voice recognition technology essays

voice recognition technology essays and its Benefits to the Disabled Community Speech recognition technology was originally designed as a tool to ease the often heavy paper work loads in professions such as medicine or law. However, a new technological push towards assisting those with disabilities is upon us. People suffering from a variety of disabilities can benefit from such software, including muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, or cerebral palsy. Half the world's population either has a disability or is helping people with disabilities, so you can imagine the possible target audience. Good speech recognition applications not only allows one to transform the spoken word into text, but also allows the user to command nearly every program in the computer; surfing the web and navigating the windows desktop and folder trees are some examples. Because of this, voice recognition technology can be extremely helpful to people with disabilities, if they are at all computer-savvy Speech recognition programs are immediate, fast, and accurate. Spelling is almost always correct, drawing from dictionaries of over 200,000 words. Even the inexperienced users can type at speeds of 60+ WPM! Of course, inaccuracies do occur, largely due to slurring or pronunciation by the user, but the software itself isnt perfect either. A humorous example is the text return for inevitable, in edit a bowl. Most programs offer multiple choices for unrecognized words, allowing the user to correctly select the desired word. Many voice recognition software programs have two modes of operation: dictate mode and command mode. Dictate mode is the usual method people use when speaking into the microphone. However, it is often necessary to access command mode to make changes in a document, or navigate the computer. Command mode allows the user to adjust the document, such as capitalization, insertting a tab, or initializing spell check. ...

10 Best Proposal Examples [With Critical Critiques]

10 Best Proposal Examples [With Critical Critiques] Earning more business starts most often with an effective proposal. Preparing a winning proposal means writing for the client and providing a clear, valuable solution to their problem. For every Request for Proposal (RFP), there are good and bad proposals. To understand how to improve your submissions, we have reviewed ten great examples. These examples are prepared by proposal software companies. All are free to view without registration. In this article, we will review these examples highlighting both the best practices used and common mistakes to avoid. If you are looking to create a winning business proposal for your company we suggest taking our proposal writing training course. 1. Digital Marketing Proposal This proposal is effective because it provides a clear, specific solution to the client’s problems. It opens with a value-oriented executive summary. The scope of services provides brief but informative summaries of the offered services. The very first paragraph states the specific benefits to the client. â€Å"... we are confident we can significantly increase your site traffic, customer engagement, and on-site conversions.† The timeline and the budget, persuasively phrased as ‘Your Investment’ are straightforward and easy for the client to understand and decide upon. The case study placement is a bit distracting, as it could be included near the end with the About Us section. 2. Financial Services Proposal The flow and content of this proposal are strong, with one significant exception: the About Us section. While the About Us and Team sections do add value, the client is most interested in the solution. If the solution is appropriate, then the people behind it are the next consideration. The first-page executive summary should be a convincing and specific overview for the reader. This section along with proposed service details, timelines and budget are read in depth. The About Us sections are simply skimmed. Whether using a software or your company’s template, present the client with the most important information first. Make it easy for the client to understand and see the value in your company's proposal. 3. Web Design Proposal This document clearly outlines the process for implementing the proposed services. The financials are broken down so the client can understand unit, hourly, and subscription costs. However, the About Us and Team sections come just after the introduction. Ensure the solution sections come first. 4. Engineering Services Proposal Here, the Project Background sections clearly outline the work process for the client. Each task is clarified and seems to respond to specifications of an RFP. Using client specifications to prepare a proposal makes it easier for the reader to understand how your solution directly solves their problem. This section is strong and should come just after the executive summary. However, the introductory summary should include more persuasive and specific language. As noted previously the Introduction and Team sections should fall towards the end of the proposal. Always lead with the benefit to the client. It’s not about your business. The focus should be how your business can help the client. 5. CRM Implementation Proposal The introduction or executive summary uses convincing language and bullet points to highlight the value. It could be improved by shifting the language from general CRM best practices to how the company can specifically offer them based on this proposal. Again, the About Us section should come after the proposal benefit-to-client details. 6. Freelance Writing Proposal A sleek web-based proposal that includes specific offerings and clarification of the value. The Introductory letter and Executive Summary have strong, persuasive elements that refer to specific client needs. These two elements could be combined to strengthen the first section. Again, the About Me should be presented after the solution.7. Insurance Services Proposal A brief proposal that covers a range of offerings. Nice overall use of white-space to allow the reader to skim and find the important information. The lengthy paragraphs could be shortened to increase readability and add to the white-space. Remember what we said about About Us? 8. Interior Design Proposal A visually compelling document suited for the industry. Bumping up the Project Showcase section would improve proposal flow.9. Graphic Design Proposal A simple but effective proposal. The introduction focuses on client needs (and would be more specific in a real-world document). Credentials, Testimonials, Selected Works should come after the Project Summary. 10. Project Management Proposal A thorough, understandable proposal that breaks down the process and pricing. The content highlights the company’s knowledge of client needs and their value proposition. However, the executive summary leaves much to be desired. Every sentence should be persuasive and specific, whereas this text is uninspiring and unclear. Conclusion Your proposal is your direct chance to win new business. Keep the client in mind in each step of proposal preparation. This strategy may mean revamping existing templates or starting fresh. Take the best parts of these examples, avoid the mistakes, and put your best foot forward to help the client.

20th Century Studio Pottery Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

20th Century Studio Pottery - Essay Example Soft boiled foods could be eaten by toothless children and the elderly, which permitted caregivers to spend more time producing food. In Japan, for example, the introduction of pottery was followed by a population explosion.Ceramics had been developed mush earlier in Europe. Mostly of the archaeologists believe that pottery was developed by the Jomon in Japan around 10,500 BC. The invention of the potter's wheel in Mesopotamia was made 6,000 and 2,400 BC. This leads to the revolution of the pottery production. This was the way to the new ideas for the designs of pottery. Specialized potters were then able to meet the burgeoning needs of the world's first cities.Pottery is a type of ceramic material that contains clay when formed and shaped. Not only for making jars, pottery is also a term used in a technique where involving ceramics, where clay mixed with other minerals and form into different objects, like that of vessels generally made for utilitarian purposes (Wikipedia Encycloped ia, 2006).It is a facility of any size and form or shape that also needs to have studio for the making of the pots or the products. It also needs available raw materials and the molders. Like other manufacturing processes, potery is also a delicate proces. Its production is a process where wet clay body.The pottery products are made of wet clay which are mixed with other minerals. It is then shaped and are dried. ... The industry has embraced the new concepts in constructing new styles and designs. The artistry has flourished that there have been different idea and concepts in making new pottery (Grolier Encyclopedia, 1996). Traditionally, there are different types of clay in different world regions. These different types of clay are called bodies. Before, the potters usually dig their native clayin their own backyards. They use their own clay to produce the pots but now the potters collect different bodies or clay types to form unique pots. Pottery that is fired at temperatures in the 800 to 1200 C range, which does not vitrify in the kiln but remains slightly porous is often called earthenware or terra cotta. A Clay body formulated to be fired at higher temperatures, which is partially vitrified, is called stoneware. Fine earthenware with a white tin glaze is known as faience. Porcelain is a very refined, smooth, white body that, when fired to vitrification, can have translucent qualities. Ceramic technology is used for items such as electronic parts and Space Shuttle tiles (Universal Encyclopedia, 1993). There are two known artist for Pottery. Next to Leach is Hans Cooper. Together with Cooper is his good friend Lucy Rie. Lucy is the one who put on prints and designs on the pots produced by Copper. Their team up resulted into a very unique chemistry. In an interview conducted by Matthew Parkington on Emmanuel Cooper who is an avid fan of Hans Cooper (2001), Emmanuel Copper tried to translate the meaning of the works or products made by H. Copper. Much of the works of H. Cooper according to E. Cooper, by just looking at the works of Hans you would say that it is plain and simple but if you look at the details there's a mystery behind the craft. E. Cooper said

Aviation Cyber Threats Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Aviation Cyber Threats - Essay Example However, there were several laws that were passed in the congress after September 11 terrorist attacks. In the process, a series of homeland security presidential directives were issued for sustaining domestic security (Vacca, 2009). However, on the other hand, despite an economic turmoil from September 11 attacks, the aviation industry continues to grow at a rapid pace and is considered as a fundamental transformation. Moreover, there is also a significant change for managing air traffic via net-centric approach (Markarian, Kolle, & Tarter, n.d). The acquisition of this change will replace the traditional approach for controlling air traffic that is constructed on Information technology solutions. By focusing on aviation security, there is a significant increase in utilizing computerized systems onboard of an air carrier. Likewise, these systems facilitate high airborne and internally located system connectivity, operational and maintenance requirements (Markarian, Kolle, & Tarter, n.d). Moreover, the net-centric ATM connectivity raises concerns for cyber security threats and vulnerabilities. Propagation threats are critical because it is capable of rapidly broadcasting traffic on the Internet along with bypassing intrusion detection systems (Hatahet, Bouabdallah, & Challal, 2010). Likewise, for augmenting the primary phase of work propagation, it uses a ‘hit list’ comprising of overflowed users i.e. users consuming heavy bandwidth. By identifying users, worm spreads itself at a rapid pace when compared to traditional spreading worms (Hatahet, Bouabdallah, & Challal, 2010). Moreover, this type of attack saves a considerable amount of scanning time by only attacking a visible target. In the context of any cyber threat to an airport, the airport cannot be the primary target, as the Spanair flight JK5022 crash was successful by one of the contributions from a Malware (Markarian, Kolle, & Tarter, n.d). System Wide Information Management (SWIM) that is a program for delivering foundation that is vital for renewing the national airspace system in to an operation that is represented as ‘network-centric’ (Markarian, Kolle, & Tarter, n.d). Likewise the SWIM is sponsored by the umbrella of SESAR for Europe and in the United states, it is sponsored by NextGen. Commonly, the SWIM program is stated as ‘aviation intranet’ (Markarian, Kolle, & Tarter, n.d). Likewise, by utilizing ‘publish and subscribe mechanisms’, the intranet will demonstrate a ‘net- centric’ approach. Apart from all these advantages, there are always cyber threats that are associated with it. As mentioned earlier about the net-centric approach, that will utilize point to point connectivity, any single vulnerability will result in a complete network compromise because of distributed application and network resources. Aviation information systems must be resilient, redundant, ensure integrity of data and most importantly ‘always available’. These features are associated with safety principles that are applicable to operational functions in the aviation industry. For instance, control messages are communicated from the control tower to the pilot, who is one of the crew members on the flight. Any mistake or manipulation in communicated messages may result in a catastrophic event or disaster that may

Girl Postitive Essay Example for Free

Girl Postitive Essay The movie â€Å"Girl Positive† is about, Rachel, a teenage girl Rachel in high school that has come in contact with the disease HIV. The movie shows how people in her high school view the disease. They also stereotype it, saying only gay people can get. They are quickly proven wrong though. A recent report put up on the school website shows that the star athlete that graduated before them was doing heroin. He had just died in a car accident and they found it in his system and in his car. Everybody was completely shocked. After the report came out Rachel received a message that told her that this star athlete, Jason, had HIV. They were concerned about her well-being and asked if she also had the disease because she had lost her virginity to him at a party. Rachel became close with a new teacher at the school who conveniently worked at an AIDS clinic too. She asked to do some community service down there for extra credit. While Rachel was there she snuck a HIV test and took it. Later on, the results came back positive and the teacher was trying to help her out but Rachel didn’t want to listen. She was scared and didn’t want anyone to know. Rachel tried telling her boyfriend, but he didn’t understand. The rumors started in her school about her having it and her life felt like it was falling apart. But then Mark, Jason’s brother, came to Rachel with a video admitting that Jason was HIV positive. They decided the school needed to know. When they all found out, almost the entire senior class went to this AIDS clinic and were getting tested. Rachel and her mom stood by each other’s side and got blood test done to know for sure. The movie ended with the doctor saying she was positive; which I think was a really disappointing ending. I thought this movie was really good. It shows that people really do not know about this awful disease. They think it will kill them instantly, but really won’t if they take the right meds. I also think it’s very insightful. Although a lot of the scenes in the school were off because personally that wasn’t like my school at all. I think this is a really good movie to shows because it gives a lot of facts on HIV that I didn’t know and I’m sure many other teenagers don’t know either.

piracy :: essays research papers

What is Piracy The term "software piracy" covers different activities: illegal copying of programs, counterfeiting and distributing software - even sharing a program with a friend. It's important to understand the different software piracy channels, not just to comply with the law but also to protect against bigger economic problems like lost revenue...and lost jobs. OEMs and Resellers Just because the disk says Microsoft or the software came preloaded on your PC, doesn't guarantee it's legal. Learn how pirated software is distributed. Copying and Counterfeiting It starts with one legitimate, licensed copy of the software, then escalates from there. Internet Piracy The sale of software over Web sites and Auction sites is common and easy, making the Internet the perfect vehicle for counterfeiters. Learn how to protect yourself now. How Piracy Impacts You Pirated software hurts everyone—from the software developers, retail storeowners, and ultimately all software users. Consumers are at Risk Pirated software directly impacts consumers because: Â · It often lacks key elements and documentation, and it always carries no warranty protection or upgrade options. Â · These untested, counterfeit discs may be infected with viruses that will damage your hard drive and may cripple your entire network. Â · If they copy software at work, users put themselves and their company at risk by pirating a product protected by copyright laws. Economic Losses When you purchase counterfeit software, you're supporting disreputable companies, not tax-paying, legitimate businesses that provide jobs and salaries to good citizens. The profits from these sales of counterfeit software don't help expand the economy by providing jobs, taxes, and wages, and there is a good chance the profits are funding additional illegitimate businesses. Legitimate companies never receive any funds from the sale of counterfeit software, and frequently this loss of revenue leads to layoffs for workers in all related industries, from manufacturers to resellers. So, as you can see, purchasing counterfeit software doesn't only impact software manufacturers, it impacts everyone. Innovation is Slowed Intellectual property is the ownership of ideas as well as the control over the tangible or virtual representation of those ideas. Software is intellectual property, as are books, movies, and music.Like music performers and authors, software developers use copyright laws to protect their work and their investment in the field. The theft of intellectual property thus eliminates the resources used to develop newer and better products. Taking Action In an effort to level the playing field for honest resellers, Microsoft is taking legal actions against repeat offenders.

Have People Become Overly Dependent on Technology? Essay

Because we, as a society, are embracing technology without fully understanding the long-term ramifications of this decision. We’re constantly seeking out short-term gains and improvements without really taking into consideration the whole picture for future generations. Computers are great, don’t get me wrong. They are wonderful tools that help many simplify their life, get more information, and in the end, hopefully make better, more informed decisions. These better informed decisions hopefully lead to better lives (for people) or better revenues and increased profits (for companies). But computers are not always the right choice, even when they appear to provide a solution to an existing problem. As a tool, a computer is a useful aid. It has helped architects and engineers design and provide more reliable, interesting structures and buildings. It allows us to split atoms, and categorize human genomes. It can take guesswork out of business intelligence and product demand curves. It even allows us to exchange money in the form of bits and bytes instead of actual paper money changing hands. But as a foundation for an important enconomic pillar in our country, I suspect we’re pushing the envelope of sane thinking. There is no such thing as an unhackable computer system. There is no such thing as a 24/7/365 computer system (despite what some companies claim). And until there is, putting all of your eggs into a computerized future seems a bit short-sighted to me. Imagine a power outage. You know, the kind we had just a few years ago on our supposedly modern power grid. The kind that isn’t supposed to happen. The kind that brought an entire coast of our country grinding to a halt. That’s fine, you say, those things are freak occurrences, and happen once in awhile. Like the California blackouts of a few years ago. But as our thirst for power increases, and our infrastructure fails to keep pace with it (and it really is nowhere near to keeping pace with it — it is doubtful the U. S. has enough reserve electricity supplies without tapping into our neighbors from the north during peak usage periods). Now, instead of just going a few days without power, imagine an entire society devoid of electricity. Could it happen? For a few days, sure. But for a few weeks or even longer Who knows? The question in my mind isn’t if such a thing is possible, but simply when. Now, fifty years ago, architects and engineers could keep on working, since they used their drafting boards and graph paper to create the structures that hold us up. The NYSE could go on running using good old-fashioned paper and pencil, just like they did then. Citizens could use cash instead of charge or debit cards to pay for goods and services. The point is, fifty years ago, I think society could easily survive and overcome a lapse in electricity even for a long period of time. It was inconvenient, but the basics of daily life (and the basics of our economy! didn’t depend on electricity being reliable and abundant. All of that has changed. I suspect some new architects wouldn’t know how to design a 50-story building on paper (without aid of a CAD program), or a doctor who had to diagnose a patient without the reliance on ordering 10 or 15 lab tests. Or a politician who couldn’t rely on instant polling techniques. Or citizens who had to resort to reading their news, instead of watching in on TV. Or an important stock exchange not being able to function because generators were never meant to be used full-time, indefinitely. As a tool, I think computers are the cat’s meow. But as this something more they’ve become, this integrated component that so many people have become dependent upon, I am sometimes a little worried or concerned. We believe we live in a largely stable world, with virtually endless supplies of natural resources. And yet that belief isn’t grounded in reality — we live in a limited-resource world where, one day (perhaps in some of our’s future), some of those resources may very well run out or dwindle significantly. So it’s a simple equation: limited future natural resources means limited supplies of electricity, the stuff that powers our modern world. PS – Yes, I know, I know, let’s pin our hopes on solar or nuclear, because they’ve shown so much promise to date! Naturally, a lot can change during my lifetime, but we’ve all been waiting for a breakthrough in energy production for decades and none has come. Nuclear was the last big one with commercial realization, and that was developed more than 50 years ago! †¢Mankind has had tools since the beginning of recorded history and that is all technology. We are a creature that can solve problems by creating physical solutions and that is in part what makes us different than most animals, though not all. What is disconcerting is that we have so many dependencies on technology and large systems that we can not repair or re-create easily. †¢Yes, we are becoming too dependent on technology. Most of us can’t spell correctly. Why? Spell checking software. We have become lazy. Why? Transport facilities. Technology is not bad in itself, but we, the people of 21st century, are misusing it. We have became sedentary and as a result diseases which were unknown 200 years ago have now became commonplace. †¢No, we are not as a species too dependent upon technology as it stands today. As we have created the tools which led to technology, we have also learned why it is they will and are necessary – our memories fail us, so we need a record to correct us or to learn from or rewrite; what is upon a computer is not written in stone, it may be changed. This is a fluid way of thinking that was unknown to previous generations; a ever changing â€Å"evolution of thought†. It is above all a neutral tool to communicate with those of our own country in with others, we need this in a world with a population in ever increasing billions. †¢People will always be needed and wanted for face to face interaction, but where that is not possible; technology preserves those ties and allows us to reach out for further aide. Spelling and language are ever changing fields; it is not unknown for the people of one country to speak many languages and still be citizens born of that society – yet not have a common tongue among them. Accents, even the words and slang can and will change within less then a generation. Technology is allowing us to â€Å"keep up† with those changes, understand them, and also creating new ones; also we know of disasters soon after they happen, if not as they happen; saving lives of people just like us; who while they might not have our culture or language, are none the less human. While there are new diseases, ask yourself if they are truly â€Å"new† or something that past generations struggled to survive against and communicate to rid ourselves and others of; and failed, because they did not have the technology we are developing now to understand how a disease works and how to rid ourselves. Definitely – another reason for it is that people are using it to say bad things so that they don’t have to say it to the person’s face, like cyber-bullying for example. †¢Yes mostly, but still there are those who have very minor traces of technology dependency. Despite we can observe of the people in urban areas where technology is the â€Å"life blood† of very living entity, some corner of the country – the rural/remote areas, on the other hand, have no or very slight technology ran lives. They still live in a primitively where there are no computers, cellphones, etc. and where they work with bare hands and bare feet. Technology is now rising, making our lives lot more easy, but what about the â€Å"behind the world†? †¢Yes! The one day our school power went out we could barely do any work because our Smartboard went out with the power. I mean even right now we are on the computer looking for answers instead of figuring out ourselves. So what happens when we run out of coal and oil and all this stuff: no more technology! We will have to do without it. Some people will do perfectly well without it. Others will search until death to find another resource. Sadly the people who search until death will have just wasted their whole life on something impossible. Possibly if someone does it won’t last long. It’s only one resource. If someone plans that I hearby advise against it! Now get off the computer and do something without technology! †¢First thing – is it electrical technology you’re on about, or technology in general? We use general technology 24/7. We use products of that technology 24/7. We also use electrical tech 24/7. We have become dependant on it, yes. It has made us dumb, lazy, it has changed us a lot. But from a simple power cut, like with the thing above, that kind of thing should not happen. That is over-dependance even by modern standards, probably. We have integrated all kinds of technology into every second of lives. But it’s not bad. It’s just the way some use it that’s bad. Don’t know how to spell because of spell-checking? Too bad, mate, that’s your fault. Should learn to spell without it. I can spell without it. I can spell really well without it. Why can’t you? (Not to say YOU can’t spell†¦ but who knows? ) The main problem from it, though, is probably laziness. Why walk when you can hop in the car? Why play football, or rugby, or badminton outside when you can play Red Dead Redemption, or watch the Undead Nightmare story on Youtube? But I play outside. And get plenty of time to play PS3 and watch stuff on Youtube. And type stuff up on Wikianswers while I should be doing my maths (eek! ). Why set up that whole Geography paper from scratch when you can copy-paste from the net? I can. I get information from the net, but I do the paper myself. Why can’t you? It’s not the technology that’s bad, it’s the way it’s used. God knows how many times I’ve said that now. †¢People nowadays are fat and lazy. Boys do not know to swing an axe or harness a team of horses. Girls cannot carry two buckets of water or wash clothes without a washer. Women do not know how to spin thread or weave cloth and they can not sew a fine seam without a sewing machine. People have forgotten how to cut wheat with a sickle and corn-picking has become a lost skill. Books were a lot prettier before they started printing them. Doctors can’t tell what is wrong with you without X-rays, CT scans or lab work. If men with shovels were used to build roads instead of heavy equipment, there would be no shortage of jobs. †¢I would say, yes. I mean, people are always texting, on the computer, or watching TV to have real and personal conversations with people. Some people can’t even survive without their cell phones or their iPods/laptops, which is kind of sad if you ask me. However, technology has helped us understand life better, connect with people you haven’t talked to in years, find cures and vaccines for deadly diseases, and ultimately change the world. It’s how you use technology†¦ don’t overuse it and use it correctly. I think it is important that we have technology in our lives today or else there would be many more lives lost, and much information lost to us. As for the answer before mine†¦ not all of us are in the country with horses and hay! †¢Not all people are this dependent. Most people are fooled by thinking they need the newest and the best. Do you really think that you need a phone that can turn your lights of 100 miles away? Of course you don’t! Do you need one that lets you watch videos of people falling? NO! I would say 70% of the human race IS too dependent, but the 30% of us that isn’t is probably the smartest. I came across this Seymour Papert quote over the weekend, the best part of which is below. In context, Papert is speaking about effecting real change in the content of school mathematics, and he focuses particularly on the teaching of fractions: One theory [among educators about why we should teach fractions in school] was that manipulating fractions was actually closer to what people needed back before there were calculators. So a lot of school math was useful once upon a time, but we now have calculators and so we don’t need it. But people say that surely we don’t want to be dependent on the calculator. To which I say, Look at this thing, these eyeglasses, that make a dramatic difference to my life and the life of everybody who reads or looks at any tiny detail. Once upon a time we would have been crippled, severely handicapped. Now we’ve got these and we don’t need to go through all that suffering. So we are dependent on this little thing. Well, so what? There is nothing wrong with being dependent on a little thing that everybody can have lots of. It doesn’t even cost much. So, that is no argument. People float the â€Å"dependence on technology† counter-argument against the use of technology in the mathematics classroom pretty frequently. But as Papert notes, is it really all that bad if students became dependent on a technology that’s cheap and easy to come by? In fact, here in the US at least, aren’t most of us dependent on cheap and ubiquitous technologies — eyeglasses, running water, cars, kitchen appliances? (And some of those aren’t cheap! ) We don’t make students in culinary school learn how to cook over a campfire out of fear they’d become dependent on ovens. Why should we shy away from calculators? That threat of becoming dependent upon technology to do mathematics is only a real concern, for me at least, under one of two conditions. One is if the technology we use is expensive or otherwise hard to access for some learners. This can be a real problem. But math teachers can combat it by seeking technologies that are cheap or free and easy to access — think cheap, functional, sturdy devices like the TI-30X instead of monstrosities like the TI NSpire. (That’s an order of magnitude difference in the price there, in case you missed it. Or, as much as I loveMATLAB, it’s pricey — and if accessing it is an issue for students, think instead about open-source alternatives like Octave. The other condition is when our definition of â€Å"mathematics† becomes so restricted that it includes only those tasks that can be easily farmed out to technology. When you remove all the human elements from mathematics — m odeling, problem solving, pattern-finding, written expression, and so on — and reduce the subject to nothing more than rote mechanics, of course technology poses an existential threat to the discipline. And deservedly so! Any discipline that can be replaced by software probably ought to be. Far more of an threat to students’ long-term success is the dependency they can develop upon people, especially teachers. If a student has trouble manipulating fractions without a calculator but can read a problem thoughtfully, model a quantitative situation intelligently, and complete and validate her work independently, I eel pretty good about that student’s chances in the future. But if a student can ace all the test questions about fractions but can’t do anything with a real-world problem without external prodding and validation from a teacher or other authority (â€Å"Is this right? â€Å", â€Å"Am I on the right track? â€Å", and so on), that’s when there’s real trouble, and it’s got nothing to do with technology. Who’s talking about that kind of dependency in school mathematics these days?

All That Glitters Is Not Gold – Paper

ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD Outward appearance can be greatly misleading. Gold  is a very valuable metal. It has an attractive glittering appearance too. But it does not mean that everything which  glitters  like  gold  should be precious. There are utterly valueless things that look like  gold  and taking them on their face value is unwise. On the contrary, some of the dull looking things possess immense value. Their appearance is in no way proportionate to the great value they have. This is true of human beings also.A person may be good looking having an attractive character. But he may not possess any real ability or talent. He can even turn out to be unscrupulous too. A man must be judged on the basis of his abilities and not on his  external appearance. Many of the truly good and great men are humble. Goodness and perfection do not go with gaudiness. Like shining glass pieces which dazzle and glitter like  diamonds  the appearance of men can be greatly misl eading. Therefore estimation and analysis of people on the basis of mere appearance is an unwise approach.Never go by the appearance of anything, be it a person or a thing. Simply wanting for it just by the looks of it can lead to great disaster. Most of the time, what we see is not the reality; the outside appearance generally hides all the truth and reality. Though we might say face is the index of the heart, there are so many methods to hide the face reactions. But that can be found out on constant and vigilant observation alone. The credit worthiness of so many things is definitely questionable. When it comes to a materialistic thing, its worth can be judged only on using it.In the same way, we can find the true color of a person only by moving with them, though not closely at least getting acquainted with them. Now a days, we can see so many imitation jewelry that shine even more than gold. Any individual can be judged by his deeds and attitude. Many a times, aptitude or fearle ssness can be found out to be a fake one. Advertisements are the best way to market any product, but most of the times; they just don't show the reality. But not all of them are like that, but one has to be very careful with such type of advertisements.The actions of people in today's world are self centered and they just look at the benefits they get out of it. It is better to be careful to start a friendship with those who try to project themselves as your well wishers or friends. It is better to ascertain their motives and actions and a constant vigil need to be kept on them. One have to understand that all those metals that are shiny and yellow in color need not be gold, they might be painted yellow or just any other yellow metal. So one has been aware of the appearance and judges everything.So it is better to keep in mind â€Å"All that glitters is not gold†. Life is something really strange. In life we come across several things and persons that are entirely different f rom what they look like. Outward shows are generally misleading. Same is the case with certain†¦ ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD Appearances are often deceptive. Many things may superficially appear very attractive. When they are examined from close quarters, they prove to be disappointing. One cannot judge the quality of a thing by seeing its exterior portion only. Every shinning metal is not gold.Very often, things are not what they seem to be. We often form our opinion bout objects on the basic of superficial impression. One should always try to find out the true nature of things. We should try to find out the reality hidden behind their glittering facade. A book with a beautiful cover has no guarantee of its being interesting. A beautiful packaged product launched in the market after massive advertising campaign may attract the consumer. He may but that product once but if the product is of poor quality, he would not buy it again. A wise discerning person does not accept thin gs at face value.He gets suspicious of a person or thing which appears too good to be true. His trained eyes can see beyond the superficial appearance of an object. The quality of anything can be judge only if we come to know the reality of a thing. Gold is gold if the inner metal is also gold. Many things are made of inferior metal and to hide their defect, they are given a shine. They look beautiful and attract many a person who loves beautiful objects. An object with a glittering shin of gold cannot b gold unless the whole object itself is gold. All that glitters is not gold.All people wearing saffron clothes cannot be saints. A foolish man can never be wise by pretending to be wise. A person may pretend to be noble, hiding his defects. One cannot judge a person from his smiling face or cheerful appearance. The wearing of a gown cannot make an idiot a lawyer. One often tempted towards external beauty. Sometimes, even the wise fall prey to such temptations. The most innocent masks may hide behind them the most cunning of cheats. Simplicity can be deceptive too. One may pretend to be simple though one may not†¦ [continues]

Room F Desert Essays

Room F Desert Essays Room F Desert Paper Room F Desert Paper â€Å"Room for dessert† – Business plan assessment Introduction Many people believe that a business plan is helpful but not necessary. This is true in the sense that business plans are helpful but, in fact, they are vital if you are serious about success in both short and long term. The aim of this paper is to evaluate and critically assess the â€Å"Room for dessert† business plan. The remainder of the paper is organized as follows: Section 2 will try to analyze who is the audience for the plan, what are their needs, and how well does the business plan meet those needs. Section 3 will discuss about the strengths and the weaknesses of the business idea, while the final section will present a personal opinion on the critical issues that might require further investigation before investing in this venture and the way the information might be acquired. Who, What, How well? Many would think that business plans it’s all about formulating the concept and clarifying the details of the proposed business but, first of all, it’s about raising the money to start-up and implement the idea in the real world. When we talk about raising the funds, we implicitly talk about the investors who are looking for the best investment opportunity out of thousands of business plans sitting on their desk, making the business plan the core and probably the most decisive document of the business. It is the case of RFD as well; their business plan audience is the investors. As Sahlam (1997) recommends, in order to speak the language of the investors it is essential to assess the four interdependent factors critical to every new venture: the people, the opportunity, the context and the risk and reward. When discussing about the people behind the business, the investor values the managers who posses insight and experience and he is interested to see how familiar the team members are with the industry and its dynamics. In our case, RFD’s board of directors is represented by accomplished industry experts. Along with their summaries the short presentation of the management makes the assessment of the people clear and easy. Focusing not on the individuals, but on the team, it is noticeable that the team members complete each others, having various educational backgrounds and work experience in different fields covering all the departments of the business. The team members have good insight of the industry, even more suggesting as future potential members of the board professionals from the relevant industry to the business. It deserves full marks. In terms of opportunity, Sahlam suggests that the investor should look in the business plan at the size of the market, the possibility of rapid growth and the number of competitors for that specific business. After the industry examination, RDF business plan describes the way they will build and launch the product and it’s economically viability, checking at the same time the costs, prices and period of time for payment and collecting. Moreover, the data is realistic, presenting the promises for expansion, the drawbacks (variables) and the actions available in case of bias. RDF business plan covers very well the opportunity issue, defining the target customers with high precision (age ranges 25-35 and 35-54, with median household income of $52,100 and their preferences), providing in a clear manner the concept of their product, the operations and facilities and their marketing strategy. Furthermore, a comparison with the competitors is provided along with a description of the potential entrants. Both market and financial analysis are included and presented in both descriptive and graphical ways. It deserves full marks. According to Sahlam, The context presented in the business plan must include the macroeconomic environment, the government regulations and other factors that define the limits of what a business or its competitors can accomplish. The business plan for RDF presents the context for their business proposal. It describes in detail the food trends, the psychology of the customers due to the work environment, the needs of the customers and their new preferences. The business plan seizes opportunities available in this context defining their target customers. It deserves 5 marks. In terms of risk and reward, the RFD plan presents clearly certain negative events can cause a fall in their performance. They state in a realistic manner that the assumptions may be biased or not precisely estimated. A scenario analysis is provided as well, stating that actions will be undertaken by the company in case the first unit performs under the expectations. The management team along with the board of directors assume the responsibility to respond to the risk presented in the plan. The plan contains graphs and visual aid along with financial predictions for the return of the business making the analysis of risk and return easier. Moreover, the plan includes the exit strategy and the predictions of the company evaluation. As the risks have no solutions provided, it deserves 4 marks. Strengths and Weaknesses One of the strengths of RFD business plan is that there is desirability for the product/service, serving a need in a market place. The idea of a quality fine dining restaurant serving desserts and beverages, delivered with unpretentious elegance, as a social alternative to consumers at reasonable prices represents a good idea that fills a gap in the market. On the other hand, the demand for the product wasn’t tested, no survey or trials being delivered, leading to 4 marks A second strength of the plan is that it states clearly the target market, defining the product and its consumers. They define both their customer segments, providing a detailed description of them. Unfortunately, the industry is not a new one, being based on food and beverages. Even the product is a social alternative for consumers, it is not revolutionary. It deserves 4 marks. A third strength of the business plan is the management prowess, RFD providing a good description of the management team and their skills. They offer their resumes and their management plan in a clear way. At the same time they provide a good description of the resources they need to use and the way of acquire them, obtaining full marks. In terms of financial feasibility, the business plan presents all the figures necessary, stating the total start-up cash needed and a description of its use. Moreover it presents its financial performances in comparison with other businesses similar in the industry. The fact that the salaries and the rewards for the board of management are not mentioned might be a drawback and at the same time the shares of the companies are not stated clear among the equity. For this the mark is only 4. What does it miss? In my personal opinion, as an investor I would like to know what are the suppliers that they would like to negotiate with and if these suppliers have a good reputation or not. Moreover, it would be easier and faster to have a list of the firms that the business is willing to collaborate with. Finally, I consider that the plan presents the risks that the business might be exposed to, but it doesn’t provide any solutions for them, even if the management already knows them. I would like to know that the management is thinking ahead for the solutions and not that they will respond promptly to the risks that may occur.

20 Types and Forms of Humor

20 Types and Forms of Humor 20 Types and Forms of Humor 20 Types and Forms of Humor By Mark Nichol Humor comes in many flavors, any of which may appeal to one person but not to another, and which may be enjoyed in alternation or in combination. Here are names and descriptions of the varieties of comic expression: 1. Anecdotal: Named after the word anecdote (which stems from the Greek term meaning â€Å"unpublished†); refers to comic personal stories that may be true or partly true but embellished. 2. Blue: Also called off-color, or risque (from the French word for â€Å"to risk†); relies on impropriety or indecency for comic effect. (The name probably derives from the eighteenth-century use of the word blue to refer to morally strict standards hence the phrase â€Å"blue laws† to refer to ordinances restricting certain behavior on the Sabbath). A related type is broad humor, which refers to unrestrained, unsubtle humor often marked by coarse jokes and sexual situations. 3. Burlesque: Ridicules by imitating with caricature, or exaggerated characterization. The association with striptease is that in a bygone era, mocking skits and ecdysiastic displays were often on the same playbills in certain venues. 4. Dark/Gallows/Morbid: Grim or depressing humor dealing with misfortune and/or death and with a pessimistic outlook. 5. Deadpan/Dry: Delivered with an impassive, expressionless, matter-of-fact presentation. 6. Droll: From the Dutch word meaning â€Å"imp†; utilizes capricious or eccentric humor. 7. Epigrammatic: Humor consisting of a witty saying such as â€Å"Too many people run out of ideas long before they run out of words.† (Not all epigrams are humorous, however.) Two masters of epigrammatic humor are Benjamin Franklin (as the author of Poor Richard’s Almanackand Oscar Wilde. 8. Farcical: Comedy based on improbable coincidences and with satirical elements, punctuated at times with overwrought, frantic action. (It, like screwball comedy see below shares many elements with a comedy of errors.) Movies and plays featuring the Marx Brothers are epitomes of farce. The adjective also refers to incidents or proceedings that seem too ridiculous to be true. 9. High/highbrow: Humor pertaining to cultured, sophisticated themes. 10. Hyperbolic: Comic presentation marked by extravagant exaggeration and outsized characterization. 11. Ironic: Humor involving incongruity and discordance with norms, in which the intended meaning is opposite, or nearly opposite, to the literal meaning. (Not all irony is humorous, however.) 12. Juvenile/sophomoric: Humor involving childish themes such as pranks, name-calling, and other immature behavior. 13. Mordant: Caustic or biting humor (the word stems from a Latin word meaning â€Å"to bite†). Not to be confused with morbid humor (see above). 14. Parodic: Comic imitation often intended to ridicule an author, an artistic endeavor, or a genre. 15. Satirical: Humor that mocks human weaknesses or aspects of society. 16. Screwball: Akin to farce in that it deals with unlikely situations and responses to those situations; distinguished, like farcical humor, by exaggerated characterizations and episodes of fast-paced action. 17. Self-deprecating: Humor in which performers target themselves and their foibles or misfortunes for comic effect. Stand-up comedian Rodney Dangerfield was a practitioner of self-deprecating humor. 18. Situational: Humor arising out of quotidian situations; it is the basis of sitcoms, or situation comedies. Situational comedies employ elements of farce, screwball, slapstick, and other types of humor. 19. Slapstick: Comedy in which mock violence and simulated bodily harm are staged for comic effect; also called physical comedy. The name derives from a prop consisting of a stick with an attached piece of wood that slapped loudly against it when one comedian struck another with it, enhancing the effect. The Three Stooges were renowned for their slapstick comedy. 20. Stand-up: A form of comedy delivery in which a comic entertains an audience with jokes and humorous stories. A stand-up comedian may employ one or more of the types of humor described here. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:The Royal Order of Adjectives 50 Synonyms for â€Å"Idea†English Grammar 101: Prepositions

456 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

456 - Essay Example Roger’s extended family is mentioned several times in the story. Specifically, Roger talks about his aunt, grandma, and grandpa. The relationship between these people is close, especially the one between Roger and his aunt. When Roger runs away from home, his aunt welcomingly takes him in. a caretaking activity is seen through this. Moreover, Aunt Greta brings Roger up with the permission of his father. The relationship between Roger and his aunt is one based on solidarity. They understand one another’s way of life, thus living their lives in coherence. Aunt Greta treats Roger like a child of her own. She tries to bring him up in the best way she can. Even after running away from home and having been brought up by Aunt Greta, Roger has a close relationship with his dad. The family unit can be the simplest form possible, but it can also turn out to be the most sophisticated in the world. Different families observe different ways of life, but the common denominator is that each family is unique in its own way. The America society is held to have the most organized family unit. However, this assumption does not apply to all American families. As a matter of fact, it is outright possible to find a family unit outside America that outperforms the American context of family organization. In other words, it is relatively difficult to define organization in a generalized context. On the other hand, proving family solidarity and caretaking activities is easy and open. Roger’s nuclear and extended family relates in a manner that promotes their relational welfare. There is a sense of family responsibility across Roger, his mom, dad, aunt, grandpa, and grandma. In this respect, the uniqueness of the family setup lies in the lifestyle and activities involved in the day to day life of all the persons involved. Notably, it is hardly possible to come by family units that run the same way. Individual diversity within and without the