Nurse Practitioner

Yaidelyn Alonso SLS1125: Matos 4/20/12 Nurses: â€Å"Caring Today For A Healthier Tomorrow† Growing up in a house hold of clinical work force, for example, my mom and my auntie and other close family members has truly enlivened me to turn into a Nurse Practitioner, yet above all my motivation has come because of the passing of my dad. I need to help patients who may have bogus expectation, who may believe that there’s nothing anybody can do, I need to give patients expectation, and I will give my life to have any kind of effect in the clinical field.Although it won’t be simple, I know there will be hindrances I need to survive, I think the sky is the limit in the event that you continue on and in the event that you invest in accomplish something that you love. By the day's end you made in any event one person’s life progressively charming and filled them with trust, that’s what I’ll be thinking each prior night I lay my head on my cushion. A Nurse Practitioner is an enlisted nurture with cutting edge preparing in diagnosing and rewarding diseases. Attendant Practitioners recommend prescription which for the most part RN’s can't do, just as treat ailments, and direct physical exams.The contrast between a NP and a doctor is that they center around counteraction, health and instruction. To be progressively explicit Nurse Practitioners may have practical experience in either Neonatal Care with new conceived and baby’s or Geriatric Health, Adult Health, Oncology, Family Health and Psychiatric/Mental Health. By and by I love injury focuses and the Emergency Room, I’m sharp witted and I don't care for remaining around, I like an occupation that challenges me and keeps me occupied.As a Nurse Practitioner you can sub-work in various regions and of late I’ve been keen on Oncology. To be brief my dad died because of disease in his liver, I need to help and furnish my most extreme assistance to those wit h malignancy like his, I need to make someone’s day a little more splendid regardless of how wiped out they truly feel. I don’t simply need to be a social insurance faculty I need to be the distinction in someone’s life, I need patients to have confidence in me since I won’t neglect to want to there each need.In request to turn into a NP there’s certain capabilities you have to maintain and obviously you initially should complete you AA and your single men in Registered Nursing. As an ebb and flow understudy in Miami Dade College I’ve explored and talked with instructors that have guided me into the classes I should take to try and get into the nursing program. For example, the rudiments science and human development and improvement, just as Anatomy 1 and Anatomy 2, it’s accepting the classes as well as about passing them with remarkable levels and graduate with your AA and a great GPA.After graduating with my AA I intend to move to F IU and further my examinations, they have an incredible Nursing program, when I graduate with my lone rangers degree I will keep on getting my lords and expand my insight in my investigations. To be a medical attendant specialist, you have to have an advanced education, for example, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The current least instruction expected to function as a Nurse Practitioner is a MSN degree, which takes 3-4 years to finish, contingent upon your specialty.Many schools and colleges incline toward you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for passage into this alumni program, while different schools permit a four year certification in another field on the off chance that you are an enrolled nurture. In further detail In request to turn into an oncology nurture expert, I should learn explicit disease care aptitudes through coursework, clinical practice or proceeding with training. In the wake of increasing enough information a nd hands on understanding, I at that point can take a test to turn into an Oncology Certified Nurse.To become an oncology nurture expert, I will likewise need to finish a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, regularly acquired through a 2-year program of graduate investigation. As an oncology nurture specialist, I will require at any rate 500 hours of managed clinical practice in oncology to be qualified to take the affirmation assessment to turn into an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP). Confirmation is required in numerous states, for example, Florida. As with allâ nursing vocations, the interest for oncology medical attendants expert is relied upon to increment altogether throughout the following ten years.This is particularly evident in light of the fact that most by far of malignant growths are analyzed in individuals more than 55, making oncology nurture fundamentally vital! The middle expected compensation for a typical Nurse Practitionerâ in the United Statesâ isâ $90,531. Nursing is a craftsmanship: and on the off chance that it is to be made a workmanship, It requires a selective commitment as hard an arrangement, as any painter's or stone carver's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, contrasted with having with do with the living body, the sanctuary of God's soul? It is one of the Fine Arts: I had nearly stated, the best of Fine Arts. †Florence Nightingale Medical attendant Practitioner Yaidelyn Alonso SLS1125: Matos 4/20/12 Nurses: â€Å"Caring Today For A Healthier Tomorrow† Growing up in a house hold of clinical work force, for example, my mom and my auntie and other close family members has truly motivated me to turn into a Nurse Practitioner, yet above all my motivation has come because of the demise of my dad. I need to help patients who may have bogus expectation, who may believe that there’s nothing anybody can do, I need to give patients expectation, and I will dedicate my life to have any kind of effect in the clinical field.Although it won’t be simple, I know there will be hindrances I need to survive, I think the sky is the limit in the event that you continue on and on the off chance that you concede to accomplish something that you love. Toward the day's end you made at any rate one person’s life progressively charming and filled them with trust, that’s what I’ll be thinking each prior night I lay my head on my cushion. A Nurse Practitioner is an enrolled nurture with cutting edge preparing in diagnosing and rewarding ailments. Attendant Practitioners endorse drug which as a rule RN’s can't do, just as treat sicknesses, and manage physical exams.The distinction between a NP and a doctor is that they center around anticipation, wellbeing and instruction. To be progressively explicit Nurse Practitioners may spend significant time in either Neonatal Care with new conceived and baby’s or Geriatric Health, Adult Health, Oncology, Family Health and Psychiatric/Mental Health. Actually I love injury focuses and the Emergency Room, I’m sharp witted and I don't care for remaining around, I like an occupation that challenges me and keeps me occupied.As a Nurse Practitioner you can sub-have practical experience in various zones and recently I’ve been exceptionally intrigued by Oncology. To be brief my dad died because of malignant growth in his liver, I need to help and fu rnish my most extreme assistance to those with disease like his, I need to make someone’s day a little more splendid regardless of how wiped out they truly feel. I don’t simply need to be a human services work force I need to be the distinction in someone’s life, I need patients to have confidence in me since I won’t neglect to want to there each need.In request to turn into a NP there’s certain capabilities you have to submit to and obviously you initially should complete you AA and your single men in Registered Nursing. As an ebb and flow understudy in Miami Dade College I’ve investigated and talked with advocates that have guided me into the classes I should take to try and get into the nursing program. For example, the nuts and bolts science and human development and advancement, just as Anatomy 1 and Anatomy 2, it’s accepting the classes as well as about passing them with exceptional levels and graduate with your AA and a great G PA.After graduating with my AA I intend to move to FIU and further my investigations, they have an incredible Nursing program, when I graduate with my single guys degree I will keep on getting my lords and widen my insight in my examinations. To be a medical caretaker expert, you have to have an advanced education, for example, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). The current least training expected to fill in as a Nurse Practitioner is a MSN degree, which takes 3-4 years to finish, contingent upon your specialty.Many universities and colleges incline toward you have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) for section into this alumni program, while different schools permit a four year certification in another field on the off chance that you are an enlisted nurture. In further detail In request to turn into an oncology nurture expert, I should learn explicit malignant growth care aptitudes through coursework, clinical practice or proceeding with training. Subsequent to increasing enough information and hands on understanding, I at that point can take a test to turn into an Oncology Certified Nurse.To become an oncology nurture specialist, I will likewise need to finish a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, regularly acquired through a 2-year program of graduate examination. As an oncology nurture professional, I will require in any event 500 hours of regulated clinical practice in oncology to be qualified to take the confirmation assessment to turn into an Advanced Oncology Certified Nurse Practitioner (AOCNP). Affirmation is required in numerous states, for example, Florida. As with allâ nursing professions, the interest for oncology attendants specialist is required to increment altogether throughout the following ten years.This is particularly obvious in light of the fact that most by far of malignant growths are analyzed in individuals more than 55, making oncology nurture basically important! The middle expec ted pay for a typical Nurse Practitionerâ in the United Statesâ isâ $90,531. Nursing is a craftsmanship: and on the off chance that it is to be made a workmanship, It requires a restrictive dedication as hard a planning, as any painter's or stone carver's work; for what is the having to do with dead canvas or dead marble, contrasted with having with do w

Essay - Materials that are used to build a bridge debate & more

- Materials that are utilized to fabricate a scaffold banter and more - Essay Example h can work for instance: scaffolds, building and streets, to get notable with this major the individual must take Bachelor Degree to begin his vocation that the most noteworthy degree for Civil designing is PhD, which takes numerous years to get this degree, the spots where the structural building can work is in manufacturing plants, government and organizations, in processing plants the structural specialist can make upkeep for the petroleum penetrating region and offices, for the administration he can make the streets and extensions which is the equivalent for the organizations however the distinctions is the name of the work, numerous spots offers support to understudies to consider structural building, the motivation behind why I decided to examine structural building since I have a tremendous enthusiasm for structures likewise I like doing physical things as opposed to sitting in the workplace throughout the day, in my nation they are getting grown, for example, in streets, buil ding and making extensions to make the traffic goes smoother and preparing for 2022 world cup, and another explanation that why I picked structural building is that I have numerous proposals from my family as it is a needed major nowadays and will have a decent profession in this major additionally conversing with numerous structural architects they disclosed to me it is great occupation likewise working outside not sitting in the workplace constantly. Liverpool John Moores University offers 4 years concentrating with establishment so as to graduate Civil Engineering as same as Northumbria University likewise them two doesn’t have any discretionary modules to contemplate like learning new dialect or taking a subject that isn’t applicable to the course, both them offers sandwich year which is taking break one year between second year and third year which is laboring for an entire year to a corporate or to an organization and afterward return to college and keep examining, additionally in looking at between these two college them two offers low maintenance study which is taking less subject than the full-time study and furthermore they will set aside any longer effort to graduate contingent upon their

Always Moving Forward An entry by Prof. Patrick Henry Winston

Always Moving Forward An entry by Prof. Patrick Henry Winston I thought you might enjoy the below blog by Professor Patrick Henry Winston ’65, SM ’67, PhD ’70, via Slice of MIT, reprinted with Prof. Winstons permission. Below that, I have also reprinted the USA Today article that Prof. Winston links to. Enjoy! Always Moving Forward by Professor Patrick Henry Winston ’65, SM ’67, PhD ’70 I went to the last football game of the season last night. I went because it wasn’t just any last football game, it was DeRon Brown’s last football game. I was drawn to it as if it were the last solar eclipse of the century. Now priorities are such that our football team is a true Division III team, and the players play for the love of the game. So when one of our players reaches DeRon’s levelâ€"rushing for 170 yards per game, attracting national attentionâ€"I just have to go see him play. I had taught DeRon Artificial Intelligence in 6.034 when he was a junior. As soon as I saw him, I went to the web for a look at the MIT football roster, and as I expected, there he was, along with the emerging story of his amazing record. DeRon showed up regularly in class, looked interested, and did well. So, I had to go, and I dragged my daugther, Sarah, also a senior, along on the trip to Endicott College. We quickly spotted DeRon’s mom, Kim, and dad, Chris. Kim wore a jacket with a big number 20, her son’s number; Chris looked just like his son. They had driven seven hours or so from their home in the small town of Galax, Virginia. Alas, DeRon got a mild concussion early in the game, so it wasn’t a night for his usual spectacular performance. But he was fun to watch anyway. He looked fast even when he was just standing still on the sidelines. After the game, I ran into David Nackoul, a standout lineman who graduated with a course VI degree a year ago. I asked him why DeRon was so good. He explained that DeRon is unlike other backs who, when they get in trouble, run sideways, run backwards, or start stutter stepping. “When DeRon makes a cut,” he said, “he always keeps moving forward.” What a motto that would make! Always moving forward. I must find someone who can translate that into Latin for me. At MIT, running back Brown discovers a formula for success By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY CAMBRIDGE, Mass. â€" MIT is a school defined by numbers. Everything, from the buildings to the names of courses, is numbered. Even one of the marching bands football cheers is a number. The members shout out the digits of pi. As in the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. But they dont stop at 3.14. This is MIT, after all. They go the distance, as in 3.14159265358979323846 and so on. So perhaps its fitting that MIT is home to the leading rusher in Division III: senior running back DeRon Brown, who is putting up big numbers again. Playing for the struggling Engineers (1-7, not such a great number), Brown is averaging 170 yards a game and has run for 1,360 yards and 10 touchdowns. It might come as a surprise that a running back from the nations premier science and technology school is leading the division in rushing. Actually, its probably a surprise to many that MIT has a football team. But Browns season isnt some statistical fluke. Last year he was second in Division III with a 181.6 average and a school-record 1,816 yards along with 22 TDs. I keep up with it, but Mike knows my stats better than I do, says Brown, a computer science and engineering major. Wide receiver Mike Fitzgerald is Browns best friend and a math major. Ask Fitzgerald about Browns numbers, and he produces an Excel spreadsheet. Brown, a 5-8, 185-pound team captain, has rushed for more than 100 yards in 17 of his last 18 games and is responsible for 58% of the teams total offense this season. Week in and week out, teams put eight, nine, 10 guys in the box. But once he finds a little crack, hes busting for a long run, first-year coach Chad Martinovich says. As Brown enters the final game of his career Saturday against Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., its significant that he has run for huge numbers on a one-win team behind a new no-huddle offense and a line that lost two starters to injuries. Beyond his ability, what also makes Brown, and his team, unique is the school where they juggle four-hour labs with two-hour practices, a place where theres no tug-of-war between football and academics. Schoolwork wins every time. Hes not a Division I player saying, I need to get a job in the NFL. Hes a computer programmer whos saying, I need to get a job at Google, Fitzgerald says. Its academic Located along a stretch of the Charles River across from downtown Boston, MIT is not your typical football program, even by Division III standards. Surrounded by buildings designed by architectural masters such as I.M. Pei sits quaint Henry G. Steinbrenner 27 Stadium. Yes, that Steinbrenner. In Boston. Georges father won a national title in the hurdles before competing in the 1928 Olympics. And yes, theres a number in the official name. The bleachers hold 1,600, but usually a smattering of fans fills the seats on game day. The school mascot, a fierce-looking beaver, is painted on the field. Why a beaver? Because a beaver is natures engineer, noted for remarkable mechanical skills and great industry. At MIT, there are 33 varsity sports, the most in Division III, and football is certainly not the big dog. The school was nationally ranked in 12 sports last year. Football practice is every day between 5 and 7 p.m., a sacrosanct time on campus in which no classes or labs are scheduled, giving students a much-needed sanctioned recess. In the New England Football Conference, which is a combined 2-10 this decade in the Division III playoffs, road games are a bus ride away, so theres no overnight travel. The head coach teaches physical education classes, and the assistants are part time. The Engineers make do with 56 players on their roster. Here the coaches know its academics first, says Brown (the school boasts it is the all-time D-III leader with 156 academic All-Americans). Were football players from 5 to 7 Monday through Friday, and we play football games on Saturdays. Academics has to be your No. 1 goal here. If its just football, youre going to fall behind. At Michigan, the season began with a debate about the balance between sports and academics amid allegations the time football players spent on their sport greatly exceeded the NCAAs 20-hour limit. In an NCAA survey released in 2008, major-college players said they spent an average of 44.8 hours a week on football compared with a little less than 40 hours on academics. At MIT, football players clock under 20 hours a week on their sport and most every other waking hour on academics. I have former players who are fighter pilots, doctors, CEOs, and they all say how everything is easier after MIT. It prepares you for whatever you want to do, says former football coach Dwight Smith, the patriarch of the program. MIT had fielded a team from 1881 to 1901 before undergraduates voted to abolish the sport. Smith revived the program, building it from a club sport to varsity in 1988 before retiring last season. Pride of Galax, Va. Brown ended up at MIT by recruiting himself. In public high school in Galax, Va., he knew he wanted to be a computer engineer, so he figured he might as well go to the best engineering school. Once I found out they had a football team, it was a win-win situation, he says. Class salutatorian, he applied to MIT and then sent Smith his high school tapes. Brown was also recruited by several Ivy League schools, which play a higher division of football, but his dream was MIT. Hell be the first college grad in his family. His father, Chris, is a police sergeant, and his mother, Kim, a grant-writing consultant. I was a country boy coming here, Brown says. Galax is a small town (pop: 6,837) where everyone knows everyone. Located in southwestern Virginia, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Galax is best known for the Old Fiddlers Convention it has hosted annually since 1935. The towns slogan: The Best Pick in Virginia. When he made his decision to attend MIT, his major concern wasnt about the academic workload. When I first decided to come here, I was kind of scared, he says. I was like, wow, theres going to be a lot of nerds there. In truth, he found plenty of classmates just like his extroverted self. Still, the perception exists. People will find out where I go and say, Deep down youre just a nerd. Cant I be a smart athlete? With normal social skills? But I feel like other teams see us as nerds. Nerd or not, there is revenge. It comes after graduation. Athletes often do very well because they have to learn how to manage their time, and DeRon is a perfect example, says Patrick Henry Winston, an artificial intelligence and computer science professor who taught Brown last year. I see him as a successful kid. He was always engaged, just an extraordinarily well-rounded kid who you like to have in class because you know hes interested, intense, team-oriented and extremely likable. Brown is getting ready for life after MIT. He has interviewed at Google, Microsoft and Amazon and is also interested in working for a start-up, perhaps designing mobile applications. But Fitzgerald has other plans for him. His math major friend who wants to be the general manager of a sports team some day â€"Boston Celtics, are you listening? â€" thinks Brown deserves an invite to an NFL training camp. On Fitzgeralds spreadsheet, Browns stats and the conference rankings of the rushing defenses hes faced from the last two seasons are broken down. Fitzgeralds point: Browns yards a carry have improved as the Engineers have faced better rushing defenses in the second half of both seasons. This is impressive because, as Fitzgerald says, Were taking more and more of an academic pounding as the semester progresses, but the kid continues to produce and improve. Last year Fitzgerald worked as an intern with the Celtics and helped with the teams draft analysis. The Celtics had one pick, 58th overall, and Fitzgerald had his mind set on Tennessee-Martin guard Lester Hudson, based on his statistical analysis. The Celtics drafted Hudson. When they called Lester Hudsons name, it was as though I was getting drafted, Fitzgerald says. He has the same feeling about Brown. And the numbers to prove it. **** Leading rushers by division in NCAA football Division Player, school Carries Yards a game Football Bowl Subdivision Ryan Mathews, Fresno State 179 164.5 Championship Subdivision (FCS) Pat Paschall, North Dakota State 164 141.0 Division II Joique Bell, Wayne State (Mich.) 307 201.0 Division III DeRon Brown, MIT 260 170.0 Source: NCAA

scarlet letter study guide - 4403 Words

Reading Guide Questions Chapters I and II Identifying Facts 1. What two necessities, according to Hawthorne. must the founders of a new colony provide immediately? 2. Under whose footsteps was the rose-bush outside the prison supposed to have sprung up? 3. What is the significance of the scarlet letter A which is embroidered on Hester’s gown? Interpreting Meanings 5. What conclusion can you draw from the fact that every new colony must provide a prison and a cemetery at once? 6. How do most of the townspeople regard Hester’s punishment—as too severe, too lenient. or appropriate? 7. 6. After hearing of Hester’s crime and punishment, the stranger vows that her lover’s identity will be known. How†¦show more content†¦Explain your answer. 6. Describing how Hester is able to support herself and her child, Hawthorne says â€Å"She possessed an art that sufficed . . . to supply food for her thriving infant and herself. It was the art—then, as now, almost the only one within a woman’s grasp—of needlework.† What does he mean by â€Å"the only [art] within a woman’s grasp?† 7. Cite some examples of the grim games played by the Puritan children. 4. 2. How does Hawthorne characterize the disciplining of children in the early days of the Boston Colony? 3. Chapter V Identifying Facts 1. What reasons does Hawthorne give for Hester’s remaining in Boston, where she is an outcast? 8. But sometimes, once in many days. or perchance in many months, she felt an eye— a human eye— upon the ignominious brand, that seemed to give a momentary relief, as if half of her agony was shared. The next instant, back it all rushed again for in that brief interval, she had sinned anew. Had Hester sinned alone? In describing the harsh disciplinary practices of the Puritan family, Hawthorne observed that these practices were â€Å"enjoined by scriptural authority.† He is referring to Prov. 13:24: â€Å"He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him takes care to chastise him.† Does Hester follow this practice of not sparing the rod? Do you think that Pearl would have been more obedient and docile if Hester had taken a different approach toShow MoreRelatedEssay on Scarlet Letter Study Guide1628 Words   |  7 Pages11 The Scarlett Letter, Nathanial Hawthorne Chapters I and II 1. What two necessities, according to Hawthorne, must the founders of a new colony provide immediately? - Prison and a cemetery 2. Under whose footsteps was the rose-bush outside the prison supposed to have sprung up? Sainted Anne Hutchinson 3. What kind of spectacle have the townspeople of Boston gathered to witness? The public humiliation of Hester Prynne 4. What is the significance of the scarlet letter A which is embroideredRead MoreScarlet Letter Study Guide Answers3151 Words   |  13 Pagescolony are a cemetery and a prison. 2. The rose bush outside the prison sprung up under the footsteps of the sainted Ann Hutchinson. 3. The town people have gathered to witness the punishment of Hester Prynne. 4. The scarlet letter on her bodice is meant as punishment for her sin. The letter A stands for adultery. 5. Every new colony is quick in building a cemetery and prison because they know that misbehavior and death are inevitable. 6. Many of the town people regard Hester’s punishment as too lenientRead MoreNathaniel Hawthorne s The Scarlet Letter1631 Words   |  7 Pagesdeveloped the theme for his most renowned literary novel, The Scarlet Letter. In The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne emphasized the impact that societal isolation can have on individuals. Several of the victims inflicted with isolation throughout the novel were ultimately met with their inevitable downfalls. One particular character, Hester Prynne, was selected to undergo a struggle comparable to Hawthorne’s own. Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter centered its characters on a theme of both physical andRead MoreScarlet Letter Analysic- Form, Plot, Tone, Essay607 Words   |  3 PagesScarlet Letter Analysis Form, Structure and Plot: The structure that Hawthorne puts the Scarlet Letter is very tight, and is in essentially three parts, each revolving around the scaffold. The first scaffold scene, Hester confesses her sin of adultery to the crowd in the light of day. The second scaffold scene takes place in the middle of the book at night; it is the climax of the plot. Dimmesdale climbs onto the scaffold, and asks for Hester and Pearl to join him. This is not a confession, as thereRead MoreSummary Of The Scarlet Letter 1329 Words   |  6 PagesMelanie Showers Mrs. Voshell Honors English 10 8 January 2016 Morality in The Scarlet Letter In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne describes many defining instances of different characters’ morality. Some of the characters’ opinions are very different, but the people of the town have a general morality that leads Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale to deal with their sins differently in public, than in private. First, Hester’s morality, is not very defined at the beginning. She seems as though sheRead MoreArthur Dimmesdales Guilt and Hypocrisy Essay829 Words   |  4 Pagesgripping tale, The Scarlet Letter, a revered Puritan minister suffers from cowardly guilt and hypocrisy after he commits adultery in this novel staged in the seventeenth century. Arthur Dimmesdale, who hides himself in the shame of his lover, Hester Prynne, protects his reputation among the Puritan people. The scaffold, a public symbol of disgrace, contrasts with the pastor’s silent sin of adultery. When Hester became a symbol of sin among the people and wore the scarlet letter as punishment, DimmesdaleRead MoreThats What1831 Words   |  6 Pagesprovide a prison and a cemetery in The Scarlet Letter draws the conclusion that even in a Utopia, there will always be sin, and sin leads ... Scarlet letter - Pastebin.com pastebin.com/i7QvSd6w Sep 23, 2012 - What conclusion can you draw from the fact that every new colony ... Too lenient and that she should be hanged ... What clues to the identity of the stranger does Hawthorn provide in the first three paragraphs of Chapter III? Scarlet Letter Study Guide - College Essay - Canoness www.studymodeRead MoreThe Scarlet Letter1456 Words   |  6 Pagesa Christ figure in The Scarlet Letter. She displays self-sacrifice, saintlike features, and exemplifies some biblical teachings throughout the book. The first, which is self-sacrifice, is shown when Hester is standing on the scaffold in front of the whole town and will not uncover the other participant in the adultery. Reverend Wilson questions her of this man that helped commit this crime, â€Å"Speak out thy name! That, and thy repentance, may avail to take the scarlet letter off thy breast† (60), withRead MoreIntense Character Transformations in The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne965 Words   |  4 PagesIn The Scarlet Letter, readers witness Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale undergo intense character transformations as a direct result of their isolation from society. The isolation that the two characters experience changes them both into different people—Hester for the better and Dimmesdale for the worse. It is revealed that the reason for their isolation is that Hester and Dimmesdale had an affair, and Hester later gave birth to their child, Pearl. Hester never exposes Dimmesdale as Pearl’s fatherRead MoreAnalysis of Sin in The Scarlet Letter1393 Words   |  6 Pagesuniversally. The range of acts and thoughts covered by sin is vast; Hawthorne critically explores the strict, inflexible Puritanical approach to sin and its implication for individuals and society. Hawthorne investigates the intent behind sin in The Scarlet Letter using Dimmesdale and Chillingworth in order to criticize the Puritan Code and to demonstrate the ramifications intent can have on the sinner’s ability to earn forgiveness and gain redemption. Dimmesdale’s and Hester’s sin of adultery serves

Using Video Games In Developing AI - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 8 Words: 2546 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2019/05/06 Category Entertainment Essay Level High school Tags: Video Games Essay Did you like this example? According to Henry Lowood, video games before the 1970s operated without a single program code or algorithm, but developed with a simple logic design and television technologies (5). The introduction of microprocessors and computer circuits in the early 1970s contributed enormously to the improvement of algorithms, computer software, artificial intelligence and video games. Moreover, early AI researchers at MIT and Stanford University not only assisted in developing programmed games but also grafted AI onto video games and foresaw the boundless capacity of these new technologies. Nowadays, many people from various fields, including IT, are developing cognitive technology and striving to implement AI to their business in diverse forms. Since I am majoring in technology management in the college, in the half of my classes, the professors and classmates all talk about new technologies, AI in particular. I have learned that there are many forms of AI in industries from simple process automation to relatively complicated cognitive engagement. More importantly, the benefit that the cognitive technology will bring has a huge impact on manufacturing, logistics, marketing and sales. It is now easy to see automated robots in factories or communicate with an AI agent that provides customer service which is available any time even in late night. Nevertheless, cognitive technology that solves complex problems in real-world is not common yet. I remember when one of the professors asked in the class about the first experience on AI, most of the classmates answered the customer services or smart home devices. However, the first time I experienced AI was when I played against the AI program in Starcraft, a military real-time strategy video game from Blizzard Entertainment, in the summer of 1999. I did not know the significance of AI at that time, but the intelligent machines eventually become an important technology worldwide. I realized that the AI boom began wit h video games in the 1970s from the early popular adventure game Zork to the recent AI Go player AlphaGo as well as many others. It is already proven that AI and video games helped develop each other for decades. Adapting AI to video games is much easier than to the real world. Therefore, games could be an appropriate method to help AI adapt to the real world and solve physical problems that share similar properties to video games. I first became interested in the relationship between AI and games when Google DeepMinds AlphaGo, an AI program that plays the board game Go, beat Sedol Lee, the 18-time world champion considered to be the best Go player in the last decade. It has become more common for AI players to win games against humans in chess, quiz shows, Othello, and video games. Unlike other simple board games, Go is played on a board that has a 1919 grid of lines containing 361 points, and two players compete to surround more territory than their opponent with white and blac k stones in turns. Since there is a great number of possibilities that can be played on the board, DeepMind initially declared that the strongest computer programmed Go players before AlphaGo were only able to compete with amateur players despite decades of efforts (AlphaGo). Traditional AI methods, including the successful computer chess machine, built a search tree over all possible actions. However, the old methods could not be successful in Go because it was difficult to determine the strength of possible board positions and moves (AlphaGo). Researchers at DeepMind integrated Advanced Tree Search with Deep Neural Networks in order to understand the aspect of the board positions. According to the article The story of AlphaGo so far, the neural networks contain millions of neuron-like connections to calculate all possible moves, the Policy Network selects the next move, and the Value Network predicts the winner of the game (AlphaGo). Furthermore, with large amounts of amate ur games data, AlphaGo understood what reasonable human play would look like, and developed itself through a process called Reinforcement Learning (AlphaGo). In March 2016, AlphaGo defeated Sedol Lee by 4-1 and became the first computer programmed player to win over a professional human Go player. DeepMind proposed that the goal of AlphaGo was not only to defeat professional human Go players, but also to implement AI in real-world situations. DeepMind believes that the approach of a cognitive programmed player will be applicable to real world structured problems sharing analogous features with a game like go (AlphaGo). It will be especially effective in problem-solving situations where the correct sequence is significant or planning tasks such as protein folding, reducing energy consumption, or searching for revolutionary new materials (AlphaGo). Likewise, the article Is chess the drosophila of artificial intelligence? A social history of an algorithm also has a similar viewpo int. Since the mid-1960s, computer scientists have referred to chess as the drosophila, or fruit fly, of AI because chess is a relatively familiar, accessible, and simple experimental technology that can be applied to create valid information about more complex technology (Ensmenger 5). Ensmenger showed that algorithms of chess acted as a bridge to new technologies for computer software and for computer games in particular, and he emphasized that it is important to develop tools and methodologies for learning new technology (5, 23). By helping researchers in computer science to enhance the capacity of AI, chess is a suitable example of how games help AI adapt to realities and solve real-world problems. While I was learning about AI in another course, I found a video on TEDx YouTube that strongly supports my thesis. It is called Artificial intelligence, video games, and the mysteries of the mind by DeepMind senior research scientist Raia Hadsell, who earned her Ph.D. in Computer S cience at New York University. Her main thesis was Artificial intelligence could be the powerful tool we need to solve some of the biggest problems facing our world (TEDx Talks). There are many resources about AI, but what made me use this video as a primary source of my paper was that she worked with video games to prove her hypothesis. From the book, From counterculture to Cyberculture: Stewart Brand, the Whole Earth Network, and the Rise of Digital Utopianism, Turner appeals that people should understand and control over the computer program as a tool, and the program should instruct users for control (115). Activities with computer and video games had once treated as technologies of dehumanization and anti-society, and, in the other hands, counterculture had been formed. Individuals, who controlled over the technology and invented for pleasure, were considered as hackers. The hackers from AI labs contributed to invention of SpaceWar and recognized as countercultural pioneers (Turner 116). Is it just a coincidence that both Hadsell and hackers are (AI researchers) who wanted to expose the technology and improved the world. I believe Turner wanted to suggest that the hacker culture allows people to learn computer technology as they wish to learn something about the world at large. There are conservative views on new technology, particulary on AI, mostly for taking humans working place or not having an ability to make a judgment like human beings. I suppose, despite of the pessimistic view on AI, Hadsell shares the hacker ethics that she wanted to expose the capability of AI and control the technology to solve the structured problems. Moreover, according to her, games are useful to objectively evaluate the AI agent and to compare scores with other AI agents. More importantly, Hadsell emphasized that games are a microcosm of human culture, and diverse and ubiquitous (TEDx Talks). However, she did not explain enough about why video games are the most s uitable medium. I believe the article, Anytime, Anywhere: Tetsuwan Atomu Stickers and the Emergence of Character Merchandizing, can help explain why Hadsell choose video games as a medium of her experiments. Steinberg describes how media ubiquity with character stickers can be a communicative medium or technology of connection (128-129). He explains that characters that can be stuck anywhere and seen anytime have a capacity for interpersonal communication and persuasive force (Steinberg 128-129). Like Steinberg exemplified with the character sticker, video games are casually accessible, embedded in the environment, and connected to ubiquitous network structures. Therefore, the video games can be an effective medium of Hadsells presentation. To prove her hypothesis, her team tested 57 Atari games, and in most of them, the AI performed better than humans. She showed BreakOut and Pong as examples to prove how machines can quickly evolve with reinforcement learning (I believe Henr y Lowoods article could prove why she used Atari games to test her experiments). In the last part of the video, she defined three reasons why she wanted to research AI. The first reason is to gain intelligence through interactions with a complex world (TEDx Talks). With another video game, The Infamous Montezumas Revenge, she wanted to exemplify that AI can break down complicated problems to simpler problems in order to answer questions and learn from them. The second reason is that she was deeply curious about how we work, and AI may be exactly the platform we need to prove those mysteries (TEDx Talks). The way AI learns from a video game with reinforcement learning is similar to how humans learn. As Turner supposed, Hadsell wanted to study the technology to learn something about the world at large (135). The last reason is that AI may be the powerful tool that we need to solve our problems to cure disease, to ease inequality, and to save the warming planet (TEDx Talks). As she mentioned, video games could be perfect places for AI agents to practice real-world tasks. There is not yet a complete artificial intelligence, but she believes that it is possible we could see one develop in the next decade. Hadsells three reasons greatly match my thesis that video games help AI adapt to the real world and solve physical problems that share similar properties to video games. While Hadsell tested her experiment with relatively simple Atari games, Artur Filipowicz, an AI researcher at Princeton University, has been trying to build AI software for autonomous vehicles using Grand Theft Auto V. GTA V is an action-adventure video game published by Rockstar Games, and it allows players to freely roam in an artificial city based on Los Angeles. The problem Filipowicz attempts to solve is that autonomous vehicles AI should be able to recognize stop signs. Since the failure of AI could cause a human fatality, it must perform the tasks without a single mistake. Video ga mes that provides the virtual space could allow users and researchers to simulate situations that can be happened in the real-world or that is too dangerous to be happened or causing physical damages in reality. In addition, the cyber space of GTA V actually resembles the existing city. The virtual space that copies the real-world could act as an augmented reality, and provides more immersive experience to users. These reasons led Filipowicz to use GTA V to solve this real-world problem. I believe the book Hamlet on the Holodeck by Janet H. Murray also explains why GTA V is the perfect system for Filipowiczs research. According to Murray, games have a spatial capacity to represent navigable space (79-80). Because the cyber city of GTA V offers an artificial environment of Los Angeles, the game allows Filipowicz to develop and test his software without damaging anything in the real world. Furthermore, Murray also insists that video games have the encyclopedic capacity to simul ate real-world-like situations. She used the video game SimCity to show that the software calculates the effects of each change by using models very like the ones used by social scientists and policymakers to study urban systems (Murray 87-88). Filipowiczs software could not only navigate through virtual streets and roads but also react to stop signs as the software would drive on real roads. Unlike the Atari games, video games, designed with encyclopedic capacity, provides more broad range of possible simulations that players can interact with greater freedom. Before researching for my thesis, I considered GTA V as a violent game that the users mainly play to rob, assassin, kidnap and so on. I did not also think about using GTA V for a scientific experiment. Moreover, playing such a high quality games require me to buy an expensive graphic card. These games providing immersive experience with ultra HD resolution contributed greatly to the improvement of graphic cards. The gra phic processing unit turned out to be incredibly effective when the graphic processing unit is applied to the calculations needed for neural nets. The GPU expeditiously manipulate memory to create images in a frame buffer. Because GPU was originally and mostly developed to dispay graphics for computer gaming, it decrease the unit costs and offered scale economies as well. This improvement also favors engineers to exam and produce better algorithms as well as allows computers to absorb larger data in a shorter period of time. For example, GPU enables the cryptocurrency miners to solve tough calculations in order to mine more cryptocurrencies. Video games like GTA V devoted to the improvement of technology both directly and indirectly. Particularly, GTA V provides the cyber space for researchers to test the hypothesis, and demands the development of hardware. In the actual test with the video game, the software could only detect 95.5% of the stop signs within 20 meters, and the software designers need to increase the accuracy in order for the application to be implemented (Filipowicz 24). The way Filipowicz used GTA V to simulate real-world problems in virtual space supports my thesis. GTA V acted as a medium to help the AI software adapt to the reality and solve structured problems that features analogous property to the game. Nowadays, many people talk about AI, and big IT companies strive to develop and implement this technology. Nevertheless, it is still controversial whether AI is truly beneficial to humans or it is likely to be a risk. Cognitive technology can reduce time and cost for many product and services as well as have abilities to learn and compute to provide good advices to people. Despite of the advantages, there are cons about AI too. For instance, some people believe that AI can be programmed to do something devasting, lead to major job loss, or do not have an ability to make judgments like humans. Not only the people from tech field, but also entire world are debating the aftereffect of the intelligent system. Some people might think that AI is years away from influencing our lives, but AI is actually affecting our daily life and our decisions such as smart phone applications, social media feeds, smart home devices, online advertising network, and so many others. In fact, the first time I experienced a cognitive program was when I played a video game. However, I was only aware of AI in video games as NPCs that either entertain players or instruct beginner and intermediate players. I now know that video games can be a great place where people and AI can practice physical problems. It has been proven that artificial intelligence and video games help develop each other. In addition, with the examples of DeepMind, Hadsell, and Filipowicz, I believe that video games can be a suitable medium that assists AI to adapt to the reality and solve problems facing the real world. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Using Video Games In Developing AI" essay for you Create order

The Meiji Restoration Free Essays

university of georgia| The Meiji Period made Japan big! | Midterm Question 2| | christian driver| 10/23/2012| | The Meiji restoration in Japan is known as the end of Japan’s isolationism, and its entrance into the world as a global player. However, the Meiji restoration is chiefly responsible for the development and advancement of Japan as an eastern world power. Japan’s economy was greatly bolstered and new philosophies and ideals from the west flooded in. We will write a custom essay sample on The Meiji Restoration or any similar topic only for you Order Now These ideas opened minds to different ways of thought. The reason the Meiji restoration took place is due to the western powers and cultural and political turmoil. When the â€Å"black ships† arrived in Japan, the Tokugawa shogun realized that they were technologically outclassed by the western nations, he agreed to treaties that put the west at an advantage, and Japan at a disadvantage. Many leaders were angered by these treaties and feared that Japan would share the same fate as many other Asian countries. Thus, the Meiji emperor was â€Å"restored† to power, but he did not rule directly. He was expected to accept the advice of the daimyo that had overthrown the shogun, and it was from this group that a small number of ambitious, able and patriotic young men from the lower ranks of the samurai emerged, to take control and establish the new political system. At first, their only strength was that the emperor accepted their advice. In addition several powerful feudal domains provided military support. They moved quickly, however to build their own military and economic control. By July 1869, the feudal lord had been requested to give up their domains, and in 1871 these domains were abolished and transformed into prefectures of a unified central state. The abolition of feudalism made tremendous social and political changes possible. Because of the Meiji reforms millions of people were suddenly free to choose their occupation and move about without restrictions. By providing a new environment of political and financial security, the government made investments in new industries and technologies possible. The government led the way by building railways and shipping lines, telegraph and telephone systems; three shipyards, ten mines, five munitions works, and fifty three consumer industries (making sugar, glass, textiles. cement. chemicals, and other important products)[Taira,85]. This was very expensive, however and strained government finances, so that in 1880 the government decided to sell most of these industries to private investors, encouraging such activity though subsidies and other incentives. Some of the daimyo and merchants who built these industries established major corporate conglomerates called zaibatsu, which controlled much of japans modern industrial sector. The government also introduced national educational systems and a constitution creating an elected parliament called the diet. They did this to provide a good environment for national growth, win the respect of the westerners, and build support for the modern state. In the Tokugawa period, popular education had spread rapidly, and by 1872 the government established a national system to educate the entire population. By the end of the Meiji period, almost everyone attended the free public schools for at least six years. The government closely controlled the schools; making sure that in addition to the skills like mathematics and reading all students studied â€Å"moral training†, which stressed the importance of their duty to the emperor, the country and their families [Fridell, 823]. Catching up on the military sector was a high priority for Japan in the era of European and American imperialism. To win the recognition of the western powers and convince them to change the unequal treaties that Japan had been forced to sign in the 1850’s, Japan changed its entire legal system, adopting a new criminal and civil code modeled after those of France and Germany. The western nations finally agreed to revise the treaties in 1894, acknowledging Japan as a equal in principle, although not as an international power. Universal conscription was introduced, a new modeled army after the Prussian force, and a navy modeled after the British was established which led to new conflicts of interest in Korea and Manchuria. This time between Russia and Japan , led to the Russo-Japanese war in 1904-05. The Japanese army won this war, gaining territory and finally some international respect. Japan further increased its influence on Korea and annexed it completely in 1910 [parsons,23]. In Japan, the success in war caused nationalism to increase ven more, and other Asian nations also started to develop national self confidence. The relatively quick success of the Japanese was not to be attributed mainly to external factors, such as the impact of the west on Japan, because other countries of comparable experience or size reacted quite differently to external variants and pressures. The reasons should rather be sought in internal changes, such as the great homogeneity of the Japanese people and their strong self- identity. Their awareness of the possibilities of learning abroad was also a distinct advantage. Even the social tensions of the late Tokugawa times were an asset to a country facing great changes. And it should be remembered that, though Japan was preindustrial in economy and feudal in political pattern, its economic and political institutions were highly complex and sophisticated. The country had standards of bureaucratic rule that did not suffer by comparison with the west in honesty or efficiency. With perhaps 45 percent of its men and 15 percent of its women literate, Japan also was not far behind the leading countries of the West in literacy levels. Another important factor was that the change could be justified by Japanese minds, not through newly learned foreign concepts, such as democracy or, later, communism, but by Japan’s own ancient system of imperial rule. The utilization of a native ideology undoubtedly smoothed an otherwise wrenching change and made it somewhat less traumatic. Japan became a very robust nation with as much potential as any western country. The Meiji reforms helped create an industrial, capitalist state with a powerful economy and military. The government also introduced a constitution by creating an elected parliament called the diet to win the respect of westerns and to generate a good environment for national growth. Japan gained recognition by the West and stayed an independent country. The Meiji restoration was very significant and fundamental for Japanese economy and the recognition of the rest of the world. Millions of people were suddenly free to choose their occupation and move without trouble. The main effect of the Meiji restoration was that it formed a strong, unified and centralized government which regulated all the aspects of society and in addition the government set up new universities and new school to teach people the modern technology. Work sited Cite your info here, this is an example of how to do it! Straight copied and pasted from the jstor: The Abdominal Skeleton of Tropidurid Lizards (Squamata: Tropiduridae) Omar Torres-Carvajal Herpetologica , Vol. 60, No. 1 (Mar. , 2004), pp. 75-83 Published by: Herpetologists’ League Article Stable URL: http://www. jstor. org. proxy-remote. galib. uga. du/stable/3893573 This is how you edit it ! Omar Torres-Carvajal,The Abdominal Skeleton of Tropidurid Lizards (Squamata: Tropiduridae), Herpetologica , Vol. 60, No. 1 (Mar. , 2004), pp. 75-83,Herpetologists’ League, http://www. jstor. org. proxy-remote. galib. uga. edu/stable/3893573 Remember to catalogue multiple citations in alphabetical order and to indent every line after the first one. Take out extra words such as â€Å"Published by†, etc. and try to remove the hyperlinks! Everything else is edited, but since I did not receive the citations you have to edit this yourself! Good luck and see you tomorrow in class! How to cite The Meiji Restoration, Essay examples

Hippolytus Analysis Essay Example For Students

Hippolytus Analysis Essay A monologue from the play by Euripides NOTE: This monologue is reprinted from The Plays of Euripides in English, vol. ii. Trans. Shelley Dean Milman. London: J.M. Dent Sons, 1922. HIPPOLYTUS: By a fair semblance to deceive the world,Wherefore, O Jove, beneath the solar beamsThat evil, woman, didst thou cause to dwell?For if it was thy will the human raceShould multiply, this ought not by such meansTo be effected: better in thy faneEach votary, on presenting brass or steel,Or massive ingots of resplendent gold,Proportioned to his offering, might from theeObtain a race of sons, and under roofsWhich genuine freedom visits, unannoyedBy women, live. But to receive this worstOf evils, now no sooner are our doorsThrown open than the riches of our houseWe utterly exhaust. How great a pestIs woman this one circumstance displays;The very father who begot and nurtured,A plenteous dower advancing, sends her forth,That of such loathed incumbrance he may ridHis mansions: but the hapless youth, who takesThis noxious inmate to his bed, exultsWhile he caparisons a worthless image,In gorgeous ornaments and tissued vestsSquandering his substance. With some noble raceHe who by we dlock a connection formsIs bound by hard necessity to keepThe loathsome consort; if perchance he gainOne who is virtuous sprung from worthless sires,He by the good compensates for the illsAttending such a union. Happier he,Unvexed by these embarrassments, whose brideInactive through simplicity, and mild,To his abode is like a statue fixed.All female wisdom doth my soul abhor.Never may the aspiring dame, who graspsAt knowing more than to her sex belongs,Enter my house: for in the subtle breastAre deeper stratagems by Venus sewn:But she whose reason is too weak to frameA plot, from amorous frailties lives secure.No female servant ever should attendThe married dame, she rather ought to dwellAmong wild beasts, who are by nature mute,Lest she should speak to any, or receiveTheir answers. But the wicked now deviseMischief in secret chambers, while abroadTheir confidants promote it: thus, vile wretch,In privacy you came, with me to formAn impious treaty for surrendering upMy royal fathers unpolluted bed.Soon from such horrors in the limpid springMy ears will I make pure: how could I rushInto the crime itself, when, having heardOnly the name made mention of, I feelAs though I some defilement thence had caught?Base woman, know tis my religion savesYour forfeit life, for by a solemn oathIf to the gods I had not unawaresEngaged myself, I neer would have refrainedFrom stating these transactions to my sire;But now, while Theseus in a foreign landContinues, hence will I depart, and keepThe strictest silence. But I soon shall see,When with my injured father I return,How you and your perfidious queen will dareTo meet his eyes, then fully shall I knowYour impudence, of which I now have madeThis first essay. Perdition seize you both:For with unsatiated abhorrence, stillGainst woman will I speak, though some objectTo my repeating always the same charge:For they are ever uniformly wicked:Let any one then prove the female sexPossest of chastity, or suffer me,As heretofore, against them to inveigh.

Reptiles Essays - Sphenodontia, Living Fossils, Reptile, Amniotes

Reptiles Reptiles are vertebrate, or backboned animals constituting the class Reptilia and are characterized by a combination of features, none of which alone could separate all reptiles from all other animals. The characteristics of reptiles are numerous, therefore can not be explained in great detail in this report. In no special order, the characteristics of reptiles are: cold-bloodedness; the presence of lungs; direct development, without larval forms as in amphibians; a dry skin with scales but not feathers or hair; an amniote egg; internal fertilization; a three or four-chambered heart; two aortic arches (blood vessels) carrying blood from the heart to the body, unlike mammals and birds that only have one; a metanephric kidney; twelve pairs of cranial nerves; and skeletal features such as limbs with usually five clawed fingers or toes, at least two spinal bones associated with the pelvis, a single ball-and-socket connection at the head-neck joint instead of two, as in advanced amphibians and mammals, and an incomplete or complete partition along the roof of the mouth, separating the food and air passageways so that breathing can continue while food is being chewed. These and other traditional defining characteristics of reptiles have been subjected to considerable modification in recent times. The extinct flying reptiles, called pterosaurs or pterodactyls, are now thought to have been warm-blooded and covered with hair. Also, the dinosaurs are also now considered by many authorities to have been warm-blooded. The earliest known bird, archaeopteryx, is now regarded by many to have been a small dinosaur, despite its covering of feathers The extinct ancestors of the mammals, the therapsids, or mammallike reptiles, are also believed to have been warm-blooded and haired. Proposals have been made to reclassify the pterosaurs, dinosaurs, and certain other groups out of the class Reptilia into one or more classes of their own. The class Reptilia is divided into 6 to 12 subclasses by different authorities. This includes living and extinct species. In addition, a number of these subclasses are completely extinct. The subclasses contain about 24 orders, but only 4 of these are still represented by living animals. Of the living orders of reptiles, two arose earlier than the age of reptiles, when dinosaurs were dominant. Tuataras, of the order Rhynchocephalia, are found only on New Zealand islands, whereas the equally ancient turtles, order Chelonia, occur nearly worldwide. The order Crocodilia emerged along with the dinosaurs. Snakes and lizards, order Squamata, are today the most numerous reptile species. The Rhynchocephalia constitute the oldest order of living reptiles; the only surviving representative of the group is the tuatara, or sphenodon (Sphenodon punctatus). Structurally, the tuatara is not much different from related forms, also assigned to the order Rhynchocephalia, that may have appeared as early as the Lower Triassic Period (over 2 000 000 000 years ago). The tuatara has two pairs of well-developed limbs, a strong tail, and a scaly crest down the neck and back. The scales, which cover the entire animal, vary in size. The tuatara also has a bony arch, low on the skull behind the eye, that is not found in lizards. Finally, the teeth of the tuatara are acrodont - i.e., attached to the rim of the jaw rather than inserted in sockets. Chelonia, another ancient order of reptiles, is chiefly characterised by a shell that encloses the vital organs of the body and more or less protects the head and limbs. The protective shell, to which the evolutionary success of turtles is largely attributed, is a casing of bone covered by horny shields. Plates of bone are fused with ribs, vertebrae, and elements of shoulder and hip girdles. There are many shell variations and modifications from family to family, some of them extreme. At its highest development, the shell is not only surprisingly strong but also completely protective. The lower shell (plastron) can be closed so snuggly against the upper (carapace) that a thin knife blade could not be inserted between them. A third order of the class Reptilia is Crocodilia. Crocodiles are generally large, ponderous, amphibious animals, somewhat lizardlike in appearance, and carnivorous. They have powerful jaws with conical teeth and short legs and clawed, webbed toes. The tail is long and massive and the

Breaking Down the Role of the School Superintendent

Breaking Down the Role of the School Superintendent The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of a school district is the school superintendent. The superintendent is essentially the face of the district. They are most responsible for the successes of a district and most assuredly responsible when there are failures. The role of a school superintendent is broad. It can be rewarding, but the decisions they make can also be especially difficult and taxing. It takes an exceptional person with a unique skill set to be an effective school superintendent. Much of what a superintendent does involves working directly with others.  School superintendents must be effective leaders who work well with other people and understand the value of building relationships.  A superintendent must be adept at establishing working relationships with many interest groups inside the school and within the community itself to maximize their effectiveness. Building a strong rapport with the constituents in the district makes fulfilling the required roles of a school superintendent a little easier. Board of Education Liaison One of the primary duties of the board of education is to hire a superintendent for the district. Once the superintendent is in place, then the board of education and the superintendent should become partners. While the superintendent is the CEO of the district, the board of education provides oversight for the superintendent. The best school districts have boards of education and superintendents who work well together. The superintendent is responsible for keeping the board informed of events and happenings in the district and also making recommendations about daily operations for the district. The board of education may ask for more information, but in most cases, a good board will accept the superintendent’s recommendations. The board of education is also directly responsible for evaluating the superintendent and thus, can terminate the superintendent should they believe they are not doing their job. The superintendent is also responsible for preparing the agenda for board meetings. The superintendent does sit in on all board meetings to make recommendations but is not allowed to vote on any of the issues. If the board votes to approve a mandate, then it is the duty of the superintendent to carry out that mandate. District Leader Assistant Superintendents – Large districts have the luxury of hiring assistant superintendents who specialize in one or two specific areas such as transportation or curriculum. These assistant superintendents meet regularly with the superintendent and receive their direct instruction from them, but manage the daily operations of their area. Small districts typically do not have assistants, so all the responsibility would fall on the superintendent.Principals/Assistant Principals – The superintendent is responsible for evaluating and making recommendations to hire/maintain/terminate principals/assistant principals. The superintendent has regular meetings with principals about specifics of the daily operations of their buildings. The superintendent must have principals/assistant principals that they trust fully to do their jobs because having an ineffective principal in a school can be disastrous.Teachers/Coaches – The amount of interaction between a superintenden t and the teachers/coaches in the district typically depend upon the superintendent themselves. This is a duty that primarily falls on the principal/assistant principal, but some superintendents, especially in smaller districts, like to have one on one interaction with their teachers/coaches. The superintendent will be the one who makes a recommendation to hire, maintain, or terminate to the board of education, but most superintendents take the direct recommendation from the building principal in this matter. Support Personnel – The superintendent is almost always directly responsible for hiring, maintaining, terminating support personnel. This is a primary role a superintendent. A strong superintendent will surround themselves with good, trustworthy people. While the superintendent is the head of the district, the support personnel are the backbone of the district. The administrative professionals, custodians, maintenance, security, kitchen staff, etc. play such a large role in the daily operations that it is essential to have people in those positions that are there to do their job right and work well with others. This falls on the superintendent of the district. Manages Finance The primary role of any superintendent is to develop and maintain a healthy school budget. If you are not good with money, then you will likely fail as a school superintendent. School finance is not an exact science. It is a complicated formula that changes from year to year especially in the realm of public education. The economy almost always dictates how much money is going to be available for the school district. Some years are better than others, but a superintendent must always figure out how and where to spend their money. The toughest decisions a school superintendent will face are in those years of deficit. Cutting teachers and/or programs is never an easy decision. Superintendents ultimately have to make those tough decisions to keep their doors open. The truth is that it isn’t easy and making cuts of any kind will have an impact on the quality of education the district provides. If cuts must be made, the superintendent must examine all options thoroughly and ultimately make cuts in the areas where they believe the impact will be the least. Manages Daily Operations Building Improvements/Bond Issues – Over the years the buildings in a district go through normal wear and tear. Also during this time, the overall needs of the district will change. The superintendent must evaluate the needs of the district and make recommendations as to whether to try to build new structures through a bond issue and/or make repairs on existing structures. There is a balance between the two. If the superintendent feels like passing a bond is a necessity, they must first convince the board and then convince the community to back it.District Curriculum – The superintendent is responsible for ensuring that the approved curriculum meets district, state, and national standards. This process typically begins at the individual building site, but the superintendent will have the final say as to whether the district should adopt and use the curriculum.District Improvement – One of the main duties of a superintendent is to be a constant evaluator. Superint endents should always be looking for methods, both large and small, to improve their district. A superintendent who does not have a vision for continuous improvement is not doing their job and does not have the best interest of the district in mind. District Policies – The superintendent is responsible for writing new district policies and revising and/or reviewing old ones. This should be a yearly endeavor. New issues constantly arise, and policies should be developed detailing how these issues will be handled.District Reports – States require superintendents to submit various reports concerning teacher and student data throughout the school year. This can be a particularly tedious part of the job, but it is necessary if you want to keep your doors open. Being proactive throughout the year and keeping up with this data as you move along will make completing these reports easier in the long run.Student Transfers – A superintendent makes the decision whether to accept or deny a transfer to potentially incoming and outgoing students. In order for a student to receive a transfer, both superintendents must agree to the transfer. If the receiving superintendent agrees to the transfer, but the outgoing superintend ent does not, then the transfer is denied. Transportation – Transportation can be an enormous role for a superintendent. The superintendent is responsible for purchasing enough buses, keeping them maintained, hiring bus drivers, and creating routes that maximize efficiency. In addition, they must develop bicycle routes, walking routes, and snow routes. Lobbies for the District Builds Community Relations – A superintendent must build relationships with all members of the community. This includes parents of students, the business community, and those who live in the community without any direct ties to the school such as senior citizen groups. Creating strong ties with these groups will be invaluable when it comes time to try to pass a bond issue.Works with the Media – The superintendent is the face of the district in good times and in times of crisis. Superintendents in large markets will be in the news consistently and must advocate for their district and their students. An outstanding superintendent will seek out opportunities to partner with the media.Builds Relationships with Other Districts – Building relationships with other districts and their superintendents can be valuable. These relationships allow for an exchange of ideas and best practices. They also can be extremely beneficial in difficult times of crisis or tragedy.Builds Relationships with Politicians – A superintendent must lobby on their districts behalf on key political issues that will positively or negatively affect the district. Education has increasingly become more political, and those who neglect this aspect aren’t maximizing their effectiveness.

Chess game Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Chess game - Coursework Example This is very true. Palm has even managed to convince the readers further by the use of the findings from an experiment that proved positive. In my opinion, the author is right because my performance in classroom has also been improving considerably because I regularly play chess. Christine Palm’s assertion that playing chess game improves the concentration of the students thereby making them score very high marks is very logical and right. For instance, the author asserts â€Å"Similarly, a 5‑year study of 7th and 8th graders by Robert Ferguson of the Bradford, PA School District showed that test scores improved 173% for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with only 4.56% for children participating in other forms of "enrichment activities† (Palm, 1990). According to my opinion, this is a clear proof that playing chess improves the academic performance of students. In my opinion, Christine Palm has managed to maintain the logic behind this issue. This is true since I have also experienced lots of improvements in my academics because I have been repeatedly playing chess game. Playing chess has improved my socialization aspects. In addition, I have realized improvements in my academics. For instance, playing Chess has made me improve in subjects like mathematics. Moreover, I have also learnt how to reason logically and critically trough playing Chess. Playing chess has also made me develop good problem solving skills. I have also developed good analytical skills through playing Chess. As such, it seems to me that Chess game improves academic performance in the students as I have experienced

Changing Labor Markets and Demographics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Changing Labor Markets and Demographics - Essay Example Based on this, economic security is not only achievable by one being in employment but also the amount of work and the remuneration he or she gets from employment (Schiller, 2008). Two approaches are instrumental when measuring the length of time that one works. These include the number of weeks one spends at work in a year and the number of hours one spends in a week. Cumulatively, this leads to the computation of the sum of hours a worker spends in employment for a whole year. According to available statistics, the higher the number of weeks spent at work by households, the lower the rates of poverty. This statement directly affects workers who work part time. There are more full time workers than part time in the economy. This insinuates that the work experience of the poor is not properly highlighted by such a rate of incidence. According to the U.S Department of Labor, â€Å"persons who have devoted 27 weeks or more to working or looking for work and who lived in families with incomes below the official poverty threshold† are denoted as the working poor (U.S Department of Labor, 2012). In chapter 8 of the same book, Schiller traces back the poverty situation in America during the 1960s. During this period, many Americans believed that targeted assistance and economic growth could eliminate poverty. This was the War on Poverty initiated by Lyndon Johnson. The results of the war include an improved economy, 70 per cent rise in house incomes and an expanded employed labor hitting the 70 million mark. The U.S government dedicated a significant proportion of its expenditure than ran into billions of dollars into programs that aid the poor. However, poverty is yet to disappear in totality (Lofquist, Lugaila, Lofquist, & Feliz, 2012). This is because even the 1980s and 90s, economic expansions have only reduced the population of the poor in the U.S dismally. The fact that increased economic growth is unable to tame poverty levels is an issue that has elici ted numerous debates. One such debate focused on the existence of an underclass. These poor people have been alienated along social lines. These persons fail to match with the conventional values, prosperity and incentives (Jenkins, 2012). Schiller decided to explore the culture of poverty to understand the reason behind the existence of this group within the American population. This culture spans back to the colonial times when poverty was regarded as the symptom of sin or a vice. This was attributable to the availability of opportunities of economic security that could be acquired by self except the black man. In this context, the poor people were considered as morally bankrupt and received harsh treatment. For instance, the shoulders of the paupers in Pennsylvania were marked with letter P to serve as warning to unsuspecting members of the population. These kinds of culture portray how some behaviors and norms contributed to the difficulties when addressing poverty (Lofquist, Lu gaila, Lofquist, & Feliz, 2012). Mishel, Bivens, Gould and Shierholz in The State of Working America, examine how the policy driven inequality blocks affect the living standards for the low and middle income Americans. The authors share the view that the United States’ economy has done nothing to improve the living standards for majority of American households. This is because wealth inequality accruing from unfair rise in income and wages characterizes the economy. The rise in this trend is attributable to policy responses that

How Could Demand Elasticity Lead To Pricing Decisions?

How Could Demand Elasticity Lead To Pricing Decisions? How Could the Knowledge of Demand Elasticity Lead to Make Pricing Decisions? Making pricing decisions Price sensitivity is not just about charging high prices to maximize revenue. It might also relate to cut prices sometimes dramatically to encourage people who may otherwise not be part of the market to use the services or goods being provided. In business, it is like business of education, learning of price elasticity of demand. This concept is a cornerstone in any discussion of microeconomic principles and pricing for marketing effectiveness. Practically, price elasticity of demand involves the idea that consumers are affected by manipulations of price. On the producer part of view, price represents a distinct reflection of the production and marketing costs incorporated in bringing the product to the marketplace as well as the beginning point in the calculation of revenue and profit. On the consumer part, price is a critical ingredient in the image and value-conceptualization of a product. Elasticity of demand is dependent on the knowledge of the determinants of demand and helps firms and policy makers plan of consumer behavior in the market place. Products that can be replaced are likely to have a positive cross price elasticity of demand because the change in price makes them relatively more or less expensive in relation to each other. Similarly co-relative goods will give rise to a cross price elasticity of demand value that is negative. Strategic pricing  clarifies the relationship between market segmentation and price, and delivers the tools your organization needs to stay focused on value as you determine break-even, define price elasticity, and analyze tradeoffs between features and price points. Using strategic pricing tools yields is a better positioning approach. What I want to bring out here is a company director isnt only concern about calculating numbers profits. The number is a meaning at the end; when taking about price elasticity of demand it is used to see how sensitive the demand for a product is to a price change. The higher the price elasticity, the more sensitive consumers are to price changes. The very high price elasticity suggests that when the price of a product goes up, consumers will buy a great deal less of it and when the price of that good goes down, consumers will buy a great deal more. The very low price elasticity infers the opposite, that changes in price have little influence on demand. When measuring elasticity, what is being measured is the responsiveness to demand to its determinants, such as income and other goods. This gives rise to income elasticity of demand and cross price elasticity of demand. Income elasticity measures the responsiveness of demand to a change in income. Cross price elasticity of demand measures the responsiveness of quantity demanded to a change in price of another good. Demand elasticity of make pricing decision will define how the market will react to changes in price. Understanding of this will allow companies to make informed decisions on how should approach the final sale of the good which is achieved through marketing. Background Historically elasticity of demand thinking has been primarily applied to the marketing mix variable of price. However, the concept can also lend meaningful insights into the administration of the other marketing mix and environmental variables in a context of causality. There exists a rich body of literature exploring the more extensive uses of elasticity of demand. However, basic marketing texts, and presumably introductory classes, typically do not feature the wider applications of the tool. At the beginning of 20 century, economist started to found out that demand consisted of more than simple purchasing power. It reverberate desire as well as ability to purchase, and new experiences with advertising and salesmanship were proving that desire could be increased and carved by factors other than the existence of supply. An extra idea of the market concerned its capacity to adjust itself automatically to an amicable balance. It had long been held that competitive forces would normally, in the long run, dissipate tendencies of unbalance, but as competition decreased in some industries and trades, the assumptions found in traditional economic theory became increasingly invalid. A third idea was that cost was the principal determinant of price, at least in the long run. Concepts of the elasticity of demand were still another influence upon the thinking of early marketing theory. Alfred Marshals concept of elasticity of demand has long been used by marketing writers as a theore tical basis for selling, advertising and the promotional work of marketing in general. (Fig 1. Price Elasticity of Demand (PED) It was devised by Alfred Marshall.) Content Price elasticity of demand is defined as the measure of responsiveness in the quantity demanded for products as a result of change in price of the same products. To say it in another way, its percentage change in quantity demanded as per the percentage change in price of the same products. In economics and in business, the price elasticity of demand is a measure of the sensitivity of quantity demanded to changes in price. It is measured as elasticity, which it is measures the relationship as the ratio of percentage changes between quantities demanded of a good and changes in its price. A price fall usually results in an increase in the quantity demanded by consumers. The demand for a good is relatively inelastic when the change in quantity demanded is less than change in price. Goods and services for which no substitutes exist are generally inelastic. Marketing strategy focus on the decisions marketers make to help the company satisfy its target market and achieve its objectives. Price, of course, is one of the key marketing mix decisions and due to all marketing decisions must work together; the final price will be impacted by how other marketing decisions are made. Every companies view price as a key selling feature, but some firms, for example those seeking to be viewed as market leaders in product quality, will de-emphasize price and concentrate on a strategy that highlights non-price benefits e.g. quality, durability, service, etc. Such non-price competition can help the company avoid potential price wars that often break out between competitive firms that follow a market share objective and use price as a key selling feature. Understanding how price changes impact the market requires the marketer have a firm understanding of the concept economists call elasticity of demand, which relates to how purchase quantity changes as prices change. Elasticity is evaluated under the assumption that no other changes are being made and only price is adjusted. The logic is to see how price by itself will affect overall demand. Obviously, the chance of nothing else changing in the market but the price of one product is often unrealistic. For example, competitors may react to the marketers price change by changing the price on their product. Despite this, elasticity analysis does serve as a useful tool for estimating market reaction therefore it leads to make pricing decisions. Price elasticity of demand elasticity plays an important part when it needs to make piecing decision Marketing Essentials: economics knowledge to pricing from a marketing perspective (supply, demand, price elasticity). And the knowledge of income elasticity of demand for different products helps firms predict the effect of a business cycle on sales as well. All countries experience a business cycle where actual GDP moves up and down in a regular pattern causing booms and slowdowns or even a recession. The business cycle means incomes rise and fall. Elasticity deals with three types of demand scenarios: (1) Elastic Demand, (2) Inelastic Demand and (3) Unitary Demand. For marketers the important issue with elasticity of demand is to understand how it impacts company revenue. Strategic Pricing  define the relationship between market segmentation and price, and delivers the tools to the organization needs to stay adjusted on value as determine break-even, define price elasticity, and analyze tradeoffs between features and price points. Using strategic pricing tools yields a better positioning approach. Opportunity cost is the cost expressed in terms of the next best alternative sacrificed. Opportunity cost is central to the whole study of both economics and business as it is at the heart of the decision making that characterizes the essence of both subject disciplines. Value helps to explain why the demand curve slopes downwards from left to right. At higher prices, consumers have to sacrifice more utility (the satisfaction gained) from consuming other products. For some in a market, the price they are being asked to pay does not represent value for money in other words they recognize that the sacrifice of other goods and services they have to make represents a negative impact on their utility. This is all very theoretical but it is what we do when we make decisions about spending every day. Elasticity varies among products because some products may be more essential to the consumer. Products that are necessities are more insensitive to price changes because consumers would continue buying these products despite price increases. Conversely, a price increase of a good or service that is considered less of a necessity will deter more consumers because the opportunity cost of buying the product will become too high. Price elasticity of demand is defined as the measure of responsiveness in the quantity demanded for a commodity as a result of change in price of the same commodity. In other words, it is percentage change in quantity demanded as per the percentage change in price of the same commodity. In economics and business studies, the price elasticity of demand (PED) is a measure of the sensitivity of quantity demanded to changes in price. It is measured as elasticity, which is it measures the relationship as the ratio of percentage changes between quantity demanded of a good and changes in its price. A price drop usually results in an increase in the quantity demanded by consumers. The demand for a good is relatively inelastic when the change in quantity demanded is less than change in price. Goods and services for which no substitutes exist are generally inelastic. Demand for an antibiotic, for example, becomes highly inelastic when it alone can kill an infection resistant to all other antibiotics. Rather than die of an infection, patients will generally be willing to pay whatever is necessary to acquire enough of the antibiotic to kill the infection. The primary objective of a business is to provide quality products and services to customers, and through this to make a profit as a strongly related objectives measure. Many organizations fail to make an appropriate profit because they do not know how to price their products or services. Pricing is the critical element in achieving a profit and is a factor that all firms should seek to control. In order to set prices appropriately, a firm must understand their products, the market for these, production and distribution costs, and the competition. Especially with the growth of the Internet and electronic commerce networks, the marketplace responds very rapidly to technological advances and international competition. Thus, the need to be continually sensitive to the many factors that affect pricing, and to be ready to adjust organizational behavior appropriately, is greater than ever. Here, we present a literature review and overview of this important subject and related pricing decis ion support issues. Conclusion In my opinion, the theory behind price sensitivity is based on an understanding of the aims of an organization and the concepts of price elasticity of demand and consumer surplus. Most private sector business organizations will need to make a profit to survive. This may not translate to a profit maximizing approach but nevertheless they will be looking to generate profits from activities. Part of this process will be looking at what happens to revenue. Revenue is the amount received from the sale of goods and services and is found by multiplying the price of a product by the quantity sold. Price has an important function in markets. It acts as a signal to both producers and consumers. For producers it gives them some indication about the returns they can expect from sales in relation to their costs in other words whether it is worth producing a good or not. For consumers it provides an indication about value. Value is a very important concept in economics and business. It is difficult to define because we all have a different interpretation of what value means. In essence, the value we place on a good or service is indicated by the price we are willing to pay to consume that good or service. Price sensitivity therefore is important to all businesses when considering their pricing strategies. They will need to have some understanding of how their market will react to changes in price and thus what the impact is on their revenue. Understanding of this will allow companies to make informed decisions on how should approach the final sale of the good which is achieved through marketing.

Crime News Analysis Essay -- Communication, Media, Newspaper

Introduction In this crime news analysis I will be focusing on the right wing tabloid newspaper ‘The Sun’ and the left wing broadsheet ‘The Guardian.’ I will be analysing the article of the student riots in both newspapers, and seeing whether there are similarities or differences in the way in which the event is presented. The incident occurred when a demonstration against higher tuitions fees got out of hand whereby some protesters used violent tactics to voice their opinions. Quantitative and Qualitative Within a news article, the qualitative aspect is usually the images and the quantitative is the amount of text used. Quantitative data is usually seen as more favourable and it is common within broadsheets like ‘The Guardian,’ whereas tabloids such as ‘The Sun’ tend to use more qualitative data (Ericson et al, 1991). Tabloids usually target the working class who are stereotypically deemed to be less educated, therefore using numerous pictures almost makes it equivalent to a child’s story book, whereas ‘The Guardian’ is richer in text and aimed at the middle class thus has more of a debate (Schlesinger et all, 1991) . ‘The Sun’ uses 3 pages, has 8 images and uses about 20% of text. Whereas, ‘The Guardian’ uses 5 pages, 3 images and has about 65% as text. The journalist tend to be specific on what they believe make an article appealed to their readers. News value There are many criminal events that occur every day, however only a few are selected as they are deemed to be newsworthy. Chibnall (1977) claimed that a story is classed as newsworthy if it is dramatized, immediate and involves structured access. ‘The Sun’ could be seen to use all these elements, for example they over emphasize on the violence that occurred and ... ...labelled them as such (Hayward, 2006). In this case, if the label is accepted there could be more protests and riots because the individuals may believe that this is the quickest way to get the message across, UKUncuts activist also claimed within ‘The Guardian’ that ‘more high profiled campaigns could be expected’. Conclusion Overall, it is clear that there is a contrast between both of the newspapers. It could be argued that the production of newspapers is mainly to fulfil the readers expectations, for example, the readers of ‘The Sun’ expect to read a dramatic story which is why the editors select specific words and images, whereas the ‘The Guardian’ readers may prefer more of an intellectual debate (Schlesinger et all, 2010). They both tell the same story but in different ways, consequently it is up to the reader to decide which they believe or prefer.

Cannon

Select a company you believe to be innovative (this should be an internationally known company). Explain what makes this company innovative? In your answer, use relevant theory and examples to illustrate why you believe the company is innovative. Cannon – an innovative company Founded in 1937 with the specific goal of making the best quality camera available to customers, Canon’s passion for the power of image has since extended its technology into many other markets and has established it as a world leader in both consumer and business imaging solutions. Its solutions comprise products, ranging from digital compact and SLR cameras, through broadcast lenses and portable X-ray machines, to multi-function and production printers, all supported by a range of value added services. Canon invests heavily in R&D to deliver the richest and most innovative products and services to satisfy customers’ creative needs. In my essay I will show that through disruptive, strategic and product innovation Canon remains the leader in the market of all its products. Canon has proved that disruptive innovation brings many benefits to businesses. Christensen and Raynor (Christensen and Raynor, 2003) justify that new entrant firms will win with leading firms of an industry through disruptive innovation, by commercializing a simpler, more convenient product that sells for less money and appeals to new or unattractive customer set. Canon has proved that the best way for an upstart company to attack established competitors is to disrupt them. Disruptive innovations do not attempt to bring better products to established customers in existing markets. Rather, they disrupt and redefine that trajectory by introducing products and services that are not as good as currently available products. Still, disruptive technologies offer other benefits – typically, they are simpler, more convenient, and less expensive products that appeal to new or less-demanding customers (Todd and Bessant, 2009). Once the disruptive product gains a share in the new or low-end markets, the improvement cycle begins. In addition, the pace of technological process exceeds customers’ ability to use it; the previously not good enough technology eventually improves to intersect with the needs of the more demanding customers. When that happens, the disruptors are on the path that will ultimately beat the incumbents. Throughout Canon’s history, the company has used disruptive innovation in order to gain market share. In 1982 Canon developed the first personal copier. It gained its name because the reproduction elements were all contained in a cartridge that users could just replace themselves when they ran out. Canon’s desktop photocopiers were a new-market disruption; in that they enabled people to begin conveniently making their own photocopies, rather than taking their originals to the corporate high-speed photocopy center where a technician had to run the job for them. The high-speed Xerox machine was very complicated, needed servicing frequently and only a technician could operate it. When Canon made photocopying so convenient, people ended up making a lot more copies, therefore through disruption innovation Canon has created new value network. Additionally, Canon’s innovation sources come from monitoring the market and following and adjusting to its competitors. In 1987 Ricoh revolutionized the photocopier industry with the release of the first digital photocopier. Thus, Canon followed releasing their digital photocopier products, which effectively consisted of an integrated scanner and laser printer. In 2001 Canon released its first two digital personal copiers, the PC1080F and the PC1060. Furthermore, with the disruptive innovation of touch screen technology, the company has decided to launch its own touch screen display in order to compete in the market. The new Digital IXUS 200 IS features Canon’s first ever touch screen display that delivers intuitive control to the customer and greater ease of use. Canon’s success is also based on the company’s commitment to strategic innovation. Strategic innovation means experimenting with new strategies, with new combinations of the ‘What, Who and How’ of a business. If a company identifies a new customer base, it will start behaving in a way that best satisfies the specific needs of those customers. This behavior will most likely be different from that of established competitors who are serving different customers (Markides, 1997). In the case of Cannon, Xerox leased big photocopiers to corporations through a direct sales force. Canon sold its personal photocopiers to end users through a dealer network. Thus Canon has adopted a different product, along with different selling and distribution strategies. They identified a customer segment that was not currently served by existing competitors. Then they designed their products and delivery systems to fit the requirements of this customer niche. New product innovations from Canon strengthen its leadership in imaging technology. In 2009, Canon has reaffirmed its commitment to innovation in product development with the launch of 38 consumer products ranging from an innovative new Digital SLR camera in its flagship EOS range to a germ resistant calculator, and a first voice guided printer. The new SELPHY ES40 is the first printer, which talks to its user. It provides spoken instructions on how to operate the printer in seven different languages; the guidance also gives advice to assist users of all ages to simplify the printing process. Successful product innovation requires more than the management of technology; it also must address users’ problems and needs, how the product will be used, and for what purpose. Conducting marketing research to obtain customers requirements and needs is a fundamental feature of Canon’s strategic innovation process, which the company adds onto its product innovation cycle. The new EOS 7D digital SLR camera is a completely new design created to meet the specific demands of photographers. During extensive development Canon went back to the drawing board, listening to photographers worldwide, in order to design the new digital camera to meet their specific needs. Commenting on the creation of the EOS 7D, Mr. Uchidoi, Group Executive of Photo Products Group, said, â€Å"We consulted over 5,000 photographers worldwide and asked them what they most wanted to see from a camera. Matching this insight with cutting-edge technology, we were able to develop a camera that truly gives photographers the versatile tool they require to experiment with their images. † Markides (Markides, 1990) argues that successful innovative companies need to adopt a new thinki ng process. New ideas emerge more easily if managers can escape their mechanistic way of thinking and look at an issue from different perspectives or angles. Thinking ‘out side of the box’ enables Canon to create new ideas and pioneer new trends. One area, which Canon has foreseen, was the growing importance of reducing global warming and becoming more ‘green’. Long before it was in fashion, Canon introduced a collection and recycling program for used toner cartridges. The company adopted a corporate-wide lifecycle assessment to understand and reduce its carbon footprint, and it has already achieved zero waste output at its worldwide plants. Canon has jointly developed a new bio-based plastic that incorporates plant-based and organic components to use in its products (Silverstein, 2010). Therefore, innovative thinking helps the company stay ahead of the competition. Another source of innovation is building on the organizations existing core competencies to create a new product or a new way of doing business that is totally different from the way competitors currently do business. Leveraging existing core competencies is therefore one way to create new products or new ways to compete. Canon’s core competencies lay in the combination of the precision mechanics, fine optics and microelectronics technologies that underline all their products (Prahalad and Hamel, 1990). However, most major breakthroughs occur not so much from amortizing existing competencies but from exploiting them to create and accumulate new strategic assets more quickly and cheaply than competitors. A company can use a core competence of a strategic asset in one small business unit (SBU) to help improve the quality of a strategic asset in another SBU (Markides, 1990). Because Canon is in two businesses, cameras and photocopiers, in which the processes of improving dealer effectiveness, speeding up product development or improving assembly-line productivity are similar, it can improve the quality of the strategic assets in its photocopier business by transferring competencies learned in its camera business and vice versa. Leveraging core competencies among Canon’s different business units therefore reduces the costs and saves valuable time. Through the years, Canon has continually provided a lot of innovative and revolutionary products. From the company’s very first product launched, a 35 mm focal plane-shutter camera called the Kwanon, to now a days most recent products, the company has integrated innovation to all of its business units. Canon is committed to developing innovative solutions to enhance business productivity that it invests 8% of annual turnover in R&D. This devotion to innovation translates to fact that the company is consistently rated in the top five most innovative companies in the world in terms of new patent registrations. Thus concluding, throughout disruptive, strategic and product innovation Canon stays one of the leaders in its markets.