Friday, October 4, 2019

How Does Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Work Become More Efficient Essay

How Does Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Work Become More Efficient - Essay Example Scholars and researchers have been involved in research activities, to examine and gather literature on the role of the human factor in ensuring better patient outcomes. This paper makes a critical analysis of one research conducted on a similar issue. The research titled †How Efficacy Beliefs predict Collaborative Practice: a Two-wave Study among Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Nurses† was conducted by a team of researchers namely Pascale M. Le Blanc, Raoul E. Nap, Marisa Salanova, Susana Llorens and Wilmar B. Schaufeli.   In the research, LeBlanc et al (2010) sought to find out how efficacy beliefs i.e. professional competences and work team commitments among intensive care unit nurses affected the quality of collaborative practice between these nurses and physicians (Le Blanc, Schaufeli, Salanova, Llorens, & Nap, 2010). The study was conducted on the foundation that past research has shown the existence of a relationship between professional efficacy and superior work behaviors. However, these observations were not specific to the healthcare industry. Hence, upon this background, the study by LeBlanc et al (2010) aimed to integrate these findings into the healthcare industry, particularly in the intensive care unit. The research was intended to add to the already existing knowledge that efficacy beliefs are jointly correlated to work resource and positive work behaviors and that the level of affective commitment to work team among nurses is correlated to superior intensive care unit performance outc omes. Particularly, the study hoped to strengthen efficacy beliefs among intensive care unit nurses which would, in turn, lead to improved collaborative practice (Le Blanc, Schaufeli, Salanova, Llorens, & Nap, 2010). According to the researchers, the study has significant implications in the healthcare industry since it encourages institutions to provide appropriate resources to the ICU nurses, in order to improve both patient and organizational outcomes.

Thursday, October 3, 2019

Virtual Reality Essay Example for Free

Virtual Reality Essay Virtual reality has promise for nearly every industry ranging from architecture and design to movies and entertainment, but the real industry to gain from this technology is science in general. The money that can be saved examining the probability of experiments in an artificial world before they are actually carried out could be great, and the money saved on energy could be even greater. Virtual reality is something that personally excites me because uses and benefits of it are never ending. The best example of how virtual reality can help science is that of the molecular docking experiments being done in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Scientists at the University of North Carolina have developed a system that simulated the bonding of molecules. However, instead of using complicated formulas to determine bonding energy or stick drawings, the chemist can use a high-tech head-mounted display. With this they attach their bodies to an artificial arm from the ceiling. This system is so easy to operate that children could learn to form bonds using a trial and error method. In another field, architectural designers have also found that virtual reality can be useful in visualizing what their buildings will look like when they are put together. Often, using a 2D diagram to represent a 3D home is confusing, and the people that fund large projects would like to be able to see what they are paying for before it is constructed. An example, which is fascinating, would be that of designing an elementary school. Designers could walk in the school from a childs perspective to gain insight on how high a water fountain is, or how narrow the halls are. Product designers could also use virtual reality in similar ways to test their products. NASA and other aerospace facilities are concentrating research on such things as human factors engineering, virtual prototyping of buildings and military devices, aerodynamic analysis, flight simulation, 3D data visualization, satellite position fixing, and planetary exploration simulations. Such things as virtual wind tunnels have been in development for a couple years and could save money and energy for aerospace companies. However, in the medical field researchers have been using virtual reality techniques to synthesize diagnostic images of a patients body to do predictive modeling of radiation treatment using images created by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and X- ray. A radiation therapist in a virtual world could view and expose a tumor at any angle and then model specific doses and configurations of radiation beams to aim at the tumor more effectively. Since radiation destroys human tissue easily, there is no allowance for error. Also, doctors could use virtual cadavers to practice rare operations which are tough to perform. This is an excellent use because one could perform the operation over and over without the worry of hurting people. However, this sort of practice may have its limitations because of the fact that it is only a virtual world. In addition, the computer user interfaces are not well enough developed and it is estimated that it will take five to ten years to develop this te chnology. Nonetheless, a company in Japan called Matsushita Electric World LTD is using virtual reality to sell their products. They employ a virtual reality research head-mounted display linked to a high-powered computer to help prospective customers design their own kitchens. Being able to see what your kitchen will look like before you actually refurnish could help you save from costly mistakes in the future. My uncle, Jan Holliday, has a virtual reality company data library . At his electronic design company, the company stores all of its data in 3D, virtual reality form on a computer. This makes the data more easily accessible by the employees of the company and they can find data in a library type setting by using virtual reality. It also makes the company information more organized and puts it in one designated area instead of spread throughout a library. The entertainment industry also stands to gain a lot from virtual reality as well. Universal Studios, among others, is developing a virtual reality amusement park which will incorporate virtual reality games and other new technology. Another virtual theme park, Atlantis Cyberspace, is opening  soon. It will incorporate entertainment with education. The virtual theme park will also use state of the art virtual reality. The park will have two player games in which players challenge each other. It will also let customers swim like dolphins, and let buyers play with virtual waterbeds and hydraulic units. As it stands, almost every industry has something to gain from virtual reality and in the years to come, it appears that the possibilities are endless. Virtual reality is both easy and fun to use, and its something that almost anybody at any age can operate.

Business description and market analysis for cadbury

Business description and market analysis for cadbury Cadbury is a global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded confectionery. The companys confectionery business operates chocolate, gum and sugar categories. The company along with its subsidiaries primarily operates in the Eurozone, the US, Central and Southern America, Australia and other parts of Asia Pacific. Chocolate business represents the biggest business segment of the company with around 46% of the overall revenues FY2008. The companys chocolate business is carried out on a regional basis according the tastes of the consumers in each market. The company operates its business through four business segments namely: Britain, Ireland, Middle East and Africa (BIMA), Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Britain and Ireland (BI) is the largest business unit in the Group. The company has strong market position in the UK (30% market share in FY2008), and Ireland (42%). The companys main markets in Middle East and Africa include South Africa, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, Kenya, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria, and Ghana. The company American business comprises the US, Canada and Mexico, three of the largest confectionery markets in the world, and extends through Central America and the Caribbean. The company also has its operations in South American countries including Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia and Peru. The company is the leading player in South America with a market share of nearly 20%, with core strengths in gum and candy. In Europe, the company has significant gum and candy businesses, with strong gum market shares in the majority of Western Europe, Scandinavia, Turkey and Russia. The companys chocolate business is concentrated in Poland, Russia and France.The companys biggest European operating unit is in France. The companys Asian businesses are concentrated in India, Malaysia, Thailand and China. The companys key brands in these regions include Cadbury Dairy Milk, Bournvita, Halls, Eclairs/Choclairs, Clorets, and Dentyne. In the Pacific regions the companys operations are primarily located in Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Cadbury has a leading position in Australia with an overall 30% market share. While in New Zealand, the company holds a market share of around 41% in FY2008. 3.2 HISTORY Cadbury Schweppes (which was split into: Cadbury plc; and Dr pepper Snapple Group in May 2008) was actually formed in 1969 by the merger of Schweppes and Cadbury Group. Over the years, Cadbury Schweppes expanded its business through organic growth and acquisitions. In 1982, it acquired Motts, which was engaged in the production of apple juice and sauce. The company further strengthened its portfolio of key brands through the purchase of Canada Dry (1986), Trebor (1989), and Bassett (1989). In the 1990s, Cadbury Schweppes acquired 14 more companies, including the US soda giant Dr Pepper/7 UP (1995). Cadbury acquired Snapple Beverage Group in 2000. In the same year, the company also made acquisitions of Hollywood, and Kraft Foods in France, and Wuxi Leaf Confectionery in China to strengthen its chewing gum portfolio. Other acquisitions in the year included Spring Valley Juice and Wave flavored milk in Australia; and Mauna LaI tropical juice drink in the US. In the following year, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Pernod Ricards soft drinks brands and businesses in Europe, North America and Australia. Also in 2001, Cadbury Schweppes acquired the Slush Puppie, a frozen, non-carbonated beverages firm; and Carteret, a contract packer mainly of Snapple. The company also purchased La Casera, Spains third largest soft drinks manufacturer. In 2002, Snapple Beverages, a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes, purchased Nantucket Nectars, a producer of premium high juice content drinks. In the same year, the company acquired Brau und Brunnens 72% interest in the Apollinaris Schweppes joint venture in Germany. In 2003, Cadbury completed the acquisition of Adams Confectionery from Pfizer with its brands included Halls, Trident, Dentyne and the Bubbas bubblegum range. In the same year, Cadbury Schweppes main UK operating arm, the Cadbury Trebor Bassett division, announced the closure of two of its factories located in Greater Manchester and Chesterfield. In 2005, the company invested  £40 million (approximately $74.2 million) at its Bournville factory in Birmingham, UK to meet the growing demand for Cadbury Dairy Milk. In the following year, Cadbury sold its business division of Europe Beverages. The company fully acquired the Dr Pepper/Seven Up Bottling Group in the same year. In 2007, Cadbury Schweppes acquired the Southeast-Atlantic Beverage, the second largest independent bottler in the US, by Americas Beverages. In the same year, Cadbury Schweppes acquired Intergum, the leading Turkish gum business. In the same year, Cadbury Schweppes announced its plan to split itself into two separate businesses focusing on chocolate and confectionery on the one hand and the US soft drinks on the other. In February 2008, Cadbury Schweppes sold its Monkhill business, a manufacturer of sugar confectionery and popcorn for the UK market. In May 2008, Cadbury Schweppes completed its demerger and was split into: Cadbury plc, the new holding company of the worldwide confectionery operations and the Australian beverages business; and Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS), the new holding company of the Americas beverages business. Further in December 2008, Cadbury plc sold its Schweppes Beverages business in Australia to Asahi Breweries for a total consideration of approximately  £550 million ($1,020 million). In May 2009, Cadbury Schweppes Overseas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cadbury purchased 4% of the share capital of Kent Gida Maddeleri, a Turkey base supplier of confectionary products, from Tahincioglu Holding. In September 2009, Cadbury rejected a  £10,200 billion (approximately $18,922 million) offer from Kraft Foods to combine the two businesses and create a global manufacturer of snacks, confectionery and quick meals. 3.3 MAJOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES Cadbury is an international manufacturing and marketing company of branded confectionery products. The companys key products and brands include the following: Products: Chocolates Candy Candy bars Chewing gum The key chocolate brands of the company include Caramilk, Cherry Ripe, Crunchie, Five Star, Freddo, Mieszanka Wedlowska, Milk Tray, Moro, Mr. Big, Old Gold, and Perk. The company also offers a cocoa based food drink beverage under Bournvita brand name. Gum business offers chewing gum with a number of flavors including strawberry splash, strong mint, peppermint and watermelon wave. The business contributed around 33% of the companys overall sales in FY2008. The key gum brands of the company include Bubblicious, Falim, First, Stride, and V6. The company offers a number of functional candies including cough drops, indulgent candy such as premium toffees. The company offers its candy products in a number of flavors including American hard gums, mints, sherbet lemons, pear drops, everton mints, imperials, mint creams, and fruit, lemon, and strawberry. The key brands of the company under this category include Bassetts, Kent, Maynards, Pascall, Sour Patch, and Swedish Fish. 3.4 CADBURY, INDIA 3.4.1 COMPANY BACKGROUND à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cadbury India is a subsidiary of Cadbury Plc, with Cadbury Schweppes holding a 97.61% stake in its local subsidiary. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company operates in the hot drinks and packaged food industries. In packaged food it is present in confectionery, biscuits and dairy products. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The companys strategy is to cater to all price segments and consumer groups have a strong presence across the major impulse and indulgence categories in India. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ It has national coverage with manufacturing and distribution facilities in all four regions. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In March 2009 the company re-launched Cadburys Perk with a new image, and employed up and coming bollywood actress as its new brand ambassador. The Perk brand portfolio was also extended with the launch of Cadburys Perk Poppers a selfline positioned as direct competition to Nestlà ©s Munch Pop Chocs. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company launched Cadbury Bournville Fine Dark Chocolate from its parent companys international brand portfolio in India in October 2008. The company also launched Cadburys Dairy Milk Shots in late à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ In a bid to cater to all consumer groups, the company launched Cadbury Lite in February 2008. This is a smooth milk chocolate with no added sugar, which is suitable for diabetics. 3.4.2 PRODUCTION à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company supplies the local market through its local production units. Cadbury India has five factories, located in Thane, Pune, Induri and Malanpur in West India, and Baddi in North India. Cocoa is one of the major raw materials used by the company, and is procured mainly from plantations in South India, in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company exports its products to Sri Lanka, Dubai, the US and the Maldives. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Cadbury India is not known to be involved in third party manufacturing. 3.4.3 COMPETITIVE POSITIONING à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company ranked seventh in packaged food in India in 2008 with a 3% value share. The company is the leading player in confectionery, with its Cadburys Dairy Milk brand accounting for over 13% of total confectionery value at the end of the review period. The companys other brands, such as 5 Star and Cadburys Gems, have been favourites across several generations, and the company is highly visible in the mass media channels with its tagline of kuch meetha ho jaye (lets have something sweet). à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company is also very active with media and consumer promotions, as well as flavour innovations for its malt-based hot drinks brand Bournvita. While its presence in biscuits is very low it has represented the sole driver of sales in filled biscuits with Bytes. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company is a key innovator in packaged food in India as it has pioneered several new product concepts, including Chocki and Bytes, and has been active in flavour innovation with products such as Fruity Gems and Bournvita 5 Star Magic. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company strives to maintain its leadership in confectionery in India and expanded its presence in Confectionery in 2007 with the launch of Bubbaloo its first gum product in India. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The companys presence in packaged food in India is mainly concentrated in confectionery, where it is present across almost all categories. Its product portfolio outside confectionery is limited to flavoured powder milk drinks and filled biscuits. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company is mainly present in well-established and mature categories in India. However, several of the categories in which it is present, including malt-based drinks, filled biscuits and chocolate confectionery, are fast growing with double digit constant value forecast CAGRs. Moreover, the company heavily leverages new product launches and brand re-launches to boost growth rates in the categories in which it is already well established. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company has a very large product portfolio within confectionery. However, its brand portfolio is very limited in biscuits and flavoured powder milk drinks. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The company is positioned in the standard and premium price segments in confectionery and in the premium price segment in biscuits and flavoured powder milk drinks. 3.4.4 SWOT ANALYSIS Cadbury is a global manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded confectionery products. The company has a strong market presence across all its operating regions. It is the market leader in the global confectionery sector with a market share of 10.5%. Strong global market position would boost the revenues and profitability of the company. However, the rising raw material prices and intense competition would affect the companys market share in certain geographies. A very peculiar characteristic of the chocolate consumers is that there is an overwhelming awareness among the users about different brands that exist in the market. There is however very little brand loyalty in users. People always are ready to try out new brands and keep on switching from one brand to another. This behaviour poses lot of challenge, as the job of designing of marketing strategies becomes two fold. Firstly non-users need to be converted to users and more importantly the existing customers should be retained. Organisational analysis of Cadburys Organizational analysis identifies the knowledge, skills, and abilities that employees will need in the future as the organization and their jobs change. Organizational analysis is a holistic approach which involves looking at the entire organization; the overall structure, the departments, functions, processes, jobs, the interplay between groups, system dynamics, human energy alignment, and other issues. It explores what is as compared to what should be and the gaps between the two. Strength Cadbury is a company, which is reputed internationally as the topmost chocolate provider in the world. The brand is well known to people they can easily identify it from others. Users have a positive perception about the qualities of the brand. Cadbury main strength is Dairy milk. Dairy milk is the most consumed chocolate in India. By using popular models like Cyrus Brocha, Preety Zinta and others Cadburys has managed to portray a young and sporty image, which has resulted in converting buyers of other brands to become its staunch loyalists. By roping in Amitabh Bachchan as its brand ambassador, Cadbury has succeeded in portraying itself as an evergreen, credible, trustworthy and eternal product. Cadbury has well adjusted itself to Indian custom. With the brilliant marketing campaign of Kuch Meetha Ho Jaye on every small or big family or social occasion, Cadbury has been able to create the notion that any occasion has to go along with a Cadbury. It has also catered to all the age groups across various demographics. It has properly repositioned itself in India whenever required i.e. from children to adults, togetherness bar to energizing bar for young ones etc. Weaknesses There is lack of penetration in the rural market where people tend to dismiss it as a high end product. It is mainly found in urban and semi-urban areas. It has been relatively high priced brand, which is turning the price conscious customer away. People avoid having their chocolate thinking about the egg ingredients. Cadbury offers a limited variety of products as opposed to other leading competitive brands, e.g. Amul and Nestle that offer an array of products like biscuits, dairy products, etc. One of the major raw materials i.e. cocoa has to be imported, leading to bunched imports and higher inventory. Majority of the markets in India are not air conditioned, hence cannot store chocolates, at least during hot summers, which limits market access. Environmental Analysis of Cadburys Opportunities The chocolate market has seen one of the greatest increases in the recent times (almost @ 30%). There is a lot of potential for growth and a huge population who do not eat chocolates even today that can be converted as new users. Infrastructure and potential to expand (other countries and markets) Narrowing down on their most popular and highest selling items (dairy milk) to increase sales (including brand ambassadors) Venture into new segments individually or jointly (food and beverages) Introduce their foreign products in India Targeting urban areas and developing sectors- by working on availability and affordability Using information and technology to bring efficiency in logistics and distribution. Though small now, fast growing modern trade with A/c and good ambience suitable for Cadbury products offers huge growth opportunity. Increase related category offerings like snacks (Cadbury bytes) Introduce Schweppes non carbonic drinks in India. Increase the chewing gum market. Threat There exists no brand loyalty in the chocolate market and consumers frequently shift their brands. New brands are coming and existing brands are introducing new variants to add up to an already overcrowded market. Competitors could use scandals in the past and company problems against the company (worm scandal). This could put the reputation of the company at stake. Stiff competition in the confectionery segment. (Amul, Nestle, etc.) New competition including global majors like mars Hersheys expected to enter the fray due to opening up of the Indian economy. The company has large exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, mainly on account of imported cocoa beans and cocoa butter in US dollars and Pound Sterling. Significant increase in the food snacks segment offerings which means high indirect competition with low cost local players as well as high brand recognition global players. As Cadbury produces chocolates and a few related products, effective management of all the areas proves to be difficult at times. Trends of purchase may change with the ever-changing taste preference of consumers. Changing restrictions and rules from Government quality control boards may result in pressure on the production of the company cost increase Cadbury is exposed to rise in the cost of cocoa beans, dairy products and other vital ingredients. Increase in modern trade will increase competition especially from global players will also increase cost pressure thru malls negotiating higher discounts from suppliers. 3.4.5 PEST ANALYSIS Demographic factor 1. Population growth:-chocolates have wide impact on population growth. 2. Educational groups:-target population is all age groups but the education group will have more influence on it. As this is used as 2 celebrate events such as birthday, days. 3. Population age mix:-both men and women would like 2 prefer dairy milk. 4. Household patterns:-consumption and need is according to the household patterns. 5. Population age group: Preschools:-5% School-age: 15% Teens:-40% 25-65:-38% 65+:- 2% Political factor Increase in the tax rate by the government on chocolates will force a customer to pay more for it An increase/decrease in inflation rate can affect the FMCG sector and thereby also increase/decrease the price of Cadbury products Economic In festival seasons the demand of chocolates increases. Willingness to buy Demand of chocolates depends on the persons willingness to buy, which in turn is affected by the persons needs and requirements. Taste and preference Cadbury has wide variety of products and a particular product like lets say Dairy milk is also differentiated in many ways such as fruit and nut, raisins, almond. So the demand will be according to the taste and preferences of the variety. Income Variation in income will affect positively or negatively on Cadbury products. Sale is directly proportional to the income of an individual keeping other factors constant. Social Social factors includes such as norms, beliefs, values of the company. Cadbury has created a positive impact on customers in terms of belief and values. Advertisement Dairy milk, a brand of Cadbury renews its advertisement in every 6 months. The advertisements convey that it can be consumed by people of all ages. The type of advertisement also affects the buying interest on customers. They get known about new products and variety. Technological Milk quality can be improved much by technology. Refrigeration power can be improved by new technology so that cold storage product such as dairy milk and other milk products can be stored well and for a longer duration. 3.4.6 COMPANY FACTFILE Corporate Summary Cadbury India Ltd is a subsidiary of Cadbury Schweppes Plc, with Cadbury Schweppes holding a stake in excess of 90% in its local subsidiary. The company was incorporated in 1948 and formerly called Hindustan Cocoa Products. It has four factories located in Thane, Induri and Malanpur in West India and Baddi in North India. The production facilities in India are not only used for domestic production but also for the export of finished products to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, Ghana and the Maldives. 3.5 CADBURY AFTER KRAFT Wider geographic reach but still developed markets bias à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢The acquisition of Cadbury provided Krafts confectionery operations with a better balanced geographic mix between developed and developing markets, although the share of combined North American and Western European retail value sales remained at 55%. However, its exposure has increased in North America and decreased in Western Europe. Competition in both developed regions is fierce from well-established, domestic confectionery conglomerates, such as Mars/Wrigley and Hershey in North America, and Nestlà © and Ferrero in Western Europe. Market gaps to fill in emerging regions à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢Krafts Asia-Pacific confectionery revenues in 2008 were just above US$100 million, and with the integration of Cadbury it is expected to exceed US$1.4 billion. However, over 50% of this retail value is generated in just two national markets: Japan and India. China, the regions most attractive confectionery market accounts, for around 8% of the joint entitys confectionery revenues. Although China is forecast to grow by a more modest rate than India, at a CAGR of 4% over 2009-2014, in absolute value terms it makes up over 50% of the Asia-Pacific confectionery market growth over the period. The next step in Krafts strategy should be to focus on strengthening its position in the Chinese market, potentially with further acquisitions/partnerships to gain a larger slice of this dynamic market.

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

In Support of Hybrid Cars Essay -- Gasoline Electric Hybrid Automobile

To hybrid or not to hybrid, that is the question Hybrid electric cars are the wave of the future. At this point, the human race does not really have a choice anymore: we must act now to prevent further warming of our planet. With global warming graduating from theory to fact, and in the wake of some of the most devastating storms our civilized world has ever seen, I strode into a nearby Honda dealership to see what kind of advancements are being made in the Hybrid electric vehicle field. Keeping in mind what a typical college student might be looking for in a car: pleasing aesthetics, affordability and low maintenance cost, I present you my findings on the Honda Civic LX, compared with the Honda Civic Hybrid model. When the salesman came over to answer any questions and offer the obligatory test drive, I eagerly accepted. The first car I drove was the gas powered LX Civic, starting around $16,000. This car was equipped with a manual transmission, a four cylinder engine, and all the other basic options you would expect to find on a mid priced Honda: power windows, power locks, floor mats, CD player, anti-lock brakes, and optional sun roof. The minute I climbed into the car, I felt the comfortable feeling of being at my mother's house. Not because the Civic has an antiquated feel, but because this is a car that has been the shining star of the small sedan competition for such a long time. Everything on this car just feels like it is in the right place. I reach for the radio during the ride and I am just in reach of all the controls. I roll down the window and can't help but crack a smile as I maneuver around a pothole with ease. The ride is so very smooth, especially for a small car. I round a corner of a not busy s... ...000 mile limited warranty and a 5 year or 60,000 limited warranty, just like every other Honda. Its battery pack comes with an 8-year/80,000-mile warranty. If you have any problems with the car you can bring it here to the dealership or to any mechanic that is trained in HEVs." I look at him plainly. I was expecting him to tell me something more complicated, or to only answer half of the question. But there it is plain as day. You can bring your HEV to the dealership where you purchased it to be worked on. I sit in a sort of meditative stance, not knowing if to purchase the hybrid or the gasoline powered car. Noel senses my fence sitting, and comes in with the knockout punch, "You know Zack, did I mention if you buy a HEV you can qualify for a $2,000 federal tax deduction?" Armed with this information, I tell Noel I will be back one day to purchase my hybrid.

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

girls vs boys in china Essay -- essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  China had solved one of their population problems, but had unknowingly created another problem from it. Back in 1976, China faced an overpopulation problem. The growth of Chinas population brought a lot of problems to the country and to its people. Some of the problems were from overcrowding and not enough resources like food and jobs to go around for everyone. This was why the government of China enacted the One-Child Policy act in order to prevent over population. The One-Child Policy was a law that allowed a family to only have one child with the incentive of economic and educational advantages to the family that obeyed this law, in many cases disobeying the law would result in a fine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This leads to my main article, in the Guardian Newspaper, that talks about today’s effects on China from the One-Child Policy. The One-Child Policy had been successful in China’s goal to prevent overpopulation but one of its effects was the unbalanced ratio of boy to girl genders. This plan had worked and for a while and the population was controlled and by 1987, â€Å"the country’s boy-girl ratio was similar to the global average. But because of the One-Child Policy, today’s families have been unintentionally giving birth to more males than females as a result, â€Å"approximately 117 boys to every 100 girls.(1)† The government had not foreseen this problem and in response to this problem, they are now offering the parents cash incentives ...

Now You See Me, Now You Don’t Essay

â€Å"First rule of magic: always be the smartest person in the room.† This is demonstrated all throughout the mysteriously riveting 2013 movie Now You See Me, directed by Louis Leterrier. A group of four magicians: Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), all receive a card with a date and location on where to meet. Upon meeting at the designated meeting spot, they discovered they were all chosen to be part of a series of special magic acts. They are from then on referred to as The Four Horseman. For their remarkable acting, thrilling stunts, and magical storyline, Now You See Me is an excellent pick for all ages to enjoy. The film follows The Four Horseman and their quest on helping people who got cheated out on their money by performing magic acts. The Horseman begin one of their shows by doing a magic trick where the audience pulls out a piece of paper with their account balance on, and the balance suddenly increases to a higher amount of money. The horseman call up to the stage Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), who is the owner of Tressler Insurance. They explain that all the people in the audience have been cheated due to Tressler’s Insurance, and the money that was going into the audience’s accounts was coming out of Tressler’s bank account. Since the events of the horseman have been going on, the FBI hire agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) to investigate along with Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) of Interpol. In addition to the FBI, an illusion exposer Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), try to uncover the mysteries of the illusions. Throughout the movie, it is unexplainable to why the horseman are undergoing these illusions without any benefits for themselves. However, it is revealed that agent Rhodes hired the horseman to get revenge on Bradley and the others that were involved for his father’s death. Many people seek revenge when something traumatic happens in their life. In the movie, it is revealed that Agent Rhodes’ father died from a faulty safe that he used in one of his underwater magic tricks. Rhodes is the hooded figure in the beginning of the film who chose the four magicians who later became The Four Horseman and help him seek out revenge. In the Horseman’s first magic trick, they chose a random guest out of the audience for their show. This illusion included the man getting teleported to a bank in Paris where he helped get money from the bank, and the money was then rained down from the ceiling of  where the show was being held. At another one of the Horseman’s shows, an illusion was preformed where money was stolen from Arthur Tressler’s account and placed into the audience’s accoun ts. These two illusions were not just random picks. The man’s bank that was in Paris and Tressler’s insurance company both would not give any benefits to Rhodes’ family after his father’s death. Rhodes also targeted Thaddeus Bradley because when his father was alive they were rivals. Rhodes’ father did the underwater trick that had the faulty safe because Bradley was in competition with him and challenged him to it. The themes in the film were performed well by the actors. So, the acting in Now You See Me was a great fit for the characters in the film. I loved Dave Franco’s character. He did a great job with the action role he was put in and being the underdog who had to fight and pull off stunts. For example, when the FBI finds the horseman in the apartment room, Franco’s character is left behind to get rid of papers and other information they had in the room. The agents come in the room, and Franco has to try to fight them away. The performance is very believable, and he makes it seem that fighting was natural and easy. This role in an action film contrasts from the movie Franco stars in, 21 Jump Street. This film is a comedy and Franco pulls of the different genres of movies. Another star I liked was Isla Fisher. Fisher played Henley Reeves, a magician who focused on intense stunts. I really loved Fisher in the movie The Bachelorette, which was a romantic comedy. She excelled in this movie and excels in Now You See Me, an action film. Fisher is great at performing her stunts and presenting the illusions. For example, when she first does her trick in the box of water and when she explains the transportation illusion. I like how she has a hint of mystery and wonder in her voice. One person that stood out as a performer was Mark Ruffalo, who played Agent Dylan Rhodes. I have seen him in many different movies and roles; two of my favorite movies Ruffalo has stared in are Rumor Has It and 13 Going On 30. In both of these movies, he is portrayed as a love interest and did really well. In contrast, his part in Now You See Me was an FBI agent, and he looked like a natural and as if he fit the part of a real agent. Ruffalo did a good job of not giving away that he was the one who brought the Horseman together and the one was behind it all. Along with the acting I thought the overall film was very believable as well. Although some tricks were a bit farfetched such as the  teleportation device, a lot of the tricks were believable. For example, the card tricks that Daniel Atlas does are very similar to magicians now, and hypnosis is a very believable thing to people who go to shows today. â€Å"The more you look, the less you see† is a quote said multiple times throughout the film. This ties into the stunts aspect of the movie because if you look closer to the tricks and analyze them you lose the full excitement and awe of the illusions being performed. The film had a very distinct style and ways of using each characters abilities. But there is another movie that it reminds me of, The Prestige. In this movie, there are two rival magicians that compete for the fame and try and steal each other’s tricks and secrets. There are both similarities and differences in these two films. In Now You See Me, Rhodes’ father is killed because of a faulty safe in an underwater magic trick her performed. Similarly, in The Prestige a woman is killed when she cannot escape from a box of water in a trick. At the end of the film, one of the main characters also drowns in a glass box filled with water used for a magic act. Another similarity is in the very end of both films the man who was responsible for the death and deception of another person is tricked, and they both end up in jail. In Contrast, The Prestige is more about the lives of the two men and how they try to compete and get the upper hand, while Now You See Me was about magicians helping one person get revenge on something that happened years before. Although Now You See Me is similar to other movies, it had great special effects and stunts. I thought the most impressive special effect was the scene of the car chase. They did a good job of making the chase look believable. When the car wrecked, rolled across the highway, and blew up into fire and smoke, the special effects made it look realistic and as if it really could have happened. A stunt scene that was performed well was when Jack Wilder fights the agents in the apartment building. The fight had a lot of advanced moves and violence and Wilder made it seem realistic. He has such ease in the stunts that really made his performance stand out. Another example is the final show that the horseman perform. There were lots of lights and the final three hor seman were projected on the buildings while they talked somewhere inside. When the horseman announce that it is their last show and said goodbye, they proceeded to jump off of a tall building. The special effects make it look as if the horseman turn into money as they fall from the rooftop. Because of  all the special effects and tricks that happen, I think the movie’s title was based off this. When the horseman perform their shows and tricks, they do it in front of everyone. Since they often show the audience what they are doing and explain what is happening, I think that is why it is called Now You See Me. It is also a play off the common saying â€Å"Now you see me, now you don’t†. This is a common saying among magicians because they often make things disappear and reappear, and the audiences don’t always see all their tricks and how they are executed. In my opinion, Now You See Me was an outstanding movie. The overall theme and storyline was easy to understand. One of the best scenes was when Jack Wilder fights off Dylan Rhodes. I loved the action of this scene and how it was performed. The best part of the fight was when Wilder fights Rhodes with magic. By doing this it shows that Wilder is versatile in his role of not only a magician but a great fighter as well. I would love to go and buy this movie so I could watch it more than once. This is a movie I really enjoyed and would love to watch more so I could see more of the details and pay more attention to the tricks. I would rate this a 10 out of 10 and would recommend it to others if you like exciting films that keep you interested and wondering what will happen next.

Monday, September 30, 2019

Information Technology: Its Evolution, Advantages and Disadvantages

Main Topic: Information Technology: Its Evolution, Advantages and Disadvantages Creative Topic: So You Love IT: Where Has it Been? Where is it Going? Sub-topic: A Brief Examination of the Evolution of Information Technology, and Some Uses and Misuses. Today in society, people cannot conceive of a life without technology. Surrounding us are various technologies that are helping people to live their lives with more luxury.Technological advancements are not just limited to computers; there are many other fields in which it has made significant ground breaking developments such as from carts to cars, from constantly being pinned down by gravity to air travel and from being confined to the earth to travel among the stars. There are many significant persons throughout history that have made ground breaking discoveries such as Blaise Pascal, Charles Babbage and Herman Hollerith which in turn laid the foundation for modern IT professionals such as Bill Gate and Steve Jobs.Information Technol ogy (IT) involves more than just computer literacy; it also takes into account how computers work and how these computers can further be used not just for information processing but also for communications and problem solving tasks as well. Our world today has changed a great deal with the aid of Information Technology. Jobs that were once done manually have now become computerized, simply requiring a single click of a mouse to get a task completed versus years ago when everything was exceedingly more difficult.With the aid of IT we are not only able to streamline our business processes but we are also able to get constant information in ‘real time' that is up to the minute and up to date. The significance of IT can be seen from the fact that it has penetrated almost every aspect of our daily lives and the society, from business to leisure. Therefore in order to understand more deeply about IT it is important to inspect the evolution of technology and some of its uses and misu ses. 1. The Birth of IT goes back many centuries, from the development of mathematics, to electro-mechanical machines, to the first digital computer.A. The concept of mathematics was expressed in stone and wood cravings, a calculating machine then to an analytical engine. B. Electro-mechanical machines paved way for communication such as the telegraph, telephone and the Internet. C. Digital computer introduced computer programming, the use of transistor and integrated circuits. 2. The uses of computer have proven to be very beneficial in communication, Business and Education. D. Enhancements in communication have increased transition of data, bridged cultural gaps and brought about positive globalization. E.Computers have created jobs in the business industry and also have improved protection of vital information and have reduced productivity time. F. The use of IT has enhanced education, the ability to learn and access to learning materials. 3. The misuses of computer have been pro blematic in the communication, Business and Education sectors. G. The development of communication devices as brought about issues of privacy, technological addiction and cultural domination. H. Business enterprises have also caused some problems such as job elimination, security breaches and expensive implementation. I.The education sector is diminishing the overall learning process resulting in loss of skill, plagiarism and the poor remains poor. Today in society, people cannot conceive of a life without technology. Surrounding us are various technologies that are helping people to live their lives with more luxury. Technological advancements are not just limited to computers; there are many other fields in which it has made significant ground breaking developments such as from carts to cars, from constantly being pinned down by gravity to air travel and from being confined to the earth to travel among the stars.There are many significant persons throughout history that have made ground breaking discoveries such as Blaise Pascal, Charles Babbage and Herman Hollerith which in turn laid the foundation for modern IT professionals such as Bill Gate and Steve Jobs. Information Technology (IT) involves more than just computer literacy; it also takes into account how computers work and how these computers can further be used not just for information processing but also for communications and problem solving tasks as well.Our world today has changed a great deal with the aid of Information Technology. Jobs that were once done manually have now become computerized, simply requiring a single click of a mouse to get a task completed versus years ago when everything was exceedingly more difficult. With the aid of IT we are not only able to streamline our business processes but we are also able to get constant information in ‘real time' that is up to the minute and up to date.The significance of IT can be seen from the fact that it has penetrated almost every aspec t of our daily lives and the society, from business to leisure. Therefore in order to understand more deeply about IT, it is important to inspect the evolution of technology and some of its uses and misuses. The Birth of IT goes back many centuries, from the development of mathematics, to electro-mechanical machines, to the first digital computer. These ground breaking consecutive technological innovations made it possible to develop the glorious industry we have come to know has IT.Through the use of abstraction and logical reasoning, mathematics developed from counting, calculation, measurement, and the systematic study of the shapes and motions of physical objects(Insert Citation). The development of mathematics led to the development of tools to help in computation such as sticks, stones and various carvings, used in an almost futile attempt to record data and information. These objects were used because no other methods were available to efficiently follow and store a mathemati cal equation at the time.These were used for centuries until the wonderful use of paper came into being and until the marvellous abacus was invented which made performing tedious calculations a bit easier to trace and record. The abacus was a simple wooden box with beads strung along a wooden mid-bar to perform calculation (citation). Mathematics is used throughout the world as an essential tool in many fields, not just IT but also including the natural sciences, engineering, medicine, and the social sciences. Blaise Pascal took advantage of fundamental mathematical principles and developed n outstanding machine. Blaise Pascal was credited with building the first calculating machine in 17th century. He invented the first digital calculator as a means of helping his father perform tedious tax accounting (citation). He called his amazing device Pascal's calculator which had a metal wheel dial that was turned to the appropriate numbers and symbols to preform calculations; the answers a ppeared in boxes in the top of the calculator. This was one the first contributions to the field of IT and it has advanced to the calculators we have grown to know and love today.Pascal continued to make improvements to his machine and built fifty Pascaline machines in total. The first Pascaline machine could only handle 5-digit numbers, but later Pascal developed 6 digit and 8 digit versions of the Pascaline. This method of advancing current inventions in order to expand their capabilities is one of the key concepts of evolution. It was an extraordinary achievement which would lead to greater heights in the field of IT such as the Analytical Engine. In the 19th century, Charles Babbage, whom is considered the father of computing, designed the first â€Å"analytical engine. (citation) It was his idea of a mechanical digital computer which could perform basic input, processing, output and storage that all computers that followed are based on in today’s modern society. This ma chine had a mechanical computing â€Å"mill†(the processor) and used punch cards to store the numbers and processing requirements. Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace was a great supporter of Charles Babbage and she convinced him to use binary systems in his engines. Because she wrote some programs for Babbages’ engines, she is considered the first programmer (citation).His vision of a massive brass, steam-powered, general-purpose, mechanical computer inspired some of the great minds of the nineteenth century. Almost a century later, Charles’ ideas re-emerged with the development of electro-mechanical calculating machines such as the tabulating machine and devices used for telecommunication. Electro-mechanical machines paved way new and exciting way to communicate such as the telegraph, telephone and the internet. A telegraph is a machine which is used for transmitting messages in the form of electrical impulses which can be converted into data (citation).A message sent v ia telegraph is coded in a language called Morse code but the message itself is called a telegram or cablegram. Telegraph machines had to be connected through a series of wires in order to exchange messages. The operator would key a message in the Morse alphabet, and the receiving telegraph machine on the other side would register the message in the form of clicks, different click have different meanings w the messages were decoded. By listening to the pattern of clicks, the receiving operator could hear the message and transcribe it before passing it on to the recipient.Advancements were made to telegraphy which introduced wireless telegraphy. This enabled telegraph messages were transmitted over the radio waves which marked a drastic change in the system, allowing people to rapidly transmit messages in areas without troublesome telegraph cables. Wireless laid the groundwork for later methods of communication such as the telephone. In the 1870s, Alexander Graham Bell designed a dev ice that could transmit speech electrically (the telephone) (citation).The telegraph and telephone are both wire-based electrical systems, and Alexander Graham Bell's superb success with the telephone came as a direct result of his attempts to improve the telegraph which as we can see again that innovation is possible through evolution. The telegraph was basically limited to receiving and sending one message at a time consequently Bell sought to improve on the telegraph to â€Å"fix† this problem. His aim was to be able to transmit multiple messages back and forth across the same line which of course brought us the telephone.But advancements in communication did not stop there. Later on person’s discovered that these same telephone lines could be used to transmit and share data across devices thus the idea of an inter-connected network (the internet) was introduced. The Internet was the result various persons wanting to share information between computers. A man named Lawrence Roberts of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) connected a Massachusetts computer with a California computer in 1965 over dial-up telephone lines and he discovered hat computer could share information through telephone lines (citation). The idea was developed further and a series on inter-connected networks created what we know today as the World Wide Web. This idea was indeed useful when the first digital computer was made. The first electronic digital computer, ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer), was developed in 1946 however it was not very efficient due to poor programming and architecture thus it was necessary to improve on computer coding and develop better technology to run the software on (citation).A man named Von Neumann, a mathematics professor, developed the idea further. He added the idea of a stored computer program. This was a set of instructions stored in the memory of the computer, which the computer obeyed to complete the programm ed task (citation). From this stage, computers and computer programming evolved rapidly. The move from vacuum tubes to transistors significantly reduced the size and cost of the machines, and increased their reliability. Then came integrated circuit technology, which has reduced the size (and cost) of computers.In the 1960s, the typical computer was a transistor-based machine that cost half a million dollars, and needed a large, air-conditioned room and an on-site engineer. The same computer power now costs $2,000 and sits on a desk. As computers became smaller and cheaper, they also became faster–made possible by a single integrated circuit called a chip. The evolution of technology has proven to be very useful in various sectors of the world. IT is here to stay thus let us take advantage of it and explore it many benefits. The uses of computer have proven to be very beneficial in communication, Business and Education.Enhancements in communication have increased transition o f data, bridged cultural gaps and brought about positive globalization. Nowadays, people can get hot news from any parts of the world very quickly by using E-mail and Internet. Moreover, telephone-local or/and overseas is playing a key role for people to communicate to with each other. Our means of communication has greatly improved in the dawn of the modern technology. We now have so many hi-tech gadgets that we use for everyday to communicating with people from all over the world.We can now communicate with anyone around the globe by simply text messaging them or sending them an email for an almost instantaneous response. The telephone is a very helpful mean tool for us to talk with people from remote places, then came out the cellular phones, which we can take with us wherever we go. Now, we are given the privilege to use computers and the internet that has such a wide variety of easy communication offers. Transmission of data has become so easy compared to back in the day. With the help of information technology, communication has also become cheaper, quicker, and more efficient.The internet has also opened up face to face direct communication from different parts of the world thanks to the helps of video conferencing. It is one of the reasons why we should be thankful for technology. This ability to communicate with people worldwide has opened our eyes to various other cultures. Information technology has helped to bridge the cultural gap by helping people from different cultures to communicate with one another, and allow for the exchange of views and ideas, thus increasing awareness and reducing prejudice.In a world where there is tension between different racial groups especially in a case where these groups cannot communicate so resolve their differences, it can be a BIG problem for the tourism sector and inter-racial relationship between countries. Advancements in communication have allowed us bridge cultural barriers and rectify our differences. Cult ural unison is very important in developing the world and globalization can be seen a good thing. IT has not only brought the world closer together, but it has allowed the world's economy to become a single interdependent system.This means that we can not only share information quickly and efficiently, but we can also bring down barriers of linguistic and geographic boundaries. The world has developed into a global village due to the help of IT allowing countries like Chile and Japan who are not only separated by distance but also by language to shares ideas and information with each other. IT has not only proved beneficial in method communications but also to the business industry. Computers have created jobs in the business industry and also have improved protection of vital information and have reduced productivity time.Probably the best advantage of information technology is the creation of new and interesting jobs. Computer programmers, Systems analyzers, Hardware and Software developers and Web designers are just some of the many new employment opportunities created with the help of IT. Job creation is just of the aspects that IT has benefited people, securing data is another. IT creates electronic storage systems to protect a company's valuable records. According to the Graziadio Business Report, published by Pepperdine University, secure maintenance of customer and patient files is vital to business integrity.Storage systems, such as virtual vaults, keep information safe by only allowing certain users within your company to access, withdraw, add or change the documents. According to an article in Science Daily, IT security engineering systems protect your electronic information from being hacked, or wiped out during a technological disaster. Electronic security engineering means your valuable records will remain untouchable. Production has also been increased. Now, we can create materials in just minutes with multiple copies of those productions at a t ime.Before persons had to make products manually which sometime took days and weeks which cuts into the companies’ profit and often time this would result in worker’s pay getting slashed in an attempt to keep the business running. This is what the modern machines contribute to our society. The benefits IT has allow aid teachers and students in the educational sector. The use of IT has enhanced education, the ability to learn and access to learning materials. Technology has revolutionized the classroom and the learning experience as a whole.The technology available today has made a wealth of knowledge available to students, which offers great potential for the speed and style of learning. Information is presented in so many ways that any type learner, whether gifted or disabled, can find and use the necessary material. This fact relates not only to the Internet, but to all the many technological improvements in learning, from smart boards to handheld dictionaries. Stude nts at Northern Caribbean University are able to finish 6 months courses in 4 months which is an improvement compared to the time students normally take to learn certain concepts.Some students have become resent the learning process as a whole and the simple reason is because it is just â€Å"not their style†. Since the dawn of technological age pass method of teaching have become boring to students. Pass methods have become stale and it was just not the kind of setting that some students were able to learn in. With the introduction of new methods of teaching and with the â€Å"old† method still present students ability to learn as improve because they can be in a setting that pleases them and makes them comfortable thus learning is easier.Most persons now have access to various learning materials, access to this information is just a click away thus education is now a wide spread privilege. The information on the Internet is there for all who have access, without disc rimination. People of all social strata are able to use technological advances, which is a fairly new academic development. The advantages to IT are numerous however; modern technology doesn't automatically bring the good things but some bad points. The misuses of computer have been problematic in the communication, Business and Education sectors.The development of communication devices as brought about issues of privacy, technological addiction and cultural domination. Too many people can communicate with us all at the same time. It can create opportunities for fraudulent scams and dangerous spamming in a lot of ways. Though IT may have made communication quicker, easier and more convenient, it has also bought along privacy issues. From cell phone signal interceptions to email hacking, people are now worried about their once private information becoming public knowledge.Often times persons receive emails from what seems to be their well trusted banking company which prompts them to verify their bank account number an password after which they later find out that their account was completely drained of all funds. The youth has also been very much addicted to gadgets and they spend too much time with it which results in delinquency in school work, outdoor social activities and also they start to neglect chores and personal hygiene. Try asking a child playing with a PSP to do his homework and more than likely his reply will be â€Å"just one more game†.Try asking that child to get some fresh air and more than likely his reply will be â€Å"I prefer to stay inside use chat on Facebook†. Another disadvantage is that is causes cultural domination. While IT may have made the world a global village, it has also contributed to one culture dominating weaker one. For example it is now argued that US influences have caused most young teenagers all over the world now act, dress and behave like those of the US which results in personality issues because the c hild does not take the time to figure out what he/her is interested in.Instead they imitate and not only adapt a culture’s â€Å"good† standing but also their bad behaviour. These disadvantages extend into the business sector as well. Business enterprises have also caused some problems such as job elimination, security breaches and expensive implementation. While information technology may have streamlined the business process it has also crated job redundancies, downsizing and outsourcing. This means that a lot of lower and middle level jobs have been done away with causing more people to become unemployed. Implementing IT into business operations can save a great deal of time during the completion of daily tasks.Paperwork is processed immediately, and financial transactions are automatically calculated. Although businesses may view this expediency as a boon, there are untoward effects to such levels of automation. As technology improves, tasks that were formerly perf ormed by human employees are now carried out by computer systems. For example, automated telephone answering systems have replaced live receptionists in many organizations. This leads to the elimination of jobs and, in some cases, alienation of clients. Unemployed specialists and once-loyal employees may have difficulty securing future employment.Data security has also become an issue. The ability to store information in an electronic database facilitates quicker, more efficient communication. In the past, an individual would sift through stacks of paper records to retrieve data. With properly implemented technology, information can be recovered at the touch of a button. Although information technology systems allow business to be conducted at a faster pace, they are not without their flaws. Information technology systems are vulnerable to security breaches, particularly when they are accessible via the Internet.If appropriate measures are not in place, unauthorized individuals may access confidential data. Information may be altered, permanently destroyed or used for unsavoury purposes. In order to keep a business â€Å"up to date† lots money has to be spent to implement new technology. Every business must consider start-up costs when implementing any type of information technology system. In addition to the cost of hardware and software, some technology vendors require businesses to purchase user licenses for each employee that will be operating the system. Businesses must examine the cost of training employees in unfamiliar technology.Although basic information technology systems may be user friendly, advanced programs still require formal instruction by an expert consultant. In addition to the start-up expenses, information technology systems are expensive to maintain. Systems malfunction, and when they do, businesses must engage skilled technicians to troubleshoot and make the necessary repairs. These expenses present a major disadvantage of inform ation technology in business, particularly to businesses that are entering the technology era for the first time. The education sector has also suffered at the hand of technology.The education sector is diminishing the overall learning process resulting in loss of skill, plagiarism and the poor remains poor. With this increased access to knowledge also comes a probable loss of communication skills and interactive abilities between students and teacher, and students to peers. These skills are not as necessary in a classroom of computers, where individuality is a component of learning and is encouraged. Aside from learning, conflict resolution and socialization used to be two prominent reasons children came to school. The emphasis now has shifted away from these areas.