Adventures Of Huck Finn Essays (1272 words) - Readers Digest

Adventures Of Huck Finn In Mark Twain's novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain develops the plot into Huck and Jim's adventures allowing him to weave in his criticism of society. The two main characters, Huck and Jim, both run from social injustice and both are distrustful of the civilization around them. Huck is considered an uneducated backwards boy, constantly under pressure to conform to the "humanized" surroundings of society. Jim a slave, is not even considered as a real person, but as property. As they run from civilization and are on the river, they ponder the social injustices forced upon them when they are on land. These social injustices are even more evident when Huck and Jim have to make landfall, and this provides Twain with the chance to satirize the socially correct injustices that Huck and Jim encounter on land. The satire that Twain uses to expose the hypocrisy, racism, greed and injustice of society develops along with the adventures that Huck and Jim have. The ugly reflection of society we see should make us question the world we live in, and only the journey down the river provides us with that chance. Throughout the book we see the hypocrisy of society. The first character we come across with that trait is Miss Watson. Miss Watson constantly corrects Huck for his unacceptable behavior, but Huck doesn't understand why, "That is just the way with some people. They get down on a thing when they don't know nothing about it" (2). Later when Miss Watson tries to teach Huck about Heaven, he decides against trying to go there, "...she was going to live so as to go the good place. Well, I couldn't see no advantage in going where she was going, so I made up my mind I wouldn't try for it." (3) The comments made by Huck clearly show Miss Watson as a hypocrite, scolding Huck for wanting to smoke and then using snuff herself and firmly believing that she would be in heaven. When Huck encounters the Grangerfords and Shepardsons, Huck describes Colonel Grangerford as, "...a gentleman, you see. He was a gentleman all over; and so was his family. He was well born, as the saying is, and that's worth as much in a man as it is in a horse..." (104). You can almost hear the sarcasm from Twain in Huck's description of Colonel Grangerford. Later Huck is becoming aware of the hypocrisy of the family and its feud with the Shepardsons when Huck attends church. He is amazed that while the minister preaches about brotherly love both the Grangerfords and Shepardsons are carrying weapons. Finally when the feud erupts into a gunfight, Huck sits in a tree, disgusted by the waste and cruelty of the feud, "It made me so sick I most fell out of the tree...I wished I hadn't ever come ashore that night to see such things." Nowhere else is Twain's voice heard more clearly than as a mob gathers at the house of Colonel Sherburn to lynch him. Here we hear the full force of Twain's thoughts on the hypocrisy an cowardice of society, "The idea of you lynching anybody! It's amusing. The idea of you thinking you had pluck enough to lynch a man!...The pitifulest thing out is a mob; that's what an army is- a mob; they don't fight with courage that's born in them, but with courage that's borrowed from their mass, and from their officers. But a mob without any man at the head of it is beneath pitifulness" (146-147). Each of these examples finds Huck again running to freedom of the river. The river never cares how saintly you are, how rich you are, or what society thinks you are. The river allows Huck the one thing that Huck wants to be, and that is Huck. The river is freedom than the land is oppression, and that oppression is no more evident than it is to Jim. It is somewhat surprising that Huck's traveling companion is Jim. As anti-society that Huck is, you would think that he would have no qualms about helping Jim. But Huck has to have feelings that slavery is correct so we can see the ignorance of racial bigotry. Huck and Jim's journey begins as Huck fights within himself about turning Jim over to the authorities. Finally he decides not to turn Jim in. This is a monumental decision for Huck to make, even though he makes it on the spot. This is not just a

About Richard Morris Hunt, Architect of the Biltmore

About Richard Morris Hunt, Architect of the Biltmore American architect Richard Morris Hunt (born October 31, 1827 in Brattleboro, Vermont) became famous for designing elaborate homes for the very wealthy. He worked on many different types of buildings, however, including libraries, civic buildings, apartment buildings, and art museums- providing the same elegant architecture for Americas growing middle class as he was designing for Americas nouveau riche. Within the architecture community, Hunt is credited with making architecture a profession by being a founding father of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Early Years Richard Morris Hunt was born into a wealthy and prominent New England family. His grandfather had been Lieutenant Governor and a founding father of Vermont, and his father, Jonathan Hunt, was a United States Congressman. A decade after his fathers 1832 death, the Hunts moved to Europe for an extended stay. The young Hunt traveled throughout Europe and studied for a time in Geneva, Switzerland. Hunts older brother, William Morris Hunt, also studied in Europe and became a well-known portrait painter after returning to New England. The trajectory of the younger Hunts life changed in 1846 when he became the first American to study at the esteemed École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Hunt graduated from the school of fine arts and stayed on to become an assistant at the École in 1854. Under the mentorship of French architect Hector Lefuel, Richard Morris Hunt remained in Paris to work on expanding the great Louvre museum. Professional Years When Hunt returned to the United States in 1855, he settled in New York, confident in introducing the country to what he had learned in France and had seen throughout his worldly travels. The 19th century mix of styles and ideas he brought to America is sometimes call  Renaissance Revival, an expression of excitement for reviving historic forms. Hunt incorporated Western European designs, including the French Beaux Arts, into his own works. One of his first commissions in 1858 wasthe Tenth Street Studio Building at 51 West 10th Street in the area of New York City known as Greenwich Village. The design for artists studios grouped around a skylighted communal gallery space was apropos to the buildings function but thought to be too specific to be repurposed in the 20th century; the historic structure was torn down in 1956. New York City was Hunts laboratory for new American architecture. In 1870 he built Stuyvesant Apartments, one of the first French-style, Mansard-roofed apartment houses for the American middle class. He experimented with cast-iron facades in the 1874 Roosevelt Building at 480 Broadway. The 1875 New York Tribune Building was not only one of the first NYC skyscrapers but also one of the first commercial buildings to use elevators. If all of these iconic buildings are not enough, Hunt also was called upon to design the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty, finished in 1886. Gilded Age Dwellings Hunts first Newport, Rhode Island residence was wooden and more sedate than the stone Newport mansions yet to be built. Taking chalet detailings from his time in Switzerland and the half-timbering he observed in his European travels, Hunt developed a modern Gothic or Gothic Revival home for John and Jane Griswold in 1864. Hunts design of the Griswold House became known as Stick Style. Today the Griswold House is the Newport Art Museum. The 19th century was a time in American history when many businessmen became rich, amassed huge fortunes, and built opulent mansions gilt with gold.   Several architects, including Richard Morris Hunt, became known as Gilded Age architects for designing palatial homes with lavish interiors. Working with artists and craftspeople, Hunt designed lavish interiors with paintings, sculptures, murals, and interior architectural details modeled after those found in European castles and palaces. His most famous grand mansions were for the Vanderbilts, sons of William Henry Vanderbilt and the grandsons of Cornelius Vanderbilt, known as the Commodore. Marble House (1892) In 1883 Hunt completed a New York City mansion called the Petite Chateau for William Kissam Vanderbilt (1849-1920) and his wife Alva. Hunt brought France to Fifth Avenue in New York City in an architectural expression that became known as Chà ¢teauesque. Their summer cottage in Newport, Rhode Island was a short hop from New York. Designed in a more Beaux Arts style, Marble House was designed as a temple and remains one of Americas grand mansions. The Breakers (1893-1895) Not to be outdone by his brother, Cornelius Vanderbilt II (1843-1899) hired Richard Morris Hunt to replace a run-down wooden Newport structure with what became known as the Breakers. With its massive Corinthian columns, the solid-stone Breakers is supported with steel trusses and is as fire-resistant as possible for its day. Resembling a 16th-century Italian seaside palace, the mansion incorporates Beaux Arts and Victorian elements, including gilt cornices, rare marble, wedding cake painted ceilings, and prominent chimneys. Hunt modeled the Great Hall after the Renaissance-era Italian palazzos he encountered in Turin and Genoa, yet the Breakers is one of the first private residences to have electric lights and a private elevator. Architect Richard Morris Hunt gave Breakers Mansion grand spaces for entertaining. The mansion has a 45-foot high central Great Hall, arcades, many levels, and a covered, central courtyard. Many of the rooms and other architectural elements, decorations in French and Italian styles, were designed and constructed simultaneously and then shipped to the U.S.to be reassembled in the house. Hunt called this way of building a Critical Path Method, which allowed the complicated mansion to be completed in 27 months. Biltmore Estate (1889-1895) George Washington Vanderbilt II (1862-1914) hired Richard Morris Hunt to build the most elegant and largest private residence in America. In the hills of Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore Estate is Americas 250-room French Renaissance chateau- a symbol of both the industrial wealth of the Vanderbilt family and the culmination of Richard Morris Hunts training as an architect. The estate is a dynamic example of   formal elegance surrounded by natural landscaping- Frederick Law Olmsted, known as the father of landscape architecture, designed the grounds. At the end of their careers, Hunt and Olmsted together designed not only Biltmore Estates but also nearby Biltmore Village, a community to house the many servants and caretakers employed by the Vanderbilts. Both the estate and the village are open to the public, and most people concur that the experience is not to be missed. The Dean of American Architecture Hunt was instrumental in establishing architecture as a profession in the U.S. He is often called the Dean of American architecture. Based on his own studies at École des Beaux-Arts, Hunt advocated the notion that American architects should be formally trained in history and the fine arts. He started the first American studio for architect training- right in his own studio as the Tenth Street Studio Building in New York City. Most importantly, Richard Morris Hunt helped found the American Institute of Architects in 1857 and served as the professional organizations president from 1888 until 1891. He was a mentor to two titans of American architecture, Philadelphia architect Frank Furness (1839-1912) and New York City-born George B. Post (1837-1913). Later in life, even after designing the Statue of Libertys pedestal, Hunt continued to design high-profile civic projects. Hunt was the architect of two buildings at the United States Military Academy at West Point, the 1893 Gymnasium and an 1895 academic building. Some say Hunts overall masterpiece, however, may have been the 1893 Columbian Exposition Administration Building, for a worlds fair whose buildings are long since gone from Jackson Park in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of his death on July 31, 1895 in Newport, Rhode Island, Hunt was working on the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. Art and architecture were in Hunts blood. Sources Richard Morris Hunt by Paul R. Baker, Master Builders, Wiley, 1985, pp. 88-91The Tenth Street Studio Building and a Walk to the Hudson River by Teri Tynes, August 29, 2009 at walkingoffthebigapple.blogspot.com/2009/08/tenth-street-studio-building-and-walk.html [accessed August 20, 2017]The History of Griswold House, Newport Art Museum [accessed August 20, 2017]The Breakers, National Historic Landmark Nomination, The Preservation Society of Newport County, February 22, 1994 [accessed August 16, 2017]

George Orwell's Articles Is Good for College Students Essay

George Orwell's Articles Is Good for College Students - Essay Example First and foremost, it should be admitted that George Orwell in his essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† applies to the serious politic theme. Such implication can be regarded as a helping hand for present-day students in understanding the past social and historical issues. Orwell constructs his essay regarding the rules of imperialism and including the peculiarities of this political system. It is relevant to begin with the setting of the story that takes place in Burma (Orwell, 214). The author uses â€Å"images and portrayal of imperialism of Britain during their imperial era† (Fakhrana, n.p.) The narrator represents â€Å"imperialism as an evil thing† and himself as â€Å"all for the Burmese and all against the oppressor† (Orwell, 215). To such extent, it is relevant to mention that Orwell strongly sentence imperialism as a political system and all its rules are viewed as ridiculous and even absurd. It can be suggested that imperialism is regarded as a state policy that humiliates the occupied people with the lowering of their social status in their own country (Cummings, n.p.). Moreover, according to the principles of imperialism occupies are in need to make not morally correct and even cruel decisions for the sake of demonstration of their power under the occupied people. All cruelty and brutality of imperialistic rules are presented through the entire essay. The matter is that the officer has been in need to kill the elephant as people have been looking at him and he has no right to show the indulgence or note of weakness in his character. The second issue that is important to mention is the raising of serious eternal themes through the essay. It is impossible to overestimate the significance of such themes in relation to experience that students can gain through reading this essay. The author includes to the essay â€Å"Shooting an Elephant† such an

Background for cgeesecack factory restaurant Essay

Background for cgeesecack factory restaurant - Essay Example In 1975, Evelyn started to make a variety of delicious cheesecakes and some fantastic desserts that were sold by thousands of wholesale accounts. Just after thirty years, with one hundred and seventy locations, the success of the cheesecake factory has made it a great success story for the American. The restaurant looked impressive. There were many apartments to be seated in. There was an oval bar off to the right of the entrance. There were two levels of seating and some were in open areas while others were in off to the side areas for quiet or even romantic dining. The people were dressed in a variety of ways. Some folks had on shorts and others were dressed up in beautiful special evening clothing. As we looked around we noticed the servers were smiling, happy and courteous with everyone – no matter what they were ordering. People ordered pizza, snacks, sandwiches, appetizers and meals or any combination of those items. We wanted to stay at the restaurant for a while so we could watch people for this paper, so we ate a very small lunch and saved our appetite for this evening out. This assignment is a combination of our observations. The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant was our choice for this assignment because everyone tells us how great the food is and how much fun it is to eat there. We have been told they have good and friendly service, sports on the televisions around the whole restaurant, and good food. We are international students and know that there are many thoughts that go through our minds as we spend time in a restaurant. People of all nationalities, races, colors, and cultural backgrounds appeared at the restaurant during our time there. It does not cater to one specific group of people. As we consider the people we see we try to guess as many details about them as possible by their dress, mannerisms, skin color, and language. We believe people’s culture is an asset to our goal of international business

Systematizing Tantric Practices in Japanese Buddhism Essay

Systematizing Tantric Practices in Japanese Buddhism - Essay Example This recitation was passed down as an oral tradition until the first century BCE when the Pali Canon was first recorded in Sri Lanka. The various schools of Buddhist thought were broadly categorized as the Southern school and the Northern school. The Southern schools also referred to the Theravadin schools, relating to the Individual Vehicle or Hinayana and prevalent more in Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand. The Northern Schools corresponded to the Universal Vehicle or Mahayana and developed in and spread to China, Japan, Mongolia and Tibet. In the Mahayana there is the Perfection Vehicle or Paramitayana, which is also known as the sutra system and the Adamantine Vehicle or Vajrayana. Vajrayana is also known as Tantrayana through practice of the four classes of tantras which are 1) Action or Kriya, 2) Performance or Carya, 3) Yoga or Anuttara and 4) Mahaanuttara or Highest Yoga tantra. To some extent, Japanese Buddhism can be thought of as a series of imports from China. The arrival of Buddhism in Japan has three main characteristics. Firstly, it did not come to Japan on a popular level, but was only accepted by the imperial court and then disseminated in the country from the top. Secondly, Buddhism was often associated with magic powers, and was used by the court as a means of preventing or curing disease, bringing rain and abundant crops etc. Thirdly, Buddhism did not replace the indigenous kami, but always recognized their existence and power. Nara Period. The initial period, later known as the Nara period, saw the introduction onto Japanese soil of the six great Chinese schools, including the Hua-Yen and Lu, which became respectively the Kegon and Ritsu in Japanese. However, the Buddhism of this early period was not a practical religion, being more the domain of learned priests. This led to the growth of "people's priests" Their practice was a combination of Buddhist and Taoist elements, and the incorporation of shamanistic features of the indigenous religion. Heian Period (794-1185). The comprehensive syntheses of the Chinese doctrine by Saicho and Kukai, two systems of teaching and practice were created. Saicho founded the Tendai School, whose essential doctrine was the teaching in the Lotus Sutra that the possibility of salvation is given to all. Kukai propounded a doctrine known as the True Word, Shingon. Esoteric practices were very influential to the point that they dominated the Heian period. Kamakura Period (1185-1333) The Tendai and Shingon schools declined, and more earthy democratic movements such as Zen and the devotional schools advanced. The first of the three great traditions of Kamakura Buddhism was the doctrine of the Pure Land. Genku (1133-1212), better known as Honen concentrated on an intensified religious feeling which found expression in the simple invocation of the name Namu-Amida-Butsu, stamped by unshakeable faith in rebirth into Amida's paradise. Honen's successor, Shinran-Shonin (1173-1262) founded the True Sect of the Pure Land, Jodo-shinshu. He explained that the doctrine, practice, belief and realization are all given by Amida Buddha and that nothing depends on one's "own power" (jiriki). Instead, everything depends on the "power of

Motion-Powered Portable Charger

Motion-Powered Portable Charger The focus of this project is to design a Motion-powered portable charger for electronic mobile devices. The interest in electronic mobile devices has led to power supply problems. Most of the devices need a continuous power supply to be fully functional. This project is thought to design a solution to give almost unlimited power supply to charge the electronic mobile devices through movements of the users themselves. The energy is expected to be harvested from electromechanical devices such as Faradays hand-held generator or piezoelectric. The energy is then converted and altered to electrical energy depending on the required output power. This project would not only give almost unlimited power supply but it also would help in improving green technology and more efficient too. Simulation of the circuits in this project were created using Multisim.   1.1 Project Title Motion-powered Portable Charger 1.2 Aim The aim of this project is to design a motion-powered charger that allows electronic devices users to keep on charging their electronic devices from running movement of the users. To achieve this, the charger is expected to harvest enough motion from running to replenish cell phones or other small gadgets, like GPS devices. 1.3 Objectives The objectives of this project are as follows: Choosing the best electromechanical devices to charge the battery in the portable charger Testing the understanding of charger circuits which also includes AC-DC converters, amplifiers and other many minor circuits of an electronic devices Understanding in method to store energy in lithium-ion battery to be used to charge electronic portable devices Measure the efficiency of the devices ; input and output voltage, current and power of the charger Produce useable motion-powered portable charger 1.4 Learning Outcome Learning outcomes of this project are: Manage to understand the mechanism of charging and discharging condition of lithium-ion battery Understand on how to increase both voltage and current to required voltage and current Improve problem solving and decision-making skills for sudden mistakes discovered throughout the projects Have the confidence in designing an electronic and electrical circuits. Understand on files needed to produce a printed circuit board (PCB) Develop soldering skills so a PCB would be fully functional 1.5 Materials Required 18mm OD x 2mm WT x 12 long Perspex Tube 30 SWG Enamelled Copper Magnet wire LM324N OpAmp LM7812CT Single Linear Voltage Regulator TIP122G NPN Darlington Transistor 1N4148 Diode DC-DC 5V 1A/2A Boost Converter BZX79C 4.7V Zener Diode 10k ÃŽÂ © Potentiometer Resistors: 1 ÃŽÂ © 560 ÃŽÂ © 1k ÃŽÂ © 1.5k ÃŽÂ © 2.7k ÃŽÂ © 4.7k ÃŽÂ © 10k ÃŽÂ © 100k ÃŽÂ © 1M ÃŽÂ © Capacitors 10nF 100nF 1.6 Project Planning With a project with many different schedules and tasks that need to be completed project planning was an essential part to designing and building a functioning system. There is a time plan of the whole project in Appendix A Project Planning. 2.1 Fundamentals of Kinetic Energy and Mechanical to Electrical Energy 2.1.1 Faradays Law Initially, in 1821, a Danish physicist and chemist, Hans Christian Oersted, found a phenomenon so called electromagnetism. Soon after the discovery, a British scientist, William Hyde Wollaston, tried to design an electric motor using the fundamental theory of electromagnetism. However, his effort make no results and failed to create the motor [1]. Michael Faraday who have talked to both initiators of the theory started his experiments and managed to produce the very first electric motor. Since he is the only who published his works, he was credited for discovering the theory of induction in 1831 without acknowledging Wollaston [2]. This law predicts how magnetic field would related to electric field which then could produce electromotive force (EMF), a phenomenon generally called Electromagnetic Induction [2]. This law is applied as the basic fundamental theory for many applications such transformers, inductors, electric motors and in this project case, as a generator [2]. However, most of the scientists rejected the Faradays theory since it was not represented mathematically [1]. But only James Clerk Maxwell accepted the theory and described the law as Faradays Law of Induction mathematically which then later generalized to be called the Faraday-Maxwell Equation1 [1][3]. This equation is one of the four so called Maxwells Equation throughout all of his theory about electromagnetism [1]. Faradays Law of Induction surely needs the magnetic flux through a loop of wire [4]. The definition of magnetic flux is given by: where B is the magnetic field and dA is surface integral enclosed by the loop of wires. In term of graphical definition, magnetic flux through the loop of wire is directly proportional to the number of magnetic flux lines been cut when the magnet pass through the loop of wire [4]. 2.1.2 Lenzs Law The Faradays Law of Induction also states that when the magnetic flux that pass through the loop of wire changed, the loop of wire gained an EMF. Generally, this statement means that the induced EMF in closed circuit is defined as rate of change of magnetic flux made from the circuit [5][6]. The definition in term of equation is as below: where is the EMF while is the magnetic flux The Faradays Law of Induction is then further modified and improved by physicist named Heinrich Lenz. The improvised law is called as Lenzs Law. This law, of which gives the direction of the EMF, states that the direction of the induced current is opposite of the direction of the change that produced it because of the negative sign shown in the equation above [7]. In order to increase the induced EMF, it is known to customize the flux linkage since EMF is also known as rate of change of flux. This can be done by wounding coil of wires tightly producing N turns of wires, which each of the turn have the same magnetic flux. The EMF produced through this method is N times of one single turn of wire [8] [9]. Figure 1: Faradays Law of Induction producing EMF The theory from the Faradays Law of Induction due to magnetic flux linkage been cut by loop of wire then become the fundamental principle in making electrical generators. This could be happened when a conductor or loops of wires is moved relative to permanent magnet or vice versa producing EMF. If both ends of the opened-circuit wires is connected to any electrical devices, current will be produced and electrical energy is produced. This electrical energy is gained from the motion of the magnet which then proves the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. 2.1.3 Piezoelectricity Piezoelectricity is the ion charges which are collected in abundant amount in some solid materials, such as ceramics and crystal, and biological matter, for example DNA and bones [10]. This could only be happened when mechanical stress is applied onto the particular substances. It is understood that piezoelectric effect was a result of linear electromechanical contact between electrical and mechanical state in materials whose structure are in highly microscopic structure order. These materials used for piezoelectricity are normally have no inversion symmetry [11]. During the early mid of 18th century, the early discovery and research was studied by Carl Linnaeus and Franz Aepinus. However, the study was on pyroelectric effect. This pyroelectric shows that an electrical potential of a substances or material are produced whenever there is temperature changes [12]. From this discovery, Rene Just Hauy and Antoine Cesar Becquerel conclude a relationship between electric charge of a substances or materials with mechanical stress applied onto it. Despite of their experimental efforts to prove the relationship, they are likely fail to prove the experiments conclusive [12]. Unable to full understand the principle, in 1880, The Curie brothers, Pierre Curie and Jacques Curie manage to demonstrate the very first direct piezoelectric effect [13]. The brothers manage to predict the behaviour of crystal by combining their knowledge on pyroeletricity with their understanding about the crystal structure. The effect was demonstrated by the brothers using tourmaline (crystalline boron silicate mineral), topaz (silicate mineral of aluminium and fluorine), cane sugar and Rochelle salt (sodium potassium tartrate tetrahydrate) Quartz (mineral composed of silicon and oxygen) [13]. However, the converse piezoelectric effect wasnt predicted by the brothers. Only in the next year, 1881, Gabriel Lippmann managed to deduce the converse effect from the basic principles of thermodynamics mathematically [13]. Only then, the Curie brothers got to obtain the verification of the changeability of the deformations in the piezoelectric crystals and thus proved the presence of the converse effect [13]. The very first application of piezoelectric devices was as in sonar. It was first developed by Paul Langevin and his assistants during World War 1 at France which was about 1917 [13]. Starting from this creation where piezoelectric effect was used in sonar, the development of its technology and applications was intensely explored and developed. The most common application was found to be the piezoelectric sensor. Piezoelectric sensor, as known from its name, of course uses piezoelectric. This sensor detects any changes in pressure, force, temperature, stress or strain in form of electrical charge. This is one of the reason why it is called electromechanical devices as it generally converts mechanical energy to electrical energy Figure 2: Electronic and schematic symbol of a piezoelectric sensor The electrical properties of the sensor are that it has very high DC output impedance. This makes the sensor could also be sculpted as proportional voltage source or network filter [14]. Voltage across the source is directly proportional to any force, stress, strain or pressure applied onto it. The current passed through the circuit then will shows as output signal of the sensor of which specifically shows the result of the mechanical force applied [14]. Figure 3: Frequency response of piezoelectric sensor If it is intensely considered, the effects of the mechanical construction and other ingenuity of the sensor are included in the specified model. To make it function as sensor, the straight region (usable region) of the frequency response will normally be used [14]. As an effort to ensure that the low frequencies of interest (straight region) not lost, the leakage and load resistance must be sufficiently large. In this region, a corresponding circuit which has been abbreviated can be used. From the circuit, the capacitance of the sensor is signified by CS of which is defined by the general formula for capacitance of parallel plates [14]. However, the device can also be showed as charge source. This could only be happened if CS is in parallel yet the charge is still directly proportional to applied force [14]. Figure 4: Piezoelectric sensor as voltage source or charge source The principle operation of a piezoelectric material can be divided into 3 main operative modes: Longitudinal effect The total charge displaced does not depend on the dimension and shape of the piezoelectric elements. Yet, the amount charge displaced is directly proportional to the force or pressure. The one and only technique to surge the output charge is by placing a few piezoelectric elements in parallel as from electrical perspective but in series as from mechanical perpective. The output charge is as below: where is the piezoelectric coefficient as a charge in x-axis are being discharged by the forces exerted onto the same x-axis. , is the force exerted in the x-axis while is representing the number of elements that been fixed together. Shear effect The charges formed does not depend on the dimension and size of the piezoelectric elements at all and yet it is totally and directly proportional to the force and pressure exerted. The charge for elements which is placed in parallel as from electrical perspective but in series as from mechanical perspective can be illuminated as below: Transverse effect Charges along x-axis are displaced perpendicularly to a force that been applied along a neutral y-axis. The geometrical proportions of certain piezoelectric component determined the amount of charge displaced, CX. where is the proportion coordinated with the neutral axis, is coordinated with the charge producing axis while is the equivalent coefficient 2.2 Theory of Lithium ion Battery Amongst rechargeable battery that ever exist, lithium ion battery is known to be amongst the battery with highest capability to store energy per unit volume. This is one of the reason why lithium ion battery is considered to be useful for electrical energy storage [15]. Besides, lithium ion battery is also known for its capability and efficiency in charging and discharging [15]. However, there is also disadvantages of using this lithium ion battery. Comparing to capacitors and other different kind of batteries, it is essential for this lithium based battery to be charged using a definite voltage and restricted current [15]. If the condition is not fulfilled, the useful used-to-store-energy battery could be one of the dangerous battery as it could potentially be fire-starting bomb [15]. 2.2.1 Principles of Charging and Discharging Stage of Lithium ion battery The very foremost thing that need to be understood about discharging and charging a battery is its C-rate which is the foundation of battery usage. Generally, the batteries are characterised with nominal capacity which is measured in ampere-hour (Ah). But most of the time, the batteries are labelled in milliampere-hour (mAh) [15]. The label actually explains the amount of current supplied within one hour during the discharging state of the battery before the battery are fully depleted [15]. As an example, a battery labelled with 10000mAh which might be also labelled as 10Ah, could only push 10A to a circuit. If the battery is being discharged through the circuit with 10A but last for 1 hour, it said that the battery would have 1C discharge rate. It is also said to be discharged at rated capacity current. However, the discharge rate would only be 0.5C when the battery only provides 5A or 5000mA to a circuit. However, with 0.5C discharge rate, the battery would last for two hours [15]. Some batteries do tolerate for higher discharging rate compared to 1C, but it couldnt last longer than 1C discharge rate. As for charging condition, the theory is generally the same. At 0.5 charging rate, the same battery that labelled 10000mAh would be charged with maximum current of 50000mA [15]. However, comparing to discharge rate of a battery, most of the batteries are only charged at 0.5 to 0.7C charging rate because of safety and to have long-life battery [15]. Graph 1: Lithium ion battery cycle life, capacity and float voltage are interrelated From the graph above, it is concluded that each cell of most of the lithium ion batteries are only charged to 4.2V maximum. This is because charging using higher voltages might reduce the battery life even though the capacity of the battery are improved [16]. On the other hand, charging the battery using a lower voltage might increase the charge cycles but the run time of the battery are reduced [16]. Many batteries can be classified as over-discharged when the cell voltage of the battery is below 2.8V or 3V. When this happened, the battery can still actually be recharged and used [16]. However, a stage called aconditioning stage need to be done before the battery is charged again. Within the stage, the battery is only charged with 0.1C charging rate [16] Graph 2: The constant current, constant voltage charge profile of lithium ion battery The charge cycle of lithium ion battery is illustrated by the graph above. Generally, every charge cycle of single lithium battery contains two main stages which is Constant Current (CC) and Constant Voltage (CV). However, some chargers which charge series of lithium ion battery have an extra stage that is called Balancing Stage [16]. Explanation for each stage [16] is explained as below: Constant Current (CC) : This stage is always used by all the chargers and it is the one and only stage aimed at the fastest chargers. Generally, the battery is connected to current-limited power supply during this early stage. The limited current is normally 0.5 to 0.7 of the nominal capacity of the battery. The limited current flows continuously and constantly until the voltage of the battery cell reaches 4.2V. At this very moment, the charge of battery is expected to be around 70 to 80% [16]. Constant Voltage (CV) This stage is also known as the saturation stage. In this stage, the charger turns its role into voltage-limited power supply. Contradictly from the previous stage where voltage of the battery continues to be unchanged, the charge current decrease steadily. The battery is only acknowledged to be fully charged when the charge current is valued to be 3 to 10% of the rated capacity [16]. Balancing Stage As told before, this stage is normally only when series of lithium ion batteries need to be charged. In this stage, the charging current is normally lowered or in some cases, the charger is automatically and rapidly turned on and off in order to decrease the average current. At the same time, the charge of each battery cell is kept to the equal level. This was done by a circuit called balancing circuit. The stage will stop only when the batteries are found to be balanced. 2.2.2 Environmental Temperature Generally, lithium-ion battery give best charging performances only at cool temperature. The temperature accepted for the best performances ranging from 5  °C to 45  °C. Sometimes, the battery might even offer fast-charging within the accepted temperature [15]. It is also possible to charge the battery at low temperatures (below 5  °C). However, the cost to charge at low temperature is that the charge current will be reduced and indirectly, it would take long times for the battery to be fully charged. When the battery is charging in the low temperature, any increment in the temperature which is caused by the internal resistance of the cell would highly be beneficial even though it only small increment. On the other hand, charging the lithium ion battery in high temperatures can cause the battery to be degraded. Besides, charging the battery at high temperature (above 45  °C) also might lead to degradation of the battery performances. 3.1 Introduction In order to simplify the design and build the system, the project was split into modules. The project modules were initially designed to be like in the block diagram below. Figure 5: Initial flow chart of the motion-powered portable charger The modules were later adjusted based on the knowledge gained from the literature review. The adjusted modules are shown as below. Figure 6: Final flow chart of the motion-powered portable charger From the flow chart above, it can be seen that the input of the system is made to have two inputs. As for the system, the main input supposed to be the Kinetic/Mechanical to Electrical Energy Converter. However, the other input which is the AC Power Supply is also considered because it is made to be the alternative input just in case if there is any system failure in the main input. From the flow chart, there are three modules that are available in the market and would be useful for the system. The modules are AC Power Supply, Lithium ion Battery and 5V Voltage Regulator. 3.2 Kinetic/Mechanical to Electrical Energy Converter In this module, the design choice to generate the electricity which are harvested from kinetic or mechanical energy have been made. The design choice that have been made uses Faradays Law of Induction and Lenzs Law. Faradays Law of Induction applies that an electromotive force (EMF) will be produced when there is change in magnetic flux when a permanent magnet is passed through a loop of wire. Furthermore, Lenzs Law explained that the electromotive force (EMF) produced have different directions depending on the direction of the movement of the magnet relative to the loop of wire. Lenzs Law also indicates that the EMF can be converted into electricity if both ends of wire are connected to electrical load and it would produce an alternating current. Figure 7: Shake Generator with permanent magnet sealed in the tube From the understanding of the laws, a shake generator is made as in the figure above. The shake generator is made by using 30SWG magnet wire circling around a Perspex tube. A permanent and powerful magnet is then placed in the tube. Both end of the Perspex tube is then sealed using rubber-closed blind. Knowing that the generator would produce alternating current and produce low voltage, a circuit is designed which combined both AC-DC Converter and 12V Output voltage regulator. The AC-DC converter only consists of four 1N4001G diode which combined to form rectifier. On the other hand, the voltage regulator is created by using the LM7812CT Fairchild Semiconductor, 0.1 ÃŽÂ ¼F capacitor and 10 ÃŽÂ ¼F capacitor. Figure 8: AC-DC Converter and 12V 2A Voltage Regulator Circuit 3.3 Battery Charging Circuit Figure 9: Battery Charging Circuit In this circuit, a LM324N Operational Amplifier (op-amp) is used. The op-amp is used to produce a voltage and current limited power supply as in reviewed in the literature review early in this report. In this circuit, the current can be adjusted by using a potentiometer to produce current ranging from 160A to 1600mA. This allows the charger to charge various capacity of lithium ion batteries. The op-amp is used so that the voltage is limited to 4.2V. Thus, the lithium ion batteries will not be damaged. Besides, the circuit also used the TIP122G transistors. This transistor generally is a Darlington bipolar power transistor. This transistor can actually be replaced with any transistor which have pin that compatible with TIP122Gs pin. The transistor also need to have minimum DC current gain more than 100. Besides, the maximum collector current also need to be more than 2A. 3.3.1 Power Supply of the Charger Figure 10: Power Supply Circuit of the Battery Charger The battery charging circuit is mainly power-driven by a charger with rating of 12V 2A as designed in the Kinetic/Mechanical to Electrical Energy Converter module. It is found that the op-amp LM324N is not a rail to rail type. Thus, another voltage rail is needed so that the op-amp could detect the small voltages near the ground (GND). Besides, it is also made the output voltage to be low so that the Darlington transistor (TIP122G) wouldnt turned on when they are not supposed to. By referring to the overall schematic circuit of the Battery Charging Circuit, it can be seen that the transistor, that adjust the flow of the current and voltage across the lithium ion battery (illustrated by the oscilloscope), is not connected to ground but to a voltage rail. This is because the output of the LM324N op-amp couldnt reach the negative voltage supply. It can only reach 1.5 to 2.0V. At this condition, the TIP122G Darlington transistor couldnt be able to turn off and would result in the transistor for not be able to limit the current and voltage appropriately. This is one of the reasons why op-amp U1A and a transistor are used. This is to create a 2.5V rail practically compared to ground (GND). The voltage rail created are further used to sink the current which pass through the charger section of this module. From the circuit, the function of the resistor R2 and R3 are to act as potential divider which gives an average output voltage of 2.5V. However, it is still depending on the tolerance of both resistors. No matter on how the current flow, 2.5V will always loss across the op-amp which controls the transistor. In the circuit, the LED shows whether the charger is on or off. In addition, C2 steadily adjust the voltage out from the charger. In the battery charging circuit module, all of the op-amps and the charging indicator (illustrated by the LED) are precisely powered from the 12V supply. However, the remaining of the circuit is powered with the voltage between 12V and 2.5V rails which is 9.5V. 3.3.2 The charger circuit Figure 11: Actual Charger Circuit This section is the most significant section of the charger because this is the section that responsible in restricting the voltage and current across the lithium ion battery. From the circuit, the limited current can be controlled from the 10k ÃŽÂ © potentiometer. However, the limited voltage will be constantly at 4.2 V unrelatedly to the various kind of the power supply. The potentiometer also effectively works together with the U1C in limiting the current of the battery. The current passing it and the voltage across might be equal since the value of the sense resistor is only 1 ÃŽÂ ©. The potentiometer is above the 1k resistor and the voltage across the 1k ÃŽÂ © resistor is 160mV. This would make the lowest voltage of the output of the potentiometer would be 0.16V. In this condition, this circuit would produce limited current of 160mA which is a suitable condition to charge a lithium ion battery labelled with 300mAh. The highest limited current through the potentiometer can be somewhat more than 1.6A since the voltage drop that been found across it is about 1.6V. Thus, by changing the potentiometer, the possible output voltage obtained can be around 0.16V to 1.6V. On the other hand, this also means that the highest limited current can be ranging around 1600mA to 160A. The transistor will be driven by the op-amp to make the voltage across the sense resistor to have the equal value as in the output of the potentiometer. Besides, the op-amp might get to produce low voltage that is just sufficient to make the transistor turn off and to establish a low limited current all because of the 2.5V rail. Towards the finale phase of the constant current stage, the voltage of the lithium ion battery become closer to the value of 4.2V. At this situation, the limiting voltage stage of the circuit and the constant voltage stage will start to take over the process. A 4.2V situation under 12V (VCC) are created by the BZX79 4.7V Zener diode and the potential divider that consists of R10 and R11. At the moment where the voltage across the lithium ion battery get to 4.2V markings, the U1D op-amp begins to drive voltage into the reversing input of the other op-amp. This process will allow the op-amp to reduce the voltage of the output to the transistor. Thus, the current passing through the lithium ion battery will begin to fall steadily in order to maintain 4.2V across the battery. When the l

Money Laundering :: essays research papers fc

Financial Accounting For Financial Services Assignment Money Laundering The word money laundering, according to the myth, is derived from Al Capone's practice of using a string of coin-operated launderettes in Chicago to disguise his revenues from gambling, prostitution and protection rackets. It's a nice story but not true, money laundering is so called because it perfectly describes the process of removing the stains and smells which money acquires when criminals earn it. In this report I will go on to discuss the topic of money laundering in the following order; firstly, I will begin by explaining what is money laundering?, why it is done?, and how it is done? I will then go on to explain the effects of money laundering and the institutions/organisations that are at risk from these activities. I will also be discussing the current situation in the UK regarding money laundering and whether anything can be done to prevent or restrict laundering activities, and will then go on to conclude my findings. Money laundering is the process by which criminals attempt to conceal the true origin and ownership of the proceeds of their criminal activities. If they are successful they can then maintain control over the proceeds and, so, provide a legitimate cover for their source of income. J.D. Mclean defined money laundering in the International Judicial Assistance as: "Although the proceeds of crime will be kept as capital for further criminal ventures, the sophisticated offender will wish to use the rest for other purposes. If this is to done without running a risk of detection, the money which represents the proceeds of the original crime must be "laundered"; put into a state in which it appears to have an entirely respectable provenance" It is important to bear in mind that money laundering is a process (often a highly complex one) rather than a single act. In an effort to expose and analyse this phenomenon it has become common to use a three-stage model which encompasses an ideal money laundering scheme. The three stages are as follows: * Placement Stage This is where cash derived directly from criminal activity (e.g. from sales of drugs) is first placed either in a financial institution or used to purchase an asset. * Layering Stage The stage at which there is the first attempt at concealment or disguise of the source of the ownership of funds. * Integration Stage The stage at which the money is integrated into the legitimate economic and financial system and is camouflaged with all other assets in the system.

Electronic Waste

Electronic waste From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia For the EC directive, see Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive. Defective and obsolete electronic equipment. Electronic waste, e-waste, e-scrap, or waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. There is a lack of consensus as to whether the term should apply to resale, reuse, and refurbishing industries, or only to product that cannot be used for its intended purpose.Informal processing of electronic waste in developing countries may cause serious health and pollution problems, though these countries are also most likely to reuse and repair electronics. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, orbrominated flame retardants. Even in developed countries recycling and disposal of e-waste may involve significant risk to workers and communities and great care must be taken to avoid unsafe exposure i n recycling operations and leaching of material such as heavy metals from landfills and incinerator ashes.Scrap industry and USA EPA officials agree that materials should be managed with caution. [citation needed] Contents [hide] †¢1 Definitions †¢2 Problems †¢3 Global trade issues †¢4 E-waste management o4. 1 Recycling o4. 2 Consumer awareness efforts o4. 3 Processing techniques o4. 4 Benefits of recycling †¢5 Electronic waste substances o5. 1 Hazardous o5. 2 Generally non-hazardous †¢6 See also †¢7 References †¢8 Further reading †¢9 External links [edit]DefinitionsHoarding (left), disassembling (center) and collecting (right) electronic waste in Bengaluru, India â€Å"Electronic waste† may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets andrefrigerators. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recyclin g, or disposal. Others define the re-usables (working and repairable electronics) and secondary scrap (copper, steel, plastic, etc. to be â€Å"commodities†, and reserve the term â€Å"waste† for residue or material which is dumped by the buyer rather than recycled, including residue from reuse and recycling operations. Because loads of surplus electronics are frequently commingled (good, recyclable, and non-recyclable), several public policy advocates apply the term â€Å"e-waste† broadly to all surplus electronics. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) are considered one of the hardest types to recycle. [1] CRTs have relatively high concentration of lead and phosphors (not to be confused with phosphorus), both of which are necessary for the display.The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes discarded CRT monitors in its category of â€Å"hazardous household waste†[2] but considers CRTs that have been set aside for testing to be commodities if th ey are not discarded, speculatively accumulated, or left unprotected from weather and other damage. Debate continues over the distinction between â€Å"commodity† and â€Å"waste† electronics definitions. Some exporters are accused of deliberately leaving difficult-to-recycle, obsolete, or non-repairable equipment mixed in loads of working equipment (though this may also come through ignorance, or to avoid more costly treatment processes).Protectionists may broaden the definition of â€Å"waste† electronics in order to protect domestic markets from working secondary equipment. The high value of the computer recycling subset of electronic waste (working and reusable laptops, desktops, and components like RAM) can help pay the cost of transportation for a larger number of worthless pieces than can be achieved with display devices, which have less (or negative) scrap value. In A 2011 report, â€Å"Ghana E-Waste Country Assessment†,[3] found that of 215,000 t ons of electronics imported to Ghana, 30% were brand new and 70% were used.Of the used product, the study concluded that 15% was not reused and was scrapped or discarded. This contrasts with published but uncredited claims that 80% of the imports into Ghana were being burned in primitive conditions. [edit]Problems A fragment of discarded circuit board Rapid changes in technology, changes in media (tapes, software, MP3), falling prices, and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. Dave Kruch, CEO of Cash For Laptops, regards electronic waste as a â€Å"rapidly expanding† issue. 4]Technical solutions are available, but in most cases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics, and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied. Display units (CRT, LCD, LED monitors), Processors (CPU chips, RAM), and audio components have different useful lives. Processors are most frequently out-da ted (by software) and are more likely to become â€Å"e-waste†, while display units are most often replaced while working without repair attempts, due to changes in wealthy nation appetites for new display technology.An estimated 50 million tons of E-waste are produced each year. [citation needed] The USA discards 30 million computers each year and 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators. [5] According to a report by UNEP titled, â€Å"Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources,† the amount of e-waste being produced – including mobile phones and computers – could rise by as much as 500 percent over the next decade in some countries, such as India. 6] The United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, tossing away about 3 million tons each year. [7] China already produces about 2. 3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States. And, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries. [7] Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce materials. Up to 60 elements can be found in complex electronics. In the United States, an estimated 70% of heavy metals in landfills comes from discarded electronics. 8][9] While there is agreement that the number of discarded electronic devices is increasing, there is considerable disagreement about the relative risk (compared to automobile scrap, for example), and strong disagreement whether curtailing trade in used electronics will improve conditions, or make them worse. According to an article in Motherboard, attempts to restrict the trade have driven reputable companies out of the supply chain, with unintended consequences. [10] [edit]Global trade issues See also: Electronic waste by country Electroni c waste is often exported to developing countries. 4. -volt, D, C, AA, AAA, AAAA, A23, 9-volt, CR2032 and LR44 cells are all recyclable in most countries. One theory is that increased regulation of electronic waste and concern over the environmental harm in mature economies creates an economic disincentive to remove residues prior to export. Critics of trade in used electronics maintain that it is still too easy for brokers calling themselves recyclers to export unscreened electronic waste to developing countries, such as China,[11] India and parts of Africa, thus avoiding the expense of removing items like bad cathode ray tubes (the processing of which is expensive and difficult).The developing countries have become toxic dump yards of e-waste. Proponents of international trade point to the success of fair trade programs in other industries, where cooperation has led to creation of sustainable jobs, and can bring affordable technology in countries where repair and reuse rates are h igher. Defenders of the trade[who? ] in used electronics say that extraction of metals from virgin mining has been shifted to developing countries. Recycling of copper, silver, gold, and other materials from discarded electronic devices is considered better for the environment than mining.They also state that repair and reuse of computers and televisions has become a â€Å"lost art† in wealthier nations, and that refurbishing has traditionally been a path to development. South Korea, Taiwan, and southern China all excelled in finding â€Å"retained value† in used goods, and in some cases have set up billion-dollar industries in refurbishing used ink cartridges, single-use cameras, and working CRTs. Refurbishing has traditionally been a threat to established manufacturing, and simple protectionism explains some criticism of the trade.Works like â€Å"The Waste Makers† by Vance Packard explain some of the criticism of exports of working product, for example the ba n on import of tested working Pentium 4 laptops to China, or the bans on export of used surplus working electronics by Japan. Opponents of surplus electronics exports argue that lower environmental and labor standards, cheap labor, and the relatively high value of recovered raw materials leads to a transfer of pollution-generating activities, such as smelting of copper wire.In China, Malaysia, India, Kenya, and various African countries, electronic waste is being sent to these countries for processing, sometimes illegally. Many surplus laptops are routed to developing nationsas â€Å"dumping grounds for e-waste†. [4] Because the United States has not ratified the Basel Convention or its Ban Amendment, and has few domestic federal laws forbidding the export of toxic waste, the Basel Action Network estimates that about 80% of the electronic waste directed to recycling in the U. S. does not get recycled there at all, but is put on container ships and sent to countries such as Ch ina. 12][13][14][15] This figure is disputed as an exaggeration by the EPA, the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association. Independent research by Arizona State University showed that 87-88% of imported used computers did not have a higher value than the best value of the constituent materials they contained, and that â€Å"the official trade in end-of-life computers is thus driven by reuse as opposed to recycling†. [16] Guiyu in the Shantou region of China, Delhi and Bangalore in India as well as the Agbogbloshie site near Accra, Ghana have electronic waste processing areas. 12][17][18] Uncontrolled burning, disassembly, and disposal causes a variety of environmental problems such as groundwater contamination, atmospheric pollution, or even water pollution either by immediate discharge or due tosurface runoff (especially near coastal areas), as well as health problems including occupational safety and health effects among those directly and indirectly involved, due to the methods of processing the waste. Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in highly polluting, primitive recycling technologies, extracting the metals, toners, and plastics from computers and other electronic waste.Recent studies show that 7 out of 10 children in this region have too much lead in their blood. [citation needed] Proponents of the trade say growth of internet access is a stronger correlation to trade than poverty. Haiti is poor and closer to the port of New York than southeast Asia, but far more electronic waste is exported from New York to Asia than to Haiti. Thousands of men, women, and children are employed in reuse, refurbishing, repair, and remanufacturing, unsustainable industries in decline in developed countries.Denying developing nations access to used electronics may deny them sustainable employment, affordable products, and internet access, or force them to deal with even less scrupulous suppliers. In a series of seven articles for The Atlantic, Shanghai-based reporter Adam Minter describes many of these computer repair and scrap separation activities as objectively sustainable. [19] Opponents of the trade argue that developing countries utilize methods that are more harmful and more wasteful. An expedient and prevalent method is simply to toss equipment onto an open fire, in order to melt plastics and to burn away unvaluable metals.This releases carcinogens and neurotoxins into the air, contributing to an acrid, lingering smog. These noxious fumes include dioxinsand furans. [20] Bonfire refuse can be disposed of quickly into drainage ditches or waterways feeding the ocean or local water supplies. [15][21] In June 2008, a container of electronic waste, destined from the Port of Oakland in the U. S. to Sanshui District in mainland China, was intercepted in Hong Kong by Greenpeace. [22] Concern over exports of electronic waste were raised in press reports in India,[23][24] Ghan a,[25][26][27] Ivory Coast,[28] and Nigeria. 29] This section has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This section does not cite any references or sources. (April 2012) This section is written like a personal reflection or essay rather than an encyclopedic description of the subject. (April 2012) What becomes challenging for the United States, then, is balancing recycling discourses when considering how to implement legislation measures as they manifest through divided interests. Those concerned solely about the environment would create discourse and those concerned about the economy would as well.It is not to say that these discourses don't necessarily agree about certain initiatives; both parties might benefit from the same piece of legislation. That is, if the Environmental Commissioner in the United States put into action recycling legislation that was both sustainable and profitable, it could likely be a positive for both sides. How ever, because most environmental and economic advocates are privy to certain facts about the industry, they would most likely be reluctant to side with any legislation that could either be detrimental to a foreign environment, or overly beneficial to a foreign industry or economy.By exporting e-waste to other countries, some firms in the United States may be avoiding the costs of homeland environmental degradation on one hand, but on the other are missing out on recovering byproduct materials left after they are smelted. As a result, numerous perspectives articulate through both quantitative and qualitative analysis, not only exemplifying how the differences between these perspectives are articulated, but how electronic waste legislation seemingly takes both the environmental and the economic discourse into consideration, albeit with more onus on the latter. edit]E-waste management [edit]Recycling Computer monitors are typically packed into low stacks on wooden pallets forrecycling and then shrink-wrapped. [20] See also: Computer recycling Today the electronic waste recycling business is in all areas of the developed world a large and rapidly consolidating business. Part of this evolution has involved greater diversion of electronic waste from energy-intensive downcycling processes (e. g. , conventional recycling), where equipment is reverted to a raw material form. This diversion is achieved through reuse and refurbishing.The environmental and social benefits of reuse include diminished demand for new products and virgin raw materials (with their own environmental issues); larger quantities of pure water and electricity for associated manufacturing; less packaging per unit; availability of technology to wider swaths of society due to greater affordability of products; and diminished use of landfills. Audiovisual components, televisions, VCRs, stereo equipment, mobile phones, other handheld devices, and computer components contain valuable elements and substan ces suitable for reclamation, including lead, copper, and gold.One of the major challenges is recycling the printed circuit boards from the electronic wastes. The circuit boards contain such precious metals as gold, silver, platinum, etc. and such base metals as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. Conventional method employed is mechanical shredding and separation but the recycling efficiency is low. Alternative methods such as cryogenic decomposition have been studied for printed circuit board recycling,[30] and some other methods are still under investigation. [edit]Consumer awareness effortsThe examples and perspective in this section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December 2011) ? In the US, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) urges consumers to dispose properly of end-of-life electronics through its recycling locator at www. GreenerGadgets. org. This list only includes manufacturer and reta iler programs that use the strictest standards and third-party certified recycling locations, to provide consumers assurance that their products will be recycled safely and responsibly.CEA research has found that 58 percent of consumers know where to take their end-of-life of electronics, and the electronics industry would very much like to see that level of awareness increase. Consumer electronics manufacturers and retailers sponsor or operate more than 5,000 recycling locations nationwide and have vowed to recycle one billion pounds annually by 2016,[31] a sharp increase from 300 million pounds industry recycled in 2010. ?AddressTheMess. com is a Comedy Central pro-social campaign that seeks to increase awareness of the dangers of electronic waste and to encourage recycling.Partners in the effort include Earth911. com, ECOInternational. com, and the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. Many Comedy Central viewers are early adopters of new electronics, and produce a commensurate amount of waste that can be directed towards recycling efforts. The station is also taking steps to reduce its own environmental impact, in partnership with NativeEnergy. com, a company that specializes in renewable energy and carbon offsets. ?The Electronics TakeBack Coalition[32] is a campaign aimed at protecting human health and limiting environmental effects where electronics are being produced, used, and discarded.The ETBC aims to place responsibility for disposal of technology products on electronic manufacturers and brand owners, primarily through community promotions and legal enforcement initiatives. It provides recommendations for consumer recycling and a list of recyclers judged environmentally responsible. [33] ? The Certified Electronics Recycler program[34] for electronic recyclers is a comprehensive, integrated management system standard that incorporates key operational and continual improvement elements for quality, environmental and health and safety (QEH) performa nce. The grassroots Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (svtc. org) focuses on promoting human health and addresses environmental justice problems resulting from toxins in technologies. ?Basel Action Network (BAN. org) is uniquely focused on addressing global environmental injustices and economic inefficiency of global â€Å"toxic trade†. It works for human rights and the environment by preventing disproportionate dumping on a large scale. It promotes sustainable solutions and attempts to ban waste trade. It requires companies to be either ISO 14001 or R2 certified. Texas Campaign for the Environment (texasenvironment. org) works to build grassroots support for e-waste recycling and uses community organizing to pressure electronics manufacturers and elected officials to enact producer takeback recycling policies and commit to responsible recycling programs. ?The World Reuse, Repair, and Recycling Association (wr3a. org) is an organization dedicated to improving the quality of exp orted electronics, encouraging better recycling standards in importing countries, and improving practices through â€Å"Fair Trade† principles. Take Back My TV[35] is a project of The Electronics TakeBack Coalition and grades television manufacturers to find out which are responsible and which are not. [edit]Processing techniques Recycling the lead from batteries. In developed countries, electronic waste processing usually first involves dismantling the equipment into various parts (metal frames, power supplies, circuit boards, plastics), often by hand, but increasingly by automated shredding equipment. A typical example is the NADIN electronic waste processing plant in Novi Iskar, Bulgaria — the largest facility of its kind in Eastern Europe. 36][37] The advantages of this process are the human's ability to recognize and save working and repairable parts, including chips, transistors, RAM, etc. The disadvantage is that the labor is cheapest in countries with the lowes t health and safety standards. In an alternative bulk system,[38] a hopper conveys material for shredding into an unsophisticated mechanical separator, with screening and granulating machines to separate constituent metal and plastic fractions, which are sold to smelters or plastics recyclers.Such recycling machinery is enclosed and employs a dust collection system. Some of the emissions are caught by scrubbers and screens. Magnets, eddy currents, and trommel screens are employed to separate glass, plastic, and ferrous and nonferrous metals, which can then be further separated at a smelter. Leaded glass from CRTs is reused in car batteries, ammunition, and lead wheel weights,[20] or sold to foundries as a fluxing agent in processing raw lead ore. Copper, gold, palladium, silver and tin are valuable metals sold to smelters for recycling.Hazardous smoke and gases are captured, contained and treated to mitigate environmental threat. These methods allow for safe reclamation of all valua ble computer construction materials. [15] Hewlett-Packard product recycling solutions manager Renee St. Denis describes its process as: â€Å"We move them through giant shredders about 30 feet tall and it shreds everything into pieces about the size of a quarter. Once your disk drive is shredded into pieces about this big, it's hard to get the data off†. 39] An ideal electronic waste recycling plant combines dismantling for component recovery with increased cost-effective processing of bulk electronic waste. Reuse is an alternative option to recycling because it extends the lifespan of a device. Devices still need eventual recycling, but by allowing others to purchase used electronics, recycling can be postponed and value gained from device use. [edit]Benefits of recycling Recycling raw materials from end-of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the growing e-waste problem. Most electronic devices contain a ariety of materials, including metals that can be recove red for future uses. By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved and air and water pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacturing of new products. It simply makes good sense and is efficient to recycle and to do our part to keep the environment green. [40] [edit]Electronic waste substances Several sizes of button and coin cell with 2 9v batteries as a size comparison.They are all recycled in many countries since they contain lead, mercury and cadmium. Some computer components can be reused in assembling new computer products, while others are reduced to metals that can be reused in applications as varied as construction, flatware, and jewelry. [39] Substances found in large quantities include epoxy resins, fiberglass, PCBs, PVC (polyvinyl chlorides), thermosetting plastics, lead, tin, copper, silicon,beryllium, carbon, iron and aluminium . Elements found in small amounts include cadmium, mercury, and thallium. 41] Elements found in trace amounts include americium, antimony, arsenic, barium, bismuth, boron, cobalt, europium, gallium, germanium, gold, indium,lithium, manganese, nickel, niobium, palladium, platinum, rhodium, ruthenium, selenium, silver, tantalum, terbium, thorium, titanium, vanadium, and yttrium. Almost all electronics contain lead and tin (as solder) and copper (as wire and printed circuit board tracks), though the use of lead-free solder is now spreading rapidly. The following are ordinary applications: [edit]Hazardous Recyclers in the street in Sao Paulo, Brazil with old computers ?Americium:the radioactive source in smoke alarms. It is known to be carcinogenic. ?Mercury: found in fluorescent tubes (numerous applications), tilt switches (mechanical doorbells, thermostats),[42] and flat screen monitors. Health effects include sensory impairment, dermatitis, memory loss, and muscle weakness. Environme ntal effects in animals include death, reduced fertility, slower growth and development. ?Sulphur: found in lead-acid batteries. Health effects include liver damage, kidney damage, heart damage, eye and throat irritation. When released in to the environment, it can create sulphuric acid. BFRs: Used as flame retardants in plastics in most electronics. Includes PBBs, PBDE, DecaBDE, OctaBDE, PentaBDE. Health effects include impaired development of the nervous system, thyroid problems, liver problems. Environmental effects: similar effects as in animals as humans. PBBs were banned from 1973 to 1977 on. PCBs were banned during the 1980s. ?Cadmium: Found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosion-resistant alloys for marine and aviation environments, and nickel-cadmium batteries. The most common form of cadmium is found in Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries.These batteries tend to contain between 6 and 18% cadmium. The sale of Nickel-Cadmium batteries has been banned in the European Union except for medical use. When not properly recycled it can leach into the soil, harming microorganisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. Exposure is caused by proximity to hazardous waste sites and factories and workers in the metal refining industry. The inhalation of cadmium can cause severe damage to the lungs and is also known to cause kidney damage. [43] ? Lead: solder, CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries, some formulations of PVC. 44] A typical 15-inch cathode ray tube may contain 1. 5 pounds of lead,[2] but other CRTs have been estimated as having up to 8 pounds of lead. [20] ? Beryllium oxide: filler in some thermal interface materials such as thermal grease used on heatsinks for CPUs and power transistors,[45] magnetrons, X-ray-transparent ceramic windows, heat transfer fins in vacuum tubes, and gas lasers. [edit]Generally non-hazardous An iMac G4 that has been repurposed into alamp (photographed next to a Mac Classic and a flip phone). ?Tin: solder, coatings on compone nt leads. Copper: copper wire, printed circuit board tracks, component leads. ?Aluminium: nearly all electronic goods using more than a few watts of power (heatsinks), electrolytic capacitors. ?Iron: steel chassis, cases, and fixings. ?Germanium: 1950s–1960s transistorized electronics (bipolar junction transistors). ?Silicon: glass, transistors, ICs, printed circuit boards. ?Nickel: nickel-cadmium batteries. ?Lithium: lithium-ion batteries. ?Zinc: plating for steel parts. ?Gold: connector plating, primarily in computer equipment. [edit]See also Environment portal Electronics portal ?2000s commodities boom Basel Action Network (BAN) ?Basel Convention ?China RoHS ?Computer Recycling ?Digger gold ?E-Cycling ?e-Stewards ?eDay ?Electronics ?Electronic waste in Japan ?Green computing ?iPhone recycling ?Material safety data sheet ?Polychlorinated biphenyls ?Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive (RoHS) ?Retail hazardous waste ?Retrocomputing ?Sustainable Electronics Initiativ e (SEI) ?Waste ?Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive Organizations ?Empa ?International Network for Environmental Compliance and Enforcement ? Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) ?Solving the E-waste Problem World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association [edit]References 1. ^ http://www. executiveblueprints. com/aboutweee/WEEECRTandMonitor. htm 2. ^ a b Morgan, Russell (2006-08-21). â€Å"Tips and Tricks for Recycling Old Computers†. SmartBiz. Retrieved 2009-03-17. 3. ^ â€Å"Ghana e-Waste Country Assessmen†. Ghana e-Waste Country Assessment. SBC e-Waste Africa Project. Retrieved 29 August 2011. 4. ^ a b Prashant, Nitya (2008-08-20). â€Å"Cash For Laptops Offers ‘Green' Solution for Broken or Outdated Computers†. Green Technology (Norwalk, Connecticut: Technology Marketing Corporation). Retrieved 2009-03-17.In â€Å"Opinion†. National Center For Electronics Recycling News Summary (National Center For Electronics Recycling). 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2009-03-17. 5. ^ â€Å"Statistics on the Management of Used and End-of-Life Electronics†. US Environmental Protection Agency. Retrieved 2012-03-13. 6. ^ Section, United Nations News Service (2010-02-22). â€Å"As e-waste mountains soar, UN urges smart technologies to protect health†. United Nations-DPI/NMD – UN News Service Section. Retrieved 2012-03-12. 7. ^ a b â€Å"Urgent need to prepare developing countries for surges in E-Waste†. 8. ^ Kozlan, Melanie (2010-11-02). What is ‘E-Waste' & How Can I Get Rid Of It?! â€Å". Four Green Steps. 9. ^ â€Å"Poison PCs and toxic TVs†. 10. ^ Ingenthron, Robin (2011-03-31). â€Å"Why We Should Ship Our Electronic â€Å"waste† to China and Africa†. [Motherboard. tv]. 11. ^ Where computers go to die — and kill (4/10/2006) 12. ^ a b Basel Action Network and Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (2002-02-25). â€Å"Exporting Harm: The High-Tech Trashing of Asia† (PDF). Seattle and San Jose. 13. ^ Chea, Terence (2007-11-18). â€Å"America Ships Electronic Waste Overseas†. Associated Press. 14. ^ Slade, Giles (2006). â€Å"Made To Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America†.Harvard University Press. 15. ^ a b c Carroll (January 2008). â€Å"High-Tech Trash†. National Geographic Magazine Online. 16. ^ â€Å"Product or Waste? Importation and End-of-Life Processing of Computers in Peru†, Ramzy Kahhat and Eric Williams, Center for Earth Systems Engineering and Management, Arizona State University, published Environmental Science and Technology June 2009. 17. ^ â€Å"Activists Push for Safer E-Recycling†. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 18. ^ â€Å"Computer age leftovers†. Denver Post. Retrieved 2006-11-13. 19. ^ Minter, Adam. â€Å"Shanghai Scrap†. Wasted 7/7. The Atlantic. Retrieved March 7, 2011. 20. a b c d Royte, Elizabeth (2005-08-01). â€Å"E-gad! Americans discard more than 100 million computer s, cellphones and other electronic devices each year. As â€Å"e-waste† piles up, so does concern about this growing threat to the environment. â€Å". Smithsonian Magazine (Smithsonian Institution). Retrieved 2009-03-17. 21. ^ â€Å"Computer waste disposal in China† (WMV). CBC News. 22. ^ â€Å"Illegal e-waste exposed†. Greenpeace International. 23. ^ â€Å"E-Trash Industry Poses Hazards to Workers†. 24. ^ â€Å"British Broadcasting Corporation†. BBC News. 2005-10-14. Retrieved 2010-01-03. 25. ^ â€Å"Electronic Waste in Ghana†.YouTube. 26. ^ â€Å"Poisoning the poor – Electronic Waste in Ghana†. Greenpeace International. 27. ^ â€Å"British Broadcasting Corporation†. BBC News. 2008-08-05. Retrieved 2010-01-03. 28. ^ â€Å"British Broadcasting Corporation†. BBC News. 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2010-01-03. 29. ^ â€Å"British Broadcasting Corporation†. BBC News. 2006-12-19. Retrieved 2010-01-03. 30. ^ Yuan, C. , Zhang, H. C. , McKenna, G. , Korzeniewski, C. , and Li, J. â€Å"Experimental Studies on Cryogenic Recycling of Printed Circuit Board†, International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Vol. 34, 2007, pp. 657–666 31. http://ecyclingleadershipinitiative. com/index. html 32. ^ http://www. electronicstakeback. com 33. ^ â€Å"How to Find a Responsible Recycler†. Electronics TakeBack Coalition. 34. ^ http://www. certifiedelectronicsrecycler. com 35. ^ â€Å"Take Back My TV†. 36. ^ â€Å"40 Million BGN Invested In Bulgaria's 1st Appliances Recycle Plant†. Sofia News Agency. 2010-06-28. Retrieved 2011-03-28. 37. ^ â€Å"Bulgaria Opens Largest WEEE Recycling Factory in Eastern Europe†. Ask-eu. com. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2011-03-28. 38. ^ http://simsrecycling. com/news-and-resources/audio-and-video 39. ^ a b Haffenreffer, David (2003-02-13). Recycling, the Hewlett-Packard Way†. Financial Times(CNN). Retrieved 2009-03-17. 40. ^ Bene fits of Recycling 41. ^ â€Å"Chemical fact sheet: Thallium†. Spectrum Laboratories. Retrieved 2008-02-02. 42. ^ â€Å"Question 8†. 43. ^ . http://www. lenntech. com/periodic/elements/cd. htm#ixzz1MpuZHWfr. 44. ^ â€Å"CollectiveGood and Environmental Issues†. 45. ^ Becker, Greg; Lee, Chris; Lin, Zuchen (July 2005). â€Å"Thermal conductivity in advanced chips: Emerging generation of thermal greases offers advantages†. Advanced Packaging: 2–4. Retrieved 2008-03-04. [edit]Further reading ?Hicks, C; Dietmara, R. , Eugsterb, M. (2005). The recycling and disposal of electrical and electronic waste in China—legislative and market responses†. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 25 (5): 459–471. doi:10. 1016/j. eiar. 2005. 04. 007. ISSN 01959255. ?†Scrapping the Hi-tech Myth: Computer waste in India†. India: Toxics Link. February 2003. Retrieved 25 March 2011. ?Ogunseitan, O. A. , Schoenung, J. M. , Saphores, J-D. M. , a nd Shapiro, A. A. (2009). â€Å"The Electronics Revolution: From E-Wonderland to E-Wasteland. â€Å". Science 326: 670–671. doi:10. 1126/science. 1176929. [edit]External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Electronic waste RECYCLING – FROM E-WASTE TO RESOURCES (UN Environmental Program, 2009, 120 pages) ? EMPA E-waste Guide ?World Reuse, Repair and Recycling Association ?Carroll, Chris (January 2008). â€Å"High-Tech Trash†. National Geographic Society. ?Disposal of Old Computer Equipment ?WEEE Forum [show] ?V ?T ?E Waste and waste management [show] ?V ?T ?E Recycling View page ratings Rate this page What's this? Trustworthy Objective Complete Well-written I am highly knowledgeable about this topic (optional) Submit ratings Categories: †¢Electronic waste †¢Create account †¢Log in †¢Article †¢Talk †¢Read †¢Edit †¢View history †¢Main page Contents †¢Featured content †¢Current events †¢Random a rticle †¢Donate to Wikipedia Interaction †¢Help †¢About Wikipedia †¢Community portal †¢Recent changes †¢Contact Wikipedia Toolbox Print/export Languages †¢ †¢Catala †¢Cesky †¢Dansk †¢Deutsch †¢Espanol †¢Euskara †¢ †¢Francais †¢ †¢Italiano †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢Nederlands †¢ †¢Portugues †¢ †¢ †¢Slovenscina †¢Svenska †¢ †¢ †¢Turkce †¢ †¢ †¢This page was last modified on 23 August 2012 at 20:31. †¢Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of use for details.Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. , a non-profit organization. †¢Contact us †¢Privacy policy †¢About Wikipedia †¢Disclaimers †¢Mobile view †¢ †¢ E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their à ¢â‚¬Å"useful life. † Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. Unfortunately, electronic discards is one of the fastest growing segments of our nation's waste stream. With the passage of the Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2003 , certain po

buy custom Information Systems Support essay

buy custom Information Systems Support essay Information systems have a major role in the e-business and e-commerce processes, enterprise relationship along with management, and tactical success of businesses which must run in an internetworked global atmosphere. Therefore the field of information systems has turned out to be majorpurposeful area of business management. Managers as well as business professional need to be well acquainted with effectual and responsible application in running of information systems along with technologies. I have worked in a company that offers full-service expertise solutions by mixing voice, video, along with data to make a business more cost-effective and productive. In our company we offer various support services for learning institution and businesses. We as well design, control, and supervise enterprise wireless networks comprising of Cisco insubstantial access points and checkers. Since the immensity of our work has to do with looking for solutions for organizations information transportation needs, we always make use of IT. IT plays a major role in globalization, communication. Moreover it offers a platform for our company to get connected globally with Internet. Since Internet has a wide range of customers, buyers, service providers, technical staff, etc, business can operate on a on its own website like General Electric Company. Moreover Information system along with technology offers various feeds to communication like E-mail, immediate messages, and SMS servers, along with other to each and every employee at whichever time in the world. Nevertheless Software is veryimperative for a business for instant Information of stocks, property valuation, sales, acquisitions, and service. This kind of software assists in saving time and price of the company. You will find out that with this, decision making can be very easy to the organization after IT for the reason that it provide newest information to the running for employee, stocks, sales, purchase, as well as services. Moreover the management can make a conclusion after confirming IT reports. Moreover it has helped to automate the business procedure thus reforming businesses to make them tremendously cost effective money making gears. This in turn boosts productivity which in the end gives rise to profits that way better pay and less tiring working conditions. Nevertheless Information systems (IS) execute three vital roles in industry firms. Business applications of IS hold up an organizations business procedures, business decision-making, and planned aggressive advantage. chief application categories of IS in our company include function support systems, such as business deal processing systems, process control systems in addition to enterprise collaboration systems as well as management support systems, such as management information systems (MIS) , decision support systems, and managerial information systems. Other main categories are specialist systems, knowledge executive systems, strategic information systems, and functional business systems. on the other hand, in the real world most application categories are joint into cross-functional IS that offer information and support for;managerial and also perform prepared information processing actions. IT has done more than bringing the world closer together; it has permitted the world's financial system to become a single inter-reliant system. Therefore we are capable not only to share information fast and efficiently, however we can also reduce language barriers and geographic restrictions. It has assisted to bridge the cultural opening by helping community from different cultures to converse with one another, and permit for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing consciousness and plummeting prejudice. Now the world has turned out into a global village due to the help of IT making it possible for countries like Chile and Japan who are not only alienated by distance but also by verbal communication to shares ideas and information with one another. With the help of IT, communication has also grown to be cheaper, faster, and more proficient. We can at this moment communicate with anybody around the globe by just text messaging them or sending them an email for a nearly instantaneous reply. The internet has also released up face to face straight communication from dissimilar parts of the world thanks to the helps of video conferencing. For the majority businesses, there are a diversity of requirements for information. Higher-ranking managers need information to assist with their business preparation. Middle management needs additional detailed information to help them keep an eye on and control company activities. Workers with outfitted roles need information to assist them carry out their duties. Buy custom Information Systems Support essay

How computing has changed us essays

How computing has changed us essays Computing has changed the workplace dramatically over the last few years. Information technologies have taken over our infrastructure. It is now necessary to consider your organizational needs before you make any drastic changes. Managers must consider how these changes will affect different aspects such as human behavior. We need to see how the advent of telecommunications will affect peoples behavior. Will Email, database services, and teleconferencing affect our users? These are the questions we need to ask as managers of businesses considering organizational change. We need to assess any and all consequences of implementation of all the aspects mentioned before. Factors such as employee resistance are a big concern. For instance if an employee that hass a busy work load is expected to learn a lot of new procedures may become overwhelmed. This may result in less productivity and more job dissention, which is not good for anyone involved. Learning new ways of doing things can be an extra burden that some people may not have the time or the patience to deal with. As managers we need to find ways of easing organizational changes in to the work place. Another option is to provide training for the employees in need of it. Sometimes it is better to train everyone in the procedure rather than just training them on the equipment. They may be able to become efficient earlier with out knowing exactly how everything works but rather knowing how to accomplish the tasks they need to get done on a regular basis. We must discuss human behavior success factors. If technology is to be compatible with human, social, political, and economics patterns we need to recognize these factors. Not only recognize these factors but address them in a way that is conducive to the business. Human compatibility is obvious we already alluded to that. Social compatibility is another issue all together. Political compatibility is another factor that cannot be over...

The Personal and Professional Development of Students Essay

The Personal and Professional Development of Students - Essay Example My decision to appeal is mainly motivated by the fact that it has always been my cherished desire to pursue my higher academic qualifications from the university. The university is renowned for its personalized and excellent academic programs that significantly contribute to the personal and professional development of students. I strongly believe that my consistent high grade of 3.89 GPA in the academic programs and nomination to the Dean’s list would be a vital element in the reconsideration process. Moreover, last fall, I was not able to complete pre-calculus class (Math 43) due to ill health which was probably an important factor in my rejection. The calculus sequence would be completed by the summer, thus fulfilling all major requirements for the transfer. I am a self-driven individual with a passion for learning and tend to use paradoxical thinking to seek an innovative solution to mundane problems. I have actively participated in the Honors Program and Phi Theta Kappa t o push myself to a higher limit and motivate peers. Most importantly, the various modules of the course curricula are designed to provide persons with a strong knowledge-based degree which would facilitate more efficient and accurate decision-making process in the professional field in the area of economics and management. This would considerably complement my basic inquisitive nature and empower me with skills and information that can be applied to current situations and areas within personal and professional lives. I sincerely believe that the degree programs would be the right choice for me and help me realize my dreams and meet the challenges of time with great success.

Technology good or bad Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Technology good or bad - Research Paper Example Many new gadgets in the telecommunication industry, service industry as well s manufacturing are finding their away to the market each day, all determined to change our lives in one way or another. These changes in our lives are what we rate the advancement of technology. While it was not possible to use a phone device to make video class a few years ago, today, it is possible to do more than that and include teleconferencing. Technology has surely brought a new life to the global world. However, many have never thought about the impacts of technology to the negative and are only interested with the positive sides. The truth is that technology has created a much worse world than it used to be few years ago. An article in the CIO Enterprise Magazine by Gunasegaram (1999) elaborated that one thing that has affected the corporate world is the advent of the new technology. According to this report while several years back people could concentrate on their work and production was expandin g rapidly, currently employees can sit the whole day watching movies, chatting in social networks or reviewing irrelevant material over the internet during working hours. A survey carried out in there years to determine the effects of computers in the corporate world revealed that it has taken mangers another burden to devise ways of surveillance and tracking computers and network usage to ensure that employees do not visit unnecessary sites during production hours. Though the measures have been somehow successful, the report indicates that still 83% of companies involved in this research required more monitoring and even had to warn employees of the consequences if caught in such activities (Gunasegaram (1999). Though computers have been acquired by firms to enhance productivity and make work easier and faster, employees have turned them to tools of lazing around. A company has to undergo extra costs in designing software that have to guard the same employees against visiting the p rohibited sites in the work place. This is one of the challenges of technology in the corporate world. Education is another area that has experienced many challenges as a result of technological developments. Though the use of information systems eliminates the geographical and communication barriers, this has been at a high cost in the education sector. Students and young minds cannot differentiate between the real and virtue realities as a result of the technological gadgets. The result has been that the student fraternity has been confused in emulating virtual superstars whom they are in most cases obsessed with, in the expense of their studies (Hutchby and Ellis, 14). Movies that have become a daily encounter in the lives of children have resulted to a loss of generation that cannot differentiate reality with the virtual content that are shown in movies. Though there has been some kind of innovation as a result of this (Hutchby and Ellis, 13), many students have ended up living confused lives and obsessed with movies and other virtual images that are readily available overt the internet. This has downgraded the level of education in schools. Technology has reduced the education in schools to cyber theatrics, and has lost meaning of schooling as originally designed to be. In the earlier years, teachers were supposed to guide students through in class and develop a higher rapport in understanding their students. Currently, many schools are