What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using an Internal Change Research Paper

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using an Internal Change Agent - Research Paper Example Nevertheless, an organization can plan for change by preparing for it; however, change must be managed for it to succeed. Barriers to change are common and may lead to failure; they may include lack of enough resources, resistance, and lack of commitment, among others. As a result, change agents are necessary; they may be internal or external agents. However, they should be capable of motivating others and guarantee progress (Recklies, 2011). Change agents take up the duty of introducing and managing change. Internal change agents can vary form managers to employees. An internal change agent is advantageous compared to an external change agent; for instance, they are familiar with the organization’s culture, political system and history (Nelson & Quick, 2010, p.633). In addition, the internal change agents are likely to ensure that they introduce and manage change effectively because they will be affected by the results of the change, since they are part of the organization. C hange agents should be capable of fostering communication, commitment, and support in the change process. This paper will discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of internal change management. Advantages of internal change agents An organization decides to hire change agents for several reasons; the special skills and knowledge they possess, capability of management decisions, and the capability of leading an organization towards success through change management. Incase an organization decides to hire an internal change agent, below are some of the advantages. The change management process assists the organization in understanding the type of change and the reason for change, and as a result, reducing the fear of the unknown. Internal change agents are advantageous, since they can easily communicate with employees; as a result, trust is gained fast because they are part of the organization. Internal change agents mainly comprise of managers of an organization or its employees ; many organizations choose to use change agents with an aim of achieving a competitive advantage (Gilley, 2001, p.9). In addition, internal change agents are efficient, especially when emerging problems require the understanding of culture, procedures, structure, practices, and policies of an organization. An internal change agent is easily acceptable in the organization, as he in a position of understanding the organization better, hence being accountable for his decision, which is advantageous in reducing security risks. It is also possible for an internal change agent to be more time and cost efficient, since he is already familiar with the organization system. The knowledge of organizational politics, resources, and culture is also an added advantage as the change agent is committed to long-term success (Gilley, 2001, p.10). Moreover, an internal change agent can also work as an external agent especially when working in different departments. In addition, there is guaranteed co nfidentiality and security, since the change agent is part of the organization. This change agent may easily trust and respect fellow employees, as they are a team. Internal agents are likely to benefit from the easy accessibility of information, which is not the case with external agents. This may be an added advantage

Chinese Philosophies Essay Essay Example for Free

Chinese Philosophies Essay Essay From 1027-221 BCE, the Zhou era, Chinese philosophers â€Å"offered insights into how humans should behave in regard to their families, the state, and nature. † Different philosophers tried to achieve a similar goal of having a well-ordered Chinese society, but they all had vastly different methods of achieving this goal. There were three different schools of Chinese thought that all tried to achieve the goal of having a peaceful society that lived in harmony. All of these ideas were exceptionally diverse and they all varied in different ideas. â€Å"Daoism emphasized harmony with nature; Confucianism emphasized the harmony of relationships; and Legalism emphasized the harmony of a well-regulated state. † The Three Schools of Chinese thought, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism had major impact on Chinese History both politically and socially for they each promoted a different approach to achieve a well-ordered society. Confucianism is a philosophy that pushed for a well-ordered society by emphasizing human relationships, a righteous leader, and a good education. The discoverer of this idea was Confucius, a philosopher and teacher. He grew up in the period of Eastern Zhou, the age of a hundred schools. His goal was to transform the Chinese society into a state of coherence and righteous. He planned this goal was to be achieved by something called filial piety, devotion and service to parents, ancestors, and superiors. He found filial piety important because he believed it would make the people act moral. Another way he planned to achieve this goal was having a wise and moral leader that was able to set good examples for his people. The Analects state that Confucius said â€Å"If you preside over them with dignity, they will be reverent; if you are filial and loving, they will be loyal; if you promote the good and instruct the incapable, they will be mutually encouraging. † This proves that he believed the ruler should often set a good example for his people in order for them to be moral and show goodness. Another factor that played a huge role in Confucianism was the human relationships. The emphasized relationships were ruler-people; parent-child; husband-wife; elder sibling- younger sibling and friend to friend. These relationships were crucially important because Confucius believed each person had obligations to fulfill and a certain stance in society. And to fulfill those duties each person was expected to behave. Also the goodness of the people was expected to start at the home. He said, â€Å" Only when the roots are well planted will the Way grow â€Å" This reveals that the longer moral ways have appeared the more moral the person is likely to be. But if you juxtaposed the other two philosophies compared to Confucianism you would realize that are extremely different. In the contrary one of the other philosophies, Legalism, is much different than Confucianism and is a lot harsher. Legalism also had the goal of well-ordered society but had different idea of achieving this common goal. The dynasties that used the idea of Legalism were the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty. The Qin Dynasty used Legalism to the full extent while the Han Dynasty infused Confucianism and Legalism together. Han Feizi, the prince of the Han dynasty, through his writings outlined how to maintain a stable society through laws, punishments and other factors. He believed that one way to reach a well-ordered society was to have a strict and strong ruler. Quoted from The Writings Of Master Han Fei, Fei said, â€Å" If conformers to law are strong, the country is strong; if conformers to law are weak, the country is weak †¦Ã¢â‚¬ . From this you can conclude that Han Fei truly believed that a harsh ruler was the key to a successful society. Another aspects that contributed to the success of the community were to have enforced laws. As stated from The Writings of Master Han Fei â€Å" To govern the state by law is to praise the right and blame the wrong. † This reveals that Han Fei also thought that through praising the good people and punishing the bad the society would be â€Å"well-ordered†. Which also shows that Han Fei believed in harsh punishments to tame the people of his country. A final belief of Legalism was a strong base of realism opposed to idealism. Realism was encouraged because Fei thought â€Å" †¦a strong dose of realism was needed to bring his present-day world out of the chaos that beset it† In other words means idealism was not a strict enough way to achieve a well-ordered society. But the idea of Daoism would strongly disagree with the previous concepts. Daoism, also known as â€Å" The Way That Is and Is Not â€Å", enormously differs from the other two philosophies. Daoism was used in the time period of the Eastern Zhou. The originator of this philosophy was Laozi, an â€Å"old master†, who was supposedly immortal. Laozi was against Confucianism and its concepts and perceived things from a diverse view. The goal of Daoism was to maintain a common goal of a well-ordered society. But he planned to attain this goal by following The Law of The Dao is it’s being what it is. Which simply means things are the way they are and you should not interfere. He wanted the people to follow their Dao, their destiny, something you’re naturally good at that doesn’t take any effort. And he believed by just doing that the society would be in harmony with nature. An additional way to achieve his goal was to have hands off government and ruler that were not strict or influential to the society. This is proven in The Dao Dejing; it says, â€Å" I will do nothing, and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct†¦Ã¢â‚¬  In other words Laozi expected the ruler to let the people govern themselves and learn from their own mistakes as opposed to having laws to obey. Which also relates to a concept that is well known to most Daosist called Nonaction. In summary in Daoism to achieve the goal of having a well-ordered society you must follow your dao and be in harmony with nature. In conclusion The Three Schools of Chinese thought, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism had major impact on Chinese History both politically and socially for they each promoted a different approach to achieve a well-ordered society. They also still have an impact on today’s modern society. Each one of these philosophies have some how branched off to religions or philosophes that are still encouraged today. For example Daoism also helped mold the religion of Buddhism. Legalism appears in several of countries around the world where the rulers of a society give there people strict laws with cruel punishments. And for Confucianism Chinese society’s still focus on having relationships with people closest to them. Therefore it was extremely important that these philosophies were studied and discovered.

Julius Caesar Essay -- Roman History

Ever wondered what it takes to be a good king or ruler? Julius Caesar is one of the most famous rulers of all time. He was one of Rome’s greatest and most powerful leaders. His changes to the empire helped take Rome to new levels of success. The life of Caesar was short, yet great. It is important to learn about this great man and his many accomplishments. Gaius Julius Caesar was born on July 13th, 100 B.C. to a poor, Patrician family in Rome (â€Å"Julius Caesar†; Gruen 12). For most of his young life, Caesar lived in an apartment type house in one of the poorest districts in Rome. He was a strong student and studied such subjects as oratory, philosophy, and even martial arts. Coming from a family that is believed to have a long ancestry of Roman royalty, Caesar quickly found success in Rome at a young age. Caesar married Cornelia, his first wife, at age 17 (â€Å"Julius Caesar†; Gruen 12). The first of many political offices that Caesar would hold in Rome was the office or praetor. Elected in his first time to run, Caesar was elected to this position in 62 B.C. He also was elected this way when elected consul in 59 B.C. Even with other Roman senators trying to keep him out of office, Caesar continued to hold power and make alliances with other political leaders such as Pompey and Crassus (â€Å"Julius Caesar;† Gruen 13). Pompey himself helped Caesar in becoming consul because Caesar gave land for the poor and Pompey’s troops (Combee 95). After success and alliances with other countries’ leaders, Caesar went to Gaul in an attempt to conquer more land and further stretch his power. Conquering many lands in Gaul, Caesar took nine years to finish his campaigns. By treating the Gauls fairly, Caesar became very well-li... ...ese are just a few accomplishments made by such a successful man. In conclusion, Julius Caesar lived a very successful life. Many years after his death, Caesar’s accomplishments are still credited even today. While many people consider Caesar to be a poor leader, we can still learn from his many successes and use them to better our lives today. In his years of ruling Rome, Caesar made many changes to the empire that led it to even more success. When will the next leader with power such as Caesar’s emerge? The world can only wait and see. Works Cited Combe, Jerry H. History of the World in Christian Perspective. Pensacola, FL: A Beka Book, 1995. Print. Gruen, Erich S. â€Å"Caesar, Julius.† World Book Encyclopedia. 2009 ed. Print. â€Å"Julius Caesar: First Man of Rome.† 4 Jan. 2010. Web. March 2010 .

The Xerox Company Essay

They help many businesses to be able to function and communicate. Xerox is a family business. The CEO’s brother and husband both work for the company. However the fact that Xerox is a family business has in no way affected the CEO’s ability to make business or personal decisions. The company’s best interest is always her top priority. The ability to keep her personal and business life separate is a unique characteristic that all successful management staff posses. After watching the Xerox video and thinking about the characteristics for managerial decisions, made me have no envy for the CEO’s position. The typical characteristics of managerial decisions are lack of structure, uncertainty of risk, as well as conflict. In fact, the way the CEO obtained her position was full of uncertainty and I am sure there was conflict as well. The way the former CEO was forced out of office seemed to show a lack of structure with no contingency plan. There was a past scare of bankruptcy that may have future investors and employees questioning the structure of the company. The new CEO has made several positive moves for the company but is still forced to eliminate jobs to reduce costs. The CEO of Xerox is much like many other CEO’s of other large corporations, humble, down to earth and they value their company as well as their employees. They understand that each one of their decisions will affect the rest of the company and those who keep it running. Unfortunately as the CEO she was faced with having no other positive alterative to correcting the deficit other than eliminating positions. The CEO understood that to ensure the future of Xerox was protected that she must make changes immediately. She measured the risks and the consequences and felt that it was in the best interest of the company to merge. In the end Xerox was faced with a grim future and tough choices. The CEO showed her skills in the decision making process while remaining equal and ethical to all interested parties. We all learned that in a management roll, especially the role of a CEO is faced with nasty ugly decisions. Every choice that person makes can make or break another person’s life. Choices are not always easy nor do they always come with an immediate positive solution. This CEO was Xerox’s last chance to remain a successful company in the future. The company took a huge risk for a sinking company and it paid off!. Risk assessment at it’s finest.

Mercury Drug Macro Environment Essay

Demographics Mercury Drugstore’s Primary Target Market Demographics : Ages ranging from 18 to 65 years old who may be male or female that belong to any social class – B, C, D, and E Marital status – no specific status. The available market size using research data show that 6 out of 10 Filipinos are now opting for generic medicines over the more expensive branded counterparts. For a $2 Billion Pharmaceutical market in the Philippines $1.2 Billion (60%) – Generics Medicines $800 Million (40%) – Branded Medicines. Affordable generic medicine more available to a greater number of the population at the soonest possible time since generic medicines are 30% to 80% lower than the branded medicines Economic Data from researches show that out of every 10 Filipinos, 6 Filipinos are now opting to purchase generic medicines over the more expensive branded counterparts. For a $2 Billion Pharmaceutical market in the Philippines $1.2 Billion 60% for Generic Medicines $800 Million 40% for Branded Medicines. The rate of affordability of generic medicines is higher to the greater portion of the Filipino population. This is due to the price of generic medicines which are 30-80% lower than the branded ones. Natural Increase of cold months in the country caused increase of incidences of pneumonia. Pneumonia involves inflammation of the lungs and leads to hospitalization. Foreigners, especially those from non-tropical regions, are most susceptible to this in the Philippines because they have to adjust to the weather patterns. Diarrhea outbreaks have been consistently on the rise in Philippine soil, especially with the recent aftermath of Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy in local name). Physical, emotional and social factors contribute to this prevalent problem of Filipinos. More underweight than overweight, Filipinos often have to consider societal gaps as a primary factor. The ill distribution of wealth in the country attributes to most Filipinos having less food to eat on their plates. Many Filipinos continue to fall victim to drug addiction. There are over 3.5 million habitual drug users in the country, and some of the national scandals in the past have been linked to illegal drug use. The ongoing struggle against illegal drug addiction is an uphill battle. A more recent DOH problem involved the hyper increase of cases of leptopspirosis in the Philippines, particularly in La Union and other flood-stricken areas. The onset of consecutive floods from the string of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng caused contaminated water to fill the urban and rural areas. Technological Improvements in the field of computers have made operations in the stores more efficient and less time consuming and as well as having a more organized system of recording purchases. Mercury drugstore now is on the verge of implementing an online purchasing system in which customers may order medicines through the internet and then picking up the goods at the store of purchase. This will help the store reduce the number of people in queue and as well as offer customers a better way to purchase their items. Technological advancements have now brought about better medicines and as well as a larger variety of medicines giving the company a chance to broaden their stocks as well as the number of their consumers. The 3g system of the current netphones are now able to give people an opportunity to get in contact with the store so that their concerns can be acknowledged as well as any order of goods. Political Mercury drugstore now implies the senior citizen discount which is mandatory according to the laws of the Philippines. Mercury drug has also been able to adopt a senior citizen lane in their stores nationwide. Cultural/Sociological The need to be healthy is highly needed in the Philippines especially with poverty on the side. Most Filipinos that belong to the lower class tend to over exert themselves and end up with exhaustion, which has a high probability of leading to sickness. So daily supplements are needed to be able to sustain a healthier body while facing harsh working conditions.

Legalizing Euthanasia

Legalizing Euthanasia Legalizing EuthanasiaImagine waking up and seeing yourself lying in an uncomfortable hospital bed with crying family members around you. You see that there is a long cord connected to your heart. You try really hard to move, but you are too weak to get up. Would you want one of your family members to decide for you to no longer live or do you want the decision to live? In situations like the one I just described is when euthanasia comes into play.Euthanasia is also known as assisted suicides. This technique is usually used to put to rest people who are incurably sick. Terminally sick patients, who have about 12 months to live and are in a healthy mental state, should be able to choose if they want keep on living, or end the pain and suffering in that moment. Euthanasia should be legalized in the United States because of three things.Euthanasia machine invented by Dr. Philip Nitschke...First of all, it puts an end to the suffering of a human life. Second, it lets the family's of the p atients be at peace, and finally doctors do not go to jail just for helping another person move on.Yes, it is a sin to commit suicide or take the life of another. However, doing the procedure will end a very painful and unbearable last few months to live. Furthermore, people should have the right to be able to make a decision like this one, because at the end of the day it is their life. A person has the right to life, why not death? These are two topics that are debated everyday in some form or another. Death is something that we all will face, it is certain. There is no miracle cure to fix it.When dealing with their families, this will...

Free Essays on Dolly Sods

The Effects of Human Influence on the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area In William Howard Taft’s 1909 inaugural address he said that, â€Å"The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.† And in line with its proper functioning, Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1965, which helped protect 9 million acres of land. But almost all of this land was in the West, due to the lack of unspoiled wildlands in the East. So in 1975, Congress passed the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act, which brought protection to several rehabilitated wildlands. One of which being the Dolly Sods wilderness area in West Virginia, an area decimated by human influence in the early 20th and late 19th centuries, which is now being rehabilitated. Before decade s of logging, railroads, mortars, grazing, and fire, the Dolly Sods Wilderness was a majestic and lush forest supporting some of the finest red spruce in the world. Today the area, which has been clear-cut then burned to rock, is slowly recovering under the protection of the U.S. Forest Service. In 1746 Thomas Lewis was the first European to explore the Dolly Sods while doing a survey of Lord Fairfax’s Virginia estate. He found the forest in its virgin state and described it as almost impenetrable. It was covered at that time mostly by red spruce, but hemlocks balsam fir, sugar maple, American beech, black cherry, basswood and yellow birch also abounded. In certain areas there were thick patches of loral and rhododendron thickets. There were also many wet, marshy bogs where bluejoint grass grew several feet high. The forest floor was covered with a rich humus soil several feet thick that in many... Free Essays on Dolly Sods Free Essays on Dolly Sods The Effects of Human Influence on the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area In William Howard Taft’s 1909 inaugural address he said that, â€Å"The putting into force of laws which shall secure the conservation of our resources, as far as they may be within the jurisdiction of the Federal government, including the more important work of saving and restoring our forests and the great improvement of waterways, are all proper government functions which must involve large expenditure if properly performed.† And in line with its proper functioning, Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1965, which helped protect 9 million acres of land. But almost all of this land was in the West, due to the lack of unspoiled wildlands in the East. So in 1975, Congress passed the Eastern Wilderness Areas Act, which brought protection to several rehabilitated wildlands. One of which being the Dolly Sods wilderness area in West Virginia, an area decimated by human influence in the early 20th and late 19th centuries, which is now being rehabilitated. Before decade s of logging, railroads, mortars, grazing, and fire, the Dolly Sods Wilderness was a majestic and lush forest supporting some of the finest red spruce in the world. Today the area, which has been clear-cut then burned to rock, is slowly recovering under the protection of the U.S. Forest Service. In 1746 Thomas Lewis was the first European to explore the Dolly Sods while doing a survey of Lord Fairfax’s Virginia estate. He found the forest in its virgin state and described it as almost impenetrable. It was covered at that time mostly by red spruce, but hemlocks balsam fir, sugar maple, American beech, black cherry, basswood and yellow birch also abounded. In certain areas there were thick patches of loral and rhododendron thickets. There were also many wet, marshy bogs where bluejoint grass grew several feet high. The forest floor was covered with a rich humus soil several feet thick that in many...

Niccolò Machiavelli - His Life, Philosophy and Influence

Niccolà ² Machiavelli - His Life, Philosophy and Influence Niccolà ² Machiavelli was one of the most influential political theorists of Western philosophy. His most read treatise, The Prince, turned Aristotle’s theory of virtues upside down, shaking the European conception of government at its foundations. Machiavelli lived in or nearby Florence Tuscany his whole life, during the peak of the Renaissance movement, in which he took part. He is also the author of a number of additional political treatises, including The Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius, as well as of literary texts, including two comedies and several poems. Life Machiavelli was born and raised in Florence, Italy, where his father was an attorney. Historians believe his education was of exceptional quality, especially in grammar, rhetoric, and Latin. He seems not to have been instructed in Greek, though, despite Florence having been a major center for the study of the Hellenic language since the middle of the fourteen hundreds. In 1498, at age twenty-nine Machiavelli was called to cover two relevant governmental roles in a moment of social turmoil for the newly constituted Republic of Florence: he was named chair of the second chancery and – a short time after – secretary of the Dieci di Libert e di Pace, a ten-person council responsible for maintaining diplomatic relationships with other States. Between 1499 and 1512 Machiavelli witnessed first-hand the unfolding of Italian political events. In 1513, the Medici family returned to Florence. Machiavelli was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to overthrow this powerful family. He was first imprisoned and tortured then sent into exile. After his release, he retired to his country house in San Casciano Val di Pesa, about ten miles southwest of Florence. It is here, between 1513 and 1527, that he wrote his masterpieces. The Prince De Principatibus (literally: On Princedoms) was the first work composed by Machiavelli in San Casciano mostly during 1513; it was published only posthumously in 1532. The Prince is a short treatise of twenty-six chapters in which Machiavelli instructs a young pupil of the Medici family on how to acquire and maintain political power. Famously centered on the right balancing of fortune and virtue in the prince, it is by far the most read work by Machiavelli and one of the most prominent texts of Western political thought. The Discourses Despite the popularity of The Prince, Machiavelli’s major political work is probably The Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius. Its first pages were written in 1513, but the text was completed only between 1518 and 1521. If The Prince instructed how to govern a princedom, The Discourses were meant to educate future generations to achieve and maintain political stability in a republic. As the title suggests, the text is structured as a free commentary on the first ten volumes of Ab Urbe Condita Libri, the major work of Roman historian Titus Livius (59B.C.-17A.D.) The Discourses are divided into three volumes: the first devoted to internal politics; the second to foreign politics; the third one to a comparison of the most exemplary deeds of individual men in ancient Rome and Renaissance Italy. If the first volume reveals Machiavelli’s sympathy for the republican form of government, it is especially in the third that we find a lucid and pungent critical gaze at the political situation of Renaissance Italy. Other Political and Historical Works While carrying forward his governmental roles, Machiavelli had the opportunity to write about the events and issues he was witnessing first-hand. Some of them are critical to understanding the unfolding of his thought. They range from the examination of the political situation in Pisa (1499) and in Germany (1508-1512) to the method used by the Valentino in killing his enemies (1502). While in San Casciano, Machiavelli wrote also a number of treatises on politics and history, including a treatise on war (1519-1520), a recount of the life of the condottiero Castruccio Castracani (1281-1328), a history of Florence (1520-1525). Literary Works Machiavelli was a fine writer. He left us two fresh and entertaining comedies, The Mandragola (1518) and The Clizia (1525), both of which are still represented in these days. To these we shall add a novel, Belfagor Arcidiavolo (1515); a poem in verses inspired to Lucius Apuleius’s (about 125-180 A.D.) major work, L’asino d’oro (1517); several more poems, some of which amusing, the translation of a classical comedy by Publius Terentius Afer (circa 195-159B.C.); and several other smaller works. Machiavellianism By the end of the sixteenth century, The Prince had been translated into all major European languages and was the subject of heated disputes into the most important courts of the Old Continent. Often misinterpreted, the core ideas of Machiavelli were so despised that a term was coined to refer to them: ​Machiavellianism. To these days the term indicates a cynical attitude, according to which a politician is justified to do any tort if the end requires it.

The Homeless Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The Homeless - Assignment Example In addition, homelessness can be caused by mental disorders, drug abuse and discrimination by the society due to certain reasons like sexual orientation. Some other people find themselves homeless owing to domestic violence, mortgage foreclosures, eviction by tenants and forced expulsion by government in order to set the land aside for other developments. The problem of homelessness was not existent in pre-historic times. Initially, human beings lived in traditional shelters such as caves, huts, and tents. Building these structures was easy and everyone could afford a dwelling because natural building materials were readily available and almost everyone knew how to build. However, during the modern times, the art of building became professional and expensive. Many individuals migrated to urban areas during the industrial revolution. Increased homelessness occurred because of higher land and house prices and strict housing codes. People who were unable to pay the exorbitant rental fees were evicted and, therefore, became homeless. Around 1500s, the homeless in England were punished because they were seen as unauthorized beggars. However, in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, they provided them with housing and training for jobs, instead of punishment in order to prevent them from over-relying on the state. The homeless people on the s treets in the United States increased after the American civil war (Bloom, 2005). More people were left homeless in the 1930s because of the Great Depression, which also resulted in increased poverty. In the 1970s, the homeless population increased due to de-institutionalization of people with mental illnesses. The psychiatric, outpatient, and social services that were promised to these people were not provided and, consequently, most of them ended up being homeless. In the 1980s, the number of homeless people increased

Effect of Social Network Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Effect of Social Network - Research Paper Example ..† (Ebesco host, n.d). This has undoubtedly had many effects on the user individually, and it has affected their general ways of thinking because of individuals having access to others opinions. The impacts of social media cannot be simply classified as good or bad, as it is a subject that elicits several different opinions from different groups and each school of thought s based on different circumstances. One of the effects of social network that has had a very widely felt and influential impact is the empowering of its users with information. In addition, a forum to air their views in circumstances where, the same would not have been previously possible. The revolutions that took place in Egypt and Liberia in the last year can trace a lot of their motivation on social network sites like face book. The people in these countries had been oppressed but could not do anything about it since the governments controlled most of the media and kept it censored. However, the citizens could share all the information they wanted and messages encouraging revolution and resistance as well as records of governments injustices were put on facebook and significantly facilitated the revolutions. From this, we can see social media being used to bring political revolutions and hence have a picture of what a powerful tool it is. Social networking is also said to be addictive, and teens often get addicted to and cannot spend a few hours without getting online to chat with friends. Bearing in mind that the physiological and psychological effects on these networks can be severe, and addiction to social networks can pose a serious problem. This is because it has been proved that,â€Å"†¦ overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ( American Psychological Association, 2011). Sexual offenders have also used facebo ok as a platform on which to lure and entice their victims through fake but attractive identities. Many youths who go social networking to make friends or date have been taken advantage of when they form relationships with some of these offenders who should they meet in person, assault or even kill them. Social networks are susceptible to malicious people considering that,†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦there are more than 600,000 Registered Sex Offenders in United States and about 150,000 of them have been lost in the system† (Williams & Lebrun, 2009 p.105). These statistics posted on facebook by loud security systems help users to appreciate the immense danger posed by social networks in the hands of the wrong people. The amount of time spent on social networks can also negatively affect ones school grades. This is because many students are online when they should be studying and often they use their smart phones in class to social network. This often translates into poor concentration in cla ss and the same can be transferred to the workplace when they will be employed. They may end up wasting many hours online when they should be working. On the other hand, social networks play a prominent role in helping people to socialize, especially teenagers, as the assumption that, social networks make people anti social, does not always holds true. This is because shy children can be able to meet and make new friends online which is extremely beneficial for their

Horseradish peroxidase assay Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Horseradish peroxidase assay - Lab Report Example For each enzyme there is a small of range of pH within which it works optimally. Enzymes have  active sites in their structures. The active site is the part of the enzyme that has the correct shape and the functional groups required to bind to the substrate (Dunford, 1999). Enzyme activity can be measured in any one of these two ways: observing the rate at which the substrate disappears during a reaction or measuring the rate at which the product is formed. Enzyme assays are used in such measurements. There are two methods that have been developed for use in measuring the amount of substrates or products in a chemical reaction: continuous and fixed-timed assays. Continuous assay make use of a spectrophotometer to measure the rates at which the substrate disappears and products form in real-time (Leskovac, 2003). To measure the peroxidase activity a change in the amount of product formed will be evaluated over time. For the breakdown of peroxide by peroxidase, the simplest molecule that can be measured is O2 gas, the product of the decomposition of peroxide. To accomplish this the real volume of O2 gas produced is measured by use of an indicator. For this experiment an indicator (pyrogallol) that shows the presence of O2 gas will be used (Dunford, 2010). 2.50 cm3, 0.35 cm3, 0.10 cm3, and 0.35 cm3 of deionized water, buffer solution (at a pH of 6.0), hydrogen peroxide, and pyrogallol respectively were pipetted into two separate cuvettes labelled Cuvette 1 and Cuvette 2. The contents of the cuvettes were then mixed well using a small glass rod. The spectrophotometer was set to 420 nm after which Cuvette 1 was placed into it. 0.1 ml of the buffer solution was added to the cuvette and then stirred using a small glass rod. The readings of the spectrophotometer were recorded every 10 seconds for 5 minutes. Cuvette 2 (blank) was placed into the spectrophotometer. 0.1 ml of

Research study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Research study - Essay Example This characteristic is a necessary component of teacher education programs. The problem that is being investigated is the subject of reflection of the professional vocational careers of educators in a tertiary educational institute environment. The dilemmas and issues which are discussed in the literature are the benefits and characteristics of reflection. Dewey (1933) said that teachers must reflect in order to properly deliver and implement the subject taught in their classes. Reflection is an answer to a previous event which entails learning, remembering, circumspection and introspection. The sample population was at a Liberal arts college in the Midwest. An autobiographical academic report was collected along with statistical information about the respondents. The statistical method which was applied was comparative analysis. The bias is the self perception of the respondents. The areas where future research could be conducted are upon the elements of self satisfaction within the psychological domain and the selections of the three respondents who did not fit into the status

Some people read these stories as literature. Some people read these Essay

Some people read these stories as literature. Some people read these stories as Jewish literature. Whats the difference - Essay Example In her book, Elisa Albert makes it clear that she is an aspiring writer writing on Jewish themes, which is how she described herself after being asked by agents (179). This instantly creates a picture of a Jewish-themed literature being read by the reader. Her later references to women attending shiva, which is a Jewish period of mourning, establishes her essentially Jewish subject matter of her books. Even Roth makes several references to Jewish concepts and terms which conjure up an image of a perceived Jewish novel (139). In the chapter, The Conversion of the Jews, the Jewish and the Christian contradictions in the status of Jesus is highlighted when Ozzie points out that Jesus was not God (Roth, 140). So, at several points in the two books, the readers are reminded of the Jewish essence in the themes. Albert particularly points out her identity as an aspiring writer that too, essentially a Jewish writer writing on Jewish American novels centering her attention at women. This demonstrates the inseparable nature of her Jewish literary identity with her writing career. The references to Judaism are plenty and it is evident that Albert considers her style of writing as essentially Jewish. However, apart from the Jewish theme, Roth does not talk about his writings as a Jewish author although his work reflects a marked tinge of Judaism. Albert talks about her debut novel to Roth highlighting its great ideas. Albert can be observed to be speaking with great enthusiasm about her debut novel which supposedly has great ideas but which ironically is still finding a home. It is amusing to see how Albert’s â€Å"great† novel has yet to be published (179). Also, her concept of â€Å"Great American Jewish Novel† ironically presents a satirical account of women in the light of Jewish traditional contexts. Although Albert would openly embrace the fact that she is a Jewish literature

Research study Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Research study - Essay Example This characteristic is a necessary component of teacher education programs. The problem that is being investigated is the subject of reflection of the professional vocational careers of educators in a tertiary educational institute environment. The dilemmas and issues which are discussed in the literature are the benefits and characteristics of reflection. Dewey (1933) said that teachers must reflect in order to properly deliver and implement the subject taught in their classes. Reflection is an answer to a previous event which entails learning, remembering, circumspection and introspection. The sample population was at a Liberal arts college in the Midwest. An autobiographical academic report was collected along with statistical information about the respondents. The statistical method which was applied was comparative analysis. The bias is the self perception of the respondents. The areas where future research could be conducted are upon the elements of self satisfaction within the psychological domain and the selections of the three respondents who did not fit into the status

Humanistic View Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Humanistic View - Essay Example He also put forward that a person could not reach to a next higher need in the hierarchy until her or his current needs were significantly or completely satisfied. Many enterprises have been influenced by these theories and changes brought about in the structure of the organization have yielded excellent results (Maslow, 1943). According to Abraham Maslow, 'needs' can be classified in a hierarchal format where the needs are ranked according to their importance. The basic needs have to be fulfilled before a higher need takes priority. The first level is the basic existence needs which include the physiological needs such as food, water, shelter and clothing. These are the most common needs that most people have except for those who live below the poverty line. Once an individual gets these, the person requires social security needs. These include the security in terms of a person feeling secure from robbery, theft as well as the feeling of insecurity in terms of having a job or having a house. As a person moves upwards to the next level, lower level needs are no longer prioritized. However if lower set of needs is no longer being met, the individual will temporarily re-prioritize those needs by focusing attention on the unfulfilled needs. Next, come the need for love and belonging with friends, families, co lleagues, communities and the society. When they are satisfied, a person requires esteem needs with self-respect. When these four levels are met, a person reaches the self-actualisation level where a person needs to realize one's own potential. Self-perfection is required to fulfil this need which may never come. (Srensen, 2006) Example When the needs of a social care user are matched against Maslow's need theory, the two lowest levels of need seem to be supported by the social care providers. Food, shelter, security and clothing are provided by the social care company satisfying the basic two levels of Maslow's hierarchy. It is at this second level where most users of the social care find themselves after being through with the social care. However, love and belonging is not at all the manifesto of social care providers hence a person is stuck at this level as a lower need has to be largely satisfied before the next can come into play. Esteem and self-actualisation needs may never be reached by the users of social care service and is impossible until they stop depending on the service and stand on their own feet. Where the social care providers are providing the basic two needs, they should also focus on creating such a strong base for their users that the users can progress from there on their own and not fall bac k to attain a lower need. (Srensen, 2006) Conclusion So from the point of Abraham Maslow about the humanistic view, it can be said that humans are ungrateful creatures who always want more no matter what. As one need gets fulfilled, another need comes up and this cycle continues onwards until a person attains self-actualization and this is the nature of all humans. Works Cited 1. H. Maslow (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation.

One Thousand And One Nights Essay Example for Free

One Thousand And One Nights Essay Authors Note: I will confess that sucked-into-video-game styled stories have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. My only complaint is that they always tend to follow the same formula. With that in mind, I am going to try and switch things up a bit with this story. I hope you enjoy it, and regardless of the feedback being good or bad, I would love to hear your thoughts. PROLOGUE By the time you are nine-years-old, you are already considered a woman. In my mothers country, you could already be married off at that age. You could live in a house with your husbands family, you could bare children, and you can consumate your marriage even before you are of a mature age. Alas, I am not nine, I am not married, and in many respects, Im not yet a woman. At least, Ive never felt that way. To be perfectly honest, Ive always felt like a child. My family may have disciplined me into being quiet and intelligent, to pray five times a day to Allah, to read the Quran and wear the hijab, and always to get good grades, but Ive always felt this longing for adventure. They wanted me to grow up quickly so I would have a future that was every bit as special and important as the ones promised to other American children. But during my studies, my mind would always wander to imaginary worlds of castles, dragons, fairies, and of knights and princesses that banded together to save the day. And that feeling would build in my chest: warm and comforting, so light that it can almost lift you off your feet, whispering promises of laughter and happiness to come. It isnt easy being a Muslim in a sixth grade class full of conservative Christians, girls with gothic make up, or boys with their pants worn so low that their underwear shows. Despite how different they all are from each other, all of them were the same in their treatment towards me. At the very least, my imagination would offer feelings of companionship. Close friends who would accept me for who I was and not for what I wore or how many times I had to stop and pray throughout the day. At least, when I had finished my homework and had the time to write and draw in my notebooks, I could return to that imaginary place of peace and happiness. And sometimes, as childish as it may sound, I would pretend that such a place existed. Then I was killed. At least, thats what I think happened. The nicest aspect of imagination is that, in your own world, there are no Islamophobes. There are no people who want you dead simply because you are Muslim. You dont have to worry about stepping into the mosque and some scary man driving a van full of explosives into the building. He wanted to take out as many Muslims as he could, and one of them was me. Everything happened so suddenly that its hard to recall exactly how it happened. I remember hearing glass shattering. The doors leading into the mosque were made of glass, so I assume that was where the van drove into the building. There was the sound of doors being broken down, or wood snapping, and then the blast. I was the closest to the wall where the explosion went off. I remember feeling something smash against the side of my head and I briefly remember the heat that followed. There was nothingness for awhile: I could not see, think, or hear anything that was happening around me. I could not feel anything anymore. The best way I can accurately describe it would be a black out. Because it happened so quickly, I did not have time to register whether or not I was dead. I reached that conclusion when I woke up here. The Quran describes paradise as a place of large trees, sweet water, and pure soil of musk. The dwellers of heaven would not feel the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive cold of the moon. It is a realm of magnificence. This afterlife did not fit that exact description. There were trees larger than any I have seen in this life. There was water, beautiful and sweet, with the ability to heal me if I were hurt, or provide me with energy when I was weary. There was soil so pure that flowers and plants of all kinds could grow. It was indeed a realm of magnificence, but also a realm of both wonder and ruin. There were times that were heartbreaking. There were moments where I was sure I was going to die a second death. There were moments where we would walk and walk and walk with no chance of knowing if we would ever truly reach our destination. But there were moments of happiness and laughter. There were moments where we could laugh about the hardships we had just overcome. And there was that feeling of acceptance. I had found people who did not hate me for what I wore or what I worshipped. Before I continue with my story, I should introduce myself: My name is Nasira. I was twelve-years-old when I died and woke up on the Mist Continent.

Evaluation Of The Employment Practices

Evaluation Of The Employment Practices Introduction Wal-Mart as a large private retailing player in both America and the world, has recently gained public concerns over its employment lawsuits. The employee lawsuits against Wal-Mart include illegal immigrants child labor, low wage poor benefits, sex discrimination, compulsory overtime work. This has greatly degraded Wal-Mart reputation. It is obvious that Wal-Mart has offended the the ethical principles stated in Global Business Standards Codex and deformed its Employment Practices by the above lawsuits. Therefore, in this essay, based on the current issues, it will evaluate Wal-Mart Employment Practices by involving three ethical principles of GBS Codex (Dignity, Fairness and Citizenship Principles). At the end of the essay, based on the previous evidence and analysis, proper conclusion will be made to furtherly address the business ethics in corporation employment practices. The Dignity Principle There are eight principles covered in the Global Business Standards Codex including fiduciary, property, reliability, transparency, dignity, fairness, citizenship, responsiveness (Carroll Buchholtz, 2008). These principles are not only applicable for business but also for the emloyment practices within organization. All of these codes should be respected by organizations when designing and implementing to govern their employment practices. The Dignity Principle refers to the respect for the individual, health and saftey, privacy and confidentiality, use of force, association and expression, learning and development and employment security and so on (Carroll Buchholtz, 2008). It requires organizations to respect the rights of employees in the working environment, and provide sound system to maintain the individuals development career within the organization. Wal-Mart has been found guilty of forcing employees to work â€Å"off-the-clock† in the meal time, rest breaks and keeping employees locked in Wal-Mart stores after closing. Wal-Mart is accused of not paying employees for the time worked off-the-clock. Employees are forced to work off-the-clock but without additional payment, from this perspective, Wal-Mart is not doing the right business ethics. By ignoring the feelings of employees towards the overtime working, Wal-Mart has offended the dignity principle and abused its rights as an employer. In this way, Wal-Mart was sued by its employees with the evidence that the company did not respect individuals labour. Low wage and poor benefits are also complained by most employees especially those working at the lower level. As Wal-Mart has been long-term making the consistent commitment to customers with low prices and quality goods, on the one hand, Wal-Mart continually push pressure on its suppliers, and on the other hand, it has to reduce its expenditure on the labor costs by offering lower wages and fewer benefits than many comparable retailers (Hemphill, 2008). In 2006, â€Å"American Victory Union† representing 6 million American labors organized assembly in 35 cities in United States to protest Wal-Mart not providing medical insurance and low salary etc (Mathoda, 2006). From the GBS Codexs view, this betrays the ethic standard in terms of giving the corresponding salaries and benefits according to what they have done to the organization. Therefore, Wal-Mart has violated the dignity principle. In this way, employees are keeping leaving the company and contribute to the loss of human resources. The Fairness Principle The fairness principle in GBS Codex refers to fair dealing, fair treatment, fair competition, fair process (Carroll Buchholtz, 2008). Any organization in the market should comply with these fairness requirements both in its business transaction with its suppliers, customers, and its treatment principle to its employees. As employees are the best fortune for an organization, it is very crucial for an organization to realize it as one the key elements for its business success. Unfair treatment to employees is a violation of ethical principle. Wal-Mart was charged of sex descrimination by two women in 2001. Three years later, the sex descrimination case upgraded into collective case. The plaintiffs of over 1.6 million were all the women employed by Wal-Mart since 1988 (Crosby, Stockdale Ropp, 2007). This case has aroused great concerns from American and international communities. Wal-Mart has been found the practice of gender bias with great discrimination against female employees and it has also been accused of demeaning employees with disabilities and inequality based on sexual orientation. The unfairness of treating women is reflected in many ways including salaries, promotions, training etc (Besen Kimmel, 2006). In the case of a woman who was qualified for promotion and has worked for the position for many years, however, when she turned to her manager with regard to requiring for promotion, her manager directly refused the proposal just because she is a woman. While man employees would get promotion under the same s ituation. In this way, Wal-Mart is greatly disobeying its employment practices as it will give every employee the fair opportunity of training, developing and promoting. From the GBS Codex perspective, Wal-Mart also violates the fairness principle to a great extent. The Citizenship Principle The citizenship principle refers to behaviors of abiding by law regulation, public goods, cooperation with authorities, political noninvolvement, and civic contribution (Carroll Buchholtz, 2008). Any organization firstly is a citizen in the society and should do what a citizen should do to the society so as to increase its image as a qualified organization. Wal-Mart has not been cooperated with Union Organizations. It shows great resistance to Unions. Since its establishment, Wal-Mart remains the position as not allowing Unions involvement. Prior to American nationwide Union movement, Wal-Mart printed and distributed â€Å"Managers Practical Guide for Resisting Union† to train and emphasize managers are the first line of defense (Tilly, 2007). Many Unions have given up the hopes of persuading Wal-Mart to join in. Wal-Mart has its own opinion on this issue. It declares it is not anti-union organization, and it is making efforts to close partner. Since it implements an â€Å"open policy† for its employee staff and allow any employee to tell problems and concerns. Therefore, Wal-Mart does not need Unions. Like most of organizations, it is hard for Wal-Mart to change its attitudes towards Unions. It thinks Unions will object the corporation culture, and are just interested in receiving â€Å"expensive† Union member charges or organizing strikes but can not make any practical commitment to the growth of company. However, this is bad for employees since they do not have a third party organization to supervise and protect their rights. Although it is not compulsory for an organization to join in Union, in United States Union plays a significant role in protecting employees rights in many aspects. By resisting Unions involvement, Wal-Mart actually deprived employees legal rights (Ness, 2005). Therefore, Wal-Mart as a mass retailing player does not comply with the citizenship principle to some extent. Conclusion In conclusion, as the results of analyses of the above three ethcial principles of Global Business Standard Codex and Wal-Mart ethical issues in terms of its employment practices, Wal-Mart was continually confronted lawsuits or complaints from its employees with regard to overtime work, less wage, poor benefits, sex discrimination etc. It is also impressive to be resisting Union involvement. For many years, Wal-Mart has been facing the most serious accuses with a calculation of 13 lawsuits every day. For the long time, Wal-Mart has been focusing exclusively and continously to strive to reduce the prices and has ignored the deal with other issues such as wasting time with medias. However, as it grows fast and internationally, Wal-Mart may start to concetrate on making efforts to improve its reputation as a good employer and retailer.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay -- African American Black Racism Essays

Martin Luther King, Jr. I HAVE A DREAM! In an era when racial discrimination and public bigotry towards African Americans in the United States was becoming more evident, this simple, but powerful statement by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a beacon of hope for all African Americans in the country. In his speech, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King expresses his frustration that after a hundred years since the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, African Americans are still treated like second-class citizens. However, Dr. King also expresses his hope that the status quo will change and African Americans around the country will be â€Å"free at last.† Dr. King uses eloquent statements to appeal to his audience’s emotions and to see the difficulties and hardships that African Americans across the country suffer on a regular basis. Dr. King makes use of sound rhetorical devices to convey his message that â€Å"all men are created equal† and that racism should not, cannot co ntinue if the nation is to prosper.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Upon opening his speech, Dr. King makes reference to past events: the Gettysburg Address and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, works both by Abraham Lincoln that ensured that freedom in the United States will endure. â€Å"Five score years ago, a great American†¦ signed the Emancipation Proclamation, [which] came as a great beacon of hope to millions of Negro slaves.† Dr. King does this in order to grasp his audience’s attention and to outline that after a century since the freeing of African American slaves, the Negro race is still treated no differently. He goes on to state that African Americans are â€Å"exiled in their own land. And so we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.† This powerful message implies that no longer will African Americans sit idly by while their civil liberties and human rights are trampled on by racists and bigots or ignored by the government.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Dr. King uses connotations, words such as slaves, injustice, freedom, and hope, to appeal to his audience’s emotions and to stress the importance that public treatment of African Americans must be changed to accommodate the prosperity of our growing nation. â€Å"[Negro slaves] have been seared in the flames of withering injustice.† â€Å"This is our hope†¦ That [whites and blacks] will be able to stand up for freedom together.† He also makes use of connotat... ... skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that one day†¦ little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls. I have a dream today.† King also uses parallelism to emphasize that the nation must come together to â€Å"let freedom ring† for every American from every corner of the country.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"I Have a Dream† speech is one of the greatest and most influential speeches written in the modern day. His use of connotations, hyperbole, and metaphor appealed to his audience’s sense of logic, morality, and just plain old common sense â€Å"that all men are created equal† and to deny this is to deny the intention of the creator. Further, Dr. King’s use of parallelism allowed him to drive his point across â€Å"that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness† and that the country must be transformed into a nation of tolerance, acceptance, and peace. His use of sound rhetorical devices allowed him to sway his audience to change the â€Å"status quo† and enable all Americans to be truly â€Å"free at last.†

Introduction to Computer Organization and Computer Evolution Essay

In describing computers, a distinction is often made between computer architecture and computer organization. Although it is difficult to give precise definitions for these terms, a consensus exists about the general areas covered by each. Computer Architecture refers to those attributes of a system visible to a programmer or, put another way, those attributes that have a direct impact on the logical execution of a program. Examples of architectural attributes include the instruction set, the number of bits used to represent various data types (e.g., numbers, characters), I/O mechanisms, and techniques for addressing memory. Computer Organization refers to the operational units and their interconnections that realize the architectural specifications. Examples of organizational attributes include those hardware details transparent to the programmer, such as control signals; interfaces between the computer and peripherals; and the memory technology used. As an example, it is an architectural design issue whether a computer will have a multiply instruction. It is an organizational issue whether that instruction will implemented by a special multiply unit or by a mechanism that makes repeated use of the add unit of the system. The organizational decision may be based on the anticipated frequency of use of the multiply instruction, the relative speed of the two approaches, and the cost and physical size of a special multiply unit. Historically, and still today, the distinction between architecture and organization has been an important one. Many computer manufacturers offer a family of computer models, all with the same architecture but with differences in organization. Consequently, the different models in the family have different price and performance characteristics. Furthermore, a particular architecture may span many years and encompass a number of different computer models, its organization changing with changing technology. A prominent example of both these phenomena is the IBM System/370 architecture. This architecture was first introduced in 1970 and included a number of models. The customer with modest requirements could buy a cheaper, slower model and, if demand increased, later upgrade to a more expensive, faster model without having to abandon software that had already been developed. These newer models retained the same architecture so that the customer’s software investment  was protected. Remarkably, the System/370 architecture, with a few enhancements, has survived to this day as the architecture of IBM’s mainframe product line. II.Structure and Function A computer is a complex system; contemporary computers contain millions of elementary electronic components. The key is to recognize the hierarchical nature of most complex systems, including the computer. A hierarchical system is a set of interrelated subsystems, each of the latter, in turn, hierarchical in structure until we reach some lowest level of elementary subsystem. The hierarchical nature of complex systems is essential to both their design and their description. The designer need only deal with a particular level of the system at a time. At each level, the system consists of a set of components and their interrelationships. The behaviour at each level depends only on a simplified, abstracted characterization of the system at the next lower level. At each level, the designer is concerned with structure and function: †¢Structure: The way in which the components are interrelated †¢Function: The operation of each individual component as part of the structure The computer system will be described from the top down. We begin with the major components of a computer, describing their structure and function, and proceed to successively lower layers of the hierarchy. Function Both the structure and functioning of a computer are, in essence, simple. Figure 1.1 depicts the basic functions that a computer can perform. In general terms, there are only four: †¢Data processing: The computer, of course, must be able to process data. The data may take a wide variety of forms, and the range of processing requirements is broad. However, we shall see that there are only a few fundamental methods or types of data processing. †¢Data storage: It is also essential that a computer store data. Even if the computer is processing on the fly (i.e., data come in and get processed, and the results go out immediately), the computer must temporarily store at least those pieces of data that are being worked on at any given moment. Thus, there is at least a short-term data storage function. Equally important, the computer performs a long-term data storage  function. Files of data are stored on the computer for subsequent retrieval and update. †¢Data movement: The computer must be able to move data between itself and the outside world. The computer’s operating environment consists of devices that serve as either sources or destinations of data. When data are received from or delivered to a device that is directly connected to the computer, the process is known as input-output (I/O), and the device is referred to as a peripheral. When data are moved over longer distances, to or from a remote device, the process is known as data communications. †¢Control: Finally there must be control of these three functions. Ultimately, this control is exercised by the individual(s) who provides the computer with instructions. Within the computer, a control unit manages the computer’s resources and orchestrates the performance of its functional parts in response to those instructions. FIGURE 1.1 A FUNCTIONAL VIEW OF THE COMPUTER At this general level of discussion, the number of possible operations that can be performed is few. Figure 1.2 depicts the four possible types of operations. The computer can function as a data movement device (Figure 1.2a), simply transferring data from one peripheral or communications line to another. It can also function as a data storage device (Figure 1.2b), with data transferred from the external environment to computer storage (read) and vice versa (write). The final two diagrams show operations involving data processing, on data either in storage (Figure 1.2c) or en route between storage and the external environment Structure Figure 1.3 is the simplest possible depiction of a computer. The computer  interacts in some fashion with its external environment. In general, all of its linkages to the external environment can be classified as peripheral devices or communication lines. There are four main structural components (Figure 1.4): †¢Central Processing Unit (CPU): Controls the operation of the computer and performs its data processing functions; often simple referred to as processor †¢Main memory: Stores data †¢I/O: Moves data between the computer and its external environment †¢System interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for communication among CPU, main memory, and I/O FIGURE 1.3 THE COMPUTER FIGURE 1.4 THE COMPUTER: TOP-LEVEL STRUCTURE There may be one or more of each of the aforementioned components. Traditionally, there has been just a single CPU. In recent years, there has been increasing use of multiple processors in a single computer. The most interesting and in some ways the most complex component is the CPU; its structure is depicted in Figure 1.5. Its major structural components are: †¢Control unit: Controls the operation of the CPU and hence the computer †¢Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU): Performs the computer’s data processing functions †¢Registers: Provides storage internal to the CPU †¢CPU interconnection: Some mechanism that provides for communication among the control unit, ALU, and registers FIGURE 1.5 THE CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT (CPU) Finally, there are several approaches to the implementation of the control unit; one common approach is a microprogrammed implementation. In essence, a microprogrammed control unit operates by executing microinstructions that define the functionality of the control unit. The structure of the control unit can be depicted as in Figure 1.6. FIGURE 1.6 THE CONTROL UNIT III.Importance of Computer Organization and Architecture The computer lies at the heart of computing. Without it most of the computing  disciplines today would be a branch of the theoretical mathematics. To be a professional in any field of computing today, one should not regard the computer as just a black box that executes programs by magic. All students of computing should acquire some understanding and appreciation of a computer system’s functional components, their characteristics, their performance, and their interactions. There are practical implications as well. Students need to understand computer architecture in order to structure a program so that it runs more efficiently on a real machine. In selecting a system to use, they should be able to understand the tradeoff among various components, such as CPU clock speed vs. memory size. [Reported by the Joint Task Force on Computing Curricula of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Computer Society and ACM (Association for Computing Machinery)]. IV.Computer Evolution A brief history of computers is interesting and also serves the purpose of providing an overview of computer structure and function. A consideration of the need for balanced utilization of computer resources provides a context that is useful. The First Generation: Vacuum Tubes ENIAC: The ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer), designed by and constructed under the supervision of John Mauchly and John Presper Eckert at the University of Pennsylvania, was the world’s first general-purpose electronic digital computer. The project was a response to U.S. wartime needs during World War II. The Army’s Ballistics Research Laboratory (BRL), an agency responsible for developing range and trajectory tables for new weapons, was having difficulty supplying these tables accurately and within a reasonable time frame. Mauchly, a professor of electrical engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and Eckert, one of his graduate students, proposed to build a general-purpose computer using vacuum tubes for the BRL’s application. In 1943, the Army accepted this proposal, and work began on the ENIAC. The resulting machine was enormous, weighing 30 tons, occupying 1500 squre feet of floor space and containing more than 18,000 vacuum tubes. When operating, it consumed 140 kilowatts of power. It was also substantially faster than any electromechanical computer, being capable of 5000 additions per second. The ENIAC was a decimal rather  than a binary machine. That is, numbers were represented in decimal form and arithmetic was performed in the decimal system. Its memory consisted of 20 â€Å"accumulators,† each capable of holding a 10-digit decimal number. A ring of 10 vacuum tubes represented each digit. At any time, only one vacuum tube was in the ON state, representing one of the 10 digits. The major drawback of the ENIAC was that it had to be programmed manually by setting switches and plugging and unplugging cables. The ENIAC was completed in 1946, too late to be used in the war effort. Instead, its first task was to perform a series of complex calculations that were us ed to help determine the feasibility of the hydrogen bomb. The use of the ENIAC for a purpose other than that for which it was built demonstrated its general-purpose nature. The ENIAC continued to operate under BRL management until 1955, when it was disassembled. The von Neumann Machine: The task of entering and altering programs for the ENIAC was extremely tedious. The programming process could be facilitated if the program could be represented in a form suitable for storing in memory alongside the data. Then, a computer could get its instructions by reading them from memory, and a program could be set or altered by setting the values of a portion of memory. This idea, known as the stored-program concept, is usually attributed to the ENIAC designers, most notably the mathematician John von Neumann, who was a consultant on the ENIAC project. Alan Turing developed the idea at about the same time. The first publication of the idea was in a 1945 proposal by von Neumann for a new computer, the EDVAC (Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer). In 1946, von Neumann and his colleagues began the design of a new stored-program computer, referred to as the IAS computer, at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Studies. The IAS computer, although not completed until 1952, is the prototype of all subsequent general-purpose computers. Figure 1.7 shows the general structure of the IAS computer. It consists of: †¢A main memory, which stores both data and instructions †¢An arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) capable of operating on binary data †¢A control unit, which interprets the instructions in memory and causes them to be executed †¢Input and output (I/O) equipment operated by the control unit FIGURE 1.7 STRUCTURE OF THE IAS COMPUTER Commercial Computers The 1950s saw the birth of the computer industry with two companies, Sperry and IBM, dominating the marketplace. UNIVAC I: In 1947, Eckert and Mauchly formed the Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation to manufacture computers commercially. Their first successful machine was the UNIVAC I (Universal Automatic Computer), which was commissioned by the Bureau of the Census for the 1950 calculations. The Eckert-Mauchly Computer Corporation became part of the UNIVAC division of Sperry-Rand Corporation, which went on to build a series of successor machines. The UNIVAC I was the first successful commercial computer. It was intended, as the name implies, for both scientific and commercial applications. The first paper describing the system listed matrix algebraic computations, statistical problems, premium billings for a life insurance company, and logistical problems as a sample of the tasks it could perform. UNIVAC II: The UNIVAC II which had greater memory capacity and higher performance than the UNIVAC I, was delivered in the late 1950s and illustrates several trends that have remained characteristic of the computer industry. First, advances in technology allow companies to continue to build larger, more powerful computers. Second, each company tries to make its new machines upward compatible with the older machines. This means that the programs written for the older machines can be executed on the new machine. This strategy is adopted in the hopes of retaining the customer base; that is, when a customer decides to buy a newer machine, he or she is likely to get it from the same company to avoid losing the investment in programs. The UNIVAC division also began development of the 1100 series of computers, which was to be its major source of revenue. This series illustrates a distinction that existed at one time. In 1955, IBM, which stands for International Business Machines, introduced the companion 702 product, which had a number of hardware features that suited it to business applications. These were the first of a long series of 700/7000 computers that established IBM as the overwhelmingly dominant computer manufacturer. The Second Generation: Transistors The first major change in the electronic computer came with the replacement of the vacuum tube by the transistor. The transistor is smaller, cheaper, and dissipates less heat than a vacuum tube but can be used in the same way  as a vacuum tube to construct computers. Unlike the vacuum tube, which requires wires, metal plates, a glass capsule, and a vacuum, the transistor is a solid-state device, made from silicon. The transistor was invented at Bell Labs in 1947 and by the 1950s had launched an electronic revolution. The National Cash Registers (NCR) and, more successfully, Radio Corporation of America (RCA) were the front-runners with some small transistor machines. IBM followed shortly with the 7000 series. The second generation is noteworthy also for the appearance of the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). DEC was founded in 1957 and, in that year, delivered its first computer, the PDP-1 (Programmed Data Processor). This computer and this company began the minicomputer phenomenon that would become so prominent in the third generation. The IBM 7094: From the introduction of the 700 series in 1952 to the introduction of the last member of the 7000 series in 1964, this IBM product line underwent an evolution that is typical of computer products. Successive members of the product line show increased performance, increased capacity, and/or lower cost. Table 1.1 illustrates this trend. The Third Generation: Integrated Circuit A single, self-contained transistor is called a discrete component. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, electronic equipment was composed largely of discrete components–transistors, resistors, capacitors, and so on. Discrete components were manufactured separately, packaged in their own containers, and soldered or wired together onto masonite-like circuit boards, which were then installed in computers, oscilloscopes, and other electronic equipment. Early second-generation computer contained about 10,000 transistors. This figure grew to the hundreds of thousands, making the manufacture of newer, more powerful machines increasingly difficult. In 1958 came the achievement that revolutionized electronics and started the era of microelectronics: the invention of the integrated circuit. Microelectronics: Microelectronics means, literally, â€Å"small electronics.† Since the beginnings of digital electronics and the computer industry, there has been a persistent and consistent trend toward the reduction in size of digital electronic circuits. The basic elements of a digital computer, as we know, must perform storage, movement, processing, and control functions. Only two fundamental types of components are required: gates and memory  cells. A gate is a device that implements a simple Boolean or logical function. Such devices are called gates because they control data flow in much the same way that canal gates do. The memory cell is a device that can store one bit of data; that is, the device can be in one of two stable states at any time. By interconnecting large numbers of these fundamental devices, we can construct a computer. We can relate this to our four basic functions as follows: †¢Data storage: Provided by memory cells. †¢Data processing: Provided by gates. †¢Data movement: The paths between components are used to move data from memory to memory and from memory through gates to memory. †¢Control: The paths between components can carry control signals. When the control signal is ON, the gate performs its function on the data inputs and produces a data output. Similarly, the memory cell will store the bit that is on its input lead when the WRITE control signal is ON and will place the bit that is in the cell on its output lead when the READ control signal is ON. Thus, a computer consists of gates, memory cells, and interconnections among these elements. The integrated circuit exploits the fact that such components as transistors, resistors, and conductors can be fabricated from a semiconductor such as silicon. It is merely an extension of the solid-state art to fabricate an entire circuit in a tiny piece of silicon rather than assemble discrete components made from separate pieces of silicon into the same circuit. Many transistors can be produced at the same time on a single wafer of silicon. Equally important, these transistors can be connected with a process of metallization to form circuits. Figure 1.8 depicts the key concepts in an integrated circuit. A thin wafer of silicon is divided into a matrix of small areas, each a few millimetres square. The identical circuit pattern is fabricated in each area, and the wafer is broken up into chips. Each chip consists of many gates and/or memory cells plus a number of input and output attachment points. This chip is then packaged in housing that protects it and provides pins for attachment to devices beyond the chip. A number of these packages can then be interconnected on a printed circuit board to produce larger and more complex circuits. As time went on, it became possible to pack more and more components on the  same chip. This growth in density is illustrated in Figure 1.9; it is one of the most remarkable technological trends ever recorded. This figure reflects the famous Moore’s law, which was propounded by Gordon Moore, cofounder of Intel, in 1965. Moore observed that the number of transistors that could be put on a single chip was doubling every year and correctly predicted that this pace would continue into the near future. FIGURE 1.9 GROWTH IN CPU TRANSISTOR COUNT The consequences of Moore’s law are profound: 1.The cost of a chip has remained virtually unchanged during this period of rapid growth in density. This means that the cost of computer logic and memory circuitry has fallen at a dramatic rate. 2.Because logic and memory elements are placed closer together on more densely packed chips, the electrical path length is shortened, increasing operating speed. 3.The computer becomes smaller, making it more convenient to place in a variety of environments. 4.There is a reduction in power and cooling requirements. 5.The interconnections on the integrated circuit are much more reliable than solder connections. With more circuitry on each chip, there are fewer interchip connections. IBM System/360: By 1964, IBM had a firm grip on the computer market with its 7000 series of machines. In that year, IBM announced the System/360, a new family of computer products. Although the announcement itself was no surprise, it contained some unpleasant news for current IBM customers: the 360 product line was incompatible with older IBM machines. Thus, the transition to the 360 would be difficult for the current customer base. This was a bold step by IBM, but one IBM felt was necessary to break out of some of the constraints of the 7000 architecture and to produce a system capable of evolving with the new integrated circuit technology. The 360 was the success of the decade and cemented IBM as the overwhelmingly dominant computer vendor, with a market share above 70%. The System/360 was the industry’s first planned family of computers. The family covered a wide range of performance and cost. Table 1.2 indicates some of the key characteristics of the various models in 1965. The concept of a family of compatible computers was both novel and extremely successful. The characteristics of a family are as follows: †¢Similar or identical instruction set: The program that executes on one machine will also execute on any other. †¢Similar or identical operating system: The same basic operating system is available for all family members. †¢Increasing speed: the rate of instruction execution increases in going from lower to higher family members. †¢Increasing number of I/O ports: In going from lower to higher family members. †¢Increasing memory size: In going from lower to higher family members. †¢Increasing cost: In going from lower to higher family members. DEC PDP-8: Another momentous first shipment occurred: PDP-8 from DEC. At a time when the average computer required an air-conditioned room, the PDP-8 (dubbed a minicomputer by the industry) was small enough that it could be placed on top of a lab bench or be built into other equipment. It could not do everything the mainframe could, but at $16,000, it was cheap enough for each lab technician to have one. The low cost and small size of the PDP-8 enabled another manufacturer to purchase a PDP-8 and integrate it into a total system for resale. These other manufacturers came to be known as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and the OEM market became and remains a major segment of the computer marketplace. As DEC’s official history puts it, the PDP-8 â€Å"established the concept of minicomputers, leading the way to a multibillion dollar industry.† Later Generations Beyond the third generation there is less general agreement on defining generations of computers. Table 1.3 suggests that there have been a number of later generations, based on advances in integrated circuit technology. GenerationApproximate DatesTechnologyTypical Speed (operations per  second) With the rapid pace of technology, the high rate of introduction of new products and the importance of software and communications as well as hardware, the classification by generation becomes less clear and less meaningful. In this section, we mention two of the most important of these results. Semiconductor Memory: The first application of integrated circuit technology to computers was construction of the processor (the control unit and the arithmetic and logic unit) out of integrated circuit chips. But it was also found that this same technology could be used to construct memories. In the 1950s and 1960s, most computer memory was constructed from tiny rings of ferromagnetic material, each about a sixteenth of an inch in diameter. These rings were strung up on grids of fine wires suspended on small screens inside the computer. Magnetized one way, a ring (called a core) represented a one; magnetized the other way, it stood for a zero. It was expensive, bulky, and used destructive readout. Then, in 1970, Fairchild produced the first relatively capacious semiconductor memory. This chip, about the size of a single core, could hold 256 bits of memory. It was non-destructive and much faster than core. It took only 70 billionths of a second to read a bit. However, the cost per bit was higher than for that of core. In 1974, a seminal event occurred: The price per bit of semiconductor memory dropped below the price per bit of core memory. Following this, there has been a continuing and rapid decline in memory cost accompanied by a corresponding increase in physical memory density. Since 1970, semiconductor memory has been through 11 generations: 1K, 4K, 16K, 64K, 256K, 1M, 4M, 16M, 64M, 256M, and, as of this writing, 1G bits on a single chip. Each generation has provided four times the storage density of the previous generation, accompanied by declining cost per bit and declining access time. Microprocessors: Just as the density of elements on memory chips has  continued to rise, so has the density of elements on processor chips. As time went on, more and more elements were placed on each chip, so that fewer and fewer chips were needed to construct a single computer processor. A breakthrough was achieved in 1971, when Intel developed its 4004. The 4004 was the first chip to contain all of the components of a CPU on a single chip: the microprocessor was born. The 4004 can add two 4-bit numbers and can multiply only be repeated addition. By today’s standards, the 4004 is hopelessly primitive, but it marked the beginning of a continuing evolution of microprocessor capability and power.

Nobel Prize Winner’s Talk

REPORT Nobel Prize Winner's Talk (A New Kilogram Next Year) Main Speaker: Nobel Laureate Professor Klaus von Klitzing Lecture Topic: â€Å"A New Kilogram Next Year – How my Nobel Prize Contributed to this Development Date: Tuesday 2nd October, 2018 TIME: 6pm VENUE: JFK Lecture Theatre, UWI Immediately upon being invited to the event I was unbelievably excited. It made me feel like this vast world suddenly became smaller and things that seemed unreachable became all the more possible and all the dreams that could ever be dreamt could be truly actualized. Of course getting credit for attending was just a plus, but having such a once in a lifetime opportunity, to hear from one of the Rock stars of the scientific world definitely could not be missed. They say that great leaders once had great mentors and that to be the best, you have to learn from the best. As such, hearing from one of the greatest minds in the world could not be passed. I had to know the secrets of his lifetime adventure. As I proceeded to the JFK Lecture Theatre, the surreal sunset and cool breezes brought an air of expectancy and anticipation. Located outside was a distribution table where we received additional reading resources. Upon receiving them, I walked inside not knowing what lay in the minutes ahead. The seminar, I found out, was hosted by CARISCIENCE (The network of Research and Development Institutions in the Basic Sciences in the Caribbean), in conjunction with the German Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, The Faculty of Science and Technology of the UWI, the University of Trinidad and Tobago and the University of the Southern Caribbean. This, I believed to be very commendable, having all the collegiate institutions coming together for a common purpose. This should be the goal of every individual, organization and the global community as a whole. The event launched the annual CARISCIENCE Nobel Laureate Lecture Series and this year they invited Noble Laureate Professor Klaus von Klitzing, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1985, for his discovery that under the appropriate conditions the resistance offered by an electrical conductor is quantized; that is, it varies by discrete steps rather than smoothly and continuously. The lecture was moderated by Dr. Richard Taylor, while the opening remarks were given by Professor Dyer Narinesingh; the President of CARISCIENCE. He did elaborate on the goals and vision of the organization which included; a singular Caribbean intellectual space which encourages problem solving and converting knowledge into wealth creation. He also mentioned that they set out to foster collaboration with international affiliates which would expose stakeholders to relevant equipment, methods and technologies and henceforth be a voice for the Caribbean region. He also drew reference to Loreal's vision : Diversity + Inclusion = Innovation The objectives of the organization seemed relevant and highly necessary to facilitate the ongoing progress being made within the region. To create a competitive, highly innovative, critically minded workforce to create a name and competitive edge for our Caribbean citizenry. He ended with the notion that â€Å"it cannot be business as usual† if we are to continue to harness the potential of young minds in this time. The Welcome Address was then presented by Professor Indar Ramnarine, who encouraged â€Å"impactful research that should reshape the boundaries of your fields.† I found this highly motivating as we seek to be world changers in this age. Not only to occupy space but to make a distinct dent in our respective fields and make full use of the time allotted us, to better humanity. He also stated that, â€Å"It is not only possible to understand the intricacies of the world but also to improve it.† Ah yes, our vision should indeed be: to identify the problem, gauge the solution, implement the solution and continue to improve the solution. The Introduction of the Speaker was performed by Dr. Brian Cockburn, who articulated a summary of the career paths and accomplishments of Professor Klitzing. This only sought to inspire me more on this journey to think bigger and dream larger. As soon as the Nobel Laureate Professor Klaus von Klitzing commandeered the stage, instantly the fires of passion that burnt ever so brightly oh so many years ago, was distinctly evident, burning just as intensely even at this age. This jovial character, was clearly thrilled to be speaking about his life's work and the opportunities it still presented him today, in being able to visit the Caribbean. I immediately could not help thinking, wow, I hope at the closing end of my life, I still feel such passion, fervor and irradiate such vibrancy about the things that excite my soul. Not only was he surprisingly pleasant but his speaking skills were far from boring, as he carried us on the journey with him through the process of the discovery day, to giving us the information that we could indeed buy ourselves our own Noble Prize, however, in so doing not be privy to the elaborate â€Å"Hogwart-esque† feast they had to attend. It definitely seemed like something out of a storybook. He also mentioned the ages of the new Noble Prize winners for Physics this year, with Arthur Ashkin being 97 years and Gà ©rard Mourou being 76 years. Absolutely incredible! This just proves that age is just a number and that we should never let something like age stop us from achieving our full potential. This is a continuous learning process and Life is indeed the teacher. It demonstrates perseverance, diligence and discipline to the highest degree and there is lot to be learnt from their immense persistence to the task. (#whatisretirement?) As he proceeded to his topic â€Å"A New Kilogram Next Year – How My Noble Prize Contributed to this Development†, he explained how the initial constant was acquired. The Kilogram (kg), the basic unit off mass in the metric system and was considered equal to the mass of the international prototype of the kilogram, a platinum-iridium cylinder (Big K), kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures laboratory at Sà ¨vres, France. The accuracy of every measurement of mass or weight worldwide, whether in pounds and ounces or milligrams and metric tons, depends on how closely the reference masses used in those measurements can be linked to the mass of the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK). The most minuscule of accuracy discrepancies would have tremendous impact in fields such as medicine, engineering and electronics, which are dependent on precise measurements. Consequently, it effects other phenomena like force, energy and luminous energy, which use it as fundamental building blocks for measurement. It has been identified that the cylinder is indeed changing in measurement due to gas initially used in its creation and is now slowly seeping out of the cylinder, consequently changing its dimensions making it an unreliable standard for measurement. To facilitate this, a drastic change had to be made and as such in November 2018, the international scientific community plans to redefine the kilogram by basing it instead on a constant of nature, making it a profound moment in the history of measurement. Thus, since the kilogram remains the only SI unit represented by an unstable artifact, the redefinition included expressing the kilogram in terms of Planck's constant, which would aid in avoiding future problems. Firstly, physicists required an accurate measure of Planck's constant which is the quantum-mechanical number that relates how a particle's energy relates to its frequency and through E = mc^2, to its mass. Thus once a fixed value is achieved to Planck's constant, a new definition of the kilogram can be derived. In order to measure Planck's constant precisely, two experiments are being conducted. One known as the Avogadro Project, involves counting the number of atoms in two spheres of silicon that each have the same weight as the Big K. Having obtained this number, the precise number of atoms comprising a particular substance, researchers can calculate Avogadro's constant, convert it for a value for Planck's constant and relate the kilogram to atomic mass. The second experiment uses an instrument called a watt (or Kibble) balance, which is a type of scale, that produces a value for Planck's constant by measuring a one-kilogram test mass, which is calibrated by using Big K, against electromagnetic forces. Planck's constant is proportional to the amount of electromagnetic energy required to balance the mass. Two differing universal constants are used in order to calculate the current and voltage that make up the electromagnetic force. The Josephson constant and von Klitzing constant are used. (Yes I got to meet one of the only two living remaining constants!!! I felt truly blessed.) The discovery of the von Klitzing constant, is part of the Quantum Hall Effect, which earned Professor von Klitzing, his Nobel Prize. While he worked at the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, experiments conducted led to observations of the effect of magnetic fields applied to semiconductors allowed to cool to extremely low temperatures. This led to the discovery that electrical resistance rose stepwise, rather than smoothly and continuously, indicating an integer fraction of a specific number, 25,812.807 ohms, now identified as the von Klitzing constant. Thus, the Quantum Hall Effect is now used worldwide for calibrating electrical resistances and the von Klitzing constant is utilized by the scientific community to measure current in a watt balance. Essentially, the fundamental constants can aid in establishing possible units that can retain their significance for lifetimes and species to come, through the Quantum Hall Effect. Additionally, we were rest assured that the new kilogram will be defined in such a way that nothing will change in our daily life. It will be indeed more stable and more universal. Granted that as Henry Marks stated, â€Å"Science is measurement. Everything you measure is expressed in units,† this was definitely a plus. He continued by explaining who decides the best definition of the SI Unit, which comprises of diplomats from sixty member states and forty-four associate states, at the General Conference on Weights and Measurements. The most recent having occurred in August 2018, based discussions to adapt a resolution that would replace the current SI, with the revised SI, provided the amount of data uncertainties pertaining to the current standard. The precondition for the new kilogram must be reliable, as well as have an uncertainty smaller than fifty micrometers. This stipulation was fulfilled in July 2017, and as such would be finalized at the next conference which is to take place in November 2018. Finally, he noted that the best values of fundamental constants, (h, e, c Kb, Na) creates the most stable basis for the new system of units and hopefully by the next General Conference on Weights and Measures in November 2018, will be the replacement for the present SI System. The Professor, was also sure to reinforce the need as scientists to question continuously. Question nature and the way things work. Question the problems posed to you. Question what you understand and what you want to solve. He emphasized the need to always stay curious and always gain inspiration from other subject matter, which would bring new perspectives and ideas to trains of thought. He also asked several questions that he left up to us to solve. They included:Are fundamental constants really constant?How do they change due to cosmic radiation, global warming, with time?Are there other fundamental constants in the universe?What happens if you combine other fundamental constants? (with regard to velocity of sound/gases and temperature)What impact does the Quantum Hall Effect have on living cells?Opinion of the role and future of physics in life Physics is the cornerstone of life and everything surrounding it. Every basic principle rests on the foundation of Physics (of course this is me being highly biased). It involves the study of matter, energy and their interactions and other sciences are dependent on its theories to further develop their own and improve the quality of life. I do believe we have the upper hand as physicists and a greater responsibility to society to find answers to the most fundamental questions in life. To explain why the world work as it does and to provide adequate, substantial, mathematically correct evidence to question the bases of such thought. Physicists perceive beyond the normal realm and consider factors outside regular streams of thinking and are then conditioned to think outside the non-existent box. This will prove ideal to the future of Physics in this society, as we break down to the fundamental backbone of structures and understand how they function, how they can be improved and how they can be manipulated by variables. This skill is essential for countless applications and is necessary for continued development in any sector. Technological advances can occur due to the discovery of new particles, forces and structures in the subatomic world. There would also be enhanced computational and calculation power causing extraordinary leaps and bounds unfathomable before. With this would also bring the onslaught of artificial intelligence integrated lifestyles to the common man, allowing multipurpose use. Not to mention the development of quantum artificial intelligence if large-scale computing is actualized. Vast use of computers and electronics would lead to even more advanced medical breakthroughs with prosthetics, which would enhance the human experience and even possible come to define consciousness in terms of nature's fundamental forces. Additionally with the exponential advancement in space technology, conditioning for studying and visiting the cosmos would seem closer to realization, even as space transport is made more readily accessible. Physics is indeed a driving force into a very futuristic ideal, expanding space and time, and blazing the trail for the reorientation of the human mind. Cheers to the future of Physics!