The White Pages Website in Context of an Information System

Examine the White Pages Website in context of an information system Submitted by: Ivan Tabal Submitted to: Mr. Chris Kalodikis Information Processes and Technology Year 11 Marist College Kogarah Introduction The White Pages website’s purpose, like other telephone directories, is to allow the telephone number of a subscriber identified by name and address to be found. Subscriber names are generally listed in alphabetical order, together with their postal or street address and telephone number. The general purpose of the website is to allow people to easily find others through search features, such as quick search and reverse lookups.This report will examine the purpose and its importance of the White Pages website, the information processes involved and the people who use it and also the participants who’s contributed towards its development. It will then go on to outline the appropriate data needed to run the website and also the information technology involved in order to produce the website. The final part of the report will discuss the influences made by the environment during the website’s development and the social and ethical issues raised during the website’s development. The Purpose * Who is the white pages for?The Purpose of the white pages is to provide information of peoples, name address, phone number. It also provides information on businesses, and governments organisations. It was originally designed to help people find quick information about others for travelling purposes. But today it is slowly becoming obsolete due to some ethical and social issues. * Why is it an important source of information? It was an important source of information because it contained important details about people, which could be accessed to help friends or family members easily find their location or call them.The White pages provide information on suitable shops that people would want to attend to and for different types of problems. This includes the taxation companies, it companies The Information Processes Involved * How is the data collected? Data is collected through a number of ways into the white pages. Each year it must print out white pages about businesses and residence. It can collect its information by people who have provided them with information about either residential or Business or The white pages reuses information from older contacts that have been given before. * How is data organized?Data is organized into three categories: 1st Category is the residential. It contains addresses and phone numbers of people who have registered in the white page and provide their information to be easily found. 2nd Category is for Businesses, which use the website to mostly advertise to the public which can hopefully give them an edge over other businesses. But today businesses mostly use the internet to advertise and the TV or billboards. 3rd Category is the Government category which shows laws in the states, educ ation, provides information on immigration, health and other social factors that can affect a person.But the information is very limited and contains nothing for most of the links clicked except education. The data is then sub organised into different section, e. g. for Businesses it provides different categories for IT, Taxation, Health, Banking, Beauty and etc. This is made to easily locate the business which the consumer is looking for. * How is the data analysed? The data from the people of businesses or of residents is firstly stored on the website as data. It is then transformed according to what information it contains into 3 categories. Data is searched, selected and sorted.We as users of the website are able to Search and Select the data which is provided through the white pages. But before we are able to do this it must be entered and classified by the Analysts and People working in White Pages * How is the data stored? Data can be stored in different ways on the White Pag es. Most likely on Rational Database which is stored and kept on a server. This allows for the White pages website to keep the information in one particular spot without moving the hardware. The data is retrieved by people by first clicking on the object we want to see.The request then goes to the hardware server and the request is searched and goes back to the user with the information so he can see. * How is the data processed? Data is processed through a number of ways. Existing records of the white pages are renewed each year. They are asked about any changed that have occurred to see if the company has changed or close down and then update the white pages. The same process is done with residents, and updated, but if the residents do not want their information held in the white pages they can take it down. * How is the data transmitted?The data is transmitted through the internet to users. From the White pages server through the internet of the person’s computer and then displays the requested information to the person. * How is the data displayed? It can be displayed through a number of ways which can include Screens and Printers. Screens – Displays the text and information through a screen of a computer. Printer – Displays the text in a book which can be written and printed. The Participants Involved When the white pages were created, they were created by a company which collected information about people.Workers of the white pages may have included system analysts, printer, directors, overseers, editors and people who collected the information from customers either by going from door to door or registering them in the local post office. People who used the white pages were every day citizens. They needed the white pages before to find each other when needed. Now the citizens of the new generation are stopping to use the white pages even though by law they must be printed. The Appropriate Data * Residents who register into the white pages can provide: * Their first and last name Suburb * Address * Phone number * Businesses who register can provide: * Their name * Owners name * Phone number * Suburb they are located * Brief description about them * Government who register have to provide * Name of Business of Government * Phone * Address The Methods of Information Technology Required * Hardware involved in producing the White Pages Website * Internet-ready PC * Domain * Fibre optics (wired internet) * Software required to produce the White Pages Website * HTTPD e. g. Apache * Internet * Computer methods required to output information Audio; speakers, headphones, earphones, headsets, microphones * Hardcopy; printing, photocopying * Internet services The Influences Made Towards the Environment During the Website’s Development Like many other telephone directory companies, running phone books on websites has made positive impacts towards the reduction of cutting down trees and also the disposal of phone book s in landfills which is a major contributor towards pollution. A survey shows that almost 75% costumers are completely unaware of the environmental and financial impact in printing, delivering and recycling these books.Online access to white pages, yellow pages etc. is becoming more and more popular and a much better choice as it is easier to find others whilst also making positive contributions to the reduction of phone book wastes. It is also cheaper and easier to run for companies due to the ease of access and flexibility it provides for their employees, whereas phone book publishers go through a series of process in order to make and deliver their phone books, every year. As for the website, it only requires minimal effort to keep it running, at a lower cost and in a less tedious manner.The THREE Social and THREE Ethical Issues Raised in the Development of the Website Social and ethical issues associated with: 1. Planning, design and implementation * Machine-centred systems simp lify what computers do at the expense of participants * Human-centred systems as those that make participants’ work as effective and satisfying as possible * How the relationships between participants change as a result of the new system * Ensuring the new system provides participants with a safe work environment * Awareness of the impact the system may have on the participants: * Opportunities to use their skills Meaningful work * Need for change * Opportunities for involvement and commitment 2. Information systems and database * Acknowledgment of data sources * The freedom of information act * Privacy principles * Accuracy of data and the reliability of data sources * Access to data, ownership and control of data * New trends in the organisation, processing, storage and retrieval of data such as data warehousing and data-mining 3. Communication systems * The use of communication systems to share knowledge, not just data * Issues related to messaging systems Ideas delivered by this means appear less forceful and caring than ideas delivered personally * Danger of being misinterpreted * Power relationships * Privacy and confidentiality * Electronic junk mail * Information overload * Implications of Internet trading including: * Local taxation laws * Employment ramifications * Nature of business * Trading over the Internet and its commercial implications * The difficulties of censoring content on the Internet * Issues arising from Internet banking, including: Security of banking details * Changing nature of work * Branch closure and job loss * The removal of physical boundaries by enabling: * Work from home * Virtual organisations, ie organisations structured around the communication system * Removal of national and international barriers to trade * How participants are supported: * Individuals by providing a means for communication * Participant teams by enabling the exchange of ideas and data * The emerging trend of accessing media such as radio and vid eo across the Internet

Disney’s Hercules and the Heroic Code

Disney’s Hercules Disney’s Hercules, while not entirely true to the scripture he was first conceptualized in, is rife with the same heroic traits as his definitive counterpart. Throughout the course of the film, Hercules faces a series of challenges and events which test his strength and ability. Subsequently these events fulfill the majority of his heroic archetype. By Hercules’ masculine nature, divine parent, divine helper, trip to the underworld, and fulfillment of kleos (his immortal quest for glory), Hercules would have been considered a hero in Ancient Greek society despite the archetypical traits left unfulfilled in the film. Hercules’ masculinity becomes majorly evident as a physical aspect after undergoing training with Philoctetes (Phil). His muscular personage is representative of man in a direct way. While he does not dominate his relationship with his love interest, Megara (Meg), by physical means he overshadows her and asserts masculinity. Hercules is also masculine in his bravery by the way he confronts challenges head on. In one instance, Hercules literally bashes the centaur, Nessus, with his head. In Hercules’ muscular build and his courageous albeit headstrong tendency, he is personified as a masculine hero. Hercules actually has two divine parents, Zeus and Hera, in Disney’s rendition as opposed to only one in Greek myth. In this way the heroic notion of having a divine parent is fulfilled perhaps to a greater extent. Hercules’ father, Zeus, also plays a role as his divine helper, another trait of the hero archetype. Zeus fulfills this by revealing Hercules’ past to him and his relation to the gods, setting him off on his journey to heroism. In addition to Zeus, Hercules’ winged horse, also serves as a divine helper throughout the film. Pegasus assists Hercules in nearly all of his battles and takes his abilities to new heights. Hercules makes his trip to the underworld in an attempt to rescue Megara from death itself. Hercules’ immortal quest for glory or kleos is fulfilled in many instances of the film. On multiple occasions Hercules slays fantastic creatures such as the Hydra and achieves his glory through the admiration of others. While enchanting the people of Thebes and creating some lasting effect in their continual praise, Hercules’ immortal quest for glory is cemented at the conclusion of the film when Zeus creates a constellation of him in the night sky.

Death Essay

Death, to many who believe in reincarnation is passing into another life. The quality of this life could be well dependent on the, â€Å"karma† or the deeds that one has carried out in previous birth. Death thus need not be the end of life but just a new beginning. Reincarnation is generally thought to be an Eastern belief predominantly prevalent in Buddhism. Karma, some believe is an ancient Hindu cliche increasingly picked up by Buddhist scriptures which provide a cause – effect link to our actions. Reincarnation takes these links further and seeks to provide a relation between our actions and its outcomes in this birth to our karma in the previous birth. Karma is generally said to be unseen to the common man but ancient Hindu mythology believes that it is evident to the wise and knowledgeable sage. There are many such believers of this phenomenon in the West as well. Stevenson (1980) has even supported it with extensive scientific reasoning and examples. The instances quoted are of children who are said to have taken to speaking about their earlier life immediately after they had started talking. There are some studies which link birth marks or defects with past lives. These defects are seen as the wounds on a person of previous birth, who is remembered in the embryo, wounds which could possibly have been fatal. (Stevenson, 1997). Rationalists and particularly rational biologists would not believe that the biological deformities which are found at birth such as defective speech, hearing or blindness could have been a cause of an accident in previous life rather than defective growth of the embryo in its formative stage. There has thus been extensive skepticism about reincarnation particularly amongst the rationalist of the West. However there are numerous believers of incarnation who quote a number of examples which are there in the Bible including the teachings of Jesus where John the Baptist is considered as a reincarnate of Elijah the prophet. What then is the reality?

How did the industrial revolution that happend after the civil war in Essay

How did the industrial revolution that happend after the civil war in america changed the social,political, economic and philosophical system in the country - Essay Example The consecutive growth periods increased standard of living and led to urbanization and mechanization across USA. The nation emerged as a technologically advanced country with sound economy on strong grounds. Subsequently, USA was able to reestablish its military power and emerged as a super power in the international community having considerable influence on world politics and decision-making. Indeed, the social shift became evident because African – Americans migrated from rural areas to urban neighborhoods and formed new colonies. They received more power and basic rights after constitutional amendments and abolishment of certain slavery laws. Indeed, the people poor minority group provided education and greater participation in US politics. (Martin et al) and (Mokyr,

Cyber security Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Cyber security - Coursework Example Despite the mounting threats in cyberspace, it emerges that the cyberspace domain holds key solutions to these threats. The threats are further compounded by fact that threats are anonymous and emerge from a multitude of sources worldwide (Ward, 2000). With prevailing drastic revolution in cyber technology, the human dimension of the security problem cannot be disregarded. The behavior of the users, failure in compliance with security policy and ignorance of cyber threats are common human factors that compromise the overall security of cyberspace. An underestimation of the potential magnitude of a cyber threat due to distraction or ignorance is the main reason for successful cyber attacks. A critical factor to consider when formulating cyber security is the response time to cyber attacks. Incidents of attack happen at cyber speed, but often it takes a while for the management system to detect and respond to the incident. Failure to respond with urgency to cyber attacks increases the company’s vulnerability. Appropriate training of employees on the threat and remedy framework is a critical obligation of any organization. Cyber security threats that can affect important goals In e- commerce for instance, rights of access to digital content have become an issue of immense economic and social significance. Wealthy nations have come under criticism from poor countries for â€Å"information imperialism†, arguing that intellectual property rights are an impediment to overcoming the digital creative and intellectual divide. Consequently, elusive questions have arisen on whether to reinforce these rights, or whether to eliminate all protection in cyberspace all together. The electronic environment provides ease of operation across borders, which renders issues of cyber crime an international affair and which inevitably requires renegotiation of agreements between governments, and signing of new treaties in international mediums. Provision of stability and certainty in the cyber business environment then raises concerns of protecting consumers with emerging threats of electronic fraud, cyber terrorism and crime. The ethical concerns that emerge comprise: personal privacy, protection of copyrights, availability of critical crime information to agencies of law enforcement, hacking and computer technology infringement crime, and many other legal framework aspects formulated for citizen right protection Other than the legal and ethical dimensions, cyberspace issues also have social aspects and implications. It’s not clear from the cyberspace management framework who exactly has authority to manage the rights and privileges of users on the web, and who has the responsibility to ensure that the rights of the individual in are protected cyberspace. More important to note is the fact that both users and content providers will be greatly limited in taking full advantage of the evolution in network technologies, unless users take respons ibility of the uses to which they put web content. Vulnerabilities that can be exploited through cyber crime and cyber warfare Valuable information and content is continuously being posted on the Net by publishers and content providers, but with an increasing concern on how to control access and use of this

Management and Leadership Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Management and Leadership Paper - Essay Example The founder of Wal-Mart was Sam Walton. He opened up the first Wal-Mart store in Rogers, Arkansas in 1962. The goal of the Mr. Walton when he opened up the first retail store was to save people money to help them live a better life (Walmartstores, 2009). The company took off very fast and by 1969 the firm became a publicly traded company. The company’s trading symbol on Wall Street is WMT. Today the corporation enjoys a great level of success. The company is the market leader in the retail industry due to the fact that the service and prices the entity offers are superior to the competition. In fiscal year 2009 Wal-Mart generated $401 billion in global revenues while serving nearly 200 million customers per week (Walmartstores, 2009). Leadership and effective management are two critical success factors that enabled the company to achieve high levels of success. Management and leadership are two completely different business concepts. Leadership can be defined as a special case of interpersonal influence that gets an individual or group to do what the leader wants (Schermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn, 2003, p.286). Management is the act of performing the four managerial functions which are planning, leading, organizing and controlling. In order for a person to become an effective leader the group has to trust the individual. Leadership is not a trait that is limited to the managerial staff. Anybody within an organization can display leadership. It is very common for leadership to manifest itself within a team setting. In such a setting leadership provides the vision to achieve the end state goal (Kumle & Kelly, 2009). I have personally worked in teams in which I became the leader of the team in order to ensure that the team completed the project at hand. Depending on the circumstance a manager has to decide whether to act as a manager or as a

Christianity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Christianity - Essay Example 2. Why were the Romans initially threatened by Christianity? The Romans were initially threatened by Christianity because leaders who stood and believed in the status quo did not encourage any shift of power from one social group to another. In fact, a shift in power would amount to quite big problems; it all boiled down to money. Without enough people to make sacrifices at the temple, people who worked in temples and made money as money changers in the temples did not make money off to Christians, who refused to participate due to the new wave of thinking brought in by Christianity. Christians were viewed as overly exclusive and hence, dangerous to the society in general and public order. Christians had no respect for other gods and they therefore refrained from public festivals that were meant to honor public deities. In fact, they never worshiped state gods and the imperial cult. They neither worshipped nor recognized the emperor as the leader of religion. This turned out to be un fortunate for the Romans, who wanted to stay powerful. Therefore, they were treated with suspicion and regarded as stubborn and somewhat subversive to the State solidarity. 3. What do the world-views of Christianity and Greco-Roman humanism have in common? How are they different? Christianity and Greco-Roman humanism share many common elements. ... This means that both Christianity and Greco-Roman humanism had several things in common and maintained differences at the same too. 4. Explain the importance of these individuals: 1- Saint Paul: Saint Paul was important because he was one of the Apostles of Christ. Initially, Paul was a persecutor of Christians who got converted while on his way to Damascus (the Lord converted him from Saul to a Roman name Paul) thus becoming one of the greatest Christian missionaries. He traveled far and wide within Greece and other places in order to spread the Gospel, ultimately shaping the way we understand the Bible today. 2- The Bishop of Rome: The Bishop of Rome was very important because he made important decisions regarding Christianity-before Christianity in Europe was split into the warring factions of Protestantism with Martin Luther and Rome’s Catholicism. The Bishop of Rome rose to a position of preeminence in the hierarchical structure of the church to be identified as the leade r of the church. 3- Saint Augustine: Saint Augustine was the first archbishop of the church of Canterbury. He was also a writer, rhetorician, and devout Christian whose writings upon several topics regarding faith were highly-regarded in the Christian faith. St. Augustine’s works are respected by both Protestants and Catholics alike. 5. What was monasticism and why was it important to the people of this period and to Western Civilization in general? Do monastic communities still exist? Explain. Monasticism was a form of asceticism practiced by Protestant, Christian, and Orthodox monks (men) and nuns (women). In a gender-neutral term they are known as â€Å"monastics†. The Monastics lived alone in the

Performance Management as an Important Part of Organization Productivi Essay

Performance Management as an Important Part of Organization Productivity - Essay Example Therefore, the system of performance management generally involves evaluating and developing the skills, behaviours, and the performance of individual employees, generally for ensuring that the organization competes favourably in the market through its high performance. Performance management, therefore, can be used as a measuring and management instrument of employees in the organization. This process mostly benefits the big international companies, and those companies, whose workforce is greatly distributed. As a process, performance management comprises different types of activities aimed at achieving the objective of the general process. These include reward and remuneration for employees, coaching and mentoring of employees, team working, measuring, competencies, and competencies, and personal development plans, among others. Today, performance management is characterized by various changes, as the way it is approached today differs with how the process was approached in the past centuries. The changes in performance management today have contributed to its increased efficiency, and keep helping organizations to retain their high-performing employees. Performance management today is a holistic process, which embraces different processes, and th is is efficient in people management in companies (Kreitner 2008). Armstrong & Baron (2005) note that performance management is not a new process in organizations. This process has lasted for the past seventy years, since its inception in the 1940’s. Initially, managers of companies developed performance management during this period, in order to establish whether the different salaries and remuneration for the employees were justified or not. The difference between performance management of those days, and the performance management today is reflected in the complexity of the process.  Ã‚  

One consequence of globalisation is that transnational corporations Essay

One consequence of globalisation is that transnational corporations have become increasingly adept at creating new ways of organizing and outsourcing production. Critically evaluate this statement - Essay Example Manufacturing was the life blood of a nation’s economy. This is not the case anymore. Although the productivity of the manufacturing sector in United Kingdom, and elsewhere, has improved, the share of manufacturing in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the countries of the developed world has declined (OECD 2009). In the United Kingdom, for instance, the share of manufacturing has come down from nearly 22% in 2000 to 16% in 2007 (OECD 2009). One of the most important reasons for this loss in the share of manufacturing sector is the emergence of Asian and other third world countries as a provider of cheap labour where the transnational companies could shift their manufacturing units and continue manufacturing their products at a fraction of the cost of what it would have had, had they continued to manufacture it in the developing world. The multinationals have become adept at exploiting each and every opportunity to reduce the costs of their products by shifting their production base from one low cost centre to another low cost centre. This has resulted in increasing profits for the companies, and in some cases, lower prices for the end customer. On the other hand, globalization has also lead to problems for the transnational organizations. They have received negative publicity over the alleged ill treatment of the workers at their low cost manufacturing centres, and for using the natural resources of the countries they are operating in and spreading pollution there. The transnational corporations try to adapt themselves to the changing landscape of business in many different ways. Their responses have ranged from outsourcing a part of their business to acquiring strategic business partners abroad. The advantages offered by moving the manufacturing units offshore are not only related to cost, but also to quality, risk mitigation and the ability to concentrate on the core areas of business. The biggest

Life of a Homeless Man Essay Example for Free

Life of a Homeless Man Essay To whom it may concern, Imagine all the events that occurred in your life today. You woke up from your warm bed, took a shower, got dressed, and went to school, work, or both. Then you came home, you had dinner, and went to sleep. These are all basic needs that many people in the United States today dont have. Most people would agree that a day like this is fairly ordinary. Shelter, clothes, food, education, and family are all things that we usually take for granted and things that every person deserves. Now imagine your normal, everyday, routine being taken away from you. All in all you would essentially have my life. I have been facing an intense struggle just to stay alive despite the fact that society turns its head on me. The government has made laws that discriminate against me, which makes it almost illegal for me to co-exist with society. The mistreatment of homeless people is an issue that is often ignored by my community. When you see me on the streets how do you react? Do you turn your head and ignore me? Do you become angry that I am living on the streets? Do you feel frightened and avoid confrontation with me all together? Or do you see me as a human being and treat me in that way? Imagine if you were homeless, living everyday on the streets, having to go through constant judgments and listening to criticizing comments everyday like Get a job, or Ew, stay away. Imagine how hard it would be getting a job, especially in these times. Imagine living in a world with the You need money to get money philosophy; applying for jobs, yet the employer wont hire you because of your lack of clean clothes. So now you need to get new clothes, yet you dont have money. You need money, yet you dont have a job. It is a vicious cycle. Just think of how it would be, being homeless and not even having a mailing address. No family, no friends, being around drugs and violence 24/7. No roof to stand under in case of a storm. You dont even have time to think about getting food, yet that’s all you think about. Imagine living in a world where your best friends, and even your country, had left you behind. It would be tough, and it will change your perspective on me and how I live my life. I try not to accept my situation, but what other choice do I have? I used to ask for spare change and you think that I would have been asking for a kidney. For a country who likes to watch other people’s problems on TV, you think I would live in a country that would be more willing to at least hear what I have to deal with each day, if for entertainment at the very least. When people see me they assume I am more capable of committing violent crimes than a normal person. The only luxury I really have is the newspaper, and you would be shocked on how little we turn up vs. ormal Americans when it comes to violent crimes. Given the chance I would steal to survive another day, yet most believe it is ok to steal bread to feed one’s family. Hypocrites are normally the ones who have no problem passing judgment to me, yet we are not so different. As a homeless man, I don’t get to interact with many exciting things. You’d be surprised what I’d give if I had o ne friend that would visit me for as little as an hour a week. Considering that, since society looks down on me on a 24/7 basis, I don’t get a day off for fun. Congress issues American citizens â€Å"freedom of speech†, however I am still waiting on my chance to be heard. I would like people to know how it feeling of freezing rain feels every winter. The smell of molding cardboard is something I have to deal with on a monthly basis, until I can move to a new home. Some of the things that I’ve seen are not for the faint of heart; along with some of the things I’m left to eat in order to make it another day. You may read this letter and assume it to be the voice of the homeless firing back at society. You may read this letter and find it as a cry for help. Chances are is that you are probably interpreting this letter as a complaint against the community I live in. Why all those could be true consider the intent of this letter as a reminder of how bad it could be. I can guarantee you that the extent of your problems can be solved, so the next time you think about giving up, complaining about your relationship or job, or even get upset when your favorite sports team doesn’t win the big game; it can get worse.

Media Convergence: Advantages and Disadvantages

Media Convergence: Advantages and Disadvantages Introduction The electronic highway of information that is girdling the world has brought an end to the Gutenberg era. Transition from a â€Å"stones throw away† world to a â€Å"click away† world has changed the way we live, interact, socialize and work. It has also changed the way we perceive culture, people, processes, objects i.e. life in short. The high speed network fabric has rendered geographical boundaries irrelevant. A few years back it may have sounded like an idea by Slartibartfast from the legendary planet of Margarathea(from the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy) but with the advent of technological platforms this aint a far-fetched idea any longer but is the reality of the present times. It all began with the technological outburst which led to the availability of various platforms that helped to efficiently maximize the transfer of information. The degree of separation between the company and the consumer has reduced considerably. Branding Redefined Branding is no longer the privilege of the larger conglomerates or the big pockets. With the advent of technology and the significant reduction in the costs associated with branding, smaller companies that are taking branding seriously have cropped up like mushrooms. The competition is much tougher and there is this race of owning properties both online and real to cut out the competition. In the context of sports we can take the example of the Indian Premier League (IPL) the largest sport event in India this year. So there would be sponsors for IPL who would demand exclusivity. This is applicable across industry sectors- say a sponsor of something like MTV Roadies who would end up owning the content rights of the show- just to kick competition out of the advertising sphere for the show. The questions that loom large are â€Å"Has the traditional media died?† or â€Å"Has it just reduced to a mere supporting media?† or â€Å"Have the rules of the game changed?† or â€Å"Is it a new game altogether?† Brand experience is both emotional and functional. It is not only a promise that a company makes, or an assurance to the quality of the product as mentioned by Aaker(1991) but it also has a psychological role to play. They make you feel good about yourself or are an expression of yourself. They also fulfil social needs like a sense of affiliation or belongingness to a community or a group of people who think alike. The very fact that names like Arsenal, Manchester United of the English Premier League (EPL) are household names in a country like India where nothing but Cricket sells, shows the growth of sports branding. This phenomenon has been more evident in the recent past all because of the media convergence (Kerr,2008). There are fan communities where people can discuss their teams, interact with people with similar sentiments, vent their anger when a player does not perform and share their grief when their team loses. The arrival of sport channels has provided a medium to the broadcasters to telecast all kinds of sports and not just cricket. There is as much of motor sports, basketball, tennis and football as there is cricket. The question that pops up next is, what is the brand? Is it the player, the club or is it Football the game itself? If yes, how has a little white ball and a green field inspired the most successful brand principles that has led to true brand management? The concept of a sport being a brand may sound a little ridiculous at first, but the figures dont lie. A Brand Finance survey conducted in 2005 revealed that Manchester United had a brand value of  £197m, Liverpool a value of 156m, Chelsea  £137m and Arsenal a brand value of  £115mn. Indian Premier League (IPL) The Sport Renaissance in India India has two primary religions Bollywood and Cricket. The only differentiating factor that sets sports entertainment apart from the rest is the passion that it commands and the real time execution. The cricket economy world over is 1bn USD to which India contributes to more than 60%. This includes revenues from ticket sales, sponsorship, endorsements and broadcasting rights. In 2008 the remote wars in the households in India had struck a truce as all the members in the family were glued onto one thing -the IPL for their own different reasons. Be it the glamour, be it the sport, be it the uniqueness of the concept or be it the hype around the event, IPL redefined entertainment. The General Entertainment Channels (GECs) observed a huge dip in the Television Rating Points. Nothing had grabbed the attention of the masses the classes at such a scale ever before. Next year IPL struck again-grander and better. The GECs delayed the launch of new shows as they were sure they had nothing that could compete against the IPL. Such is the potential for the Sport Industry in India. The IPL 09 had rung the death knell of the whole arena of player management in India as small size sponsors signed the best of the players in the Indian team for a year at dead cheap prices. This fiasco happened due to the deals that the IPL Franchise had with these sponsors and the players were bound by it. This was the reason why we saw Master Blaster Sachin, Zaheer and Harbhajan promoting Luminous Invertors and Sehwaag advertising for Jetkings an equipment hardware manufacturer. Is it truly about club over country? The club format brought to the public light through the IPL has shattered the myth that sports in India is about national identity and patriotism? In the auction the highest bid jersey was not that of Tendulkar or Ganguly, it was Khans 11. It has given rise to a lot of questions What is it that makes a person support the Mumbai Indians or the Kolkatta Knight Riders? Is it Sachin, Sehwag, Shilpa or Shahrukh? Is it the success of the team or the strategy that they employ when at the field? The other areas of concern would be has this concept of IPL revolutionized the way sport is consumed in India? Will the spectators be interested in an IPL match over India vs Pakistan Test Match? The Moment of Truth in the IPL that made its success eminent was the fact that the crowd actually cheered when Sachin was bowled by Bret Lee. This is an indicator of the fact that sports in India is in the throes of evolution. People are open to accepting it as an entertainment option than a patriotic struggle. Literature Review What is Media Convergence? Britannica Encyclopaedia says, â€Å"Media Convergence is a phenomenon that involves the interlocking of computing and information technology companies, telecommunication networks and content providers from the various media platforms like magazines, newspapers, radio, television, films and the likes. It also says that Media Convergence is the confluence of the 3 Cs Communication, Content and Computing†. According to Henry Jenkins who is a highly respected media analyst and one of the foremost leading experts on the convergence culture paradigm, as well as, the DeFlorz Professor of Humanities and the Founder and Director of the Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT states that, â€Å"the flow of content across multiple media platforms, the cooperation between multiple media industries, and the migratory behaviour of media audiences is what constitutes media convergence†. It is not just the confluence of the traditional and the new digital media but it is also about the unpredictable ways of interaction and association of the consumers and producers of media. It is not solely technological but there is a huge gamut of socio- cultural paradigm shifts that have changed the way the consumer evaluates a product, makes his decision and his social interactions to seek information. It also includes the experience that the producer of the media makes the consumer go through (Viau, 2 001). The world is witnessing the new forms of media in which they have a larger control over the types of feeds they receive, the ease with which they can interact with not just the media but with the media provider as well. This has brought a whole new dimension of competition to the traditional media platforms. This has also led to a lack of dependence of the consumers on any particular media which in turn translates to lesser loyalty. Benefits of Media Convergence: The content creators can use the platform to generate customized content that is targeted at a specific group. This has also brought about a change in the dynamics of economy as distribution and cost structure is not the same in traditional media. It has brought about a sense of Post Modernism to the field of media consumption where the consumer is not an audience but is also a co creator. This has also brought about a change in the experience that a person goes through by consuming media. It has transcended the limitations of the traditional media. Negatives of Media Convergence: This has brought in a certain amount of unpredictability in the responses that a media would receive. With the audience being exposed to a plethora of media platforms it gets tough to understand what has had what kind of effect on the consumer. Media Convergence has brought about a shift in the control that the content creator had over its property. With the advent of blogs, mobiles and emails the consumers are exposed to large amount of unbranded content. This has led to an increase in the competition for consumers time and attention that the content creators face. Is Sport an Industry? Does industry necessarily comprise of a product or service? NO! It could be an offering that is neither of the two but is consumed by the people. Entertainment is an industry and so is religion. Thus Sport is an industry too which comprises of selling sports or selling through sports. Be it the events, leagues and the tickets to view these or the marketing of products through sports- which would include merchandize, licensing and sponsorship (Mason, 1999). The figure below represents a model of the Sport Industry Parallels can be drawn between Sports and a Consumer Product. Below is a representation of the value chain of the sports industry. Sport as a product can be consumed in different ways- playing, watching, reading or being entertained by it. The level of involvement of the consumers -fans in the sports jargon, differs for each of the way. â€Å"Football is a million dollar industry. The sport has a long heritage in UK and has the most prestigious premiership in the world and has attracted players from all four corners of the globe. Most importantly, football inspires passion and the big four, Chelsea Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool FC, are among the most valuable brands in the country†, says Ruth Mortimer- a sports marketing blog owner. What is a Sports Brand? What constitutes a sports brand is questionable. It depends on what the product is? Is the league a product or is it the clubs in the league that constitute the product (Goldman, 1989; Grauer, 1983; 1989; Gray, 1987)? It is argued that the league can be taken as a cartel of these entities i.e. the clubs. This would determine the marketing strategies for the league and the clubs. But whatever the case be both are brands in themselves. If football is the category EPL can be taken as the Umbrella Brand and the clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea and the likes would constitute the sub brands. Even the players would be brands in their own respect. If Beckham is the brand then it is dedicated, suave and down to earth (Milligan, 2004). Manchester United stands for excitement and great entertainment all so because right from Cantona to Giggs to Rooney and Ronaldo, the club has stalwarts who are both excellent at the game and are trend setters in their own way. Hence there is a clearly identifiable brand proposition (Baeur et al, 2005). How are sport brands different from the product brands? NBA Franchise was the first to realize the potential of brand building and what organized marketing can do to fuel revenue generation. Andy Mulligan(2009), says, â€Å" Brands are often, somewhat lazily by some people, equated with pure commercialism and worse still with a kind of fluffy marketing that is about spin and not substance.† He is of the view that though Sport is a huge industry, managing teams is not in the least similar to managing a business. The very premise that a business is a tradable property sets it apart. A team is a repository of emotional associations that fans world over share and build. Hence sports team is not a business but it could definitely be a brand as its an identity and a promise that the consumers believe in and an experience that they live. The association of a spectator with a specific club is enhanced by the collaborative play of â€Å"local, national or emotional identifications† (Whannel, 1992, p. 199) or by the un-certainty of the outcome of the game (Clapson, 1992).The degree of association of the club and the spectator is so high that he develops a strong sense of affiliation with the club. He feels proud and celebrates the victories and is all gloomy over the losses. This phenomenon has been termed as Basking in Reflected Glory (BIRG) (Cialdini et al., 1976). Media and Sports The globalization, the opening up of trade barriers, this era of media convergence, the popularity of the internet, and the ever increasing number of netizens has revolutionized the sports industry. The advancements in communication technology provide omniscient access to all kinds of leagues that a team plays in. This coupled with the 24X7 dedicated sport channels has opened up a whole new arena of entertainment. Today the English Premier League and Formula 1 are as popular in the Asia Pacific as they are in Europe. Earlier people used to watch just the league finals but now they have the option to follow their favourite teams irrespective of their geographic location and time. The qualifiers for the Champions League or the NASCAR have a sizeable number of viewers as does the grand finale. When Real Madrid signed the superstar David Beckham, the live telecast of the ceremony attracted more than 2 million eyeballs (Hatfield, 2003). Games of Houston Rockets had a viewership of over 30 million Chinese viewers who tuned in just to watch Yao Ming- their fellow citizen battle the National Basketball Associations (NBA) finest (Larmer, 2005). Manchester United has a huge fan base of close to 24 million in China alone which is more than the number of viewers in Britain. More than half a billion people tune in to watch the weekly games world over. (Datson, 2004). The popularity that these sports command has attracted the attention of sponsors and advertisers. The teams themselves have realized the large potential that the world of marketing has in store. They have capitalized on this opportunity and the audience sentiment by branding themselves. They have a prominent presence across the various levels, be it Below the Line or Above the Line. We have Team Anthems, Jerseys, Videos, Events, Parties, Posters- ALL OF IT! Manchester Uniteds branded licensed jerseys sell more in the USA as compared to all the other Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs combined. The number of hardcore fans has been approximated to a good 4 million in North America alone. Japanese tour groups spent US$500 million on just the tickets and souvenirs from the New York Yankees. All so to watch Hideki Matsui the outfielder from Japan. This was more than five times what the presence of Ichiro Suzuki in Seattle Mariners generated (Whiting, 2003). Internet statistics tell the same story. There are more satellite fans to the NBA. 40% of visitors to the website log on from outside the States and a humongous 20% of the licensed merchandise is sold overseas (Eisenberg et al., 2003). Global Sports Industry Recession When the whole world is in the throes of recession, sports is one industry sector that has not been as badly affected as the others and was quick enough to bounce back within a year. Loss of sponsorship, events being cancelled, biggies withdrawing from the arena; these are some of the development the sports industry has witnessed in the recent past. On one hand we have been witnessing things like Honda, Kawasaki and Subaru withdrawn from motorsport Manchester United lose  £56 million AIG shirt sponsorship US National Football League indicates it will cut workforce by 10% Tiger Woods loses five year $8 million endorsement contract with Buick Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games takes out additional $800 million loan to cover financial shortfall 2009 Indian Masters golf tournament cancelled Arena Football League in US cancelled for the season On the other hand the world witnessed the largest ever viewership and increasing advertising spend TV viewership increased to 1 million (97.4m to 98.4m); advertising investment up $20 million (from $186 million to $206 million) at the Super bowl 2009 Manchester City sold for  £200million+ in summer 2008 Premier League signs new live TV rights deal for  £1.78 billion, surpassing previous deal Badminton England signs record-breaking sponsorship deal with Yonex Manchester United and City will both sign lucrative, record-breaking shirt sponsorship deals if the rumors are to be believed Sports Scenario in India The Sports arena in India has been dominated by cricket for quite some time now. But with the converging media and the Westernization sports like soccer, basketball, motor racing have observed an increasing fan base. A look at the Audience and Viewership data from TAM is enough to prove this point. Cricket is followed by soccer, tennis and wrestling. The reason for the monopoly of cricket is simple. Cricket is the only sport where India has made a mark in the International arena and which still holds hope for Indians to win over others. This has provided it the status of religion in India. The other popular sports would include Soccer, Tennis and Motor Sports as revealed by a TAM report. This marks the herald of a whole new era of sports entertainment and marketing. Below is an overview of the size of the sports industry in India IPL- The Story so Far India has two religions Bollywood and Cricket and the whole country was awestruck when the two joined hands. IPL is all about glamour, excitement and passion. It works on a franchise model where each of team is owned by an industrialist, a celebrity or is a joint venture. There was an auction to own the clubs and then there was an auction to make the team and select the players. This was the golden time for the Cricket Board in India as it made a lot of profits. Franchise rights were tendered with a reserve price of USD 50mn for 10 yrs. The owners get a percentage of the revenue that the team earns and has other streams like merchandising to mint money from too. The primary difference between the IPL and the English Premier League was the fact that in IPL there was a cap on the amount of money that could be spent in building a team. Unlike EPL where the teams that are backed by the deeper pockets manage to buy the best of the players and end up winning the tournaments and the others are a t a competitive disadvantage. Apart from this sponsorship on Television and the ground constitutes a huge chunk of the revenues that the board and the team earn. The IPL website had 50mn page views in the first week and had received 530,000 column cm of stuff written about it in the newspapers in the Season 1. The opening match in Delhi had a Television Rating Point(TRP) of 7.19 which was the highest for any event in India ever. It had a TRP of 6.7 amongst women which is a considerable number considering the fact that Indian women are generally not much into watching sports. Thus we see that it aint just a mere entertainment option but is an industry in itself. The Need Gap The clubs are no longer just teams whose players lend it its brand value. There is a huge industry of sports merchandize, events and the likes that thrives on this its a culture in itself. Keeping this in mind I plan to study formats like the EPL and NBA which are brands in themselves and arrive at the factors that lead to the success of such brands. India as a nation provides huge potential to market these brands. It is not just the passion for the sport or the sentiment of belongingness to a particular nation that commands loyalty. There are several other factors that have converted sports clubs or teams into one of the most valued brands world over. Therefore there is a knowledge gap that exists. It is to study what these factors are and what are the things that affect these factors? Parallels can be drawn between the sports industry in India and in nations abroad which in turn would help marketing sports, teams and clubs as brands in a nation like India- which is a burgeoning economy and holds great prospects for such brands. Research Objectives To understand how sports branding has grown as an industry in the West, taking EPL, NBA, Formula 1 as a case study. To understand the consumer perception of sports as a brand in India by conducting a research amongst the audiences To understand how media convergence has led to the popularity and the cult like fan following of Western sports in India To analyze the Indian sports industry and devise a marketing strategy for building a sports brand in the Indian context Research Methodology Research Design A fan â€Å"represents an association from which the individual derives considerable emotional and value significance† (Madrigal, 1995, pp. 209-210). Thus it is not equivalent to being a spectator. Therefore to understand their behaviour and attitude statistical data about what they watch and how often do they watch does not help in the quest to understand what makes them a fan. Therefore the research methodology would be a mix of quantitative and qualitative as both have their own advantages and contributions to making this study more fruitful. Quantitative studies use the deductive logic to explain social facts (Horna, 1994, p. 121) and thus would help in understanding the behavioural component. This would help in understanding what the crowd constitutes of and what are the primary scalable attitudes exhibited by them. But this fails to explain the underlying reasons for such behaviour, things that differentiate a fan from a spectator. Thus, qualitative study becomes important too. Qualitative methods help in exploring the cognitive components. It also helps explaining the longitudinal behaviour of things rather than a mere snapshot of the present scenario which could be gauged from the quantitative. In depth interviews would be the preferred technique as we seek to understand the reasons why an individual behaves the way he does and not really the collective opinion of a group. The quantitative research can be carried out by administering a questionnaire online and in person. Some statistics can also be gathered from the various databases and research data available publicly. Sampling The research aims to understand how the emergence of media affected the attitude of the people towards Sports in general and the club culture in particular. It is conducted to understand what is it that makes them commit their loyalties to a particular team and how does this affect the economics of the industry. Only SEC A and B are considered based on the assumption that the SECs lower than this dont contribute much. Females have been considered as recent researches show that there are an increasing number of women who have started following sports and participating in it. Hence their opinion and perception could be a valuable contribution. Expected Contribution After studying the responses from the sample, the research would help arrive at answers to various questions regarding the future of the sports industry in India. Questions like where is the industry headed? What kind of sport would sell? How do the sports brands communicate to the people? How has the convergence of media affected their understanding of the sports industry? Apart from this it would help brand managers and sports consultants to design the branding strategies for the various sports brands so that they can sustain themselves in this highly competitive and unpredictable market. Secondary Research: Marketing of Professional Sports Professional sports started with the leagues specializing in one kind of sport which would run for a season and the league enjoyed a monopoly in the arena. But with the advent of infrastructural facilities and increased investments in the industry of sport management there are multiple leagues fighting for the share of eye and heart. They fight for consumers who have a plethora of other entertainment options to select from. Thus the competition in not limited to just the sports industry but is with the larger entertainment industry (Grauer, 1989). The one thing that makes professional sports appealing to the audiences is the uncertainty of the results. The adrenaline rush that the spectator experiences with every passing minute is dramatic and cannot be derived from staged content. â€Å"Like other forms of entertainment, sport offers a utopia, a world where everything is simple, dramatic and exciting, and euphoria is always a possibility Sport entertains, but can also frustrate, annoy and depress. But it is this very uncertainty that gives its unpredictable joys their characteristic intensity (Whannel,1992, p. 199)†. The intensity of appeal and engagement with the sport is further enhanced by the association that an individual has with the sport and if there are stakes that he has in the outcome. The concept of Basking in Reflected Glory(BRIG) talks about the highest degree of association where a fan is a loyal even if the team does not perform well(Cialdini, 1976). Initially the sports leagues were owned by individuals or entrepreneurs but with the growing popularity it has achieved the status of an industry and has been successful in attracting corporate and has taken a more formal structure than a mere source of entertainment. It is due to the involvement of these corporations outside the realm of professional sports management that has brought in newer revenue streams like merchandizing and sponsorships. This model of corporate ownership of a league or a club was started in the USA and was later adopted by the leagues in the continents of Europe and Australia. The biggest advantage of this is that the teams are backed by deep pockets and investment into a team is a part of the investment portfolio of the corporation and not the main business area. Companies like Blockbuster, Disney and Turner from the North American industry of entertainment and broadcasting have benefitted from their presence in professional sports (Cousens and Slack, 1996) . This has also helped Rupert Murdoch to extend his empire across the globe. This has also helped in attracting better players as the salaries are far better, improved facilities to train and huge advertising expenditures to build the fan base. The corporations are not buying into the uncertainty of the game by owning a team but are using the reputation of the team to fuel their interests. For example the treaty between FOX network and the National Football League was not really a profitable venture for the broadcast network as it had to overbid to acquire the rights but as Murdoch puts it, â€Å"it has made [FOX] a real network in the US†(Swift, 1995). Globalization of the Leagues â€Å"Professional sports leagues are now a part of the powerful recreation and entertainment sector of the economy. In addition, sports have â€Å"delocalised†; the global marketplace has made sports less attached to specific places, particularly those which have world-wide appeal, such as football and basketball (Euchner, 1993)†. Satellite TV and Internet has sped up the delocalization of professional sports by making the content available across the globe in real time. The total income of the â€Å"Big 5† football leagues in Europe in the year 2005-06 was  £12.6 billion ($18.54 billion) (Deloitte and Touche 2007), out of which the Barclays English Premier League(EPL) was the largest contributor, generating revenues as high as à ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ ¬ 2 billion. The most sought after customers of the industry would be the fans as they are loyal and facilitate generating the revenues required to rope in the best players and management. The media analysts refer the players, the clubs and the leagues as the â€Å"brand† (Globalisation of the league, Dr. Bridgewater, 2007). The brands in this industry are not same as the rest but there are strategies that remain the same. When a FMCG brand has to be made global, what companies generally do is start operations in the country where they would like to have a presence. Similarly, the leagues involve other nations or players that have a different nationality to increase the audience base which in turn would lead to building up the fan base which constitutes the target segment for the merchandise. For example the National Football League (NFL) in the USA announced the first competitive game between the Miami Dolphins and the New York Giants in October 2007, more than a 50,000 tickets were sold within 3 days of the announcement. The buyers comprised of local and expatriate fans. This is representative of the fact that there is huge potential in this industry sector. The number of â€Å"E Loyals†- people who dont hold a season ticket or have been to watch a live match but support the game and the club as they have been exposed to it online or on TV- has been rising in the last few years. They are a segment that is as likely to buy the merchandise as a fan who is a regular at the stadium. Pennants, caps, shirts, flags, bands and other team branded articles are what have led to an increase in the revenues and facilitated penetration in other geographic markets (Cousens and Slack, 1996). English Premier League (EPL) -A Case Study English Premier League is a leading association of professional football clubs in the European Union. It has 20 clubs that play in the league every year and follows the system of relegation. Each of these clubs is a shareholder to the league. The EPL came into existence in 1992 when the First Division in the Football League decided to part ways from the Football League as it had struck a lucrative deal for television broadcast rights. It has the largest revenues in the football arena, close to a $4mn in 2007-08. It is perceived to be more glamorous, entertaining and action centred as compared to the rest of the European Leagues like the Serie A and La Liga in Spain. Premier League has undoubtedly grown to be a global brand. The global fan base of the leading international football brands such as Real Madrid and Manchester United runs in millions of British Pounds and â€Å"shows no sign of waning† (Deloitte â€Å"Football Money League†,2008) What is it that determines a persons identification with a club? A Research conducted in 2002 has identified 5 important factors that govern the association of fans with the team. These are primarily the support that the team gathers at the venue the management of the team the traditions, values, legacy that it entails the social entertainment factor i.e. the fan community that it h

A Look At Internet Browser Computer Science Essay

A Look At Internet Browser Computer Science Essay An internet browser is the program that you use to access the internet and view web pages. Internet browsers give service to user for access WWW (World Wide Web). There are different web browsers that are used today. Some internet browsers are Microsoft internet explorer Google chrome Mozilla Firefox Opera Netscape Navigator Apple Safari etc. We dont think that which browser is best for us and without knowing features and install it. We need to know which one is best for us and what are advantages and disadvantages and features of it. Here are some basic browsers features that make decision to choose best browser for us. Graphics Some browsers are capable for display text only they do not display any image, videos etc. modern web browsers have features of graphics and work faster and easier to use. Multiple Protocols A protocol is a set of rules that how data is received and transmitted. Hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) is the common language of the web and all browsers support it and different protocol that are used for Browsers for browsing web pages. Security Support Many browsers have secure socket layer (SSL). SSL is special protocol to secure in buying and selling and transaction work. Different protocols and services are available to secure users from hackers and viruses. Frames One of the most basic features is frame. This technology divides a browser window into two or more parts. When we load different webpages in different tab. This feature makes work easily and quickly for the users. Filtering Good browsers establish rules for blocking objectionable web content for user. Browser block the web page that is not secure for user and does not browse it. Upload support The internets have many tools of attachment of file and send email etc. browsers must support upload services only older and basic browsers have not support users upload files. Cookies Cookies are small files that web sites leave on a PC. Cookies are must support in browsers to save password and history for users. Plug-ins Plug-in is a separate application that works with browsers to provide the content that is not designed for browsers. Avoid those browsers that are used plugins to provide contents. Language support Some browsers do not support language other than English. A browser which does not support multiple languages is text like gibberish. Best browsers support multiple languages for users. Internet Explorer One of the most powerful web browsers, internet explorer had the 95% usage market share in 2003. This web browser was developed by Microsoft and including by default in Microsoft windows operating system. This is high quality web browser. Internet browser is a good browser is not we know it after knowing advantages and disadvantages of it. Advantages: Availability: Internet Explorer is freely available by default in Microsoft operating system. There is no need to install it. Browsing in tabs: this new feature allowed users to open webpages in same window that we call tabs. No need to open webpages in group or in different windows. Security: security provide to users. User has some problem in different browsers but Internet Explorer has the feature of security to protect users from hackers. Application support: it has support almost every application available on internet and also many tools for help users. Reopen last sessions: when you close your browsers by mistake and lose all data that you were working on. IE save that data in it and when user open this IE restore the last session. Disadvantages: Speed: As we are in speed age and have no time to wait. Users need any browsers that work quickly IE considered as one of the slowest browsers as compared to Firefox and Chrome. It takes too much time to load webpage and downloading files. Security: This is the most annoying internet browsers. Best browser is based on security but internet explorer is the main target for hackers. Microsoft is struggling and trying to make Internet Explorer secure from hackers who steal the information of users. Customization: As compares to different browsers like Firefox and Google Chrome, IE dont have choice to customize privacy setting. Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser. Mozilla Firefox developed by Microsoft Windows and Linux coordinated by Mozilla Corporation and Mozilla Foundation. Mozilla Firefox is third most widely usage of share of web Advantages: Speed: Mozilla is fastest Brower not only do programs and file downloading but also you get the record of downloading that is easier for user to use in future. Security: Firefox has some advanced security that protect from hackers and viruses. Firefox block harmful web content and stop to browse it. Tabbed Browsing: Mozilla Firefox allows users to open unlimited webpages in a single window without opening in different windows. Restore Recent Session: Firefox will remember which internet pages you had open and get us back where users were working if your computer is turned off my mistake. Extensions and themes: Firefox is one of the most easily customize browser with support for browser extensions. It has more than 500 themes and also extension to perform work on toolbar etc. Simple Interface: Firefox has a simple interface that makes it easier to use and work on slower machines. Disadvantages: Compatibility issues: the main disadvantage of Firefox is compatibility. Some websites do not show properly in Firefox and it is view in Internet Explorer. This includes ActiveX and VBScript both of which is not supported by Firefox. Memory: Firefox takes a lot of memory to work and update makes it hard to run and invested heavily memory to use. Interrupted Service: Firefox cannot resume if downloading is interrupted. It may have a lot of trouble if your connection have problem. Google Chrome Google Chrome is a freeware web browser developed by Google. It was first released as beta version for Microsoft windows. Advantages: Speed: Google Chrome is faster than other browsers. it works more quickly. Ease to use: Google Chrome easy to use and work as compare to other browsers. Language support: it has number of Google website features. One of the features is language support which means if web content is in other language then Google Chrome has option to translate it. Speedy Start Up: if you use different browser then you have noticed that Google Chrome is quickly Start Up than others. Cloud Storage: Cloud storage of browser information is a main feature in Google Chrome where you can easily synchronize bookmarks, history, extensions to save it for future use. Chrome also variety of Google cloud-based services, including Gmail, Google Docs and Picasa for ease to user future use. Back up in Google Account and in PC: you can easily store synchronize bookmarks, history, extensions and more between Google Chrome installations on different computers. Chrome also integrates with variety of Google cloud-based services, including Gmail, Google Docs and Picasa by Google account where you can store it. And also save back up in window operating system. Restore session: Google Chrome has a feature of restore last tabs that are lost by any reason. Reopen last website: if Google chrome close by any mistake and after open it the last browsing website is open automatically. Disadvantages: Not Compatible with some websites: One of the main disadvantages of Google Chrome is not compatible with some websites, it not browse some website but better than Firefox and Internet Browser. Because as I have mention above Firefox not compatible and need to install ActiveX etc. but Google chrome is not compatible for some advanced website and no need to install ActiveX etc. No warning when closing Multiple Tabs: if you want to close multiple tab Google Chrome send no warning. As you have noticed that Internet Explorer has many disadvantages, but still have a lot of users. And second usage of share have Firefox and on third Google Chrome. And compare to speed and use I think Google chrome is best browser to use. But in some time we need to use IE. Google Chrome is faster and compatible than IE and Firefox and save bookmark and other things to and restore session etc. Google Chrome is better than IE and Firefox because if you have lost any data of tab and bookmark etc. then you just sign in to Google and get it easily and there is no need to install any plug in, ActiveX etc. Google Chrome faster start up and have also back up in your google account as I mentioned above in last 3 lines. Google Chrome has a lot of themes and also privacy setting. Google Chrome has history of browsers.

Artists in Stained Glass :: Essays Papers

Artists in Stained Glass I. CONCRETE EXPERIENCE I think my interest in the combination of glass, light and color began as a child when I discovered the colorful images created inside a kaleidoscope. Even as an adult, I cannot seem to resist picking up a kaleidoscope and gazing into the viewer as I rotate the tube to change the design of the colored bits of glass. If you walk into my home, it is apparent that I like to decorate with glass. I have glass flowers, marbles, stones, vases, balls, bowls and my favorite, stained glass. I have stained glass windows, birds, flowers, night-lights, candle holders, picture frames, and a jewelry box. I like to attend the various arts and craft festivals and shows in Tulsa so I can enjoy the stained glass art created by the local artisans. In November 1999, I went to the Stained Glass Guild's annual sale and purchased my first large piece of stained glass. It was a beautiful blue, yellow, green and red floral piece. I had purchased several smaller floral pieces in 1998 at Tulsa's Arts and Craft Fall Festival at Tulsa State Fairgrounds and I knew it would look beautiful surrounded by the smaller pieces. I purchased my stained glass windows at the Haskell Antique Auction in 2000. They were removed from a building in England and I like to think that they survived the bombings during World War II and now they hang inside my home. I would not say an exceptionally talented artisan created the windows but the pattern in the glass is unique. The colors sparkle and bring a certain charm to my kitchen and breakfast nook, especially on cold winter days. I recently remodeled my kitchen, breakfast nook and formal dining area. I installed new counters, wallpaper, border, artwork and flooring. In my spare time, I have been working with two friends to make a stained glass still life to hang between the doorway to the formal dining area and the kitchen, breakfast nook area. We made the pattern from the wallpaper border, which depicts a wine bottle, cheese, basket of fruit and some flowers sitting on a counter. The piece has over 200 pieces of cut glass and we are about two-thirds finished.

The American Airline Industry Essay -- Business Management Studies Air

The American Airline Industry The Airline Industry is a highly competitive industry with companies operating in domestic and/or international markets. Many airlines are stilled owned by their respective countries and have treaties between countries to allow airlines to land there. The industry has been taking a relatively shaky course as costs are rising and profits have been decreasing. This was further intensified with the recent terrorist attacks on US soil, which lead to higher costs as the need for more security arose. Recent financial statements of major airlines showing major losses reflect the problems that the industry is having. Yet amidst the storm, some regional airlines such as Jet Blue Airlines have managed to focus on specific markets and maintained or increased their profits. It is no doubt that Porter’s 5 forces of competition are at play in this industry. These forces are the Threat of Substitutes, Threat of New Entrants, Competitive Rivalry, Bargaining Power of Buyers and Bargaining Power of Suppliers. Threat of Substitutes The airline industry has been plagued by rising costs resulting in poor profits. The recession adversely affected the industry during the first half of 2001. This was intensified by the September 11th attacks, when two airlines were crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City by terrorists killing everyone on board and demolishing the buildings. This lead to an immediate reduction in air travel as customers did not feel safe about flying and an increase in the use of other forms of transportation. Amtrak, a railway company, reported an increase in passenger volume in the days following the attacks. Though this has leveled off as things returned to normal, rail travel is a substitute for air travel that will be utilized by customers if they are looking for cheaper travel and if they are looking for a leisure trip that would not be too time consuming. Automobiles are also a form of travel that is a substitute for air travel. This is especially the case when a family is traveling as the costs are minimized and schedules coordinated on the travelers’ timetable. Threat of New Entrants Historically, entry into the market has been relatively easy for airline companies. When the economy was booming, people traveled more for leisure and companies used this opportunity to enter th... ...aken from Hoovers Online) Revenues (in Millions) Sept 2002 Sept 2001 US Airways 1903.0 2493.0 American 4494.0 4816.0 Southwest 1391.2 1335.1 Net Income (in Millions) Sept 2002 Sept 2001 US Airways (248.0) (24.0) American (924.0) (414.0) Southwest 74.9 151.0 Total Assets (in Millions) Sept 2002 Sept 2001 US Airways 7705.0 9564.0 American 31502.0 31840.0 Southwest 8954.3 7994.9 Total Debt (in Millions) Sept 2002 Sept 2001 US Airways 10808.0 10106.0 American 28991.0 25609.0 Southwest 4631.6 4045.3 EPS (in dollars) Sept 2002 Sept 2001 US Airways (3.64) (.36) American (5.93) (2.68) Southwest .09 .19 Revenue Passenger Miles Oct 2002 Oct 2001 US Airways 2,965,753 2,802,967 American 3,048,000 2,851,000 Southwest 3,258,017 2,590,610 Load Factor (%) Oct 2002 Oct 2001 US Airways 66.9 61.7 American 63.2 57.8 Southwest 56.8 53.4

Was Anne Hutchinson a Threat to Puritan Elite?

â€Å"Was Anne Hutchinson a threat to the Puritan elite? † LaToya McSwain US History 1 November 20, 2012 Believing that the Church of England had strayed too far from its original doctrine, disgruntled group of churchgoers decided to withdraw from the church. In an effort to escape persecution they fled to America. This group became known as the Puritans. Though, in their opinion, the church had strayed from God’s word, they held firm to their position that the Bible was God’s blueprint for daily living.The Puritans believed the church of that day was too saturated with irrelevancy; therefore, in an effort to purify religion, they felt the need to peel off those irrelevant formalities. Hence, the name Puritans-purifying their religion, as well as, their lives. Their strong spiritual convictions served as both a blessing and a curse. It served as a blessing in that it unified them and provided hope during hardships. It served as a curse in that they developed a so mewhat judgmental view of others as worldly if their actions didn’t coincide with the Puritan faith.There is also the idea of â€Å"pre-destination†. Each individual’s lifestyle indicated your standing with God. If you were well off, it was assumed you were in good standing with God. If you were poor, you obviously were not in good standing with God. Placement in heaven and hell was already pre-determined by God and no one knew their destiny. This is uncertainty is what kept the Puritans on the straight and narrow path. If the way of Puritan life is not strictly adhered to, individuals face harsh criticism and discipline-both by the church and society.One of the first American feminist, Anne Hutchinson, believed each individual should have the right to freedom of worship, speech, and thought. She did not deviate from her beliefs, ethics, or ideas no matter what it would cost her. There was never any intention to make anyone angry or hurt anyone’s feelings with her beliefs. Anne Hutchinson was born in a town called Alford, Lincolnshire, England in July, day unknown, 1591. Her birth name was Anne Marbury. She was born to Francis Marbury, a deacon, and Bridget Dryden.Her father, a deacon at Christ Church, Cambridge, was arrested due to his open deplore of the clergy’s lack of competence. He was in jail for a year for his ideas and abrasive words. Because of Anne’s father’s beliefs, she took a strong liking to religion very young in her life. By age 21, she was married to Will Hutchinson. During her life, she bore 15 children with her husband. She and her family followed the word and teaching of John Cotton, Protestant minister. John Cotton had some of the same ideas her father had when she was growing up, but now these same ideas and teachings were accepted by Puritanism.

Case Study: System Development Essay

System development is a process in which programmers with organization contribution write codes to solve a problem that face the organization system or automate a procedure. There are three major systems development techniques that been used to solve systems’ problems. The system development techniques are SDLC (Systems Development Life Cycle), JAD (Joint Application Development), and RAD (Rapid Application Development). SDLC provides tools for controlling details within large development projects that solve structured problems. JAD enables the identification, definition, and implementation of information infrastructures. RAD supports the iteration and flexibility necessary for building robust business process support(Osborn, 1995). In this case study, the manager been asked to design, develop, and install a Patient Management Information System for a medical clinic in which three physicians practice general medicine. This system has to be operational in 6 months. There is one individual in the clinic staff who is reasonably well informed about information technology. Thus, the manager needs to determine which system development methodologies will use to solve this problem. To choose the appropriate development system, the manager need to use a process which consists of s (1) defining requirements, (2) designing an information system to fit those requirements, (3) building the code to deliver that system, and (4) testing to see whether the code works and the system does the job it was intended to do(Osborn, 1995). The requirement for this case study is to design and develop and install a Management Information System for a medical clinic that has three physicians within 6 months. Based on that, this process will take longer if we use the SDLC which is the traditional method that need narrative descriptions, data definitions, and sample screens. Moreover, producing a thorough, often multi-volume description of system requirements can become such a time-consuming task that it begins to extend the expected life of a development project. On the other hand, JAD tends to rely on data models to provide requirements definition and prototypes to capture final design details. The data modeling can produce thorough system specifications more quickly than SDLC narratives, especially through the use of computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. The RAD relies on a series of iterative prototypes to specify and document requirements. The technique reverses the scheduling emphasis normally found in SDLC projects by setting a rolling series of release dates and dynamically adjusting system features to fit. Iterating prototypes gives requirements the opportunity to evolve and the flexibility to change if needed(Osborn, 1995). Since the project is for small clinic, which mean that the budget is limited. SDLC to the use of expensive mainframes to understand transactions, JAD to the need for managing data distribution following the advent of minicomputers, and RAD to the development of business process support based on networked client/server workstations. SDLC provides tools for controlling details within large development projects that solve structured problems. JAD enables the identification, definition, and implementation of information infrastructures. RAD supports the iteration and flexibility necessary to building robust business process support. Thus, based on the information that discussed earlier, I recommend using the RAD method because the clinic is small one which needs inexpensive system and the system will need support especially that there is only one person who informed about using information technology. In addition, the time limits that clinic has will fit also the RAD method. Literature showed that RAD proves most useful for systems support of unstructured business processes. This not means that this system will limit the business because when the business grows up the system can move for more structure system(Osborn, 1995). References Glandon, G., Smaltz, D. & Slovensky, D. (2012). Information Systems for Healthcare Management. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press. Osborn, C. (1995). SDLC, JAD, and RAD: Finding the Right Hammer. Center for Information Management Studies, Working Paper 95-07.

Movie Au Hasard Balthazar by Robert Bresson

Movies are representation of the social scenario of the contemporary period. Along with entertainment, these have various social, political and psychological perspectives attached to it. This paper is based on movie Au Hasard Balthazar by Robert Bresson. In his 1966 film, Robert Bresson, has focused primarily on his female character Marie, and her donkey Balthazar. The plot intertwines the fate of both these elements, until finally the symbolic connection between the two is established. While the donkey’s fate is clear, we cannot be sure of Marie, beyond what we are told in the narrative.A shy, farm girl in the French countryside, Marie follows what something of Maggie Tulliver’s experience, suffering abuse from different people in her life, oscillating between lovers, finally deciding that she must accept fate, perhaps even rely on some sort of tragic occurrence to relieve her of her pain. This has been called narcissistic rage in literature terminology, and finds its sharpest embodiment in the character of Marie. She too faces the trauma of her parent’s disgrace, because of her father’s decision, a mother who stands by the father but ultimately sees the pointless agony of a self pride, and then poverty and loss.The reason why women are presented in such terms, is as Laura Mulvey would say in her essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’, due to the unconscious of patriarchal society. In this preexisting fascination with the female object, phallocentrism depends on image of the castrated woman. Female symbolism speaks of castration and her lack produces the phallus as symbolic. It stands as a signifier to the male â€Å"other†. It is thus the bearer of meaning, and not its maker. Women are bound by linguistic command to this situation, a command imposed by man to carry out his fantasies and obsessions.â€Å"The formulation surely owes something to Bresson's Au Hasard, Balthazar, whose literal ass here becomes a figurative bull-a creature whose portion of â€Å"spirituality† is earned in expressions of indiscriminate wrath and sexual irritability. † (Librach, 1992) There are two processes at work in cinema. One is the separation of erotic identity of the subject, the viewer, from the object, the character on screen. While for women, the way that other characters in the film look at her is the same as how viewers look at her, with the male, the viewer feels as though he is looking at the perfect mirror image of himself.Thus Gerard with his leather jacket and his motorcycle, his display of authority, often through violence and abuse, seems the perfect embodiment of masculinity, someone that the heroine, simple by virtue of occupying screen space, must fall for in the end. It rests on the belief that each one of us essentially thinks of himself as a Gerard. While recent feminist studies would refute this and recent changes in cinema have tried to equate the two sexes on screen, the screen largely remains a sexual parameter due to its connection with the ego, something that greatly manifests sexuality.The woman, however, is isolated, put on display and sexualized. This is what Mulvey terms the castration complex. In order for the woman to no longer be a threat because she lacks what men have, she must be glamorized into an object of desire, or fetish. Marie finds a consolation in the donkey. It has been presented as the other, against which Marie can understand the need to sympathize and be pitied and loved. Marie is essentially a Christ figure, whose ultimate ideals find their embodiment in Balthazar.Perhaps it is for this reason that the donkey’s fate has been presented explicitly, while Marie’s future remains in doubt. The perfect Christ must face explicit crucifixion. Marie might seem overtly tragic. This is somewhat due to Bresson’s insistence on purity of emotion. In this manner, Balthazar is the perfect Bresson character. Covere d with snow, we know that he is cold, his tail on fire, we know that he is scared, and finally finding peace and motionlessness among the sheep, we know that his end has come.When three children baptize it; symbolism tells us here that there is a place for all creatures in the house of god. The town drunkard Arnold is shows compassion, despite his other crimes. All the characters in the village are essentially flawed. However, the film’s religious imagery and minimal use of aesthetic detail makes it a powerful statement that highlights the barest of human emotions and thoughts. Reference: Librach, Ronald S. â€Å"The Last Temptation in Mean Streets and Raging Bull. â€Å"Literature/Film Quarterly 20. 1 (1992): 14+. Questia. Web. 11 May 2010.

A Memo to the President of the Big Private University

Madam, the recent events that have brought our university within the media’s limelight may possibly give problems to the University, if no immediate action is taken. Allow me to outline the events and the possible NCAA infractions that our university may incur. The University is in the middle of an NCAA-imposed probation. As such, any additional infraction may seriously compromise the university’s status in the NCAA. The following incidents involving our male football team may lead to unwanted additional infractions: a total of 12 student-athletes had grade point averages ranging from 1.60 to 1.75; and Billy Joel, the team’s current quarterback, made an oral agreement on future possible plans with Whitney Houston, a sports agent. Allow me to expound on my point. The fact that five juniors, two sophomores, and five starters on defense have averages from 1.60 to 1.75 goes against the academic standards set my NCAA. The five starters, all of whom were freshmen last year, had averages lower than the NCAA set average of 1.8. The NCAA Backgrounder on Academic Reform clearly states the following: â€Å"Freshmen in college are required to complete 24 hours of course work and have at least a 1.8 grade-point average.† The low GPAs of the other student-athletes may also compromise another rule of the NCAA. The fact that these students have averages ranging from 1.60 to 1.75 may mean that they have failing marks which may greatly affect the completion of their degree requirements. Again, the said backgrounder is univocal: â€Å"Student-athletes entering college are required to complete 40 percent of their degree requirements by the end of their second year, 60 percent by the end of year three, and 80 percent by the end of year four.† I will personally look into this matter and investigate on the completion rates of the degree requirements of these concerned students. Nevertheless I think it is important for your good office to be aware of this potential problem. All in all, this lower than required grade point average of some of our student athletes undermines the NCAA’s set Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 925. Not complying with the APR will mean a contemporaneous penalty for the football team which, in plain language, refers to cuts in financial aids and scholarships granted to individuals in the team. Madam, it is also bothersome that the coaching staff hid these from the school administration. I cannot pinpoint who exactly in the coaching staff is culpable, but once NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions holds its own investigation, the university as an entity might not the only one to be given a sanction; individuals from the coaching staff (and other individuals from related departments) may also be held individually liable and as such, individual sanctions may be imposed against them. The last concern that I think should be brought up to your office is the fact that Billy Joel made an oral agreement with Whitney Houston, a sports agent, as he was threatened by the possibility that Marshall Mathers might take his place as quarterback. Again, NCAA is clear in its memo to directors of athletics dated October 6, 2006, that student athletes are not allowed to have a written or oral agreement with an agent who represents a sports agency. We must bear in mind that even if Joel’s agreement rests on the future possibility of Mathers replacing him, such an oral agreement on future plans is also not allowed: student athletes may not â€Å"agree to be represented by an agent in the future† (NCAA, â€Å"A Career in Professional Athletics: A Guide for Making the Transition,† 2004, p. 26). This also highlights the fact that Mr. Joel did not inform either his coach or his compliance coordinator regarding these matters. These are the NCAA-related concerns that I thought would be best to be brought up to your office. Thank you. References (2006-07). NCAA waiver of initial academic eligibility requirements pursuant to NCAA bylaw 14.3, application instructions. (2006-07). NCAA waiver of initial academic eligibility requirements pursuant to NCAA bylaw 14.3, waiver application. NCAA (2004). A Career in professional athletics: A guide for making the transition. NCAA (2005). NCAA backgrounder on athletic reform. In The online resource for the national collegiate athletic association. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.ncaa.org/. NCAA (2005).APR questions and answers. In The online resource for the national collegiate athletic association. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.ncaa.org/. NCAA (2005).Infractions case: Lincoln University. In The online resource for the national collegiate athletic association. Retrieved March 25, 2007, from http://www.ncaa.org/.

Community of practice. What is a community of practice and what Essay

Community of practice. What is a community of practice and what benefits might it bring to an organisation - Essay Example This paper would discuss the community of practice and how it has benefitted organizations over the passage of time. Moreover, it would elaborate over the challenges faced by knowledge-based communities with the advent of the concept of community of practice.With the passage of time and the advancement in technologies, there is more and more pressure over organizations to maintain a competitive advantage over the rivals. For this purpose, it is becoming increasingly important to make efficient use of the resources of the organization. Among the most important resources of the organization come the Human resources. Hence, there are increasing efforts to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the workers. This paper would discuss the community of practice and how it has benefitted organizations over the passage of time. Moreover, it would elaborate over the challenges faced by knowledge-based communities with the advent of the concept of community of practice. DISCUSSION The articl e written by Lauren Keller Johnson (2006) entitled Are you getting the most from your knowledge workers? discussed relevant issues pertaining to managing knowledge workers. According to Serrat (2008), knowledge worker is unique and distinct as this type is described as â€Å"someone who is employed because of his or her knowledge of a subject matter, rather than ability to perform manual labor. They perform best when empowered to make the most of their deepest skills†. ... Communities of practice enable workers to work with others with the same purpose and while creating value through the community of knowledge sharing. Some of the benefits of a community of practice would be described in the following lines. Community of practice promotes and enhances a learning environment for all the stakeholders, according to Johnson (2001) â€Å"the learning that evolved from these communities is collaborative, in which the collaborative knowledge of the community is greater than any individual knowledge† (Johnson 2001: 34). Community of practice promotes the formation of synergies, raises the capabilities of the workforce by gaining insight from one another. The practice also inculcates new information, knowledge and skills of the workers into the corporate culture with the help of knowledge sharing and learning. Furthermore, community of practice endorses innovation and expertise, it connects people from different backgrounds, with diverse knowledge and i ncreases the level of trust as well as motivation enabling them to pool their knowledge and know how in solving business problems that require information across different subjects. The ongoing interactions through a knowledge based environment helps in coordination, organization and development of initiatives across various domains of knowledge. It fosters a sense of belonging among the workers which increases the morale while building the capabilities and knowledge of the workers. Moreover, Community of practice encourages neo-apprenticeship style of learning and nurtures professional and personal development of workers. Community of practice aids in the improvement of business outcomes, it helps in

Public Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 4

Public Law - Essay Example She places a notification about the forthcoming meeting (to be held on  April 7th) in the Jesmond Times newspaper on  April 4th. At the meeting, Joanna is told about the Wilton rabbit that lives in the forest, and so she decides to designate it as a protected area.   (a) The Access to the Countryside Association (ACA), who claim that they should have been consulted and were not; that the consultation process was, more generally, inadequate; and that the Wilton rabbit is found throughout the North East and is not rare. Pursuant to the Protection of Rare Animals Act, the Secretary of State is under no obligation to consult any particular group of people when it comes to decision making. The Act gives her discretionary powers regarding who to consult with prior. However, it is important that ACA looks at the provisions of the Act and consider what it says with regard to the required period of notice and if the proceedings are governed by strict rules of presentation of evidence. If the legislation is silent on those matters, the rules of natural justice require that adequate notice be given and person(s) with special interest in the decision be given an opportunity to be heard. According to American Iron & Steel Institute v. Environmental Protection Agency1, adequacy of notice can be determined by the fact that it fairly notifies any interested parties so that they can have an opportunity to air their views. However, inadequacy of the notice given does not automatically invalidate the final rule on grounds that the final rule adopted is different from the original proposal. This was as held in the above mentioned American Iron and Steel case. If it happens that the decision maker adopts a final rule that substantially differs from the original proposal, the courts will take it upon itself to analyze the adequacy of the original notice in a two part test. The first is whether the final rule can be considered a logical outgrowth