂÂ  Coca-Cola Zero,ÂÂ  Coca-Cola Vanilla, and special versions with lemon, lime or coffee. Since Coca-Cola is the leading soft drink brand it has to serve a large market. Coke was previously using a simple functional structure which wa not so effective to meet the increasing demand. Like any other company it started off on a small scale and then became the m asters of the beverage industry. It has long chains spread all over the world. The Coca-Cola realizes that it needs to be able to meet the ever changing demands of its customers. This is why the company pushed towards decentralization in the nineties, and even more so recently. The organization has two operating groups called Bottling Investments and Corporate. There are also operating groups divided by different regions such as: Africa, Eurasia, European Union, Latin America, North America and Pacific. Each of these divisions is again divided in geographical regions. By allowing decisions to be made on a more local level, the organization can quickly respond to the changing market demands, and the higher level management can focus more on long term planning. Certain divisions of the company like Finance, human resource, marketing, innovation and strategy and planning are centrally located within the corporate division of the company. Some of these functions takes place at lower levels in each of the regions of the company; however most of the decisions are made at the top of the hierarchy. For example in 2002 the decision to sponsor the world cup was done at the corporate level. Corporate headquarters, however, allowed the local divisions to make the advertising decisions. The Coca-Cola Company currently employs approximately 94,800 employees. According to aÂÂ  general organizational chart obtained from theÂÂ  companys website, there areÂÂ  more than 5hierarchical levels at the corporate level. For example: the head of the Canadian division reports to the president and COO of the North American Group. That president reports to the CFO, who reports to the Office of the General Counsel. The General Counsel then reports to the CEO. It is fair to assume that there are at least a few more steps in the hierarchy at the local level. Due toÂÂ  its tallÂÂ  structure, theÂÂ  organization hasÂÂ  experienced communication probl ems.ÂÂ  One ofÂÂ  the problems discovered through a survey, was that the people and the company lacked clear goals. Tall hierarchies also cause motivation problems, which is why the organization is attempting to get employees more engaged. The increased usefulness of the companys intranet will greatly increase the communication between every level of employees, and allow upper management to effectively communicate to the front line employees The Coca-Cola Company realizes that a divisional structure gives the organization the best opportunity to react to the changes in its uncertain environment, but also allow it to maintain a level of stability. The multidivisional structure is beneficial for the organization for a variety of reasons. The division basedÂÂ  on geographic region allows certain aspects ofÂÂ  the companys operations to beÂÂ  tailoredÂÂ  toÂÂ  theÂÂ  individualÂÂ  market.ÂÂ  One advertisingÂÂ  campaignÂÂ  orÂÂ  sloganÂÂ  may notÂÂ  be appropriate for another market, so decisions about specific ads are made closer to the individual markets.ÂÂ  Multidivisional structures allowÂÂ  divisional managersÂÂ  toÂÂ  handleÂÂ  daily operations while corporate managers are free to focus on long-term planning There are also problems associated with this type of structure. If the company creates divisional competition, coordination may decrease because each division wants to have an advantage over everyone else. Communication problems may also exist because information can become distorted when it has to travel up and down tall hierarchies. A Multidivisional matrix structure may be better suited for Coca-Cola Company. This would increase coordination between corporate and divisional levels, and managers at each level would work together to create solution to problems. While such a structure may be too complex for a global organization, the company may wa nt to look into it. The following steps can be adopted to make better organizational structure for the company : Identify business conditions that cause operational problems due to your current organizational structure by distributing an employee survey to gather input and suggestions from the people experiencing challenges. Identify current roles and responsibilities to assess your organizations ability to deliver on commitments and set expectations accordingly. For example, if you determine your development team is also responsible for providing customer support, you must prioritize activities so that project milestones and customer service level agreements are both met. Analyze employee feedback to identify gaps in the organizational structure that prevent effective work flow. For example, employees may lack training on the use of new equipment, software or procedures. Poor organizational structure can prevent employees from describing their operational needs effectiv ely. Once you have identified these gaps, you can respond by proposing possible alternatives to your executive management team. Focus your organization on a common vision and strategic goals. Implement business processes that support these goals to compensate for the poor organizational structure. Align all work to your companys strategic goals, rather than the organizational structure. When tasks align to your companys goals, increased productivity and reduced waste leads to better financial performance for the company as a whole. Ensure employees have clear performance goals and development plans in place. When people understand their responsibilities, they are more likely to express commitment and loyalty to the company mission. Monitor your new processes and improve them as directed by employee (and customer) input. Adjust your organizational structure to reflect the best way to achieve business goals. Establishing a flat hierarchy (one without too many levels), d ecentralized reporting, shared responsibilities and open communication that enables employees to respond rapidly to situations tends to yield the best results.

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Great Flood Of 1889 - 1385 Words

Also known as the â€Å"Great Flood of 1889,† the Johnstown flood occurred when a local man-made dam failed, unleashing millions of gallons of water and causing utter destruction in its wake. On May 31st, 1889, at around 3:10 p.m., about 14 miles from Johnstown, PA, the South Fork Dam was overcome by several structural shortcomings and failed. This allowed millions of gallons of water to surge through the Conemaugh Valley, leaving little in its wake (NPS). There were a total of 111 days of rainfall within the year preceding the dam’s failure. This level of rainfall was very unusual for the community of Johnstown, let alone the entire state of Pennsylvania. Just before the dam broke, 6-8 inches of rain had fallen throughout the region, turning†¦show more content†¦These changes had disastrous effects on the structure of the dam (ASDSO). †¢ As large amount of rain fell, debris began to collect in the mesh netting, contributing to rising water levels, as the spillway was blocked (ASDSP). †¢ The lack of an underlying water relief system, as the previous one had not been replaced after the reconstruction, increased the pressure of the reservoir (ASDSO). †¢ The pressure of the added volume compromised the structure of the dam and it overtopped. The structure was overcome and the dam burst (ASDSO). †¢ Due to the nature of this dam break, the water traveled at high velocity- estimated at 64 km/hr or about 40 mph (National Geographic). †¢ The average amount of water discharged was around 318,000 cubic feet per second (JAHA). †¢ The flood killed approximately 2,209 people. This included 396 children and 99 local families (Begos, 2014). †¢ As many as 750 corpses remained in â€Å"river towns downstream† and â€Å"Johnstown morgues† awaiting family identification, which never happened (Begos, 2014). †¢ 1,600 homes were lost and whole communities were swept away (Begos, 2014). †¢ Trains were dislodged from their tracks and were swept downstream about 4,000 feet (JFM, 2013). †¢ The flood debris spanned â€Å"30Show MoreRelated Johnstown Flood Essay1199 Words   |  5 Pages McCullough presents a meticulously researched, detailed account of the Johnstown Flood of May 31st 1889, which provides arguments for why the disaster was both â€Å"the work of man† and â€Å"a visitation of providence†. However, it is apparent that McCullough believes that man was more responsible than nature/god for the extent of the catastrophe. In McCullough’s opinion, the storm that caused the flood was no more than the inevitable stimulus of the disaster, whereas the deferred maintenance and poor repairsRead More The Unconventional Kate Chopin Essays718 Words   |  3 PagesIf It Might Be in January 1889 marked Chopins first appearance in print. Many of Kate Chopin’s writings wave a backward glance to her childhood. Kates grandmother, Madame Charleville, spent much time telling Kate stories that stirred her interest about peoples lives, minds, and morals. Madame Charlevilles favorite saying was, One may know a great deal about people without judging them. God does that (Oscar 17). Young Kate must have paid a great deal of attention. Three decadesRead More History of the Video Game Industry Essay examples1234 Words   |  5 Pageshuge job market in video games ranging from programming to sales. It seems they have something for everyone, and in my presentation I try to convey how the video game industry became the big dollar industry it is today. The history really begins in 1889 when the Marufuku Company was established to manufacture and distribute Japanese playing cards. This may not seem relevant until 1951 when they change their name to Nintendo Playing Cards. Three years later, David Rosen, a US Korean War veteran,Read MoreThe Devil Finds Work for Idle Hands1257 Words   |  6 Pageshuge job market in video games ranging from programming to sales. It seems they have something for everyone, and in my presentation I try to convey how the video game industry became the big dollar industry it is today. The history really begins in 1889 when the Marufuku Company was established to manufacture and distribute Japanese playing cards. This may not seem relevant until 1951 when they change their name to Nintendo Playing Cards. Three years later, David Rosen, a US Korean War veteran,Read MoreThe Johnstown Flood896 Words   |  4 PagesPaper of the Johnstown Flood â€Å"Johnstown flood† is a short story written by David McCullough. This story talks about the miraculous survival of a little girl named Gertrude. Gertrude’s sheer luck got her up the hill safely. Of course, with the help of several people she met along the way. I think that this is an extraordinary act of how worked together and some people put his/her life at risk to save a small child that they didn’t even knew. I fell that this is a great example of how human beingsRead MoreThe Nile River-Egypt1187 Words   |  5 Pagesthe banks of the Nile, which is just 5 percent of Egypt’s land. (Struggle Over the Nile). Although Egypt is a large country in area, most of the land is uninhabited desert. The image below was taken by a NASA crew at 220 miles above earth shows a great visualization of the concentration of Egypt’s population along the Nile River. The rest of Egypt is nearly empty. (Photograph from NASA) pg.3/Streets Agriculture Why is there such a large concentration of people along the Nile River? The answerRead MoreNintendo : A Video Game Company1642 Words   |  7 Pageshistory that can be traced all the way back to 1889, and as the article titled Nintendo Company states, â€Å"†¦founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi (Fusa-hero Yama-oo-chee) as Marafuku Company to manufacture playing cards†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Nintendo Company). Later when his great grandson, Hiroshi Yamauchi (Hero-she), took over, Hiroshi changed the name of the company to Nintendo. As stated in an article titled Nintendo of America Inc., â€Å"Hiroshi Yamauchi took over for his great grandfather in 1949†¦Marufuku also existed underRead MoreEssay on Chesapeake and Ohio Canal1587 Words   |  7 PagesGeorge Washington was the founder of the Patowmack Company; He created a series of skirted canals and riverbed improvements from Georgetown to Harpers Ferry (Chesapeake). The success of the Erie Canal provided momentum for the  "Great National Project.† The purpose of the Great National Project was to build a canal along the Potomac River to eventually reach the Ohio River at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The construction of the canal began on July 4, 1828 (Chesapeake). â€Å"The canal was open to Seneca, MarylandRead MoreThe Effects Of Stress And Stress On Health And A Sound Life Essay1638 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Trauma and stress are part of everyone’s life. At some stage or later in life, individuals experience some situations that alter their life in a great deal. The term stress is used by many people, which describes some unusual events that change the behavior of a person towards a specific scenario. Many times, the term stress is used to describe the condition of the person which is inappropriate. While stress is an ongoing and part of everyday life, it is essential that every person learnsRead More Cause for Action Essay1271 Words   |  6 Pagesharsh tone to Ireland. Furthermore the Irish education was showing a bleak outlook for the future. This created a need for Irish independence therefore making the Gaelic League possible. The Irish population dropped rapidly during the Great Potato Famine causing much of what was left of the Irish speaking people to be no more. The potato was a major crop in Ireland at the time and yet today; in the mid 1800’s it was their only crop because of the amount of nutrients supplied in one potato

Confucianism and Legalism Free Essays

Confucianism and Legalism Confucianism and Legalism were two philosophies developed by scholars as solutions to a period of disorder in China. Confucianism and Legalism are similar in that both originated during the Chinese Classical Period; however, they are different in government because Confucianism focuses on having an orderly, respectful, and successful ruler, while Legalism focuses on having an forceful and omnipotent ruler. In addition, education is extremely important in Confucianism, as opposed to the Legalist belief that people should never gain much knowledge. We will write a custom essay sample on Confucianism and Legalism or any similar topic only for you Order Now Both Confucianism and Legalism were developed in China during the Classical Period as solutions to bring back peace and harmony to the area. After the decline of the Zhou dynasty, there was a breakdown of social order (The Period of Warring States), so Chinese scholars and philosophers looked for ways to bring back a state of order and peace. Two different schools of thought, Confucianism and Legalism, developed as ways to move China out of chaos and help it return to stability. Another philosophy, Daoism, is similar to Confucianism and Legalism because it was also developed during the Classical Period in China as a solution to the disorder. The styles of governing found in Confucianism and Legalism differ greatly because Confucian government focuses on leading by example, while Legalist government focuses on having an all-powerful government in order to make sure people do not disrupt society for their own gain. Confucians believe that a ruler must be orderly, respectful, and successful in order for his subjects to obey him. This idea is due to their belief in The Five Relationships, one of which is between ruler and subject stating that subjects shall obey their ruler as long as the ruler respects the subjects. Legalist and Confucian beliefs are different on this matter because Legalists think that a ruler can do whatever he wishes regardless of his subjects, while Confucians value respect and devotion throughout society. They believe that there must be an all-powerful and forceful government in place to control society. The reason they think this is because they believe that humans are selfish in nature and that their desires bring about chaos and disorder in society. The views of Confucianism and Legalism on education are very different in that education is very important in Confucianism, while Legalism tries to restrict learning as much as possible. Confucianism deems education as the most important thing a person can have. This is because the Confucian social order – differing from the Legalist social order that focused mainly on ancestry – was not specifically based on birth, but on education as well; the more educated a person was the higher their status could be. However, Legalists believed that anyone or anything that opposed the emperor must be controlled by censorship. Those who opposed the emperor were punished or killed, and works that expressed opposition were destroyed. The reason for these actions is that the powerful emperor did not want his reputation to be impaired by other’s â€Å"selfish acts. Confucianism and Legalism are both similar in that they developed at the same time in China; however, they are different in that in order to control society Confucians believe in governing by example, while Legalists believe in governing by force and power. Additionally, Confucianism and Legalism differ in that Confucianism values education to the highest degree, whereas Legalism tries to limit the knowledge of society. Both of these Classical Period philosophies were built up in order to pose as solutions to a period of disorder in China. How to cite Confucianism and Legalism, Papers

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Summary and Response to the Article “The Naked Face” by Malcolm Gladwell Essay Example

Summary and Response to the Article â€Å"The Naked Face† by Malcolm Gladwell Essay Part I. Summaryâ€Å"The Naked Face† is an article by Malcom Gladwell in which he provides both his personal experiences and results of scientific research in a particular field of psychiatry and physiology: namely how our face reflects our thoughts and moods. He brings in numerous examples to make the article as vivid and illustrative as possible.The article starts with a story of a policeman John Yarbrough, who had an accident which is quite usual for policemen. He had to face an armed person who was about to shot him. The matter was who will shoot first, but for some reason Yarbrough did not, as well as his opponent. The policeman could explain his action only by one thing: something in the face of the criminal told him, that he is not going to shoot. Later Yarbrough has passed a test, which demonstrated that he has an outstanding talent to recognize emotions in faces.Each man has a considerable ability to read faces, but only a few fully develop and use it. This topic has been developed by scholars since late XIX century, including works of Charles Darwin. Later it has been investigated by Paul Ekman who asked himself a question whether facial expressions depend on cultural or national features. So he traveled to distant countries, including far-away jungles of Papua New Guinea and discovered, that in all places of the world people are able to recognize emotions independently from their culture. Thusly he concluded that facial expressions are a matter of evolution rather than culture.Together with is colleague Wallace Friesen he started investigating physiological grounds for facial expressions. Through medical textbooks they outlined facial muscles and their groups which are responsible for mimics. The work took years to do but the results were really remarkable, as they managed to create a full chart of muscles and reactions.Later in his article Gladwell offers examples of practical application of â€Å"face-reading†, including interviews wi th Bill Clinton and Kim Philby. Under his idea teaching facial reactions is a must for everyone, who performs public services, administrative functions or deals with many other people. Profound scientific study of the phenomena is likely to turn intuitive insights into well-trained skill.Part II. ResponseThe article is definitely of high interest to everyone who is interested in psychiatry and psychology, as well as to anyone, who wants to better his or her social skills. As regards my personal experiences, for me this article is yet an another interesting incentive to study reflexes of human emotions.When I was a teenager I became interested in applied psychology and how it can help me in making communications with the people around me. I have read and tried to make use of the books by Carnegie and similar works. Later I became acquainted with the books by Alan and Barbara Pease, including â€Å"The Definitive Book of Body Language†, â€Å"Signals: How To Use Body Language For Power, Success, And Love†, and others related to body language.Watching myself and others I have discovered, that body and facial language is in fact highly applicable and useful in our daily life. It does not only help us to understand each other better and avoid misreading of communicational messages, but it can also assist in creating necessary moods for ourselves and others. For example, when I am bored or depressed I use to change my body position and face, and this often helps to feel better.However, all the studies which I have read were more of popular nature. The article by Gladwell adds theoretical understanding of deep psychiatric processes, influencing facial expressions. It also wakens more interest to further studies on the subject. This can be compared to practical and theoretical physics. Anyone can read faces after being properly trained same as anyone can use electricity in his or her household. However, only theoretical studies can help in understanding what stands behind certain movements of facial muscles same as only formulas and theories give knowledge of what electricity is, how it appears and works.

Thursday, March 19, 2020

My University Day Another drowsy Wednesday morning, we found out

My University Day Another drowsy Wednesday morning, we found out My University Day Another drowsy Wednesday morning, we found out our seats and sat down. It is funny to see everyone with a blank face after they were pulled from the sweet beds. Here came BringÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s voice: ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Gosh! How I miss my bed! AhÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ ¦Ã‚Æ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ -SheÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s yawning, and made everyone near her do the same thing.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"LingÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ ¦.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  The bell rang. Just at that time, Mr. Wang, our translation teacher came in. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Hey,ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  my deskmate murmured, ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"our teachers are never late for class, but never early for class too.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Yes, but better than we are, arenÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t they?ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  I replied. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"How come?ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  I sm iled: ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ" See, here is the answer.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  Several boy students rushed in and said sorry for their being late. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Because we are never early for class, but always late for it.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  I said.Mr. Wang put out a heap of handouts and this action brought in a moment of chaos. Too much translation to do?! ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"DonÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t worry, weÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™ll finish it in class.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ Then a long, boring course was ready to begin.But before that there was an interesting call-over time. University teachers seldom do this, especially the male teachers. But today it is an exception! ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Call my name, call my name.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  We always relate to this song when the call-over happens. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Ways? Where is Ways? Absent?ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Sick.ÂÆ' ¢Ã ‚‚€‚ -A boy, WaysÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™ roommate replied. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Really? Oh, I see.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  A smile flashed on Mr. WangÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s face and he made a note on WaysÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™ name. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Okay, next. Billy? WhereÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s Billy?ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"SickÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ -All of us, boys and girls, replied together and it made ourselves laugh out at the same time. ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Ah, I see.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  Mr. Wang repeated the words automatically.With no doubt, that was a best way to wake my brain up. I tried my best to listen to the teacher but from time to time my attention was distracted by the dream I had dreamed of last night. Mr. WangÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s hypnotic voice could always make us all back to the wonderful dreams. Some of my classmates began to nod their heads, and then bent their backs, ready to put their faces on the desks. But it seemed that they were also struggling to pull their back straight again. After several ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"noddingsÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ , they surrendered totally and their faces were glued on the desks again. It reminded me of the days in highschool. When anyone of us was sleepy on the physics course, the young teacher who was also our best friends would throw a piece of chalk to his head, and then he would ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"apologizeÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ : ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Oh, sorry, my chalk gets drunk.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  Then we burst out laughs and were waked up again. But it seems impossible for the university teachers to do so, and they donÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t care even if you sleep in their classes. ItÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s not polite to sleep in class, so I always struggle with my eyelids in case they would close up out of my control. And luckily most of the times I win them over.But winning over the eyelids doesnÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t mean I can beat the boredom down. When there was a time that we need some fresh air out of the classroom, the best choice (or the best excuse) is to go to the washroom. Men would go there for a cigarette to give themselves a lift. Girls would go there, standing in front of the mirror and combing their hair. ItÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s a way to refresh ourselves.Sometimes this method is not available. After the long, boring translation course was over, there came the class of international trade practice. Miss Huang would ban all of us go out of the classroom during the class time. I hate this regulation. And most of us donÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t like her very much not only for her unreasonable rule, but also because of her strong ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"ChinglishÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ (Chinese English) accent, and that pronunciation is awful! I will show you how. Miss Huang always pronounces the word ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"againÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  as ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"agunÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ , and then we made this word ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"agunÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  as her nickname. Hard to imagine that how university students are sometimes as mischievous as the primary school pupils. We also share the same things with the primary pupils. When we were still little boys and girls, we got out a conclusion that if we donÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t like a teacher, hence we show no interests in the course he gives. This ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"theoryÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  also works in our university days. Shame on us: Most of us did a not-so-good job in the final exam on international trade practice. But I always tell myself IÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™m learning for myself, not for anyone else, and whatÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s more, IÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™m a university student now! So I should be much more mature than I was in the elementary school. If now the ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"theoryÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  still works on me, I should feel ashamed. Actually I did feel ashamed.But when we meet with some interesting courses, there is another totally different story. In the afternoon of the same day, we like to attend Miss KangÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s course, because she just behaves like our peer although sheÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s now more than 30 years old. She entered the classroom like an easy breeze, dressed with casual wears. Her voice was so magical that it could attract our attention without effort. In her class she never made her students bored, and we seldom feel stressful and therefore we expressed ourselves freely. We talked about life, thoughts, dreams, hobbies, and she would exchange her special experiences with us. She knows our hearts: As university students, we long for having the teachers or professors with their own individu alized personality, because we have already been educated in a theoretical, monotonous way during the past 12 years, before we enter the university. As generation-X, we are interested in everything new and stylish, and we are apt to accept them. We are seeking for knowledge and also we are eager to have a different way of life. We need the teachers who can understand us well instead of the stereotyped ones.We feel so lucky that we are in a university for language studying. ItÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s an amazing experience because we have the chance to learn a second foreign language. The last course in Wednesday is one of my most favorite. They say girls, especially girls who learn language and literature are as romantic as a rose. I canÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t agree more. In the second foreign language learning, we would choose a special sentence as a starting point. Even the teacher knows the ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"conventionÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  well, so when h e gave us the first course he put ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"Je tÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™aimeÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  on the blackboard and then told us:ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  DonÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™t ask me how to speak ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚˜ I love youÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™ in France. IÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™ve already told you.ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  Yes, that is our ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"starting pointÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ . Then at the night girls would gather together and tell others how to pronounce ÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ÂÅ"I love youÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚  in different languages:in Japanese, in German, in Spainish, in Russian, in KoreanÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚ ¦ Before I fall asleep at night, I always recollect what IÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™ve done in the daytime. Did I do something good or bad? Do I satisfy with the whole day? if not, itÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™s ok, because tomorrow is another day! It will be better, IÂÆ' ¢Ã‚‚€‚™m sure.

Monday, March 2, 2020

3 Sentences with Hyphenation Problems

3 Sentences with Hyphenation Problems 3 Sentences with Hyphenation Problems 3 Sentences with Hyphenation Problems By Mark Nichol In each of the following sentences, one or more hyphens is missing from a phrasal adjective, but another solution is available: A relaxation of the syntax is recommended, as explained following each example and demonstrated in a subsequent revision. 1. We can expect to see lighter touch regulation in the banking sector. The hyphenation problem here is a lack of a hyphen- â€Å"lighter touch,† as a phrasal adjective modifying regulation, should be hyphenated: â€Å"We can expect to see lighter-touch regulation in the banking sector.† Better yet, however, because of the somewhat obscure expression, it might be better to introduce the phrasal adjective as a modifying phrase following the noun: â€Å"We can expect to see regulation with a lighter touch in the banking sector.† 2. It is not unreasonable to question whether a Republican majority backed replacement plan is possible going forward.   The three words preceding the phrase â€Å"replacement plan† unite to provide more detail about the plan and should therefore be styled as a phrasal adjective, with hyphens connecting the words: â€Å"It is not unreasonable to question whether a Republican-majority-backed replacement plan is possible going forward.† However, this treatment is somewhat cumbersome, so a solution equivalent to the one in the previous example is merited: â€Å"It is not unreasonable to question whether a replacement plan backed by a Republican majority is possible going forward.† 3. The risks may not manifest themselves over an annual period or a three to five-year planning horizon. The phrasal adjective preceding â€Å"planning horizon, with an implied instance of year after the first number as well (and similarly hyphenated if year explicitly appears), requires suspensive hyphenation: â€Å"The risks may not manifest themselves over an annual period or a three- to five-year planning horizon.† However, to mitigate the complexity of the sentence, consider placing the modifying phrase after the noun, with hyphen(s) omitted: â€Å"The risks may not manifest themselves over an annual period or a planning horizon of three to five years.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Punctuation category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:100 Whimsical Words50 Idioms About Fruits and VegetablesIs Your Novel "Mystery," "Thriller," or "Suspense"?

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Does Turkey need regulation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Does Turkey need regulation - Essay Example It is a delicate balancing act to be sure, and one that Turkey should consider tackling. The article discussed here presents multiple ways that society can work to counter the so-called ‘advertising effect’. Discussed in this paper will be three of those options that were recently mentioned. One possibility that can be explored is the banning of advertising in public spaces. Many cities in Turkey, in particular Istanbul, are heavily populated with millions of people. This makes the area a prime target for companies to lure consumers into purchasing their product. As a result, massive advertising takes place in nearly all public spaces, creating not only an eye-sore, but creating a form of ‘visual pollution’ (Gannon and Lawson 16). One proposal is to ban all forms of outdoor advertising. This would include ads on taxis and buses, and particularly billboards – effectively eliminating them. Other major cities, such as Sao Paulo, Brazil, have implemented such measures, and it has been met with cleaner streets and most positive comments made by members of society. There are some critics, however, that argue this goes too far in limiting companies effectively reaching the consumer. They argue for legislation targeted on advertising that is not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. In other words, punish the advertising polluting companies in the city, but allow those that produce visually appealing promotional pieces to continue. This is an interesting concept, but would be a nightmare to police. Another recommendation is to begin taxing the very nature of advertising. This proposal stems from the idea that countless millions of pieces of advertising material are printed everyday, just to go unread and serve to pollute the environment. Because such forms of advertising are largely unregulated, and the printing of basic flyers is relatively cheap in comparison to other forms of advertising, companies continue to produce such material in t he hope that even a few consumers will be lured in. As a result, needless pollution is occurring, particularly in Turkey where these massive advertising efforts appear to be in full effect. The proposal is to begin to tax such advertisements in an effort to get companies to pay up and clean up their act, or to stop the needless advertising all together. This is a unique proposal and one that is similar to other taxing efforts designed to clean up areas of the environment. This could gain traction in the coming years if massive advertising efforts continue. One other proposal worth mentioning is to establish statutory regulation of the advertising industry as a whole. As it is currently, the industry in largely unregulated. In America and the United Kingdom, there are regulations in place, and even the outright ban of certain types of advertising in some localities. Turkey lags far behind in this area, so the introduction of such standards could help matters immensely. This can begin by asking Parliament to strengthen existing local powers and allow them to restrict certain forms of outdoor advertising. In addition, there should be a legal process whereby consumers can ask for proof of certain claims made by advertisers or charities in their comments on television commercial or infomercials. This will force advertisers and such

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Investing in stocks and bonds Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Investing in stocks and bonds - Term Paper Example Consequently, the value of stock for that corporation tend to reflect the corporation’s earnings and experiences, going up when it is profitable and down when the company is experiencing losses. In essence, the higher the return potential, the higher the amount of risk associated with the stock. For example, investors in stock expect a high rate of return since they do not have a set schedule for repayment or fixed rate of return such as those in fixed-income securities. Even within this world of stocks, variations do exist in reward and return (Tyson, 2011). Blue chip stocks refer to stocks issued by corporations, which are firmly established within their given industries and possess a long history of paying dividends and producing earnings. Small capitalization stocks refer to shares from companies that are not that well established but have tremendous potential for growth. This can translate into a significant return for the investor. However, this comes with an increased potential for a greater decrease in value than would be expected from, say, a more established company. Bonds, on the other hand, involve making loans to corporations and other entities by investors (Wyckoff, 2009). Other entities normally involve various branches of the government that issue bonds to attract injection of capital without giving the investor managing control. In effect, the holder of the bond holds an IOU. If we were to invest in bonds, we would not expect any share in profits and would get a fixed investment return. This return is an interest rate on the bond and is also referred to as the coupon rate. It is calculated as the total percentage of the initial offering price of the bond. Bonds, just like common stocks, have a fluctuating market value, and if they are sold before their maturity date, they could produce a loss or gain in principle value (Wyckoff, 2009). If we were to invest

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Baldwins Attack of Uncle Toms Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe :: Uncle Toms Cabin Essays

James Baldwin's Attack of Uncle Tom's Cabin      Ã‚   What Frederick Douglass was to the 19th century, it might be argued that James Baldwin was to the 20th century.    Baldwin was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and an African American novelist, publishing many books and plays, including his most popular Go Tell It on the Mountain in 1953. However, he was also known as an essayist. One of his most famous essays, "Everybody's Protest Novel," attacks the concept of protest fiction and more specifically, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. This 20th century critical analysis discusses the novel's downfalls of sentimentality, grandiose violence, and racialist characterization.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baldwin feels that the protest novel is almost always sentimental. He feels that sentimental fiction is inherently dishonest. He writes, "Sentimentality, the ostentatious parading of excessive and spurious emotion, is the mark of dishonesty, the inability to feel; the wet eyes of the sentimentalist betray his aversion to experience, his fear of life, his arid heart; and it is always, therefore, the signal of secret and violent inhumanity, the mask of cruelty" (1654). He explains that Uncle Tom's Cabin is a "very bad novel" with sentimentality similar to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Baldwin also writes that Stowe includes an excess of violence in Uncle Tom's Cabin. He notes:    This [violence] is explained by the nature of Mrs. Stowe's subject matter, her laudable determination to flinch from nothing in presenting the complete picture; an explanation which falters only if we pause to ask whether or not her picture is indeed complete; and what construction . . . forced her to so depend on the description of brutality - unmotivated, senseless - and to leave unanswered and unnoticed the only important question: what it was, after all, that moved her people to such deeds. (1654)    Baldwin sees the graphic violence in the story as a means to create reality; however, Stowe fails, creating only more sentimentality.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baldwin suggests that the characterization in Uncle Tom's Cabin is racist in its development. He discusses the main characters of the novel as George, Eliza, and Uncle Tom. He writes, "Eliza is a beautiful, pious hybrid, light enough to pass . . . . George is darker, but makes up for it by being a mechanical genius, and is, moreover, sufficiently un-Negroid to pass through town . Baldwin's Attack of Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe :: Uncle Tom's Cabin Essays James Baldwin's Attack of Uncle Tom's Cabin      Ã‚   What Frederick Douglass was to the 19th century, it might be argued that James Baldwin was to the 20th century.    Baldwin was a leader of the Civil Rights Movement and an African American novelist, publishing many books and plays, including his most popular Go Tell It on the Mountain in 1953. However, he was also known as an essayist. One of his most famous essays, "Everybody's Protest Novel," attacks the concept of protest fiction and more specifically, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. This 20th century critical analysis discusses the novel's downfalls of sentimentality, grandiose violence, and racialist characterization.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baldwin feels that the protest novel is almost always sentimental. He feels that sentimental fiction is inherently dishonest. He writes, "Sentimentality, the ostentatious parading of excessive and spurious emotion, is the mark of dishonesty, the inability to feel; the wet eyes of the sentimentalist betray his aversion to experience, his fear of life, his arid heart; and it is always, therefore, the signal of secret and violent inhumanity, the mask of cruelty" (1654). He explains that Uncle Tom's Cabin is a "very bad novel" with sentimentality similar to Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Baldwin also writes that Stowe includes an excess of violence in Uncle Tom's Cabin. He notes:    This [violence] is explained by the nature of Mrs. Stowe's subject matter, her laudable determination to flinch from nothing in presenting the complete picture; an explanation which falters only if we pause to ask whether or not her picture is indeed complete; and what construction . . . forced her to so depend on the description of brutality - unmotivated, senseless - and to leave unanswered and unnoticed the only important question: what it was, after all, that moved her people to such deeds. (1654)    Baldwin sees the graphic violence in the story as a means to create reality; however, Stowe fails, creating only more sentimentality.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Baldwin suggests that the characterization in Uncle Tom's Cabin is racist in its development. He discusses the main characters of the novel as George, Eliza, and Uncle Tom. He writes, "Eliza is a beautiful, pious hybrid, light enough to pass . . . . George is darker, but makes up for it by being a mechanical genius, and is, moreover, sufficiently un-Negroid to pass through town .

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Human Memory Essay

The human memory is that part of our brains that has the capacity to receive, store, and retrieve information. It is comprised of not one but three types: sensory, short term, and long term. Generally, the process involves receiving information or stimulus from the environment. The stimulus is then received by the sensory memory. Then the information, which is converted into electrical impulses, is passed through the short-term memory, and finally, the long-term memory through the neurons. Sensory A stimuli that is sensed or received by one of the five sense organs are received by the sensory memory, which acts as a protective barrier. There are different types of sensory memory, one for each sense organ. For the visual stimuli that are registered by the eyes, the sensory memory is called iconic. Stimuli that passes through the ears are received by the echoic memory. And the haptic memory is for stimuli that are felt or touched. A stimulus reaches the sensory memory between two hundred and five hundred milliseconds after it was perceived. An example of sensory memory is the ability to remember how something looks like even if you were able to see it for only a few seconds. Based on research, sensory memory is able to retain about 12 items in a very short period of time. Interruption in the smooth relay of sensory information can be caused by problems in the neurons . If there are some neurons that do not connect or there are imbalances, then information flow will stop or will be delayed. Short-Term Information that reaches the sensory memory are transferred to the short-term memory. This type of memory allows retention of information for up to 60 seconds. While it can remember information far longer than the sensory memory, the short-term memory can only retain up to five items. To increase the number of items that the short-term memory can remember, studies showed that grouping or chunking the items into three have been found very useful. Short-term memory will degrade if a person experiences chronic pain or drinks constantly. It can be enhanced through aerobic exercises because of the increased oxygen in the brain. Long-Term After information has passed through the short-term memory, it is then transferred to the long-term memory for storage and for retrieval in the future. Contrary to the two previous memories, the long-term memory can hold information indefinitely, sometimes for a lifetime. Information becomes ingrained in the memory through repetition or rehearsal. For instance, the alphabets has been constantly repeated to young children in order for them to remember each letter. As a result, knowledge of them will remain etched in memory forever. Long-term memory degrades through certain illnesses. It can be improved through constant intellectual stimulation and rehearsal. Long-term memory groups information into facts and skills. Facts is further classified into two: the episodic and semantic. As their names suggests, episodic refers to events that are stored in the memory. All the others are stored in the semantic memory. Skills, on the other hand, is about learned information that needs to be recalled to perform certain actions. The processes involved in the long-term memory are retention, retrieval and deletion. Retention is achieved when there is rehearsal. Deletion happens when there is interference. Retrieval can occur through recall and sometimes, through recognition. When the information is remembered from memory, it is called recall. If there are promptings and cues to remember an information, it is called recognition. Interference Interference is defined as the inability to recall an information because certain items or events interfere with the process. Proactive interference occurs when previous learnings will make it difficult to remember new ones. On the other hand, retroactive interference occurs when new learnings make it difficult or impossible to recall past information. While studying, information gets jumbled in the student’s mind because there are too many to recall. To improve absorption and recall, it is important to rehearse the information over a period of time. This could be done by reading the day’s lessons and memorizing the salient points before going to sleep. If the student will make this a habit, he won’t need to cram everything in his head a few days before the exam. By constantly rehearsing, the retention and retrieval will become easy. Other Factors That Could Affect Memory Age is one factor that could make a person forget an information or make it difficult to retrieve it from its storage. Like any other part of the body, the brain also degrades if it is not constantly in use. Injuries, traumas, medicines, and diseases could also affect memory storage and retrieval. For example, a tumor in the brain can interrupt the flow of electrical impulses, resulting to memory loss. Or a trauma caused by accident could result to sensory memory loss in one part of the body. To improve and maintain a good memory, it is always important to keep on exercising the mind as well as the body. When the mind is seldom used, it degenerates. Reading, learning and engaging in intellectual discourses would keep the mind active. References Gailbuck. (2007). Delving Into the Autistic Brain – Part 1. HubPages. Retrieved August 14, 2008, from http://hubpages.com/hub/autism-sensory-processing Human Memory. Retrieved August 14, 2008, from http://www-static.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_winter/Topics/human- cap/memory.html Mohs, R. How to Improve Your Memory. HowStuffWorks. Retrieved August 15, 2008, from