Tribulations of a Naturalist Essays - Knowledge, Epistemology

Tribulations of a Naturalist No matter; was not my splendid income supposed to cover everything, food for the mind as well as food for the body? Jean Henri Fabre writes this line in his Tribulations of a Naturalist, discussing the matter of knowledge being necessary for human life. Man has an innate desire to understand his surroundings and is the only creature who feels the need to obtain knowledge. Throughout time, humankind has constantly strived to expand its knowledge, always reading and writing on what we know and do not know. From caveman to scientist, humans have gained a world of knowledge through their thirst for information and are still far from knowing everything. People spend entire lifetimes trying to understand the inner workings of nature and are constantly discovering new information on it. Knowledge is limitless, and mankind will always try to understand everything, even though it is impossible. As humans, we will never be content with what is already known; we are forever filled with curiosity. No other animal feels the need to study the world around them; every creature is at peace with following the orde r set out for them and cannot be found questioning the meaning of their surroundings. We are always looking for new ways to do things, and for the meaning behind nature. All the knowledge we seek after is infinite, and can never be fully known, no matter how many lifetimes are spent trying to obtain it. Mankind will always be questioning what is known, and trying to answer what is not.

Free Essays on Freemarkets Case Analysis

Individual Case Analysis FREEMARKETS, Inc. Electronic Commerce Contents I. Introduction II. Description of the Company III. Description of the Industry IV. Description of FreeMarkets Auctions V. Analysis of Porter’s Five Forces VI. STEEP and SWOT Analysis VII. Business Model VIII. Target Markets IX. Company Core Competencies X. Company and Industry Financial Information XI. Key Company Challenges XII. Problem Statement XIII. Strategies and Recommended Actions XIV. Summary XV. References INTRODUCTION Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has traditionally been separated into two main categories: Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C). B2B e-commerce is broadly defined as sales of goods and services between firms, transacted over the Internet. B2B e-commerce is by far the largest segment of the Internet economy, accounting for 92% of all electronic commerce worldwide and $450 billion of economic activity in the U.S. last year. B2B E-commerce is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 61% and by 2004 will account for 25% of national GDP. The success of e-commerce generally – and B2B e-commerce in particular – stems from its ability to make markets more efficient in an economic sense. B2B has been successful in creating more efficient markets by reducing market risks caused by informational asymmetries and by adding more liquidity to markets. Added liquidity is a result of an electronic market’s ability to aggregate buyers and sellers at a very low cost, especially when they are spread out across a large geographic area. A more liquid market tends to drive prices closer to cost, which in turn forces sellers and producers to become more efficient. For example, a firm’s procurement department can use B2B exchanges to instantaneously receive and compare price quotes from hundreds or even thousands of potential suppliers. ... Free Essays on Freemarkets Case Analysis Free Essays on Freemarkets Case Analysis Individual Case Analysis FREEMARKETS, Inc. Electronic Commerce Contents I. Introduction II. Description of the Company III. Description of the Industry IV. Description of FreeMarkets Auctions V. Analysis of Porter’s Five Forces VI. STEEP and SWOT Analysis VII. Business Model VIII. Target Markets IX. Company Core Competencies X. Company and Industry Financial Information XI. Key Company Challenges XII. Problem Statement XIII. Strategies and Recommended Actions XIV. Summary XV. References INTRODUCTION Electronic commerce (e-commerce) has traditionally been separated into two main categories: Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Consumer (B2C). B2B e-commerce is broadly defined as sales of goods and services between firms, transacted over the Internet. B2B e-commerce is by far the largest segment of the Internet economy, accounting for 92% of all electronic commerce worldwide and $450 billion of economic activity in the U.S. last year. B2B E-commerce is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 61% and by 2004 will account for 25% of national GDP. The success of e-commerce generally – and B2B e-commerce in particular – stems from its ability to make markets more efficient in an economic sense. B2B has been successful in creating more efficient markets by reducing market risks caused by informational asymmetries and by adding more liquidity to markets. Added liquidity is a result of an electronic market’s ability to aggregate buyers and sellers at a very low cost, especially when they are spread out across a large geographic area. A more liquid market tends to drive prices closer to cost, which in turn forces sellers and producers to become more efficient. For example, a firm’s procurement department can use B2B exchanges to instantaneously receive and compare price quotes from hundreds or even thousands of potential suppliers. ...

Representations of Islam in the media Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Representations of Islam in the media - Article Example The issue of Islamophobia has been the subject of media reporting, especially since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the USA, which shifted the war on terrorism and terrorist activities from just mere focus on terrorists and their ideologies, to delve further into the issue of Islam as a religion, and how its doctrines are in line with the holy war, normally referred to as the Jihad. The articles are meant for the benefit of both the Christians and the Muslims, acting as a basis through which the two religions should engage in constructive dialogue, towards reverting to their earlier cordial relationship. According to (Ridgeon & Schmidt-Leukel, 2006), in both Christian and Islam religions, â€Å"there were and are times of peaceful existence† p137, meaning the same can coexist today peacefully. Thus, the articles are in the best interest of both the Islam and Christian religions, and the texts serve to present a view that the world can be peaceful. These texts are po sitioned to enable the readers to respond to the present media reporting regarding Islam, through presenting the knowledge that despite the differences occurring in both religions, they can still coexist (Pratt, 2005). However, the texts points to the existence of gap, in the understanding of the Islam doctrine, especially regarding Jihad, and the relationship of Muslim teachings with the radicalization of the youth. Since the September 11 occurrence, the reporting on the subject of Islam has changed both in quality and quantity, with every stream of the media highlighting or even carrying huge perks of news regarding Islam (Swindler, Duran & Firestone, 2007). The frequency and the bulk of news reporting regarding Islam since the 9/11 attack has served to create the fear or hatred of Islam as a religion on the one hand, while there has been more attempts to create a positive image regarding Islam religion on the other hand. Nevertheless, the negative reporting and stereotyping of Is lam as a religion has definitely outdone the positive painting of this religion (Ridgeon & Schmidt-Leukel, 2006). The language use reinforces stereotyping, which elicits a reaction of anger and fury from the Muslims, who may in turn be motivated to react in the way that the media has stereotyped them. This has created an opportunity for diverse interpretations of the news and media reports regarding Islam. For example, the cartoon by Nicholas from the â€Å"Australian Newspaper† shows an individual reacting to the stereotyping mooted against him, through blowing up the individuals who seem to have stereotyped them (Nicholas cartoon, n.d.). Therefore, the terrorism activities might also be sparked off by the media stereotyping against the Muslims. However, while the media has been involved in extensive reporting regarding the issue of Islam and its perceived relationship to terrorism, there has been a wide support for dialogue by the Muslim world, to create an understanding of what Muslim religion is all about. According to the (World Council of Churches, 2013), a dialogue between Muslims and Christians is essential, not for the purposes of establishing religious supremacy, but as a â€Å"process of mutual empowerment of both Christians and Muslims† p6. This notwithstanding, there is a perceived roadblock that has been placed

Being a leader Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Being a leader - Essay Example What matters, are the characters and attitudes toward any adjustments to be able to survive the tests of undesirable circumstances. Deciding how to respond to unrealistic expectations, and the problem people who so often plague the administrator's credibility and integrity has to have founded principles in doing so. According to James A. Davey and Warren Bird on "Handling Expectations", the following are suggested: 1. know yourself - Stripping away the accretions of the years - those layers of expectations others have laid upon us and we have willingly assumed. We should never underestimate the power of others to make us dishonest with ourselves. Change, which is dominant nowadays, is a part of the different strategies implemented to attain the peak of success of any kind of endeavor. However, it doesn't materialize completely until all the concerned people within its scope are prepared and ready most especially for its unexpected consequences. Though change without conflict is rarely possible, there is still much to do to limit conflict and overcome resistance to change. The potential influence of such technology on all aspects of communication is tremendous. As it is apparent in the advances of computer networks, communication satellites, data handling devices, electronic information exchange adapted to convey voice, vision, and graphics as distinct and separate types of communication. Communication, which is the building block of any relationship, plays a major role in the success of any organization aspiring to compete in this competing generation. It serves as a bridge to transport vast excellent inputs and highly competent outputs that marks an organization in gaining respect and prestige. Thus, the problem regarding communication tops the priority list to be addressed. Every individual communicates differently depending on a combination of personal and environmental factors. As such, a Court Administrator needs to learn to communicate at the level of the recipient, since communication is complete only when both parties understand what is being said, and as Peter Drucker puts it, "Enable performers to perform their way - not your way." Since communication plays such central roles in any organization, the key issue is not whether administrators engage in communication or not, but whether administrators communicate effectively or poorly. Communication is unavoidable to an organization's functioning. In other words, people must exchange information. However, to develop shared meaning requires positive efforts by administrator and other participants. Outputs should be made clear, understood, and agreed upon by all as goals and objectives should also be well-communicated and meet certain expectations. Highlighting priorities is equally important, and in the interest of clarity, a job description

Lawyers Working With Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Lawyers Working With Business - Essay Example to consideration include the identity of the business, which should have distinguishable factors in the market place such as trademarks and service marks. It is also essential to protect the identity of the business by registering the trademarks and service marks. Experience is also a decisive factor as it shows the viability of the business concept as well as provides credibility among the franchises. Profitability is also essential as the main goal in business is to make money profitable businesses are, therefore, attractive. Furthermore, the franchisee requires to submit royalties to the parent company based on the revenue. It is essential to, therefore, to ensure that the franchisee is capable of running a sound business in order for the parent company to benefit. Business plans as well as marketing plans are essential components in this process as they ensure that the prospective franchise businesses have an operational framework.2 Other factors that are essential in setting up franchise include the training necessary for the franchises. Significant amount of training in necessary in these instances so that the franchises operate on the same standard as the parent company and training plays a crucial role in this respect. The concept of franchising faces some drawbacks that must be put into consideration by any business contemplating the concept of franchising. These drawbacks include the reduced amount of control over the franchise in terms of products and services which may subsequently lead to a variety of quality across stores. The potential of earning revenue also reduces as the parent company entitlement is only a portion of the revenue from the franchisee. It is, however, noteworthy that there is a higher potential for growth and success of franchising... This paper stresses that leasing eases the budgeting process of the company as the lease payments fixed initially and forecasting the cash and budgeting requirement becomes easier. The lease cost can be incorporated into the business budgets more easily due to the regular occurrence and allows a better control into the business cash flow. Seasonal or skip payments can be arranged in this scenario to reduce the time and financial constraints. Leases also facilitate tax benefits as it establishes flexibility in gaining tax benefits from various situations, therefore, facilitating a reduced cost in the equipment. Leases usually considered as operating costs and often deducted from the taxable profits of the business. When properly structured, a lease agreement allows for tax benefits passed on to the Lessee due to competitive rates and lower fees. This report makes a conclusion that that leasing provides an out of the balance sheet financing where the business obligations to pay the lease in not included in the balance sheet. This obligation, which is a liability to the business, does not reflect on the balance sheet and affects the solvency of the business as the liability of the equipment not included. Because this lease liability does not reflect in the business balance sheet, the measure of financial leverage according to the balance sheet improves. The ratio of total l liabilities to equity improves, therefore, resulting in better credit ratings and ultimately low interest rates on finances towards the business.

Basics Of Embedded Systems

Basics Of Embedded Systems The term embedded systems is quite a complex one. Simply put, it is a combination of hardware and software that performs the component of a larger system. A few years ago embedded technology existed in stand alone devices such as vending machines and copiers that did their jobs with little regards for what went on around them. But as technology advance to connect devices to the internet and to each other, the potential of embedded technology has increased. Home appliances, mobile phones, cars, tiny micro chips, avionics etc.., are all using embedded technology. High-profile embedded chips are scaleable, generate small amounts of heat, and consume less power. These are generally preferred for their speed, accuracy and reliability. As they are compact in size and ability to perform time-critical and task specific operators, embedded devices find application in all segments of industrial and commercial market places and home appliances. In recent years,it became apparent that control systems as integral components of larger systems, should be developed and designed concurrently with mechanics, hydraulics, and electronics. It is important that engineers have a good understanding of the implications of software technology embedded into traditional engineering systems. Current machines consist of physical components providing the means and a control system employing those means to fulfill the machines function. Together, they build up the controlled machine, which can also be called an embedded system. . New innovative applications in different areas will make embedded systems as one of the fastest developing technology of the near future. This paper deals with concepts and developments of embedded systems in control of machines and gives a general overview of the basic components of control systems, ranging from sensors to actuators. Embedded Systems An embedded system employs a combination of hardware software (a computational engine) to perform a specific function; is part of a larger system that may not be a computer; works in a reactive and time-constrained environment. Software is used for providing features and flexibility Hardware = {Processors, ASICs, Memory} is used for performance ( sometimes security) The term embedded system can be used for a wide range of applications and devices. A useful definition is not easy to formulate. Boasson mentioned one characteristic that applies to all embedded systems: Neither the computer system without the special environment in which it is embedded, nor the environment without the computer system has any significance in itself. An embedded system employs a combination of hardware software (a computational engine) to perform a specific function; is part of a larger system that may not be a computer; works in a reactive and time-constrained environment. Basics of Embedded systems An embedded systems typically comprises the hardware, embedded RTOS, device drivers, communication stacks and embedded application software. Embedded hardware: The embedded hardware mainly consists of a microcontroller with various peripheral ICs. A fixed size volatile memory such as DRAM or SRAM and non volatile memory such as Flash or EPROM, connected to the microcontroller, are an integral part of the device. Depending on the targeted application of the device, the peripheral can include communication device such as serial controller, Ethernet controller, or a wireless communication controller and other application-specific ICs (ASICs). Many handheld devices these days also have sensors, actuators, keypads and graphical LCD screens as user interfaces. The only way a embedded machine control system can get information about its surroundings, is through the use of sensors and/or sensor systems. Control signals from the embedded control are converted into power and/or movement through Actuators. Sensors: During the past years a shift has taken place from mechanization towards automation. This implies the extensive use of sensors (and actuators) in order to be able to actually control (and influence) the actions that are performed by the controlled system.In principle the task of a sensor is fairly simple. It transforms an input signal that usually is difficult to handle in its original form to a more manageable form. Between input and output of the sensor a number of processes take place to obtain the desired result, as schematically shown in Figure. Actuators: Actuators come in many forms and shapes. They act as the arms and legs of the machine. Actuators convert control signals into power and/or movement,as schematically shown in Figure below. Control signals do not have to be of electrical nature, also other kinds are possible. The power conversion can be done in a number of ways. The most common energy sources for actuators are: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Compressed air, pneumatics à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Pressured oil, hydraulics à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Electricity, electro mechanics Embedded RTOS: The concept of real-time operating system (RTOS) is inseparable when we talk about embedded systems. All intelligent devices that perform complex functions have an embedded operating system inside. A real-time operating system (RTOS) is built for specific applications and guarantees response to an external event with in a specified time constraint. This operating system is typically real time in nature, i.e. it is capable of responding deterministically to time-critical external events. For example, when you suddenly apply brakes for your car to avoid an accident, the intelligent gad-get responds immediately. Imagine the plight of a driver if there is no responseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ the result is obvious. Device drivers: The lowest-level software that acts as glue between the operating system and the peripheral devices is called the device driver. The device driver software controls every peripheral device that is connected to the micro controller. Communication stacks: If the embedded device is capable of communicating to the external world, it has a communication software stack running on the top of the operating system. In order to connect to the Internet, the embedded device needs a TCP/IP stack. Characteristics of Embedded systems are: Small, low power, high performance Compact efficient use of PCB / IC real-estate Maximum output for minimum size High MIPS to power ratio High bus bandwidth Low interface bottlenecks Advantages: Customization yields lower area, power, cost Disadvantages: Higher HW/software development overhead. Design, compilers, debuggers May result in delayed time to market! Control Systems Control system is the section where the system senses the input by sensors and compares with the internal reference of the system and gives the output obtained through the actuators as shown in figure below. Control systems implementations: Looking at the history of controllers, we can distinguish six types of control systems: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Black box or embedded control à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Relay-based logic control à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Single-board control (SBC) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Programmable control (PLC) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Computer numerical control (CNC) à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Distributed control systems (DCS) Black box or embedded control: Embedded control is all around us. More and more household appliances are being designed with some form of embedded control in it. Washing machines, microwave ovens, car radios, cellular phones, VCRs, and digital photo cameras are just a few examples of ordinary devices with embedded control in it. Embedded control is used in product itself, not in the production system with which the products are manufactured. The use of embedded control software enables product designers to design smarter products with a large portion of its functionality embedded in the software of the product. This results in increased product flexibility and the possibility to change or add new functionality without having to redesign the physical product. So, in a way the software has become the product. Relay-based logic control: Before electronic control was developed, relays (as well as pneumatic and hydraulic components) were widely used as control elements. They serve as switching, timing and multiplying mechanisms for input devices such as switches, push buttons, photo-electric sensors, etc. Since the control is hard-wired, flexibility is low and troubleshooting difficult. Today, they are less used in the actual control functions but many control applications use relays in conjunction with the more sophisticated forms of control for isolation and other specialized electromechanical functions. Single-board Control (SBC): Electronic controllers on circuit boards first appeared in the 1960s. The early ones consisted of logic modules with lots of discrete components like transistors, capacitors, resistors, etc. on them with which the desired control functions were implemented. Later on, integrated circuits (LSI, VLSI) are applied. Since no moving parts are used they are inherently more reliable than relay-based control systems. Because they are custom-made, maintenance and repair can be a problem. Many original equipment manufacturers still choose to design their own single-board controllers for their own unique machine applications. Programmable logic controller (PLC): The need for more flexibility in control systems has led to the development of the programmable logic controller, the PLC. In the early seventies, the automotive industry was growing rapidly. In order to be able to react more quickly to a changing demand in the marketplace, one had to have a more flexible, easily adaptable and expandable control system; therefore it had to be a programmable control system. The early PLCs were programmed in so-called relay ladder. Today, high level programming languages like Pascal, C/C++ and even Java are being used to program PLC(-like) systems. Computer Numerical Control (CNC): Essentially, numerical control is nothing more than sending a sequence of commands to a machine, that in turn interprets them and performs the desired movement and machining actions. Before the introduction of NC these commands were issued manually by pressing buttons and switches, turning handwheels, etc. The path information is presented in numeric coordinate values (X, Y, Z), hence the name numerical control. Distributed Control System (DCS): Relay-based control, SBC and PLC are widely used in the discrete production area. The process industry is the domain of distributed control systems, where the number of analog I/O points exceeds the number of discrete I/O points. DCSs are used where the controlled process is continuous, has a high analog content and throughput, is distributed across a large geographical area and where down time is very expensive. Embedded Systems in Control of Machines In early days, the major part of the control was built into the physical machine, using mechanical parts. Although hardware-based control is still widely applied, major developments take place in the field of software-based control. An increasing part of the design process deals with the software of the control system. The development of the microprocessor and subsequent gain in flexibility has contributed a great deal to this Controlled machine Current machines consist of a physical machine providing the means, and a machine control system employing those means to fulfill the machines function. Together, they build up the controlled machine, also called an embedded system. The term embedded system is used for a wide range of applications or devices. The physical machine can be considered to consist of three subsystems: the main structure, actuators and sensors. The main structure physically connects the parts of the two remaining sub systems. The machine control system sends information to the actuators and receives information from the sensors via the I/O-interface. The machine control system can be divided into five functional subsystems: à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Regulative control, also referred to as direct control or feedback à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Error-handling control, also referred to as fault detection and isolation (FDI) or exception à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ Supervisory control also referred to as logic control. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The data processing subsystem stores and manipulates gathered data. à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢ The user interface subsystem allows the user to interact with the machine-control system. The machine control system can also be regarded as a layered control system, as shown in Figure. The bottom layer interacts directly with the actuators and sensors, that is, the physical machine. Some components are controlled directly (for instance, pneumatic components).Some components are controlled by regulative control (for instance, motorized manipulators) or by both regulative and error-handling control subsystem (for instance, robot arms). Some components are controlled by an error-handling subsystem only (for instance, warning lamps or safety locks). The intermediate layer is involved in scheduling, coordinating control of individual machine components, gathering and processing data, monitoring and compensating possible machine failures, and providing the top layer with the required information on the machine status. The top layer allows the user to interact with and to monitor the machine. Machine control is closely related to manufacturing control. The goal of machine control is to perform certain manufacturing functions in a controlled manner. Machine control enables us to influence production means in such a way that the manufacturing process produces the desired products of the correct quality at the planned time in the required quantity. Over the years, a lot of developments have taken place in production methods, machine design and machine control design. Not surprisingly, they all influence each other. In the route from manual work to automation we can distinguish five phases of mechanization or automation. The meaning of the term phase of mechanization is the extent to which a machine or production system can function independently, without human intervention. Manual labour with tools Specific machines Universal machines Multiple link specific machines Multiple specific Intelligent control In universal machines, control is embedded in the machine itself, through the use of mechanical parts like eccentrics, cams, camshafts, springs, gearboxes, drive axis, etc. The result depends less on the quality of the worker and more on the quality of the machine. To avoid unnecessary delays, attention has to be paid to operating procedures, work preparation, material handling and tool preparation. An example of an embedded control system: Dryer Different sub systems in the dryer are Main structure: The motor Sensors : Temperature sensor, humidity sensor Actuators : Motor driver control, fan control Machine control system : SAB-C504 Examples: Consumer electronics: e.g., cameras, camcorders . Consumer products: e.g., washers, microwave ovens Automobiles (anti-lock braking, engine control ) Industrial process controllers avionics/defense applications Computer/Communication products: e.g., printers, FAX machines Emerging multimedia applications consumer electronics: e.g., cellular phones, personal digital assistants, videoconferencing servers, interactive game boxes, TV set-top boxes Multimedia: Increasing computational demands, and increased reliance on VLSI, HW/SW integration. Embedded software can support such applications as the Internet, e-mail and MP3 decoders etc. They also support sophisticated graphical user interface screens. The automatic DAM DOOR opening systems is a system where the DAM DOORS is controlled on the speed of the raising water. A situation araises where the raising water in the river may be very fast as the rainfall increases. If the river is blocked by a DAM then the speed of the raising water will obviously rise very soon. To prevent this raising and to prevent flooding of the river bank the DAM DOORS has to be opened but with a controlled speed because there is no point on opening the DOOR slowly if the water is raising at a quicker pace. It is a circuit to measure the flow rate of water .Using this device one can determine the total volume of water raised in the river. The instrument is a microcontroller based system. It can have a optional of manual operation. In manual method of measuring the flow rate of water, we need to observe the rise of water in river .As soon as water reaches a fixed point in the river , we press start button on the stopwatch .After the water reaches another fixed point, we need to press stop button on the stopwatch. The observed time and level are used to calculate the flow rate of the water. Flow rate = volume/time But in this procedure there are chances of errors . The device eliminates the errors and has the following features. Automatically senses the level and generates triggering pulses for counting of the elapsed time there by providing basis for calculation of the flow rate of waters. Includes the circuit for digital display of the elapsed time using MICROCONTROLLER as well as a 7-segment display. DESCRIPTION : The circuit can be divided into four blocks ,namely ,sensor ,logic controller ,pulse generator ,switching module. The sensor section for conducting waters: Sensor 1 is permanently connected to circuit ground, while sensors 2 and 3 should/might be connected to positive supply via some pull up resistors. When the water level touches sensor 2 and/or sensor 3, 2 and/or 3 are pulled low towards ground potential. As a MODEL PROJECT we can use small spherical stainless steel probes as sensors and screw the wires coming from the circuit to them . To avoid oxidation and sulphation of the naked portion, we can cover the joints using araldite or any other suitable epoxy compound .For longlife and protection against weather, we can use Teflon-insulated multistrand wires . For proper support wires along with the probes , a PVC support rod may be used for tying the wires to PVC rod to keep them in their proper position. The logical control section: This section might comprises a quad two-input NOR gates. When the water level is so slow that both sensors 2 and 3 are out of the water , the voltage at input of NOR gates may become logic 1 ,while their other input terminals may be logic 0. So the output pins of NOR gates are at logic 0. The output of those/that NOR gates connected to sensor 2 and 3 and the output of those/that NOR gates from sensor 1 are terminated at another NOR gate where in we get logic 0. The logic controling cuircuit is proposed to be designed to give an apropriate logical output acording to the the sensor inputs. The output This final output of the logic control unit is proposed to keep the pulse generator formed by timer IC. It is decided that the timer IC will be 555. When the water level rises to touch sensor 2 the output of the NOR gates combination should be logic 1,which initiates the operation of the pulse generator. When the water level further rises to touch sensor 3, the output of NOR gate will be logic 0, which should be in a position to terminate the operation of the pulse generator. In this way, the pulse generator can be automatically controlled as per other requirement. Pulse generator: Timer IC 555 will be used in out project to generate pulses with pulse recurrence frequency of 1 Hz. The frequency /period of the astable should depend on combination of resistences , capasitences and variable resistences also. The switching section: The switching module is used to make and break switch contacts at 1 Hz rate, using the output of the timer IC555 . This function analogous to pressing/releasing of a push-to -on switch once a second . An optocoupler is proposed to be used for making/breaking contact between to points. Whenever the output of timer IC555 goes high, the optocoupler conducts . this optocoupler is connected to the microcontroller KIT. The road ahead Telematics: The impact of telematics would be really innovative. With access to e-mail the internet, and telephone services, car occupants could shop and bank online, receive traffic and navigation information, and avail of remote diagnostics facilities Automotive electronics: Remember the talking car in the serial knight rider, a fully computerized car capable of doing almost everything a car lover would want to. Seems like a fantasy but the day is not far when almost all automobiles would interact with computers on dash- boards. From ordering a pizza to booking tickets at the nearest theaters, things would be as easy as giving orders to your servant. Whole of which would be possible with embedded systems. Mistral software is in the process of developing text to speech and speech reorganization technologies to give the car occupants the ultimate comfort. Whenever theres a call on your mobile, you need not get jumpy at the very onset of the call. The computer in the cars dashboard would do the job for you. GPS navigation guides you safely through the traffic. The GPS interface in the car pinpoints your exact location on a map. In case GPS signal cant be received due to high density of tall buildings or other magnetic interface, the dead reckoning technique, which works for short durations, guides you effectively. The system is also loaded with GSM/CDMA protocol standards. Biomedical solutions: The biomedical chord developed by mistral is a centrelised patient monitering system that allows remote monitering of up to 32 patients at a given time through a central computer. It can process of maximum of 32 channels usin the state-of-the-art DSP in a PC environment. Economy: The world of embedded systems is a dreamers paradise with unlimited possibilities. According to the global market size for embedded software development alone was $7 billion in 2001, which is expected to reach $20 billion in 2003 and $31 billion by 2005.For India are $400 million. $750 million and $1.1 billion respectively. In India RD in embedded system was worth $1.1 billion in 2001, which would grow to $8 billion by 2008. CONCLUSION: Further more, embedded systems are rapidly becoming a catalyst for change in the computing, data communications, telecommunications, industrial control and entertainment sectors. Automatic systems in any field will be useful and will save the people and organizations. New innovative applications in these as well as other areas will make embedded systems as one of the fastest developing technology of the near future.Thus the embedded system plays an important role in our day today life.

Technology in Transportation Essay -- Computers Machines Papers

Technology in Transportation Throughout history, getting things (and people) where they need to go has been a pretty basic need. The Romans needed to move stone to build their aqueducts; the nobles wanted luxury spices and silks brought to them from far off lands; ancient cities needed to move vegetables and grains from the farms, to storage, and then to the cities to feed the populace. Transportation has always been one of the backbones of every great civilization, without the ability to move goods long distances, your 'culture' was only the distance you could go conveniently to get what was necessary for survival that you could not produce. The industry boomed during the railroading system and hasn't slowed since. First, there were ships and horse-drawn carriages, then cars, now huge 40 ton trucks and jumbo air-liners. In today's changing business environment, information technology plays an incredibly important role in almost every aspect of the day to day life of almost every industry. The transportation industry is, of course, no different. From the transport of goods from manufacture, to warehousing, to retail, to end-user, the industry relies on information technology to get things done. The transportation of people is the exact same; incredibly important to get done yet impossible without the impact of information technology. Technology in Moving People The transportation industry (airline, railway, bus transit, automobile rental agencies) has undergone enormous changes in the way its customers purchase tickets and place reservations. The continuing popularity in e-commerce combined with the widespread increase in the number of people with internet access has caused an explosion in the number of... ...t an amazing 10% per quarter. An example trend that is quickly developing in the freight cargo industry is the leasing of freight aircrafts to different airlines. The aircraft, crew, insurance and maintenance is included in the leasing. Works Cited http://www.aaafoundation.org. revised 15 March 2004. American Automobile Association. accessed 15 March 2004. http://www.airbus.com. revised 2004. Airbus Corporation. accessed 13 March 2004. http://www.e-travel.com. revised 2004. Amadaeus Global Travel Distribution. accessed 14 March 2004. http://www.msn.com. revised 2004. Microsoft Corporation. accessed 15 March 2004. http://www.redprairie.com/Knowledge/whitepapers.asp#WMCSchapt. revised 2004. Superior Logistix Results, Inc. accessed 16 March 2004. http://www.trucker.com revised 2004. Primedia Business Magazines and Media. Accessed 14 March 2004

In Harm’s Way

Persuasive Essay: In Harm’s Way The sinking of the USS Indianapolis was a horrible event, which killed hundreds of soldiers, and left hundreds floating adrift in the sea with swarms of sharks circling around them. Captain McVay, the captain of the Indianapolis, was charged with negligence. Truly, Captain McVay did his job with what he had, and should not be the scapegoat for the navy. Generals, Lieutenants, and Commodores are all partially responsible for the sinking due to negligence, miss communication, and important top-secret intelligence. Captain McVay did nothing wrong, and did a great job as Captain with the knowledge and information that he was aware of. Inconsistent communication and information that were out of McVay’s control are responsible for the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Captain McVay was an experienced captain and knew what needed to be done to run the ship and the procedures to travel safely during a period where Japanese subs were everywhere waiting to take down American ships. When the USS Indianapolis left San Francisco, McVay had a crew that was not experienced. Therefore, he requested to have his crew be trained and was promised that training would take place in Guam when they arrived. When they arrived to Guam the crew was not completely trained. If an emergency were to happen, the crew would not be trained properly, which would result in many deaths. McVay was not being negligent, he knew what needed to be done in advanced and the navy denied his request. With a crew that was not very experienced, McVay was about to sail from the Marianas Sea Frontier into the Philippine Sea Frontier, a passage that had a navy communication conflict between Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur. The political conflict between Nimitz and MacArthur was somewhat resolved because Nimitiz ended up getting control. However, there was still tension between them that caused information about ships and important facts to sometimes become lost. During this time, the passage was dangerous due to Japanese subs and with inconsistent communication, The USS Indianapolis could be in trouble and communication could get lost. The ship was not equipped with sonar because it wasn’t used for finding and hunting down subs. McVay was aware of this and how dangerous it was to cross to Leyte. Aware of the dangers, McVay requested an escort to assist with a safe sail to Leyte. Lieutenant Waldron, the convoy routing officer then called to request an escort â€Å"Waldron inquired of the officer on duty whether there was an escort leaving for Leyte, with whom the Indianapolis might tag along. Waldron was told that none was necessary†(Stanton 70). McVay did his duty by requesting the escort however; Captain Oliver Naquin was the one who denied it. As Captain, McVay had to rely on mainland communication and intelligence. â€Å"naval command assumed that she could travel safely in the backwater unescorted†(70). Even if McVay disagreed with their decision, he would still have to follow orders. With no escort, McVay follow protocol to steer the ship to decrease the risk of getting hit by a torpedo and requested an intelligence report for the whereabouts of enemy subs. McVay knew to travel in a zigzag direction, which made the ship harder to hit. He was to follow a zigzag course during daylight hours, and at night, at his discretion, during periods of good visibility†(71). McVay followed this order but when the Indianapolis was hit, it was at night when McVay was sleeping and not zigzagging. The Navy blamed McVay for not zigzagging when the ship was hit, Zigzagging was only required by the navy during daylight. Also, the naval command thought it was going to be a safe sail unescorted in which McVay would obviously have to trust and agree with. This ended up being false and making his trip more dangers than expected. McVay took action and requested an intelligence report to be aware of any enemy subs since he had no escort. When McVay received the intelligence report, the most crucial and important information was not given. â€Å"Three days earlier, the USS Underhill, a destroyer escort, had been sunk by a Japanese torpedo†(72). This message was kept a secret, neither McVay or anyone that he was communicating with was aware of this attack. However, this was crucial information for McVay, because the attacked happened in the same route as the USS Indianapolis. Commodore James Carter met with McVay at the CINCPAC headquarters and was aware of the attack but neglected to mention it to McVay. Communication was a big factor in the attack of the USS Indianapolis and even when the ship sank, successful SOS messages did not get communicated right resulting in a delayed rescued mission. Before the ship went down SOS and even the ships coordinates were sent out multiple times to multiple communication stations. One of the messages was received at Leyte and Commodore Gillette sent out tugboats out to the location of the sinking. After seven hours of the twenty-one hours initial trip, Gillette ordered the tugs to abort and come back to Leyte. McVay did the right procedures during the sinking; Gillette on the other hand was negligent and did not further investigate the reported sinking. Many of the other messages that were received were either ignored or thought to be fake distress calls from the Japanese. Throughout World War two, consistent communication was very difficult. Japan was intercepting America’s communication and getting leads throughout the war. This caused inconsistent communication and intelligences, which resulted in disasters such as the USS Indianapolis because information was not being provided correctly. The navy new of such crucial information that was very important to the USS Indianapolis such as, the sinking of a navy ship three days before the Indy. The Indianapolis was carrying atomic bombs making its delivery very important even though very few people knew about the bombs. The navy was negligent for doing this, and if McVay had known about the secret information, he would have changed his tactics to make sure he completed his mission. In Harm’s Way Persuasive Essay: In Harm’s Way The sinking of the USS Indianapolis was a horrible event, which killed hundreds of soldiers, and left hundreds floating adrift in the sea with swarms of sharks circling around them. Captain McVay, the captain of the Indianapolis, was charged with negligence. Truly, Captain McVay did his job with what he had, and should not be the scapegoat for the navy. Generals, Lieutenants, and Commodores are all partially responsible for the sinking due to negligence, miss communication, and important top-secret intelligence. Captain McVay did nothing wrong, and did a great job as Captain with the knowledge and information that he was aware of. Inconsistent communication and information that were out of McVay’s control are responsible for the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. Captain McVay was an experienced captain and knew what needed to be done to run the ship and the procedures to travel safely during a period where Japanese subs were everywhere waiting to take down American ships. When the USS Indianapolis left San Francisco, McVay had a crew that was not experienced. Therefore, he requested to have his crew be trained and was promised that training would take place in Guam when they arrived. When they arrived to Guam the crew was not completely trained. If an emergency were to happen, the crew would not be trained properly, which would result in many deaths. McVay was not being negligent, he knew what needed to be done in advanced and the navy denied his request. With a crew that was not very experienced, McVay was about to sail from the Marianas Sea Frontier into the Philippine Sea Frontier, a passage that had a navy communication conflict between Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur. The political conflict between Nimitz and MacArthur was somewhat resolved because Nimitiz ended up getting control. However, there was still tension between them that caused information about ships and important facts to sometimes become lost. During this time, the passage was dangerous due to Japanese subs and with inconsistent communication, The USS Indianapolis could be in trouble and communication could get lost. The ship was not equipped with sonar because it wasn’t used for finding and hunting down subs. McVay was aware of this and how dangerous it was to cross to Leyte. Aware of the dangers, McVay requested an escort to assist with a safe sail to Leyte. Lieutenant Waldron, the convoy routing officer then called to request an escort â€Å"Waldron inquired of the officer on duty whether there was an escort leaving for Leyte, with whom the Indianapolis might tag along. Waldron was told that none was necessary†(Stanton 70). McVay did his duty by requesting the escort however; Captain Oliver Naquin was the one who denied it. As Captain, McVay had to rely on mainland communication and intelligence. â€Å"naval command assumed that she could travel safely in the backwater unescorted†(70). Even if McVay disagreed with their decision, he would still have to follow orders. With no escort, McVay follow protocol to steer the ship to decrease the risk of getting hit by a torpedo and requested an intelligence report for the whereabouts of enemy subs. McVay knew to travel in a zigzag direction, which made the ship harder to hit. He was to follow a zigzag course during daylight hours, and at night, at his discretion, during periods of good visibility†(71). McVay followed this order but when the Indianapolis was hit, it was at night when McVay was sleeping and not zigzagging. The Navy blamed McVay for not zigzagging when the ship was hit, Zigzagging was only required by the navy during daylight. Also, the naval command thought it was going to be a safe sail unescorted in which McVay would obviously have to trust and agree with. This ended up being false and making his trip more dangers than expected. McVay took action and requested an intelligence report to be aware of any enemy subs since he had no escort. When McVay received the intelligence report, the most crucial and important information was not given. â€Å"Three days earlier, the USS Underhill, a destroyer escort, had been sunk by a Japanese torpedo†(72). This message was kept a secret, neither McVay or anyone that he was communicating with was aware of this attack. However, this was crucial information for McVay, because the attacked happened in the same route as the USS Indianapolis. Commodore James Carter met with McVay at the CINCPAC headquarters and was aware of the attack but neglected to mention it to McVay. Communication was a big factor in the attack of the USS Indianapolis and even when the ship sank, successful SOS messages did not get communicated right resulting in a delayed rescued mission. Before the ship went down SOS and even the ships coordinates were sent out multiple times to multiple communication stations. One of the messages was received at Leyte and Commodore Gillette sent out tugboats out to the location of the sinking. After seven hours of the twenty-one hours initial trip, Gillette ordered the tugs to abort and come back to Leyte. McVay did the right procedures during the sinking; Gillette on the other hand was negligent and did not further investigate the reported sinking. Many of the other messages that were received were either ignored or thought to be fake distress calls from the Japanese. Throughout World War two, consistent communication was very difficult. Japan was intercepting America’s communication and getting leads throughout the war. This caused inconsistent communication and intelligences, which resulted in disasters such as the USS Indianapolis because information was not being provided correctly. The navy new of such crucial information that was very important to the USS Indianapolis such as, the sinking of a navy ship three days before the Indy. The Indianapolis was carrying atomic bombs making its delivery very important even though very few people knew about the bombs. The navy was negligent for doing this, and if McVay had known about the secret information, he would have changed his tactics to make sure he completed his mission.

Coopers Hawk essays

Cooper's Hawk essays Coopers hawk Beak: short,dark,hooked beak Long, thick tarsi appear short at rest because they are usually covered by belly feathers Wings: short, rounded wings Tail: very long and rounded at the tip Often flies with several quick wingbeat and a short glide, but also soars Blue-gray back and upperwings White breast, belly and underwing coverts marked by fine, thin, reddish bars Tail, blue gray above and pale below, barred with black bands Flight feathers, blue-gray above and pale below , with dark bars Brown cap, nape, back, and upperwings White underparts marked by thin black streaks Tail, brown above and pale below, barred with dark bands The Cooper Hawk makes a long series of harsh and rapid kak, kak, kak, kaks. The Coopers Hawk lays 4 to 5 off-white colored eggs.Its nest is a platform of sticks lined with chips of bark. The Coopers Hawk is widespread throughout the U.S and within southern Canada. These raptors migrate during the winter and have been known to go as far south Costa Rica. It prefers medium-sized birds: starlings, robins, blackbirds, meadowlarks and flicker.The female takes prey as large as Ruffed Grouse. The Coopers Hawk is a swift, powerful flier. It hunts either by flying low over the trees and by ambushing its pray from a well hidden perch. This raptor primarily prays upon medium sized songbirds, but it has been known to take small mammals. Being a persistent hunter, this hawk has even been seen pursuing its pray i ...

Equality for All

Equality for All Free Online Research Papers The United States of America was founded on the principle that all of her citizens would have equality under the law. Thomas Jefferson affirmed that principle when he drafted these words for the Declaration of Independence, â€Å"we hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal.† Those powerful words set the groundwork for the foundation that would define what it means to be an American. As an American citizen, a person should be viewed as an equal under the law. Equality means that there should be no superior or inferior treatment given to any specific citizen or group. Being a member of a minority or majority group should not have an impact on what rights are afforded to one person verses another; all should have the same opportunity and protection under the law. When Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, he was ahead of his own time. Even though he was a slave owner, he pictured a country that would be tolerant of those that are different from the majority. Others also saw his vision and could foresee the problems that our country would face when it came to the rights of minorities. One such person was James Madison. After the U.S. Constitution was drafted, Madison wrote many essays for publication in New York community newspapers to raise support in ratifying the Constitution. In one of those essays, The Federalist, No. 51, Madison argues that, â€Å"it is of great importance in a republic not only to guard society against the oppression of its rulers, but to guard one part of society against the injustice of the other part. Different interests necessarily exist in different classes of citizen. If a majority be united by a common interest, the rights of minority will be insecure.† At the time, Madison may not have meant those words for different ethnic races or sexual preferences in society, but they could not ring more true today in the complicated society we now live in. Madison also stated that if a majority oppresses the weaker members of society, then our system of liberty would collapse. Madison clearly saw a need for laws to protect minorities, so they could have the same rights as the majority; without certain laws for protection, America would fail. America is presently in an unstable world. This instability caused a panic that needed to be comforted by action. In 2002, in response to the 911 attacks, Congress and President Bush put into law the Patriot Act. The Patriot Act is a law that is supposed to protect all Americans, but in reality it may just do the opposite for American minorities. The Patriot Act gave law enforcement officials the ability to profile people for the sake of national security. The law also gave law enforcement officials the ability to violate Americans’ civil liberties through illegal wiretaps. It is clear that the only people that will be targeted as suspects are Muslim Americans and anyone who is thought to be associated with terrorist groups. There is a very slim chance that any of these suspects would be classified as a part of an American majority group. The Patriot Act is a law that was passed with good intention, but it is, in fact, doing what Madison had feared the most. Throughout American history, the U.S. government has added amendments to the Constitution and passed laws with the intent to protect the rights of both majority and minority citizens. There have been laws passed to give equality to women, ethnic groups, homosexuals, and special interest groups. Laws like the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 have brought our country a long way. However, laws such as the Patriot Act set our country back. The point of the great American experiment is to progress through history by improving the quality of human life for all. The intent of the 911 hijackers was to cripple our system of freedom. In response, the government passed the Patriot Act to strengthen America, but all it did was make us weaker. In a sense, the hijackers have succeeded. Research Papers on Equality for All19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraQuebec and CanadaThe Effects of Illegal ImmigrationNever Been Kicked Out of a Place This NiceAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeCapital PunishmentPETSTEL analysis of IndiaComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West Meet

Accounting and Finance Speech or Presentation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Accounting and Finance - Speech or Presentation Example With the increasing globalisation when every country can be seen as an opportunity for the investors the lack of understanding of effective corporate governance can adversely effect the investment intentions of investors.Nowadays corporate governance is seen as the key of attracting investors. Capital flow seems directed towards the companies, which practice fair and transparent ways of governing their organisations. With the changing global business scenario the need of understanding and effective practise of fair and technologically advance corporate governance has also increased. In my speech I will first explain the notion of Corporate Governance then we will have a brief overview of the development of corporate governance codes in the UK and the adaptation of similar codes in the EU.ICAEW (2002) has explained corporate governance in a very effective and comprehensive manner as " Corporate governance is commonly referred to as a system by which organisations are directed and cont rolled. It is the process by which company objectives are established, achieved and monitored. Corporate governance is concerned with the relationships and responsibilities between the board, management, shareholders and other relevant stakeholders within a legal and regulatory framework."There are no hard and fast rules for corporate governance, which can be prescribed for all the countries. ... Accountability of the board to shareholders who have the right to receive information on the financial stewardship of their investment and exercise power to reward or remove the directors entrusted to run the company. Transparency of clear information with which meaningful analysis of a company and its actions can be made. The disclosure of financial and operational information and internal processes of management oversight and control enable outsiders to understand the organisation. Fairness that all shareholders are treated equally and have the opportunity for redress for violation of their rights. According to Meigs et al. (1999) this information meets the needs of users of the information-investors. Creditors, managers, and so on-and support many kinds of financial decision performance evaluation and capital allocation, among others. (P.07) Owen (2001) traces the history of the structure of the British financial system that was shaped by the form which industrialisation took in the 18th and 19th centuries. Following legislative changes in mid-century - principally the Joint Stock Companies Act of 1844 and the Limited Liability Act of 1855 - a growing number of Industrial firms converted themselves from partnerships into limited companies. Some of them remained private, while others chose to have their shares listed, either on one of the provincial stock exchanges or in London. Since than till the decade of decade of 1980s, there was no specific development in the field of Corporate Governance in UK. Tricker (1984) mentioned the same fact as, "In the past there seemed a, no demand for independent supervision or disclosure, no intervention in matters

Writer's choice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 4

Writer's choice - Essay Example In one life his economic and social condition is worse than that of an animal, and in another life he lives to see the exploitation of and cruel treatment to the animals by humankind. As a young man Jacob has a reasonably good start in life, and he is about to finish is degree at Cornell’s veterinary school. Cruel stroke of destiny plays its part, his parents die in an accident, leaving nothing for him in inheritance. He has no job, and his earlier plan to join his father’s veterinary practice goes haywire. I chose this book as it details how a young man faces the trials and tribulations of life, and also details the life of animals which are at the mercy of human beings. The most powerful animals like lions and elephants are compelled to behave subservient to the human beings when they are in his captivity and control. I have a passion to read the books that detail the life of animals and deal with their living conditions. About two years ago, I happened to read the book Animal Forum and Declaration of Third World War by an Indian author HCR Mallya, the story of which relates to the rebellion of animals against humankind and fight for their rights and how the animals and birds emerge victorious in the war against human beings. My passion to read animal stories and their adventures has increased manifold since then. Water for the Elephants contains 25 chapters. Though each and every chapter does not relate to the animals directly as such, a discerning reader can observed some connectio n to the main theme of the book related to animals. Chapter 1: Jacob is in his 90s and his condition evokes instant sympathy. The problems of aging have disordered his life. He hates to be old age bracket, though he is in it. He is undergoing treatment for the broken hip, yet reaches to the window, rejecting the help being offered to him by others, and observes the tents and trappings of a circus being fixed in the open