The Pianist Essay

‘The Pianist’ is a cinematic masterpiece by the Polish director Roman Polanski. One of the key ideas that appear throughout much of the film is that of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’. This idea is portrayed through Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Polish pianist, as he struggles for survival in Warsaw as everybody that he once knew and everything that he once had is lost. The idea of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’ is worth learning about as it allows the audience to realise the importance of hope in todays society – and to understand how Polanski uses music to symbolise ‘hope’ for Szpilman in the film.Polanski effectively utilises an array of visual and oral text features such as music, dialogue, and lighting to build further emphasis on this theme. ‘The Pianist’ is an honest depiction of the events that occurred during the Holocaust, through the eyes of Wladyslaw Szpilman, a Jewish concert pianist liv ing in Warsaw, Poland. As the movie starts we see him in a radio studio beautifully playing the piano. But then the tanks start shooting, the bombs start falling, and the studio is damaged. He can no longer avoid the rapidly escalating situation. Germany is invading his homeland.His time as a concert pianist and radio performer has come to a sudden end. The first half of the movie focuses on the impact of the war on him and his family’s lives and the suffering of others, whilst the second half purely revolves around Szpilman’s struggle for survival and the hope in which he draws from music. Polanski heavily emphasises this idea, getting across the message that Szpilman would not be alive if were not for the hope in which he holds to – even if at times if at times it is by a tiny thread. The most obvious feature used to enhance the idea of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’ is that of music.After being forced to desert his family and having to live in isolation with his survival being questioned almost every day, it is perhaps only the thoughts of music that keep Szpilman going. This is idea becomes more apparent when Szpilman discovers a piano in one of the flats he is hiding in. He is unable to play because he will give himself away so we instead watch his fingers move across the air above the piano’s keys as whilst the sound plays in his head and too the viewer. Throughout the film we also see Szpilman pretending to play the piano as he taps his finger across his legs.It is moments such as these that help to maintain Szpilman’s willingness to survive by keeping silent, but also how piano gives fills him with the hope that is instrumental in his survival. In other scenes such as when a German officer asks Szpilman to play piano for him, and allows him to live because of his immense talent we begin to realise that Szpilman’s hope – music, does not only help him to survive mentally, but also p hysically as he can share the gift that he has to others. It is also important to note that Polanski only music by the Polish composer, Chopin is used throughout ‘The Pianist’.His sad and evocative music brings upon a sad mood, yet one with a hint of hope and with this, the director can more vividly express his ideas a way that dialogue or action cannot. Another oral feature used throughout the film to express the director’s idea of ‘hope being instrumental to our survival’ is dialogue. Whilst Szpilman’s actions are usually used to express the director’s ideas, there are multiple instances where dialogue is used effectively to express them. In one scene around a third of the way into the film, Mr. Lipa, a businessman comes round to the Szpilman’s family’s house to make an offer on their piano.The majority of the family think the amount of money he is offering for such a beautiful piano is absurd, but when he says, â€Å"2 ,000 and my advice is to take it. What will you do when you’re hungry? Eat the piano? † Szpilman comes to the realisation that whilst music is what he needs to survive mentally, it is in fact food that he needs to survive physically and accept this offer. From this point in the film onwards, Polanski distinguishes physical survival from mental survival for Szpilman and begins to enforce the idea of ‘hope is instrumental to our survival’.We learn that Szpilman will go to all efforts to survive, shown with dialogue, â€Å"[taking off his watch] Here, sell this. Food is more important than time† but it is his hope that he will one day be able to play piano again and be happy that is instrumental to his survival. This is shown later in the film when a German Officer asks him what he’s going to do when the war is over and he replies, â€Å"Play piano again†. It is the simple, but effective use of dialogue such as this that mimic realistic si tuations in comparison to the Hollywood theatrics used in other films that establish an exaggerated, bleak atmosphere.Lighting is another visual feature that is used to good effect to emphasise the idea of hope being instrumental in (Szpilman’s) survival. Throughout the second half of the film, where Szpilman is trapped within solitude – with the hope in which he holds on to hanging by the thread; Polanski uses dark and obsolete colours with a bluish tint that combined create a very strange and desolate atmosphere. While the dark obsolete lighting clearly portrays Szpilman’s pessimism, it is the bluish tint evident that is like the ‘silver lining’ and shows the viewer the hope that Szpilman is still holding on to.In one particular scene, where Szpilman plays piano for the first time in months to a Nazi Officer, moonlight with the distinct blue tint is cast over the piano and his hands as he plays. Polanski creates this effect to make the link for th e audience that music is the hope that has been instrumental to his (Szpilman’s) survival and is the tiny thread that he has been hanging onto when everybody he knows and everything that he once had has been taken from him.In the film ‘The Pianist’, Polanski effectively employed the use of the visual and oral features: music, dialogue and lighting to better communicate his idea of ‘hope being instrumental in our survival’. These three features come together to allow the audience to truly realise the importance of hope being the sole factor that keeps Szpilman alive, and that his hope is symbolised through music. Polanski so skilfully uses these features to show rather than tell the importance of this idea and through this it is little wonder that the movie is considered a modern classic.

Manufacturing Case Study

Manufacturing Industry Case Study Challenges in Manufacturing Industry Unions †¢HR teams must be familiar with contract language, when working in a unionized facility. In a non-union plant, an HR representative can speak directly with any member of the workforce when discipline issues arise, such as absenteeism or dress-code concerns. But when employees are union members, the union steward has to be present during those same discussions.Those cases that could be settled with a face-to-face talk between HR and the employee now have to be resolved through grievance procedures between the union and the HR department. At the same time, HR professionals find that enforcing employee policies are sometimes easier in a union shop, because unionized workers tend to be more familiar with the rules, according to the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). Safety †¢Safety awareness is a major HR issue in manufacturing, because of the considerable risks for job–related inj uries or fatalities. In an office, someone might trip over a file cabinet. Here, people can get pulled into the machines and lose arms or legs. People can get killed,† HR Manager Kristi Schmidlap tells SHRM. Human Resource specialists devote a considerable amount of time in training employees to be proactive in keeping their work areas safe. HR departments have to be diligent in enforcing safety policies, such as dress-codes in factories, where long fingernails and hair represent danger among workers using heavy machinery.Human Resource employees also have to set examples, by consistently wearing hardhats, goggles and safety boots, when they walk through the plant. Communication †¢Most laborers in a manufacturing plant do not have computers or desks, which eliminates emails and on-line publications as methods of disseminating information. Instead, HR professionals must rely on bulletin board postings, notices stapled to paychecks or employee meetings. With three shifts in operation, the HR representative must schedule 5:30 A. M. essions to ensure that the third shift hears the same message as their first- and second-shift peers. HR departments spend more time explaining common policies than their counterparts in white-collar companies, because manufacturing employees cannot access handbooks and guides that are published on the Internet. This means more interaction between HR employees and the general workforce, especially during benefits enrollment periods, when factory employees who do not have access to company computers, need HR’s guidance in entering their selections on-line.

Loose objects in a vehicle Essay

The potential dangers of loose objects in vehicles are strongly associated with Newton’s First Law of Motion, inertia. Inertia is when an object in motion tries to stay in motion, and an object at rest tries to remain at rest, unless the object is acted upon by an outside force. For example, say a car is traveling along a straight road. Loose objects in the auto are â€Å"acted upon† by the body, seats, or some other part of the vehicle (whatever is touching a loose object), whenever the whole thing accelerates. The two most important things related to this are: 1. â€Å"Velocity† is a concept that includes both the speed and the direction of motion 2. â€Å"Acceleration† exists whenever there is any change in a velocity Let us first return to the straight road, and magically do two things: 1) Stop the car instantly. 2) Turn the car so that if faces left, also instantly. What happens to all the loose objects inside the car? They are still going to obey the First Law of Motion, and try to continue going down the straight road. However, since the car is now both stopped and facing left, the right wall of the car is in everything’s way. At that moment everything flies towards the right wall, and the loose objects crash hard against it. Also, the driver and the passenger(s) would also smash into the right wall. If the car was extremely heavy, or was traveling at a considerable speed, then the force of the crash would be greater. This is because of Newton’s second law, F=ma, the larger the acceleration or mass, the greater the force. This makes it obvious that loose objects in vehicles is dangerous and  should be placed in compartments provided. The whole point of this is that when an auto merely follows the curve of the road towards the left, a less drastic version of the same thing happens: the right wall of the vehicle gets in the way of every loose object’s natural tendency to keep going straight. When each object comes to rest against that wall, then it begins experiencing acceleration towards it own left. At the end of the curve, when the auto goes straight again, everything in it will have finished accelerating towards the left, so the various objects will lay loosely once more. JP17: Avoiding or reducing the effect of a collision In a collision, an object experiences a force for a given amount of time which results in its mass undergoing a change in velocity (i.e. which results in a momentum change). Technologies have greatly improved our ability to avoid or reduce the effect of a motor vehicle collision. Many are now considered to be standard features. Others optional extras, and some are only found in the most luxurious cars. The main focus in reducing the effect of a collision if to reduce the force the person feels during a collision. To do this, you need to maximize the distance over which the person comes to rest. This is derived from the formula Fd=k (where k is a constant value of kinetic energy). This means that force and stopping distance are inversely proportional to each other. It is known that the force (F) is the final value that determines the extent of the collision both on the vehicle and its occupants. Crumple zones, seatbelts and air bags are three examples of technology that are based upon this concept, and Newton’s first law of motion, â€Å"the object in motion continues to move with a speed that is constant in magnitude and direction.† A car’s crumple zones do the real work of increasing the stopping distance, thus softening the blow. Crumple zones are areas in the front and rear of a car that collapse relatively easily. Instead of the entire car coming to an  abrupt stop when it hits an obstacle, it absorbs some of the impact force by flattening, like an empty soda can. The car’s cabin is much sturdier, so it does not crumple around the passengers. It continues moving briefly, crushing the front of the car against the obstacle. Of course, crumple zones will only protect the person if he or she is secured to the seat by the seatbelt. A seatbelt’s job is to spread the stopping force across sturdier parts of your body in order to minimize damage. A typical seatbelt consists of a lap belt, which rests over the pelvis, and a shoulder belt, which extends across the chest. The two belt sections are tightly secured to the frame of the car in order to hold passengers in their seats. When the belt is worn correctly, it will apply most of the stopping force to the rib cage and the pelvis, which are relatively sturdy parts of the body. Since the belts extend across a wide section of the body, the force isn’t concentrated in a small area, so it can’t do as much damage. Additionally, the seatbelt webbing is made of more flexible material than the dashboard or windshield. It stretches a little bit, which means the stop isn’t quite so abrupt. An air bag is an inflation system made of a thin, nylon fabric folded into the steering wheel or dashboard or, for side airbags, the seat or door. The air bag has a sensor that tells the bag to inflate. The mechanical switch is flipped when there is a mass shift that closes an electrical contact, telling the sensors that a crash has just occurred. The air bag system ignites a solid propellant, which burns rapidly to create a large volume of nitrogen gas to inflate the bag. The bag then literally explodes from its storage site. A split second later, the gas quickly disappears through tiny holes in the bag, thus deflating the bag so the driver or passenger can move.

Student development in higher education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Student development in higher education - Essay Example Higher education institutions tend to spend more on students particularly with a good educational profile in order to bring them up as potential faculty members or else, knowledgeable scholars to serve the country at various levels. Students are most ambitious about their professional careers while they are in their higher education. Students tend to do study harder in an attempt to be eligible for various scholarships that are offered by the higher education institutions. This comes as a source of inspiration for the relatively careless students, and they tend to realize the importance of working hard. In turn, they also participate in the race of professional development. Ambitious class fellows serve as a source of inspiration for the usually careless students. Higher education institutions particularly encourage the students to work harder by making them aware of their faculty development programs. Nowadays, many higher education institutions including government and private colleges and universities offer faculty development programs in which they bear their teachers’ tuition and accommodation expenses while they go abroad for to foreign reputable universities for further education. The institutions finance their faculty so that they would be equipped with faculty educated in well-ranked universities across the globe. This causes a good impression of the institution on the prospective students and the institutions get more applications from capable students in the country. The current students who have already been made aware of the faculty development programs tend to work harder in order to secure the minimum GPA required to make them eligible for selection as a faculty member in the future. Many higher education institutions are practically linked with industries and are responsible to ensure a constant supply of scholars and educated personnel to take part in the

Grave markers in colonial america Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Grave markers in colonial america - Essay Example Both the whites and the blacks has ever since observed some form of marking to the passing of a person with grave markings being among the most used forms of observing the passing on of a person. Colonialism, slavery as well as the ideology of being free had a critical part to play while observing this stage of life and hence the interest in carrying out this study. In understanding the evolution of humans through the stages of slavery, colonialism as well as the independence, this paper intends to focus on historical artifacts and records to establish the perceptions and attitudes of persons towards slavery, colonialism and their effect on tradition and the issue of grave markings with a special focus on America. This paper therefore intends to answer the question on how the larger society have swayed over years from the dictates of slavery and colonialism in such social concerns and whether this can be observed in the grave markers. The evolution of social perceptions and attitudes towards the death of a person and the subsequent burial of the remains can be seen through many archaeological features among which are grave marks. Early markers have evolved to shape what we have today in many societies with a definite evolution from then use of wood, slate, sand stone, marble/sandstone as well as granite for making grave markings (Erik, 2014). Besides, the reshaping of the society as influenced by religious believes would be seen to have had great influence on how people would perceive death. For instance, traditional African faiths had much respect of dead persons as were believed to only change in physical state but living in the spirit after death. In the 18th century (after great awakening), the religious wave in America changed the perceptions of the whites much through the faith that death was not to be feared but rather looked forward to. Christianity taught that death gave a person a time to reunite with

Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 9

Management - Essay Example It was acknowledged that Herzberg related need satisfaction to job conditions: job content and job context; where the job content factor was specifically identified a motivators (Martires & Fule, 2010, p. 15). The aim of the current discourse is to determine lack of job satisfaction and motivation as a contemporary management issue through the use of current events that were published on the subject. Identification of a Contemporary Management Issue In an article entitled â€Å"10 factors creating job satisfaction: what motivates now?† written by Spicer (2010) and published online in the Bradford University School of Management, the author actually delved into a closer evaluation of factors which apparently have been perceived as contributory to motivation. The author sought the participation of an original number of 268 managers across UK and Europe. As disclosed, there were â€Å"10 longstanding factors that research identifies as significant in influencing people’s motivation† (Spicer, 2010, par. 2). The factors were clearly enumerated and presented as Table 1, below: Table 1. Ten Longstanding Factors that Significantly Influence Motivation Factor 2010 2008 Interesting work 1 1 Job security 2 6 Full appreciation of work done 3 4 Good wages 4 2 Promotion and growth in the organization 5 3 Personal or company loyalty to employees 6 7 Feelings of being in on things 7 8 Tactful discipline 8 9 Good working conditions 9 5 Sympathetic help with personal problems 10 10 Source: Spicer, 2010 From the study, it was revealed that the factors most regarded as contributory to job satisfaction in 2010 were: interesting work, job security, and appreciation for work well done (Spicer, 2010). The top factor in 2008 was similar: interesting work, followed by good wages, as well as promotions and growth in the organization (Spicer, 2010). As published in Employee Benefits, â€Å"motivating employees is vital if employers are to achieve maximum performance and productivity. There are a wide variety of methods available for motivating staff, at prices to suit all budgets. These range from recognizing employees' achievements by simply saying 'thank you' to more complex schemes which combine set targets with fixed rewards† (Employee Benefits, 2006, par. 1). This is consistent with Spicer’s findings that acknowledged appreciation for work as a significant motivating factor that contributes to job satisfaction. Concurrently, in another study that aimed to determine the level of motivation and job satisfaction among employees of KFC, UK, the author disclosed that â€Å"non ­financial  factors  have a  significantly  higher  impact  on  the  employee's  motivation than   the  financial   factors†¦(and that)   the  study concluded  that  the  employees  working  at  KFC  UK  Ltd  are adequately motivated, though  a  significant  difference  of  level of motivation wa s   noticed   among   gender,   different   age groups,   working   status,   working   position   and   length   of employment  comparison† (Hossain & Hossain, 2012, p. 21). The study written by Adeyemi and Ositoye (2010) supported the theoretical frameworks on motivation as originally published by Maslow (1954), Koontz, O’Donnel and Weintzrizh (1980) which asserted that â€Å"what really matters in boosting employee productivity or output is not the kind of motivation that is employed but the extent to which the employee is being truly motivated by any chosen method. .. (And) the ability of the employer to identify employee

Music Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Music - Assignment Example In this manner, the element of rapping is always very common and is almost predominant in nearly all forms of hip hop music (Katz, 2012). This paper is going to explore the origin of the hip hop music, taking into consideration several aspects involving the problems that the youths passed through that may have been responsible for the emergence of the hip hop music. In addition, the paper is going to explore some of the regions where the music genre of Hip hop music was mostly concentrated in the United States, as well as the reasons that may have influenced the rise of the hip hop music. The origin of the hip hop music is attributed to early histories relevant to the problems faced by the youth in America. Such youths saw it fit to spell some of the problems that they faced through rapping alongside the music. Other than rapping, it is important to note that the other characteristic of the hip hop music involves several forms of dancing as well as dancing styles. In connection to the above, it is crucial to note that hip hop music is mostly characterized by such forms of dancing including break dancing. These were some of the ways in which the youths employed in expressing their emotions as well as their problems relevant to the social, political as well as economic challenges that they faced in the regions of America (Flores, 2000). Other than the issue of dancing as well as rapping, the other common elements of the hip hop music includes scratching as well as graffiti writing. These are some of the artistic styles that accompany the issue of hip hop music. It is important to note that the origin of these elements is vested in the culture as well as the age brackets of the people mostly involved in the hip hop music. For instance, most youths are always the ones who mostly revere this musical genre called hip hop. It is of crucial significance to acknowledge the fact

Project 1 Case Analysis (CCJS321) Digital Forensics Study

Project 1 Analysis (CCJS321) Digital Forensics - Case Study Example The second case study involves the need for the use of computer forensics in general. The first case study is titled Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders, Second Edition. The intention of the guide is to enable individuals understand the importance of using electronic devises during criminal investigations at the scenes (Ec-Council, 2009). It intends to make work easier for the forensics to know the cause of the crime easier at the scene without taking the samples to the lab for analysis. This would mean that they would have all the required electronic devises at the crime scenes. The guide starts by introducing individuals to digital evidence to be the data, which is important during investigation and is transmitted and received through electronic devices (Holland, 2004). They may include DNA evidences and fingerprints. The importance of securing these digital evidences is because of their vulnerability of crossing to the wrong jurisdictions and borders. It is also explained that these evidences might be altered, destroyed and damaged i f they are not secured properly. It has been noted that criminal scenes are sometimes complicated for the first respondents at the scene. The use of electronic devices would enable the adjustments of the practical situations and circumstances at the scenes. These situations can be viewed from different perceptions. For instance, the investigation officer at the scene might not have the experience for such situations. The use of electronic devices would make it easy for them to make comparison of the situation to the identical criminal activity, which is on the database. The first responders may require the digital devices and evidences at the crime scene through application of different principles required by the police divisions of different regions. The collection of the digital evidence is applicable to the agents who ensure that everything follows the correct

Labour Law Group Project Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Labour Law Group Project - Assignment Example 1. Procedure in employment of Bob The first process in hiring Bob from UK will involve Abulaziz determining if he requires employment confirmation from the foreign country. After determining the requirement for an employment confirmation, he will be required to apply for the confirmation as he will hire Bob as a professional worker. The next step will involve application for a work permit from the country and wait for a port of entry after agreeing on the terms. 2. Employing a UEA national The process involved in hiring Noura will not be similar as the labor and employment of terms in Dubai considers the UEA National terms. The procedure will then be short as the employment of a foreign worker. 3. Features of a limited contract †¢ The contract has specific start and end dates †¢ The contract cannot have a term of more than 4 years but is renewable †¢ The employment is terminated at the end of contract 4. Specific information in Bob’s contract Nature of the contract Type of work Terms of the contract Wages and benefits of the contract Date of employment contract 5. Position of probation period in Law Probation period in the law should not be more than six months and Abulaziz is not allowed through the law to impose probation period more than once to Bob. 6. Difference between basic and total wages Basic wages are those that are stated in the employment contract and exclude allowances, travel, housing and accommodation. Total wages include wages that are in the contract with inclusion of allowances, travel, housing and accommodation.

Counterfeit Medicine Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Counterfeit Medicine - Essay Example Because of this demand pharmaceutical companies now face the problem of counterfeit medicine (Cockburn, p. 302). The World Health Organization and the US FDA estimates that ten percent (10%) of the medicines and drugs sold in the United States are counterfeit drugs. These drugs are known to be manufactured overseas, particularly in Asia or Africa where it is reported that the real drugs are being sold along side of the counterfeit ones. These counterfeit medicines when taken in may have serious health consequences. A lot of counterfeit medicines sold today are cheaper or almost the same price as that of the real medicine. This also makes them a competitor for legal pharmaceuticals. One of the serious health implications for ingesting these counterfeit drugs are the possible side effects not reported or present in real medicine. Counterfeit medicines are also known to contain little or a different drug ingredient that has not passed FDA approval (US FDA, para.3). The economic repercussion of having these fake drugs available is that legal pharmaceuticals are losing money. Fake drugs may look and have the same packaging, it is sometimes impossible for the average consumer to know which one is fake or counterfeit. Consumers or patients who get a hold of counterfeit medicine also lose money because they do not get the product that they have paid for, and the medicinal benefit of the drug. Add to that the possibility of getting hospitalized because of the adverse effects of the counterfeit drugs, or worse death (Hope, para. 2). The problem of counterfeit medicine has stemmed from the known income earnings of pharmaceutical companies and commercialism. Companies that are trying to outsell each other may try to get sourcing of their raw materials from third world countries and sometimes these medicines contain little or weak proportions of an active ingredient or worse a different

Investment Account Essay Example for Free

Investment Account Essay What is the meaning of Al-Awfar? Al-Awfar means â€Å"prosperous investment†. 3. What is the difference between Al-Awfar Savings Account and Investment Account-i and the normal Bank Islam Savings Account-i and General Investment Account-i (GIA)? Al-Awfar Savings and Investment Account-i is a rewarding account that offers a host of additional features, which include expected Mudharabah returns on savings and investments (if any). This is in addition to the opportunity to receive cash prizes from the bank through a quarterly prize draw. 4. Is Al-Awfar Saving and Investment Account-i a form of gambling? NO. Al-Awfar Savings and Investment Account-i is free from any elements of gambling. 5. Is Al-Awfar Savings and Investment Account-i Shariah-compliant? YES. The Shariah Supervisory Council of Bank Islam approved this product in its 102nd meeting dated 7th April 2008 (30 Rabiulawal 1429H). 6. Are prize draws allowed according to the Shariah Law? YES. Prize draws are permitted if there is no elements of riba (usury), gharar (uncertainty) and maysir (gambling). 7. What is the basis on the permissibility of draw in Islam? 1. Al-Quran, in Surah Ali ‘Imran verse 44 This is a part of the news of the Ghaib (unseen, i. e. the news of the past nations of which you have no knowledge) which We inspire you with (O Muhammad ). You were not with them, when they cast lots with their pens as to which of them should be charged with the care of Maryam (Mary); nor were you with them when they disputed. . Is the draw performed in a manner that is transparent to the public? YES. There is an external independent draw committee who will observe the draw process. 9. What is the difference between Al-Awfar Savings and Investment Account-I and other competitors’ product? Al-Awfar Saving and Investment Account-i is the first product of its kind introduced by an Islamic bank, which meets all Shariah requirements. 10. Where does Bank Islam invest the funds deposited by customers? Bank Islam invests the fund in Shariah-compliant investments pproved by the bank’s Shariah Supervisory Council. 11. Can the cash prizes received be used for Ibadah purposes, e. g. performing the Hajj and Umrah or given away as Zakat and Sadaqah? YES. The cash prizes come from a Halal source. Upon receiving the cash prize, the customer is free to use it for any purpose 12. Are the cash prizes taken from the profit earned through Al-Awfar Savings and Investment Account-i? NO. The cash prizes are provided by the Bank and are not specifically derived from profits of Al-Awfar Savin gs and Investment Account-i.

Uses of ICT in the community Essay Example for Free

Uses of ICT in the community Essay ICT is used for a wide range of purposes in the community for personal, social and work related tasks. These help us complete the task to an exceptional level that would otherwise not have been possible. Below are a range of uses for which I use ICT The five needs of the community are * Security * Communication * Finance * Information * Road safety ICT is used primarily for security in Headington. This includes surveillance cameras such as CCTV and speed detectors. This keeps the crime levels down and helps make the whole community safer for residents and attract tourists. It is also used for communication and information in the community, through internet. Members of the community can find out about various things, and can also use the internet for social uses and communicating through MSN and other sites. ATMs provide ICT service for the communitys financial needs. This includes withdrawing money, checking accounts and various other tasks that the ATMs help to meet. This helps the community function better and helps meet the needs of the community. Personal Uses MP3 (Mpeg Audio 3) is a device Coding to compress audio files so that they become around one-tenth of the original file size, but without ruining the original sound quality above a perceptual level. It does this by reducing the accuracy of certain parts of the file which are above or below the hearing range of humans so that the files size reduced but the original sound quality is retained. This reduction makes it easier to download or play files in MP3 format. MP3 files are downloaded from the computer or internet and have to be in a certain format. I use MP3 players to download and listen to songs and other audio files such as podcasts (media files available on the internet) while I am note. Although I can listen to songs on my personal computer or CD player, MP3s are better because many hundreds of songs can be downloaded into it, which cannot be done on my computer without taking up too much of its memory. They are better than video players as both the sound and video quality of DVD players are significantly superior to that of video players. This helps me not get bored when I am in situations in which I cannot do anything productive instead, such as waiting for the bus. Community Gatso speed cameras help the community by catering for its road safety needs. As the area is not very busy and does not have many cars and also has a lot of two way roads, there have been many accidents involving speeding drivers as they relax and go fast when they see the road relatively empty. Many drivers do not anticipate cars coming from the opposite direction and this has resulted in many car accidents. Speed cameras help keep roads safe for drivers driving through the area and help to enforce the speed limit, making the community safer for its residents. Users must have either a modem, ISDN (integrated services digital network), broadband, ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) or cable broadband to connect to the internet and use its services.

Different Raster Systems With Resolutions

Different Raster Systems With Resolutions Consider three different raster systems with resolutiuns of 640 by 480, 1280 by 1024, and 2560 by 2048. What size frame buffer in bytes is needed for each of these systems to store 12 bits per pixel? How, much storage: is required for each system if 24 bits per pixel are to be stored? Solution:- For 12 bits per pixel:- Frame buffer size=640* 480*12=3686400/8=460800bytes Frame buffer size=1280*1024*12=15728640/8=1966080 bytes Frame buffer size=2560*2048*12=62914560/8=7864320 bytes For 24 bits per pixel:- Frame buffer size=640*480*24=7372800/8 =921600bytes Frame buffer size=1280*1024*24=31457280bits=3932160 bytes Frame buffer size=2560*2048*24=125829120 bits=15728640 bytes Suppose an RGB raster system is to be designed using an 8-inch by 10-inch screen with a resolution of 100 pixels per inch in each direction. If we want to store 6 bits per pixel in the frame buffer, how much storage ( in bytes ) do we need for the frame buffer? Storage to store 6 bits per pixels=8*10*100*6=6000bytes How long would it take to load a 640 by 480 frame buffer with 12 bits per pixel, if lo5 bits can be transferred per second! How long would it take to load a 24-bit per pixel frame buffer with a resolution of 1280 by 1024 using this same transfer rate? For 12 bits per pixel:- Time taken=640*480*12=(3686400)/10^5=36.864 second For 24 bits per pixel:- Time taken=(1280*1024*24)/10^5=314.57second Consider two raster systems with resolutions of 640 by 480 and 1280 by 1024. How many pixels could be accessed per second in each of these systems by a display controller that refreshes the screen at a rate of 60 frames per second? What is the access time per pixel in each system? For resolution 640 by 480 Total pixels=640*480*60=18432000 pixels Time taken=1/18432000=5.425*10^-8 seconds For resolution 1280 by 1024 Total pixels =1280*1024*60=78643200 pixels Time taken =1/78643200=1.27*10^-8 seconds How much time is spent scanning across each row of pixels during screen refresh on a raster system with a resolution of 1280 by 1024 and refresh rate of 60 frames per second? 1024*60=61440rows Time taken =1/61440=1.628^-5seconds Section B Wide-Screen displays Widescreen usually refers to the aspect ratio of an image. In general terms, most images are considered to be in widescreen format when they have an aspect ratio larger than 4:3. When talking about widescreen, generally, most people are referring to the aspect ratio or shape of their TV set, monitor or digital image. One of the best ways to understand widescreen is to compare it with the most common type of aspect ratio, 4:3 which is the aspect ratio or shape of a standard TV set. A standard TV set is pretty much boxy in shape. The aspect ratio is 4:3, this means that the TV screen is 4 times wide by three times high. Because this ratio is almost equal to each other, it is considered similar to a box or square. A perfect square would be 4:4, which is really a ratio that is to 1:1. So now that we know that a standard TV is boxy or squares in shape having an aspect ratio of 4:3, widescreen formats usually have 16:9, a much more rectangular shape. A rectangular is a much more natural looking image. When the human eye sees the world, it does not see a box, but mainly a panorama image. We might focus our attention on a square shape in front of us, but there is a lot more visual information that our peripheral vision picks up. 16:9 aspect ratio is considered widescreen format and is much more natural to view. Most cinematic films are an aspect ratio of 16:9, so they can be viewed easily on a widescreen TV or monitor. You might not have realized that when you watch a movie on your standard TV that has an aspect ratio of 4:3, part of the sides of the movie are cut off or cropped. When you watch a movie on a widescreen, you are able to see the entire picture without any cropping. Sometimes widescreen is referred to by the term letterbox meaning a rectangular shape. Wide screen TV:- When television was introduced and for many years since then the aspect ratio was 4:3. The original standard aspect ratio for films was 4:3 , the adoption of the Academy ratio 1932 brought a slight change to a 1.37 aspect ratio. Material which was originally widescreen (e.g., Cinemascope films) were often transmitted with the sides truncated, using a technique called pan and scan. The introduction of a wider television format was met with some resistance within the film industry, but eventually became the norm. In Europe the PAL TV format, with its higher number of visible screen lines means that the low horizontal resolution associated with showing un cropped widescreen movies on TV is not as bad There is even an extension to PAL, called PAL plus, which allows specially equipped receivers to receive a PAL picture as true 16:9 with full 576 lines of vertical resolution, provided the stations employ the same system. Standard PAL receivers will receive such a broadcast as a 16:9 image letterboxed to 4:3, with a small amount of color noise in the black bars; this noise is actually the additional lines which are hidden inside the color signal. This system has no equivalent in analog NTSC broadcasting. Despite the existence of PALplus and support for widescreen in the DVB-based digital satellite, terrestrial and cable broadcasts in use across Europe, only Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Austria, Germany, Scandinavia and the UK have taken up widescreen at any great rate, with over half of all widescreen channels available by satellite in Europe targeting those areas. 16:9 TV displays have come into wide use. They are typically used in conjunction with Digital, High-Definition Television (HDTV) receivers, or Standard-Definition DVD players and other digital television sources. Digital material is provided to widescreen TVs either in high-definition format, which is natively 16:9 , or as an anamorphically-compressedstandard-definition picture. Typically, devices decoding Digital Standard-Definition pictures can be programmed to provide anamorphic widescreen formatting, for 16:9 sets, and formatting for 4:3 sets. Pan-and-scan mode can be used on 4:3 if the producers of the material have included the necessary panning data; if this data is absent, letterboxing or centre cut-out is used. HD DVD and Blu-ray disc players were introduced in 2006. Toshiba ceased production of HD DVD players in early 2008 after key defections from the HD DVD camp damaged the viability of the format. As of 2010 it still remains to be seen whether Blu-ray will stimulate the sales of HD pre-recorded films on disc, and more HD monitors and tuners. Consumer camcorders are also available in HD-video format at fairly low prices. These developments will result in more options for viewing widescreen images on television monitors. Widescreen Computer Displays Computer displays with aspect ratios wider than 4:3 are also called widescreen. Widescreen computer displays are mainly intended for computers used, at least sometimes, to display entertainment; data processing tends to use 4:3. Widescreen computer displays are typically of the 1.6 (8:5, typically written as 16:10) aspect ratio. True widescreen (16:9) monitors can be found in resolutions of 1024576, 1152648, 1280720, 1600900, and 19201080. Apples 27 iMac introduced a new 16:9 resolution: 25601440 in late 2009. By 2010 many manufacturers had practically abandoned the older 4:3 format, instead opting to manufacture 16:10 models, and lately, even shorter 16:9 displays. Suitability for applications Since many modern DVDs and some TV shows are in a widescreen format, widescreen displays are optimal for their playback on a computer. 16:9 material on a 16:10 display will be letterboxed, but only slightly. However, when screen width is not an issue, as in data processing or viewing 4:3 entertainment material such as older films and digitalphotographs, the sides of the widescreen image may be wasted, although it can be useful to display two or more windows side-by-side.. Most non-linear digital video editing software benefits more from horizontal space than from vertical space. However, for data processing many computer programs often have many toolbars and other information such as status bars, headers, and tabs, which require vertical space. In such cases the additional width is unwanted; on a computer used only for data-processing the additional screen area is better dedicated to a larger 4:3 screen. When displaying a document or ebook, two pages can be displayed side by side on a wide screen, or two documents compared. If a desktop monitor supports it, a whole single page of a book or document can be displayed on a rotated portrait-oriented screen. A very few computer games, including the first few Command Conquer games, run at a native 640400 resolution, making them exceptionally well-suited to 8:5 monitors. A slightly larger number, including Doom 3, can be set to either widescreen or full screen (4:3), with the widescreen options offering wider horizontal fields of view without sacrificing vertical FOV. However, most computer games are not designed for optimum effect on a widescreen display, being stretched unnaturally, not filling the screen, or letterboxed. Older laptop computers with a pointing device that did not take up space such as a pointing stick (Trackpoint) or trackball attached to the side of the machine could accommodate a keyboard which matched a 16:9 screen well. The use of touchpads, which require a lot of space below the keyboard, and the removal of keys such as the Numeric keypad more accurately matches the 4:3 ratio of a screen found on smaller net books and laptops. Widescreen Notebook Displays The earliest instance of the widescreen display being installed inside a notebook computer can be traced back to the Sony C1 which displayed a resolution of just 800 x 480. Widescreens made their official entrance in PC notebooks in 2003, although Apple preceded this by offering the 15 widescreen Power Mac. In 2005, the popularity of widescreen notebooks reached a new high with the unveiling of the Thinkpad widescreen Z60 series notebooks. Sonys pioneering widescreen VAIO C1 notebook The question is: Is the widescreen format for everybody? A big part of the answer will depend on what a widescreen notebook or monitor is used to do. Here are some considerations that might help with your decision: 1. Widescreen Notebooks The length and width of a widescreen notebooks screen set it apart from the standard notebook. The average notebook uses an aspect ratio of 4:3 and a resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels. The widescreen notebook breaks with tradition and increases screen size 25% lengthwise for proportions equal to that of the cinema screen or a widescreen LCD TV. 2. Widescreen Display Sizes The Sony C1 may have started it all, but it is by now considered only as a small-sized widescreen notebook, which is anything below 12.1. Currently on offer are 8.9, 10.6, 11.1, 12.1, 13.3, 14, 15.4, and 17 display sizes, with 19 products reportedly in the pipeline. 3. Widescreen Resolutions and their Corresponding Aspect Ratios Here are the common resolutions found in widescreen displays: 800 x 480 Representing an aspect ratio of 10:6, it was seen first in the Sony C1 notebook computer. Although this resolution is very low by todays standards, it was still quite acceptable compared to the 800 x 600 (4:3) resolutions of the time. Although the C1s screen measured only 8.9, it came as a part of the C1s delightfully tight packaging and superb portability. Currently, displays of this resolution are rarely available. 1024 x 600 Also having an aspect ratio of 10:6, it is meant to challenge the mainstream screen with 1024 x 768 resolution. 1280x 768 1280800 The 1280 x 768 resolution representing an aspect ratio of 16:9.5 and the 1280 x 800 resolution representing 16:10 respectively; these are the two most common resolutions used in contemporary 10.6, 12.1, 13.3, 14, 15.4 widescreen displays and can be considered entry-level for widescreen notebook computers. They provide about a 25% increase in onscreen content compared to screens displaying resolutions of 1024 x 768. 1280 x 854 This resolution (16:10.5) was used first in the 15.4 Power Mac notebook computer and adopted later by a limited number of other PC notebooks (mostly sized 154). This resolution has fallen out of favor in recent times. 1366 x 768 This resolution provides a perfect 16:9 aspect ratio and a perfect home for DVD movies and no more annoying black bands above and below the picture. It is currently available in the 11.1 VAIO Type TX widescreen notebook. 1440 x 900 This resolution (16:10) is found in 17 notebooks only, and is positioned as entry level in 17 widescreen notebooks. 1680 x 1050 This is currently the mainstream resolution (also 16:10) for 17 widescreen notebook computer displays. Users will experience a 35% increase in onscreen content compared to the normal 17 screen displaying a resolution of 1280 x 1024. 1920 x 1200 This is the pinnacle for current 17 widescreen notebook displays, and provides a 75% increase in onscreen content when compared to a normal 17 screen of 1280 x 1024 resolution. The resolution is a perfect fit for 1080p and 1080i (1920 x 1080 16:9) HDTV. 4. Benefits of the Widescreen When used for entertainment, a widescreen display is in its element when showing widescreen DVD movies in their intended 16:9 aspect ratio. This means a bigger picture more comfort and less wasted space (less or no black bands on either side of the picture). The widescreen display also makes it easier to edit and view panoramic images and may eliminate troublesome horizontal scrolling altogether. Comparison of different resolutions Another benefit of the widescreen display is evident when it comes to serious work the ability to display two windows side by side and to drag and drop (or copy n paste) data without having to switch between them is priceless. 5. Is the Widescreen Display Perfect? Weve covered a lot of the widescreen displays positive points, but that doesnt mean that there are no drawbacks. Here are some of them: a. The first and most obvious drawback is price, with the widescreen display being quite a bit pricier than the corresponding 4:3 display This is also the reason why widescreen displays are so ubiquitously absent at the entry level price points, though the gap is getting closer. b. The next problem is an issue of mobility, although this really points to notebook sizes 15 and above. It does depend, however, on the design philosophy of the manufacturer some use the desktop replacement mentality and cause their products to be quite large in size and therefore heavier as well. c. Compatibility with applications especially games may be an issue as many games are programmed to be displayed in 4:3 aspect ratio. Depending on your settings, you will experience black bands to the sides of the image, or you may try and stretch the image, which will look uncomfortable in any case. Certainly more and more, if not all, games today are compatible with widescreen display Latest development in widescreen display: Widescreen LCD displays: Barcos LC series of High-Resolution LCD displays has been specifically designed for use in a wide variety of professional applications. The LC family presents crisp, clear and color-accurate images on 42, 47 and 56 screen sizes. Dedicated versions with HD-SDI inputs are available. Featuring some of the most advanced LCD technology available today, Barcos LC series stands for the ultimate in detail. The LC series consists of a 42 and 47 display in native full high definition (19201080 pixels) and a 56 display in quad full high definition (38402160 pixels). Benefits: High brightness High contrast, even in high ambient light environments High resolution and pixel density Frame lock and gunlock functionality Low power consumption Long lifetime Technology used: Plasma screen technology LED technology CRT (cathode ray tube) LCD Plasma screen technology: Flat panel plasma display is the latest display technology and the best way to achieve displays with excellent image quality and large, flat screen sizes that are easily viewable in any environment. Plasma panels are an array of cells, known as pixels, which are composed of three sub pixels, corresponding to the colors red, green, and blue. Gas in the plasma state is used to react with phosphors in each sub pixel to produce colored light (red, green, or blue). These phosphors are the same types used in cathode ray tube (CRT) devices such as televisions and standard computer monitors. You get the rich dynamic colors that you expect. Each sub pixel is individually controlled by advanced electronics to produce over 16 million different colors. All of this means that you get perfect images that are easily viewable in a display that is less than six inches thick. LED technology : There are many consumer advantages to LEDs over incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs. LED lights consume much less energy. They are 300 percent more efficient than a compact fluorescent light (CFL), and 1,000 percent more efficient than an incandescent bulb. They have a very long life, about 50,000 hours of use at 70 percent of their original power. (LEDs dont burn out or flicker, they simply fade.) This works out to eight hours a day for 13 years at 70 percent power. A typical 60-watt incandescent bulb may last about 1,000 hours. LED lighting contains no mercury or other toxins. LEDs emit no ultra violet (UV) light, so they dont attract bugs. They dont generate heat, so they are cool to the touch. They dont generate radio frequency waves, so they dont interfere with radios or television broadcasts. They also are resistant to vibrations and shocks. CRT (cathode ray tube): The Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun (a source of electrons) and a fluorescent screen, with internal or external means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam, used to create images in the form of light emitted from the fluorescent screen. The image may represent electrical waveforms (oscilloscope), pictures (television, computer monitor), radar targets and others.The CRT uses an evacuated glass envelope which is large, deep, heavy, and relatively fragile. LCD (Liquid-crystal display): Liquid-crystal display televisions (LCD TV) are television sets that use LCD technology to produce images. LCD televisions are thinner and lighter than CRTs of similar display size, and are available in much larger sizes. This combination of features made LCDs more practical than CRTs for many roles, and as manufacturing costs fell, their eventual dominance of the television market was all but guaranteed. In 2007, LCD televisions surpassed sales of CRT-based televisions worldwide for the first time, and their sales figures relative to other technologies are accelerating. LCD TVs are quickly displacing the only major competitors in the large-screen market, the plasma display panel and rear-projection television. LCDs are, by far, the most widely produced and sold television technology today, pushing all other technologies into niche roles .

Critical Analysis of Theme for English B Essay -- American Literature

When I first read Langston Hughes' poem "Theme for English B", I did not particularly like it. But after reading it a second time and discussing it in class, I came to appreciate the poem on several levels. The way Hughes describes the setting of Harlem/New York is brief, but evocative. He also gives us insight into the thoughts and emotions of the main character, the young "colored" student, and ends the piece with several thought provoking passages. In the first stanza we find the student, who is also the narrator, having gotten his homework assignment to write a paper, is returning home to Harlem. The school he attends is "on the hill" (line 9), and apparently is in a "better" part of town, so he has to travel through the various areas of the city. The streets he crosses are named, and then he gets "to the Y" (line 13). The usual meaning of a "Y" is a point in a road that splits in two directions. In this case, though, it refers to the YMCA, where the student lives. I think the author is aware of this double meaning, because in the next line he clarifies the term by...

Portrait Of A Man Trying To Hang On :: Essays Papers

Portrait Of A Man Trying To Hang On Wade Whitehouse is a man who is frightened to death of following in his father's footsteps, yet he follows them exactly. His violent temper and alcoholism are giant neon signs of how much he is like his father Glen and how closely related their actions are. Wade and his brother Rolfe lived with a violent and destructive man whose behavior was both mentally and physically threatening to his sons. Their father had successfully destroyed them in a long process that began when they were young boys, as they stood and watched him strike their mother. These boys grew up with only feelings of fear and loathing toward their father. Rolfe is the son who in a sense escapes and tells this story as the narrator. Wade, on the other hand, is captured by the violence and alcoholism and acts in the same manners as his father before him. Wade and his father anesthetize their pain through alcoholism which Rolfe manages to just barely escape. We see Wade as a drunk, abusive, and overall sad father, ex-husband and sheriff who has lost control of his life. He is a very complex character from a small town that becomes mentally ill as time goes by. Is this due to his alcoholism? Does everything stem from his alcoholism and the fact that his father was mentally and physically abusive to both him and his brother? Is alcoholism Wade’s affliction? Or is it the devastating and lingering effects of the child abuse he grew up with? There are many things in Wade’s life that might have driven him to become an alcoholic. For example his actions have cost him his marriage to Lillian, his daughter Jill doesn’t want to live with him, he is a sheriff in a small town with little crime, his mother dies and his father is hard to cope with in his old age, and his girlfriend Margie only stands by him until finally she too has had enough. These seem like common occurrences in the life of many Americans today, yet these are the things that lead people to alcoholism. Wade is being held down by more baggage than most have. In a quest to assert himself, Wade strikes out against those who are most important in his life and is faced with the disrespect of the town.

Computers Mimic The Human Mind :: essays research papers

The mind-body problem has captivated the minds of philosophers for centuries. The problem is how the body and mind can interact with each other if they are separate and distinct. One solution to the problem is to replace any mental term with a more accurate physical description. Eliminative Materialists take this idea to the extreme by stating that everything that is believed to be mental will someday be explained in terms of the physical world. One way that people try to prove Eliminative Materialism to be true is through technology. Certainly if we are able to create computers and software that mimic the human mind, then Eliminative Materialism is a sound solution to the mind-body problem. In order to examine if computers actually do mimic the human mind then we must first look at the capabilities of the human mind. If one looks closely at the capabilities of the human mind and compares them to the most recent technological advances, then it would be obvious that computers and sof tware are beginning to mimic even the most advanced mental states. In the future, computers will be able to do anything the human mind is capable of thus proving Eliminative Materialism to be a sound solution to the mind-body problem. Most of the day the human mind is taking in information, analyzing it, storing it accordingly, and recalling past knowledge to solve problems logically. This is similar to the life of any computer. Humans gain information through the senses. Computers gain similar information through a video camera, a microphone, a touch pad or screen, and it is even possible for computers to analyze scent and chemicals. Humans also gain information through books, other people, and even computers, all of which computers can access through software, interfacing, and modems. For the past year speech recognition software products have become mainstream(Lyons,176). All of the ways that humans gain information are mimicked by computers. Humans then proceed to analyze and store the information accordingly. This is a computer's main function in today's society. Humans then take all of this information and solve problems logically. This is where things get complex. There are expert systems that can solve com plex problems that humans train their whole lives for. In 1997, IBM's Deep Blue defeated the world champion in a game of chess(Karlgaard, p43). Expert systems design buildings, configure airplanes, and diagnose breathing problems. NASA's Deep Space One probe left with software that lets the probe diagnose problems and fix itself(Lyons).

ICT and Business Development

ICT and Business Development In line with the main priorities set by the URBACT Information Society Network, this theme focuses on business development and the role of ICT as a means of tackling economic restructuring and promoting employment and in doing so fostering social cohesion and economic inclusion. The purpose of this brief document is to act as a guide for colleagues when preparing material or presentations on this topic and to provoke discussion on the issues raised in it. Business Development and its relationship to ICT?Business Development is the process of improvement that enables a business to become more efficient, profitable, and thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. Business development therefore does not only concern marketing and sales departments, but all parts of a business which constitute its value chain and requires effective communication and co-operation within a company. Over the last 20 years ICT has increasingly been identified as a major contributor to the process of business development and improvement and it has been identified that â€Å"ICT †¦. is responsible for around half of productivity growth in modern economies.It drives improved efficiency and better services and products across the entirety of the private and the public sectors. † (Viviane Reding, Member of the European Commission responsible for Information Society). What has been the impact of ICT on Business? The use of ICT and technology has affected every aspect of business, transforming not only the way that business is conducted but also creating new business sectors and jobs. The creation of companies like Google and e-Bay which did not exist 10 years ago, was only made possible by advances in technology and the changes that this has created in the way that people ehave (currently Google is valued at ?44billion – Source BBC 5th June 05). Some examples of the nature of this change include: Marketing: The use of websites has allowed companies to develop new and cheaper ways of reaching new markets, offering customers the opportunity of buying goods and services whenever they want and often at reduced cost, whilst also enhancing the level of customer service. This has been coupled with the expansion and use of e-mails which again has been used by business to market their goods and services directly to potential customers, as well as communicating with existing customers and suppliers.Increasingly the marketing campaigns of businesses include the use of technologies such as Contact Management Systems that allows them to co-ordinate, monitor and report on various aspects of their marketing campaigns in new ways making these campaigns more targeted and effective. Finance: Practically all companies now use software programs e. g. Sage or Excel to manage their accounts. This has allowed them to look at financial information when required, monitor and respond to their customers purchasing patterns by e. g. offering discounts an d overall improve the management of their finances.The result of this has been for many companies a reduction in their accountancy fees. Out of office working: For many businesses the need for staff to be away from the office attending meetings etc. or to be based in another geographical location has grown alongside employee demands for more flexible working patterns. However effective communication and ability to access information etc. remains critical to the productivity of these staff members. Therefore through the use of technology many companies now use a range of technologies to enable this.These include mobile phones, e-mail, broadband, laptops, etc. Thus ensuring that companies are able to be flexible and adaptive depending on their business needs. Networks: Virtually all businesses now have or have access to a computer. The existence of two or more computers in an office almost always leads to the creation of a network. The main advantage of doing so is that resources can be shared e. g. printers, internet access, files/information can be managed and shared amongst workstations and the security of information can be better managed through a network.Increasingly networks are not just confined to the office but are being adopted so that they allow home/remote working that supports changing business needs. This transformation has really taken place over the last 20 years and continues to transform the way business is done. No business today can ignore the use of technology as its effective use helps businesses to remain competitive and profitable, thereby creating or safeguarding jobs. The role of the Public Sector? What is the case for Public Sector intervention if this is already happening?Talking specifically about SME’s, the final report (Feb. 2004) of the European Go Digital Awareness campaign 2001-2003 shows that â€Å"to help SME’s to â€Å"Go Digital† is still a policy challenge† as SME’s remain sceptical about ICT and e-business. This is mainly the result of: †¢Their experience of procuring technology has often left an impression that the wrong decision was made as the expected benefits from using new technology have not materialised. This then affects businesses willingness to further invest in technology and therefore threatens their further competitiveness. The creation of new businesses especially in new industries requires that the right support and business environment are present.For example the presence of Science Park’s, Universities, and Research Centres etc. can help the spread of an innovative culture amongst businesses. In the absence of proper support and the right environment areas/regions risk losing the jobs and prosperity brought by the creation of new businesses. †¢Procuring technology in itself is not a route to successful business development but requires that staff have the right skills to implement and use it effectively. Many of the new technologi es and emerging or existing businesses are increasing dependant on the presence of a relevant technological infrastructure to support business development e. g. Broadband access. The lack of this infrastructure can undermine business development, therefore damaging competitiveness and jobs. The issues above although not exhaustive are indications of market failure and therefore a challenge to the public sector in defining a role and developing projects/iniatives to address them.Without effective action areas/regions risk falling behind and therefore losing out in terms of: †¢Developing new businesses in new business sectors made possible by advances in technology; †¢Ensuring that businesses by effectively using technology are competitive both locally and globally; †¢Ensuring that businesses have the necessary information and support to develop into new markets; †¢Enabling businesses to become more flexible and responsive to the demands of their customers and thei r staff; †¢Developing a workforce with the necessary skills that are demanded in the present and future labour market.How did you develop your project? Once you have identified a problem or issue then the next stage is to plan actions to overcome or redress these issues. This starts with the planning stage which is a critical component to the success of any project, starting with identifying the need for the project, and includes project time scales, project design, project finance, project partners and resources, project organisation and management etc. What were the key factors in achieving this and what barriers did you have to overcome to do so?Main outcomes of the project to businesses? Over the course of any project measuring its success is a necessary part of project management, reporting and measuring impact or change. What therefore were the main outcomes of the project and how were they measured? ?Increased or improved use of ICT helped to expand business activities? ?Increased or improved use of ICT resulted in the development of new services and/or products? ?ICT usage has helped to create new networks – inside and outside the company? The adoption of ICT solutions has lead to the restructuring of working and communication methods in the enterprise? ?New models of working and/new jobs emerged? ?The implementation of e-work helped to integrate people who have been excluded from â€Å"traditional† jobs in the company before? ?The business now understands better the need for staff training? ?Additional jobs and/or the maintenance of exiting ones as a result of the projects work? Lessons learnt?During the course of any project the experience of delivery often throw’s up many unforeseen issues, especially when you are dealing with technology, which are a result of internal and external factors. This then leads to lesson’s learnt which can range from better ways to manage a project through to innovative approaches to prov iding support etc. These lessons learnt are not only of value to the project staff but also for others interested in developing or currently running similar projects.

Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development

A bustling mall with Christmas shoppers, a hearty Christmas meal served with wine and epicurean meals, and Christmas gifts galore under the tree, brand new cars for gifts and other high priced consumer gifts are a healthy sign of economic growth. Basically, they were available thanks to a robust economy supported by plentiful jobs enhancing the lifestyles. Economic growth is the byproduct of economic development. That is to say, economic development starts with enhancing aspects of economic composites such as industry, real estate, and factories. When all the underpinnings are working efficiently like a well-greased machinery, high output results to economic growth directly evident in the form of high living, high consumerism, and affluent society. Economic growth is one political trump card that catapults a presidential aspirant to the White House, possibly after having pandered on the voters appeal with a rosy economic picture, but only to be busted soon as put in the position. Because the economy is as volatile as our behavior, interestingly enough, to bring about sustaining economic growth, what is needed is what is called â€Å"applied intelligence† (Wanniski) in practical sense as Hitler did employing bright minds managers that helped solve mass unemployment plaguing his regime. Sustained economic development is achievable, if hope and incentives can be provided, (Leisinger). Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Question 2: Explain the causes of and solutions to environmental degradation in general. We are at a critical period confronted by a big dilemma that of maintaining our own survival as a species in the highest totem pole of biological hierarchy. Studies after studies have established that we are our own threat. This is an unfortunate reality that sustaining our prodigious population, exponentially growing, is paradoxically pushing us out of existence. Our very needs to support our life have caused severe degradation on our ecosystem. On this endeavor alone, it is said that each individual requires 1600 calories per day, and more, just to fuel other of our vital activities, such as recreation, writing, going on vacation, to name a few. Since our sustenance comes from food, keeping us well fed requires that agriculture be stepped up with the demand. In so doing, the soil has suffered grave depletion of nutrients, and fertilizer is introduced to the rescue, but ultimately found has its own caustic effect on the environment. More spaces are being carved out from the forests to grow more food, get wood for lumber and cooking. This activity has introduced the problem of deforestation negatively manifesting in soil erosion, flooding, depletion of oxygen, endangerment of our flora and fauna that are vital to the natural balance. Toxic gas is emitted from using wood for cooking, rampant among the third world countries. Combined with combustions from factories, power plants, and cars, the build up of pollution in the atmosphere creates a phenomenon called global warming. Weather becomes more wacky and wicked descending on land in the form of catastrophic magnitude typhoons, hurricanes, tornado, and drought. We’ve felt the force of Katrina, devastations in the south by tornadoes, perpetual drought in Ethiopia and other African countries, and devastating typhoons in Asia. Our ozone layer is thinning out exposing us to more radiation from the sun. â€Å"That the high use of aerosols in Australia is said to cause droughts in Ethiopia† (Rotstayn). In summation, what scientists have found out is a colossus of a problem expressed in the following: (EPA) Studies using the ‘ecological footprint’ formula show that if everyone in the world consumed resources at the same rate as people in the richest countries, humans would need at least three planet Earths to support everyone. Like any other problems, environmental degradation begs for solution, what for a magnitude such as we face now? While ideas may differ, scientists are very much united in voicing out that we need for us to change our ways, i. e. abits, thinking, and acts. We need to be highly aware and conscious that we are the biggest generator of problem that can destroy our one and only home planet Earth. It makes it imperative to abandon the old thinking system that our earth is infinite and so whatever we do, it has an ability to absorb and continue to adapt and evolve for us. Instead, the popular preaching is that we need, firstly, to change, do whatever log ically is necessary to biologically fit into the natural scheme of things. Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development ) What are the biggest problems associated with population growth? Which solutions are currently and potentially effective? Answers must include citations from Garrett Hardin`s Tragedy of the Commons. (I will upload this article. ) As man like the fictional spaceship Enterprise proceeds merrily in its destiny-led travels, great many things have occurred on its wake. Foremost is the concomitant increase in population without a clear sight whether it is heading to infinity or finiteness resulting from its own obsolete moral bearings and perhaps to its own extinction as a species. Garrett Hardin, a moral scientist in his essay The Tragedy of Commons has discussed in length about humanity’s direction leading to disaster without a full awareness of nature’s biological make up as the governing power over everything, including the most intelligent creature mankind. The un-curved human population growth has now forced itself into the human scene, big, magnified, and digitalized, it is hard to ignore the magnitude of the problem. Associated in the population growth is the problem facing mankind sustainability of itself in the hierarchy, as it derives support from the ecosystem. To support the burgeoning population, mankind, in the process, depletes the natural resources around needed to sustain its own life. That is, natural fauna and flora habitats are harmed irreversibly. Mankind left supporting its own priorities for materialism and un-tempered freedom is proving to be the greatest human folly, a grave shortsightedness with a devastating end. The beauty that Hardin’s thoughts come in the provoking curtailing measures by which to ensure the perpetual existence of humanity, perhaps even beyond a cataclysmic biological attack. Mankind, he says, must do some minding. Solution he espouses to solve Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development population growth is the necessary and urgent change in morality, no longer the prudent Puritanical canons of morality closest to Eucharistic ad infinitum ordinance of multiplication. On the other hand, â€Å"necessity to abandon the freedom to breed†¦only so, we can put an end to this aspect of the tragedy of commons,† (Hardin) is the urgent call of the times. Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development 4) Compare and contrast three different methodologies used to monetize environmental benefits. Under which circumstances is each appropriate? In the studies of ecosystem and environmental services, three forms of methodologies are used with similar focus and dissimilar applications. All three are used to estimate the economic use or non use value of certain ecosystem or recreational sites in varying degrees. The Contingent Valuation Method is widely used, and very suitable to estimate the non use or use of remote ecosystems and environmental services. This method obtains valuation contingent on the answers that people give to direct questions asked, versus being observed, which characterizes its weakness and strength, and it is notoriously a costly method. The Hedonic Pricing Method is used in estimating the economic values of ecosystem and environmental services as it affects the market prices. Basically, the method obtains estimate in real figure how much people would want to pay for some enhanced changes in goods or services. For instance, offered access, addition or elimination of a recreational area, improving the quality of a certain recreational site. Another is the Travel Pricing Method. Obtained data based on the actual trip and cost incurred by visitors to see a particular site as validating factor to its economic use value. This method is fairly less expensive and much simpler than the other two. (http://www. ecosystemvaluation. org/travel_costs. htm Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development 5) In what situations is cost-effectiveness analysis most useful? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this methodology? How is it conducted? In every research, cost factor is a big consideration. Researching on situations where the economic nonuse value is being determined, cost effective methods is proving most useful. Contingent Valuation Method known for its high cost is used to weigh between the values of protecting wild species vs. pening the land for commercialization such as for lease. Empirical use of the method has been used in the following studies: Mono Lake Project research is undertaken to know how much water will be provided to Los Angeles coming from sources feeding the Mono Lake, and any decrease would impact the nesting birds in the lake. A study conducted by the Federal Regu latory Commission wanted to resolve the issue of allowing more water to the recreation areas, with a consequential reduction of available water to produce hydropower. The Bureau of Reclamation and National Park Service conducted the study plan and determine how rafters are affected in their recreational activity during the even base flow and the low peak flow. Whether protecting the endangered fish denizens of the Four Corners’ Region is economically beneficial considering the meticulous maintenance, for instance, providing fish passageways and simulated natural flows from the dam essential for the fish survival is the correct project to pursue was the objective of the study. The Salmon Restoration Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development tudy basically wants to determine if destroying two dams that offer no conduit for salmon to jump over to its upstream spawning ground would be a beneficial undertaking, Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development to realize a threefold increase in salmon migration after the demolition costs of the dam between $100-125 million. Advantages of Contingent Valuation Method are its high flexibility to apply to studies on many kinds of non market goods and services, non use or use economic values; existence values, and bequest values; data are easier to describe and analyze; and the method is under constant improvement. The downside of the method are the inherent high cost; skepticism whether it is measuring exactly the people’s attitude to pay for having upgraded the environment; that questions tend to be bias, incomplete, unrealistic; validating the estimates on nonuse values are difficult to do empirically; expensive to conduct because it requires longer time doing the pretests and surveys; and last, its results are not considered reliable by many, including economists, jurists and policy makers. When using the CVM method, it is imperative that a very competent surveyor to handle the survey plan and implementation for reliable data to result, given the many issues surrounding the validity of the method. (http://www. ecosystemvaluation. org/travel_costs. htm) Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development 6) How would you evaluate a CVM study to determine its credibility? Look at all the design variables in detail. Considering the inherent questionable nature of the method, a researcher should initially be highly aware of its inadequacy as a reliable method, and thus improve its chances of getting credible results. Make sure that the survey is well designed and subjected to pretests before implementation. Ask focused and specific questions, preferably giving no leeway for misinterpretation in the minds of the respondents, making the services from the setting distinct and clear. Beforehand, obtain the population’s overall knowledge about the good or service, then select the appropriate survey sample. Depict the event picture using photographs, videos, descriptions personally conveyed, and in multi-media. Ask focused and specific questions to respondents to get clear and valid answers back. Demography of the population should be exact, and validate the questions to ensure clarity is achieved, and ensure that the results are evaluated and interpreted by professionals. Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development 7) What are the four prevalent hyposeses on the cause of world hunger? Explain all four in detail and give your own opinion on the validity of each. Global Scarcity World hunger is so prevalent a condition in countless countries, and it remains according to WHO, â€Å"the major health risk globally. † (Vanderslice). Global food scarcity is occurring primarily because of an unabated population growth. The world population now at 6. 6 billion, statistically and logically, this size of population is un-proportionate to the methods and technology, at present, being used to produce the material sources to sustain this enormous numbers of people. Another parody of the situation is the fact that most density of population is centered in the third world countries, devoid of technological know-how to adequately supply the people. In my opinion Global food scarcity is a hypothesis that is assumptive and prescient. It is said that with the present food production of the industrialized countries combined, it can feed the worlds’ people. While that maybe true, but empirically, we can only see for ourselves the limitations that overpopulation can cause to the environment that sustains it. Land could not be simply used to produce foods, because it has other utilization for houses, grazing land, agriculture, dump, recreation, and other life essentials. 70 percent of the globe is water, and while human ingenuity can develop it for accommodation space, the effect of humungous population remains a doomsday scenario for human species without a sensible, biological plan. Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development Distribution of food resources At present, majority of food is produced with high efficiency in the western world, among the highly agricultural countries with advanced technologies. Though supply is in overabundance, but sending them to the needy countries is as much costly than to produce it. It is reported Great Britain has massive food wastage, precious commodity that can augment life to the starving communities, such as in Africa. But without the additional source of money to fund the transportation cost, the food lay wasted. Without doubt this is happening with food dumped in garbage bins of America. The lopsided situation in food production causes the inadvertent distribution problem, and grave malnutrition among the needy people. 80% poor peoples just consume 14% of the goods worldwide. (Shah). As stated beforehand that cost of distribution is another aspect of hunger problem. Food distribution problem indeed is huge. An attestation that NGOs such as Feed the Children, a worldwide nonprofit organization, actively solicits donations towards food distribution cost Natural Causes When factored in, weather is a whimsical variable in the food production equation. Just about yearly, reports of destruction and devastation occur from regions of the world from natural forces of the weather. Be it abnormal amount of rain, snow, wind, hot temperature and the agriculture easily gets destroyed, registering negative storage facilities to deflect a local or bigger size climate aberration on its food impact on the amount of harvest. Mostly hard hit, are the impoverished nations who lack Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development production. Thus, easily, hunger sets in to affect a mass of people. Weather is a realistic phenomena exhibited by nature. Who could doubt the excessive force weather exhibits at its full force. We have heard and seen the tsunami occurring in Asia and some parts of the globe; onslaught of Katrina in America; and the perpetual drought in Africa. Thus far, there is no known technology that could stop its destructive force except for forecasts that save lives, and nothing to protect the agriculture left open in the fields. Inefficient food production Faddish diets are in, and this causes food production to swing where most consumption is, motivated by financial gain. Diets are of all kinds, and causing confusion to the many. There are those that desist grain-based diets who are abstaining from carbohydrates. While those who sustains on animal products for more protein, consumes more milk, chicken, eggs, and lean meat. Some cultures consume nothing but vegetable diets. For any shift or change in health style, results to a concomitant difference in raising and growing these foods. But regardless of the ways and means, still production remains strenuous to the environment. It is not what is being grown, rather it is the rate of consumption that I believe most affective, and thereby registers negative impact on the environment. What faddish diets demands to produce, has a continuing strain on the environment. If the diet is heavy on animal products, then more animals needs to be Economics, Natural Resources and Sustainable Development raised, and producing them entails, in many respects, costly means such as more farmland to sustain great numbers of herds. From all these hypotheses, the scenario remains that man has to eat and maintaining that appetite and health demands is what strains the ecosystem to the max.

College Is a Waste of Time and Money Essay

1. Affluence- Abundance of money, property and other material goods Permissive- Habitually or characteristically accepting or tolerant of something, as social behavior or linguistic usage, which others might disapprove or forbid Elitist- A person having, thought to have, or professing superior intellect or talent, power, wealth, or membership in the upper echelons of society 2. The time and money put into college are not balanced with the return rate. * Society has developed an unspoken standard that college is the best fit for upcoming adults and for them to achieve the highest education possible. But in fact, most students do not want to be there because they do not want to learn. * â€Å"no more than 25 percent of their students are turned on by classwork†¦up to 30% are in college reluctantly† * College has failed at its expectations and promises to give opportunities to students that most bargained for. * There is already a surplus of adult workers in the economy with more experience than the out-of-college student. Even with a degree in hand, graduated students do not have the upper hand over the experienced adults. * College education fails to ready students for the real because liberal arts is a religion rather than a preparation. * â€Å"A liberal-arts education is supposed to provide you with a value system, a standard, a set of ideas, not a job.† 3. College is an over-rated system that does not give out what a student gives in. 4. Based on the author’s logic, I do agree with the author’s argument. Although she uses a small amount of specific evidence, she reasons well and thoroughly. As society has developed, it has pushed for everyone to obtain the highest education possible, which most students aren’t prepared for nor will they continue with their degree. The world simply cannot go round with a population full of highly educated people.

Wisdom from Suffering

Amber Lyles Humanities HNS Period 9th 18 September 2011 Wisdom From Suffering â€Å"Suffering is the price of being alive. †; â€Å"make use of suffering. † These straight forward quotes sourced from the thoughts of Judy Collins and Henri-Frederic Amiel are produced from different origins but compatible. Collins’s is stemmed from the idea that suffering cannot be avoided and Amiel’s is from his philosophy of the art of living. Most people try to deny and avoid the path of suffering. Yet, they often fail to realize that no matter how many detours they take around suffering, the construction of it is still going to be there. Might even relocate closer to them where they are forced to really deal with it. In Sophocles play Oedipus Rex, Oedipus, the king of Thebes suffering comes from personal and criminal revelations. Somewhat similar but not nearly as extreme is and/or was the origin of my suffering. Good thing is that, people gain wisdom from suffering through growth and acceptance. Being king is hard, title alone comes with high prestige and expectations. Oedipus was put on a pedestal by the citizens of Thebes like he was their God. That was their biggest mistake. So when the land of Thebes is plagued by disease and death, Oedipus pleas that â€Å"I know that you are deathly sick; and yet, sick as you are, not one is sick as I. Each of you suffers in himself alone his anguish, not another’s; but my spirit groans for the city, for myself, for you. † Oedipus not only wants the city to know that he suffers with them but that he suffers substantially because his suffering not only includes himself. Now not saying that what was said wasn’t sincere, just the fact that he knew of how they saw him put pressure on him to over exaggerate a little to make a point that he cared. His greatest suffering came through the process of finding out who killed King Laius; a king before him, whose death was believe to have brought the plague. During that process Oedipus was told by Teiresias, a blind prophet, â€Å"†¦. you are the murderer you seek. † Of course Oedipus dismissed the statement; cursed the prophet and his words. Not only was Oedipus being the murderer revealed, but the fact that he was a Theban; born to Iokaste who is his current wife and mother of his kids. That means that he married and had kids with his own mother. From that moment on Oedipus is confused, enraged and accuses Kreon bringing Teiresias to him to as a way to try and his throne. The suffering of the city of Thebes caused by the plague-wind brought about by a way of the death of King Laius leads to the wisdom brought about by Teiresias. The knowledge that Oedipus gains is that he killed his father, married and had kids with his own mother. Oedipus brought about his own doom and â€Å"served his own destructionâ€Å"; in the words of Kreon. Anyhow, I’d like to share my own story. I was born in Chicago on March 4, 1994 to Brenda Yarbrough and Marvin Lyles. Well that’s what I’d thought. Found out when I was 8 or 9 that Marvin Lyles wasn’t my father and that my real dad wanted nothing to do with me. I blamed my mother for a lot a lot of things, which I’ve felt bad for because she’s had enough to deal with. Stage 4 cancer survivor, only has one kidney, has had heart attack, high blood pressure, single parent mother for me and my two brothers most of her life, list goes on and on. She doesn’t need me to make her feel guilty. In 2002, we moved to Aurora because my mom had met this man and got married. I wasn’t to happy about leaving Chicago and family but the idea of having a â€Å"father† and sister appealed to me and made the situation more comfortable. Well that marriage started off good then a lot stuff happened and it all went downhill. The marriage really produced a lot of trust issues and fears that I have today. They got divorced and from then on it’s mainly been me and my mom. To return to the topic, my biggest suffering I would have to say stems from the situation with my father. I’ve been in some dark places even to the point where I didn’t want to live. Just felt unwanted, that something was wrong with me that my own father didn’t want me and that I was just a burden to my mom. The knowledge I’ve gained is that life is precious, I’m not a mistake, it’s not my fault, just his lost and that my mother is and has done the absolute best she can/could; she’s my greatest motivation. I’ve just had to grow and mature quicker, stay strong and accept things that I can’t control. On to Oedipus situation , don’t think that he should do it again. Fate is fate, it was suppose to happen. He probably could’ve handled the Teiresias situation differently and been more mannered. Then again Oedipus would’ve probably had to figure it out the truth by himself, instead of forcing it out of Teiresias. That probably would’ve took forever and the people in the city would’ve suffered more. So, either way would produce the same outcome of wisdom for Oedipus, just a difference in time, the amount of suffering and when death would come. It’s like having the option of the death penalty or life in prison; person knows they’re going to die either way just a matter of time. Oedipus brought his tragedy upon himself; even though he seemed ignorant to fact until the end. He killed his father, married and had kids with his mother and had to reap the repercussions of his own decree. That was meant to happen. The reason why, unknown, but someone could’ve found light in it and shouldn’t be revised. Next, is the question of , why or why not would I do my situation with suffering over again? I honestly can’t say that I would. Reason being is, because as I look back over my life; from being homeless, crying myself to sleep at night, struggling with the situation with my dad, feeling alone, jail visits, health scares to the littlest lie have all help me grow and learn. The greatest thing I’ve learned through my suffering though, is the importance of my momma. I appreciate her so much for the sacrifices she has made and her strength. Our life isn’t the best, but we have each other. She cries, I cry, she hurts, I hurt, when she’s happy is when I’m the happiest. That’s why I strive to stay focused in school and do the right thing because I know that what she has been through when she was younger is what she doesn’t want me to experience. She’s is the just best friend/mother/father I just don’t know where I would be without her. I still have my underlying issues and occasional problems but now I know that I’m going to be okay. Can’t change the fact that my real dad doesn’t want me, but I can change how I handle it. Yes it hurts, but as long as I got God, my momma, family and those that care truly care for me in my corner; can fight anything. All in all, people gain wisdom through growth and acceptance. Oedipus gained wisdom through knowledge that the suffering of his city was the result of a plague-wind brought about by his killing of king Laius. In the process leading to his own suffering with the revelations that her was the murderer that he sought after and that he married and had kids with his very own mother. The wisdom that that I gained through my suffering stemming from the situation with my father is that I’m not a mistake, have to accept that it’s out of my control, his loss, and that my life is to precious to consider taking. I continue to progress and Oedipus is dead. Revisiting the words of Judy Collins and Henri-Frederic Amiel, â€Å"Suffering is the price of being alive. †; â€Å"make use of suffering. † Everybody experience suffering; whether brought about themselves, by circumstance or environment. Suffering is apart of life and the art of living is to make use of it to gain wisdom. People should just accept it, there’s no shortcut; just drive through it and learn. Suffering is everywhere. If a person doesn’t agree, dare them to just look around, listen to the news and tune in to reality.

Defining Leisure and Recreation Essay

Leisure is a general term and just like an umbrella, covers the terms, sport, recreation and play. Leisure is the overall term. Below is a diagram to help explain the relationship between leisure, recreation, sport and play: On the continuum between play, recreation and sport, there are a varied level of effort and seriousness. Play is a non-serious form of leisure and sport is very serious. Leisure can be very difficult to define. It is said to be the time spent outside of working commitments and other daily necessities. It can be spent doing anything that an individual would like to do. It is said to be called ‘free choice’. It is our ‘free time’ and is a complete opposite to work. There are many characteristics of leisure including your state of mind. Your state of mind is how you decide to spend your leisure time whether it is shopping or whether it is playing sport. Leisure may not always be relaxing but it has an aftermath of relaxation and a good feeling. Leisure may be active or passive depending on our state of mind. An example of a passive leisure activity is watching television. You are not active as you are only sat down watching television but it is a very popular leisure activity. An example of an active leisure activity is football. You are very active and you are running around. Leisure activities can also be home-based or away from home. An example of a home-based activity can be listening to music in the home and an example of an away from home activity could be going to the pub. Leisure is enjoyable and can be done anywhere. A quote from Collins Advanced Vocational textbook of Leisure and Recreation says, â€Å"Leisure can be defined as the time that an individual sets aside for activities or pastimes outside work or other necessities such as sleeping.† A-Z OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES ARTWORK NATURE SEEKING BIRDWATCHING ORIGAMI CAMPING PUB DANCING QUIZZES EXCURSIONS READING FAMILIES SHOPPING GARDENING TELE HOLIDAYS UNDERWATER ACTIVITIES INTERNET VISITS JOGGING WATERSPORTS KNITTING XYLOPHONE PLAYING LISTENING TO MUSIC YOUTH CLUBS MUSEUMS ZOOS All the above activities are activities that are done in our leisure time. They are taken out when we do not have work, or everyday duties like sleeping and eating. Recreation is also a free choice activity and is often active. It is more structured than leisure and is not usually done at home. Recreation implies enjoyment and the skill level does not matter. Recreation has a flexibility of rules and is very purposeful as it ‘re-creates the individual’ or ‘re-charges the batteries’ ready for work. Hobbies are usually productive with skill levels increasing with more practice. Recreation has a moral element and has a good attitude about it. Examples of recreation are swimming, stamp collecting and gardening. They are all ‘creating’ something, hence the word ‘recreation’. Swimming creates a stronger person, stamp collecting creates a larger stamp collection and gardening creates a nicer garden. Recreation is defined as, â€Å"the type of activities undertaken for enjoyment or relaxation during a person’s leisure time.† There are physical and passive recreational activities. Physical activities are playing sport, playing music instruments and gardening. Passive activities are watching television, listening to music and playing computer games. ‘Home-based’ recreational activities are cheaper, for example, reading library books is free and eating at home is much cheaper than eating out. It is also non-dependent on anyone else whereas going to a restaurant would involve other people. A quote from Kaplan in 1975, says, ‘Activity voluntarily engaged in during leisure and motivated by the personal satisfactions which result from it†¦a tool for mental and physical therapy.’ This is a very good quote to describe the definition ‘recreation’. Play can also be very hard to define as many people have different views on what play is. Although a major football team play football every Saturday, competitive football is actually counted as sport. An example of play is ‘tig’. ‘Tig’ is a game that can be played anywhere and does not have certain rules or boundaries. Play is very spontaneous and can be done on the spare of the moment. It can be played in the garden and is not competitive. It is make-believe and is often done to get away from the real world. There are no age boundaries and adults and children can play. Play is not very important and has a low level of skill. It is not compulsory and is a free choice what an individual decides to play. Playing does not have to be physical. An example of a non-physical game is playing cards. Whilst playing, no certain skills are being taught but people can learn new things whilst playing. Play can be defined as, ‘Activities from which you get immediate pleasure without ulterior motive.’ This quote was taken from There are many skills learnt by children through play such as physical skills like how to pass a ball properly in football. Other skills are cognitive skills, environmental, social and moral skills. An example for a cognitive skill is where you decide on a decision quick enough to react to it, for example, when an opponent comes towards you dribbling the ball, it is a cognitive skill that is used to decide whether you go and tackle them or not. An environmental skill is where you pick up from people what is the best way to care for the environment and the area around you. Social skills are how you learn to react around each other, how you learn to be friendly with one another and learn how to communicate in the appropriate manner, for example, a social skill learnt through play is shaking the opponent’s hand after a game. Moral skills are the way you act to other people and the manners use. For example if someone gives you something, you say ‘thank you’. You know it is morally correct to thank the person. This is an example of a moral skill. Play is the opposite of sport. Sport has many characteristics and can be defined as the most physical of leisure’s field of study’s. It can be very successful and competitive. Sport has a high level of skill and a high level of fitness. There are strict rules on and off the pitch. For example, on the pitch, one rule in football is that you are not allowed to tackle an opponent from behind. A rule off the pitch is that players are not allowed to take drugs. In sport, the outcomes are important as it may be for a league, cup or tournament. There are qualified officials that have an important role in the game. There are many people who play sport as a job, therefore, are professional sports players. In sport there are tangible rewards such as the F.A. Cup in football. Sport is formal as it has organised dates and times when sport is going to take place. There is a lot of effort put into sport and a lot of work is put into practising for the sport. For each sport, there is a National Governing Body just like the Football Association in football and the Sports players do still find it enjoyable as it is rewarding and fun to participate in. The word ‘sport’ stems from the Latin word, ‘disportare’ which means ‘to carry away’. Sport across the world is seen very serious and top sports players even put themselves through pain and emotion to succeed. A definition of sport is, ‘Any physical activity which has the character of play and which takes the form of a struggle with oneself or involves competition with others is a sport.’ This quote was taken from There are many factors that affect the participation of people in leisure and recreation activities. One of the most important factors are our peers. They can have a big influence on whether we do or do not participate. For example, if our friends really enjoy playing sport, you will be more influenced to take part also. But if our friends have the attitude that playing cricket is boring and we would be much better going to the cinema instead, you would be influenced in thinking the same. Other influences can be by your parents. If your parents are behind you in playing sport and buy you equipment and transport you, they will be influencing you into deciding to play sport. If you decide you would like to play football for your local team and need some football boots and your parents will not buy you them, you may decide not to play as you do not possess the equipment to play. A big influence on participation can be the opportunities you have around you. If the school you go to has a very good range of extra-curricular activities and has contacts with clubs in the area, you will be more influenced in taking part. If you have a higher opportunity to participate then there is a higher chance that you will participate. The area in which you live will influence you as well as there may be great facilities in the area or there may be none at all. A big influence in which activity we decide to participate in can be role models, such as Michael Owen in football, Steve Redgrave in rowing and Paula Radcliffe in running. These are all professional and very successful sports players that have a big influence on what sport we participate in. They are all very good at there own activities and our skill level can also influence us in our participation. For example if you know and feel you are good at an activity, you will want to take part in it more often that in an activity that you are not so good at. Some people have a lot of leisure time whereas other people have very little, this can also influence us on our participation as there may not be activities going on at the time you want to participate in. Our culture can also have a big influence on what activity we decide to take part in. For example, if your Granddad, Uncle and Dad all were good footballers, you may decide to take part in football, as it is a ‘family tradition’. Other influences in our participation can be our medical conditions and our disabilities. For example, a person in a wheelchair would not be able to play in the Premiership. A major influence on our participation in leisure activities is our wealth and our disposable income (our money we have left after we have paid for all our necessities), Many leisure activities cost money to participate in so if we do not have much money to append, this may affect our decision in what we do. There are many things that influence our participation such as our sex. Netball is seen as a women’s sport and men do not play. Although women play football, their status is nothing compared to men’s football. There are rules that say men and women cannot play football together from the age of 11. The lack of men’s netball teams and the lack of women’s football teams can influence our participation in certain leisure activities. Our level of fitness can also influence our choices as if we were very tall and very fit, we may decide to play a sport like basketball but if we had very strong arms, we may decide to choose to take part in rowing. Media can have a very big influence in our participation as it has a big influence in our lives. When you read the back pages of tabloid newspapers, you usually find that most of the pages are about football, because there is so much talk about football, you may be influenced in participating, just like if on the news, they say that it is bad to take part in basketball because you can hurt your ankles, you may be influenced in taking part in another sport. The marital status of an individual can also influence participation. If you are married with children, your leisure time will be reduced as you have more daily necessities like picking up the children and caring for them. Car ownership can have a major influence in participation also as if you have a car, it will be easier to access places that you cannot get to by public transport. As shown above, there are a great number of influences in participation, whether it is friends or medical conditions.