Business Studies Customer Needs Essay - 925 Words

What is the most important way the small business you have chosen meets customer needs? In this project I aim to tell you all about the business I have chosen and identify the ways that it meets the needs of its customers. The business I have chosen to base my project on is called ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’. The address of the business is: 59-61 George Street, Oldham, OL1 1JF. The business also has a website for its customers: leesheginbotham.co.uk. ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ is a Private Limited Company and therefore this tells me that it has limited liability. The business has 6 employees, the manager, a cleaner and four carpet fitters. * What does ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ do? ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd ’provide†¦show more content†¦As you can see, the shop is near to Manchester and has an excellent motorway link which can enable customers to travel to the shop conveniently. The satellite map above shows ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ via the green circle. It also shows ‘Spindles Shopping Centre’ by the red circle. The blue circle shows ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’ competition ‘Roll End Carpets’. The map also shows the surrounding area of the shop and the local businesses of the shop. There are also a number of bus stops around the shop; this allows customers to travel to the business easily. There is also a tram link currently being made on ‘Union Street’ and this will then enable customers to travel to the shop easily and quickly. * The shop The picture above shows the front of the shop. As you can see the name of the business is clearly displayed all the way round it. This picture shows the inside of the shop. As you can see there are many rolls of carpets on display so the customers can experience the carpets before they buy it. This picture shows the rear of the shop. As you can see there is a car park for the customers. * The website This is a screen shot of the Google search I did to see how easy it was to find my business on the internet. As you can see it is the fifth business to come up on the search engine so it is very easy for the customers to find it. Here is a screenshot of the home page of ‘Lees Heginbotham Sons Ltd’. You can see easily one ofShow MoreRelatedStakeholder And Business Development Corporation Of Western Australia857 Words   |  4 Pagesgovernment, and competitors. In this essay, â€Å"stakeholder† will include not everyone to whom it may have a payoff (Bourne, 2007). If an entity is owned and operate by an individual and there is no way to distinguish property of the owner from the business, then it is called a sole trader. The business runner is in totally control of every aspect of it and is responsible for any potential risk of the business which may include loss, loans, and bankrupt. (Small Business Development Corporation of the GovernmentRead MoreAn Individual Essay On Vegemite1717 Words   |  7 Pages An Individual Essay on Vegemite â€Æ' Table of Contents Introduction 3 1. Importance of Marketing Mix Especially in Foreign Market 3 2. Issues of Vegemite’s Marketing Mix in Foreign Market 6 3. Result of not adjusting Marketing Mix in International Market 7 Conclusion 8 References List 9 â€Æ' Introduction This is an individual essay where the researcher is assigned to discuss about the importance of marketing mix especially in the foreign market. The theme of the given topic refers to use the exampleRead MoreCultural Differences Of Business Practices1625 Words   |  7 PagesWith increasing economic globalization recently, there are more opportunities for business but yet brings some challenges because stakeholders become more geographical diverse and the market is bigger than before. Companies are also facing cultural differences when they enter into different countries. Culture is an important part of human society composing of knowledge, beliefs, art, morals, laws and other habits. Cultural differences are the variations in what people have, think and behave betweenRead MoreEssay on SWOT Analysis of Brompton Bicycles1252 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿BROMPTON BICYCLES A SWOT analysis is a method used to illustrate the current position of a business. The model helps identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of an organisation. The model below is an analysis of the current position of Brompton Bicycles. Brompton Bicycles is a manufacturer of folding bicycles and are based in London. One of the strengths that the company has is its good quality brand and product. Their products are light and travel friendly as they are foldingRead MoreManagement1653 Words   |  7 Pagesmuch more information than competitors. Managers from its literal meaning are the persons who manage others. Therefore, organizations need good managers to help them coordinate team work and solve problems effectively and efficiently. According to Mintzberg(1973), managers have three roles which are informational roles, interpersonal roles and decisional roles. This essay focuses on Mintzberg’s informational role. The purpose is to identify and discuss the importance of informational role that are requiredRead MoreThe Importance Of Quality Management Schemes And Strategies Within An Organization1504 Words   |  7 Pages In this essay I will explore how the use effective quality management can be used to continuously improve a business that seeks to deliver high quality service. Torkildsen (2011) defines quality management as, concerning processes that are designed to deliver continuous improvement within an organisation and aim to meet and exceed customer expectations of the product and or service that is being provided. To me Torkildsen’s definition sums up quality management perfectly and shows that the mostRead MoreDiscuss The Problems And Solutions To Setting Up A Business1140 Words   |  5 PagesNowadays in global business world, setting up a new business has a great opportunity and benefit to society. There are many different types of business structures which are available to choose like sole traders, online marketing and partnership. In Australia, there are many business start up companies that help to set up the business from scratch, On other hand some firms do not need any help to set up a business. They are capable of starting up a new business. When Forming a new business, it is importantRead MoreService Management1444 Words   |  6 Pagespurpose of this essay is to argue the importance of assessing service quality within an organisation. This paper will firstly explain the relationship between the customer and the concepts of inseparability and heterogeneity. The paper will secondly examine the dimensions of service quality and how these particular dimensions can create a service quality gap. Fitzsimmons Fitzsimmons (2001) propose that a service ‘quality gap’ is created when there is a difference between customers’ expectations ofRead MoreExtended Essay Zheng1734 Words   |  7 Pagesï » ¿ Extended Essay Which of the forces and drivers of â€Å"globalisation† will most impact on the business environment? Zheng Li PARSE 17 16/ 09/ 2014 Word count: 1505 Introduction There is a widespread belief that the world at the beginning of the twenty-first century is changing more rapidly and dramaticallyRead MoreCustomer Satisfaction : A Business1739 Words   |  7 PagesEstablishing a business has become one of the most challenging matters for a business person. It needs a lot of marketing strategies, effort, funds so forth to make it possible. Once it has been funded it is necessary to have a better business image and reputation that customers are starting to trust and look for more services that a company can offer. There is significant interest in customer satisfaction because it is vital to a company, it is a measure of how products and services supplied by

Teen Pregnancy Is A Serious Problem - 1484 Words

â€Å"12.3 Live births per 1,000 women aged 15-17 in 2013.† ( Main, 2015, para.1) Going in public, many teens are pregnant or have already had a baby. Teen pregnancy is a very big concern in society. Everyone needs to come together as a whole to find ways to prevent this from happening so often. Teen pregnancy is a reoccurring problem, but there are ways to prevent them such as starting programs or classes in schools so teens understand why they should not have children, using a contraceptive, and watching TV shows so they can understand being a teen mom is not easy. Educational Programs in Schools The first way society can properly put an end to teen pregnancy is by starting programs and or having the teens take classes in school so they can†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"The push by the schools is the result of a law the state passed last year requiring all public colleges to implement a plan to combat teen pregnancy,† (Combating teen pregnancy, 2015,para.2). Schools can do this in many ways. One way is to have an assembly that has everyone come together to better teach the teens why protecting themselves from teen pregnancy is so important and the consequences of having babies at a young age. At this assembly the teachers can show the students a slide show presentation on ways to prevent pregnancy. The information will be good for them to know so they can put it to use in the future or if they get into a deep relationship with someone at a young age. Another way to put a stop or help stop teen pregnancy is public schools launching videos, information, and classes to try to combat the states records of teen pregnancy. Being a part of society, there needs to either be a decline in the numbers of pregnancies or even better put a combat to the whole situation. Some schools even offer the children to take a class on unplanned pregnancies if they have fewer than twelve credits and need more. This can be such a good and informational class for the teens to take. Giving the teens all the information possible is the best way to put an end to teen pregnancy. Proper Protection The next way society can put an end to teen pregnancy would be by using a contraception. At the OBGYN, there are manyShow MoreRelatedTeen Pregnancy: A Serious Problem in America1568 Words   |  7 PagesTeen Pregnancy is a very serious issue in America. There are many statistics and facts about teen pregnancy and how it is such a big problem in America. So, in my paper I want to talk about teen pregnancies and ways to prevent it. I want to explain that teen pregnancy is not the end of the world and that pregnant teens have a future. I want to also talk about my experience and how having a child at a young age changed my life in many different ways. At the age of eighteen I found out I was goingRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Causes Serious Physical And Emotional Problems1369 Words   |  6 Pages Teen pregnancy causes serious physical and emotional problems for adolescent mothers, therefore there should be steps taken to prevent such things from happening. I have a close friend who got pregnant at the age of fifteen. It was a mega crisis for her and her baby. It caused a heartbreaking feud between my friend and her parents, as well as her schooling, leading her to drop out of high school. The emotional stress she gained was harming her body. The baby’s father wanted nothing to do with theRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1364 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is teen pregnancy? Teenage pregnancy, also known as adolescent pregnancy, is pregnancy in females under the age of 20. A female can become pregnant from sexual intercourse after she has begun to ovulate, which can be before her first menstrual period but usually occurs after the onset of her periods. There are many reasons why teens end up pregnant at such a young age. These reasons consist of family related problems, the lack of being taught about safe sex in school and by parents at homeRead MoreEssay on STD PREVENTION536 Words   |  3 Pagesworld is full of worries and problems which did not affect teens a generation ago. New problems keep appearing in today’s world, such as STDs, increased pregnancy rates, and other factors facing teens who choose to have sex. Emotionally and physically teens and getting less developed before having sex and are not prepared for the serious problems which come along with their decision to have sex. No longer is it a matter which will just go away if we ignore it, but teen health and the health of ourRead MoreThe Sociological Viewpoint Toward Social Problems Essay1077 Words   |  5 PagesThe sociological approach toward social problems differs from other approaches in that the sociological approach includes a focus on self-consciousness and building awareness that an individual’s interaction with society can oftentimes be influenced by forces outside of the single individual’s control or area of power. The author of one of our texts, Anna Leon-Guerrero, who is a Professor of Sociology at Pacific Lutheran University, writes that â€Å"Unlike any other discipline, sociology provides usRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1121 Words   |  5 Pages5/6 11/20/2017 Teen Pregnancy The fearless of all parents who have teenagers is pregnancy. Nowadays, teen pregnancy is a serious problem. Teenage have a lack of skills to handle a pregnancy. So that impact strongly on the future of a young woman. Teen pregnancy is associated with negative consequences for adolescents for three reasons: lack of education, medical complication, uncertainty about the future, and financial difficulties. First, the main causes of teenage pregnancy are the lack of educationRead MoreTeen Pregnancy, Do We Really Know The Facts?1169 Words   |  5 PagesTeen pregnancy, do we really know the facts? Do we even know the common early signs of early pregnancy? Teenagers tend to close themselves off when they find out they are pregnant. Teenagers can not predict what life will be like with a new baby. They will go through several different emotions, exhaustion, and peer pressure-related stress. Teenage mothers are more likely to have lower school achievement and often drop out of school and develop health problems and also face unemployment as youngRead MoreCause and Effect of Teen Pregnancy1043 Words   |  4 Pageseffect of teen pregnancy Teenagers suffering health problems is high Many teenagers will try to hide the pregnancy from their parents and teachers, in doing this they do not get the initial medical attention required during the first months of pregnancy. It is estimated that 33% of teenage pregnancy fail to receive necessary prenatal care. The lack of prenatal care leads to increased risk of anemia, miscarriage, and high blood pressure to the teenager. Many teenagers will hide their pregnancy becauseRead MoreTeen Pregnancy Essay1660 Words   |  7 Pagesin the world, the United States has the highest incidence of teen pregnancy. Although there has been a decline in the number of pregnancies among adolescents, teen pregnancy is still a serious health concern that needs continued intervention. It is widely agreed upon that becoming pregnant at a young age has negative effects on both mother and baby in many different aspects. What are the reasons for the increased rate of teen pregnancies in the United States despite the health risks, and how can weRea d MoreThe Effects Of Teenagers Being Sexually Active1082 Words   |  5 Pageseffects, are usually unknown or ignored by many. Sexually active teenagers, which are defined as those who have had sexual intercourse in the past three months, are at an extremely high and immediate risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). (DiClemente) Teens who take part in sexual behaviors that do not use contraceptives, use contraceptives inconsistently, or have multiple sex partners have an even greater risk. (Kirby) The cause and effect of this issue can be difficult

Untitled Essay Research Paper Jewish History free essay sample

Untitled Essay, Research Paper Judaic History The Jews are a people with a battalion of quandary. From the Israelite folks to the comfortable modern twenty-four hours Israel, dogmatism towards the Jews has been greatly apparent. The Judaic race has acted as Escape Goat for many crisis throughout history including the black plaque which swept across Europe in the fourteenth century. The constitution of Israel was a great incident was something the Judaic people were endeavoring to obtain for coevalss. This, nevertheless, led to four major struggles between Israel and the Arab states. One of the most meaningful wars was the Six-Day War. Events such as the holocaust hold besides had a dramatic consequence on universe history and whose enigmas are still being unravelled. For 12 old ages following 1933 the Jews were persecuted by the Nazi # 8217 ; s. Judaic concerns were boycotted and vandalized. By 1939, Jews were no longer citizens, could non go to public schools, engage in practically any concern or profession, ain any land, associate with any non-Jew or visit public topographic points such as Parkss and museums. We will write a custom essay sample on Untitled Essay Research Paper Jewish History or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The triumphs of the German ground forcess in the early old ages of World War II brought the bulk of European Jewry under the Nazis. The Jews were deprived of human rights. The Judaic people were forced to populate in Ghetto # 8217 ; s which were separated from the chief metropolis. Hitler # 8217 ; s program of race murder was carried out with efficiency. The entire figure of Jews exterminated has been calculated at around 5,750,000. In Warsaw, where about 400,000 Hebrews had one time been concentrated, was reduced to a population of 60,000. They, virtually unarmed, resisted the German exile order and had held back the regular German military personnels equipped with fire throwsters, armoured cards, and armored combat vehicles for about a month. This gallantry was similar to the rebellion which took topographic point about 165BC. This rebellion was led by the Maccabees, a provincial priestly household ( besides called Hasmoneans ) . They recaptured the Temple and rededicated it to the God of Israel. The Maccabees made there last base on a mountain and was able to keep back the Syrians for more so a month. There is a distinguishable similarity between the two narratives and that is perchance why they are both recognised as vacations in the Judaic religion. These hideous events of the holocaust have let to some effects which are good and some are unfortunate to the Judaic people. The population of the followings has greatly declined. Besides the Judaic people after the war still had jobs happening occupations. They had to basically get down there life over. Most of them lost a close relation or at least knew person who died in the gas Chamberss of the Nazi concentration cantonments. This has put a psychological strain on Judaic subsisters or no longer holding household and friends with them for support. This event has awaken the universe up to the demands of the Judaic people. It has given them political power and a justification for some of their actions. On M ay recognised,1945, the terminal of World War II was seen. Organized Jewry in the European continent was damaged beyond fix. The Jews concentrated on the saving of Israel and on the delivery of Nazi war felons to test. There is a twenty-four hours of memorialization, Holocaust Day, observed in Israel and elsewhere on Nisan ( April ) 19 and 20. The day of the month is considered the day of remembrance of the beginning of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The outgrowth of Israel as a Judaic province on the former district of Palestine was the cardinal political issue of the Middle Ea st after World War II. A movement was established to work on the reestablishment of the Jewish national state of Israel. This movement was given the name Zionism. The Zionists were full of energy,enthusiasm, and skill which led to remarkable accomplishments. Israel was a modern European state in an underdeveloped area. This was the source of there problems and their achievements. The Jews received vast amounts of financial and military support from Western governments. The Israelis also benefitted from a highly trained and motivated citizenry to create a unique nation-state. It had taken the Zionists seventy years to purchase 7 per cent of Palestine. Now the UN was offering them another 50 per cent. The partition plan was objected by all of that Arab and Palestinian Arab governments. The Zionists excepted the plan. They however were upset that Jerusalem was excluded from the Jewish state. The Jews were the most fertile land including the citrus groves upon which the Arabs depended on for their living. Many of the nations of the world felt guilt or grief of the Hitler era. This is what is believed to have pressured the United Nations to establish a Jewish state. The partition of Palestine was greatly important to both Jewish history and world history. It gave the Jews a place to seek refuge in during the Nazi persecutions. This led to a change in the nature of Zionist activities. They became more violent. The Jewish army called Haganah(defense)was formed to protect Israel from Arab attacks. This is remembered as a historic event for it has greatly effected the lives of present day Middle East and all other countries. The cause of the Six-Day War of June 1967 was Egypt’s closure of the Strait of Tiran. This war focused on the issue of Israel’s legitimacy. Withdrawal of the UN troops after May 16 signified to the Israelis that ultimately they would be responsible for their own defense. From this war the jews regained control of the West Bank of the Jordan River. Syria was pushed by a frontal assault through the Golan Heights and threatened Damascus. The United Nation security council managed to execute a cease- fire on June 11th. By this time the Arab states had lost territory, much of their productive capacity, and a large amounts of revenue. Their mental and political defeat set the tone for the events of the following years. The defeat of the Arab governments also gave a powerful force to the Palestine guerrilla movement. The Wailing Wall is on of Judaism’s most honoured holy places. With the original United Nation’s partition it was located in Old Jerusalem, previously occupied by Jordan. The Six Day was returned it to its rightful owners , Israel. As is clearly visible through these few examples the Jewish race have had a very trailing history. This however is only a small representation of the rest of the Jewish problems. War , for example, is still present. In 1991 in the Persian Gulf Israel was continuou sly bombed by Iraq. If Israel would have fought back chances are there would have had most of the Arabian countries join in with Iraq to eliminate the common enemy. Therefor the problems are yet not resolved yet it seems there is never a perfect solution to any problem. Bibliography 1. Holocaust : the Jewish tragedy Gilbert,Martin, COLLI 1986 2. Israel the Arabs: The June 1967 War Facts on file, INC. New York, N.Y. 1968 3. The Holocaust in Historical Perspective Yehuda Bauer University of Washington Press 1978 ——————————————————————————

The Coney Polar Bear Club

Introduction Among the variety of leisure activities, it is hard to define the one that is worthy of attention and recognition. Each activity has its own characteristics, strong, and weak sides and may be supported by people all over the world. In this paper, much attention will be paid to the idea of winter swimming and Polar Bear Club membership.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Coney Polar Bear Club specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Swimming in cold (ice) water is not available for each person because on numerous medical and even emotional aspects. â€Å"Therefore, despite the initial shock that can be painful, winter swimmers (often called â€Å"Polar Bears†) almost immediately experience an amazingly warmth from head to toe, causing the profound relaxation of the entire body† (Boutenko, 2007, p.199). Due to various attitudes to this kind of activity, there is a number of questions wh ich have to be analyzed and answered in a proper way. In fact, the members of Polar Bear Club are characterized by burning desire to participate in other group leisure activities and abilities to communicate on more serious and deeper levels then other people who neglect this activity; by means of numerous methods like probability-based sampling method or simple random sampling method, it becomes easier and more possible to define what ethical and moral norms differ the members of Polar Bear Club from ordinary people who cannot regard this activity as something influential and significant. The purpose of this study is closely connected to the evaluation of the problem concerning Polar Bear Club membership and attitudes to life, duties, and norms. The problem and the purpose of the study are both reachable because it is possible to gather necessary information and evaluate how different people with different attitudes define the role of ice water swimming in everyday life. The signif icance of the study is evident: people have to be aware of the chances of how to improve their lives and use only the best opportunities available.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The limitations of this study are based on the idea that it is impossible to take into consideration all opinions and effects of membership in Polar Bear Club. This is why such inability to gain full recognition of the problem and evaluate all possible perspectives may lead to mistakes or incomplete answers. However, for the chosen area and the current conditions, it seems to be enough to make use of the information gathered. In each section of the paper, the attention to every research question will be paid. The organization of the study allows focusing reader’s attention on each aspect and the reasons of why the offered decision is made. The paper has the literature review section wh ere the discussion of the issues relevant to the hypothesis under consideration is given. There are 5 main points about membership in the Polar Bear Club which will be analyzed. And finally, the methodology section introduces the ideas of how the study is organized: the number of participants, the description of the control group, and the conditions are given. Literature Review One of the most important purposes of the literature review is the necessity to evaluate the peculiarities of the Coney Island Bear Club, the style of life that is preferred by its members, and the changes which are caused by such leisure activity: presence of positive moral and ethical decision, desire to participate in other activities, changes of frequency of non-work related conversations, abilities to develop close relations, and improvements of manners and behavior. Many scientists admit that winter swimming has numerous effects on human life: first, it is some health changes and improvements; second, t his activity influences human memory and learning abilities (Hua et al., 2009); and finally, this kind of swimming promotes changes of people characters and attitudes to each other and to the things around (Coakley, 1993).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on The Coney Polar Bear Club specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More McCormack (1988) believes that winter swimming may influence the process of socialization and improve it from many perspectives. The ideas of these sophisticated people help to make a choice and focus our research on one particular community that supports healthy style of life and promote winter swimming as the main activity. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club is considered to be one of the oldest organizations in the United States (Coney Island Polar Bear Club). The chosen research study has a relational nature and is characterized by the variables of each issue (Kline, 2009). There are 5 main hy potheses which are evaluated in this project, and what is more important, all of them require the same method of analysis that is called a sampling one. This method helps to define one random sample and rely on it during the whole study process (Babbie, 2009). To make use of this method in a proper way, it is necessary to pay attention to the studies by Nucci and Young-Shim (2005), according to which a non-probability method helps to evaluate how sports influence human lives. Though Polar Bear Club activities may seem to be freaky or unclear due to a desire to dive into cold water on New Year’s Day, for example (Shumaker, 2004), this activity has many positive outcomes which have to be appreciated. In general, there are a number of reliable and useful literature that may be used to analyze the peculiar features of winter swimmers and all those changes which make their life unique and different from other people’s styles of life. Many educative people make considerable contributions into this sphere, and their works and studies are considered to be helpful in our research.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The hypotheses chosen for the project are the following: The participation of Polar Bear Club members in other leisure activities (Coakley, 1993); The idea that the members of Polar Bear Club are able to make positive ethical decisions; The impact of winter swimming on non-work related conversations; The effect on close relations between people; The changes of manner and behavior of people who join the Coney Polar Bear Club. Methodology In this part of the work, much attention is paid to the topics, participants, and instruments chosen for this research: to conduct the work on a good level, it is necessary to pick out proper population that may demonstrate how swimming in cold water influences human lives and reliable instruments according to which the purposes and objectives will be achieved. The participants of the study are the population of 312 people who prefer such leisure as winter swimming. They are the members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club who are eager to invite an yone interested in this activity (Wohlleber 2004). The sample control group that is chosen for the study consists of 30 people, the new members of the team who have a fresh look on the events, effects, and outcomes. The experimental group that is chosen is composed of 30 old members who certainly know what they do, why they take these steps, and what outcomes may be expected. The method for selecting the sample and the size is chosen in accordance with the conditions provided. Due to a number of hypotheses given, it is better to rely on sampling methods, both probability based and non-probability based. With the help of these methods, it becomes possible to use such issues like randomization and chance to give clear and thorough answers to the questions under consideration. As for the special characteristics of the group chosen for the research, it is necessary to admit the importance of experience that every member has. The newbie is under a threat to accept the activity as somethi ng unusual and dangerous for health and emotional conditions. And all those experienced people may not feel the difference on the necessary level. This is why a certain attention has to be paid to the experience and emotional condition of every member. The instruments of the study under consideration depend on the variables which are inherent to every hypothesis. For example, in the first hypothesis, where the main idea is developed around members of the club and other leisure activities, the instruments will be members of the club (with or without experience), winter swimming as a constant activity, and several other activities which may be used. In other hypotheses, there are usually two variables: one is the constant variable – the Coney Polar Bears, and the other depends on the question (2- decision-making process, 3 – non-work related conversations, 4 – people to develop relations with, and 5 – manners). All these methods and instruments are develope d specially for this study in order to evaluate how winter swimming may influence and change human lives. It is not very important to define the validity and reliability from the very beginning because it has to be proved during the research itself under the conditions chosen. In general, the design chosen for this study and for testing the hypotheses is appropriate: such points like experience and outside conditions are taken into consideration; studies of different people on the same topic are used to prove the main idea of the study; and changes of variables show that effects of winter swimming activity are various but still important. The procedure of the study will be conducted in several stages: a definition of the activity and its peculiarities; a thorough choice of participants and instruments for the study; the division of people into separate groups in accordance with experience; the evaluation of outcomes which are caused by participation and rejection of participation in to leisure activity; and the activation of several control procedures which aim at promoting proper use of variables, instruments, and time limitations that are important for the project. Reference List Babbie, E.R. (2009). The Practice of Social Research. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Boutenko, V. (2007). 12 Steps to Raw Foods: How to End Your Dependency on Cooked Food. Berkley: North Atlantic Books. Coakley, Jay Ph D. (1993). Sports and Socialization. The Journal of Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, 21(1), 169-200. Coney Island Polar Bear Club. (2010). Coney Island Polar Bear Club USA, Inc. Web. Hua, J., Bin, Z., Feng-Bin, L. (2009). Effect of Winter Swimming on Learning and Memory Function in Elderly. Journal of Hebei Normal University, 33 (3), 400-405. Kline, R.B. (2009). Becoming a Behavioral Science Researcher: A guide to Producing Research That Matters. New York: The Guilford Press. McCormack, J. B. (1988). Sport as Socialization: A Critique of Methodological Premi ses. The Social Science Journal, 25 (1), 83-92. Nucci, Christine, Young-Shim, Kim. (2005). Improving Socialization through Sport: An Analytic Review of Literature on Aggression and Sportsmanship. Physical Educator Journal, 62 (3), 123-129. Shumaker, S. (2004). ‘Cold Play’, Sunset, 212 (1): 13. Wohlleber, E. (2004). Special Olympic New York Partner with Coney Island Polar Bears. Special Olympics. Web. This research paper on The Coney Polar Bear Club was written and submitted by user Johnny Harvey to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

A Hill Of Fury Essays - Volcanology, Volcanic Rocks, Soufrire Hills

A Hill of Fury: Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat Island After 400 years of quiet slumber, the Soufriere Hills volcano on the tiny island of Montserrat in the Carribean Sea (Figure 1), came to life in the summer of 1997. The eruptions threatened the original 11,000 residents of the island and even today continue to be a nuisance to the remaining 4,000 people who refuse to leave the island, despite warnings of impending danger. At least 20 people have already been killed, and several villages destroyed. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory analyzes the active volcano and provides information to scientists and residents of the island (Montserrat Volcano Observatory 12). The worst of the eruption may or may not have already passed. Fig.2 Pyroclastic flows reached the Sea and formed a delta at the mouth of a major river (Discovery 1). Residents of Montserrat face many potential dangers as a result of the Soufriere Hills Volcano. A deadly combination of ash, rock, and hot gases form pyroclastic flows which travel down the steep slopes of the volcano at speeds which are often more than 100 miles per hour (Skurzinsky 39). Eruptions of Soufriere Hills in June, August, and December of 1997 created pyroclastic flows which blasted toward the sea along the White River at high speeds (Figure 2). Several villages were destroyed as a result. The capital city, Plymouth, was burned to the ground, and then covered in volcanic rock and ash (Figure 3). Twenty people were killed, despite evacuation attempts and warnings. One Hundred seventy-five homes were destroyed and the flows came within 200 feet of the airport (Williams 59). The monetary amount of the damage has not been calculated because the destroyed towns are uninhabita ble. Many people lost everything they had (Figure 4). An excerpt from the Montserrat Volcano Observatory describes the situation shortly after the eruption. Fig.3 The evacuated capital city, Plymouth, burned in Aug. 1997, as a result of the eruptions (National Geographic 1). "Pyroclastic flows from Soufriere Hills Volcano on Montserrat have reached the capital city of Plymouth. Many homes and businesses can be seen burning from several miles away. Fire fighters have been unable to stop these flames which threaten to consume the entire city. Ashfalls occurred in Iles Bay, Ole Towne, Salem, and several other areas west of the volcano (Montserrat Volcano Observatory 15)." Fig.4 Plymouth was left buried in ash by pyroclastic flows in the summer of 1997 (Discovery 2). Fig.5 A Montserrat resident watches as the volcano erupts and spews ashes over her town. Since the 1997 eruptions, villages near the volcano continuously experience dangerous ash dusting whenever the volcano spits magma from beneath the earth's surface. Sometimes, volcanic pebbles accompany the ash and can be dangerous as they fall from the sky. Ash gets everywhere; It kills gardens, grass pastures, and makes the roads slippery and dangerous for travel (Figure 5). In addition, breathing the ash-filled air can, over time, contribute to silicosis, a deadly disease of the lungs. The frequent earthquakes associated with the Soufriere Hills eruptions also pose a threat to residents. The Montserrat Volcano Observatory reported that the probability of future death is one in ten, or 10%. After the volcano reopened in 1997, a US geological team was sent to Montserrat, and the Montserrat Volcano Observatory kicked into high gear. In order to properly monitor the Soufriere Hills volcano, tiltmeters, seismometers, and gas analyzers were installed close by. Simon Young, A British volcanologist at the Montserrat Volcano Observatory commented on the technology in place. "There are five main areas of monitoring that we undertake. The first and really the foundation of monitoring is recording the earthquakes that go on underneath the volcano, and within the volcano, which are always associated with volcanic eruptions. We also have an electronic instrument that tells us whether the volcano is tilting . . . , swelling, or contracting . . . We collect samples from (the volcano) and . . . measure the gases (Montserrat Volcano Observatory 19)." Fig.6 Soldiers help residents evacuate the island in Aug. 1997 In addition to high tech monitoring and constant calculations, authorities have distributed helmets and gas masks to the 4,000 remaining residents. The helmets are to protect against airborne pebbles flying from the volcano and

Free Essays on Pollution Act

The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990: A Policy Who’s Time Has Come This article talks about the Prevention Pollution Act of the 1990’s. This particular act signifies an effort to reduce pollution and is an important part of American history. This was an earlier focus on the need to reduce or repair environmental damage by controlling pollutants at the point where they are released to the environment. Pollution was targeted over waterways, public highways, and over private property. Past provisions have not failed just needed to be updated for cleaner air, which is vital for the human body along with our surroundings. The law was enacted as Title VI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, P.L. 101-508, and is codified as 42 USC 13101-13109. The Environmental Protection Agency created a new office to advertise and invent an approach to cleaner air. This office is to bring new policies in front of congress to eliminate the sources of pollution. Auditing and promoting research is part of the process and enables the Environmental Protect ion Agency more authority to fight pollution. Also environmental public records are easier to access for the general public to be informed. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 required owners and operators of many industrial facilities to report annually on their releases of toxic chemicals to the environment. The Pollution Prevention Act requires these reports to include information about the facility's efforts in source reduction and recycling. The major sections of The Prevention Act include Findings and Policy, definitions, EPA activities, grants to states for technical assistance, source reduction clearing house, source reduction and recycling data, EPA report, saving provisions, and authority of appropriations. This was an innovative procedure our federal government took to supply the Environmental Protection Agency with more authority and tools to util... Free Essays on Pollution Act Free Essays on Pollution Act The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990: A Policy Who’s Time Has Come This article talks about the Prevention Pollution Act of the 1990’s. This particular act signifies an effort to reduce pollution and is an important part of American history. This was an earlier focus on the need to reduce or repair environmental damage by controlling pollutants at the point where they are released to the environment. Pollution was targeted over waterways, public highways, and over private property. Past provisions have not failed just needed to be updated for cleaner air, which is vital for the human body along with our surroundings. The law was enacted as Title VI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, P.L. 101-508, and is codified as 42 USC 13101-13109. The Environmental Protection Agency created a new office to advertise and invent an approach to cleaner air. This office is to bring new policies in front of congress to eliminate the sources of pollution. Auditing and promoting research is part of the process and enables the Environmental Protect ion Agency more authority to fight pollution. Also environmental public records are easier to access for the general public to be informed. Under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 required owners and operators of many industrial facilities to report annually on their releases of toxic chemicals to the environment. The Pollution Prevention Act requires these reports to include information about the facility's efforts in source reduction and recycling. The major sections of The Prevention Act include Findings and Policy, definitions, EPA activities, grants to states for technical assistance, source reduction clearing house, source reduction and recycling data, EPA report, saving provisions, and authority of appropriations. This was an innovative procedure our federal government took to supply the Environmental Protection Agency with more authority and tools to util...

Hunting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Hunting - Essay Example This is hunting was seen as a dangerous mission and required tact and skills which women did not possess. Men also made tools for hunting and protection while women concentrated on house chores such as cooking and making wearing apparel (Stiles). It is believed that the hunting and gathering societies moved from the hunting and gathering to horticulture. The move was not abrupt and was influenced by the changing climatic conditions that reduced the wild game. Horticulture is different from agriculture as it involves small pieces of land that were cultivated using digging sticks and abandoned after some time. The roles of men and women were different such that the men were different as men cleared the land and women planted seeds, tended and harvested the crops. Men at this stage continued to hunt but they were less productive (Stiles). Agriculture involves growing of plants and rearing of animals. Men and women play different roles in agriculture such that men are involved in the heavy physical labor of preparing land, herding livestock, application of pesticides and negotiating sale of crops. Women on the other hand are involved in weeding, taking care of the kitchen and the garden at home. The similarity here is in taking care of animals where the men take care of the large herds while the women take care of the smaller livestock at home (Prakash). Men and women roles are complex today with most of the tasks shared and others neutral. It is difficult to pin point particular roles of the different genders today. Women primarily are still the care takers in today’s society with men still the providers. The roles are mostly neutral with any of the genders undertaking any role. This has been attributed to the fact that there is no weaker gender or a man’s job and the advocacies of gender equity (Siegel,

Plessy vs fersgeson Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Plessy vs fersgeson - Assignment Example Ferguson, the Committee of Citizens sought a legal redress in the Louisiana Court to challenge the unconstitutionality of ‘separate but equal’ doctrine that allowed racial segregation in public facilities in Louisiana. This followed the arrest of Plessy Homer who despite being a black used a white designated car. In his ruling, Judge John Howard held that Louisiana Stage was justified to enforce such discriminatory laws. The ruling was upheld by the Supreme Court of Louisiana and Supreme Court of US. By arguing in favor of ‘separate but equal,’ this ruling endorsed racial segregation in USA. On the other hand, Brown v. Board of Education was filed by Brown Oliver et al to advocate for the revocation of the laws that had been propagating the segregation of students in public schools. The plaintiffs argued that such laws violated the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments that support equality. The court ruled that segregation laws in public schools are unconstitutional and should be repealed. By overturning the Plessy v. Ferguson, this ruling paved way for the eradication of segregation in public schools and racial integration in the country. It was indeed, a great victory to the Civil Right Movements that had been piling pressure on the government to end

Marketing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 12

Marketing - Essay Example But as I learnt more about the financial services organizations, I was able to figure out that the perception that I had regarding such institution was just a mere image. I was able to learn that financial institutions are not just limited to banks but include a variety of players in the market. Some of the most prominent financial services organizations that I was able to figure out includes banks (retail, corporate, investment and private); mutual funds and trusts; credit card issuers; stock exchanges; leasing companies and government and saving institutions. Thus it is one of the most important learning outcomes from this course. Communication in the Marketing of Financial Services Before study about the financial services marketing, I considered communication the least important aspect in financial services marketing. But with constant and continuous study I have made, it has made me realize that communication in the marketing of financial services is regarded as the backbone of financial services. As communication is the interchange of information between two parties, I was able to learn that financial institutions heavily rely on the use of marketing communication i.e. advertisement, public relations and direct mail. With the help of such communication, the financial services aim to attract and influence the consumers towards the use of financial services. Such study has also helped me to understand that communication not only helps the financial services to attract customers but it also helps the organization to change their perception in the minds of the consumer. Moreover, I was able to identify that financial services are intangible due to which these services are often complex and quite risky but with the help of marketing communication, financial organizations significantly reduce the risks associated with the services and helps the organization to de-complex the products and services offered by the organization. I was also able to identify that fin ancial organizations have shifted marketing communication to whole new level and media. Due to the increase in customer traffic on social websites (i.e. Facebook and Twitter) financial organization have shifted their focus from traditional media to such media where the customer traffic is ten times higher. Marketing Mix and Financial Services I was well aware of the 4P’s of marketing but the study of financial services marketing; I was able to extract the services mix that plays significant role in the success of financial services organizations. In addition to 4P’s (i.e. product, price, place and promotion) the services mix includes process, people and physical evidence which are the other 3Ps of service marketing mix. I was able to identify that marketing mix plays significant role in financial services and with the help of such mix, banks are able to accept deposits and lend money to the customers. But in order to effectively do that financial institutions are const antly in need to understand the desires of the customers through which their trust could be won. This is where financial institutions rely on services mix. With continuous learning of financial services marketing, I was able to figure out that product mix helps the financial institutions to differentiate them from others in the market. The products offered by such institutions are c

Study On John Watsons Behaviorist Program

Study On John Watsons Behaviorist Program John B. Watson set out to change the landscape of psychology and to make it a viable scientific endeavor. The goal of Watson was to change psychologys focus or definition from the study of the consciousness to the study of behavior (Hothersall, 2004). Watson argued that to study the consciousness was like studying a ghost. His point was that its difficult to study something that those who were purporting to be the researchers couldnt even agree on its definition. How can psychology reasonably study something that they cant even definitively define? Therefore, Watson believed that the goal of psychology must be to study something that is definable and observable. Watson thought behaviorisms whose goals were concrete and definable; to observe, predict and control behavior in humans and animals was the appropriate system for such an endeavor (Graighead Nemeroff, 2001). Early Research Watsons began his research career investigating the relationship between the increasing complexities of behavior and development of the nervous system (Hothersall, 2004). He trained rats around a box or run through a labyrinth. He discovered that he could train rats as young as 12 days old to run around a box but when asked to run through a labyrinth the 12 day old rats would simply curl up and go to sleep. The results suggested that there was a definite correlation between age and the ability to do complex tasks. In the second phase of his study Watson physically studied the brains of rats ages one to thirty days. He discovered that at age 24 days the number of medullated fibers in the cortex had significantly increased (Hothersall, 2004). His finding corroborated his initial hypothesis that there was a direct correlation between the development of the nervous system and the ability to perform complex behavior (Hothersall, 2004 McCarty, 2009). His finding and conclusions that he dr ew from this experiment was significant. But, an even more significant outcome was that his research led to the standardization of rats as the organism of choice in psychological research for over fifty years, (McCarty, 2009). The results of this study and the response he received when he published them, emboldened him to consider the possibility of displacing both structuralism and functionalism as the prevailing or guiding voice in psychology (McCarty, 2009). Watsons Behaviorist Manifesto Watsons experiences with rats led to his acceptance of John Lockes belief that the mind enters this world as a blank slate and it is experience that writes its message upon it (LeFrancois, 2000). So certain was Watson of behaviorism that he once boldly proclaimed, Give me a dozen healthy infants well-formed, and my own specified world to bring them up in and Ill guarantee to take any one at random and train him to become any type of specialist I might select-doctor, lawyer, artist, merchant-chief and yes, even beggar-man and thief, regardless of his talents, penchants, tendencies, abilities, vocations, and race of his ancestors (Watson, 1930, p. 104, as cited in LeFrancois, 2000). Thus, in 1913 Watson published an article in the Psychological Review, that gave a detailed outline of behaviorism. Accordingly, Watson noted that Psychology cannot be the study of the consciousness because it (consciousness) is too nebulas to truly be observed. He noted that if psychology was to be an objective experimental branch of science, it can only do so by focusing on behavior since it is both observable and measurable (LeFrancois, 2000 Hothersall, 2004). Behavior in its measurable sense is the relationship between stimuli and responses. The goal then of behaviorism is to predict and control behavior. Furthermore, with respect to this response to stimuli, Watson saw no difference between man and animal. Watson, unlike most of the leading psychologist before him never tried to wrestle with the What is truth question. Instead he preferred to apply psychology to the problems of adjustment and even social improvements. In fact, Watson never really constructed an integrated theory of psychology and yet he was successful in affecting change in psychology primarily because of the logic and clarity of his arguments. The only significant requirement Watson made regarding research was that it must use objective methods of measurements and that the events themselves must be capable of being publicly observable (Hothersall, 2004). Watson was critical of Jamess definition of emotions (experiences of bodily changes). He believed that conscious experience was not an essential component of emotion, further he believed that you can associate emotions with a neutral stimulus in the same manner that Pavlov had done with his example of classical conditioning Hothersall, 2004). Figure 1 The development and growth of behaviorism is the U.S. (Source Unknown) It is easy to theorize or write about a concept in a paper, the next step is to show that behaviorism was workable without recourse to consciousness and the mind (Hothersall, 2004). Watson began conducting research with children, first at the Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic in Baltimore and then later at John Hopkins University Hospital. It is at John Hopkins, that Watson got the opportunity to study infant reflex and emotional responses. He was able to identify a host of reflexes such as coughing, yawning grasping, etc. In addition he was able to isolate three main classes of emotional responses in infants; fear, rage and love (Hothersall, 2004). He found that each of these classes of emotions had a specific set of stimuli and responses that were reliable and predictable. He was even able to conclude that fear responses to a stimuli beyond those noted earlier were learned. This was based on his observation that infants did not respond in fear to dogs, the dark or even snakes as most of us would or have. He also used his theories in advertisement after a scandal forced him out of psychology. He discovered that consumers behaviors could be predicted and controlled in the same manner as infants and rats. He used demographic surveys of target populations and offered a reward (gift) for a response (complete questionnaire). He was the first to prove that style was more important than substance. This principle alone has been one of the bedrock principles of American advertisement and salesmanship for decades. He tapped into humans propensity to heed the advice of people we admire by eliciting testimonials or endorsements for his products. In a couple of cases he even deliberately sought to manipulate consumers motives and emotions (Johnson and Johnson baby powder campaign stressed purity and cleanliness of product over the dangers of dirt and disease, targeting the gullible first time moms). The bottom line is that his work in the lab, with children and even in advertising demonstrated the efficacy of behaviorist theories. Little Albert and Peter Case Studies Little Albert In an effort to prove that behaviorism could be translated out of the lab, as noted in the previous paragraphs, Watson conducted research on infants at the John Hopkins University Hospital. While conducting research at the hospital, Watson decided to see if fear could be conditioned in an infant they named Albert (Hothersall, 2004). Albert an eleven month baby was selected because of his temperament and lack of fear for most things. In fact initially the only thing he seemed to have a strong fear response to was having a metal bar struck behind his head. In fact it was this fear that Watson used to condition of fear of white rats in Albert. The principle behind the experiment was simple; Watson would use the principle of association to illicit a fear response. In the case of Albert, Watson would show little Albert a white rat and as soon as he reached out for it, he would strike the metal bar. Thus, he would take a known fear and associate it with another stimulus or object. The resu lts were predictable, after doing this for only seven times, Albert would cry or crawl away from the white rat, with or without the metal bar being struck (Hothersall, 2004). Five days later, it was discovered that the conditioning had been generalized to anything that resembled the white furry rabbit (Hothersall, 2004). Interestingly enough five days after this the strength of the association was weakening, however after a freshening of the reaction the fear had generalized to even more objects (Santa Clause mask, sealskin coat, the dog, the rat and the rabbit ). A couple of conclusions that I drew from the experiment, first to initiate a fear response to the white rat, Watson needed to identify an object or stimulus in which the fear response was already associated with. Secondly, it seems reasonable that had Watson not refreshed it or reinforced it when the conditioning response appeared to be weakening, then it wouldve either gone away in its entirety or been localized to the rat. Thirdly, it appears that the age of the child was a significant factor in its outcome. The Case of Peter Apparently Watson and Jones also wanted to identify a methodology that could be used to help someone overcome fear. The texts suggests that time passage alone proved to be insufficient, describing a case in which one little girl went to months without seeing her feared rabbit and still responded with fear when she finally saw it again. Even the use of social imitation in which a child sees another child handling the object of his fear without negative repercussions did not work. Watson and Mary Cover Jones discovered that direct conditioning which in principle is in many ways the opposite of what Watson had done with little Albert could be used to help overcome fear. The technique they used is commonly referred to as deconditioning or desensitization. Basically, Peter had a phobia of rabbits and would react uncontrollably in their presence. So they (Watson and Jones) paired his phobia with eating food that he liked. In the first step, a caged rabbit was brought into the room and plac ed 12 or so feet away from Peter while he ate. Each day the rabbit was brought closer without disturbing Peter, until finally the rabbit was un-caged and placed on the table where Peter would eat while petting the rabbit. It was discovered that not only had Peter overcome his fear of the rabbit but also of cotton wool, fur coat and feathers. This technique is one of the classical methods for treating phobias today. The Major Tenants of Gestalt Psychology Introduction The word gestalt is a German word that means shape or form. Its founders Max Wertheimer, Kurt Koffka and Wolfgang Kohler initial interest was perception, however over time they began to apply the Gestalt principles to learning, problem solving and cognition (Hothersall, 2004). Like so many of our great discoveries, Gestalt psychology was inspired by an observation and its initial focus, as noted earlier was on how we perceive our environment and the stimulus it provides. In this case Max Wertheimer noticed that telephone poles and buildings appeared to be moving when he looked out the window of a moving train. Intrigued, he got off the train at Frankfurt and went to the Psychological Institute at the University of Frankfurt, to discuss the observed phenomenon with Friedrich Schumann, who held a PHD in physics. Unable to explain it, Schumann offered the use of his laboratory and equipment and introduced Wertheimer to Kopfka and Kohler (the triumvirate founders of Gestalt psychology). Based on Schumann report in 1907 that he had observed successively projected white stripes that appeared to move from the vertical to the horizontal at specific time intervals, Wertheimer designed and executed an experiment in which he projected lights successively through two narrow slits in a screen (Hothersall, 2004). He used Kohler, Koffka and Koffkas wife as his subjects. He observed that when the interval between lights was 50 to 60 milliseconds, lights appeared to move from one position to another but at longer intervals the lights appeared as independent, successive light (Hothersall, 2004). He also noticed that at shorter intervals the lights appeared to be on all the time. The Discovery and Subsequent Principles Wertheimer named this observed phenomena the Phi Phenomenon. Accordingly, Wertheimer noted that this phenomenon was not actually occurring in the world (not an actual physical stimulus). It was a mental stimulus or an interpretation of a stimulus that had occurred in his subjects mind. Which logically, leads to a reasonable supposition that if it is possible for a human to interpret the lights in this manner, what else is just interpretation and just how does this interpretation system work? Wertheimer noted that even though this was an apparent psychological experience, the phi phenomenon could not be reduced to its elements. Thus to adequately study this phenomenon and the questions it created he recognized that the phenomenon must be studied as a whole, the old and tried analytical techniques of psychology in which experiences are decomposed into its elements will not work. This and several other experiments that looked at auditory and even tactile interpretations were instrumenta l in the development of some basic perception principles that actually go beyond just visual perception. The underlying principles of Gestalt Psychology is three fold; 1) The brain is a dynamic system in which all active systems or elements within it when engaged interacts. 2) We perceive stimuli as wholes rather than as clusters of features. 3) If the first two principles are true then we must think holistically since the whole is greater than the sum of its parts (Gestalt, 2009). There were three important works that outlined the principles rules by which we organize our perceptual world, Koffkas Perception, An introduction to Gestalt Theory, Werthheimers An Inquiry into the Laws of Gestalt Psychology and Kohlers An Aspect of Gestalt Psychology (Hothersall, 2004). However, these principles are mostly descriptive and lack theory or an explanation of why we perceive this way except that our perceptions of our everyday world is organized into coherent wholes. The four basic principles are: figure-ground, closure, similarity and proximity. The principle of figure ground notes that we will separate important aspects of a figure from its background or surroundings. We will use real or imagined lines to separate the figure from its background. In figure 6 most of us will see a dog despite the background noise. Closure notes that we will take an incomplete object and make it whole by mentally filling in the missing contour lines or letters so that it makes sense. Pro ximity or nearness describes our tendency to group elements that are close to each other to form an overall figure or pattern. The last principle is similarity, which identifies our tendency to group together elements of a stimulus or pattern that have similar features (size, shape, colour). The similarity principle takes priority over the proximity principle if the two are together in a stimulus (Gestalt, 2009). Below are visual depiction of the principles described. They are classic depictions and can be found in an array of sources. Figure 2 Law of Closure Ge Figure 3 Law of Proximity Figures 4 and 5 Law of Similarity vase Figure 6 Figure-Ground Gestalt Principles in Life As noted earlier, while the initial focus of Gestalt psychology was sensory perception, especially visual, it does seem to have applicability in other areas of our life. For example, Kurt Lewin and Bluma Vul Zeigarnick discovered that our need to complete a task creates a state of tension that facilitates an ability to recall elements of that task until it is complete (Zeigarnik Effect, 2010). This was called the Zeigarnik effect. It was prompted by Zeigarniks observation that German waitress could remember details of a customers bill for a considerable amount of time until the bill was paid (after that they could not recall the basic information). The applicability of this is seen every day as television shows use this principle to keep their audiences loyal to a show with cliffhangers or advertisers leaving a message incomplete so as to illicit recall of its product by consumers. Gestalt versus Behaviorism Later, Wertheimer and Kohler would suggest that Gestalt could be applied to learning. The insight learning experiments conducted by Kohler found that both animals and humans can learn by sudden comprehension as opposed to gradual understanding or trial and error. Furthermore this insight is not necessarily observable by another person (Hothersall, 2004). In an experiment with apes, Kohler was able to demonstrate this type of learning. Kohler put a stick in cage, the ape played with it for a few minutes but eventually lost interest. Kohler then put a fruit just out of arms reach outside of the apes cage. When he tried to reach the fruit with his arm, he couldnt and got upset. He then simply picked up stick and used it to draw the fruit to the cage. When this was repeated the ape got better at using the stick for a tool. The significance of this experiment is that there was no trial-and-error learning. In another experiment, Kohler tested a dog and a 1 year old child, using what was ca lled a detour experiment. In this experiment the dog food was placed behind a barrier in which the dog needed to go around a barrier to get the food, likewise the one year old had her doll placed behind a barrier. In both cases the subjects simply went around the barrier to get the object of their desire (Hothersall, 2004). These experiments contradicted Thorndikes view of learning that stated that trial and error was the method of learning for animal. Kohler argued that the animals in Thorndikes experiment was also capable of insight learning, however the context of the experiment prohibited it. Kohler experiments had several characteristics that were different from Thorndikes. First, the experiments were done in the animals home or enclosure so as to make it as natural and as comfortable as possible which he believed made them more likely to display intelligent behavior. Secondly, his test was for the most part done in the presence of other animals. Finally, the results were almost always reported descriptively, which he believed ensured that the most valuable aspect of the experiments were not lost (Hothersall, 2004). Further comparisons of Gestalt psychology and Behaviorism shows some similarities and some striking differences. For example both occurred independently of one another in opposition to Wundts focus on sensory elements. However, they ended up opposing each other in many significant ways. Gestalt psychologists accepted the value of consciousness but criticized attempts to reduce it to its elements. Whereas behavioral psychologist ultimately refused to even accept it. Gestalt also criticized behaviorist belief that mental activity could not be studied scientifically (Moskowitz, 2005). Furthermore, Gestalt psychologist argues that behaviorist reduces psychology to nothing more than a collection of animal research. Behaviorist on the other hand noted the inferior quality of Gestalt experimental work (Kohler, for example, didnt use experimental method, he just observed). Behaviorist as one might expect, also argued that Gestalt psychologist research lacked adequate controls and its un-quantified data does not lend itself to statistical analysis (Moskowitz, 2005). I found it interesting that two schools of thought that in many ways actually complemented each other decided to strongly opposed each other. The only significant oppositional characteristics I believed that existed was their respective views on consciousness. Neo-Behaviorist Introduction Neo-behaviorism in many respects represents the second phase of behaviorism. Edward C. Tolman, Clark Hull, Edwin Guthrie and of course B.F. Skinner are the most prominent neo-behaviorist. Like their behavior predecessors, neo-behaviorist believed the keys to developing a scientific psychology was to study learning as observed through behavior and maintaining a focus on rigorously objective observational methods (Hothersall, 2004). The most significant difference between the leaders of neo-behaviorist and their behaviorist counterparts was their deliberate attempts to formalize the laws of behavior. Edward C. Tolman Tolman initially taught at Northwestern (1915 to 1918) but was fired because he was a pacifist. However, at Berkley in California he found the ideal academic environment where he taught for forty years. Tolman studied the behavior of rats in mazes and concluded that there was more to the rats behaviors in the mazes than plodding back and forth by stimuli, rewards and punishment (Hothersall, 2004). In his observations, he noted that the rats appeared to behave with intelligence and purpose. It appeared to Tolman that his rats had learned the general layout of the maze (he termed this a cognitive map). Tolman believed that Watson exclusion of purpose and cognition from psychological study was a grave error, thus he purposefully attempted to develop his form of behaviorism based on objective behavior that considered or analyzed both purpose and cognition (Hothersall, 2004). In a series of papers and his book, Purposive Behavior in Animals and Men, he completely rejected mentalist psychology and embraced behaviorism (Hothersall, 2004). Interestingly, despite the title of his book, its primary focus was on the behavior of rats in mazes. Specifically, he emphasized and elaborated on his ideas and belief that rats not only ran the maze with an expectation of a reward but had an expectation for a specific reward. To prove the point, he developed an ingenious experiment in which rats were placed in a maze without a reward then later given a reward. His goal was of course to ascertain if the presence or lack of reward impacted the rats behavior. In his control group, the rats had food in the goal box on all seven days. Group one, only had food in the goal box on day 7 (the first six days there were no food). The second experimental group did not get food in the goal box in the first two days but from days three to seven they did. He discovered that in such a s cenario the experimental groups did not perform to the level of the control group until the day after the food was introduced to the goal box. His conclusion was that learning had taken place despite the absence of a reward; he called it latent learning because it wasnt activated until the rat was sufficiently rewarded or motivated. In a slight modification of his experiment he changed the reward, so that one group got bread and milk, one group got sunflower seeds and one group got no food at all. The outcome, he believed confirmed purposeful behavior. The rats apparently had placed some level of value against the rewards because the rats receiving bread and milk ran the fastest, followed by the rats receiving sunflower seeds and those receiving no reward running the slowest (Hothersall, 2004). If the rat expected reward was changed, it displayed disappointment as evidenced by the increase in errors and slower pace (Hothersall, 2004). An experiment done later with an ape whose expected reward of a banana was changed to lettuce confirmed that such behavior was present in animals. In the case of the ape, upon discovering that her reward had been changed to lettuce she responded by basically having a temper tantrum. Behaviorist who discounted purpose and cognition found these finding troublesome because it suggests that S->R connections was insufficient in explaining the animals behavior (Neo-Behaviorist PPT. 2007). By the way, we all display latent learning when we display knowledge of the location of a particular store thats along some familiar route upon demand. Needless to say the concept of latent learning generated much discussion and research. In still another set of experiments, Tolman was able to show insight learning. In this experiment Tolman placed rats in an elevated maze with no walls and allowed the rats to explore the maze. The maze itself consisted of three different routes of varying lengths to the goal box. The rats were then allowed to become hungry and placed in the maze. The rats always chose the shortest route. If the shortest route was no longer available then the rat simply took the next shortest route. The results clearly indicate that the rat did in fact develop a cognitive map that included the whole maze. Furthermore, purposeful behavior is demonstrated by the very fact that the rats deliberately chose the route that required the least effort (shortest) (Hothersall, 2004). Based on these types of experiments as well as others not discussed, Tolman developed a basic theoretical model that he described in The Determiners of Behavior at a Choice Point. In it he identified three variables that influences behavior; the independent variable, dependent variable and the intervening variables (Graighead Nemeroff, 2001). The independent variable is what the experimenter is controlling. It is in essence the actual condition of the experiment. The dependent variable is what is actually being measured and the intervening variables are the things that may affect the experiments outcome but is not being controlled such as age, past experience and skill level. Accordingly, Tolman stated that Behavior as measured by the dependent variable is a function of the independent and intervening variables (Graighead Nemeroff, 2001). One of the biggest arguments or criticisms of Tolman is that he never developed a true theory of learning that outlined a clear theoretical posit ion. Others have criticized him because his writings tended to be subjective and mentalistic (Hothersall, 2004). Never the less few can argue with the fact that his research proved Watsons theory of behaviorism lacking because it did not consider the cognitive and motivational aspect of behavior. It (his research) also validated the use of rats as subjects for psychological study. Edwin R. Guthrie Guthrie earned his bachelors degree in mathematics but got his Masters degree and PHD in philosophy. He even taught as a philosophy professor at the University of Washington for a while. But eventually the pull to psychology was too strong and he became a professor in the universitys psychology department. His most significant contribution to the field of psychology was his learning theory, which he presented in several papers and books over a ten year period (1930s to 1940s). His theory of learning simply stated that all learning is based on contiguity between stimuli and responses (Hothersall, 2004). For Guthrie behavior was a function of the environment. So, if food is available then an animal will do what it takes to obtain that food. If his action successfully gets him food then he (the animal) will learn that action or response. Guthrie did not dispute Thorndikes belief that reward and punishment affected learning. His dispute was that he did not believe that the reward or puni shment stamped in or out habits. In the case of food, Guthrie saw its role as preventing unlearning. In other words, the rat developed a cognitive map simply by exploring, but the foods presence encourages or motivates the rat to keep the map in his mind or prevents him from unlearning the maze (Neo-Behaviorist PPT, 2007). Punishment works in that it reinforces the opposite behavior. For example, as a child I refused to go near a stove because of the spanking. So I was encouraged to do something else (as opposed to touching the stove) because of the spanking (punishment). The purpose of reinforcement is that it ends the act. Thus, I learn because it was the last successful act. I forget the unsuccessful acts because they a displaced by later successful acts (Hothersall, 2004). The study of movements that make up whole acts according to Guthrie was quite appropriate since they were easy to measure. He also believed that these individual acts are learned in one trial but practice is required in order for these individual movements to create a whole act (Graighead Nemeroff, 2001). Initially his theory was appealing because of its simplicity only to have it later criticized for the same reason. It should also be noted that his theories seemingly were more philosophical than experimentally based, which garnered criticism as well. Clark Hull Hulls goal was to develop universal laws of behavior (Hothersall, 2004). His most enduring contribution was the application of logic to psychological problems. He formed theoretical constructs that consisted of seventeen postulates and corollaries. He then showed that the theorems that grew from these constructs could be predicted and tested. Hulls concept of reinforcement was different from both Watson and Guthrie. Watson saw reinforcement as the thing that kept the animal on task. Guthrie saw reinforcements role as ending the behavior thus making it the last behavior learned (Hothersall, 2004). Hull on the other hand saw reinforcement as strengthening the connection between stimulus and a response. B.F. Skinner Whereas Guthrie and Hull dominated behaviorism in the 1930 and 1940s, B.F skinner assumed that role in the 50s and 60s. His most significant concept is of course operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is different from classical conditioning, in that the role of the animal is different. In classical conditioning the animal responds to the environment thus he learns as a result of that response. But in operant conditioning the animal operates on the environment. The animal performs a behavior that is repeated if rewarded. Thus the response rate is controlled by the animal, not the experimenter (Hothersall, 2004). Skinner study on schedules of reinforcement was accidental in that his studys original focus was on the nature reinforcement. However, he found himself short on pellets (food) so he decided to ration his pellets by reinforcing only an occasional response. In doing so he discovered the intermittent reinforcement maintained the frequency of responding (Hothersall, 2004, p. 519). He developed three different types of schedules; continuous, ratio (fixed and variable) and interval (fixed and variable). He and Ferster described the massive program of research they did on scheduled reinforcement in a work entitled Schedules of Reinforcement. They showed through their research that response rates could be reliably predicted based on the schedule of reinforcement. This work and its findings is now a basic tool in the experimental analysis of behavior (Hothersall, 2004). Skinner also introduced shaping, a behavioral training system that uses successive approximations.

Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being Essay

In Milan Kundera’s novel, The Unbearable Lightness of Being, the author uses plenty of literary elements to tie together his points in an effort to help readers understand the basic premise behind the work. Though there are plenty of literary themes that can be found throughout the work, the most important ones are the themes that Kundera uses, as well as the characters in the novel. By creatively using these things in his work, Kundera helps explain what might have otherwise been a fairly complex ideal. In addition, the author is able to tie these things together to create a measure of clarity for readers as they progress through the work.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Theme is used in the novel to get across the basic ideas that the author is set on impressing into the reader. Since the novel relies mostly on ambiguous ideas to get across hard to find points, the utilization of different themes are critically important to the development of the story. As one might expect from the title of the work, Kundera uses lightness and the idea of weight as one of the primary themes throughout the book. Even in the title, one can see the dichotomy that exists. Lightness in itself is not something that should be too heavy to bear. Yet, the author is able to masterfully intertwine these two ideas to convey the point of his story. Through the entire work, the characters of the book are searching hard within themselves to find a solution to the primary question presented in the title. Their search for the important things in life is done in order to both find meaning and relieve themselves of some of the heaviness that their being light creates.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Another important theme that the author uses is politics. Though the characters carry on with their lives throughout the work, they are constantly linked to both each other and to their collective pasts by their underlying political beliefs. A good example of this can be found on page 123 of the novel, when Sabina receives word that the political situation in Prague has cost Tomas and Tereza their lives. The book reads, â€Å"She could not get over the news. The link to her past had been broken† (123). English expert Jay Braiman describes a literary theme as, â€Å"The main idea or message conveyed by the piece† (Braiman). It is clear in the story that the author uses both politics and the idea of weight as the main idea in the work. The desire to escape from the weight of life was something that drove each of the characters, while politics served as a main idea in trying all of the characters together.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Characters were the second literary element used by the author to create the work. Not only do the characters power the action, but they shed a little bit of light into the what the other characters were thinking. Simply having characters is not enough to establish something as an important literary element. As the author clearly understood, the characters must be used in the most efficient, useless way possible in order to help push the idea of the story forward. The characters in this novel are not just there for an arbitrary reason. Instead, they play an active role in the story in establishing the primary aspects of plot development. A Eugene Knight book review of the work talks to the importance of the characters by saying, â€Å"The very fact that they stay together and seem to find some degree of happiness illustrates that an acceptance of a relationship that falls well short of satisfying and fulfilling hopes, is possible† (Knight). One can easily see that the author used the literary element of characters to tie in the many themes that he utilized and help the reader understand the underlying conflict in Czechoslovakia at the time.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Overall, the book is a commentary on the reasons why people need people so much. This is a complex idea to establish, especially when one considers the fact that it is set against such a tough background. Kundera established his excellent work on the basis that his characters would do the talking for him. Instead of having to explain things to readers to get them to buy in to the main point of the book, he had characters live out their real life experiences to get across the points. Even more importantly than that, he was able to bring the characters closer to the themes that were so important to the author in this book. No one literary theme overtook the book or overpowered it. They all worked together in a sanctimonious harmony that not only told a story, but helped the reader interpret the story. The idea that a person who is too light could not bear that weight is a ridiculous one at first, but as the reader further understands the things that the characters are going through, they can begin to see how such a dichotomy can become quite a conundrum. Works Cited Braiman, Jay. Literary Devices. 2007. < http://mrbraiman.home.att.net/lit.htm> Knight, Eugene. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, Review. < http://bookreviews.nabou.com/reviews/unbearable_lightness_kundera.html> Kundera, Milan. The Unbearable Lightness of Being. 4 May 2004. HarperCollins Publishing. Raudino, Guiseppe. Socialism and Arts. August 2007.

Geographical Information Systems (Gis)

1. Spatial data are what drive a GIS. Spatial features or entities and their attributes are stored in computers using a number of spatial data models. It is vital to understand the characteristics of them since the data model employed has considerable influence on the functionality of the GIS. Spatial data can represent real world features with discrete boundaries (such as roads, buildings, lakes, rivers, administrative boundaries) as well as real world phenomena with non-discrete boundaries (such as precipitation and nutrient levels, terrain).The basic approaches are: raster data model and vector data model. Depending on the type of problem that needs to be solved, the type of maps that need to be made, and the data source, either raster or vector, or a combination of the two can be used. Each data model has strengths and weaknesses in terms of functionality and representation. | Raster Data Model| Vector Data Model| Descriptions| The raster data model is the simpler model and is ba sed on the division of reality into a regular grid of identically shaped cells.Raster data represent the landscape as a rectangular matrix of square cells. In raster data model, attributes are limited to the numeric values of the cells themselves, and while it is possible to link additional attributes to the groups of cells having same values, which is rarely done in practice because of the low utilizing value and cumbersome data management. | In vector data model, an object’s shape is represented by dots which are located where the shape of the object changes.The dots which are known as vertices are joined by straight lines. Vector data represent features as discrete points, lines, and polygons. In vector model, as a point of difference, vector objects are additionally described by one or more characteristics, in GIS called attributes. Vector files attributes are stored in tables which consists of records (rows) representing individual features, fields (columns) representing a particular theme describing the feature, and attributes that refers to an intersection between a record and a field. Advantages| * The geographical location of each cell is implied by its position in the cell matrix. Accordingly, no geographical coordinates are stored other than an origin point. * Due to the nature of the data storage technique data analysis is usually easy to program and quick to perform. * The inherent nature of raster maps that is one attribute maps, is ideally suited for mathematical modeling and quantitative analysis. * Grid-cell systems are very compatible with raster-based output devices. As reconnaissance satellites and aerial surveys use raster-based scanners, the information can be directly incorporated into GIS. | * Data can be represented at its original resolution and form without generalization. * Graphic output is usually more aesthetically pleasing (traditional cartographic representation). * Allows precise representation of points, boundaries, an d linear features. * Accurate geographical location of data is maintained. * Since most data, e. g. hard copy maps, is in vector form no data conversion is required. Allows for efficient encoding of topology and operations that require topological information. | Disadvantages| * The cell size determines the resolution at which the data is represented. * It is especially difficult to adequately represent linear features depending on the cell resolution. Accordingly, network linkages are difficult to establish. * Processing of associated attribute data may be cumbersome if large amounts of data exist. Raster maps inherently reflect only one attribute or characteristic for an area. Since most input data is in vector form, data must undergo vector-to-raster conversion. Besides increased processing requirements this may introduce data integrity concerns due to generalization and choice of inappropriate cell size. * Most output maps from grid-cell systems do not conform to high-quality ca rtographic needs. | * The boundaries of the resulting map polygons are discrete whereas in reality the map polygons may represent continuous gradation or gradual change, as in soil maps. * The location of each vertex needs to be stored explicitly. Vector data must be converted into a topological structure to achieve effective analysis, which is often processing intensive and requires extensive data cleaning. * Continuous data is not effectively represented in vector form that usually requires substantial data generalization or interpolation for these data layers. * Spatial analysis and filtering within polygons is impossible. | References Heywood, I. S. (2006). Heywood, I. , S. Cornelius, and S. Carver. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. Lo, C. P. (n. d. ). Concepts and Techniques of Geographic Information . Pearson Education Inc. Technology, T.U. (n. d. ). The GIS Spatial Data Model. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from Introduction to Geographic Information Systems in Forest Resources: http://courses. washington. edu/gis250/lessons/introduction_gis/spatial_data_model. html Buckey, D. J. (n. d. ). VECTOR AND RASTER – ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from Biodiversity GIS: http://bgis. sanbi. org/gis-primer/page_19. htm 2. Basic concept of GIS As the name implies, geographic information systems (GIS) are systems designed to be input, store, edit, retrieve, analyze, and output geographic data and information.It is composed of an orchestrated set of parts, which includes computer hardware and software, space and organizations within which these reside, personnel who use the system in numerous levels and capacities, data and information upon which the system operates, clients who obtain and use the products, vendors who supply the hardware and software, and other systems within which the GIS functions. These parts allow it to perform its many interrelated tasks well. The main task of a GIS is to analyze spatially referenced data and in formation.There are various ways of classifying the analytical and modeling capabilities of GIS as many of these capabilities interact. Ultimately, the software most certainly contains algorithms and computer code specifically designed to: (i) Organize geographic data within appropriate referencing systems, (ii) Selectively query those data and aggregate them for easy understanding, (iii) Count and measure both individual objects and collections of objects, (iv) Classify and reclassify objects based on user specified properties, (v) Overlay related thematic map data, vi) And be able to combine these individual techniques into ordered sequences of operations designed to simulate some natural or anthropogenic activities for decision making. One of the purposes of using GIS is to take observations of the real world and simplify and scale the data into graphical elements to which are related descriptive features termed attributes. Database management system (DBMS) is used to maintain th e attributes while the graphical elements are described in any one of two general types of spatial structure which are vector and tessellation.Vector structures which refer to discrete elements, points, lines, and polygons, are represented digitally by a series of 2-D coordinates (x and y) that imply magnitude and direction. Whereas tessellation refers to representation of spatial data with a network of elements such as rectangles, squares, hexagons, equilateral triangles, and irregular rectangles. In general, vector methods are more suitable for mapping and performing spatial queries, while tessellation is more suitable to represent continuous surfaces such as topography.The history of development of GIS parallels the history of developments in digital computers and database management systems as wells as those in cartography and automation of map production. The development of GIS has also relied upon innovations made in other sectors including geography, photogrammetry, remote se nsing, civil engineering, and statistics. Generally, GIS can be very beneficial in various fields that some organizations are utilizing it, such as retail, utilities, environment, local government, health care, transportation and financial services.However, it could go wrong if the organization was not really sure how it could use it. It should be determined that how an organization uses spatial data and whether the current practices can be automated, and also identify any new processes which would be useful to help decision making. Some people believe that there is no difference between computer-assisted cartography (CAC), computer aided drafting (CAD), and GIS. Because the graphic display from these three systems can look identical to both casual and trained observers.Nonetheless, CAC computer systems that designed to create maps from geographical objects combined with descriptive attributes are excellent for display but lack of the analytical capabilities of a GIS. Also, for pure mapping purposes, CAC is highly desirable for the input, design, and output of mappable data rather than working through the myriad analytics of GIS to produce a simple map. Whereas CAD is developed to produce graphic images that is excellent for architects, but it is not capable of analyzing maps that it is the primary task assigned to the GIS.A successful GIS may not be an off-the-shelf solution to your problems, while it will require considerable thought for a successful implementation. Applications Nowadays, GIS technologies have been applied to diverse sectors to assist experts and professionals in analyzing various types of geospatial data and dealing with complex situations. GIS plays a vital role to help people collect and analyze related spatial data as well as to display data in different formats in business, education, transportation, public safety, natural resources, mapping and charting, geospatial intelligence, government, tourism, and health service.In agriculture, G IS can be very beneficial too as the ability of GIS to analyze and visualize agricultural environments and workflows has contributed much in the farming industry. Balancing the inputs and outputs on a farm as a fundamental to agriculture success and profitability can be determined easily through GIS. Pest/ disease tracking, farm management, crop monitoring, yield prediction and soil analysis can easily be done through GIS.From mobile GIS in the field to the scientific analysis of production data at the farm manager’s office, GIS is playing an increasing role in agriculture production by helping farmers increase production, reduce costs, and manage their land more effectively. In natural resource management, GIS has also played important role in various applications. For example, groundwater recharge potential evaluation platform, soil database query system, biodiversity geographic information system, climate rainfall map system, private forest land management system, water bo dy quality and pollutant management system, as well as rainfall analysis system.In planning and economic development, GIS helps economic developers in effective decision-making that it conducts analysis, displays and disseminates results and makes informed decisions about where to locate new businesses or grow existing ones. GIS technology is really powerful and efficient in helping economic developers sustain economic recovery and growth. The necessary platform for visualization, modeling, analysis, and collaboration can be provided by GIS tools and help the economic developers to achieve their goals.Next, for public safety, GIS contributes a lot especially in disaster management. There are some systems introduced to detect and prevent disasters such as GIS-based campus emergency system, disaster prevention area planning, urban disaster prevention spatial system, and emergency response digital map platform. However, remote sensing can be combined with GIS to produce a better tool i n disaster management. For example, the Wellington Regional Council (WRC) in New Zealand has developed a comprehensive library of earthquake hazard maps.The data have been digitized and forms part of the WRC GIS. Black and white copies of the maps are faxed to media outlets, police and emergency services while GIS/GPS were utilized to monitor the daily spread of the fire, measure fire suppression actions and assess damage to structures and to natural and cultural sources. Bibliography Basic Concepts. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 13, 2012, from http://www. ce. utexas. edu/prof/maidment/gishydro/docs/reports/smith/sect3. pdf Buckey, D. J. (n. d. ). VECTOR AND RASTER – ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES.Retrieved November 16, 2012, from Biodiversity GIS: http://bgis. sanbi. org/gis-primer/page_19. htm Demer, M. N. (2009). Fundamental of Geographical Information Systems (4th Edition). United States of America: Wiley. GIS application in disaster management: some examples. (n. d. ). Retr ieved November 2012, 13, from GIS development: http://www. gisdevelopment. net/application/natural_hazards/overview/nho0001. htm Heywood, I. S. (2006). Heywood, I. , S. Cornelius, and S. Carver. New York: Pearson Prentice Hall. Linda Loubert, P. n. d. ). GIS for Economic Development. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from esri: http://www. esri. com/library/bestpractices/economic-development. pdf Lo, C. P. (n. d. ). Concepts and Techniques of Geographic Information . Pearson Education Inc. Rabley, P. (2009, June). GIS for Agriculture. Retrieved November 13, 2012, from ESRI: http://www. esri. com/library/bestpractices/gis-for-agriculture. pdf SuperGeo. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 13, 2012, from GIS Applications: http://www. supergeotek. com/library_GISApplication. spx Technology, T. U. (n. d. ). The GIS Spatial Data Model. Retrieved November 16, 2012, from Introduction to Geographic Information Systems in Forest Resources: http://courses. washington. edu/gis250/lessons/introduction_gis/s patial_data_model. html 3. Future of GIS Geographical Information System (GIS) is a technological tool designed to store, analyze and display geographical data so that a person reading a map can select data necessary for a specific project or task. The demand for GIS tools is constantly growing.Comparing to the early years of GIS one would dream up a new spatial widget, code it, and then attempt to explain to others how and why they ought to use it, nowadays GIS has been applied into various fields whether in data management, economic planning and development, agriculture, and public safety, whereas in future GIS application should be better than this and make jobs to be done more easily. Why is future of GIS valuable? One of the reasons is geographic information science as a new science that is used to design future information systems.Also, it is valuable as it generates expansion into new fields and application areas, discovering new uses and solving problems. In future, the scie ntific visualization and computer graphics will be increasingly integrated with GIS capabilities, especially animated and interactive maps. The potential of future of GIS is far beyond the other sciences for the tools. In today’s world, acquiring data for a new GIS is no longer a major problem. GPS has become a main source of new GIS data and comes increasingly from integrated GPS/GIS systems.Nevertheless, this GIS domain has always been the outdoors where GPS signals are strong and reliable. Thus this matter should be looked into that moving GIS indoors. We need techniques for the rapid, cheap, and accurate capture of 3D geometries and attributes, as well as efficient methods of determining indoor position. The market for solutions to the problem of moving GIS indoors and integrating the indoors and outdoors really holds an enormous potential. By developing GIS trends, knowing where everything is can be very possible.Take consideration during emergencies but not invading pri vacy of ones, tracking individuals using the technologies of GIS would be very useful. For instant, it would be much easier to search for the possible victims if every inhabitant of the Wenchuan area of China had been tracked prior to the May 2008 earthquake. Furthermore, shifting GIS from the relatively leisurely process of analyzing static data to a far more dynamic process of real-time monitoring and decision making can be possible in future also.A GPS navigation system, fed by sensors, might show the state of congestion of the road system in real time; an emergency manager might view the real-time situation of a disaster response; and a public health researcher might monitor the real-time state of a disease outbreak. Nonetheless, as the progress of future of GIS is developing, we should also take the major influencing factors on it either positive or negative into consideration.There are several positive influences of future of GIS that we can see, such as continuing hardware co st reductions and improved performance, improvements in storage capacities and performance, the improved capability and functional range of most software, the adoption of standards for GIS in many countries, the availability of a greater range of digital data sets, the greater recognition of GIS as valuable management tool, and also the perceived success of GIS in a number of varied fields.For the negative sides, the lack of government funding for basic research initiatives, too many systems are stand-alone applications having little incentive to progress, the necessary implementation procedures are very complex, data costs can be prohibitive, too frequently data is difficult to integrate because of structure, accuracy, scale, level of aggregation, as well as the legal concerns over the copyright of data. In conclusion, GIS can be very useful if researches of innovation and evolution can be made more.Of course, advantages and disadvantages of applications of GIS in future have to be concerned much so that it can be fully utilized and the consequence of GIS development can be minimized. Last but not least, there is one fact that is inescapable: the world of GIS has always been full of surprises, and there is every reason to believe the future will be just exciting! Bibliography Basic Concepts. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 13, 2012, from http://www. ce. utexas. edu/prof/maidment/gishydro/docs/reports/smith/sect3. pdf Berry, J. K. (2007). Topic 27: GIS Evolution and Future Trends. Retrieved