International Oil and National Security Essay

When oil fueled the navies of both Britain and the United States in World War I, it began the tremendous impact oil would have on the world. When British and French forces were threatened with oil shortages, the US gave the much needed help. Without the same assistance, Germany had to shorten critical operations. Since military hardware were all dependent on oil for power it became important that their countries have access to oil. Britain had access to Middle East oil and the United States had the oil from the Caribbean. After the war, Britain and the United States continued to dominate the oil industry of the world. The US has 4 large oil companies and Britain has 2. From the experience of World War II, control of the oil production for use in the military explains the success of the US and the defeat of Germany and Japan. The US rebuilt Europe and Japan with the assurance of oil supply. US had enough Venezuelan oil for its needs, set its eyes on the oil-rich Middle East. Oil is also seen as an important commodity for industries. To ensure its access Britain acquired concession rights on the oil of Iran, but it was not enough. The governments of Latin America refused to allow foreign government’s participation in their oil industries. Excessive supply had to be jointly managed which paved the way for developing oil sources in Iraq, Bahrain and Kuwait, as well as Mexico and Venezuela. The threat of war with Mexico and a crisis in Venezuela was defused with settlements and concessions. The lesson for the British was not ownership of oil reserves but control of sea routes that had more impact. A growing concern that US oil reserves are nearing depletion prompted oil companies to seek additional sources in order to serve domestic demand and supply foreign markets. They shifted their attention from the Caribbean to the Middle East. There has been a noted change in the structure of the global oil industry as well as in the triggers of consumption. The oil industry is important to national security, comes from non-renewable sources and oil reserves is dependent on the demand and supply of the commodity. The seven oil majors control 90% of oil reserves, produce 90% of oil, have a 75% refining capacity, and trade 90% of oil in the global market. In the middle of the 1950s there were small entrants, who challenged the majors, and who sold their oil at low prices. These pushed the world prices of oil downward. Oil consumption is a big part of the economy. Construction of highways and railways, purchase and registration of cars and trucks make America a great motoring nation and consequently a high gas-consuming public. Ever conscious of maintaining reserves the US relied heavily on oil imports to sustain its energy needs. As the Middle East has become its largest energy source, the US government is much concerned with maintaining the security and stability in the Middle East. Policy makers are looking for alternative, diversified and renewable fuel sources, efficient utilization and conservation measures to reduce the country’s dependence on oil imports taking into account their costs and benefits.

Toyota Production System -Business and Marketing Strategy, Swot Analysis and Its Implementation Plan

{draw:g} Contents Executive Summary *â€Å"Toyota Service Management and Project Implementation Plan*† Report provides the complete analysis of Toyota and its Production System. The report includes the brief history about organisation and consists of a comprehensive description about Toyota Production System (TPS). Further we have analysed the Business and Marketing strategy of the Toyota and performed the â€Å"SWOT† analysis in order to understand the strengths, weaknesses of the organisation and also threats to the organisation. The information that had been gathered via various means of the overall Business functioning of Toyota has been transformed graphically into â€Å"Blueprint† that helps us to have a better picture of Toyota’s business. Blueprint of Toyota has been embedded as a major part of the report. On the basis of analysis and blueprint a project plan has been devised to implement the project in a new location. The Project plan has been developed using MS Project and report encompasses the Activity on Node Diagram (Network Diagram) and Gantt Chart to give a detail explanation of the project implementation by breaking down the implementation process into different phases. Finally the report includes financial statements that include the Balance Sheet and Cash Flow sheet to implicate the financial transactions and cost the project would imply on organisation for starting a new venture in Melbourne. The Purpose of this report is to Analyse a Service Industry, its Business and marketing strategy, develop a blueprint, devise a project plan and financial budget for successful implementation of the company in Melbourne using various statistical and organizational information available. History and Background Toyota Motor Corporation is a multinational company headquartered in Japan and it is one of the best car selling companies in the world. The company was founded in the year 1937 by a successful businessman – Mr. Kiichiro Toyoda. [1] Toyota Group is the largest group of industries in the world. Toyota Industries develops and manufactures automobiles and automobile-related products, such as vehicles, engines, car air-conditioning compressors, car electronics components and devices, and stamping dies. In the vehicle and engine businesses Toyota has achieved a top-class level of quality and productivity within the Toyota Group and is contributing to Toyota Motor Corporation's car production. 9] Toyota employs the expertise it has mainly accumulated through its automobile manufacturing business to conduct business in a variety of other fields including housing, finance, communications, GAZOO, marine, and biotechnology and afforestation. [10] {text:list-item} Toyota's management philosophy has evolved from the company's origins and has been reflected in the terms â€Å"Lean Manufacturing† and Just In Time Production, which it was instrumental in developing. The Toyota Way has four components: Long-term thinking as a basis for management decisions. A process for problem-solving. Adding value to the organization by developing its people. Recognizing that continuously solving root problems drives organizational learning. The Toyota Way incorporates the Toyota Production System. [2] {text:list-item} Toyota has long been recognised as an industry leader in manufacturing and production. Regardless of the origin, the principles, described in Toyota's management philosophy, The Toyota way, are as follows: Base your management decisions on a long-term philosophy, even at the expense of short-term goals Create continuous process flow to bring problems to the surface Use â€Å"pull† systems to avoid overproduction Level out the workload Build a culture of stopping to fix problems, to get quality right the first time Standardized tasks are the foundation for continuous improvement and employee empowerment Use visual control so no problems are hidden Use only reliable, thoroughly tested technology that serves your people and processes Grow leaders who thoroughly understand the work, live the philosophy, and teach it to others 10. Develop exceptional people and teams who follow your company’s philosophy 11. Respect your extended network of partners and suppliers by challenging them and helping them improve 12. Go and see for yourself to thoroughly understand the situation (genchi genbutsu) 13. Make decisions slowly by consensus, thoroughly considering all options; implement decisions rapidly 14. Become a learning organization through relentless reflection and continuous improvement [2] Business and Marketing Strategy text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:t oc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:list-item} Toyota adopted series of globalization strategies to become a formidable contender in the global automobile market from being Japan’s number one automaker. The Business strategies have evolved over the years to earmark its global development and drive through all the steam in mist of challenges. Business Strategy currently pursued by Toyota has been described in detail: Growth Strategy by region:- Operations tailored to various conditions in each region Hybrid Vehicle (HV) Strategy: The strategy is to become number 1 selling automaker in HV market. Thus motive is to increase hybrid vehicle and unit supply capacity and making HV systems smaller and lighter and thereby reducing the cost. Management Foundation Strategy*: This is a unique strategy being adopted by Toyota for self improvement. The Binding reasons for developing these strategies are improving quality, reducing cost and developing human resources. {text:list-item} {text:list-item} Toyota has been aggressively pursuin g marketing strategy to effectively implement the business strategy. Toyota’s successes are largely due to its ability to identify growth opportunities and develop marketing strategies to capture them. Firstly, they achieved greater market penetration by marketing their cars as fuel-efficient, well-built alternatives to the gas-guzzling, problem-prone American cars. Secondly, Toyota was also able to identify new opportunities for market development and spent time on product development to tap into these markets. The results of Toyota’s product development were the creation of Lexus and Scion, brands that both offered a unique line up of cars, a unique brand philosophy, and services that target the luxury and youth market. Third, in spite of their successes in capturing new markets and achieving greater market penetration, Toyota occasionally downsizes their products such as the Celica and MR2. The goal was to make difference using sophisticated, normal way while still encompassing luxuries of everyday life. Toyota adopted marketing strategies to brand their car among the identified segmented market. [8] Marketing Strategy for Youth Toyota focuses mainly on the youth market by advertising through youth-oriented media (Rolling Stone, MTV, late-night programming), creating a flashy website to highlight their brand philosophy, and sponsoring live concerts. Not only does it specifically target the young buyers, but they also simplified their sales tactics by offering no-haggle pricing, which means that Scion dealers will not be allowed to negotiate prices or pressure a potential customer into buying, and giving their customers a high degree of vehicle customization. Because of these marketing tactics, Toyota was not only able to bring in younger customers but it also encouraged Honda and Nissan to consider introducing youth-oriented cars into their line up. [7] Marketing Strategy for US Toyota and other Japanese carmakers aggressively marketed their cars to Americans as being fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly, and having better build quality than American cars. In addition, Toyota marketed their cars as being hip and fun with memorable slogans like, â€Å"you asked for it, you got it, Toyota,† and with commercials involving young Toyota drivers jumping in the air. Toyota also decided to create a new brand because they had a reputation of being a company that only offered fun and fuel efficient compact cars. Hence they decided to launch a new car with heavy emphasis towards quality customer service. They also focussed on major metropolitan cities in US in order to maximize their revenue. 8] To sum up, Toyota is a great case study on how a company should develop, identify, and evaluate market opportunities and how to develop the right products and marketing tactics to capture such markets. SWOT Analysis Toyota Motor Corporation – SWOT analysis com pany profile is the essential source for top-level company data and information. Toyota Motor Corporation- SWOT Analysis examines the company’s key business structure and operations, history and products, and provides summary analysis of its key revenue lines and strategy. SWOT analysis provides a study of major internal and external factors affecting Toyota Motor Corporation as well as breakdown and examination of leading product revenue streams of Toyota Motor Corporation. [4] Strengths Global organization, with a strong international position in 170 countries worldwide. High financial strength (1997, sales turnover, ? 131,511 million), sales growth of 29. 3%. Strong brand image based on quality, environmental friendly (greener), customized range. Industry leader in manufacturing and production. Maximizes profit through efficient lean manufacturing approaches (e. g. Total Quality Management) and JIT (Just in Time) manufacturing and first mover in car research and development. Excellent penetration in key markets (US, China, EMEA) and now the second largest car manufacturer in the world, surpassing Ford. Weakness Japanese car manufacturer – seen as a foreign importer. Production capacity. Toyota produces most of its cars in US and Japan whereas competitors may be more strategically located worldwide to take advantage of global efficiency gains. Some criticism has been made due to large-scale re-call made in 2005, quality issues. Opportunities Innovation -first to develop commercial mass-produced hybrid gas-electric vehicles (gas and electric), e. g. Prius model. Based on advanced technologies and R&D activity. With oil prices at an all time high – this investment and widening of product portfolio fits consumers looking to alternative sources of fuels away from gas guzzling cars. To expand more aggressively into new segments of the market. The launch of Aygo model by Toyota is intended to take market share in youth market. To produce cars which are more fuel efficient, have greater performance and less impact on the environment. To develop new cars which respond to social and institutional needs and wants. The development of electric cars, hybrid fuels, and components reduces the impact on the environment. Toyota’s Eco-Vehicle Assessment System (Eco-VAS) has helped in production, usage, and disposal. Continued global expansion – especially in the emerging markets e. g. China and India, Russia, where population and demand is accelerating. Threats Saturation and increased competition, intense marketing campaigns increasing competitive pressures. Shifts in the exchange rates affecting profits and cost of raw materials. Predictions of a downturn in the economy e. g. recession, will affect car purchases (especially new cars). As household budgets tighten – this could lead a decline in new car sales and possible rationalization of dealerships. Changing demographics e. g. number of large families is declining. Undermining the demand for large family cars. Changing usage – families using the car less for taking children to schools. Home deliveries. Businesses – restricting business travel (tele-conferencing). Governments encouraging alternative forms of transport – cycling and incentives to use public transport across Europe. Service Blueprint A â€Å"Services Blueprint† is a process design tool which is a flow chart of the business operations. The blueprint for Toyota has been developed using the information available from different Toyota websites. The Blueprint involves all the steps from customer placing an order to delivery of car to customer. The blueprint is explained as follows: Customer Actions: The various customer action that have been identified are customer placing an order, Checking specifications on internet and enquiring about the details of car and placed orders. Final Customer action that has been identified is customer receiving the car and documents pertaining to car. The identified Onstage customer actions are the different payment details that will be available after customer places the order and also Customer Representatives that will be answering the customers queries regarding the current status of production stage i. e. whether car is in assembly stage or the car is still in welding stage or in delivery stage. Backstage Contact Employee Action: The Different Backstage Contact Actions that have been identified are the overall manufacturing process and the delivery of car from factory. Again the manufacturing process is broken down into Building the engine, making the body i. e. Press Plant, Welding the different parts of car to the body, Painting the car and finally assembling the different sections of car together with the body. Support Process: The different Support processes that have been identified are the records of the current production status for a particular customer. The need for carrying out thorough quality check is imperative to satisfy customer satisfaction level and has been identified as a Support process that complements the manufacturing process at every stage. {draw:frame} Implementing Project Plan The report encompasses project plan for starting a new venture of Toyota in Melbourne. Project Plan is a critical part in implementation and success of project. The estimated time, cost and resources help us to identify the budget and expected duration of project. The project Plan has been designed to implement a new project for Toyota from scratch by breaking down the whole process from setting up plant to delivery of car into different stages. The project plan also includes the time that will be required for completing the different tasks. The constraints that will affect the various task at different stages has been identified and defined in the plan. Following are the relevant activity and its brief description which can be tailored to fit the needs: Conceptual: – The first phase of project is to identify the Business objectives, conceptualising a plan, assessing the place for constructing a plant, staffing requirement and the different requirement for equipments. This again can be broken down into following tasks which consists of above mentioned subtasks: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:bookmark} {text:toc-mark-start} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:toc-mark-end} {text:list-item} Following is a brief overview of different activities or task with its subtasks. {draw:frame} {text:list-item} {draw:frame} Gantt Chart is a graphical representation of the duration of tasks against the progression of time. It is really useful while monitoring a project’s progress. The above Gantt chart helps us to identify the constraints and the tasks that are dependent on completion of other tasks in the overall Toyota project. Hence it helps to visualize the criticality of project and path and the success of project in Melbourne. Note: Due to Space constraint we have not been able to include the complete Gantt Chart. {text:list-item} Activity Network Diagram can be used within Toyota for detailed evaluation planning. Below is the screenshot of all major tasks identified in the project plan. {draw:frame} The screenshots attached below are of the tasks broken down into its subtask identified in the Project Plan. {draw:frame} {draw:frame} {draw:frame} Financial Factors of Project and Business The Financial factors play a major role in success of project. The financial factors that have been identified and will be impacting the implementation and success of project are: Changes in economic conditions affecting, and the ompetitive environment in, the automotive markets in Australia. Toyota's ability to realize production efficiencies and to implement capital expenditures at the levels and times planned by management. Political instability in the markets of Australia. Toyota's ability to timely develop and achieve market acceptance of new products. Fuel shortages or interruptions in transportation systems, labour strikes, work stoppages or other interruptions to, or difficulties in, the employment of labour in the major markets where Toyota purchases materials, components and supplies for the production of its products or where its products are produced, distributed or sold. 6] On the basis of project plan – the estimated time, resource requirement and cash flows for carrying out the various activities we have prepared Balance Sheet and Cash Flow for the whole Toyota project. The assumptions that have been made are listed below: {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} {text:list-item} On the basis of above assumption we have developed the Balance sheet at the beginning and end of year and Cash Flow statement at the end of year which is given below: Balance Sheet at the End of Year Balance Sheet at the End of Year Cash Flow at the End of Year Conclusion The Primary goal of the report is to analyse Toyota- the way business is carried out and mechanisms by which it implements different processes. The analysis carried out about its business and marketing strategies helped us to devise the overall project plan for starting a new business in Melbourne. Hence on the above basis we devised blueprint and finally prepared the financial statements. The report has taken into account the various constraints i. e. technical and financial constraints that may affect the success of project. The Project that is stated for implementation is a profitable venture. Hence the wise move will be to implement the project due to huge demand in Australian market. References http://ezinearticles. com/? The-History-of-Toyota&id=2790459 ttp://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Toyota http://www. toyota. co. jp/en/ir/presentation/2008/pdf/080828presen_1. pdf http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/541936 http://wiki. answers. com/Q/What_is_the_swot_analysis_ of_Toyota http://www. thefreelibrary. com/Toyota+Announces+Third+Quarter+Financial+Results+-+Net+Revenues+and†¦ -a0141766841 http://www. detnews. com/2003/autosinsider/0304/21/a01-141863. htm http://lifeinmotion. wordpress. com/2006/12/23/%E2%80%9Ctoyota-developing-strategies-for-growth%E2%80%9D/ http://www. toyota-industries. com/product/auto/ 10. http://www2. toyota. co. jp/en/business_field/ 11.

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Critical Evaluation and Appraisal of the P.F.I. and role of the Essay - 1

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THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SPREADSHEET PROGRAMS Essay

THE VARIOUS TYPES OF SPREADSHEET PROGRAMS - Essay Example The success or failure of a business institution depends solely on the way it handles accounting. Accounting systems are responsible for analyzing and monitoring the financial condition of companies, preparation of documents necessary for tax purposes, providing information support to many other organizational functions, and so on. The origin of spreadsheets is primarily in the context of accounting applications having major uses with cashflow analysis, budgeting and planning. Its origins began primarily in the context of accountancy applications, which to this day still represent one of the spreadsheets major uses with cashflow analysis, budgeting and planning typical of such applications. Indeed, despite its versatility and use across a range of academic disciplines, the spreadsheet is largely viewed as a business tool with applications covering general administration, sales and marketing, manpower analysis, resource allocation, operational analysis and strategic planning, to name a few [2]. The spreadsheets are used both by highly skilled specialists to generate complex business reports as well as by beginners for routine low-level applications who are unaware of the real potential of spreadsheets. Earlier research by Pemberton and Robson (1995) concluded that, while the spreadsheet has become a natural feature of the business landscape, extent of usage is only one, albeit limited, performance measure with which to illustrate spreadsheet proliferation in business. In many cases, claims of expertise revolve around only the simplest of features, often at the lower end of the skills hierarchy [3]. Evolution of spreadsheets: Spreadsheets came into market in 1979 with the introduction of VisiCalc, the software allowing personal computer users the flexibility to perform simple operations without recourse to a mainframe computer. However, the specific term â€Å"spreadsheet† dates back with its earliest

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Feasibility Report Guide Essay Example for Free

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For instance, Android-based Samsung Galaxy Player 50 is to be introduced soon, containing a range of innovative features the product is expected to change the current media players’ market condition significantly SWOT Samsung Samsung Strength as Becoming a world known brand (over 200 countries) RD (investing on scientific talents) Innovation (new digital technology) Customization (new products every year) New allocation of marketing resources (M-Net). Samsung enjoys the widest range of product portfolio which includes : Mobile phones Tablet TV/Audio/Video,Camera,camcorder, Home appliance Pc‟s,Laptop, peripherals, printer, memory cards and Well diversified and differentiated product line toother accessories meet changing customer needs . Samsung electronics has 4business areas to cover customer electronics needs. Practice the good leadershipBrand value through multiple sponsorships High market share that continues to growtheory (Mobile Phones and Design with an attractive styling that interestsmemory chip)and LCD the customer, as the result of the development of Samsung‟s new products that involve team of product designers. product variation Samsung’s Opportunities unique products and existing products introduce userwith variety friendly mobile phones could launch sub brandsat affordable price. to the company. Samsung’s Opportunities O open more stores Newmore customers O Launch creative products Technology, Innovative Products, and Creative Solutions. WeaknessAver age pr i ces of pr oduct s seem t o bea l ow qual i t y pr oduct s-Not pr o-act i ve intro oduci ng a newpr oduct s. low cost competitors in China2. legal war between Samsung and its competitors such as Apple nokia. ThreadsLow-cost competitors Samsung is facing threats from many other low cost companies in China. While Samsung was busy competing with others, Huawei a company which focus on low cost products; is now a leader in fixed-line networks, mobile-telecommunications networks, and budget smart phones. Market share- Samsung Mobile eyeing 60% marketshare in India. The Indian mobile handset market is estimated to reach 251 million units in 2013, an increase of 13.5% over this year. The threat of potential new entrants (Low)- New entrants would have issues with overcoming patent issues if they didn’t plan on investing in their own RD to create a unique product. These things together would require a new entrant to establish a competitive brand name while achieving economies of scale via investments in a supply chain process and developing a distribution infrastructure to remain competitive. The costs of accomplishing these things make a very strong barrier to entry. The threat of substitutes (High) Market share-Holding a revenue market share of 20.6%, Vodafone India is the countrys second largest telecom operator by revenue share after Bharti. Strengths: * Diversified geographical portfolio with strong mobile telecommunications operations in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and to some extent the US * Network infrastructure   * Leading presence in emerging markets such as India Weaknesses: * Little focus of impact of mobile on climate.   * Negative return on assets (ROA) under perform key competitors like ATT, Airtel, Uninor etc * US business not nearly as strong as European/rest of the world operations * 80% of its business is generated in Europe. Opportunities: * Improve accessibility to wide range of customers * Focus on cost reductions improving returns * Majority stake in Hutchison Essar in India * Research and development of new mobile technologies Threats: * Highly competitive market * Still lags behind major competitors in the India and other countries. * Extremely high Porter’s five forces Buyer power The bargaining power of buyers in the telecommunications industry is high due to the cutthroat competition and lack of differentiated products. The strong buyer power effectively reduces the cost prices in the industry though not to the level of its competitors. As such, Vodafone will keep making reasonable profits compared to its competitors. Supplier power Vodafone’s suppliers have a high bargaining power since the company operates with greater margins compared to its competitors. As a leader in the market, the market share is large meaning that it can easily absorb any price increments from the suppliers more than its competitors can. As such, Vodafone can easily maintain low prices from its suppliers and continue making profits (MarketLine, 2012, p. 9). Threat of substitutes Vodafone faces a considerable threat for products and services. The landline and CDMA services are fast declining while broadband services are fast becoming common. Video conferencing, VOPI such as Skype, Google Talk and Yahoo Messenger, email and social networking have emerged as substitutes to mobile services. However, due to the strong buyer power and effective economies of scale, Vodafone does not need to pass down the costs attributed to substitution to consumers (MarketLine, 2012, p. 8). Threat of entrants The threat of fresh market entrants is low because of barriers to entry. Companies wishing to enter the market must pay huge licensing fees coupled by spectrum availability and regulatory issues attached to the industry. Similarly, the costs of setting up network infrastructure are high, and the rapidly changing technology make is difficult for new entrants to cope. However, Vodafone can cope with this by maintaining high-level efficiency of its services to unrivaled heights. Industry rivalry Vodafone faces extremely high rivalry from its competitors due to the low call rate prices charged by its closest competitors. Similarly, the competitors constantly provide innovative products and services to the customers, which mean that Vodafone has to provide the same to its customers. Vodafone PEST Analysis. PEST analysis is a strategic tool used to analyse external factors affecting the business and stands for political, economical social and technological factors. The main political factors affecting Vodafone include EU Roaming Regulation that aims to decrease charges for mobile phone usages Economical factors also affect Vodafone main of which are the growth of GDP and the level of inflation rate within markets where the company operates. Generally any external economic changes affecting Vodafone can be classified as external economic factors. There is a range of social factors as well that affect Vodafone. For instance, changing work patterns that are becoming very popular make people work from home increasingly relying in communication technologies. Also, there are issues like people going ‘green’ and ageing population in developed countries that are going to affect Vodafone directly or indirectly. The impact of technological factors on Vodafone is without any doubt due to the nature of the telecommunications industry. Specifically, a technological innovation in communications and emergence of alternative means of communication such as online chatting, and Yahoo! Messenger are going to affect Vodafone strategy in a way that the company is left with a choice of either to form strategic alliances with above companies or to commit to considerable amount of research and development in order to introduce innovative products and services to the market.

Winter Dreams, F. Scott Fitzgerald Analysis

Winter Dreams, F. Scott Fitzgerald Analysis F.Scott Fitzgeralds Winter Dreams documents the life of Dexter Green, a young man from a modest background who strives to be a part of the exclusive world inhabitated by the women he loves (Perkins 1). The work regards a period in Dexter Greens life, from the age of fourteen to thirty two. Fitzgerald divides the story into six episodes through those eighteen years, and each episode relates to Dexters relationship to Judy Jones. Judys love is what Dexter yearns for; she pushes him to his vision of the perfect life filled with glittering things, wealth and a high social status (Fitzgerald 423). The life Dexter desires is the American Dream in being successful, but it does not always mean being happy, Fitzgerald uses the elements of symbolism, and imagery throughout his short story Winter Dreams to represent his theme. Winter Dreams signifies more than the basic understanding of the title. The symbolism used in the title, adds a depth to the story and displays the theme of the unhappy, wealthy life. Throughout the years Dexters life changes and the aging process is signified by the word winter in the title, but winter also signifies a transition that is more tragic than physical deterioration; by the end of the story, Dexters emotions have become frozen (Gidmark 2). Gidmark shows the double meaning, symbolism in the word winter by explaining both its connotations. Not only does the word winter stand for the weakening of Dexter, but it also signifies how his mood and feelings become iced up, and unchangeable because of his heart break. The first introduction of Dexters dream is described as, [it] happened to be concerned at first with musings on the rich, [à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦] he wanted not association with glittering things and glittering people-he wanted the glittering things themselves (Fitzgerald 42 3). The glittering things include money and success which Dexter yearns for. Not only does he want to associate with them, he also wants the achievement to be his own. Gidmark clearly analyzes Judys role in the short story, [she] is the picture of passion and beauty, energy and loveliness, the true love and true dream that are with him until, learning of Judys decline, he recognizes it as a signal of the demise of his own dreams (2). Judy is what keeps Dexters dream going on, and without her his dream comes to a termination. According to Prigozy, Judy Jones comes to symbolize both the beauty and the mereticiousness of Dexters dreams- is clearly revealed as cruelly, coldly destructive (1). Even though his dream of Judy keeps him going, she is also a negative influence upon him because of her bitter heart. Judys image to the world shows her as living a very pleased life with new men on her tail constantly, but inside she is alone and scared. Dexters youthful winter dreams became very closely related to Judy Jones and his love for her that, the imaginative present in which she remains alive for Dexter also preserves that youthful richness (Clinton 405). His need for her approval of the triumphant American lifestyle is what keeps his dream and himself lively. Fitzgerald displays what is going on, The dream was gone. Something had been taken from him (435). Gidmark explicates Fitzgeralds quote, about when Dexter loses the capability of feeling and caring, he states, [Dexters] dream of Judy had kept him energetic, passionate, and alive, and now the dream has been taken from him, (2). Judy and Dexters relationship ended a while back, but Dexter still latched on to his dream. Imagery in the short story, Winter Dreams produces mental pictures in ones head, depicting the theme. The images are used in order to, [keep] alive his love for Judy Jones and the brightness of his youthful winter dreams in the only way the past can remain alive- by fixing its images out of time and the real world in an imaginative present (Burhans 4). In the beginning of the story, Dexter describes the Minnesota winter [it] shut down like the white lid of a box (Fitzgerald 421). The scenery mirrors his depression, because while he wants a golden future he is living in a dark cold life. The simile depicts how Dexter views his dreams, by being shut down and closed. Fitzgerald utilizes another simile about Dexter, when he crossed the hills the wind blew cold as misery (Fitzgerald 421). The simile draws a mental picture, and the word misery describes the melancholy currently in his life. Dexter grows and starts to become a successful man, suddenly, the sun went down with a riotous swirl of gold and varying blue and scarlets, and left the dry, whistling night of Western summer (Fitzgerald 425). Now the dark images of the landscape have transformed into a delightful scene, because Judy and Dexters relationship begins. Fitzgerald uses gold in the setting to represent Judy, and the gold in the images is present when Dexter is still reaching for his dream. Dexter is informed that Judys perfect life is now turned into a tragedy. She is married to a man who treats her poorly, and her beautiful charm is gone. After his harsh realization of Judys present life Dexter feels, The grief [I] could have borne was left behind in the country of illusion, of youth, of the richness of life, where [my] winter dreams had flourished (Fitzgerald 436). He becomes emotionless, and his dreams quickly become the past. Shattered, he is now feeling vacant and lonely because his ideal girl is suffering. Burhans expresses how Dexter is in misery when he cannot remember the beautiful scenery, go ne, too is a part of himself also deeply associated with and still alive in these images: the fragile moment in time when youth and his winter dreams were making his life richer and sweeter than it would ever be again (2). The earlier illustrations, green and open spaces of the golf-course days in Minnesota are gone, replaced by the constricting, cold, grey cement and steel of a skyscraper (Flibbert 2). The cold and grey construct an image of bitter and lonesomeness. He cannot revive the green grass and yellow sun shining; now the picture is substituted with a harsh one. Fitzgerald explains Dexters emotions, he had married Judy Jones and seen her fade away before his eyes (435). He held Judy in the most special place within himself and now his perfect image of her is destructed. He cannot revitalize her beautiful face, with his realization of her, his images have disappeared. Throughout the short story, Winter Dreams by F.Scott Fitzgerald, the theme of the ideal American life, of money and wealth is represented. The dream of this particular lifestyle does not consider one truly being happy or not. The protagonist in the story, Dexter achieves this life but ends with a tragic downfall. He starts off wanting to be successful and once he achieves his goal, Judy Jones comes into his life. She is the continuous dream in his life, and when he discovers that Judy has ended up unhappy his dream shatters. He ends up unhappy and frozen. Fitzgerald uses literary devices, such as symbolism and imagery to prove his theme in an intellectual way, with depth.

Kids and Social Networking: Pros and Cons Essay -- Facebook and Pretee

In 2010, 57% of kids used the internet at home, and 85% had access to a computer at home (Child Trends, 2012). In 2012, the National Consumers League reported that 32% of children ages 8-10 and 69% of 11 and 12 year olds had their own cell phone. Of these, almost 50% could access the internet through their phone. In addition, children have access to everything on the internet at the touch of a button through newer technology, such as the iPad, iPad mini, mp3 players, and iPod Touch. And with devices like the iPod, parents may only think about it as a music device and not realize that they are opening the whole internet to their child. It is estimated that there are about 5.6 million Facebook accounts that are used by children 12 and under, and this is only one social networking site. Parents and school personnel need to be knowledgeable and ready to instruct children on the best and safest way to use and benefit from the internet. Benefits of Social Networking for Peer Relationships Research has shown many positives and negatives of social networking for children in the 9-12 age group. For those who have heard mainly about the risks and challenges, it may be surprising to learn there are many benefits social networking sites can add to social development. The following are some examples researchers have reported: Social Networking can help children 1. who may be isolated in their own community, such as those who have interests beyond what is available locally or who have a disability that limits physical contact with peers, find compatible peers and build an otherwise unavailable sense of community (Steward, Barnfather, Magill-Evans, Ray, & Letourneau, 2011) 2. who are â€Å"only children† o... ...& Letourneau, N. (2011). Brief report: An online support intervention: Perceptions of adolescents with physical disabilities. Journal of Adolescence, 34(4), 795-800. Subrahmanyam, K. & Greenfield, P. (2008).Online communication and adolescent relationships.The Future of Children, 18(1), 119-146. Valkenburg, P.M. & Peter, J. (2007).Preadolescents’ and adolescents’ online communication and their closeness to friends. Journal of Developmental Psychology, 43(2), 267-277. Valkenburg, P.M., Peter, J., & Schouten, A.P. (2006).Friend networking sites and their relationship to adolescents' well-being and social self-esteem.Journal of CyberPsychology and Behavior, 9(5), 584-590. Valkenburg, P.M., Schouten, A.P., & Peter, J. (2005). Adolescent identity experiments on the internet. Journal of New Media and Society, 7(3), 383-402. Author: Jessica Krier

Effects of Technology Essays -- essays research papers fc

Advancement in technology has affected many people in many ways. New technology has altered peoples' consciousness, language, and the way society views the world. Technological advancements have made the world smaller, and have made things easier. Computers have been the inventions that have advanced so much since they were developed and have had such a big impact on humanity. Computers were originally developed to use for doing calculations and have come to the point that people cannot function normally without them. "Humans were once considered to be superior to all other creatures of the Earth. The reason for human supremacy was the ability to think, process data, store information, and perform calculations"(Silver, 5). Until the second half of the twentieth century, nothing could perform these tasks faster and more accurately than the human mind. Use of Computers "Computers first became available in the early 1950s to be used as "super calculators" for processing numbers. Since then, computers have evolved into something far superior" (Silver, 10). Much of the reason for the rapid growth and popularity of computers was an increase in paperwork in business and government. "More forms, letters, memos, reports, correspondence, and documents are generated in one day today than were produced in the entire nineteenth century"(Silver, 13). People came to realize that the computer is the best, most efficient, timesaving tool to control information. In 1950 there were only a dozen or so large-scale computers in the United States. By 1975 the number had grown to 155,000. Soon after came the invention of minicomputers, microprocessors, and desktop computers. By the 1990s, a personal computer had grown to become a necessity in almost every home and business. In less than three decades, the computer has become indispensable to business, industry, government, in school, and home. Computer literacy is now considered as vital as learning to read and is to be taught to everyone. The influence of computer technology is evident in many aspects of society. Whether it is to help space exploration or processing checks or producing mailing labels, computers are used. Applications of computers in society influence each typical person. Some recognition of the role of computers results from the way computers... ...oblems like cyberhate arise. Whether we like it or not, computer technology has advanced to the point of becoming a major part of our lives. Each time we use a credit card or register for a class on campus, we are all affected by computers. Computers influence our activities, attitudes, and the way we think. The influence of computers will continue to expand in the future, but people have to learn not to revolve their lives around computers. Works Cited 1. Farina, Stephen. The Wired Neighborhood. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996 2. Gay, Martin K. The New Information Revolution. California: ABC-CLIO, 1996 3. Mathews, Walter M. ed. Monster or Messiah? :The Computer's Impact on Society. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1980 4. Moore, Dinty W. The Emperor's Virtual Clothes: the naked truth about the internet culture. North Carolina: Algonquin Books, 1995 5. Rheingold, Howard. The Virtual Community. Massachusetts: Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., 1993 6. Silver, Gerald A. The Social Impact of Computers. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc. 1979 7. Conte, Christopher. "Networking the Classroom." Congressional Quarterly Researcher Oct. 1995

The Times of the New Year

My best friend was a drug addict and i had to help her into rehab. She did not want to go to rehab so we told her we were taking her to disneyland. She was so excited that she drove right home and packed her bags. Every country has their own holiday system. Different countries have different holidays. There are also some common holidays that people celebrate around the world, such as Christmas and New Year.Different countries have their own definition of the New Year. was said that long long time ago, there lived a horrible beast named† Nian† In the mountain. Every year, on the first day of the year, which Is the first new moon of the year, the beast would awaken and descend upon the village. The Vietnamese lunar New Year festival, Tet Nguyen Dan, Is the most significant holiday taking place within the first three days of the New Year. The nearer New Year comes the more excited and enthusiastic people are.In general, preparation for Tet starts one week before New Year's D ay. The New Year's cake New Year's cake Is a pastry made of the flour of glutinous rice nd used primarily in the lunar New Year period. 1 . Introduction (300 words) The New Year cake Is a special Year goods In Spring Festival. Those Rice cake were made by glutinous rice. A Turbulent Year for Israel 1996 has been a very turbulent year for Israel. This Iles In the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin on November 4, 1995.

Ethics Game & Reflective Journal Essay

This journal contains the reflection of the Ethics Game simulation assignment. The purpose of this paper is to describe the steps and process that I used to answer the ethical questions involved in two simulation games: The case of the troubled Teen and Policies and Politics. In addition I will also discuss how these concepts relate to my workplace. The case of the Troubled Teen: This case describes the case of an unmarried, 16 year old pregnant patient (RB) admitted to the labor and delivery, accompanied by her parents. Parents chose to limit medication citing personal reasons. The primary nurse (YN) is concerned that the situation may become critical for the patient and unborn baby. The nursing staff is also concerned that the parents may not understand the consequences of their action. The ethical issue in this case is how to ensure safe delivery of the baby and to provide adequate medical care to both mother and baby. The case of Policy and Politics: This case describes one of the ICU patients AT, who is unconscious for few days, was brought to the hospital by his domestic partner. YM, his partner was beside him in the ER but he was not allowed to be with the patient after transferring to ICU. The day supervisor CB prevented Yves from visiting AT. Her actions violated current hospital same sex domestic partner policy. The question her is if the rights of the patient and the significant others have been violated here. Decision making steps I used an organized process to make this ethical decision called the Baird Method, which consists of four steps. Step 1: Identify the issue in the ethical dilemma, and evaluate the evidence. I need to be attentive as to gather all data to determine which issue has to be resolved. Step 2: Identify the primary stakeholders. I have to be intelligent and identify the real issue in the case. Step 3: Use my knowledge, be reasonable, fair, and understand my duty, which focus on the equal rights and remember my role on the impact on stakeholders. Step 4: Develop a situation that has balance and meets the needs of all stakeholders and communicate the decision to everyone involved. Applying these steps to issue of the Troubled teen I gathered all the information from the patient’s chart, went over the care  plan, medical plan and received the bedside verbal report from the outgoing nurse. She was not given adequate pain medicine nor seen by the physician on call because she/he was attending an emergency elsewhere. The stakeholders in this situation are as follows: †¢RB, the patient †¢LB, RB’s unborn child †¢RB’s parents †¢Shift supervisor †¢YN, RN caring for RB †¢The Shareholders Applying these steps to the issue of Policy and Politics: First of all here, I have to identify the problem. There are two issues here. One is allowing the domestic partner to visit the patient and the second one is to make sure that the hospital staffs follow the policy of the hospital. The stakeholders are †¢AT, the ICU patient †¢YM, the domestic partner †¢Staff nurse, M †¢CB, the shift supervisor †¢AF, the director of nursing †¢The Shareholders Ethical Lens used that influenced decisions Lens used in Troubled Teen case: Using the rights and responsibility lens, I could identify my duties as to assure that the care of the pregnant teen is not compromised and for those who cannot speak for themselves. I want to ensure that there is a safe delivery of the mother and the baby is safe. Result lens considers focus on the results we want in our community and how it contributes to the greater good in our community and to greater number of people. I used the action that tilted towards sensibility because I honored the need in this situation to consider parental wishes and aftercare of mother and baby. In the first situation the rights and responsibility lens was first and foremost in my mind. My duty made me to assure that the care of the patient and her unborn baby was not in danger nor the care was compromised especially when someone can’t speak for themselves. I used the result lens to make the care plans and involve the parents in the care of  their child and grandchild with the help of chaplain. In the second situation, it focused on the system and allowed me to incorporate what is best for the system and community, however protecting the rights of both. Lens used in the Policies and Politics case: In this case the use of relationship lens and reputation lens was used. The relationship lens focuses on the processes that systems need an ethical organization. The ethical lens tries to protect the basic liberties of everyone and this situation the domestic partner is to be treated like any other person. However, the reputation lens focuses on assuring that the hospital protocols are consistently followed and in this situation the partner should be allowed to visit his other partner. How concepts relate to the workplace In my workplace I face difficult ethical decisions associated with patient care and the policies set forth by the care agencies. This simulation helped me to recognize my own personal values, such as equality, fairness, compassion, which influences my decision in various decisions. This game helped me to examine the decision making process when faced with the difficult situations and how to make the right decision during any dilemma. The process set up in our workplace might not be ethical one for that particular situation but in this scenarios they were not followed blindly, but the best option was picked to solve them. Identifying my personal values and gaining knowledge of the ethical lenses allowed me to minimize necessary conflict at work and deal directly with the situation. CONCLUSION Ethical issues at work place associated with the patient care can add stress and increased burden on the nurses. The ethical game simulation allowed me to identify the issues and guided me through a systematic approach to solve the dilemma. This exercise helped me to prepare for a situation which will help me to reduce stress and make a sound judgment. The lenses allowed me to gain knowledge and insight to solve the problems.

Augmentative Alternative Communication Intervention Health And Social Care Essay

Children and young person who sustain a traumatic encephalon hurt ( TBI ) and/or spinal cord hurt ( SCI ) may hold impermanent or lasting disablements that affect their address, linguistic communication and communicating abilities. Having a manner to pass on can assist cut down a kid ‘s confusion and anxiousness, every bit good as enable them to take part more actively in the rehabilitation procedure and therefore, retrieve from their hurts. In add-on, effectual communicating with household, attention staff, equals, instructors and friends is indispensable to long-run recovery and positive results as kids with TBI and SCI are integrated back into their communities. This article describes how rehabilitation squads can utilize augmentative and alternate communicating ( AAC ) and assistive engineerings ( AT ) to back up the communicating of kids retrieving from TBI and SCI over clip. 1. Introduction Children and young person who sustain a terrible traumatic encephalon hurt ( TBI ) and/or a spinal cord hurt ( SCI ) frequently experience sequealae that can impact their ability to pass on efficaciously. In early stages of recovery, many kids with TBI and SCI are unable to utilize their address or gestures for a assortment of medical grounds related to their hurts. As a consequence, they can profit from augmentative and alternate communicating ( AAC ) intercessions that specifically address their ability to pass on basic demands and feelings to medical forces and household members and inquire and react to inquiries. AAC attacks may include holding entree to a nurse ‘s call signal ; schemes to set up a consistent â€Å" yes † â€Å" no † response ; techniques that help a kid â€Å" oculus point † to simple messages ; low-tech boards and books that encourage interaction with household members and staff ; communicating boards with images or words ; and speech bring forthing devices ( SGDs ) with preprogrammed messages, such as â€Å" I hurt † â€Å" Come here, † â€Å" Help me delight! † â€Å" When ‘s ma coming? † As kids with TBI and SCI recover from their hurts, many no longer will necessitate AAC. However, some kids face residuary motor, address, linguistic communication and cognitive damages that affect their ability to pass on face-to-face, write or usage mainstream communicating engineerings ( e.g. , computing machines, electronic mail, phones, etc. ) . A few may necessitate AAC and assistive engineering ( AT ) throughout their lives. Having entree to communicating through AAC and AT enables these kids to take part actively in the rehabilitation procedure and finally, in their households and communities. Without an ability to pass on efficaciously, kids with TBI and SCI will confront unsurmountable barriers to instruction, employment, every bit good as set uping and keeping relationships and taking on preferred societal functions as grownups. All AAC intercessions aim to back up a kid ‘s current communicating demands while be aftering for the hereafter [ 2 ] . However, the class of AAC intervention for kids who sustain TBIs and SCIs is different because of the nature of their hurts is different. In add-on, the focal point of AAC intercessions will differ for really immature kids ( e.g. , shaken babe syndrome ) who are merely developing address and linguistic communication and for those who were literate and have some cognition of the universe prior to their hurts ( e.g. , 16 year-old involved injured in a motor vehicle accident ) . For immature kids, the AAC squad will concentrate on developing their linguistic communication, literacy, academic, emotional, and societal accomplishments, every bit good as guaranting that they have a manner to pass on with household members and rehabilitation staff. For older kids, AAC intercessions build on residuary accomplishments and abilities to assist rectify address, linguistic communication and communicating damages every bit good as provide compensatory schemes that support face-to-face interactions and finally communicating across distances ( phone, electronic mail ) with squad members, household and friends. AAC intercession ends seek to advance a kid ‘s active engagement in household, instruction, community and leisure activities and purpose to back up the constitution and care of robust societal webs [ 4, 18, 25 ] . While a assortment of AAC tools, schemes and techniques are available that offer communicating entree, successful AAC intercessions for kids with TBI and SCI besides require that medical staff, household members and finally community forces know how to back up the usage of AAC schemes and engineerings because the demands of these kids change over clip. Speech-language diagnosticians, nurses, occupational healers, physical healers, physiatrists, baby doctors, and rehabilitation applied scientists work collaboratively with the kid ‘s household and community-based professionals to set up, keep and update effectual communicating systems. Ultimately, the end is for kids to take on coveted grownup functions ; AAC can assist them recognize these ends. 2. Pediatric TBI and AAC AAC intercession for paediatric patients with TBI and terrible communicating challenges is an indispensable, complex, on-going and dynamic procedure. AAC is indispensable to back up the alone communicating demands of kids who are unable to pass on efficaciously. It is complex because of the residuary cognitive shortages that frequently persist and because many kids with TBI have co-existing address, linguistic communication, ocular, and motor control deficits [ 11, 10 ] . AAC intercessions are ongoing and dynamic [ 12 ] because kids with TBI experience many alterations over clip and undergo multiple passages. Light and co-workers [ 17 ] described the on-going, three-year AAC intercession of an stripling who progressed through several AAC systems and finally regained functional address. DeRuyter and Donoghue [ 6 ] described an person who used many simple devices and a sophisticated AAC system over a seven-month period. Extra studies describe the recovery of natural address up to 13 ol d ages post onset [ 15, 29 ] . 2.1. AAC Assessment and Intervention Appraisal tools can assist place and depict the cognitive, linguistic communication and motor shortages of patients with TBI and supply a model for AAC intercessions. The Pediatric Rancho Scale of Cognitive Functioning [ 26 ] is based on the Ranchos Los Amigos Scale of Cognitive Functioning [ 13 ] . Table 1 describes general degrees of recovery, based on the Pediatric Rancho Lost Amigos Scale, and gives illustrations of AAC intercession schemes that rehabilitation squads can use across the degrees as described below. Levels IV and V. AAC Goal: Determining responses into communicating In the early stage of recovery, paediatric patients at Levels IV and V on the Pediatric Rancho Scale are frequently in the PICU, the ICU, acute infirmary or acute rehabilitation environment. At Level V ( no response to stimuli ) or Level IV ( generalized response to stimuli ) AAC intercessions focus on placing modes that kids can utilize to supply consistent and dependable responses. For illustration, staff can utilize simple switches ( e.g. , Jelly BeanA ® , Big RedA ® and Buddy Button from AbleNet ) , latch-timers ( e.g. , PowerLinkA ® from AbleNet ) and individual message devices ( e.g. BIGmackA ® and Step CommunicatorA ® from AbleNet ) to back up early communicating ( see Table 1 for some illustrations ) . Because kids ‘s early responses may be automatic instead than knowing, the household and medical/rehabilitation squad can besides utilize AAC engineerings to promote more consistent responses. Families provide valuable input about the sorts of music, games and f avourite toys a kid finds actuating. The squad can so utilize these points to arouse physical responses from the kid. For illustration, if the household identified the battery-operated plaything ElmoA ® from Sesame StreetA ® , the rehabilitation squad might show Elmo singing a Sesame Street vocal and so detect to see if the kid ‘s responds. If the kid begins to turn her caput when ElmoA ® sings, the squad might attach a switch with a battery interrupter to the plaything and inquire the kid to â€Å" hit † the button and â€Å" play the ElmoA ® vocal † . In making so, the squad can larn several things. For illustration, the squad may observe that a kid is able to follow bids, bespeaking cognitive recovery. The squad may besides get down to see alternate entree methods for kids with terrible physical damages, i.e. , head motion may go a dependable manner to run an AAC device or computing machine in the hereafter. It is hard to foretell whether a kid will re trieve natural address during early phases of recovery. 2.2. Middle Levels II and III: AAC Goals: Increase ability to pass on with staff, household and friends and support active engagement in intervention Pediatric patients at Levels III ( localized response to centripetal stimulations ) and II ( antiphonal to environment ) go more occupied in their rehabilitation plans as they recover some cognitive, linguistic communication and physical abilities. During this stage, long-run shortages that affect communicating become evident ( e.g. , dysarthria, apraxia, aphasia, attending, induction, memory, vision, spasticity ) . Dongilli and co-workers [ 7 ] and Ladtkow and Culp [ 16 ] besides report natural speech recovery in grownups after TBI at the in-between phases of recovery. Continued trust on AAC schemes and engineerings is typically due to relentless motor address and/or terrible cognitive-language shortages ensuing from the hurt [ 12 ] . AAC intercessions at these degrees focus on utilizing a kid ‘s most consistent and dependable response to pass on messages, promote active engagement in the rehabilitation procedure and increase interactions with household and staff. AAC intercessions ever take into history the kid ‘s developmental degree and involvements. Table 1 gives some illustrations of AAC engineerings employed during these Levels III and II. For illustration, Jessica was admitted to the infirmary at 18-months with jolted babe syndrome. At Level II, she began reacting to her parents by smiling and express joying and besides began to pull strings playthings with her non-paralyzed manus when staff placed a plaything within her integral field of vision. However, she did non exhibit any address or imitative vocal behaviours and her speech-language diagnostician noted a terrible verbal apraxia. Nursing staff and household members noted that Jessica seemed frustrated by her inability to show herself. Prio r to her hurt, she could call over 30 objects ( playthings, pets, favourite sketch characters ) and was get downing to set two word sentences together ( Momma adieu, Daddy place ) . AAC intercessions included the debut of a BIGmackA ® , a single-message address bring forthing device ( SGD ) that enabled the staff and household members to enter a message that Jessica could so â€Å" speak † during her day-to-day activities ( e.g. , â€Å" more † , â€Å" adieu † , â€Å" turn page † ) . Because the BIGmackA ® is a colourful, big and easy to entree SGD, Jessica was able to â€Å" press the button † despite her upper appendage spasticity and important ocular field cut. Within a month, Jessica had progressed to utilizing a MACAW by ZygoA ® , an SGD with eight-location sheathing that staff programmed with words she had used prior to her hurt ( e.g. , mommy, daddy, more, bottle, book, adieu ) . Staff besides designed extra sheathings to promote her linguistic communication development by supplying vocabulary that enabled her to build two-word combinations ( e.g. , â€Å" more crackers † ) . Jessica began to show herself at a developmentally appropriate degree, but she had residuary memory shortages that required cuing and support from her communicating spouses. For illustration, ab initio, she did non remember how to utilize her AAC system from session to session so staff needed to re-introduce it each clip. However, after several months, Jessica began to â€Å" seek † for her SGD to pass on. Jessica, like many kids with TBI at this degree, was able to larn processs and schemes with repeat and support [ 30 ] . 2.3. Level II and Level I. AAC Goals: Support passages, recommend AAC schemes and engineerings for usage at place and in the community As paediatric patients passage from Level II ( antiphonal to environment ) to Level I ( oriented to self and milieus ) , they frequently move from an ague rehabilitation installation to an outpatient scene, place or a attention installation. Thus, before discharge, AAC squads will carry on a formal AAC appraisal and supply long-run recommendations for AAC schemes and engineerings that can enable kids to be integrated successfully back into community environments. Table 1 illustrates the types of AAC engineerings and schemes employed at Levels II and I, as described below. For kids who continue to utilize AAC and AT when they return to their communities, the rehabilitation squad identifies a long-run communicating advocator. This individual, frequently a household member, becomes actively involved in AAC preparation and collaborates with rehabilitation staff to fix the kid ‘s educational staff, extended household and other health professionals [ 9 ] . Having a nexus between the rehabilitation squad and community professionals is indispensable because most instructors and community-based clinicians have limited experience working with kids with TBI and may necessitate support to pull off the cognitive and physical shortages frequently associated with TBI. For illustration, McKenzie, a 12 year-old with a terrible TBI secondary to a auto accident, was quadriplegic with terrible spasticity and no upper appendage control. She besides had cortical sightlessness and important communicating and cognitive damages. As she recovered, McKenzie used a assortm ent of AAC systems ( e.g. , thumbs up/down for â€Å" yes † â€Å" no † , two BIGmacksA ® to pass on picks, and a scanning Cheap Talk by Enabling Devicess with four messages to take part in structured activities ) . Prior to dispatch, the rehabilitation squad conducted a formal SGD rating and recommended the Vmax by DynaVox Mayer-Johnson, a voice end product device. McKenzie was able to entree the device via a caput switch mounted to the side of the head restraint on her wheelchair. Using audile scanning, she could make and recover messages. Because she was literate anterior to her hurt and could still spell, the staff set up her device to include an alphabet page every bit good as several pages with pre-programmed messages incorporating basic/urgent attention demands, gags and societal remarks. Family and friends participated in her rehabilitation and learned to utilize tactile and verbal prompts to assist her participate in colloquial exchanges. Due to her residuar y cognitive shortages, nevertheless, McKenzie had trouble originating conversations and retrieving where pre-stored messages were in her device. When prompted, she would react and originate inquiries and could prosecute in conversations over multiple bends. Over clip, she began to take part in meaningful, societal interactions, frequently spelling out two-three word novel phrases utilizing her alphabet page While her parents were restituting their place to manage her wheelchair, McKenzie transitioned to a regional attention installation that specialized in working with immature people with TBI. The ague rehabilitation squad identified McKenzie ‘s aunt as her AAC advocator because she had participated actively in earlier stages of McKenzie ‘s recovery, was adept with the care ( bear downing, set-up and basic trouble-shooting ) of the Vmax and could custom-make and plan new messages into the system. The attention installation staff met with McKenzie ‘s aunt weekly so they could larn how to back up McKenzie ‘s usage of the SGD. Specific developing aims included care and basic trouble-shooting, set up, switch-placement and how to plan new messages to utilize in specific and motivative activities. Staff learned how to modify the arrangement of her switch when McKenzie became exhausted or her spasticity increased. Additionally, McKenzie ‘s school staff ( particul ar instruction coordinator, speech-language diagnostician, occupational healer, and one of her regular schoolroom instructors ) visited McKenzie at the rehabilitation and the attention installations to assist fix for her return place and learned how to back up her in school, given her physical and cognitive restrictions. 2.4. AAC subjects in TBI When working with paediatric patients with TBI, three AAC â€Å" subjects † emerge. 1. Recovery from TBI is dynamic and takes topographic point over clip. In early phases of recovery, most kids with TBI have physical, address, linguistic communication and cognitive shortages that affect their communicating accomplishments. Depending on the nature and badness of their hurts, nevertheless, most recover functional address, although some will hold life-long residuary address, linguistic communication and communicating shortages. Acute rehabilitation squads can use AAC intercessions to back up communicating, every bit good as proctor the kid ‘s altering communicating abilities and needs over clip. 2. The cognitive-linguistic challenges associated with TBI make AAC intercessions peculiarly disputing for rehabilitation staff, every bit good as for households, friends and school forces. Because of the complex nature of the residuary disablements caused by TBI, coactions among rehabilitation specializers, household members and community-based professionals are indispensable. Some kids with TBI require AAC supports throughout their lives. Family members, friends and school forces seldom know how to pull off their terrible memory, attending and/or induction shortages that can impact long-run communicating results. 3. There is a demand to be after carefully for passages. Children with TBI will undergo many passages. While research depicting these passages in kids is non available, studies of the experiences of grownups with TBI describe multiple passages over clip. Penna and co-workers [ 22 ] noted that grownups with TBI undergo a important figure of abode passages peculiarly in the first twelvemonth following hurt and Fager [ 9 ] described the different passages ( acute attention infirmary, outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing installation, place with grownup day care services, and finally assisted life ) for an grownup with terrible TBI experienced over a decennary, documenting important alterations in his cognitive abilities, every bit good as his communicating spouses and support staff. Children with TBI are likely to see even more passages over their life-times. 3. Pediatric SCI and AAC Pediatric patients with SCI frequently have integral cognitive accomplishments and terrible physical disablements that can interfere with their ability to talk. In add-on, they frequently have important medical complications and may be left with terrible motor damages that make it hard, if non impossible, for them to compose, entree a computing machine or take part in the gambling, online and remote societal networking activities embraced by today ‘s young person ( e.g. , texting, electronic mail ) . A subgroup may besides show with a attendant TBI sustained as a consequence of the autumn, auto accident or other traumatic event that has changed their lives. For them, AAC intervention must reflect guidelines that take into history both SCI and TBI. As with TBI, the growing and development inherent in childhood and adolescence and the alone manifestations and complications associated with SCI require that direction be both developmentally based and directed to the person ‘s particular demands [ 27 ] Initially, AAC intercessions typically focus on guaranting face-to-face communicating when address is unavailable or really hard ; over the long term, nevertheless, enabling kids to compose and prosecute in educational, recreational and pre-vocational activities utilizing computing machines and other mainstream engineerings becomes the focal point. 3.1. AAC Assessment and Intervention The ASIA standard neurological categorization of SCI from the American Spinal Injury Association and International Medical Society of Paraplegia [ 1 ] is a tool that rehabilitation squads often use to measure patients with SCI because it identifies the degree of hurt and associated shortages at each degree. This can assist steer the rehabilitation squad ‘s clinical decision-making procedure for AAC intercessions. As shown in Table 2, kids with high tetraplegia ( C1-C4 SCI ) have limited caput control and are frequently ventilator dependant. They frequently require oculus, caput, and/or voice control of AAC devices and mainstream engineerings to pass on. While switch scanning is an option for some, it requires higher-level cognitive abilities, endurance, and watchfulness and may be inappropriate for really immature kids and those who are medically delicate [ 28, 19, 23, 14 ] . Children with low tetraplegia ( C5-T1 SCI ) demonstrate limited proximal and distal upper appendage con trol. If fitted with splints that support their arm and manus, some are able to utilize specially adapted mouse options ( e.g. , control stick mouse, switch-adapted mouse, trackball mouse ) , big button or light touch keyboards and switches to command engineering. These kids are besides campaigners for caput trailing and voice control of AAC devices due to the weariness and physical attempt involved in utilizing their upper appendages. For illustration, a multi-modal entree method to AAC engineering and computing machines may include voice control to order text, manus control of the pointer with an adaptative mouse to execute other computing machine maps ( e.g. , unfastened plans ) , and an adaptative keyboard to rectify mistakes that are generated while ordering text. This multi-modal attack can be more efficient and less thwarting than utilizing voice control entirely for these kids. Table 2 provides illustrations of appropriate entree options to AAC and mainstream engineerings. 3.2. Supporting face-to-face communicating For kids with high tetraplegia, being dependent on mechanical airing is scaring particularly when they are unable to digest a speaking valve [ 21 ] . Thus, supplying these kids with a manner to pass on is indispensable to their recovery and sense of wellbeing. As kids with lower degrees of hurt are weaned from a ventilator, they may see decreased respiratory control and be unable to talk [ 2 ] . Medical specializers can supply entree to AAC schemes and engineerings, which enable these kids to pass on their wants, demands and feelings throughout the twenty-four hours. This allows them to interact with direct attention staff, participate in their rehabilitation procedure, and keep relationships with household and friends. Pediatric rehabilitation squads may utilize a scope of AAC schemes and engineerings to back up face-to-face communicating in kids with SCI. Some illustrations include low tech communicating boards used with oculus regard or oculus pointing, partner-dependent scanning, an electro voice box with intra-oral adapter, or laser light indicating to a mark message or missive on a communicating board [ 2, 3 ] . Introducing AAC and AT engineerings early in the recovery procedure, peculiarly for kids who demonstrate high tetraplegia, will besides get down to familiarise them with attacks they may necessitate to trust on extensively throughout their lives, even after address returns. For illustration, Jared, a 17-year-old high school senior, sustained a SCI in a skiing accident at the C2 degree. In add-on to his hurts, he developed pneumonia and a terrible tail bone lesion during his hospitalization, which lengthened his infirmary stay. He was unable to digest a one-way speech production valve due to the badness of his pneumonia and reduced oxygenation during valve tests. Although Jared had minimum caput motion, he was able to command an AccuPointa„? caput tracker to entree his place laptop computing machine and spell out messages he could so talk aloud utilizing speech synthesis package. He used his AAC system to bespeak his medical demands to health professionals and subsequently reported that holding the ability to pass on helped relieve some of the anxiousness he experienced due to his status and drawn-out hospitalization. After Jared recovered the ability to utilize a speaking valve, his work with the AccuPointa„? focused on computing machine ent ree to run into written and societal communicating demands. Once his lesion had healed, he was able to return place 11 months subsequently. At that clip, all of his schoolmates had graduated. Using the AccuPointa„? , Jared was able to finish his GED at place and enrolled in on-line categories at the local community college. 3.3. Supporting written communicating and instruction At the clip of their hurt, some paediatric patients with SCI are pre-literate, others are developing literacy accomplishments, and others have extremely developed literacy accomplishments. However, most kids with tetraplegia will necessitate the usage of assistive engineerings to back up written communicating because their hurts preclude them from utilizing a pencil and/or typing on a traditional computing machine keyboard. In a study depicting the educational engagement of kids with spinal cord hurt, 89 % of the kids with tetraplegia relied on AAC to back up written communicating demands [ 8 ] . For illustration, Max, a 6-year-old male child who suffered a C6 SCI after an All Terrain Vehicle accident, was reading age-appropriate sight words and developing his ability to compose individual words prior to his hurt. After the initial recovery period, formal testing revealed that Max had no residuary cognitive or linguistic communication damages. However, he faced important barriers non merely to his continued development of age-appropriate reading and composing accomplishments, but besides to his ability to larn and make math, societal surveies, scientific discipline, drama games, use a cell phone, etc. Due to his tetraplegia, he needed ways to entree text and write, calculate, draw and so on. Max learned to entree a computing machine utilizing a big button keyboard, control stick mouse, and adaptative hand-typers ( turnups with an affiliated stylus that fit on the ulnar side of the manus and let the user to press the keys of a keyboard ) to back up composing activities and com puting machine entree. During rehabilitation, he was able to go on with his school assignment by developing the accomplishments to utilize the engineering and maintain up with his schoolmates. He returned place during the summer and participated in an intense place tutoring plan. By the autumn, he was able to fall in his schoolmates and was able to execute at grade degree in all categories. Essential to Max ‘s future educational success and development, every bit good as his future employment, may good depend on his ability to compose, calculate and possibly even pull utilizing a assortment of assistive engineerings that support communicating. 3.4. Support societal engagement and pre-vocational activities Entree to assistive and mainstream engineerings non merely facilitates engagement in instruction, but besides has deductions for future employment as these kids passage into maturity. Assistive and mainstream engineerings are now available at modest cost that can assist persons with SCI to counterbalance for functional restrictions, overcome barriers to employability, heighten proficient capacities and computing machine use, and better ability to vie for paid employment In add-on, these engineerings besides provide entree to life-long acquisition, recreational activities and societal networking activities. Specifically, computing machines are described as â€Å" great equalisers † for persons with SCI to prosecute in employment chances and distant communicating [ 20 ] . Social engagement in the current technological age includes more than face-to-face communicating. Social engagement has expanded with the popularity of societal networking sites ( e.g. , Facebook a„?and MySpacea„? ) , video web-based communicating ( e.g. , Skypea„? ) and instant communicating and messaging ( e.g. , Twittera„? ) . Progresss in the field of AAC have allowed persons with the most terrible hurts entree computing machine engineerings to prosecute in these societal communicating activities. For illustration, Crystal was a 10-year-old who sustained a C1 SCI due to a autumn. Crystal ‘s hurt left her with no head/neck control and her lone consistent entree method to computerise engineering was through oculus trailing. With an ERICA oculus regard system from DynaVox Mayer-Johnson, Crystal rapidly became independent with computing machine entree. She emailed and texted her friends and household daily, communicated via her Facebooka„? history, and engaged in on-line gambling plans with her friends and siblings. This engineering allowed her to get down to pass on once more with her school friends while she was still undergoing acute rehabilitation. Keeping these societal webs is an indispensable constituent to emotional accommodation kids with SCI go through after prolonging a terrible hurt [ 8 ] . Additionally, Crystal ‘s friends began to understand that while her damages were terrible, she was basically the same individual with the same involvements, wit, ends, and outlooks as before her hurt. 3.5. AT/AAC subjects in SCI When working with paediatric patients with SCI, three AAC â€Å" subjects † emerge. 1. For those with high tetraplegia, AAC may ease face-to-face every bit good as distant and written communicating demands, depending on the developmental degree of the kid. Introducing AAC engineering early, when face-to-face communicating support is needed, helps the kid become familiar with the engineering they will necessitate to trust on after natural address has recovered. 2. Return to an educational environment is a primary end with many kids with tetraplegia returning to school within an norm of 62 yearss post discharge [ 24 ] . Development of written communicating accomplishments is an indispensable constituent to successful educational completion and future vocational chances [ 20 ] .. 3. Introduction to methods of written and electronic communicating provides an chance for patients with SCI to prosecute in societal webs through electronic mail, texting, and societal networking sites. As these kids with terrible physical disablements face a life clip of possible medical complications [ 5 ] , the ability to keep and develop new societal connexions via electronic media allow them to remain connected during times when their medical conditions require them to be house or hospital-bound. 4. Decision Communication is indispensable for continued development of cognitive, linguistic communication, societal, and emotional accomplishments. Children with TBI and SCI have physical and/or cognitive-language shortages that interfere with typical communicating abilities. Their communicating demands are supported through AAC schemes and engineerings. A myriad of engineering options are available that non merely back up face-to-face interactions, but every bit of import distant societal networking and educational activities. AAC intercessions in the medical scene that non merely back up communicating of basic medical demands, but besides facilitate battle in societal, educational, and pre-vocational activities will ensue in successful passage to place, school and community environments for these kids.

Entertainment and Communication Essay

As an avenue of entertainment and communication, and as a research and reference tool, the internet has had a huge impact on the modern societies of developed nations. At the same time, there is concern that the disadvantages and negative influences may outweigh the benefits to the society. This essay argues that, in the last decade, the advantages of the internet far outweigh the disadvantages. This claim is addressed with the support of current authoritative sources which provide the framework for making such a claim. This essay first explores the effect of the internet on the social structures of family life, and religious and spiritual practice. Subsequently, this essay examines the repercussions of the internet on national cultural identity and multiculturalism. Firstly, in the last ten years, modern family life has been enhanced by developments in technology, and the internet is no exception. The advent of the internet affords parents the opportunity to use the World Wide Web to work from home, removing the need to place pre-school age children in day care centres in the care of strangers and so reinforcing the family unit (Jenkins 2010). However, the benefits of the internet not only have implications for immediate family; members of the extended family can overcome the barriers of time or distance to remain close through such channels as email or social networking sites, for example Facebook. Despite this, Fenech (2007) asserts that the internet has eroded some aspects of family life. Where previous generations may have forsaken dinner conversation in order to watch television together, the practical dimensions of a laptop screen now preclude this act of â€Å"togetherness† (p342). Nevertheless, any avenue that generally allows more opportunity for contact between members of an immediate or extended family has to be seen as advantageous. Moreover, the internet allows a sense of inclusion that goes beyond the family sphere. Secondly, due to the increasing accessibility of the internet in the last ten years, participating in a religion no longer necessarily depends on a person’s ability to attend a place of worship. The virtual ‘congregation’ may offer a person more opportunities of interaction with both the spiritual leader and other devotees by providing facilities such as blogs, chat rooms and video links. Moreover, this creates a sense of belonging to a religious or spiritual community where one may have not existed before, as more and more people commute, work longer hours and, indeed, are required to work on public holidays, which often coincide with religious festivals (Wong 2009). Though Goldstein (2008) ascertains that the flagrant consumerism promoted through such mass media outlets as the internet is responsible for a turn away from religious practices and a rapid decline in religious service attendance, her research focuses solely on, Christianity, Judaism and Islam and is not inclusive of growing sects such as Jews For Jesus and alternative religions such as The Baha’i Faith. Groups such as these use the internet to unite their followers globally (Wong 2009).What is more, the internet is uniting people on a more personal and intimate level. Thirdly, the internet offers the opportunity to maintain cultural ties with one’s country even when living abroad for work purposes. Expatriates can view electronic versions of newspapers, stream and download news, current affairs programmes and local dramas from their country of origin, so keeping in contact with the culture. It could be argued, as Azhad (2008) does, that this process could be facilitated just as easily by print media and DVD recordings being sent through the mail, as would have been the norm a decade ago. Nonetheless, it is the ‘live’ experience of being able to access news from home â€Å"as it happens† that reinforces a national’s ties to the home culture, and simulates a feeling of â€Å"being there† (Olsten 2008 p.6). This connectedness to home alleviates feelings an expatriate might have of dislocation or alienation from their countrymen, as ‘real time’ exposure to the home vernacular creates common reference points, making communication a much smoother process (Wong 2009). Equally, other facilities afforded by the internet, such as Skype, enable someone away from home to still have a presence in the home country as they participate in the celebration of cultural festivals and national holidays, thus reinforcing their commitment  to nationalism in the eyes of their compatriots and tightening the ties that bind. Alternatively, just as the internet serves to strengthen national identity, it can also provide a point of reference for those who live in a multicultural context. Finally, in a globalised world, the last ten years have seen the internet augment a multicultural society by creating a venue to air diverse cultural opinions and to construct diverse cultural identities. Mainstream newspapers, radio and current affairs programmes are representative of a perceived norm and do not reflect the complexity of a multicultural society. In turn, ethnocentric or non-mainstream media reach a narrowly targeted audience and serve to further ghettoize â€Å"the other† (Zadrow 2010 p.11). The internet thus provides the opportunity for any voice to be heard alongside and equally with all other voices in the country, community, or indeed, the world. In this way the internet equips the global citizen with a fluidity they can use to exist and interact both globally and locally, rather than being confined to a fixed and marginalised identity. Notwithstanding the fact that the internet is English based and broadly advocates a western lifestyle, this does not necessarily mean it must lead to a homogenized world. Citing the research of Kennard, Zadrow (2010) maintains that the internet acts as an interactive archive from which an individual can draw all the elements to both create and, more importantly, preserve cultural identity. In conclusion, this essay explored the effect of the internet on people’s lives in the last decade and found that the advantages of the internet far overshadow the disadvantages. It found the internet has had positive effects on family life, allowing the hands on parenting of pre-school children by those parents who are able to use the internet to work from home. In addition, it has reinforced the extended family by harnessing email and social networking sites as a means to stay in direct contact. Furthermore, blogs, chat rooms and video links have offered an alternative to attendance at religious services, which have suffered such rapid decline in recent times. Another positive effect of the internet is its ability to re-assert national identity, particularly for those living abroad, as they retain  remote access to the home culture by being able to download or stream current affairs or local drama. Finally, the internet enhances multiculturalism by offering an alternative to mainstream media representations of the norm to those who identify as ‘the other’. Arguments which support the negative impact of the internet on people’s lives in the 21st century focus on very narrow aspects and fail to acknowledge the broad range of benefits the internet has borne on contemporary society. References Azhad, S 2008, ‘Is digital dumbing us down?’, Journal of Australian Initiative, vol. 20, no.1, pp.5-7, viewed 30 October 2011, via JSTOR. Fenech, P 2007, Western culture: its psyche and the internet, Hobson Press, New York. Goldstein, R 2008, ‘The last person to leave heaven: a study of the impact of new millennium consumerism on traditional religious practices’, Journal of Critical and Cultural Research, vol.2, no.3, pp. 9-18, viewed 30 October 2011. http://www.prb.australasia.com/content/documents/JCCR%23.pdf Jenkins, M 2010, ‘Earn $$$ from your home: the domestic revolution in e-com industry’, Women’s Business Today, vol.8, no.2, pp.120-127, viewed 28 September, via Sage. Olsten, H 2008, ‘Broadsheets online good news for expats’, The Weekend Australian, viewed 2 September 2011, via Newsbank. Wong, Z 2009, ‘Why kneel when you can click!’ paper presented to the 7th International Conference on Digital Religion, Southern Cross University. Lismore, NSW, 28 to 31 July. Zadrow, K 2010, The well in the mirror: theories of subjectivity in the digital age, Elliott McGill Ltd, viewed 28 July 2011, via Ovid eBooks.