Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence Free Online Research Papers With all the different things in the world that change day by day, some can beone can encounter positive and some can be negative changes. Due to the fact of breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI), the effect on the job world and how National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) contributes to the growth and positive reflection of Artificial Intelligence, it seems as though AI will definitely be a positive change. The future of the Artificial Intelligence is getting stronger and stronger as each day passes. With the unemployment rates still around 5.5% and decreasing from previous months, Artificial Intelligence is mostly a positive negative change on the outlook of the job market because of the advancement of technology. As NASA is the leading space aviator in the country, there is no one else fit to gain, boost moral and contribute towards AI. Artificial Intelligence will be one of the top technological necessities in the near future. As time, seasons, and technology change, so does the definition of Artificial Intelligence. â€Å"Artificial Intelligence, in light of this definition of intelligence, is simply the application of artificial or non-naturally occurring systems that use the knowledge-level to achieve goals† (Newell). The easiest definition to believe in is that AI is any machine that relates to a human if it’s through a program. Artificial Intelligence is â€Å"the ability of a computer or other machine to perform those activities that are normally thought to require intelligence† (Dictionary). Some machines were and are built to make our lives easier, keep us alive longer and stay healthy. â€Å"The only everyday ‘robots’ so far are things like car-building machines in Detroit, Sonys Aibo plastic dog, and mini-moon rovers that crawl through blast sites. Is the definition of the word robot ‘any machine that adjusts its own behavior according to feedback from its sensors?’ If so, thermostats, microwave ovens and light-sensitive patio lights are robots, too† (Pogue). With all the technological advancements everyday, Artificial Intelligence will improve over time. Artificial Intelligence is not just a machine that not only performs futile activities but can also provide useful help in lawenforcement, construction, cleaning, entertainment and medical services. The law Enforcement enforcement type is widely used as a robot that sees and moves into a territory to capture a video of the suspect or suspects. Another example of AI is used in law enforcement when Policeofficers get around streets, airports and sidewalks with the all newly invented Segway. With the use of the Segway, â€Å"You’re looking out above the crowd, you can see blocks ahead. It’s like you’re Shaquille O’Neal on wheels† (Mensching). Another type of military AI is Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) which has recently come to the front stage of research. These are small, lightweight devices that fly without operator control, thereby making them autonomous. Unmanned Air Vehicles are remotely piloted vehicles and robotic aircraft. They can be drastically cheaper to develop, build, and use than manned aircraft, which require sophisticated life support systems. With Artificial Intelligence being used to enforce laws, why not for construction? The answer is that it is already being used for construction with the back up of NASA. With multiple robots attacking one large pile of steel or any material it would be faster then if humans tried since the robots are stronger, smarter and group relating with all of the other robots. The Center Load behavior is activated when the force in the gimbal on either of the rovers exceeds a specified threshold. The corrective procedure, the lead rover performs its correction while the follow rover waits. When the lead rover has completed its correction, the rovers reverse and follow rover performs its correction. (RCC) You can’t seem to walk or drive anywhere without at least one person in a hurry. With the right equipment you now can vacuum your house when you’re on the go and shop at your favorite mall or sporting goods store. The Roomba is â€Å"a 3-inch-tall U.F.O.-like disc about a foot across now in red or blue with black accents that scuttles across floors and carpets, both sucking up dust and, with a spinning brush, whisking away bigger chunks of detritus. When it runs into something, it smartly rotates forty-five degrees and marches off in a different direction† (Pogue). Now with a robot that is considered Artificial Intelligence cleaning your floors for you while you’re not at home or near it, if that’s not amazing then what is? The next big type of breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence is that it’s being used to entertain humans all over the world. The aggressive progress of technology makes nearly every game a new beginning. Artificial Intelligence is very dependent on concrete details of the game environment. AI techniques can be applied to a variety of tasks in modern computer games. A game using networks to predict the players next move in order to pre-compute graphics may be on a high Artificial Intelligence level. Although AI must not always be real, the desire of Artificial Intelligence in computer games is primarily related to guiding non-player characters to make the game more entertaining. Yet another breakthrough in Artificial Intelligence is in the Medical medical field. With a surging elderly population in many countries throughout the world Artificial Intelligence will rise to unprecedented levels. â€Å"These advocates see robots serving not just as helperscarrying out simple chores and reminding patients to take their medicationbut also as companions, even if the machines can carry on only a semblance of a real dialogue† (Glick). The new addition for the elderly to live longer, stay healthy and be mobile through the use of robotics. The ideal results will be a major savings in medical costs, reduced burdens on the family and caretakers. Yasuyuki Toki, a researcher at NEC System Technologies, thinks emotional attachments to robots must be studied carefully. The future of Artificial Intelligence is in the hands of this generation and how it will impact the world. The world will not be the same today as in the futurewill not be the same in the future as today due to the technology boom, the creation, and ability to give AI â€Å"legal and ethical status to our here-and-now legal institutions† (Sokis). It has been said many times that by the year 2050 that our way of living and how we provide meals for holidays will drastically change due to AI. With the advancements of Artificial Intelligence â€Å"We will be sitting down to eat a synthetic turkey, with a robot helping out to prepare the trimmings† Jane Wakefield of BBC News Online states (Wakefield). There will also be information systems that will have real-time instructions that will monitor the cooking to make sure that it will not burn up like your Aunt’s meals every family gathering. By Christmas day 2050, through Artificial Intelligence, the atmosphere of the h oliday by Christmas 2050 it will all be all about the presents and nothing about the religious beliefs that have founded that surround the day. holiday. Some predictions for the future Christmas Christmas’s is are talking Barbie dolls which are able to respond to their owners and construction sets where the children will be able to design and build anything they put their minds to imagine.. With a new technology boom on the way and needed more then ever, it gives AI a great chance to experiment and develop some very useful and practical ideas for the near future. With the ability of purchasing groceries, clothes, automobiles and even houses in the luxury of your own home while wearing only your underwear is simply amazing because of the internet. The purchasing power of the internet has closely become a routine for many people all over the world. â€Å"When demand increases in one place, its consequences can be felt efficiently, and immediately, elsewhere. Wal-Mart led the way with it’s long-ago deal with Proctor Gamble automating shelf replenishment, but now that is also routine† (Kirkpatrick). The development of a program to distinguish what products need re-ordering and what products are expiring is impressive. Technology is not always a positive according to some people. As Mr. Heberling, a teacher at the local Webster Thomas High School and the head of the Science Olympiad team, has stated, that there a few negatives possibilities of Artificial Intelligence. In the interview with Mr. Heberling, the answer to the question of:I asked him how he saw AI in the future for himself. He responded, â€Å" â€Å"How do you see AI in the future for yourself? The answer was â€Å"A bad thing, because humans could eventually have the ability to lose control of the robot, whether they reason or not.† Mr. Heberling is not the only person who sees the advancement of Artificial Intelligence a negative issue. Another question asked to Mr. Heberling was,: Whatwhat are some concerns that you see with the advancement of AI? The output was, â€Å"Robots possibly and able to make decisions without human intervention, especially if biological.† Some say in the future robots will take us over and there is no way of stopping them. The ever so rise of machines will one day over power the ordinary job tasks that a few individuals think that are annoying and tidies. Even though â€Å"the aliveness’ into everything we do, and let electronic systems take over the dead, dull stuff, Samson says. winning Winning strategy for the information age is to inject ‘Richard Samson, author of the forthcoming book called ‘The Human Edge’, is convinced we are teetering on the precipice of an employment revolution for only the second time in modern history† (Crozier). The electronics revolution is a threat to the brain power of the human race. Many individuals have already been replaced by a machine. Take automobile manufacturing for instance,. The auto makers now have robots that do these jobs; paint the cars, weld, build assemblies, Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) milling, assembly line functions and Armature winders. With all the jobs that humans once had getting thrown off to the side by the robot that will never stop unless broken, complain to the boss, take a break, and never walk away from the job. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) contributes to the growth and positive reflection of Artificial Intelligence with the donation of more then $666,000.00 each year towards For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) to more than 111 teams and 5 events. The FIRST Robotics Competition is an exciting, multinational competition that teams professionals and young people to solve an engineering design problem in an intense and competitive way. The people at NASA also bring not only satellite broadcasts of the regional competitions and the nationals, but also the kickoff, which marks the start of a new season. NASA not only does the FIRST program but also the Botball program which gives students hands-on learning outside of the classroom to build and program a team of robots also project management skills that will prepare students for the workforce. NASA also has a Robotic Construction Crew that builds and constructs objects while computing with ot her robots. Many might ask what’s with all the talk about robots and Artificial Intelligence when we are not going to be taken over by an object that we have made? The answer is it that we have a chance to be taken over by robot might but, the realistic point as of today is that we will not be taken over by the creatures that we have developed happen and it might not happen; all we can do right now is wait and hope it doesn’t happen in the future. The future of AI looks bright and hopeful. While the breakthroughs are outstanding and don’t lack having the ability to do anything that we can put our minds to, AI is an endless supply of vast knowledge getting pout into a program to make our lives easier and better. Maybe in the future due to Artificial Intelligence we will be playing a sport on segways or a hovercraft type robot to score a point. The future could also lead to robots that will patrol our streets and keep the human police officers off the dangerous streets from be ing shot or dangerously injured. Possibly those same robots could be building our houses for us with out one single mistake or failure. It is not very hard notice once you walk through a well developed mall that you notice at least one video game store. The video game industry is a vast array of Artificial Intelligence that entertains people who enjoy sport games, first person shooters, role playing, and any other kind of video games. With all these people who enjoy video games, they will also enjoy all the different types of AI gifts for the holidays like a talking Barbie dolls which interact with their owners and construction sets that allow the user to build anything that will interact with the user. The medical purposes will let our mothers, grandmothers and pets live longer then they do. Artificial Intelligence will allow robots to keep an eye on our elderly and take care of them when needed. The effect of all this new technology to the world is mainly positive but also negativ e at the same time. Once we start replacing people at jobs with robots our unemployment rate will increase and will suffer a moderate depression even though the AI will also bring new jobs into the market. The only bad thing with the new jobs into the market is that the people who have lost the job will have to be re-educated and trained for the new jobs that interact with the robots that have taken over their job. Artificial Intelligence will be one of the top technological necessities in the near future because of all the breakthroughs, the increase on the job market, the inevitable technology boom, and all the contributions that the National Aeronautics and Space Administration bring to Artificial Intelligence. The world will be a better place and an excellent environment for future inventions, creatures, and even war now that Artificial Intelligence has an impact on how we will live and interact with the environment. As the technology boom declines we will be left with nothing t hat any person could have expected in return, a new outlook on life and how we see the world. Works Citied Crozier, Ry. â€Å"Rise of the Machines.† Electronic News.com. 14 Feb. 2005. Reed Business Information. 13 Feb. 2005 . Heberling, Charles. Personal interview. 11 Feb. 2005. Kirkpatrick, David. â€Å"The Real Boom.† 4 Dec. 2003. Fortune.com. 9 Feb. 2005 . Pogue, David. â€Å"The Robot Returns, Cleaning up.† 28 Aug. 2003. New York Times. 9 Jan. 2005 . â€Å"Robotic Construction Crew starts to work† robotslife.com 16 Jan. 2002 Robots Life. 9 Dec. 2004 â€Å"Robots seen as Companions for elderly.† AI Magazine Summer 2004, Vol. 25. Proquest. Webster Thomas High School, Thomas Library. 30 Nov. 2004 â€Å"SimCity used in AI experiment: new urban planning computers.† Computer Shopper Aug. 1992, Vol. 12. Pro Quest. Webster Thomas High School, Thomas Library. 30 Nov. 2004 Soskis, Benjamin. â€Å"Man and the Machines.† Legal Affairs. Jan/Feb. 2005. LegalAffairs.org. 3 Jan. 2005 . Wakefield, Jane. â€Å"Hi-Tech Ghosts of Christmas Future.† 25 Dec. 2002. BBC News. 12 Jan. 2005 . Websters Revised Unabridged Dictionary  © 1996, 1998 MICRAWith Christmas 2050 coming soon, how could all those vegetarian people not like the turkey that is cooked by your robot companion and is made of 0% real turkey? Research Papers on Artificial intelligenceBionic Assembly System: A New Concept of SelfPETSTEL analysis of IndiaHip-Hop is ArtOpen Architechture a white paperAnalysis of Ebay Expanding into AsiaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoThe Project Managment Office SystemInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalTwilight of the UAW

Article Summaries Essay examples

Article Summaries Essay examples Article Summaries Essay examples Research Summary Paper PP7050: Physiological Psychology Argosy University, Orange County 23 October 2013 Article Summary: â€Å"Neuroimaging in Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury: Current and Future Predictors of Functional Outcome†(Suskauer & Huisman, 2009) A review by Suskaur and Huisman (2009) discusses new brain imaging techniques (i.e., diffusion weighted (DWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI), and H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-MRS)) and presents current research on their abilities to identify functional outcomes following TBI in the pediatric population due to their sensitivity in detecting microstructural brain injuries such as diffuse axonal injury (DAI). This review also discusses traditional anatomical imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as their insensitivity in detecting microstructural brain injuries. The authors suggest that the ability to more accurately identify the degree of brain injury early on may assist in determining patients’ sequelae of injury, individualizing treatment, implementing early intervention to limit further brain injury, and increasing efficiency of rehab for patients. Current research studies related to this review are referenced. For example, according to Lee and Newberg (2005), brain imaging following TBI is often essential to identifying patients’ sequelae of injury and prompting necessary interventions (i.e., surgery). This supports the clinical relevance of this review. Furthermore, according to Bauer and Fritz (2004), many age-related differences between the brain of a child and that of an adult exist that impact injury and rehabilitation. Therefore, the authors of this review solely focus on the pediatric population for the sake of continuity of findings. The method employed in this review was a review of current literature. Specifically, details of brain imaging methods are explicated. For example, according to the authors, CT is quick, easy, and accessible and provides information on the acute setting of TBI. However it has limited ability to identify the extent of DAI, only presents more obvious injuries, and is limited by its use of ionizing radiation. MRI is more accurate in detecting DAI. MRI studies have revealed associations between anatomical locations of lesions and post-TBI global functioning. For example, studies have demonstrated that deeper, more centrally located brain lesions are associated with worse outcomes (Grados et al., 2001). Anatomical MRI studies have also demonstrated relationships between post-traumatic ADHD, personality change, anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorders. However, there is no significant consensus in this literature. DWI is a new, noninvasive functional MRI technique that shows differentiation between the diffusion of protons in the brain and, therefore, differentiation between cytotoxic and vasogenic edemas, which are associated with DAI. Studies reveal that vasogenic may be reversible, while cytotoxic usually is not. Overall, DWI provides a greater degree of abnormality and better predicts outcomes compared to other techniques. DTI takes it a step further and measures the direction and proportion of diffusion. DTI results have been found to demonstrate relationships with injury severity and functional outcome. Additionally, DTI shows promise for future research investigating underlying mechanisms of recovery and pediatric brain development. SWI measures extracellular and extravascular blood products in the brain. It is very sensitive in detecting quantity and volume of lesions, which are associated with global (i.e., coma) and neurocognitive outcomes (i.e., IQ). H-MRS assesses for injury by analyzing the presence of neurometabolites. Disturbance in these has been found to be predictive of specific outcomes (i.e., good/bad, cognitive, and behavioral). In sum, future research

Political Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

Political Communication - Essay Example Findings & Analysis Question 1 The initial question of the survey aimed at determining the significance and importance of an effective political communication system with respect to the worldwide community in relation to Bahrain’s global reputation. It was found in this regard that majority of the individuals, i.e. nearly 53% found this particular aspect to be extremely important (refer to figure 1). The majority of the respondents believed in the fact of keeping up a strong procedure and system of political communication with the global community for the reason of managing the international reputation of Bahrain. Although, the other 40% of the respondents did not consider this factor to be extremely significant, even though identifying this notion to be quite an important factor (refer to figure 1). However, the remaining 7% of the respondents merely regarded this notion to be important to a limit and did not find it necessary to focus much attention (refer to figure 1). Anot her significant aspect that came into light was that none of the respondents did completely disregard this specific stated idea. This implies that most of the respondents believed in the above stated fact. The graphical representation of this fact can be observed below: Figure 1 The above response obtained from the question evidently relates to the fact of considering political communication to be immensely important as well as quite critical for a particular country to build and enhance its global reputation (Umland, 1999). Question 2 Political communication has already been considered to be a vital aspect for developing and managing the reputation of a country. This particular question of the survey made efforts to identify the gaps that are supposed to exist in the manner the... Political communication has already been considered to be a vital aspect for developing and managing the reputation of a country. This particular question of the survey made efforts to identify the gaps that are supposed to exist in the manner the political communications are dealt with in Bahrain. 53.3% of the respondents believed that few of the information that gets communicated politically are assumed to be partially true. 23.3% of the respondents in this regard stated that all the information generated in the process of political communication was considered to be untrue or rather misleading (refer to figure 2). 40% of the individuals displayed their opinion regarding the fact that the generated information was increasingly subjected to opinion rather than any portrayal of facts (refer to figure 2). The majority of the respondents, i.e. around 76.7% stated that the information was not issued at the appropriate time which turned to be quite a significant gap with regard to the pr ocess of political communication (refer to figure 2). The similar percentage of respondents, i.e. 76.7%, also agreed to the fact that the information proves to be insufficient in answering the queries of the general public (refer to figure 2). 46.7% of the respondents considered the generated political information to be discriminatory (refer to figure 2). Furthermore, 53.3% of the respondents also supposed that the information provided was inadequate in nature as it lacked in encompassing all the facts as well as concerned individuals.

Motivation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Motivation - Essay Example This is an interpretation of the fact that organizational goals have been attained with the inclusion of motivational strategies among the employees. In all organizations, it is the responsibility of the managers to ensure that the employees are always motivated through a study of the needs of these employees and organizing them according to the needs of the staff. In this case, therefore, the cases of dissatisfaction among the employees will be minimal since assessment of the needs of the staff are well scrutinized, making the employers have a chance to motivate these employees towards attaining the performance of the entire organization. Moreover, motivation has been accredited for its ability to drive the employees towards goal attainance, by aiding the employees get over the factors that restrained goal achievement (Gerhart, 2005). In light to this argument, motivation can be described as the direction towards setting the pace for goal attainment and completion. If the managers h ave the need to make their organizations achieve the best, the desire for accomplishment can only be possible if they motivate the employees. However, Herrera (2002) cautions all the managers against applying motivational strategies in the organization prior to consulting the employees on their opinions. In turn, the organization enjoys productive employees, who are self directed towards making tangible decisions regarding the organizational objectives. Studies indicate that employees who are motivated are more enthusiastic and are constantly on the move to ensure that the organization attains the best through dedicated service. These groups of motivated employees must be treated with utmost respect as are the custodians of the organizations. This is emphasized in the work by Holton, Dent & Rabbetts (2009) who argue that employee preparedness cannot be overruled in a discussion of successful organizations. From the research compiled by Panisoara & Panisoara (2006), high-quality perf ormance in organizations is greatly correlated with motivated workers. In the quest to achieve organizational goals, apposite motivation among the employees has led to the employees having the ability to deal with any form of challenges that they may face. This is also linked to the fact that the managers always allocate roles to the employees that are best suited so that they get contented while performing them. An industrial company mainly depends on human labour to achieve its goals. Human labour comprises of about 50 percent of the most valuable assets in these organizations. According to Ramlall (2004), employees in manufacturing companies carry the biggest responsibility on whether the company competes relatively in the market. As almost all companies do, they should try as much as possible to retain their current group of employees. In HS Engineering, the decrease in profits and turnover may be attributed to sloppiness among employees. With multiple operations going on in the company, motivation and rewarding of employees should be the first priority if they have to get back to their profit making ways. In an argument by Schepers, et al., (2005) an organization where the needs of employees are ignored, the turnover and profits rate must be at their lowest levels. Organizations must consider several factors when dealing in employee’s welfare. For instance, the cost of acquiring a new labour workforce in the United Kingdom is very costly. The U.K as a developed country, individuals

Why study Chemical and Biological Engineering Essay Example for Free

Why study Chemical and Biological Engineering Essay Engineering combines quantitative analysis and synthesis to elucidate system design principles. Through the genomics revolution engineers can now begin to tackle biological problems using the same measure, model, and manipulate approach they have applied to physics and chemistry. Indeed, applying this system approach is widely recognised as essential not only for the development of innovative biotechnologies but also to yield fundamental scientific understanding of biological systems. As our ability to modify and control biological systems increases, biological processes will replace chemical and mechanical processes due to their inherent advantages of renewable resources, mild operation conditions and minimal waste problems. Early signs of the change are seen not only in the high-value pharmaceutical industry, but also in the production of bulk chemicals like lysine by fermentation and in bioleaching of copper and gold from mineral ore. Advances in our understanding of and ability to mimic biological systems are also inspiring completely new approaches such as nanotechnology and tissue engineering, which will form the foundation of new industries of the 21st century. Chemical biology is a scientific discipline spanning the fields of chemistry and biology. It involves the application of chemical techniques and tools, often compounds produced through synthetic chemistry, to the study and manipulation of biological systems. Chemical biologists attempt to use chemical principles to modulate systems to either investigate the underlying biology or create new function. Research done by chemical biologists is often closer related to that of cell biology than biochemistry. Biochemists study of the chemistry of biomolecules and regulation of biochemical pathways within cells and tissues, e. g. cAMP or cGMP, while chemical biologists deal with novel chemical compounds applied to biology. Pharmacology researches the effect of highly selective chemical compounds on cells, tissues, organs and organisms. Toxicology researches the adverse effect of highly selective chemical compounds on cells, tissues, organs and organisms. In the field of drug discovery, hit identification is the screening of chemical libraries of small molecules in biological systems such ascell lines or whole animals to identify compounds that cause a desirable change in phenotype. [1] This strategy which employsphenotypic screening to identify starting points for drug discovery is also known as classical pharmacology,[2] forward pharmacology,[3]or phenotypic drug discovery (PDD). [4] In ecology, you study the relationships among organisms. You look at past, present, and future environments. You examine factors such as population size, pollutants, rainfall, temperature, and altitude. You study various environments oceans, deserts, forests, and grasslands and the dynamics of each habitat. You learn about plants, animals, birds, fish, and humans. You also learn about natural predators and how species compete for food, water, and shelter. This program requires a broad background in the life and natural sciences. The study of ecology enables you to contribute to our understanding and preservation of the natural world. Some community colleges offer a two-year program in this field. With this preparation, you can work as a field crewmember, technical assistant, or lab technician. Pharmacology is the branch of medicine andbiology concerned with the study of drug action,[1] where a drug can be broadly defined as any man-made, natural, or endogenous (within the body) molecule which exerts a biochemical and/or physiological effect on the cell, tissue, organ, or organism. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemi cals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function. If substances have medicinalproperties, they are considered pharmaceuticals. Astronomy The natural world beyond the earth Astrophysics All physics required to understand astronomical phenomena (includes elements of nearly all fields of physics) Cosmology The universe: its origin, structure, and evolution on the largest possible scale Cosmogony The origin of the universe (and sometimes the solar system), is a subfield of cosmology Astrochemistry All chemistry required to understand astronomical phenomena (primarily the chemistry of the interstellar medium and protostellar accretion disks) Space Science The physics of the interplanetary medium Planetary Science The physics of planets, their formation, structure and evolution Astrology The purported relationships between the planetary positions at the time of a persons birth, that persons personality, and events in that persons life. A pseudoscience, has no scientific basis.

NETWORK EFFECTS AND COMPETITION: :: essays research papers

In many industries, the network of consumers using compatible products or services influences the benefits of consumption. Positive network effects arise when the consumer utility of using a product or service increases with the number of users of that product or service. The telephone system is a widely used example since it seems clear that the value of being part of the network rises as the network sizes increases. Consumption benefits can also arise in markets where a large customer network leads to increases in complementary products and services, which in turn, leads to increased consumer utility (e.g., see Farrell and Saloner 1985; Katz and Shapiro 1985;1986). Prominent examples of industries thought to exhibit network effects include automated bank teller machines, computer hardware and software, videocassette recorders, video games, and Internet web browsers. Not surprisingly, network externalities and the implications of having a large installed customer base are receiving increased attention by strategy researchers (e.g., Garud and Kumaraswamy 1993; Hill 1995; Wade 1995). As noted by Majumdar and Venkataraman (1998), the literature related to network effects broadly tackles three categories of research questions: (1) technology adoption decisions (e.g., what factors are related to whether and when a new technology is adopted), (2) technology compatibility decisions (e.g., what factors influence a firm’s decision to seek compatibility), and (3) decisions among competing incompatible technologies (e.g., what factors are related to consumers’ choices among rival incompatible products within a single product category). While theoretical research has addressed all three of these categories, empirical research has been limited to the first and second categories of questions (e.g., see the reviews in David and Greenstein 1990; Liebowitz and Margolis 1994; Economides 2001). Empirical efforts supporting the existence of network effects for a single product technology show that a larger network size is related to higher minicomputer sales (Hartman and Teece 1990), higher likelihood of adopting a new telecommunications technology (Majumdar and Venkataraman 1998), and quicker adoption of a new banking technology (Saloner and Sheppard 1995). In addition, Gandal (1994; 1995) and Brynjolfsson and Kemerer (1996) use a hedonic price model to show that consumers are willing to pay higher prices for software products that are compatible with the dominant product standard, i.e., the product with the larger customer network. However, with the exception of a few industry case studies (e.g., Gabel 1991; Grindley 1995; Liebowitz and Margolis 1999), we are unaware of any published studies that empirically investigate the nature of network effects in an industry with multiple competing product technologies that are incompatible.

Rabbit Proof Fence Essay

Physical journeys involve the movement of a person from one place to another. They provide opportunities for travellers to extend themselves physically, intellectually and emotionally as they respond to challenges and learn more about the world around them. This concept of physical journeys can be clearly seen in the texts â€Å"Rabbit-Proof Fence† by Phillip Noyce and â€Å"A Horse with No Name† by America. Both texts use a number of methods and technical features, to represent the journey and the impact of its result. The film â€Å"Rabbit-Proof Fence† tells the story of 3 Aboriginal girls (Molly, Daisy and Gracie) who travel on foot across 1500km of inhospitable Australian outback to be reunited with their family, after being forcibly removed by the Australian government. It has been represented as a physical journey of epic proportions, an act of survival and a quest for freedom, as the girls lead by Molly, overcome various obstacles. Such as surviving without food, water or shelter in the harsh Australian bushland, while navigating their way home via the rabbit-proof fence and cleverly outsmarting their tracker. The primary setting of the text is the physical landscape of outback Australia over which the girls embark their journey. This landscape is used throughout the film to represent the progression of the girl’s journey through its changing terrain, emphasising the distance they have travelled and the hardships that they have had to face. Their lack of freedom on the journey is represented visually through the juxtaposition of point of view shots of the landscape through the bars of imprisonment, when they are being sent away. This contrasts the previous scenes where an aerial shot is taken of them roaming freely, in their vast and spacious environment. In effect it symbolises they oppression that they feel and creates an understanding of the importance of the journey to the girls. The use of other film techniques such as slow motion, the playing of indigenous Australian music and close-up shots of their faces during the girls travels emphasis their physical and emotional displacement as a result of the journey. Also as the film is seen through the eyes of Molly we are aware of the importance of the journey to her through her continuous determination, as well as the impact it has had on her through her gradual deterioration and exhaustion. The film relies on the conventions of realism to represent the physical journey undertaken. The hardship of the journey is illustrated through a series of images, including a heat haze-where they are dragging their feet through the sand, them digging desperately for water and Molly carrying Daisy, as she cannot continue any longer. This physical journey has resulted in individual learning and growth and an understanding of the world. This is particularly evident through the character of Molly. As a result of this journey, she has discovered many things about herself, her spirituality and her identity, as well as the world she lives in, and her place in it. In the song â€Å"A Horse with No Name† a story is told about a man travelling by himself through the desert on a horse. He is exploring the world, and discovering things about himself and life without the interruptions that society and its people bring. The theme of physical journey has been reinforced by the consistent rhyming pattern of ABAB throughout the song. As it flows, it progressively reveals his story and reinforces the impact it has had on him. The concept of physical journey has also been achieved through the choice of words that reveal his inner feelings and motifs. Evidence of this is in the line â€Å"in the desert you can remember your name, cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain†. This indicates he is on the search for his identity and to escape from society, which inturn represents the physical journey as a quest for spiritual growth and change. Throughout the journey the man looks many aspects of nature and life, these have had an impact on him physically due to the harsh climate of the desert and emotionally due to the sadness he feels in the face of death. This is illustrated through the use of figurative language in the lyrics and shows the impact and reality of the journey. The metaphor â€Å"the ocean is a desert with its life underground, and a perfect disguise above† represents and adds depth to the theme of physical journeys resulting in discovery and an understanding of the world. The extensive use of visual features and imagery such as â€Å"the sky with no clouds†, and the â€Å"red hot desert sun† coupled with the precise attention to descriptive detail, offers a realism to the experiences on his journey and the impact that this journey has made in his life. In conclusion, in both â€Å"rabbit-proof fence† and â€Å"a horse with no name† the concept of physical journeys is represented as a way by which people learn about themselves and discover the world around them, and will often result in spiritual growth.

Study on the Financial Management for Small Business

Financial Management for the Small Business B. The â€Å"Thirteen Steps† to acquiring a business B. Beginning the search-who can help? 2. Choosing the method that is best for your situation 3. Some different methods of valuing a business VI. The rewards of working for yourself The decision to purchase a business of your own is not an easy task. There are many things to consider before the final decision is made. First of all, exactly what do you want to accomplish? To make millions of dollars, right? Or is it to have the freedom of being your own boss? Whatever the reason, you must be sure that it is something that you are ready to devote an exorbitant amount of time and energy into and that it is something that you really want. Otherwise, you might be stuck doing something that you hate. If you are ready to commit then you must ask yourself just how far will that commitment extend. How much of your own time, energy, and money are you willing to sacrifice? After the decision is made, the acquisition of a small business can be summed-up into nine steps, in which most will be elaborated upon later. â€Å"These are the nine steps to any business acquisition, regardless of its size or industry: 1. The search, locating a business available for sale. 2. Identifying alternative candidates. 9. Managing the transition period.† (Tuller, 10) Some considerations that cannot be avoided when purchasing a small business include: the question of needing a partner, the current economic factors, considering alternate locations, and developing a tax strategy. When debating whether or not a partner is needed or wanted, you need to know if you're going to need additional equity as well as sharing the risk of failure. For these reasons, a partnership seems to be a great idea, but there are also many cons that should be recognized. Having too many partners can alter the ease of decision-making, shared liability can cause obvious problems, and sharing profits means less for you. Added to this, getting out of a partnership can be very difficult. Evaluating the current economic factors simply means to know what you are getting into. Be sure to have some knowledge about the business itself and it's market. Know how to make and sell the product efficiently and in a service industry, be sure to know the current and correct way things are done-sometimes they are not one in the same. Location is key. â€Å"Location of the target can be a major determinate in both the financing of the deal and probable success in managing the business after closing†¦There's no sense spending time, effort, and money on a target located in the wrong place.† (Tuller, 12) Along with this, the personal strife of having to travel a great distance to get to work can be very frustrating. So, be sure that the location of your potential business is profitable in every way. One the greatest minds of the 20th century, Albert Einstein, once said, â€Å"tax is the most difficult thing in the world to understand†. Unfortunately, with the ever-changing laws, that problem gets worse every year. This means that you should have knowledge of the current tax laws. â€Å"‘You will have a unique opportunity to make decisions on exactly how much money will change hands, and how I will allocated on the payment schedule.†(Smorgenburg, 112) Maximizing profit for both you and the seller can only be done through proper knowledge of tax law, if you are not comfortable handling this alone, a consultant might not bad a bad idea. After all of the above is settled, the next thing to figure is the amount of initial income is required. Not only the income required to purchase the entity (which will be elaborated upon later), but also the amount of money that you need to survive for the years to come. â€Å"If you need $100,000, then don't look at smaller companies which can only yield $30,000.† (Tuller, 23) â€Å"The following 13 steps will help to locate a target and close the deal in the shortest possible time-and when buying a company, time is money. 2. Prepare a reasonable Acquisition Plan. 3. Review current tax laws for structuring the deal. 4. Develop a detailed plan for sourcing potential targets. 5. Perform a preliminary due diligence investigation. 6. Negotiate a price and terms based on a realistic valuation. 7. Perform a thorough due diligence investigation. 8. Prepare a complete business plan. 9. Develop sources for at least three alternative financing structures. 10. Arrange for the final updated due diligence investigation. 11. Write the Buy/Sell Agreement and negotiate the final contract language. 12. Plan how you will operate the company after closing. Yet another crucial instrument in the purchase of any business is the Acquisition Plan. This document lists every step and detail leading to the closing of the deal. Starting with the industry survey, it lists the start date, the finish date, and the cost of each of these processes. Following the survey is the target search, then on to the due diligence investigations. The importance of this plan revolves around the organization of a solid purchase. With this, you are able to enact the purchase at the right moment for you, this time being a buyer's market. If you need to wait out the bear market, you can do it much easier with everything laid out in front of you. Hence, the Acquisition Plan does the job. All of the above steps and considerations are a waste if you are unable to find a business for sale. The difficulty of finding the type of business that you will purchase is put to ease through an M & A consultant, accountant, or simply browsing the Wall Street Journal. A smaller gas station or party store-type business can usually be found in the local paper. On the other hand, if you are looking for a larger company, an M & A consultant may be pricey (2-15,000 dollars for a retainer), but this is probably the best way to go. Be sure to ask the consultant many questions regarding his or her creditability. For instance, get a list of references and ask about the number of deals he closed in the past 12 months. Negotiating a purchase price involves a thorough valuation of the projected purchase. Evaluation of a business is essential because you need to know what you are paying for and how much you should pay. † If you are a buyer, your valuation will also be helpful to you when you meet with lenders, so that you can help justify the mount you are asking to borrow. For this purpose alone, however, a valuation is not generally worth the effort.† (Horn, 20) There are many different methods that you can use to properly determine the value of the entity. The most common methods are as follows: the Ability-To-Pay Method, this method is used in almost all buy/sell cases. It makes clear whether the acquisition can pay for itself out of its own cash flow. The Discounted Cash Flow Method is most often used when the company is going to be purchased as an investment and held for a limited number of years. It is also used in high-risk situations, such as highly leveraged deals that have more of a proportion of debt than usual. The third method is the Excess Earnings Method, used to value any profitable company. The Excess Earnings method â€Å"assumes that a business is worth the market value of its tangible assets, plus a premium for ‘goodwill' if the earnings are high enough.†(Horn, 51) Another area that must be calculated is goodwill. â€Å"Goodwill is not an operating cost and cannot be depreciated. It does not provide you with tax relief†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Smorenburg, 114) Since there is no record of the worth of goodwill, it can be fairly difficult to determine an accurate buying price. Usually the seller will set the price based on their knowledge of the company. The set price, however, should be reasonable. Negotiations can be made to produce an agreeable price. The next step is to set a purchase price. â€Å"There is no right or wrong way to value a business. Each company has different characteristics†¦ Obviously, the seller will argue that the net asset value method is right because that's what he invested in the business.†(Tuller, 103) You should consider all factors in the P/E/ ratios, liquidation value, net asset value, and historic and projected cash flow. After analyzing these aspects of the business, you should be able to determine a fair price for the entity. â€Å"The letter of intent is a document that aims to formalize the terms around which a later negotiation will revolve. As such, the letter is primarily a tentative offer that remains subject to further negotiations and confirmation of material facts through a process of due diligence†¦By offering a letter of intent, you tangibly solidify your resolve and thereby make the seller understand that you are a serious buyer.†(Smorenburg, 126) The letter of intent covers the precise terms of the deal, the payment details, and management and other issues involving the transfer. You need to give your accountant and lawyer a draft of the letter for review. This way, you are protected from any loopholes that can harm you. It proves that you are a serious buyer and entices the seller to more openly discuss sensitive aspects of the business. The letter is a written contract that can be legally cancelled at any time without the consent of the other party, so be sure that you and the seller are in agreement. Once everything is settled and you and the seller are in agreement to the term of the letter of intent, the next task you face is finding the initial capital. Using other people's money to finance a purchase is a key ingredient if business success. Financing falls into two separate categories: debt and equity. Debt financing is the most elementary of the two. It is basically taking a loan from a lender and paying it back with interest. It is reliant on the business or individual's ability to pay the loan off. Usually, collateral will be made available to the source of the loan in the case that you cannot continue to make payments. A good credit history and reputation is another aspect that financing is reliant upon. With these, a loan is much easier to get. â€Å"Equity financing means obtaining funds in exchange for selling or giving up a part of interest in the business. Equity financing is not a loan; rather, it is the sale of a part of you business.†(Fallek, 82) The popularity of equity financing has increased in the high tech industries in the past few years. However, selling a part of your newly purchased business may not be your cup of tea, so choose your type of financing wisely. Some traditional sources of capital include yourself, family and friends, commercial banks, loan companies, insurance companies, credit unions and private investors. The old saying, â€Å"don't mix business with pleasure† is applicable when dealing with family and friends. Taking a loan from these sources can cause turmoil if the loan cannot be paid back. Banks are the standard for business lending. â€Å"The amount they charge is based on two factors: the size and history of the customer and the risk the bank will take in providing the loan.†(Fallek, 85) If you are able to decrease the bank's risk and have a standing credit line, you will get the most out of your loan. The other types of traditional lenders are less frequently used, but are also good sources of capital. â€Å"Nontraditional money sources are unlimited in number and type, but you need to be creative to acquire the necessary funds from them.†(Fallek, 89) These sources include customers, suppliers, leasing companies, local development companies, and advertising for money. Customers or potential customers are often great sources of funding, as well as suppliers. Suppliers will furnish you with the necessary equipment and product. Leasing companies and local development companies are also good nontraditional sources of capital. â€Å"You can actively seek funding by running a display advertisement in the business section under the appropriate heading in the classified ads of your local newspaper. Specify the amount of money needed and the type of business for which it will be used.†(Fallek, 91) Yet another source for funding might be through the Small Business Administration. They offer different types of loan programs to small businesses. The SBA Guaranteed Loan Program grants a loan on the basis that the individual needs more time than allotted by other lenders to pay back the loan, has insufficient credit, or lack business experience. â€Å"There are no restrictions as to the number of SBA loans a company or individual may have, as long as the SBA's exposure does not exceed $750,000.†(Fallek, 96) The final step in acquisition of a business is the closing. You will need a lawyer if you don't currently have one. The search for the right lawyer requires certain questions to be answered. For instance, you want to find out the lawyer's hourly rates, experience, availability, if there is any conflict of interest between the lawyer and the seller, and any other applicable questions. The best way to find a lawyer is word of mouth, ask friends and family for references. When a lawyer is located, you must then begin the audit review. â€Å"Even thought most buyers work with their local CPA in preparing the business plan and counsel with him on tax matters relative to the acquisition, the audit review should be preformed by an independent CPA firm in the same city as the target company; preferably on of the ‘Big-5' firms†¦ The audit review consists of a comprehensive look at business since the last audit with particular emphasis on determining the adequacy of internal controls and internal reports.†(Tuller, 192) Be sure to take this step, it examines all aspects of the business and insures that it is a safe investment. After this is complete, it's time to close the deal. The documents generally needed for proper closure are: a buy/sell agreement, an earn out agreement, a promissory note terms and conditions agreement, title search and title insurance, lease agreements, employment contracts, personal guarantees, and an equity agreement with the lender. These documents are dealt with and an announcement should be made to the employees, customers, and vendors of the change in ownership. â€Å"There is a mood of anticipation, of excitement, and even-if the truth be know-of fear. Of all the events which take place in the business world, nothing can match an acquisition closing for pure excitement and thrill.†Ã¢â‚¬Ëœ(Tuller, 203) the actual signing of the transfer documents will not usually take more than an hour. The key is not to worry about what you are signing, that's what your lawyer is for. After all the money spent, the time devoted and the effort put forth, the business is finally yours. Running your own business can be very rewarding. You don't have anyone to answer to besides the government. You are in complete control. Along with this the ability to write off certain expenses is enough of a reward in itself. The effort you put forth is completely up to you. The life and death of the business is in your hands.

How to Write a Good Research Project on Cell Biology

How to Write a Good Research Project on Cell Biology Throughout your educational journey, writing a research project will be a constant occurrence in your pursuit of a degree. Therefore, mastering the basis of research writing is an endeavor that will serve you well in the foreseeable future. To simplify the difficult task of conducting research and writing accurately, here are some timely tips on writing an excellent research project. The first step to take in defining your research is choosing a topic. The importance of a topic in organizing your research cannot be overestimated. It helps you focus your research, come up with a writing template and allows you to center your findings on this template. Using cell biology as an example, a great topic would be ‘Analyzing the role of Cell Membranes in Protecting a Cell’. What makes this great is that you can include interesting examples on how membranes work, using either the human skin or seed coats in legumes. Therefore, when choosing a topic, ensure that you choose one that interests you. You can find other interesting topics on cell biology here: 20 cell biology research project topics. Next, you organize and conduct your research. Integrating the use of well-thought out information, statistics or case studies when making a point scores you more points with your educator. Remember that this is a research project, which means you are tasked with investigating the facts or statistics surrounding your topic and presenting it intelligently when writing. Therefore, conducting an extensive research on your chosen topic prepares you for the next phase which consists of putting your ideas to paper. Organizing your research notes requires a set structure. This structure will also determine how you go about writing the actual research project. Most research assignments already come with the structure favored by the educators, but if not, there are a couple of templates you can use. Your best bet structurally is going with the classic: abstract, introduction, project body and conclusion. Carrying out revisions is the quickest road to perfection. Once you have written your first draft, it is important to note that to make mistakes is normal and we all make mistakes when writing. Therefore before patting yourself on the back, it is crucial to go through the entire project. Ensure you keep an eye out for syntax errors, misinterpretation of data and grammatical mistakes that will need edits. Therefore taking time out to proofread your project regardless of its length will definitely save you from wasted efforts. Lastly, a good conclusion summarizing the reasons for the research, the questions it raises and those it answers is a great way to sign out. To learn more about cell biology when tasked with writing a research project on it, simply read this article covering 10 facts for a research project on cell biology. The aim of both articles is to prepare you and reduce the research task ahead of you.

Chinese Business Etiquette

Chinese Business Etiquette From setting up a meeting to formal negotiations, knowing the right words to say is integral in conducting business. This is especially true if you are hosting or are guests of international business people. When planning or attending a Chinese business meeting, keep these tips on Chinese business etiquette in mind. Setting Up a Meeting When setting up a Chinese business meeting, it is important to send as much information to your Chinese counterparts in advance. This includes details about the topics to be discussed and background information on your company. Sharing this information ensures that the people you want to meet will actually attend the meeting. However, preparing in advance will not get you confirmation of the actual meeting’s day and time. It is not uncommon to wait anxiously until the last minute for confirmation. Chinese businessmen often prefer waiting until a few days before or even the day of the meeting to confirm the time and place. Arrival Etiquette Be on time. Arriving late is considered rude. If you do arrive late, apologizing for your tardiness is a must. If you are hosting the meeting, it is proper etiquette to send a representative to greet the meeting’s participants outside the building or in the lobby, and then personally escort them to the meeting room. The host should be waiting in the meeting room to greet all meeting attendants. The senior-most guest should enter the meeting room first. While entrance by rank is a must during high-level government meetings, it is becoming less formal for regular business meetings. Seating Arrangements at a Chinese Business Meeting After handshakes and exchanging business cards, guests will take their seats. The seating is typically arranged by rank. The host should escort the senior-most guest to his or her seat as well as any VIP guests. The place of honor is to the host’s right on a sofa or in chairs that are opposite the room’s doors. If the meeting is held around a large conference table, then the guest of honor is seated directly opposite the host. Other high-ranking guests sit in the same general area while the remainder of the guests can choose their seats from among the remaining chairs. If the meeting is held around a large conference table, all the Chinese delegation may opt to sit on one side of the table and foreigners on the other. This is especially true for formal meetings and negotiations. The principal delegates are seated in the meeting with lower ranking attendees placed at either end of the table. Discussing Business Meetings usually begin with small talk to help both sides feel more comfortable. After a few moments of small talk, there is a short welcoming speech from the host followed by a discussion of the meeting’s topic. During any conversation, Chinese counterparts will often nod their heads or make affirmative utterances. These are signals that they are listening to what is being said and understand what is being said. These are not agreements to what is being said. Do not interrupt during the meeting. Chinese meetings are highly structured and interjecting beyond a quick remark is considered rude. Also, don’t put anyone on the spot by asking them to provide information they seem unwilling to give or challenge a person directly. Doing so will lead them to become embarrassed and lose face.

Assignment on Project management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Assignment on Project management - Essay Example At the same time production and sales team should try to reduce production, marketing and sales cost. In order to reduce Cost, Company can try for new techniques for marketing as well as sales, but while doing so customer reaction to these changes should not be ignored. If any changes are done without analyzing market reaction it may result in crisis. â€Å"Gourmet Direct is a web-based New Zealand company delivering high quality gourmet products to the food industry and the public. The company experienced a crisis of customer confidence and loss of business when it attempted to rationalize its product lines by changing from a pick and mix ordering system to having only a set number of packs available for sale. This change was designed to achieve cost savings through a reduced inventory and reduced distribution expenses, but had a further consequence of reducing product availability and ordering flexibility for customers. Customers immediately expressed their displeasure, and the company’s sales plunged dramatically in the year that the decision was implemented. With the bulk of the companys sales usually occurring over the Christmas period, December sales almost halved. The following first quarter sales dropped an alarming 76% compared to the same period in the previous year† In this case company changed its sales policies from a pick and mix ordering system to having only a set number of packs available for sale in order to reduce inventory and distribution expenses, But due to this changes customers found less options for selection and faced lack of availability of product. This was the actual reason for customer dislikes and they stopped buying, which finally resulted in reduced sales on company side. Clearly this is mistake from company’s side. Company should not have implemented changes suddenly all over market at the same time.

Legal advice ( case study) Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Legal advice ( ) - Case Study Example This will include statutes and regulations that specifically define the use of such exclusion clauses in a contract. There are two situations involved in this case that would impact on the contractual obligations of Harpreet. The first involves the agreement between the hotel and Joseph and Rebecca. Their contract already involves Harpreet having received the monetary deposit. The cancellation of the wedding reception would, first and foremost, pose the question of whether Harpreet would be obligated to return the deposit given by the couple. In the second scenario, the question posed would be the liability, if ever, of Harpreet for the damage to one of the hotel guest's cars that was parked there. Let us first tackle Joseph and Rebecca's situation. The doctrine of frustration operates in situations where it is established that due to a subsequent change in circumstances, the contract is rendered impossible to perform, or it has become deprived of its commercial purpose by an event not due to the act or default of either party1. In Taylor v Caldwell2 Blackburn J stated that ""The principle seems to us to be that, in contracts in which the performance depends on the continued existence of a given person or thing, a condition is implied that the impossibility of performance arising from the perishing of the person or thing shall excuse the performance." In this case the reception did not push through without the fault of either of the contracting parties. Both Harpreet and the couple have already partially performed their obligations under the contract with the former buying flowers, decorating the room and looking for a particular wine while the latter paid the deposit. So on t his point, Harpreet no longer has any contractual liabilities to Joseph and Rebecca since the non-holding of the reception was not the hotel's fault. The second scenario requires a more elaborate understanding of contract law. Julie's success in demanding for compensation from Harpreet for the damage to her car would depend on, 1) the exact terms of the contract she entered into with the hotel when she booked a stay there and 2) the validity of the general exemption of the hotel for damage to cars at their parking lot as shown by a sign that was posted there. Furthermore, clauses that exempt a party from liability must pass the test of incorporation, reasonable notice and construction or interpretation. On the first point, contract law is based on the fundamental principle of party autonomy. This means that the parties to a contract are free to modify the nature and extent of their liability under the contract if they so wish on the assumption that the parties have equal bargaining power. It is not so obvious from the facts given whether the hotel contract itself stipulates for an escape from liability for damage to hotel guests' cars at their parking lot. We can safely assume that the sign in the parking lot warning car owners that they park at their own risk would refer to those persons who do not stay at the hotel but rather are mere transients. Going back to Julie, the contract that she signed with the hotel when she checked in contains all the stipulations that govern their contractual relationship. Should this