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.