Designing A New Automated Customer Service System

In the modern business scape, the reality for many companies is to design practices in accordance with customer expectations, specifically with regards to the ever-increasing need for digital options. This is the case for many industries, with many pondering on how to go about addressing the issue. Bogers Media is one such company to have taken the liberty of not only addressing but also designing, with the intent to implement, a new automated customer service system based on machine learning. Of course, this is not the first of its kind but, if used correctly, it may be among the first in Bogers’ particular industry. Automated customer service systems have been integrated into various companies’ strategies yielding optimal results. Starbucks saw a measurable profit increase after implementing their Mobile Order and Pay program. It goes without saying the essentiality of observing what others have done in this field, inciting an understanding of the risks and challenges associated with such an endeavor. For this purpose, let us observe the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and their virtual representative, Cosmo. Due to the size of their catalogue, the NLM had integrated Cosmo as an addition to their already present call centre to streamline the process with those who had simpler and/or fewer questions to ask. According to representatives of the NLM, the advantages of this system include â€Å"a simpler navigation tool, an alternative for people who preferShow MoreRelatedThe Development of Operation Management Essay1211 Words   |  5 PagesOperation Management Operations management refers to the management of all activities directly involved in the creation of goods/services through the conversion of inputs into output. It consists of the following process capacity planning, forecasting, inventory management, buying and maintaining material, quality assurance, motivation of employees, scheduling, and making decision on where to allocate facilities. The four functions of management include operations, marketing and finance. FinanceRead MoreAssignment 2: Organizational Structure Essay1633 Words   |  7 Pagesthe results can be used to redesign a customer service job for efficiency. I will develop two strategies that HR professionals can in the selection for a customer service position using a Fleishman Job Analysis System. I will examine the challenges for designing this job for efficiency and suggest two ways to redesign it. Finally, I will propose three ways a HR manager can use the information from a job analysis to measure the performance of customer service representatives. One of the mostRead MoreHow Does Standardized Web Protocols Contribute The Success Of These Efforts?1158 Words   |  5 Pagesinvesting $15 million implementing an ERP system, Cisco spent the next two years investing $100 million in web-enablement initiatives. Why did they do that? How did standardized web protocols contribute to the success of these efforts? The Cisco Company began its web development in the early 1990s and that was an attempt which made them to move forward for the web enablement after the big investment on the ERP system. There were major benefits associated with the system and the big investment of almost 100$millionRead MoreEssay on Electronic Payment System1391 Words   |  6 PagesElectronic Payment System I. Introduction With the continuing rapid growth of E-commerce, transactions on the Internet have been increasing exponentially. And such transactions require some reliable and secure payment systems. In fact, one of the key factors in the success of E-commerce is the development of convenient, reliable and secure electronic payment system. To understand the issues and current activities regarding the developmentRead MoreEssay On Customer Loyalty1097 Words   |  5 PagesImproving Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction with NetSuite ERP Integration of eCommerce Activities Improving Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction with NetSuite ERP Integration of eCommerce Activities Most marketers--in both the B2B and B2C areas--invest heavily in software and features designed to improve customer satisfaction. However, many decision-makers discover that the most effective investment for cost-value returns is integrating ERP software to automate many internal and customer-facing applicationsRead MoreShould a Computer Grade Your Essays?1499 Words   |  6 PagesPerleman, Mark Shermis, and Ben Hamner, introduced over 16,000, K7-12 standardized school tests to the AES (automated essay scoring software) to compare results of hand-scored essays; the results appeared to produce a more accurate grade, however, no official statistical studies were performed to accurately maintain the claim. Essay Raters (e-Rater), developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), allowed Perelman to access, and analyze the technology. ETS uses vocabulary and content to scoreRead More American Airlines Essay641 Words   |  3 Pagesairline partner American eagle serve almost 250 cities around the world and operate more than 3600 daily flights. Its goal is to provide safe, dependable and friendly air transportation along with related services, making a great effort to transform any experience into a positive one. All of the services that this company has and the image that they are trying to keep in every day activities make each day an inevitable challenge for its employees. This company has 69 years in the industry. It is one ofRead MoreBusiness Process Essay1176 Words   |  5 Pagesparts of automating business processes, is studying the process, mapping the bottlenecks and designing a solution that maximizes the value of your people, process and data. Many companies have disparate systems that include legacy systems, siloes of data and mismatched solutions. A digital workflow can be designed that connects separate legacy systems and eliminates manual data entry for multiple systems, as well as the errors that can occur in manual processing. This is also why many companies thatRead MoreCase Study of Designing a Self-Service Disaster Recovery Plan1092 Words   |  5 PagesTITLE: Case Study of Designing a Self-Service Disaster Recovery Plan 1.0 Issues regarding disaster recovery plan (DRP) Disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a clearly defined and documented plan of action for use at the time of a crisis. Typically a plan will cover all the key personnel, resources, services and actions required to implement and manage the DR process (comission, 2014). A large US public power provider, with millions of residential and business customers, needed to rethink itsRead MoreA Plan For Physical And Digital Security Protocols1352 Words   |  6 Pagess payment processors offer compliance tools for businesses they serve. It s essential that companies implement PCI standards. Developing a plan for physical and digital security protocols is essential if companies want to avoid fines, penalties, customer lawsuits and even cancellations of their payment processing privileges due to security breaches caused by noncompliance. 8. PCI Compliance Guide The compliance required for B2B companies includes implementing training programs for employees to educate

Parallels between Emily Dickinsons 39 and the Biblical...

In one of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson, ‘39’ or [49] published in 1858, she almost parallels the life of Job in the Bible who lost all he had, but because he was faithful all of his loss was restored; I like that there are so many ways to interpret the loss and blame in this very short poem; for example, her loss could be a loss of possession or a loss of a child because â€Å"in the sod† could refer to either to an actual plot of land with its crops and the possessions that would come with it or to burying deceased children; to be a beggar could mean that she is literally poor and landless, which would mean that she had no way to provide for herself, or that she had no children and prayed for them; when she says that angels â€Å"reimbursed†¦show more content†¦In another one of my favorite poems by Emily Dickinson ‘1263’ or [1129], she subverts expectations by telling her audience to tell the truth, but to skew it, essentially tell ing them to lie; she writes on a lot of Christian themes so no one expects an advocacy of lying to be part of her poems; however I don’t think her purpose is to promote lying; it is more of a revelation that people love the lie, we don’t always really want truth when we ask someone’s opinion; often we want our own confirmed; here she tells us that telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth wouldShow MoreRelatedAmerican Literature11652 Words   |  47 Pagesfiction employs generic plots and characters fiction often tells the story of how an innocent young woman is tested by a seductive male Effect: ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · ï‚ · patriotism grows instills pride creates common agreement about issues shows differences between Americans and Europeans Historical Context: ï‚ · ï‚ · tells readers how to interpret what they are reading to encourage Revolutionary War support instructive in values American Renaissance/Romanticism period of American Literature - 18001855

Learning disabilities and special education Free Essays

The Article on Learning Disability provided by Psychology Today details the various dimensions of learning disability which thrusts on the following: its definition, symptoms, causes, and treatment. To start off, learning disability refers to the child’s difficulty of translating to their brain what their visual and auditory senses produce. The symptoms of this disorder are categorized into the following: â€Å"language disorders, developmental speech disorders, academic abilities disorders†, and the other category which includes certain coordination disorders and learning handicaps not covered by the previous terms. We will write a custom essay sample on Learning disabilities and special education or any similar topic only for you Order Now There is no single concrete explanation to why this disorder has developed but several theories accounted several factors such as errors in fetal brain development, genetic, use of alcohol and drugs, problems during pregnancy, and toxins in the child’s environment. All of these factors contribute to one’s understanding of the existence of such kind of disorder. Several steps have been taken to minimize the adverse effects of this learning disorder such as medication and therapy (MedicineNet Inc, 2002). From a psychological standpoint, I appreciate the various theoretical offerings on the causes of learning disorder of this article. However, I believe that one of the important dichotomies in psychology was underrated by this work, i.e. the genetic vs. environment consideration. Although genetic factors complemented by the cellular basis of learning were considered, the social environment of the child definitely plays a role here as well. This article should have explored on this aspect too. Psychological studies, indeed, have shown that both genes and environment are major determinants of many major human processes (Smith et al., 2003). In addition, the socialization process goes with it too. Although this article is mainly about learning disabilities, the inclusion of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, though spurious for this matter, is a beneficial one. It was able to present how learning disability becomes an inevitable consequence of the presence of ADHD. Further, it goes to show several remedial processes that one may undergo to defeat the effects of ADHD and learning disorder – such as medication, therapy, and educational options. The social impact of learning disorder was also mentioned in this article, which is a valuable aspect to look on. Children who suffer from this disorder also suffer from frustration and low self-esteem. Indeed, this is serious matter. The good thing is that several laws have been passed in relation to this problem. First, children with this disorder are guaranteed of free public education which is intended to respond to their specific needs (MedicineNet Inc, 2002). This is supported by a particular stipulation under section 200.2 of Part 2 Regulations of NYS school codes which specifies that an arrangement of special education programs and services for a preschool student with a disability shall be made. This is a very important undertaking in relation to the development of children with learning disorder (New York State Education Website, 2005). This regulation acknowledges the differences of children’s learning development and gives special focus and treatment on children with deficiency on this. How valuable is this if you would ask me? Very much as it goes to show that the state moves toward the enrichment of every member of the society and further, this move minimizes the inequality set forth by this kind of disorder. This claim can is substantiated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 which ensures equal job opportunity among people with learning disorder. This also orders employers to make reasonable accommodations to workers with this disorder (MedicineNet Inc, 2002). The importance of parental and academic factors in the detection of learning disorder, which was highlighted in the article, can also be seen on the Individual evaluation and reevaluation stipulation under 200.4 which states that developmental and educational information of the student must be gathered plus a physical examination, observation of the student in the educational placement, and a social history are all required (New York State Education Website, 2005). The need for social history underscores the importance of the child’s social environment as a determinant of LD, which is concurrent with the previous point that I have raised. Second, the importance of parental role was accounted for in this stipulation. The information gathered from the parent is required in the evaluation of students with learning disability. In conclusion, learning disability is as crucial as how we perceive it to be. It affects an individual’s normal functioning; and worse, it affects the attainment of one’s fullest potential. But on a lighter note, several measures have been formulated. Thus, the partnership of parents, teachers, and the state is an important element in assisting children with learning disorder. Further, this partnership has the capacity to help these children in attaining their precious little dreams. REFERENCES New York State Education Website (2005). Regulation of the Commissioner of EducationPart 200- Students   with Disabilities. Retrieved October 27, 2006 from Smith, E.E. et al. (2003). Atkinson Hilgard’s Introduction to Psychology 14th edition. Australia: Thomson Wadsworth. How to cite Learning disabilities and special education, Essay examples

Consumer Behavior Personal and Psychological Factors

Question: Discuss the cultural, social, personal and psychological factors that affect buying/consumer behavior of your service brand? Answer: Introduction A marketing team should then be considerate and go out of their way to learn the consumer behavior patterns in regards to their products. They must know what triggers the consumer to behave in certain ways and what they regard as important to them. This means that it is important for an organization to understand things from the perspective of the consumer. Our brand, cinema Hoyts is service brand that attracts its group of consumer hence the importance and relevance to know what affects their patterns socially, personally and psychologically (Hanna et al, 2013 p78). Through that way, the organization will be in a better position to satisfy the needs of the consumers and customize their needs and demands to what they would like changed or executed to their description and specific wants. All factors blend to influence the consumer in different ways hence affecting their patterns of buying or responding to any new product that an organization introduces to the public. Body Some of the cultural factors that affect the consumer behavior is the beliefs and attitudes that people have towards the cinema Hoyts. When people are misinformed about a particular subject, they tend to pass the ideas to the others that they interact with which forms a complete network of misinformed people who then push forward the negative aspect of a service (Gillett et al, 2015 p552). Most people lack information about Hoyts and hence give a negative reception to the service which then further affects the way they perceive the products and the rate at which they use the product. Most cultures perceive that women should not go to cinema halls as they are considered by the society as people with lose moral standards and such places are reserved for the men who should be there on their own. They claim that if the woman should visit such a place, they should be in the company of a man which is misplaced misconceptions. In order to curb the cultural behavior of the consumers and increase the rate at which both the male and female consumers can enjoy the services, the movie theatre ensures that they customize the movies they show to fit couples where both can come at the same time and enjoy (Maheswaran Shavitt, 2014). This has seen a positive increase in the number of women who come at the theatre to watch what shows. The personal factors on the other hand affect the consumer visiting at the theatres as they have to consider and weigh what is in offer for the day. For instance, one has to decide whether being at the theatres is worth their time depending on the type of movie in regards to their age and way of life. For instance, people who love having fun at night may not mind watching and attending the movies which show late in the night (Mullen Johnson, 2013 p16). Family movies may attract more people if they perceive that the movie on show the family values and adds to the wellbeing of their family. The economic power and the amount that people have on their hands also affect the buying patterns of the consumers. People with more cash on their hands will tend to attend the movies more than the people with less money for disposal (Claiborne Sirgy, 2015 p 20). Some people may also perceive watching movies at the theaters differently than watching at home which then forms the basis through which they make the decision on whether to visit the premises at Hoyts or buy a film and watch it at home. The amount of time that a person has also influences whether they get the time to relax through watching movies at their places of residence of they would rather visit the theaters to have a good time (Solomon, 2014 66). The psychological factors affect the consumer behavior in regards to Hoyts through the perception they have in regards to watching movies. People perceive things different and it may be hard to convince a consumer that the movies in the theatre will give one a good experience through the company at the movie and through the three dimension and four dimension services that they can provide at the enterprises. The message that Hoyts passes to the public may be interpreted differently by the people depending on their minds and attitudes towards movies. The beliefs and attitudes shape the mind and in the overall their personality and character that they portray towards the movies. For instance, a movie release may have the main actors dressed in ways that expose their skin and body. When the first consumer sees such an image they may perceive it as explicit and revealing too much while another second consumer may think that the movie has more to offer based on the fact that the actors po sed when they were naked (Becerra et al, 2014 p23). Such influences that make the consumers make the decision become the driving factor to the organization on what they will offer to the public depending on what they expect the consumers to perceive and make them decide on making a visit at the theatre for an experience. Conclusion An organization that masters the consumer behavior of its targeted and existing market becomes better at ensuring that they satisfy the needs of the clients despite the differences in the consumers. When an organization is aware of patterns of the consumers, then they work together to ensure that they provide what exactly the consumer needs (Juster, 2015 p56). Balancing the factors that trigger the consumer decisions in watching the movies as well as targeting the right people will help Hoyts maintain a good customer base. References Becerra, E., Henriquez, M.C. and Guzman, M.C., 2014. Perceived Security Risk on Consumer Purchase Behavior. LA-Latin American Advances in Consumer Research Volume 3, pp.23-45 Claiborne, C.B. and Sirgy, M.J., 2015. Self-image congruence as a model of consumer attitude formation and behavior: A conceptual review and guide for future research. In Proceedings of the 1990 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 1-7). Springer International Publishing, pp 19-26. Gillett, P.L., Scott, R.A. and Davis, D.L., 2015. Shopping and Leisure Activity Patterns within the Elderly Consumer Segment: The Young-Old and Old-Old. In Proceedings of the 1982 Academy of Marketing Science (AMS) Annual Conference (pp. 552-552). Springer International Publishing. Hanna, N., Wozniak, R. and Hanna, M., 2013. Consumer behavior: An applied approach. Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, pp 78-89. Juster, F.T., 2015. Anticipations and purchases: An analysis of consumer behavior. Princeton University Press, pp56-67. Mullen, B. and Johnson, C., 2013. The psychology of consumer behavior. Psychology Press,pp9-17. Maheswaran, D. and Shavitt, S., 2014. 0)Issues and New Directions in Global Consumer Psychology.". Journal of consumer psychology, 9(2), pp.59-66. Solomon, M.R., 2014. Consumer behavior: Buying, having, and being. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ:prentice Hall, pp66-69.

Becker Last Name Origin and Meaning

Becker Last Name Origin and Meaning The surname Becker, which ranks 8th among  most common German last names,  has several possible origins: From the German becker, meaning baker, or one who bakes bread.One who created wooden vessels such as cups, mugs, and pitchers, derived from Middle High German becher, meaning cup or goblet, from Greek bikos, meaning pot or pitcher.A derivative of the Old English becca meaning mattock - used to denote a maker or user of mattocks, digging tools with a flat blade set at right angles to the handle. Surname Distribution Today, the Becker surname is by far most commonly found in Germany, followed by Luxembourg, and then the United States and Canada according to the World Names Public Profiler. Within Germany, the Becker surname is most prevalent in the Saarland region, followed by Rheinland-Pfalz, Hessen and Nordrhein-Westfalen. Because most last names originate in multiple areas, the best way to learn more about your Becker last name is to research your own specific family history. If you are new to genealogy, try these steps to begin tracing your family tree. Surname Origin: German, English Alternate Surname Spellings:  BAECKER, BEKKER, BECKERDITE, BUCHER Famous People With the BECKER Last Name Howard S. Becker: American sociologistPaula Modersohn-Becker: German expressionist painterAaron Becker: American childrens book authorBoris Becker: Former German tennis star Genealogy Resources for the BECKER Last Name The Bucher, Beecher, Becker, etc. DNA ProjectThis Y-DNA testing project is open to all families with the Becker last name and variations (B260 soundex surnames), from all locations. The purpose of the project is to help members use a combination of  yDNA  testing, paper trails, and additional research to identify common Becker ancestors. BECKER Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Becker last name to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Becker query. FamilySearch - BECKER GenealogySearch and access records, queries, and lineage-linked online family trees posted for the Becker surname and its variations. FamilySearch features over 2.5 million results for the Becker last name. References: Surname Meanings Origins Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

I am not a Phantom I am a rat Julian Sands as Erik essays

I am not a Phantom I am a rat Julian Sands as Erik essays A child is born, shunned by his own mother. He is brilliant and artistic, possessing skills untouched by even the greatest masters in many areas. Perhaps he is also insane, not relating to the human race. Eventually, he will come to be known as a ghost, haunting the world of normal people as he passes in and out of sight in one of the greatest centers of musical performance in the world. Passionate, he falls in love, and in jealousy he falls even further. This plot line has the potential to be studied in depth by sociologists, psychologists, historians, and artists on so many levels, exploring the child himself and the life and events that build around him. Similar to any number of ancient myths and fairy tales, this love story about an extraordinary outsider was first introduced as "Le Fantome de l'Opera" by Gaston Leroux, a French journalist in the late 1800's who happened upon bits and pieces of historical truths and superstitious rumors that were incorporated into this groundbreaking and originally under appreciated novel. Nearly a century later, after dozens of film versions of this classic tale had already populated popular and independent movie databases, one of the greatest horror movie directors of our time decided to take a stab at re-exploring this haunting character. In 1998, Dario Argento released "Il Fantasma Del l'opera," an Italian remake of the Phantom story filmed in Hungary. Not an attempt to accurately transpose Leroux's novel into film version, nor an attempt to remake any of the previous films, Argento took many liberties with the basic plot elements known by Phantom fans. However, Argento nonetheless stayed true to the spirit and basic artistic essence of this tale. Argento opens his film with an abandoned child floating down the underground waterways of Paris in a basket, abandoned like the baby Moses. However, instead of being found by ...

2500 1day Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

2500 1day - Essay Example Some environmental management plans of the University include biodiversity management plan, carbon management plan, energy efficiency management plan and environmental sustainability policy. The University has joined the EcoCampus scheme that is aligned with ISO 14001 which is an international environmental management standard. The University building policy is based on preventing overheating of the building, ensuring utilization of natural ventilation and light, minimizing heat loss and equipping the buildings with energy efficient equipment. Generally, all the contractors must supply the university with a company environmental policy in order to show evidence on the ability to ensure the buildings meet the expected environmental building standards. The environmental sustainability plan aims at minimizing the impact of the University activities on the environment and ensuring that green IT systems are functional within all the campuses. The plan also ensures the carbon emissions are monitored and calculated according to the amount of energy utilized and all targets are achieved within the stipulated time period. The environmental sustainability is also geared at minimizing harmful chemical disposal, excessive carbon emissions, water wastage and improving the wellbeing of the stakeholders. The environmental management and sustainability system of Edinburgh Napier University includes environmental, economic, ethical and social factors (Edinburgh Napier University, 2013). The university is committed to entrenching the principles of sustainability in the planning and operations processes throughout all the activities of the organisation. The University has supported the carbon management programme. The current environmental sustainability plan promotes sustainability in all teaching and research activities in the University. The University has partnered with other stakeholders in encouraging the awareness of sustainability approaches and encourages the

The brand strategies which Toyota May Adopt to improve tarnished brand Essay - 1

The brand strategies which Toyota May Adopt to improve tarnished brand image - Essay Example In the end the individuals were asked about their opinions and views regarding Toyota’s recall process and the reasons associated with this critical situation. According to them their perceived quality of Toyota as a brand has decreased and they are unhappy to pay the same amount of money which Toyota is actually asking because they should be aware that their brand quality has been tarnished and needs improvement. Most of the security concerned individuals stated that they will altogether stop buying Toyota’s products as they are outsourcing most of their automobile manufacturing. Hence it is evident that the higher management must put more effort in building up to quality and service to reposition their tarnished image in the minds of their customers. 69 Chapter 5 70 Recommendations 70 Conclusion 75 Appendix 90 Introduction The modern age of business can be defined as age of competition. The competition within an industry is gradually increasing with the expansion of b usiness as many new players are entering into the market. There are several reasons behind this intensifying competition. Firstly, globalisation is one of the primary reasons for expansion of trade and business that lead to increase competition. Many business organisations have found greater opportunities in overseas market, and free trade policies and agreements between multiple countries facilitated their market expansion programs. The domestic markets have turned into global markets that heightened competition rivalry among existing domestic and new multinational enterprises. Since last two decades, the society has been experiencing a rapid technological improvement. The technological advancements have led to change the structure of entire trade and business. The management tasks and operational process are now backed with technology like e-commerce and e-business. A better grip of technological advancement helps a business organisation to gain an upper hand position. Finally, en hancing economic condition of consumers and increasing their disposable income have strengthened their purchasing power. This has also changed their consumer buying behaviours and they have developed their specific brand preferences (Vashisht, 2005, p.68). In the modern and competitive business world, business organisations always try to position itself in market for avoiding unnecessary competitions. In this process they aim to achieve strong competitive advantages and core competencies that enable them to gain upper hand position in the market. There are multiple ways to achieve competitive advantages; however, brand development is the most preferred way for creating high business value (John R. Schermerhorn, Jr, 2010). The American Marketing Association (AMA) describes a brand as a "name, term, sign, symbol or design, or a combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of other sellers. About. com Marketing Guide further explains that the objective of branding is not just to project yourself as being better than your

Loyalty Card Scheme Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Loyalty Card Scheme - Coursework Example When the buyer joins the loyalty scheme they may be asked to complete a form which asks for details such as their name and address; these are subsequently entered into a database. Once a buyer has an entry in the database, further records of buyer buys can be added, so that eventually it is possible to build a profile of person buyer purchasing behaviour. This record of buyer purchase report can then be used to segment the retailer's buyer base, for reason of direct advertising and tailoring other marketing interactions and special offers to buyer desires. In exchange for registration, the buyer receives points that can be used in full or part payment for products or services. There has been considerable debate about the value of loyalty cards for both the consumer and the scheme's sponsor. Criticism can be grouped into those that cast doubt on whether what might merely be viewed as a modest discount arrangement, akin to electronic green shield stamps can generate buyer loyalty, and those who comment on the difficulties associated with the analysis of the buyer purchase data that retailers can collect through loyalty schemes. This article undertakes a case study based analysis of the Tesco Clubcard loyalty scheme. This loyalty scheme extends beyond the traditional model of a loyalty scheme in which buyers exchange modest rewards for buyer data and information, to the creation of a affiliation or brand web. Buyers are invited to engage with this web at a number of different levels. After a review of some of the earlier work on loyalty schemes, this article first describes elements of the Tesco Clubcard loyalty scheme, in terms of rewards, deals, and integrating channels. Finally, the article poses a number of research questions that extend beyond the more parochial assessments of the impact on loyalty scheme membership loyal behaviours, buyer value, and business performance, to the potential of loyalty schemes in building brand perceptions and experience. LITERATURE REVIEW Affiliation marketing shifts the focus of the marketing exchange from transactions to affiliations (Foss and Stone, 2001; Peck et al., 1999; Christopher et al., 1991; Buttle, 1996). Affiliation marketing recognizes that a stable buyer base is a core business asset. The essence and nature of affiliations and their business vale is summarizing in the concept of buyer loyalty, and its associated literature. The benefits of buyer loyalty to a provider of either services or products include: - lower buyer price sensitivity; - reduced expenditure on attracting new buyers; and - improved organisational profitability. Buyers may demonstrate their loyalty in any one of a number of ways; they may choose to stay with a provider, whether this continuance is defined as a affiliation or not, or they may increase the number of purchases or the frequency of their purchases or even both. They may also become advocates of the organisation concerned by playing a powerful role in the decision-making of others (Hallowell, 1996; Birgelen et al., 1997; Reichheld et al., 2000; Bolton et al., 2000). Loyalty schemes have become widespread in recent years. Byrom et al. (2001) recommend that there is over 150 such idea in the UK, resulting in the

Non Destructive Testing In The Aerospace Industry

Non Destructive Testing In The Aerospace Industry Since several years, technology has been improved tremendously and is still in a need for advancement due to the increasing growth of demands. In todays economy structures must remain for operation for such longer period than originally anticipated. The ageing effect on these structures is becoming significant. Non-destructive testing  (NDT) is a wide group of analysis techniques used in science and industry to evaluate the properties of a material, component or system without causing damage  Because NDT does not permanently alter the article being inspected, it is a highly-valuable technique that can save both money and time in product evaluation, troubleshooting, and research. Common NDT methods include  ultrasonic,  magnetic-particle,  liquid-penetrant,  radiographic and  eddy-current testing. NDT is a commonly-used tool in  forensic engineering,  mechanical engineering,  electrical engineering,  civil engineering,  systems engineering,  aeronautical engi neering,  medicine, and  art.(3) The development of Non destructive testing examines the techniques to verify the conditions of these structures and these developments are focused on extending the cost of maintenance of the existing structures. History: It may be said that NDT has been used from ancient times. The audible ring of a Damascus sword blade would show the indication of the strength of the metal in combat. This technique was also used by the early blacksmiths. They used to listen to the ring of different metals being shaped. The same technique was also used by early bell makers. Visual testing had been used for many years for a wide range of applications. Heat sensing was used to monitor thermal changes in materials and sonic tests were performed years ago(1). NDT by far is a visual testings which is the oldest mankind testing, this was used for visual checking knifes. The first use of NDT was done by a English man S.H.Saxby . who used compass for finding cracks in gun pipes in 1868.With a long established history in non-destructive testing (NDT), producing its first UV meter in the late 1960s (as Levy West Laboratories), AST is the market leader with the Levy Hill MkVI meter. NDT is well known as a part of industrial procedures, but it is also of importance in examinations of a more general interest in everyday life. In the aerospace industry, NDT can make the difference between life and death. Aircraft components are inspected before they are assembled into the aircraft and then they are periodically inspected throughout their useful life. Aircraft parts are designed to be as light as possible while still performing their intended function. This generally means that components carry very high loads relative to their material strength and small flaws can cause a component to fail. Since aircraft are cycled (loaded and unloaded) as they fly, land, taxi, and pressurize the cabin, many components are prone to fatigue cracking after some length of time. Even parts that are loaded well below the level that causes them to deform can develop fatigue cracks after being cycled for a long time. Cracking can also occur due to other things like a lightning strike. Aircraft have some protection against lightning strikes but occasionally they occur and can results in cracks forming at the strike location. The historical development of NDT is outlined for each technique. The second oldest method was the Acoustics it has been used by ancient time when man started making the pottery vessels. Table1. Table below shows a list of some of the key events in the chronology of NDT. (1) Year Chronology of Early Key Events in NDT 1800 First thermography observations by Sir William Herschel 1831 First Observation of electromagnetic induction by Michael Faraday 1840 First infrared image produced by Herschels son, John 1868 First reference to magnetic particle testing reported by S.H. Saxby, by observing how magnetized gun barrels affect a compass 1879 Early use of eddy currents to detect differences in conductivity, magnetic permeability, and temperature initiated by E. Hughes 1880-1920 Oil and whiting technique, forerunner of present-day penetrant test used for railroad axles and boilerplates 1895 X-rays discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen 1898 Radium discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie. 1922 Industrial Radiography for metals developed by Dr. H.H. Lester. 1927-28 Electric current induction/ magnetic field detection system developed by Dr. Elmer Sperry and H.C. Drake for the inspection of railroad track. 1929 Magnetic particle tests/ equipment pioneered by A.V. deforest and F.B. Doane. 1930 Practical uses for gamma radiography using radiumwere demonstrated by Dr. Robert F. Mehl 1935-40 Penetrant techniques developed by Betz, Doane , and deForest 1935-40 Eddy current developments by H. C. Knerr, C. Farrow, Theo Zuschlag, and Dr. F. Foerster 1940-44 Ultrasonic test metod developed in United States by Dr. Floyd Firestone 1942 First Ultrasound flaw detector using pulse-echo introduced by D.O. Sproule 1946 First portable ultrasonic thickness measuring instrument, the Audigage, was introduced by Branson 1950 Acoustic emission introduced as an NDT method by J. Kaiser Mid 1950s First ultrasonic testing immersion B and C scan instruments developed by Donald C. Erdman From the late 1950s to present, NDT has seen many developments, innovation, and growth. The roots of non-destructive testing began to take form prior to the 1920s. In the 1920s there was an awareness of some of some of the magnetic particle tests, the visual test and also X-radiography. Prior to World War II, design engineers were content to rely on unusually high safety factors which were usually built or engineered into many products. In addition, there were a significant number of catastrophic failures and other accidents relating to product inadequacies that bought the concern for system and component quality to the forefront. (1) Background History of Individual Testings: Magnetic Particle Test: Saxby used a magnetic compass to locate the defects and in homogeneities in gun barrels in 1868. Herring in 1879 obtained a patent in United States for the defection of defects in railway lines using a compass needle. Deliberate studies were carried out by A.V. de Forest in 1928 and 1929 of the use of magnetic particles for non-destructive testing of ferromagnetic materials. In 1936, Unger and Hilpert described in a patent in Germany at where the inspection of aircraft engine parts, engines for fatigue cracks are developed rapidly and the magnetic particle testing was made mandatory. The real breakthrough for magnetic particle testing came, in 1960s these methods was further greatly developed by C.Betz. Radiography: Wilhelm.Conrad. Roentgen discovered X rays in 8 November 1895 when it was observed by him that fluorescent glow of crystals on a table near the cathode ray tube. Later the penetrating radiations were characterized systematically which are emitted by cathode ray tubes. These represent the very first radiographs taken in 1896. He conducted a test on his own hunting rifle. Radiograph of the rifle showed some defects in the material and was the start of industrial radiography. Penetrant Test: It is a simple and effective method of examining surface areas for defects, cracks and discontinuities. Rubbing of carbon black on glazed pottery is one of the early surface inspections. Later on in 1940 magnetic particle method was introduced which is more sensitive. Many of the earlier developments were carried out by Magnaflux, IL USA. In 1942 it introduced Zyglo system where the fluorescent dyes were added to the liquid penetrant. The methods were formerly called The oil and whiting method and were used by the huge locomotives in the beginning of the 20th century.(13) Ultrasonic testing: Richardson proposed Echo ranging detection of objects at sea in 1912. Later, Lavengin developed a source of ultrasonic waves by using the piezoelectric effect with quartz crystals between steel plates. Future on experiments was carried out by Boyle and by Wood by using quartz piezoelectric transducers. The most simple and quick method came up in 1940 by Firestone. The method avoided many of the problems which were associated with standing wave formation. Then in 1942 Firestone was the first to use his own method for the sonar. The two German brothers H and J. Krautkramer did a lot of research of method and contributed for the development of method. Since their time method has gone through several phases of development. Eddy Current Test: Jean-Bernard Leon Foucault is generally credited with the first clear demonstration of eddy currents, by showing that electrical currents are set up in a copper disk moving in a non uniform magnetic field. Hughes is considered to have been the pioneer in using Eddy currents to inspect the metals. Eddy currents are also known as Induced currents which can only exist in conducting materials.(13) The use of NDT methods took place during the Second World War started from the testings of submarines and airplanes. During these years the use of NDT is seen in the inspection of nuclear power plant components, pressure vessels and car parts. Aim: To investigate the use of various NDT methods in industry. Objectives: To Conduct research on NDT and its applications To identify key components of an aircraft, where likely hood of crack is high. To test the components with appropriate NDT methods. To perform penetrant test to identify the cracks in a gear. Initial Plan As the project initiates with the major task of carrying out the background reading and researching, great amount of time has to be required to collect information about project. A great deal of time has been spent on background reading. Project requires thorough knowledge on NDT in aerospace and its classification. A detailed background reading has been done to understand the concept of NDT. Background reading has also been done on different types of NDT testings and its classifications. A detailed study has been done on the history of NDT. Background Reading: Non Destructive Testing (NDT) Non-destructive testing is the process by which materials, components or assemblies can be inspected without affecting their ultimate serviceability. It offers some important advantages over destructive testing processes such as mechanical testing. A destructive test must necessarily be on a sample basis. This is acceptable in many cases: to check that a batch of material is within specification, for example, or as a sample check on a large number of identical components. But a sample destructive test may not be feasible for a small number of high value components and in critical cases a 100% inspection may be required. Because of this, one key role of NDT is in assuring the quality of many manufacturing processes. NDT can also be used to test components which have been subjected to service conditions. A welded structure can be inspected to detect fatigue cracking. NDT results can further be used to aid decisions on the need for and timing of repairs. Suitable techniques, correctly applied, can be used to measure the depth of a fatigue crack. This, coupled with knowledge of the system stresses, the toughness of the material and the fatigue crack growth rate, can be used to determine if a cracked component can be left in service until the next planned overhaul period. These twin roles of NDT ensure that the technology will continue to play a fundamental role in materials testing.  Aircrafts are designed to withstand a certain amount of damage from cracking and corrosion without cause for concern, and NDT inspectors are trained to find the damage before it becomes a major problem.  The rigorous process used to design aircraft either allows for a certain amount of damage to occur before a part fails, or in many cases, a part can fail completely and performance of the aircraft will not be affected. The job of the NDT inspector is to find the damage while it is within acceptable limits.(5) Role of NDT Non destructive testing can be taken place at any transportation industry. The main aim is to consider the over view of all the terms of NDT and its applications and also to consider research on the optical methods. This is considered to be one of the important terms in the project. Another term is to do research on the optical methods which are implemented on the aircraft parts. (12) Types of methods: The number of NDT methods that can be used to inspect components and make whether the measurements are large and continues to grow. Researchers continue to find new ways of applying physics and other scientific disciplines to develop better NDT methods. However, there are six NDT methods that are used most often. These methods are visual inspection, penetrant testing, magnetic particle testing, electromagnetic or eddy current testing, radiography, and ultrasonic testing. These methods and a few others are briefly described below. (12) Visual and Optical Testing (VT)   Visual inspection involves using an inspectors eyes to look for defects. The inspector may also use special tools such as magnifying glasses, mirrors, or bore scopes to gain access and more closely inspect the subject area. Visual examiners follow procedures that range from simple to very complex. The principle behind Visual testing is the use of reflected or transmitted light from test object that is imagined with the human eye or other light-sensing device. VT finds its application in many industries ranging from raw materials to finished products and in-service inspection. VT can be inexpensive and simple with minimal training required. It has broad scope of uses and benefits. However VT can only evaluate surface conditions. Also effective source of illumination is required. (1) Penetrant Testing (PT) Test objects are coated with visible or fluorescent dye solution. Excess dye is then removed from the surface, and a developer is applied. The developer acts as blotter, drawing trapped penetrant out of imperfections open to the surface. With visible dyes, vivid colour contrasts between the penetrant and developer make bleed out easy to see. With fluorescent dyes, ultraviolet light is used to make the bleed out fluoresce brightly, thus allowing imperfections to be readily seen. (6) Figure1: Figure illustrating a simple Penetrant testing (8) The principle behind PT is that a liquid containing visible or fluorescent dye is applied to the surface and the fluid enters the discontinuities by capillary action. PT finds its application in virtually any solid non-absorbent material having uncoated surfaces that are not contaminated. PT is relatively easy and materials are inexpensive. It is extremely sensitive and very versatile. Also minimal training is required. Discontinuities can only be found on the surface. The surface condition must be relatively smooth and free of contaminants. (1) Magnetic Particle Testing (MT)HYPERLINK http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/MagParticle/cc_mpi_index.htm   This NDE method is accomplished by inducing a magnetic field in a ferromagnetic material and then dusting the surface with iron particles (either dry or suspended in liquid). Surface and near-surface imperfections distort the magnetic field and concentrate iron particles near imperfections, previewing a visual indication of the flaw. (6) Figure2. Figure illustrating the basic concept of Magnetic Particle Testing (9) The principle behind MT is that the test particle is magnetized and fine ferromagnetic particles are applied to the surface, hence aligning at discontinuity. MT finds its application in all ferromagnetic materials, for surface and subsurface discontinuities. It can be used in large and small parts. MT is relatively easy to use. Equipment and material is usually inexpensive. MT is highly sensitive and fast compared to PT. However in MT only surface and a few subsurface discontinuities can be detected. The test can be only done on ferromagnetic materials. (1) Electromagnetic Testing (ET) or Eddy Current Testing Electrical currents are generated in a conductive material by an induced alternating magnetic field. The electrical currents are called eddy currents because they flow in circles at and just below the surface of the material. Interruptions in the flow of eddy currents, caused by imperfections, dimensional changes, or changes in the materials conductive and permeability properties, can be detected with the proper equipment. Figure3: Figure illustrating Eddy Current Testing (10) The principle behind ET is that localised electric fields are induced into a conductive test specimen by electromagnetic induction. ET finds its application in virtually all conductive materials. All conductive materials can be examined for flaws, metallurgical conditions, thinning and conductivity. ET is quick, versatile, and sensitive. It can be no contacting. Also it can be easily adaptable to automation. However variables must be understood and controlled. (1) Radiography (RT)HYPERLINK http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/cc_rad_index.htm   Radiography involves the use of penetrating gamma or X-radiation to examine parts and products for imperfections. An X-ray generator or radioactive isotope is used as a source of radiation. Radiation is directed through a part and onto film or other imaging media. The resulting shadowgraph shows the dimensional features of the part. Possible imperfections are indicated as density changes on the film. Figure4: Figure illustrating the basic principle of Radiographic Testing (11) The principle behind RT is that a radiographic film is exposed when radiation passes through the test object. RT finds its application in most material, shapes and structures. RT is the most widely used and accepted volumetric examination. RT can used only on limited thickness based on material density. Also there is a possible threat of radiation hazard.(1) Ultrasonic Testing (UT)HYPERLINK http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Ultrasonics/cc_ut_index.htm   It uses transmission of high-frequency sound waves into a material to detect imperfections or to locate changes in material properties. The most commonly used ultrasonic testing technique is pulse echo, wherein sound is introduced into a test object and reflections (echoes) are returned to a receiver from internal imperfections or from the parts geometrical surfaces. Figure5: Figure illustrating the basic concept of Ultrasonic Testing (11) The principle behind UT is that high frequency sound pulses from a transducer propagate through the test material, reflecting at interfaces. Most materials can be examined if sound transmission and surface finish are good and shape is not complex. UT provides precise, high-sensitivity results quickly. Thickness information, depth, and type of flaw can be obtained from one side of the component. (1) Work to date As suggested by the project plan, the entire duration of the project is distributed variably as required by different tasks commencing from the basic research and reading. According to the project plan the research was done on few NDT techniques and some of the techniques are still under research, along with types of methods and its techniques. Necessary Future Work A more detailed and precise study of non destructive testings in aero industry is to be done. Project requires identifying various testings in Aerospace industry. A detailed study should be done on techniques and testings of NDT in Aerospace industry. A precise study of industrial applications and research should be done on optical methods. Key components of an aircraft should be identified and finally components may be tested by appropriate NDT methods. The main project work to be done is perform a Dye Penetrant Testing to identify cracks on gear. Dye penetrant inspection  (DPI), also called  liquid penetrant inspection  (LPI) or  penetrant testing(PT), is a widely applied and low-cost inspection method used to locate surface-breaking defects in all non-porous materials (metals, plastics, or ceramics). The penetrant may be applied to all non-ferrous materials. The main steps in Liquid Penetrant Inspection which are intended to be performed on the gear may be: Pre-cleaning: The test surface is to be cleaned to remove any dirt, paint, oil, grease or any loose scale that could keep the penetrant out of a defect. Application of Penetrant: The penetrant is to be then applied to the surface of the item which is to be tested.   Excess Penetrant Removal: The excess penetrant is to be then removed from the surface. Application of Developer: After excess penetrant has been removed a white developer is to be applied. Inspection: The inspection is to be done using visible light with adequate intensity for visible dye penetrant. Post Cleaning: The test surface is then to be cleaned after inspection and recording of defects. Summary It is clear that NDT has advantage from other inspection techniques as it does not make any changes to the article. It is a highly-valuable technique that can save both money and time in product evaluation, troubleshooting, and research. NDT is very useful in order to detect cracks in materials of magnitude in micrometers. (2) Its aerospace application includes detection of cracks caused due to corrosion, fatigue and their synergistic interactions. Crank shafts, frames, flywheels, crane hooks, shaft, steam turbine blades and fasteners are some of the components which are more vulnerable to fatigue so regular inspection is necessary via NDT method. Typical components which are inspected using NDT method by manufacture in order to maintain quality are turbine rotor disc and blades, aircraft wheels, castings, forged components and welded assemblies. One of the NDT methods is Eddy current technique which can be used to check tube, bar and wire and also this method is automatic and highly sophisticated.(3) It can be said that NDT method has to be carried out in order for the aircraft to operate safely during service time and avoid any accidental damage due to fatigue and corrosion.(2) In this report, a detailed explanation of NDT testings and techniques are explained. The uses of NDT in different industrial applications are explained and a precise study on optical methods is done. According to the project plan, next task would be to conduct research on NDT applications. List of Tables Table1: Table showing a list of some of the key events in the chronology of NDT List of figures Figure1: Figure illustrating a simple Penetrant testing Figure2. Figure illustrating the basic concept of Magnetic Particle Testing Figure3: Figure illustrating Eddy Current Testing Figure4: Figure illustrating the basic principle of Radiographic Testing Figure5: Figure illustrating the basic concept of Ultrasonic Testing

The Road Not Taken Vs. Mother To Son Essay -- essays research papers

Paths are Like Stairs   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although they portray two very different writing styles, Robert Frost’s â€Å"The Road Not Taken† and Langston Hughes’s â€Å"Mother to Son† have a few things in common, especially their meanings.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In â€Å"The Road not Taken† Frost speaks of a time in his life where he had to make a choice, a choice of which direction his life was about to go: â€Å"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood / And sorry I could not travel both† (1-2). â€Å"Mother to Son† also speaks of life in a metaphorical way, but as a staircase rather than two paths: â€Å"Well, son, I’ll tell you / Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair† (1-2).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Later in â€Å"The Road Not Taken† Frost describes the appearance of each road, one as being less traveled on than the other by people before him who had to make the same decision: â€Å"And looked down one as far as I could / Then took the other, just as fair / Because it was grassy and wanted wear† (4,6,8). â€Å"Mother to Son† takes it another step as to describe the staircase the mother had to climb. She explains how hard it was but also how she never gave up: â€Å"It’s had tacks in it / And splinters / And boards torn up / But all the time / I’se been a-climbin’ on† (3-5,8-9).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"The Road Not Taken† ends by giving a moral to us about Frost’s life and the path he did take. Although Frost doesn’t thoroughly explain the path he took, the reader ...

Positive Behavior Interventions

Positive Behavior Interventions Managing classroom behavior is one of the tasks most challenging for beginning teachers and even some veteran teachers. A national survey revealed that 20% of first- year teachers did not feel adequately prepared to maintain order and discipline in their classroom (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011). I struggle with controlling individuals’ behavior that interrupts the other students learning. A research was designed to show how a specific management strategy helped decrease inappropriate behavior and increase appropriate behavior.The research combined with my experience in the classroom helped me come to the conclusion of how to promote positive behavior. The study was looking at the effects of teachers prompting appropriate behavior on the off task behavior of two middle school students. Prompts are used as reminders and they can be verbal, visual, gestural, and physical but they should be specific and frequent for them to be effective. The stu dy took place in an urban middle school with 1000 students across grades 5-8.The two participants in the study was Owen, an 11 year old male in the fifth grade and Tom, a 12 year old male in sixth grade. They were in general education classes and both were academically able to complete the work when not engaging in off task behaviors. Their off task behaviors included getting out of their seat, talking out, making disruptive noises, and talking to peers. Data was collected in the classes where problem behaviors were most likely to occur for each student.The dependent variable in the research was direct observation to document students’ on-and off-task behavior and the independent variable is the verbal prompt addressed to each student. The verbal prompt was given only one time at the beginning of class and was alternated every other day and it was â€Å"Be respectful, be responsible, and have pride. Do your best! † The results showed that both students engaged in less off-task behavior when they were prompted than when they were not.The teachers also commented that they saw an improvement in academic performance during classes when the student was prompted. They believed that prompting increases appropriate behavior and decreases inappropriate behavior. This study shows that prompting is a simple and effective strategy that may be implemented successfully with students who engage in off-task behavior in a general education classroom setting. I would use prompting in my classroom because prompting requires minimal training and effort to implement so it would be an ideal strategy for me to use for managing student behavior.In my classroom now I have many behavior problems in my last period class. They will talk over me and disrupt me when I was giving directions or trying to explain something to the class. One day I decided to use prompting and I did it at the beginning of class and at the end of class by saying â€Å"Today we will not be disrupti ve and we will be respectful and raise our hands if we have a comment or question† I was very surprised to see how much this improved classroom behavior as a whole.The students then were able to be on task and actual learn more when they were not disruptive. In conclusion, prompting is shown to increase appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior. Prompts can be effective even in different settings and not just in the classroom. The article stated that prompts delivered over the phone to encourage people to exercise where effective at increasing exercise behavior (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011).Prompting should be used inside and outside the classroom to improve positive behaviors. Classroom management can become much easier for first year teachers if they use the strategy of prompting combined with other strategies. Reference Faul, A. , Stepensky, K. , & Simonsen, B. (2011). The effects of prompting appropriate behavior on the off-task behavior of two middle s chool students. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 14(1), 47-55. doi: 10. 1177/1098300711410702 Positive Behavior Interventions Positive Behavior Interventions Managing classroom behavior is one of the tasks most challenging for beginning teachers and even some veteran teachers. A national survey revealed that 20% of first- year teachers did not feel adequately prepared to maintain order and discipline in their classroom (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011). I struggle with controlling individuals’ behavior that interrupts the other students learning. A research was designed to show how a specific management strategy helped decrease inappropriate behavior and increase appropriate behavior.The research combined with my experience in the classroom helped me come to the conclusion of how to promote positive behavior. The study was looking at the effects of teachers prompting appropriate behavior on the off task behavior of two middle school students. Prompts are used as reminders and they can be verbal, visual, gestural, and physical but they should be specific and frequent for them to be effective. The stu dy took place in an urban middle school with 1000 students across grades 5-8.The two participants in the study was Owen, an 11 year old male in the fifth grade and Tom, a 12 year old male in sixth grade. They were in general education classes and both were academically able to complete the work when not engaging in off task behaviors. Their off task behaviors included getting out of their seat, talking out, making disruptive noises, and talking to peers. Data was collected in the classes where problem behaviors were most likely to occur for each student.The dependent variable in the research was direct observation to document students’ on-and off-task behavior and the independent variable is the verbal prompt addressed to each student. The verbal prompt was given only one time at the beginning of class and was alternated every other day and it was â€Å"Be respectful, be responsible, and have pride. Do your best! † The results showed that both students engaged in less off-task behavior when they were prompted than when they were not.The teachers also commented that they saw an improvement in academic performance during classes when the student was prompted. They believed that prompting increases appropriate behavior and decreases inappropriate behavior. This study shows that prompting is a simple and effective strategy that may be implemented successfully with students who engage in off-task behavior in a general education classroom setting. I would use prompting in my classroom because prompting requires minimal training and effort to implement so it would be an ideal strategy for me to use for managing student behavior.In my classroom now I have many behavior problems in my last period class. They will talk over me and disrupt me when I was giving directions or trying to explain something to the class. One day I decided to use prompting and I did it at the beginning of class and at the end of class by saying â€Å"Today we will not be disrupti ve and we will be respectful and raise our hands if we have a comment or question† I was very surprised to see how much this improved classroom behavior as a whole.The students then were able to be on task and actual learn more when they were not disruptive. In conclusion, prompting is shown to increase appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior. Prompts can be effective even in different settings and not just in the classroom. The article stated that prompts delivered over the phone to encourage people to exercise where effective at increasing exercise behavior (Faul, Stepensky & Simonsen, 2011).Prompting should be used inside and outside the classroom to improve positive behaviors. Classroom management can become much easier for first year teachers if they use the strategy of prompting combined with other strategies. Reference Faul, A. , Stepensky, K. , & Simonsen, B. (2011). The effects of prompting appropriate behavior on the off-task behavior of two middle s chool students. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 14(1), 47-55. doi: 10. 1177/1098300711410702

The Evil Eye Bead

The Evil Eye Bead PAGE 2Table of ContentsAbstract..............................................................................................................1Introduction........................................................................................................1Common sense about the evil eye bead.......................................................... ..3The evil eye bead in term of axis of symetrey...................................................6The evil eye bead in term of multiculturalism...................................................9Conclusion........................................................................................................11References........................................................................................................12Appendix...........................................................................................................ABSTRACTThis paper explores the evil eye bead, used by many cultures to provide protection from the evil eye,in tems of axis of symetry, multiculturalism and common sense. The evil eye bead is an object which has been developed because of the evil eye bead. Thus, this belief has been focused on this study owing to the relationship of it with the evil eye bead. In this paper, it is suggested that there are three shadows of the evil eye bead; anxiouty abouth death, speriority complex and mistrust to the poeople.In addition, it seen that the evil eye belief is common in the world and not only evil eye bead but also different methods have been used for the same purpose. Thus, the evil eye bead has become a multicultural object. The evil eye bead can protect people from the evil eye which is supposed to cause some problems effecting people' lives in a negative way is the general common sense about the evil eye bead in the societies or cultures in which the evil eye belief and the evil eye bead are common.IntroductionThe evil eye bead is an object used by many cultures located in diffe rent regions in order to prevent the negative effects of the evil eye which is a belief that a person can harm you, your children, your house, your health and your life just by looking at you with envy and/or praising you.Talisman of Germany to evil eyeIt is suggested that the evil eye has been around since the beginning of time and the origins of it has...

The Meaning of Life Professor Ramos Blog

The Meaning of Life There I was sitting front row at my 6 a.m. Seminary class. This was a class that was held Monday through Friday every morning before school. Unlike many other students I was happy to be there that early. Not only was I there physically but mentally, emotionally and with my whole soul. I craved knowledge of this religion, but it wasnt just a religion: it was my life, it was a way of being, it was the center of my world. Aside from Seminary classes held every morning before school I attended church on Sunday for three hours, Wednesday nights was held for the youth (a program called Young Womens) I read the scriptures and prayed with my family morning and night and, again, by myself morning and night. Twice-a-year we would hear from the prophets of the church, of God, and there I was with a notepad and a pen I didnt want to miss a thing. This person was in contact with God. Wouldnt you take notes? I was baptized at 8, doing baptisms for the dead in the temple by 13, given my patriarchal blessing at 16 and preparing for an 18 month mission at 17. Around that age i naturally started to question. And from then on I was thrown into a whirlwind of confusion until recently I found some grounding. Im not sure exactly what it is that I learned about the LDS Church and I dont want to come off anti-religions im just telling my story. In my youth I loved the Young Womens program that was in my church and I dedicated myself to it. I wanted to be Christ-like, I wanted to help everyone and save them. I remember getting rewarded for doing Christ-like things like bringing others to the gospel, sharing the Book of Mormon, bearing my testimony and immersing myself in the word of God. But does anyone ever think of the pressure that puts on a 14 year old child, to be perfect, essentially like Christ? Maybe it was just me that took it to that extreme or maybe its embedded in the churchs teachings. After all the church is named Latter Day Saints. So I took that title seriously I was going to be perfect at being perfect, until I couldnt. Cult is a scary word but more importantly I dont think its accurate. I mean, maybe its a really nice cult, im not sure. All I know is when I started to question the church it was unacceptable to my father and all of my family I knew at the time. And when I started to Branch off my father got angry with me. When I started you know, being human and having sex with my boyfriend at 17, my father called me a harlot. Not a hoe, not a slut, biblical terms here. He gave me an ultimatum, stop committing the sin next to murder our get out of his house because, for him and his house he will serve the Lord. So as soon as I turned 18 I moved in with my boyfriend. At the time I thought I had failed my father on Earth and my Father in heaven. I was shameful and a failure. I felt defeated, my life was just beginning but i felt that it was already over. That shame I felt was excruciating. You see shame is a self-conscious emotion and its different from guilt. I thought at the time that I felt guilt, but theres a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is a feeling about what youve said or done that violates your standards or principles, shame is a bad feeling that you have about yourself as a person. I couldnt admit this to myself at the time but I didnt want to be a part of any thing that played off of your emotions. I didnt feel guilty, I did however feel like a murderer. What a thought for 17 year old to have and how awful for a young woman to feel those things. I mourn for her. A few months after moving in with my boyfriend i got pregnant. So there I was a child raising a child. No one taught me about contraception or protection, not in the school system and certainly not at home. Abstenence was the only birth control i knew. So maybe I wasnt a child but it was a very confusing time as it is for anyone at that age. I never felt that I could ask questions because I knew it was taboo so I dealt with it myself the best that I could as a kid transitioning to an adult. I couldnt ask questions during that confusing time and any opposing views to the church remained unanswered, rejected or ignored. As a result I suppress a lot of feelings and thoughts and consequently became numb. And so co-dependency was born. I now know that this was a direct result of the rigidity of my childhood, my religion. Co-dependency is essentially a lost self. And thats exactly what I was, lost, I had absolutely no identity. I buried myself in other peoples problems and my parents and f aith, for whatever reason, felt it necessary to support that behavior. I learned that the LDS Church hindered me which in turn made me who I am. I started dissecting this idea when I hit rock bottom recently in my life. And when i hit, it hurt, but i learned a valuable lesson that i couldnt have learned any other way except through that painful experience. I had got myself into an abusive relationship and when i got out i was angry and i started blaming my parents and the church, I hated religion and I hated everyone. When I was at the bottom it was uncomfortably quiet and I realized that I wasnt descending anymore. For a moment I saw myself, and then I came out of denial and started coming into awareness and reality. I found myself wanting to learn and understand like I did in my religion as a child. When I was out of my mind in shock my default setting that was programmed in me as a kid kicked in and I just started structuring anything that was out of order. My whole life had been controlled and structured by others. To find my own sense of control I adapted and did the same. Where would I be without that structure? I learned to be thankful for my rigid upbringing and the principles, for that strive for perfection, because it drove me to keep going. I still struggle with the hindrances of my childhood but im not angry anymore and I understand that my father was adapting. He was just surviving in his environment, living in the only way he knew and he will continue to do so, bringing others to Christ and Salvation and nothing will penetrate his belief. Surely its a loss for me, a loss of my father, but Ive gained myself. Theres a scripture I learned a long time that goes like this: Will you use this as a stumbling stone or a building block? I choose building block.

Opening Case Study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Opening Case Study - Essay Example Various players should understand their roles as protectors of the students and other actors such as employees from any form of abuse. The people who first became aware of the situation and the allegations should have ensured that proper investigations were conducted to ensure that the allegations were true or not and respond appropriately. The sanctions against the Penn State in my opinion were not sufficient. More measures that are drastic should have been taken including a complete change of management to ensure that responsible leaders are in place. The first student clearly illustrates the culture of unethical behaviour and explains the various players that were involved in the scandal. The student further shows the sections that were taken and what should have been to avoid worsening of the situations. He concludes that reporting was delayed to salvage university name and its superiors involved The second student has also conducted an analysis of the situation that is adequate with the failures of leadership and culture illustrated in the analysis. He foresee the profound effect of the act to the children and he is categorical that Pen State had the mandate to fix all loopholes. The mistakes done should be used to teach a lesson to all. He demonstrate how the university has failed by mismanaging a department, which was so valued in the society to one where transgressions and unethical behaviour have been reinforced over time. He fails to understand why the system was unable to investigate the first allegation and wonders if Sandusky was above the

Case study 4-2 Virtually There Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

4-2 Virtually There - Case Study Example Therefore the patients are able to draw on the knowledge of a lot of doctors. These doctors positioned in other locations can be acquainted with modern treatments or can have a new look on the treatment alternatives. The scenario outlines a real-time corporate shared data network. In this scenario, some of the other communication technology based facilities can comprise electronic repositories, electronic collaboration systems and video teleconferencing. In this answer I will present the possible ideas and suggestions which can be adopted by Dr. Esserman in order to successfully manage this virtual team. In order to successfully manage such team we need to take care of some the issues and areas, which are: (Turban, Leidner, McLean, & Wetherbe, 2005; Laudon & Laudon, 1999) Privacy/security: How will the privacy of patient’s data and information records are maintained? In a world which is more and more concerned with privacy, the privacy of patient records have to be addressed. Liability: Recognizing the extensive issues for medical malpractice, who will take the responsibility for problem cases? The students can react to physician who provides help as the preliminary point of contact; however it cannot be probable to consequently carefully restrict liability. Compensation: How will the project team associates be rewarded for their participation? For the team to effort over a long term, a number of systems will require to be planed to recompense the physicians for their time. As the quality of their contribution will carry on being significant for these virtual teams, there requires being a number of drivers for the physicians’ participation. Communication: How will the important data and information are communicated to the patient? Who will be accountable for up-holding the communication technology? Students can be worried about how the responsive information has to be

Portfolio management Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Portfolio management - Term Paper Example Generally, it is believed that the beginning of portfolio construction started in 1952 after the Portfolio Selection hypothesis of Harry Markowitz was published. This is the theory that introduced Modern Portfolio Theory to the world and offered a framework intended to maximize returns at a certain volatility level, described as the standard deviation of returns. Currently, an amalgamation of various theories forms the foundation for the process of investment consulting. It is this process of investment consulting that formalizes investing and develops a blue print for constructing one’s portfolio. Thus, the investor’s Financial Advisor must develop a blueprint for the investor on the basis of his/her needs and objectives, investment parameters as well as long-term asset allocation approach (McMillan & Pinto, 2011). After the strategic asset allocation has been developed, then, portfolio construction can start. As an aspect of the process of portfolio construction, investment options should be assessed not in seclusion but as complements to one another and as important elements of a bigger whole. When constructed suitably, the entire portfolio must minimize single-manager risk while at the same time looking to make the most of portfolio-wide returns, which is facilitated by combining managers that display low historical correlation in addition to exhibiting different behaviors in various market environments. There are four vital steps in portfolio construction which include determination of objectives and goals, asset allocation, searching and selection of a manager and performance monitoring. The first step is determination of investment parameters and involves cash flow requirements, risk tolerance of the investor, performance objectives, investment restrictions and time horizon. The second s tep is definition of investment strategy and consists of formulation of policy statement, risk optimization/reward

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary Essay Example for Free

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary Essay The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is often considered Twains greatest masterpiece. Combining his raw humor and startlingly mature material, Twain developed a novel that directly attacked many of the traditions the South held dear at the time of its publication. Huckleberry Finn is the main character, and through his eyes, the reader sees and judges the South, its faults, and its redeeming qualities. Hucks companion Jim, a runaway slave, provides friendship and protection while the two journey along the Mississippi on their raft. The novel opens with Huck telling his story. Briefly, he describes what he has experienced since, The Adventures ofTom Sawyer, which preceded this novel. After Huck and Tom discovered twelve thousand dollars in treasure, Judge Thatcher invested the money for them. Huck was adopted by the Widow Douglasand Miss Watson, both of whom took pains to raise him properly. Dissatisfied with his new life, and wishing for the simplicity he used to know, Huck runs away. Tom Sawyer searches him out and convinces him to return home by promising to start a band of robbers. All the local young boys join Toms band, using a hidden cave for their hideout and meeting place. However, many soon grow bored with their make-believe battles, and the band falls apart. Soon thereafter, Huck discovers footprints in the snow and recognizes them as his violent, abusive Paps. Huck realizes Pap, who Huck hasnt seen in a very long time, has returned to claim the money Huck found, and he quickly runs to Judge Thatcher to sell his share of the money for a consideration of a dollar. Pap catches Huck after leaving Judge Thatcher, forces him to hand over the dollar, and threatens to beat Huck if he ever goes to school again. Upon Paps return, Judge Thatcher and the Widow try to gain court custody of Huck, but a new judge in town refuses to separate Huck from his father. Pap steals Huck away from the Widows house and takes him to a log cabin. At first Huck enjoys the cabin life, but after receiving frequent beatings, he decides to escape. When Pap goes into town, Huck seizes the opportunity. He saws his way out of the log cabin, kills a pig, spreads the blood as if it were his own, takes a canoe, and floats downstream to Jacksons Island. Once there, he sets up camp and hides out. A few days after arriving on the island, Huck stumbles upon a still smoldering campfire. Although slightly frightened, Huck decides to seek out his fellow inhabitant. The next day, he discovers Miss Watsons slave, Jim, is living on the island. After overhearing the Widows plan to sell him to a slave trader, Jim ran away. Jim, along with the rest of the townspeople, thought Huck was dead and is frightened upon seeing him. Soon, the two share their escape stories and are happy to have a companion. While Huck and Jim live on the island, the river rises significantly. At one point, an entire house floats past them as they stand near the shore. Huck and Jim climb aboard to see what they can salvage and find a dead man lying in the corner of the house. Jim goes over to inspect the body and realizes it is Pap, Hucks father. Jim keeps this information a secret. Soon afterwards, Huck returns to the town disguised as a girl in order to gather some news. While talking with a woman, he learns that both Jim and Pap are suspects in his murder. The woman then tells Huck that she believes Jim is hiding out on Jacksons Island. Upon hearing her suspicions, Huck immediately returns to Jim and together they flee the island to avoid discovery. Using a large raft, they float downstream during the nights and hide along the shore during the days. In the middle of a strong thunderstorm, they see a steamboat that has crashed, and Huck convinces Jim to land on the boat. Together, they climb aboard and discover there are three thieves on the wreck, two of whom are debating whether to kill the third. Huck overhears this conversation, and he and Jim try to escape, only to find that their raft has come undone from its makeshift mooring. They manage to find the robbers skiff and immediately take off. Within a short time, they see the wrecked steamship floating downstream, far enough below the water-line to have drowned everyone on board. Subsequently, they reclaim their original raft, and continue down the river with both the raft and the canoe. As Jim and Huck continue floating downstream, they become close friends. Their goal is to reach Cairo, where they can take a steamship up the Ohio River and into the free states. However, during a dense fog, with Huck in the canoe and Jim in the raft, they are separated. When they find each other in the morning, it soon becomes clear that in the midst of the fog, they passed Cairo. A few nights later, a steamboat runs over the raft, and forces Huck and Jim to jump overboard. Again, they are separated as they swim for their lives. Huck finds the shore and is immediately surrounded by dogs. After managing to escape, he is invited to live with a family called the Grangerfords. At the Grangerford home, Huck is treated well and discovers that Jim is hiding in a nearby swamp. Everything is peaceful until an old family feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons is rekindled. Within one day all the men in the Grangerford family are killed, including Hucks new best friend, Buck. Amid the chaos, Huck runs back to Jim, and together they start downriver again. Further downstream, Huck rescues two humbugs known as the Duke and the King. Immediately, the two men take control of the raft and start to travel downstream, making money by cheating people in the various towns along the river. The Duke and the King develop a scam they call the Royal Nonesuch, which earns them over four hundred dollars. The scam involves getting all the men in the town to come to a show with promises of great entertainment. In the show, the King parades around naked for a few minutes. The men are too ashamed to admit to wasting their money, and tell everyone else that the show was phenomenal, thus making the following nights performance a success. On the third night, everyone returns plotting revenge, but the Duke and King manage to escape with all their ill gotten gains. Further downriver, the two con men learn about a large inheritance meant for three recently orphaned girls. To steal the money, the men pretend to be the girls British uncles. The girls are so happy to see their uncles that they do not realize they are being swindled. Meanwhile, the girls treat Huck so nicely that he vows to protect them from the con mens scheme. Huck sneaks into the Kings room and steals the large bag of gold from the inheritance. He hides the gold in Peter Wilkss (the girls father) coffin. Meanwhile, the humbugs spend their time liquidating the Wilks family property. At one point, Huck finds Mary Jane Wilks, the eldest of the girls, and sees that she is crying. He confesses the entire story to her. She is infuriated, but agrees to leave the house for a few days so Huck can escape. Right after Mary Jane leaves, the real Wilks uncles arrive in town. However, because they lost their baggage on their voyage, they are unable to prove their identities. Thus, the town lawyer gathers all four men to determine who is lying. The King and the Duke fake their roles so well that there is no way to determine the truth. Finally, one of the real uncles says his brother Peter had a tattoo on his chest and challenges the King to identify it. In order to determine the truth, the townspeople decide to exhume the body. Upon digging up the grave, the townspeople discover the missing money Huck hid in the coffin. In the ensuing chaos, Huck runs straight back to the raft and he and Jim push off into the river. The Duke and King also escape and catch up to rejoin the raft. Farther down the river, the King and Duke sell Jim into slavery, claiming he is a runaway slave from New Orleans. Huck decides to rescue Jim, and daringly walks up to the house where Jim is being kept. Luckily, the house is owned by none other than Tom Sawyers Aunt Sally. Huck immediately pretends to be Tom. When the real Tom arrives, he pretends to be his younger brother, Sid Sawyer. Together, he and Huck contrive a plan to help Jim escape from his prison, an outdoor shed. Tom, always the troublemaker, also makes Jims life difficult by putting snakes and spiders into his room. After a great deal of planning, the boys convince the town that a group of thieves is planning to steal Jim. That night, they collect Jim and start to run away. The local farmers follow them, shooting as they run after them. Huck, Jim, and Tom manage to escape, but Tom is shot in the leg. Huck returns to town to fetch a doctor, whom he sends to Tom and Jims hiding place. The doctor returns with Tom on a stretcher and Jim in chains. Jim is treated badly until the doctor describes how Jim helped him take care of the boy. When Tom awakens, he demands that they let Jim go free. At this point, Aunt Polly appears, having traveled all the way down the river. She realized something was very wrong after her sister wrote to her that both Tom and Sid had arrived. Aunt Polly tells them that Jim is indeed a free man, because the Widow had passed away and freed him in her will. Huck and Tom give Jim forty dollars for being such a good prisoner and letting them free him, while in fact he had been free for quite some time. After this revelation, Jim tells Huck to stop worrying about his Pap and reveals that the dead man in the floating house was in fact Hucks father. Aunt Sally offers to adopt Huck, but he refuses on the grounds that he had tried that sort of lifestyle once before, and it didnt suit him. Huck concludes the novel stating he would never have undertaken the task of writing out his story in a book, had he known it would take so long to complete.

The Young Persons Development Children And Young People Essay

The Young Persons Development Children And Young People Essay Parents that are going through a marriage breakdown, divorce and separation can be stressful for all involved particularly the children/young person. They can become emotionally withdrawn and suffer a lack of confidence which can create low self esteem. Due to family upheaval, they may lose focus in their own abilities and suffer mentally. Similarly, children from single parent families may suffer from a lack of a male/female role model which can cause social stigma. Dual parents and lone parents may have to work long hours, leaving little room for direct social, emotional and intellectual support. Becoming part of a new step-family through a parent meeting a new partner can cause friction between children from each side. This could lead the child/young person to become socially and emotionally withdrawn which could increase the risk of bullying by peers. Having numerous siblings can have an impact on children causing additional needs to be met. Children may feel frustrated with lack of attention within the home and also may be required to assist with siblings needs which could cause social and emotional problems. Additionally, becoming a brother/sister to a new sibling for the first time can be stressful and having to adapt to not being an only child can be difficult at first and can create an emotional strain on the child. Being part of a social care system through neglect, physical/emotional abuse and loss of parent can prove difficult for children and although this can largely be a positive experience for many, it can also lead to problems within all areas of development particularly in relation to social and emotional areas. Having a sick parent/carer can be extremely challenging for children, their social and emotional wellbeing can be affected with having to endure possible social stigma and suffer emotionally if not supported in the correct manner. Time off from school may cause intellectual issues and additional help may be required. Family bereavement can be extremely traumatic for children even when a child/young person has been prepared. This can create emotional strain and unexpected outbursts of emotion should be expected. Socially, children may feel different from their peers who havenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢t experienced bereavement. They may suffer intellectually due to missing school days and also concentration and behaviour may be affected when they are in school. Moving house and/or area can be difficult for children as they have to adjust to a whole new social situation with changing schools and adapting to new routines. Children may become socially introverted and display high levels of emotion. Cultural differences can affect a child/young person through English being spoken as a second language which can cause a lack of confidence at school and additional intellectual support being required. Health There can be many health aspects that affect a child/young personà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s development. Children become extremely resilient and are often able to manage their conditions very well; however, certain aspects of their development can prove challenging throughout periods of ill health. Children may suffer from conditions such as asthma, which if not well controlled, can cause children to have extended periods of time off from school. This in turn leads to intellectual development being compromised as well as social development due to relationships not being maintained. Disability in children, whether it be physical or intellectual can be particularly difficult. A child that has a hearing impairment may suffer physically through loss of balance or socially through having to communicate in alternative ways such as sign language/makaton. A physical disability such as Cerebral Palsy can be physically challenging due to being restricted in taking part in certain activities. This can affect social situations due to these restrictions and can affect a child/young person emotionally questioning why they are different causing low self-esteem. Being diagnosed with a serious illness such as cancer as a child/young person can also prove to lead to developmental issues. All areas of development can be compromised, intellectually, through missing school and being too ill to complete set work. They may suffer physically depending on the specific illness causing them to be weak and/or in too much pain and discomfort to complete physical activities. Socially they may be too ill to interact with others and/or maintain friendships. They may also become emotionally withdrawn and find it difficult to cope with their emotions. Allergies affect many children, particularly food allergies; this in turn can lead to social problems as they may become excluded from certain situations where their allergies are not known. In contrast they may feel a certain social stigma as their allergies are highlighted, for example; when eating lunch at school, they may be required to wear a special badge which shows their allergies, causing them to feel different from their peers. They have to be more physically aware of their condition and how this can cause changes in their body and manage this accordingly. Environment Environmental factors can play a huge part in affecting a child/young personà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s development. These can vary from cultural factors to living conditions. Children/young people from less advantaged backgrounds who live in poverty can have their development seriously compromised. They are less likely to have educational support from parents/carers which in turn creates intellectual problems for the child/young person. This is further influenced by having a lack of learning resources available such as access to computers and books. They may become disillusioned with education from an early age which sets them on a path of social and emotional turmoil. Also, they may suffer socially by not being able to participate in certain paid activities offered through school and outside school which means they interact less in physical activities. They may also feel that they cannot compete with their peers with regards to fashion trends and owning the latest technology. They might not seem to be as physically strong as their peers; parents/carers might experience difficulty in providing healthy, regular meals which can cause problems with their phy sical well-being. Their emotions can seem quite immature at times and they may well become emotionally withdrawn but also prone to emotional outbursts associated with behavioural difficulties, displaying a lack of attention.

cyborg performance :: essays research papers

Explore the relationship between the body and technology in the work of Orlan and Stelarc A performer is essentially composed of two entities: the self and the representation of the self. The human body is the physical manifestation of this represented self and is interpreted by the observer depending on its gender, age, colour, attractiveness, adornment and perceived disabilities (these perceptions often being culture-bound as well). In addition to this, the performer uses make-up and costume, and interactions with the performance space to affect the interpretation. For the focus of a performance space, what better place to start with than this powerful physical signifier? In performance, there is a tendency to perceive the actor and the body as a very separate entity to the concrete, technological elements of the stage. Orlan and Stelarc, contemporary performance artists, challenge this perception - Mcclellan (1994, para.14) describes them as â€Å"the post-human Adam and Eve†, suggesting that they are heralding in a new ‘breed’ of performer, inextricably related to, and even created by, technology. This certainly reflects the role of the body and technology in current Western society - medical technology can create life in vitro and, defying nature, can alter its intrinsic genetic makeup, and internet technologies can allow a person to project a fabricated disembodied persona onto the ‘net’ to interact with others over vast distances. Orlan and Stelarc embrace technological integration as a prerequisite to their work – the questions lie in what it means to the self if the way in which it is represented (the bod y) is altered. In combining aspects of endurance and durational performance art, Orlan presented the alteration of her own body in the surgical theatre. ‘The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan’ is her most well-known piece of work, begun in 1990. However, she did begin performing in the 1960s when, even then, she demonstrated a subversive attitude towards the body. In 1964 she used her own body as †a unit of measurement (‘Orlan-corps’)† to measure public buildings (Flande [ed.], ‘Biography’, www.orlan.net). This project continued into the late 1970s. The reduction of her body to a tool of measurement was the less extreme forerunner to the reduction of it as a canvas in ‘The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan’. In both pieces, she objectifies her body, however in ‘The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan’, the implications on herself and her audiences are far more controversial. A surgical textbook defines ideal beauty as â€Å"[that] of a white woman whose face is perfectly symmetrical in line and profile† (Balsamo cited in Auslander, 1997, p.