Bronfenbrenners Ecological Theory of Development Essay

BRONFENBRENNERS ECOLOGICAL THEORY OF DEVELOPMENT Bronfenbrenners Ecological Theory of Development Jermor Simmons Capella University #8195; Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Abstract 3 Method 4 Results 4 References 5 #8195; Abstract The development and growth of an individual is within the constraints of the social environment (Jordan 183). Bronfenbrenners theory that development is influenced by experiences arising from broader social and cultural systems as well as a childs immediate surroundings. Ecological Systems Theory, also called Development in Context or Human Ecology theory, specifies four types of nested environmental systems, with bi-directional influences within and between the systems.†¦show more content†¦For example, an individual usually acts differently within his or her own family than within a classroom. The person may speak more often at home, be less goal-oriented, and, almost certainly, will not sit at a desk for hours on end. Other things being equal, according to Bronfenbrenner, when the relation between different microsystems is a compatible one, development progresses more smoothly. A common example of this is the relationship between home and school. When role expectations ar e similar in both settings, e.g., try your hardest, do your own work, be on time, etc., children will be expected to perform better than if role expectations differ substantially from one setting to the next. The microsystem is described as the settings in which an individual lives. Family had played a big role in my entrance into graduate school, because I would be the first person in my family to enter graduate school and complete it. The mesosystem direct impact on my entrance into graduate school is a little complicated, because I was raised by my grandmother, whom worked very hard to make sure we had a place to lay our head and a table to eat at. She didnt have time for all the parent teacher conferences and any sports I was involved in. So the connection between home and school was very seldom unless I did something wrong and she had to come up to the school. The exosystem direct impact on me entering graduate school didnt play aShow MoreRelatedBronfenbrenners Ecological Theory of Development1479 Words   |  6 Pagesdecision HS5002 Survey of Research in Human Development and Behavior Bronfrenbenner’s Ecological Theory Urie Bronfrenbenner (1971-2005) created the ecological theory based on different levels to indicate how a child’s environment affects his/her development as well as minor and major life decisions. Bronfenbrenner categorized his theory into four levels: the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem. Each level of the theory plays a role in the decision making process andRead MoreThe Effects of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory Essay1137 Words   |  5 PagesThe Effects of Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory Kathleen A. Gebert Capella University Abstract Urie Bronfenbrenner Ecological Theory suggests that child growth and development started and ended with a layer of ecological systems. The systems consists of microsytem (family or classroom), meosystem (two microsystem interacting such as neighborhood and family), exosystem (external environments that affect a child’s growth i.e. parents workplace), macrosystem (the larger society cultural environment)Read MoreBronfenbrenner s Theory Of Human Development1673 Words   |  7 PagesBronfenbrenner’s Bioecological Theory Background The study and research of human development has always been intriguing and intensive. There are five perspectives commonly discussed: psychoanalytic, learning, cognitive, contextual, and evolutionary/sociobiological. Those who follow the contextual perspective believe that development can be understood only in its social context. Also, they observe the individual as an inseparable component of the environment. Psychologist Urie Bronfenbrenner isRead MoreThe Bronfenbrenner Theory Essay1228 Words   |  5 PagesThe composition of Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory cultivate a framework to study the numerous connections between the developing child from mother and father relationships to the environment, community settings, cultural influences and financial factors. The four levels of environmental stimuli the micro- , meso- , exo- and macrosystems, each intermingled within one another representing degrees of personal connections. Change and constancy are mediated by t he passage of time. The chronosystemRead MoreJuno Developmental Theories898 Words   |  4 Pagesgive it up for adoption, Juno’s journey centers around the result of that decision. There are a number of developmental theories that can be applied to Juno’s journey, however the one that will be expounded upon in this paper will be Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. According to Bronfenbrenner’s theory there are five different layers of an individual’s personal development. These layers are composed of multiple varying factors of universal values, societal customs, and governing laws. AnRead MoreExamples Of Bronfenbrenners Ecological Model1341 Words   |  6 PagesBronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model Tommy G. Maher, Jr. Bakersfield College CHDV B42 Fall 2017 October 29th, 2017 Abstract Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems model describes four (4) systems that work intricately within each other, similar to a circle of rings, which influence human development. With the individual positioned at the center of the model encompassed by these four (4) rings, each ring acts as a different context by dictating the way in which the individual behaves, developsRead MoreRelations of Urie Bronfenbrenner the Ecological Systems Theory to the â€Å"Growing up in New Zealand† 1137 Words   |  5 Pagesone developmental theory; and discuss its relevance in relation to findings from the â€Å"Growing up in New Zealand† study. I have chosen Urie Bronfenbrenner the Ecological Systems Theory. I will look at the findings of the Now We Are Born Report that has collated study cohort data from birth to 9 months old (Morton, Atatoa-Carr, Grant, Lee, Bandara, Mohal, Kinloch†¦et al 2012). I will discuss how two finding relate to Brofenbreener’s model. Urie Bronfenbrenner: Ecological System Theory Urie BronfenbrennerRead MoreThe Ecological Systems Theory Developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner1314 Words   |  5 Pagesand development. The Ecological Systems theory developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner exposes these influences and discusses how they can either have a positive or negative impact on the relationship children have with their parents, peers and community. In an ever-changing occupation, it is important that theories can first be practically used throughout the industry, and also adapted easily when changes are made throughout time. Developed in 1979 by Urie Bronfenbrenner the Ecology Systems Theory focusesRead MoreThe Cultural And Contextual Impacts Of A Child s Development Essay1630 Words   |  7 PagesPiaget, Gesell, Erikson are all theorists that looks and discusses the development of a child. Each theorist looks at the different domains of a child’s development. Piaget looks at the cognitive development, Gesell looks at the physical and Erikson looks at the emotional development. Bronfenbrenner’s theory will also be looked at as it examines the cultural and contextual impacts of a child’s development. Ruby will be the child that will be looked in this essay. She is in the early childhood stageRead MoreBronfenbrenners Ecological Model757 Words   |  4 PagesCHDV B42 Child, Family, and Community Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Model Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory of development is relevant to state of all our lives. His research shows how our development is affected by the environment we are in. This is explained to us in five different parts. Urie Bronfenbrenner proposes an ecological theory that centers on the relationship between the developing individual and the changing environmental systems. This theory is broken down into a model of five

Essay on Natural Gas Fracking Risks - 1519 Words

Natural gas is said to be one of the most popular forms of energy today. In the past, often left undeveloped and wasted, it was once considered â€Å"unusable† and â€Å"worthless†, compared to oil. In order to try to break our country’s dependence on foreign oil supplies, we have begun to dip into our own natural gas supply. Natural gas is found underground, and is produced when trapped gas is released above ground. Hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a process that extracts natural gas from the ground. As harmless as the billion dollar producing oil companies would want us to believe, environmental groups, scientists, and average citizens have raised concerns about the negative impact of hydraulic fracking on the environment and†¦show more content†¦As more and more natural gas locations are sprouting up so close to home, it makes sense to explore the risks proven to be associated with fracking. Groundwater polluting of communities near natural gas drilling sites, has been linked to fracking. â€Å"At least 15 water-wells in Rosebud, Alberta, have gone bad since EnCana Corporation fracked into their aquifer in search of shale gas in 2004† (Nelson 25). By fracking into the aquifer, the chemicals used in the process undoubtedly contaminated the drinking water of the area. Nelson also reports of Rosebud resident, Jessica Ernst and her family’s experience with fracking. Ms. Ernst stated that Encana gas told her family that they would never fracture near her family’s aquifer. By 2005, Ms. Ernst says that her water started going bad, she was receiving horrible burns and rashes from showering, and her dogs refused to drink the water so that is when she began to pay attention (Nelson 25). It is a horrible thought that a person could get burnt taking a shower in their own home or not be able to provide their pets safe water to drink. â€Å" In 2006, Ernst decided to go public, showing reporters how she could set fire to her tap water, and speaking out about the industry† (Nelson 25). â€Å"One gas company recently bought out the town of Dimock, Pennsylvania, for $4.1 million because fracking made the water completely undrinkable† (Nelson 26). It makes one wonder how large drillingShow MoreRelatedFracking : A Controversial Controversy1486 Words   |  6 PagesFracking is a highly controversial practice that utilizes the injection of water, chemicals and abrasives to extract relatively inaccessible pockets of natural resources. Although fracking has the potential to benefit the domestic economy, the practice of hydraulic fracturing, if left unregulated and mismanaged poses significant risks to the environment, the ecosystem and safety. Fracking has become a highly controversial and publicized topic in recent years due to rising concerns into the potentialRead MoreThe Economic Report On Fracking, Is It Worth It?1465 Words   |  6 PagesEconomic Report Fracking, is it Worth it? Ron Withall Business 630, Dr. Lynn Reaser SUBJECT Our dependence on foreign oil and natural gas has created a vulnerability affecting our national security and economic stability. Up until this past decade there was an appreciable decline in our oil and natural gas production in the US and we were tied to world market price fluctuations. Oil prices and natural gas prices rose and fell based on OPEC’s and other large oil and natural gas producers’ productionRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing Is Risky And Dangerous For The Environment1153 Words   |  5 Pagesresidents of Flint did. Well there is. Everywhere there is Hydraulic Fracturing, there is a risk that your tap water will become polluted. Hydraulic Fracturing is risky and dangerous for the environment and not worth the benefits of natural gas. Hydraulic Fracturing is a process that involves drilling a well and injecting water at high speeds to break up rocks and minerals underground and allows natural gas to flow out to be collected, according to Hydraulic Fracturing Should be Banned written byRead MoreFracking Boom : How Fracking Ignited American Energy Revolution And Changed The World Essay741 Words   |  3 PagesNatural gas is the transitional fuel that is cleaner than coal and oil that has been experiencing a boom in the United States for the last few decades. Natural gas is most familiar to us in the form of heating and cooking on gas ranges. It is abundantly available and modern technology has made it much more accessible and cheaper than other energy sources. Hydraulic fracturing, known short as fracking, is the combination of technology with water and chemicals, and high pressure, that breaks throughRead MoreThe Effects Of Fracking On Environmental Impacts On The Environment1094 Words   |  5 PagesSubstantial societal concerns regarding fracking s environmental impacts have been raised. Firstly, the water requirements are significant, with an average of 20 million litres used per well. This is 50-100 times more water than in conventional natural gas extraction. An increase in fracking may exacerbate current global water stress due to pollution, climate change and population growth (Kim 2014). In addition to this, the water mixtures used in fracking contain an average of 200 000 litres ofRead MoreA Brief Note On Environmental Injustice And Fracking1341 Words   |  6 PagesOctober 8, 2015 Environmental Injustice and Fracking Recently, North Carolina has been conducting pilot studies to determine whether or not hydraulic fracturing should be pursued in the state’s shale beds, a topic that causes much polarized debate. Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as â€Å"fracking,† uses water, sand, and chemicals to release natural gas from as far as 10,000 feet below the Earth’s surface. Supporters of fracking claim that natural gas is an ideal â€Å"bridge fuel† as the energy industryRead MoreFracking, The Splitting Decision : An Analysis1726 Words   |  7 PagesFracking, The Splitting Decision: An Analysis of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Fracking Abstract Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the process of drilling into the Earth and subsequently directly a high-pressure water, sand, and chemical mixture at shale rock to release the gas inside, out through the head of the well. Fracking allows firms to access previously inaccessible resources of oil and gas buried underneath the earth and hidden in the rocks. In the U.S., fracking has boostedRead MoreFracking : A Natural Source Of Clean Energy Essay1191 Words   |  5 Pagescreate tiny fissures in the rocks that lie deep beneath the earth; The rocks then allows gas and oil to flow into the well. In fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, drillers inject water, chemicals, sand, or gravel, deep underground to crack open shale rock that can contain huge deposits of oil and gas. Combined with another technique known as horizontal drilling, which is exactly what it sounds like. Fracking is often used as an overall term to describe the whole process of shale energy developmentRead MoreFracking And The Gas Industry1573 Words   |  7 Pageshydraulic fracturing - a process for extracting natural gas- has spread rapidly across the United States. High volume hydraulic fracturing, or â€Å"fracking,† is a process in which water and chemicals are injected into shale formations underground in order to release trapped natural gas. As fracking spreads throughout the United States, there are more and more reported cases of contaminated drinking water and illness among citizens living near fracking sites. Even with these cases, it is still difficultRead MoreFracking : Fracking And Fracking1524 Words   |  7 Pages Hydraulic Fracturing Research Paper Hydraulic Fracturing (also commonly known as fracking) is a process used to extract natural gasses deep within the earth. This is done by drilling vertically into the ground until the desired depth; then drilling horizontally; and pumping millions of gallons of water, sand, and other chemicals into the drill at a high pressure to create fissures through which the gas can escape. Currently, hydraulic fracturing is extensively used in the United States in order

Some Are Employee Behavior And Motivation †Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: What Are Values Of Employee Behavior? Answer: Introduction: Employee behaviour and motivation are some of the organizational concepts that have been studied by the researchers in order to know about the behaviour of the people at the workplace in different situations. Human resources have become the specialized department so that the employees can be managed at the workplace. The major concern of the human resource managers these days is related to the values and the behaviour of the people of different age at the workspace (Cennamo Gardner, 2008). This is because the people of different age groups have different requirements and need as well as different ways of working in the organizations. This study helps in understanding about the changing nature of work values at the workplace because of the difference in the age group of the people. This is because managers have to maintain the balance between the different generations employees who work together under a roof having different thinking processes. Values can be defined as the beliefs of the people that remain constant in different situations. The values of an individual form his personality and the way he works at the workplace (Twenge, Campbell, Hoffman Lance, 2010). There are many reasons that can affect the values of the person such as his upbringing, his cultural background, his family, the environment and the educational values of the arson. Values developed slowly and steadily among the individual. The experiences they go through in their lives may also affect their beliefs and the thought process for different situations. For instance, there are cases where an individual have different beliefs then his family such as the whole family of the individuals believes in God but he may be an atheist because of some of the situations he may have experiences (Adner Kapoor, 2010). Thus, experiences also play a great role in framing the values of the individuals. It has been analysed that different researchers have different views regarding the work values. Some argues that the personal values and work value have some kind of similarities in the structural aspect while other argues that work values can emerges when the personal values of the person have projection on the work that person is doing (Gursoy, Maier Chi, 2008). Work values are considered as the element that is the basis of the behaviour of an individual in the organization and various organizational factors also affect the work values of the people. It has been identified that the work values of the person should be the fundamental rights and wrongs that need to be articles at the workplace. There are two dimensions in which the values at the work can be assessed (Beutell Wittig-Berman, 2008). One dimension is the moral aspect of the value and the other dimension is the requirement of the value at the workplace. Importance of work values at the workplace: Work values have become a vary import part of workplace these days. This is because there are different generation that are working at the same workplace and the generation gap can be observed even in the gap of 5 years of age. Generation gap results in difference in the thinking process of the people at the workplace. Thus, or makes it difficult for the managers to manage such distinct people (Cogin, 2012). Examining the values at the workplace helps the managers to know about the intergroup differences in the groups that are working together in the organization. This information helps the HR manager to manage such employees who have different thinking and working process. Changing trends in the work values of generational groups: Difference in the generation affects the values that develop among the people. It has been identified that the social and the historical events affect the values of the groups in different generations. The theory of life span suggests that all the people generally experience same things at the same time of their life span. There are different developmental stages in the life span of the individuals and those stages provide them with different experiences that affect their beliefs at that point of time in their life. As similar situation are experienced by the people at similar age, it is possible that they develop same kind of values in their life span in accordance with the time. It has been analysed that the workers who are old may have received different types of training as compared to the younger ones (Guest, 2011). The concept of career has also changes and so as the thinking bad values of the people. In earlier times, people used to work for a single company for long period of time or for a life time as they feel committed towards their company but now people also thinks individually about their career and look for opportunities in the market now and then. Introduction of contractual jobs have reduced the concept of job security from the market and thus the trust between the companies and the employees have vanished. Work values and different generations: It has been analysed that very less research has been conducted on the topic of work values in different generations at the workplaces (Ng, Schweitzer Lyons, 2010). Some of the researchers have considered only the age factor in order to understand the value perspective and neglected the aspects of social and historical factors. Thus, it may give the decision or the result of only a single dimension of the concept. The group of employees or the generations of the employees have been divided into three categories such as baby boomers, generation X and millennial. Work values in baby boomers: These are the employees who are at the verge of their retirement or spending the last years of their life in the employment (Kowske, Rasch Wiley, 2010). It has been analysed that they are people whose motivation factors at the organization are job security and economic benefits. It has been stereotypes that these employees are hardworking and traditional in nature. Their traditional approach to work makes them believe in craftsmanship more than the younger workers. They want that the roles of the members should be clearly defined and a proper formal hierarchy needs to be followed in the organization as thus is their value. If they are at the higher position, they want the respect to an extent and if they are at lower post, they respect their higher authorities to a great extent. Any informal approach to these people may offend them as they think that behaving informally at the organization is not what they have accept what their values are (Parry, E., Urwin, P. (2011). Their values never support such kind of information behaviour at the workplace. The primary of object of employment for this kind of generation is to earn respect by sacrificing and working hard whole of their life at the organization rather than earning more wealth and money. They take job as their responsibility and believe in being committed to a single organization rather than switching their jobs for new and better opportunities. They are also stereotype are workaholics and may sacrifice their personal happiness for work responsibilities. They are more loyal to their organization as compared to the younger generation people. All the discussion suggests that their values are very clear at the workplace. It also suggests that they personal nature affects their values at the workplace as they feel that work are the prior responsibility for them. Generation X: This group of generation X are stereotyped as the group with selfish nature. Actually, the selfishness can be explained with the terns called in dependence and autonomy. This autonomy and independence is supported by the fact that the employees in this generation wants to be creative and wants to work with their own ways which is vary contrasting with the views of the baby boomers who believes in standard processes to be followed. This independency is also links with disloyalty of the employees who are in the category of generation X. this is because they look for opportunities or the creative opportunities and hence leads to stitching of jobs from one organization to another (Deal, Altman Rogelberg, 2010). The competition has increased now for the generation X people and thus they have to be competitive at the same time for grabbing the creative opportunities available in the market in order to grow in their career. The companies at the same time are also looking for the creative p eople rather than the committed people. With the change in the requirements of the companies, the change can be easily observed in the values of the generation X employees. It has been analysed that the employee who falls under the category of generation X usually change their jobs frequently. It has been analysed that change in the marketing situations and the companys strong policies force the employees in generation X to change their jobs so frequently (Angeline, 2011). The lack of commitment by the people of generation X is not clear. This is because they are the people who want job security and if they have job security than they remain committed to the organization for long time. If the organization is providing them enough opportunities to grow than the employees will not show this behaviour of non-commitment towards the company. As far as hierarchy and seniority are considered, it has been analysed that the employees from generation X does not believe in formal hierarchical organization. They believe in equality and open communication between the employees rather than following the process to communicate. They believe that the position of manager can filled by the competence of the employee and not just by their experience. They should earn their respect by their performance and not by their title. They want managers who are open in nature and believe in group growth rather than individuals growth. They want that their views should be considered at the time of making decisions. A positive side of the people from generation X has been observed. It has been identified that they are the people who believes in work life balance and they are capable of doing the same. Work values for Millennial: This is the generation group of the employee who wants more freedom from their working life as compared to above both generation groups. This generation is the mixture of mature baby boomers and the generation X people. The stereotype that has been formed for this group is being materialistic. It has been analysed that these are materialistic and can switch jobs if they get short term benefits in other organization (Kapoor Solomon, 2011). The employees of this generation are very fortunate as they are coming up with the technology and skills that are required by the organization. The organisation needs not to train them with the new and updated technology as they have already learnt the same in their universities. Thus, hiring such skilled workforce is very beneficial for the organization. These generations said to be violent in nature and want to have higher positions very early and thus switch their jobs in shirt term that might affect their career development in negative way. Thi s is because the companies cannot trust the employees who switch frequently. It has been analysed that in this generation, the candidates are available in large quantity but the jobs are not available that much thus it affect the employment level. Competition is very high and candidates have to be very effective and efficient in their skills to grab the jobs available (Lieber, 2010). The education level of these employees is too much high that their expectation from the work and life is so high. They are the rebellions and want freedom of speech. This is because they believe in sharing their views. Development of relationship and better working environment is very important for these people are very important. They look for the organization that provides tam with large benefits that helps them to maintain their life and work simultaneously (Stevens, 2010). This is because they are the people who want to live their life to the fullest ad look for money as well as comfort at the same time. They are hard as well as smart workers and have the social skills that help them to communicate with their managers properly. Conclusion: Changes in the trends of the work values can be easily observed in the above discussion. It has been analysed that it is not just the age factor that affect the values of the person but the social and historical development of the people also matters a lot (Tolbize, 2008). In the above discussion, the categorization is done in accordance with the age because most of the people go to the same situation at the similar time of their life span and this affect their life similarly. The mature baby boomers were more formal in their values as compared to the generation X groups. On the other hand, Millennial are considered as the rebellions that look for better opportunities and have entrepreneurial behaviour at their workplace. References: Adner, R., Kapoor, R. (2010). Value creation in innovation ecosystems: How the structure of technological interdependence affects firm performance in new technology generations.Strategic management journal,31(3), 306-333. Angeline, T. (2011). Managing generational diversity at the workplace: expectations and perceptions of different generations of employees.African Journal of Business Management,5(2), 249. Beutell, N. J., Wittig-Berman, U. (2008). Work-family conflict and work-family synergy for generation X, baby boomers, and matures: Generational differences, predictors, and satisfaction outcomes.Journal of Managerial Psychology,23(5), 507-523. Cennamo, L., Gardner, D. (2008). Generational differences in work values, outcomes and person-organisation values fit.Journal of Managerial Psychology,23(8), 891-906. Cogin, J. (2012). Are generational differences in work values fact or fiction? Multi-country evidence and implications.The International Journal of Human Resource Management,23(11), 2268-2294. Deal, J. J., Altman, D. G., Rogelberg, S. G. (2010). Millennials at work: What we know and what we need to do (if anything).Journal of Business and Psychology,25(2), 191-199. Guest, D. E. (2011). Human resource management and performance: still searching for some answers.Human resource management journal,21(1), 3-13. Gursoy, D., Maier, T. A., Chi, C. G. (2008). Generational differences: An examination of work values and generational gaps in the hospitality workforce.International Journal of Hospitality Management,27(3), 448-458. Kapoor, C., Solomon, N. (2011). Understanding and managing generational differences in the workplace.Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes,3(4), 308-318. Kowske, B. J., Rasch, R., Wiley, J. (2010). Millennials(lack of) attitude problem: An empirical examination of generational effects on work attitudes.Journal of Business and Psychology,25(2), 265-279. Lieber, L. D. (2010). How HR can assist in managing the four generations in today's workplace.Employment Relations Today,36(4), 85-91. Ng, E. S., Schweitzer, L., Lyons, S. T. (2010). New generation, great expectations: A field study of the millennial generation.Journal of Business and Psychology,25(2), 281-292. Parry, E., Urwin, P. (2011). Generational differences in work values: A review of theory and evidence.International journal of management reviews,13(1), 79-96. Stevens, R. H. (2010). Managing human capital: How to use knowledge management to transfer knowledge in todays multi-generational workforce.International Business Research,3(3), 77. Tolbize, A. (2008). Generational differences in the workplace.Research and training center on community living,5(2), 1-21. Twenge, J. M., Campbell, S. M., Hoffman, B. J., Lance, C. E. (2010). Generational differences in work values: Leisure and extrinsic values increasing, social and intrinsic values decreasing.Journal of management,36(5), 1117-1142.

Lorenzo Colbert Jr. Essays (404 words) - Africa, San People

Lorenzo Colbert Jr. Africana Studies 235 MWF 3:25-4:20 Most Ancient Race Did you know that the most ancient race on the planet is an African tribe? That African tribe goes by Bushmen or The San People of Kalahari Desert. The Bushmen are apart of a group called Khosian and are related to the Khoikhoi. They are hunter and gathers who live in temporary wooden shelters. Scientists have evidence that they have been around for 30,000 years and are rich in skills, folklore, and art. Genetics have traced that they are the oldest human population on the continent. First, Studies of African DNA has shown high levels of genetic diversity in the Bushmen. These studies conclude that they are the oldest population on Earth. In 2009, a team of scientists gathered information from genetic material from 121 African populations and reported they found 14 ancestral population clusters. With this research they also found the origin of human migration and this is said to be the homeland of the Bushmen communities. Studies show that all other Africans are descendants of the Bushmen people and possibly so is every other human. Secondly, Bushmen hunt enthusiastically in their own way and fashion. They are excellent marksman and use bow and arrows to hunt. They will spend days out hunting for the village especially for big animals that have to be exhausted. Bushmen believe that some fat from certain animals give them supernatural potency. The women are usually gatherers and their gathering gear is simple and effective. They use a sling, blanket, and a cloak to carry food, wood, children, and/or a digging stick. The Bushmen people were true nomads and some still hold these traditions close. Thirdly, Bushmen are very rich in folklore, skills, and art. They have left over 20,000 rock paintings which can all be found in caves in over 500 different sites. Some of these paintings represented evocation of a spiritual power and they believe that some even opened up portals to the spirit world. Through these practices the Bushmen believed that they can gain power in their lives and gain power with the hunt. To conclude, the Bushmen are the oldest civilization on the Earth. They are from the Kalahari Desert and still are alive to this day. They are somewhat still the same people they were 20,000 years ago today.

Euro essays

Euro essays In the global economy, the U.S. dollar dominates the market. In order to balance the overwhelming control the U.S. has, a new union was created, the European Union. In 1946, Winston Churchill first envisioned a union of this magnitude. In January of 1992, its initial 12 members founded the European Union (EU). They were, in alphabetical order, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and United Kingdom (XE 1). In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden join the EU (CQResearcher 1027). A few years later, it was decided the EU would adopt a common currency. This new currency would be called the Euro. Its main function would be to reduce swings in currency values to make it cheaper to trade both within Europe, and with surrounding nations. It would also help to balance the power that the US Dollar has over the global economy. It would also help to stabilize prices. It has other benefits within the participating parties, such as making prices fall by forcing companies to become competitive by fighting for the lowest price. It will also raise awareness of unfair pricing by not having to convert between currencies (CQResearcher 1027). Consumers and businesses alike will enjoy lower borrowing costs. It will also make it easier for tourists to travel between the member countries by not having to trade currencies, and just being able to keep one large sum of money. All of the members of the EU were invited to adopt the common currency, but there were standards that needed to be met before they were allowed to join. Applicants needed to reduce inflation, and budget deficits, while stabilizing their exchange and interest rates. The countries inflation must also not exceed the average inflation rates of the three best performing member states by 1.5%. United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden all chose not to accept the invitation, and Greece did n ...

10 Terms of Gender Identity

10 Terms of Gender Identity 10 Terms of Gender Identity 10 Terms of Gender Identity By Mark Nichol Are you confused about the language of gender identity? As we learned from a recent post about ethnic identity, the best way to learn what words to use to distinguish one or more people by their physical characteristics is to ask them. Unfortunately, this approach is not as easy as it seems. Those who wish to describe ethnic identity or gender identity often have a category, rather than one person, in mind, and any two people with similar characteristics (for example, a pair of American Indians, or two lesbians) are likely to have divergent preferences. Likewise, any effort to obtain sanction for one term or another from an organization claiming to represent people with nonheterosexual gender identities (or people with a certain ethnic identity) will not result in universal acceptance of the term by those it is meant to refer to. Why do we even need distinctive terms to discuss intersecting identities with nebulous boundaries? The answer to this question is another question: How can we hope to communicate about sexuality and gender without a common vocabulary? There is such a vocabulary, but, like humanity, it is necessarily fluid. But here are terms and definitions that many people agree on: 1. Bisexual: A term for a person sexually attracted to people of both the same sex and the opposite sex. 2. Dyke: A term for a woman sexually attracted to other women; some people consider it offensive, although many lesbians have reclaimed the word and self-identify as dykes. 3. Fag: A term for a man sexually attracted to other men; some people may consider it offensive, although many gays have reclaimed the word and self-identify as fags. 4. GLBT: An inclusive initialism for those self-identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transsexual. A more inclusive and as yet uncommon variant is GLBTQ2IA; the additional elements refer to â€Å"queer, questioning, intersex allies.† 5. Gay: An inclusive term for those attracted to people of the same sex or not exclusively attracted to people of the opposite sex, although it is often used in the phrase â€Å"gays and lesbians,† which places men and women in separate categories, and can thus refer either to both genders or men only. 6. Genderqueer: A term for those who refuse to be confined to a single gender role. 7. Lesbian: A term for a woman sexually attracted to other women. 8. Queer: An inclusive term for those attracted to people of the same sex or not exclusively attracted to people of the opposite sex; some people may consider it offensive, although many who that fall under that definition have reclaimed the word and self-identify as queers. 9. Same-gender loving: A self-evident term used by those dissatisfied by traditional terminology. 10. Transgender: A term for a person who presents as having a gender other than their original one. This usage is not to be confused with transsexual, which refers to someone in or beyond the process of gender reassignment involving physiological changes, or transvestite, a word for someone who whether occasionally or frequently, whether publicly or privately, and for any one of various reasons wears clothing associated with the opposite gender. (Transgender inclusively encompasses these and other terms.) In general usage, it is usually safe to refer to â€Å"gays and lesbians† to refer to the entirety of people whose sexuality is not strictly heterosexual. GLBT is a more inclusive term, though it is often used fallaciously in the phrase â€Å"the GLBT community,† as if such a cohesive entity exists. The connotation of this phrase seems to be that there is such a community, but only in the sense of people united in solidarity for civil rights for anyone falling under the GLBT umbrella. However, the phrase would seem to exclude heterosexual people sympathetic to the civil rights concerns of GLBT people. It’s perhaps best to restrict use of the initialism to usage such as â€Å"GLBT issues.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Expressions category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:70 Idioms with HeartSocial vs. Societal6 Foreign Expressions You Should Know

Advances in hydrogen cell technology for automobiles Essay

Advances in hydrogen cell technology for automobiles - Essay Example Since 2003, Honda has been operating a 'Home Energy Station' on an experimental basis in Torrance, California. This station is works on alternative fuel technology while carrying out all the activities necessary for the home. Here hydrogen is generated from natural gas and heat and electricity requirements for the home are fulfilled using fuel cell cogeneration. Even a car in the home is powered by hydrogen cell. Such efforts have indeed shown results as well. The Carbon Dioxide emissions from such a house are stated to be 30 percent less than those for an average household that uses a gasoline and commercial electricity1. If such efforts can be matched by other fuel efficient technologies, our environment would become much more pure and the looming threat of catastrophe in the form of global warming will surely subside.The amount of carbon dioxide that melts into the atmosphere as a result of our routine actions creates footprint of carbon. In fact at times, we unknowingly tend to p erform some actions which lead to an increase in our carbon footprints on the environment, which proves detrimental for our own survival. Inefficient use of energy, inefficient housing stock, using carbon emitting fuels in our cars, rampant industrial activities etc. are the key factors being blamed for an increase in carbon footprints. The society seems to have become wiser in many ways has now started widely discussing 'how carbon footprints can be effectively reduced by adopting an energy efficient lifestyle. Hydrogen cell technology, an upgrade on hybrid electric motor, is a promising technology which will provide pollution free travel for us in near future. Efforts are on for such technology for quite some time now. The then US President George Bush had announced in 2003, an ambitious $1.7bn investment plan to turn US into a world leader for hydrogen powered automobiles (Twist, 2004). In fact the ongoing recessionary trends around the globe have impacted the automobile sector q uite adversely and in UK there are demands from many quarters to provide stimulus for its sustenance. This seems to have provided a reason to the UK government to think about greener technologies. Therefore while announcing a 2.3 billion rescue package for Britain's carmakers on January 28th Lord Mandelson commented that this is being done to pave the way for greener motor industry (Webster and Buckley, 2009). After the increasing concerns of carbon footprint, the automobile industry has experimented with a number of alternatives fuel technologies like electric vehicle, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) etc. and these technologies have certainly helped in reducing carbon from the vehicle emissions, but the hydrogen powered vehicle produces very low or zero tail-pipe emissions (May, 2004). With governments and international bodies calling upon all concerned for reducing the carbon content, the vehicle manufactures have certainly taken a note. EU for example has proposed a target of 5.75 percent of transport fuel consumption for bio-fuels by 2010 (May, 2004, pp305). The technique involves extracting hydrogen from water or any other source. In a running vehicle the solar cells provide electric current for separating hydrogen from the stored water which is then used for producing torque for running the motor. For a vehicle, the Tandem Cell technology uses two photo-catalytic cells in series which are coated with a nano-crystalline - extremely thin - metal oxide film. These cells capture full spectrum of UV radiation from sun. The novel coating then captures the electrons and passes on to conductors as electric current. Though, Hydrogen power can also be produced from hydrocarbons, like oil and gas, or coal but in that case the byproducts or the waste also becomes a source of pollution, so this method is not used

BUT WHY IS IT ART Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

BUT WHY IS IT ART - Essay Example A remarkable advancement in this field has been realized owing to these efforts. This knowledge has an aspiratory effect on those interested in arts as a career and works as a yard stick to making artwork finer. The field has experienced diversity in approach which has seen it transform lives and perception on skills relevant to it. Computerization of some procedure and mechanisms is worth mentioning as it brings about positive impact in art work. As such, an analysis of two artists who have exhibited interesting skills will be scrutinized in the sections to follow. In this essay, I will make my argument that marketing skills, critical analysis skills and communication analysis skills count as the most important fresh skills required by the contemporary artists. As such, I will use the work of Richard Schmid, Colin McCahon, Abdessemed and Pedro Cabrita Reis to demonstrate the reason as to why these skills are crucial. Diversity as a factor that cuts across the work of these artists will be considered so as to make its importance vivid. Richard admits of realizing lots of change in art work as a career. His work in painting reflects the change by modernity exhibited in every piece of painting. Despite his age, advancement is inevitable making him work towards attaining world class status in painting works. Just how he does this would be the most relevant question at this point. Transition through attitudes is one of the success skills adopted by Schimid in defining his identity in painting. This is in line with the twentieth century dogma which is looked into when considering painting and drawing as an art. Must adhere to ideologies of the time include idea expressiveness, inventions of unique ideas, and manipulation of space. Craftsmanship became overridden by extreme order and total distortion which dominates all through painting and drawing art work. He considers other

Brief Introduction of Abbottabad and Pakistani Support Network Essay Example for Free

Brief Introduction of Abbottabad and Pakistani Support Network Essay The world’s most wanted terrorist Osama bin Laden was killed on May 2, 2011 in a US Navy SEALs raid at a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. He was 54 years old at the time of his death. The news of Osama’s death spread like a wild fire in the entire world. It was a huge victory for the U.S. in the war against terrorism and to eradicate Al Qaeda and a huge defeat to Al Qaeda. The news created a mix reaction in the world. In the U.S., crowds of young and old poured out on streets late at night chanting â€Å"USA, USA† while half way across the world in Pakistan, where Osama was killed, crowds were enraged at his death, held rallies and chanted â€Å"death to America,† and held mock funerals in his honor. Before going in to the details of the background and aftermath of his death, a brief introduction of the city of Abbottabad is very significant which shows why Osama was staying there. Abbottabad is located in Northern Pakistan and is famous for its cool weather and beautiful terrain. It is the Aspen of Pakistan. Since, my family is from that region, hence growing up I used to spend my summers there. It was a summer getaway hill spot for us and the city was always crowded of tourists from across the world. It is a heaven for the retirees too. As Osama was getting old and weak, this city was a best place for him to stay as it had a mixture of both urban facilities and natural scenery. See more: how to start a paragraph According to the U.S government, Osama was hiding in Abbottabad for about five years as one headline at CNN’s website states, â€Å"Officials: Bin Laden complacent in Pakistan, no sign of escape plan.† The question arises how he got in Pakistan and was able to stay there and had no plans to flee. A hypothesis can be made that Osama had a deal with Pakistani intelligence agencies and was able to escape from Afghan mountains to a comfortable city of Abbottabad. This city houses Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) where every year thousands of army soldiers are trained. The whole city is built around Army barracks, schools and hospitals. The security of Army institutions and personnel had increased many folds due to the suicide attacks in recent years. A follow up question arises how Pakistani government and intelligence not knew where Osama was hiding. He was living peacefully under the nose of the military base camp. Living in Pakistan for 19 years, I often read this phrase in newspapers saying, â€Å"Even a bird can’t fly without the orders of ISI.† ISI is a famous Pakistani intelligence agency known for its role in South East Asian conflicts. ISI has been using jihadi militants to keep a check on Pakistani politicians, on Indians in Kashmir and on the government in Afghanistan. I personally think ISI knew where Osama bin Laden was, had a deal with him, provided him protection with a huge compound with barb wired high walls and security cameras and that is how he was able to stay so comfortably in Pakistan. I have absolutely no doubt that Pakistani intelligence did not know where he was. After Osama’s death, according to CNN’s website, Al Qaeda vowed to attack Pakistanis and Americans. Al Qaeda proclaimed that Osama’s death was because of â€Å"handful of traitors and thieves.† This statement clearly shows that Al Qaeda had a deal with handful of officials in Pakistani government or ISI to gain protection for their leader. Without Pakistanis protection, it would not have been possible for a foreigner like Osama, who could not even speak the local language, â€Å"hide† in Pakistan for several years. Works Cited: * Al Qaeda threats, terror plans surface. (06 May 2011). Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2011-05-06/world/pakistan.bin.laden_1_bin-laden-terrorist-network-sheikh-osama-al-qaeda?_s=PM:WORLD. Date accessed: 12 May 2011. * Starr, B., Benson, P. (12 May 2011). Officials: Bin Laden complacent in Pakistan, no sign of escape plan. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/05/12/us.bin.laden.compound/index.html?iref=allsearch. Date accessed: 12 May 2011. * Walsh, D., Adams R., MacAskill, E. Osama bin Laden is dead, Obama announces. (2 May 2011). Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/02/osama-bin-laden-dead-obama. Date accessed: 12 May 2011.

Graeme Base and Animalia :: Artists and Artwork, art

Structural Frame Art Materials and techniques: Graeme Base uses air brushes, brushes, scalpels, pencils, water colours, transparent ink, technical drawing pens and some use of the computer. He mixes a lightness of text, sometimes with alliterative tongue-twisters and sophisticated language made up of stylized illustrations full of hilarity and details that challenge readers' point of view. The book, Animalia contains over 1,500 objects including things such as food, musical instruments, and characters as well as the featured animal for each letter. Base also includes an image of himself when he was young as an extra for the watchful eye on every page. Line, tone, shape, colour, texture and pattern: Graeme Base uses lines of different thicknesses to make the drawing look more realistic. He also uses different tones of colours. An example would be from ‘Six Slithering Snakes Sliding Silently Southward’, the main snake’s body and tail contains at least four different colours. He also repeats the way the books are place in the library. Symbolic Meanings: The Lion symbolises royalty, the books symbolise wisdom and the golden fur and mane of the lion symbolises power (because gold is usually worn by rich people). Cultural Frame Graeme Base was born in 1958 in Amersham, England, and moved to Australia in 1966 at the age of 8. he is now an Australian Citizen but when he came to Australia, he said that he felt like an outsider. He went to Swinburne Institute of Technology and studied the diploma of Art. At school, the only way to impress his friends was to study and learn visual arts. He grew fond of flora and fauna and loved the land (which is where he got his ideas from). He then enjoyed poetry and wrote his first picture book; My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch. Graeme Base says that much of what he uses in his illustrations is a result of his childhood. "Everyone is influenced by their childhood. The things I write about and illustrate come from a vast range of inputs, from the earliest impressions of a little child, others from things I saw yesterday and still others from completely out of the blue, though no doubt they owe their arrival to some stimulus, albeit unconscious. I have a great lo ve of wildlife, inherited from my parents, which show through in my subject matter, though always with a view to the humorous—not as a reflective device but as a reflection of my own fairly happy nature.

Controversies of Racism Essay

The subject of racism is a continual controversial issue within everyday society. It’s inevitable. Everywhere you go, you’ll come across some sort of discrimination or racism. It’s like we’re programmed to judge instantly, it’s in our human nature. Religion, age and racial discrimination literally surrounds us and we can’t do much to stop it until we change ourselves, and let’s face it that’s probably not going to happen. So the main questions I normally ask myself are: Why are we prejudiced? Is being different that bad? And are we really that different? Hitler definitely seemed to think that we were. So did America back in the 1600’s where the first of racism and black slavery began and half the world’s population in the 21st Century think so too. It was said for many years that Hitler was obsessed with racial â€Å"purity† and spread his beliefs in speeches and writings pronouncing that his race needs to remain pure in order to rule the world. What was his definition of pure? To have blue eyes, fair skin and blonde hair. Who is to say that makes you the perfect being? Absolutely no one. When Hitler and the Nazis came to power, these beliefs became the government motto and were spread publicly in posters, on the radio, in movies, in classrooms and in newspapers. After Hitler took power, Nazi teachers in school classrooms began to apply the principles of racial science. The teachers measured skull size and nose length and recorded the colour of the student’s hair and eyes to determine whether students belonged to the â€Å"true race†. This constant negative message that was being sent out influenced the younger students to continue with racism. The Nazis also began to put their ideology into practice with the support of German scientists who believed that the human race could be improved by limiting the reproduction of people considered â€Å"inferior† such as Jews, people with disabilities, gypsies, black people, and people with skin diseases, Jehovah’s Witnesses and any other flaws humans are born with. Hitler viewed the Jews not as a religious group, but as a poisonous, disgusting â€Å"race†, which â€Å"lived off† other races and weakened them. And so began the Holocaust. Hitler threw innocent Jewish people into concentration camps letting them starve to death, gassing them, burning them alive and countless other torturous acts because they weren’t what he saw to be the ‘’perfect being’’. That may have been around sixty years ago but why does genocide still happen? After the Jewish Genocide, the cold war genocide, Rwanda genocide and just recently the genocide in Darfur occurred. Slavery is a black eye on the soul of America’s history. There has never been an excuse for one human to own another. We humans as a species should always have been treated equally. Why should people own other people? Are human beings animals? How can you hate someone so much by the colour of their skin? There simply is no answer. Slavery began around the 1600’s when the first black man was used as a servant. The slavery continued on, all the way through to the 1900’s where the servants were used to clean, cook food, babysit and do the dirty work around the house while a racist extremist group called the Ku Klux Klan that believed in Hitler’s message abused them with hate crimes and acts of domestic terrorism. Black people were treated like they were the scum of the earth; they were abused, spit on, beaten and in worst case scenario, murdered. They weren’t allowed to go to the same stores, schools, diners, and churches as the white people in America which was a huge disadvantage to the African-American race. When the racial segregation happened, which was a big milestone in history, the African–Americans were allowed to have the same facilities as everyone else, much to Americas disdain. Their freedom was limited; the African-Americans resorted to sitting at the back of the bus, or were only allowed to go to certain public areas. So why it is that racism still exists? What will it take for mankind to realize that despite the colour of a person’s skin, we are all amazing, complex people, who have wonderful characteristics that should be admired and loved? But people also need to realize that some people that were born black didn’t CHOSE to be black. I mean, I’m a black girl but that doesn’t make me hate the whites and love the blacks. Both races are the same to me. I guess equality is such a new concept within everyday American society that many raw emotions still cloud their judgment. Now in the 21st Century, racism still exists and in varying forms. Not only is there racial discrimination, religion is discriminated against also. When you see a Muslim man walking down the street or a woman wearing a burka, do you cower in fear? There is this new phobia called Islamophobia where there is hatred, prejudice or fear of a Muslim person and this term came to use fter the September 11 terrorist attack. But why be scared of only Muslim’s? Everyone is capable of causing great harm to society and just recently the Norway attack occurred and this attack wasn’t done by a Muslim. It was by a Norwegian citizen that no one suspected. This man, Breivik planned the attack to annihilate multiculturalism in Norway and to preserve a Christian Europe. His political views were to conserve his culture and promote Islamoph obia, he also urged Europeans after this attack to restore the â€Å"historic crusades† against Islam as in the Middle Ages. You could say that Islamophobia is the new form of black racism as it is a practice of discriminating against Muslims by excluding them from the economic, social and public life of everyday society. The new law that was passed down in France of not being able to wear the burka is an example. French police arrested two veiled women just hours after the country’s new ban on wearing the burka in public came into force. This law is the first of its kind to be enforced in Europe, and the French police said they will be extremely cautious as there are fears of Muslim women provoking violence while the burka. The law should not push minorities around. I believe that people should be allowed to wear what they want, free of coercion. The burka is a Muslim practice and I do not see the big deal, it is not a security risk. It is believed that Islam has no values in the Western society and is an inferior and violent religious belief. On the contrary, the violent belief is this new phobia. What do you think? Far too many of us speak of equality and hope, yet secretly have hate. Most people will tell you, that they are not racist individuals. Many of these people though, are either fooling themselves, or just don’t want to make a bad reputation for themselves. Everyone is based on little more than stereotypes and stories of that what happened years ago with Hitler and the black slavery. So we need to put aside all the things that happened generations ago. It happened out of ignorance and right now what we need to be doing is unite as one race, stop the negative attitudes and beliefs that permeate around us and try to make the future brighter. Some people believe that racism is in our human nature. Do you think so?

Beowulf: Sigemund Episode Essay

One of the best literary devices the author of Beowulf uses is the use of episodes and digressions. Each of these episodes and digressions tell another story apart from the main plot of Beowulf, but sets up an introduction to the main plot. One such episode, the Sigemund episode, tells of valiant King Sigemund who received glory and honor through his killing of the dragon and possession of the hoard. Sigemund became a noble and experienced king, only to be betrayed and brought to his downfall. Beowulf was much the same as Sigemund, and both were great examples of heroes. The Sigemund episode introduces a comparison to Beowulf, foreshadows Beowulf’s downfall, and parallels the irony of Beowulf’s shortcomings. As we see in the following lines: â€Å"Sigemund’s name was known everywhere. / He was utterly valiant and venturesome, / a fence round his fighters and flourished therefore† (897-898), the author introduces Sigemund as an excellent comparison to Beowulf. The author uses the Sigemund episode to set up a better understanding of the character of Beowulf by describing a king much like himself. This allows the reader to understand the character of Beowulf and know what a noble and valiant character he was. The author presents Sigemund as a brave warrior who defeated the dragon, much like the victorious warrior that Beowulf was. And within the Sigemund episode, Heremod is introduced as a wicked king, an exact opposite of Sigemund and Beowulf. This allows the reader to compare the three kings, and promote Beowulf as a noble king such as Sigemund. Another purpose of the Sigemund episode within Beowulf is to foreshadow Beowulf’s defeat and downfall. Sigemund is a noble and mighty king, but is led to his defeat in the following lines: â€Å"†¦ The king was betrayed, ambushed in Jutland, overpowered / and done away with† (901-903). This defeat of Sigemund foreshadows Beowulf’s defeat and death during the battle with the dragon. As Sigemund and Beowulf are both valiant kings, they both are led to their failure and death. This part of the Sigemund episode gives the reader a glimpse of what is to come for Beowulf in the rest of the poem. From this episode, the author uses irony that Beowulf will become a great and mighty king, but also will come face to face with his destruction. The author uses this irony to connect the characters of Sigemund and Beowulf. Not only does the Sigemund episode foreshadow the downfall of Beowulf, but it also sets up a choice that Beowulf has to make. Beowulf has to either chose to be like Sigemund, a courageous and noble king, or take the path of Heremod, an evil king. This gives the reader a sense of uncertainty of the choice Beowulf will make. As the reader, the choice that Beowulf will make is obvious, but this is a huge choice of character for Beowulf. It gives a chance for Beowulf to prove his character, and allows the reader to understand the trustworthiness of Beowulf once he does chose to be a noble king. Among the various episodes and digressions within Beowulf, Sigemund’s episode sets up the best foreshadowing of Beowulf’s life. In all, Sigemund’s episode clues the reader in with what type of character Beowulf is. Sigemund is the perfect comparison to Beowulf, and this allows the reader to expect what is to come for Beowulf. Sigemund’s hymn apart from the main plot of Beowulf accomplished the task of introducing and setting up the destiny for Beowulf.

To what extent Abigails Party a naturalistic play Essays

To what extent Abigails Party a naturalistic play Essays To what extent Abigails Party a naturalistic play Essay To what extent Abigails Party a naturalistic play Essay Abigails Party written by Mike Leigh was first performed in 1977. The play appears to have no obvious plot and is set in Lawrence and Beverlys house. The play opens as Beverly prepares for a drinks party for their neighbours. A married couple, Angela and Tony, are invited, as is Susan. Susans daughter Abigail is holding her first teenage party where Susan would not be welcome. As the play progresses tensions increase, particularly between Beverly and Lawrence until at the climax of the play Lawrence has a fatal heart attack. Naturalism is drama devised and presented on the basis that the action is to be believed as if it was something that was really happening. Kanstantin Stanislavski was the first to publish theories on naturalism in 1870s. He developed the fourth wall theory where the actors have no interactions with the audience but simply act to each other. This was a sharp contrast to the popular melodrama at that time where the audience were willing participants. Lee Strasberg developed Stanislavskis theories in 1940s at The Actors Studio in New York. He pioneered method acting a system of training and rehearsal for actors which bases a performance upon inner emotional experience (www. spartacus. schoolnet. co. uk). Lee Strasberg stated that work for the actor lies in two areas: the ability to constantly create reality and the ability to express that reality. When scripting Mike Leigh uses a period of improvisation therefore Abigails Party is expected to be naturalistic. By breaking down different elements of the play it is easier to see exactly why the play can be called naturalistic. Although the characters are naturalistic sometimes they may be hard to believe. The characters may appear exaggerated in that Angela is so nai ve and Beverly aspires to a higher class yet shallow. Nothing happens that is impossible. Some people may say that Beverly is unbelievable but everyone acts when they are playing the hostess. However, Beverlys character is even more worrying because not only does she act around others but she also acts to herself. At the beginning of the play although she is alone she acts as if she is a hostess. As Ray Carney says she is validating herself to her self. (Ray Carneys The Films of Mike Leigh: embracing the World). She has to do this to convince herself that she really is high class and a good hostess. At times Beverly appears to be just a collection of clichi s and a complete stereotype. However, a stereotype is simply someone that seems familiar or has been seen before many times but this does not make her any less believable. The characters are playing a social extension of themselves including aspects of their personality that the audience can relate to which is why they appear naturalistic. It can be assumed that each character in Abigails Party is in fact playing a role at the party. Each of them is behaving as they feel they are expected to at such an occasion and this is different to their normal character. A glimpse of their normal characters is seen at the end when Lawrence collapses and Angela takes control and slips into her role of a nurse. It is hinted that Tony can be short tempered but he appears to be very quiet and takes no active part. He appears to be uncomfortable and contributes only the absolute minimum. His temper and his ability to take action are seen when he shouts at Beverly to turn the music down. Tony and Lawrence appear to be able to see through the characters everyone else is playing but cannot do anything about it because they are not united. They view each other as rivals. Beverly is actively flirting with Tony whilst Lawrence tries to establish himself as Tonys superior. The audience can see how insignificant this small talk is and this provides the comic element. The setting of the play is another area that is naturalistic. The play takes place on the ground floor of a house in the suburbs of London on a spring evening in the 1970s. All of this information can be gathered from the set and conversation. Most of the characters are drinking gin and tonic, which had become a fashionable drink in the 70s. Cheap package holidays had become readily available and Majorca was a popular destination. Angela reveals that her house cost i 22,000 and this confirms that time period. Another clue that the play is set in the 1970s comes from the cars they talk about. Tony says he has an Escort, which was the popular everyday car of that time. Lawrence drives a Mini which a more stylish car in the 1970s. The final aspect, which distinguishes the play as being in the 70s, is the sexism. Whilst the characters are discussing cars Angela reveals that Tony will not let her drive. This is another detail that makes the makes the play naturalistic. The set and choice of music add to the atmosphere of 70s naturalism. Naturalism is also obvious in the staging. Abigails Party was written to be performed on a proscenium arch stage, as it is most naturalistic. A proscenium arch stage allows the decoration of three walls and furnished as if it were a real house. This uses the theory of naturalism as developed by Kanstantin Stanislavski and the audience assumes there is a fourth wall. This is an impenetrable wall between the stage and audience. This means the audience merely observes the play and the actors are acting to each other and never to the audience. This creates a naturalistic play. The only aspect of staging that could be considered to be slightly false is the way all the furniture is placed for easy visibility through the fourth wall. However, in most houses the furniture in the living room is centred round the television so that if we assume that the television would separate the stage and audience then it becomes more naturalistic again. Even so all the acting takes place in a 180i arc whereas life would normally take place in 360i. However, as this is a play the actors cannot talk with their backs to the audience without speaking especially loud, which would detract from the naturalism. The structure of the play is also naturalistic. In Aristotles book The Poetics he states that there are three unities that must be observed in order for a play to be believable. The first of these is that the play should take place in Real Time. This means that whatever time period is supposed to have taken place on the stage it must have actually elapsed. The second of these is that there should be only one location. The whole story should take place in the same place. This avoids any unbelievable moving of sets and therefore makes the play much more naturalistic. The third point is that that there should be only one story line. This not only means that there will be no scene changes but also the audience will not have to stretch their imagination to follow two or more story-lines. All of these points are supposed to make a play more believable and therefore more naturalistic. All of these points are observed in Abigails Party. The themes throughout Abigails Party are mundane and everyday. They relate to most peoples personal experiences, which is why they are naturalistic. One theme is marriage and it can be seen how the relationship between Beverly and Lawrence is full of tension. They annoy each other all evening as Beverlys attempt to be a competent, glamorous hostess is obviously irritating Lawrence. For example when Lawrence wants a sandwich or olives or to put on classical music Beverly always opposes him and actually calls him a boring little bugger. Beverly also says that Lawrence is very good with money. I mean if I want a new dress, make-up, have my hair done, whatever it is the money is there. But, apart from that its just boring This provides the audience with insight to their marriage and Beverlys boredom. Susans problems with marriage are also discussed in the play. Through Angelas lack of tact the audience becomes aware that the private character of Susan is divorced. The audience empathises with Susan and at the same time is embarrassed by Angela and this provides more comedy. Another theme that runs throughout the play is that of regret and dissatisfaction. Lawrence voices his regret of not learning to play a musical instrument and Beverly states how she is not satisfied with her marriage. Although Tony does not express his dissatisfaction himself, through his flirting with Beverly and Angela commenting he usually turns over, his dissatisfaction can be sensed. Angela also talks about the dissatisfaction she has in her relationship with Tony. She says he is quick-tempered and says he is not sympathetic when she is feeling ill. Susan is similar to Tony because she does not voice her dissatisfaction but unlike Tony she does not have a partner to provide the clues. Her dissatisfaction is shown by her reluctance to discuss her private life. The final area where naturalism is present is the rare qualities that Abigails Party possesses. There is no obvious plot in the play and this makes it more believable because everyday life does not have a dramatic or particularly entertaining plot. Even the climatic moment of Lawrences heart attack is followed by a mundane ending and this mirrors real life. . If it was not a naturalistic play the heart attack would be used to make a dramatic climax but it is more realistic as it is attempting to represent a view of real life. Overall it can be said that Abigails Party is naturalistic. There is no plot and the entertainment comes from the observations of daily life. People cannot watch themselves when they are entertaining but if they could then it would possibly have the same cringing result. Abigails Party captures the difference between peoples entertaining selves and normal selves perfectly. It focuses on how drama can occur in the most normal circumstances. The play may not be entirely and completely believable in places. Lawrences heart attack to Beethovens Fifth Symphony could be unbelievable but heart attacks are an everyday risk and can occur at any time. Angela had warned earlier in the play that people with heart problems are businessmen with highly stressful jobs. The fact he dies to Beethovens Fifth Symphony may seem corny but was his choice of music and he was extremely stressed. Also Tony may seem hard to believe because all he does is reply in monosyllables when spoken to but his wife is behaving foolishly and he really does not want to be there. This makes his antisocial attitudes less surprising. In general although some parts may initially seem unbelievable but considered within the scenario most of these aspects appear much more believable. Therefore Abigails Party is a naturalistic play in virtually every aspect.

Pelycosaurs, Archosaurs, and Therapsids

Pelycosaurs, Archosaurs, and Therapsids Like archeologists discovering the ruins of a previously unknown civilization buried deep beneath an ancient city, dinosaur enthusiasts are sometimes astonished to learn that entirely different kinds of reptiles once ruled the earth, tens of millions of years before famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex, Velociraptor, and Stegosaurus. For approximately 120 million years- from the Carboniferous to the middle Triassic periods- terrestrial life was dominated by the pelycosaurs, archosaurs, and therapsids (the so-called mammal-like reptiles) that preceded the dinosaurs. Of course, before there could be archosaurs (much less full-blown dinosaurs), nature had to evolve the first true reptile. At the start of the Carboniferous periodthe swampy, wet, vegetation-choked era during which the first peat bogs formed- the most common land creatures were prehistoric amphibians, themselves descended (by way of the earliest tetrapods) from the proverbial  prehistoric fish that flipped, flopped, and slithered their way out of oceans and lakes millions of years before. Because of their reliance on water, though, these amphibians couldnt stray far from the rivers, lakes, and oceans that kept them moist, and that provided a convenient place to lay their eggs. Based on the current evidence, the best candidate we know of for the first true reptile is Hylonomus, fossils of which have been found in sediments dating back 315 million years. Hylonomus- the name is Greek for forest dweller- may well have been the first tetrapod (four-footed animal) to lay eggs and have scaly skin, features that would have allowed it to venture farther from the bodies of water to which its amphibian ancestors were tethered. Theres no doubt that Hylonomus evolved from an amphibian species; in fact, scientists believe that the elevated oxygen levels of the Carboniferous period may have helped fuel the development of complex animals in general. The Rise of the Pelycosaurs Now came one of those catastrophic global events that cause some animal populations to prosper, and others to shrivel up and disappear. Toward the start of the  Permian period, about 300 million years ago, the earths climate gradually became hotter and drier. These conditions favored small reptiles like Hylonomus  and were detrimental to the amphibians that had previously dominated the planet. Because they were better at regulating their own body temperature, laid their eggs on land, and didnt need to stay close to bodies of water, the reptiles radiated- that is, evolved and differentiated to occupy various ecological niches. (The amphibians didnt go away- they’re still with us today, in dwindling numbers- but their time in the limelight was over.) One of the most important groups of evolved reptiles was the pelycosaurs (Greek for bowl lizards). These creatures appeared toward the end of the Carboniferous period, and persisted well into the Permian, dominating the continents for about 40 million years. By far the most famous pelycosaur (and one thats often mistaken for a dinosaur) was Dimetrodon, a large reptile with a prominent sail on its back (the main function of which may have been to soak up sunlight and maintain its owners internal temperature). The pelycosaurs made their livings in different ways: for example, Dimetrodon was a carnivore, while its similar-looking cousin Edaphosaurus was a plant-eater (and its entirely possible that one fed on the other). Its impossible to list all the genera of pelycosaurs here; suffice it to say that a lot of different varieties evolved over 40 million years. These reptiles are classified as synapsids, which are characterized by the presence of one hole in the skull behind each eye (technically speaking, all mammals are also synapsids). During the Permian period, synapsids coexisted with anapsids (reptiles lacking those all-important skull holes). Prehistoric anapsids also attained a striking degree of complexity, as exemplified by such large, ungainly creatures as Scutosaurus. (The only anapsid reptiles alive today are the Testudines- turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.) Meet the Therapsids- The Mammal-Like Reptiles The timing and sequence cant be pinned down precisely, but paleontologists believe that sometime during the early  Permian  period, a branch of pelycosaurs evolved into reptiles called therapsids (otherwise known as mammal-like reptiles). Therapsids were characterized by their more powerful jaws bearing sharper (and better differentiated) teeth, as well as their upright stances (that is, their legs were situated vertically beneath their bodies, compared to the sprawling, lizard-like posture of earlier synapsids). Once again, it took a catastrophic global event to separate the boys from the men (or, in this case, the pelycosaurs from the therapsids). By the end of the Permian period,  250 million years ago, over two-thirds of all land-dwelling animals went extinct, possibly because of a meteorite impact (of the same type that killed the dinosaurs 185 million years later). Among the survivors were various species of therapsids, which were free to radiate into the depopulated landscape of the early  Triassic  period. A good example is  Lystrosaurus, which evolutionary writer Richard Dawkins has called the Noah of the Permian/Triassic boundary: fossils of this 200-pound therapsid have been found all over the world. Here’s where things get weird. During the Permian period, the cynodonts (dog-toothed reptiles) that descended from the earliest therapsids developed some distinctly mammalian characteristics. Theres solid evidence that reptiles like  Cynognathus  and  Thrinaxodon  had fur, and they may also have had  warm-blooded metabolisms  and black, wet, dog-like noses. Cynognathus (Greek for dog jaw) may even have given birth to live young, which by almost any measure would make it much closer to a mammal than to a reptile! Sadly, the therapsids were doomed by the end of the Triassic period, muscled out of the scene by the archosaurs (of which more below), and then by the archosaurs immediate descendants, the  earliest dinosaurs. However, not all therapsids went extinct: a few small genera survived for tens of millions of years, scurrying unnoticed under the feet of lumbering dinosaurs and evolving into the first  prehistoric mammals  (of which the immediate predecessor may have been the small, quivering therapsid Tritylodon.) Enter the Archosaurs Another family of prehistoric reptile, called the  archosaurs, coexisted with the therapsids (as well as the other land reptiles that survived the Permian/Triassic extinction). These early diapsids- so-called because of the two, rather than one, holes in their skulls behind each eye socket- managed to out-compete the therapsids, for reasons that are still obscure. We do know that the teeth of archosaurs were more firmly set in their jaw sockets, which would have been an evolutionary advantage, and its possible that they were quicker to evolve upright, bipedal postures (Euparkeria, for example, may have been one of the first archosaurs capable of rearing up on its hind legs.) Toward the end of the Triassic period, the first archosaurs split off into the first primitive dinosaurs: small, quick, bipedal carnivores like  Eoraptor,  Herrerasaurus,  and  Staurikosaurus. The identity of the immediate progenitor of the dinosaurs is still a matter of debate, but one likely candidate is  Lagosuchus  (Greek for rabbit crocodile), a tiny, bipedal archosaur that possessed a number of distinctly dinosaur-like characteristics, and that sometimes goes by the name  Marasuchus. (Recently, paleontologists identified what may well be the earliest dinosaur descended from archosaurs, the 243-million-year-old  Nyasasaurus.) It would, however, be a very dinosaur-centric way of looking at things to write archosaurs out of the picture as soon as they evolved into the first theropods. The fact is that archosaurs went on to spawn two other mighty races of animals: the  prehistoric crocodiles  and the  pterosaurs, or flying reptiles. In fact, by all rights, we should be giving crocodiles precedence over dinosaurs, since these fierce reptiles are still with us today, whereas  Tyrannosaurus Rex,  Brachiosaurus,  and all the rest arent!

The Impact Of Retaining Older Workers In Modern Organizations In North Thesis

The Impact Of Retaining Older Workers In Modern Organizations In North America - Thesis Example This, when read in conjunction with the above valid hypothesis, implies that the surveyed organizations do not have adequate policies of motivating and retaining older employees. The research recommended that these organizations should pay attention to providing training and development opportunities, clarity of purpose and decision making to the younger employees in order for them to make greater contribution to the organization. The current paper aims to examine the relationship between organizational policies of motivation and retention of older employees and the older workers morale and performance on customer relationship management. The above is found to be worth researching as the organizations are faced with the dilemma of retaining older workers who they presume to have redundant or debilitating abilities or to retire them. However, the researcher believes that the older workers are able to provide their distinct contribution in the form of experience and wisdom and should be encouraged in the organizations. The following paper therefore hopes to provide a valid reason for making the above recommendations. The research will undertake a non-human approach, where secondary data will be collected and analyzed. The research will firstly will delve into the available literature related to the costs and benefits of retaining older workers. This will help in formulating a background for the next section of the research that would deal with a statistical analysis of the research data collected by a consultancy organization, Denison Consulting, LLC. The data collected by Denison Consulting, LLC via its Organizational Culture Survey will be analyzed to test the research hypotheses. The workplace is increasingly becoming diverse with people from different genders, ethnicity, cultures or even different nations come together to perform their jobs. There have been great

Scientific Concept Research Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Scientific Concept Research - Essay Example The process we call recycling is the act of making used materials into other forms of materials that will benefit the end user and the environment we live in. Everyday we live on resources and produce waste after consumption. However, millions of individuals neglect these waste materials and do not realize their worth for other functions in our environment. So one question comes to our mind, why is recycling important? An old saying goes, â€Å"it’s easier said than done.† I have seen hundreds of world leaders talk about recycling, making our earth a greener place to live in etc. but they have never successfully campaigned for recycling. As soon as they newly elected officers sit on their desk, they forget about their vision and just ride along the power trip. For me, recycling is very essential to us, human beings, because it affects not only ourselves but also our future generations to come. We must preserve the beauty of our environment for our children to see as well. The thought in recycling is comparable to the thought of reincarnation in the Christian bible. As our human bodies decay and our souls depart, we are reborn into other creatures or species and form part of society in a different perspective. When we pass away, our spirit is reborn into a different being. We may be a dog, cat, or insect in the next life. Recycling does the same function through a cycle of waste to a new form of use in society. Science tries to explain the importance of recycling because our world does not have unlimited resources. By providing an alternative of producing new light from garbage, we are able to save nature and preserve it. We can compare recycling to religious practice because religion observes certain rituals and traditions to nurture their beings. Almost any church needs rituals and weekly collection (Ackerman, 1997). They collect resources and impose a â€Å"bringing back to life† of used resources such as

Blogs for innovation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Blogs for innovation - Essay Example During their arrival, Orchha was gradually emerging as a tourist attraction. Due to poverty and lack of knowledge in the region, it prevented the growth of tourism (Sisodia, 2013). As a result, Asha came up with a Village Home Stay program intended for Orchha village. The aim of the program was to exploit tourism opportunities in the region in order to enhance local economic development, education, cultural exchanges between locals and visitors as well as environmental protection. It had also to offer the people of Orchha with superior work opportunities, which would positively influence the individual life of the residents. In 2007, Asha founded Friends of Orchha with the aid of a few friends from Europe to enhance tourism that is socially responsible and one that would offer an opportunity for cultural exchanges and a source of income for the needy families (Sisodia, 2013). Friends of Orchha provided help to the poor families to build and renovate their courtyards that would be hired to visitors. The families were engaged to participate voluntarily in the construction of three homestays. At that particular moment, the families were unable to carry on their main activity, which was farming that was brought to a halt by drought from 2003 to 2007 (Sisodia, 2013). Therefore, they had no capital to invest, and the organization had to set up a revolving fund, which helped to build the first three home stays. Participating families provided labor in building the sanitary block and rooms. In 2009, the first room was rented out and since then the home stay has hosted more than 500 visitors from different countries. The exploiting of the tourism opportunities improved the economic conditions of the residents as well as their live style (Sisodia, 2013). With this regard, I agree with the case as it attempts to point out issues in operating gainful employment amongst a large rural population in India. It addresses that the inability to dialogue in spoken

Development of College Announcement Notification System

Development of College Announcement Notification System Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction This project proposal is created to propose an IT solution to the student of Sunway University. The main point that the author want to highlight is regarding the efficiencies for student in Sunway University. An example, inefficiencies that occur in posting the announcement that is post on the website or in the notice board, it is hard to inform to the student and also the staff may also forget to post the announcement that will inconvenient for the student itself. In order to solve those problems, the author proposed to create a website as a third party for the staff to post the announcement. The author feel that only a website is very simple and common nowadays, so to improve the effectiveness and give more efficiency, a SMS (Short Messaging Service) feature is added to the system. Every announcement is posted by the SCT Staffs in the website, a SMS notification will be sent to the student that already registered to the website. The content of the SMS just a brief notification abou t the title of the event, venue and time, for more brief detail the students can refer to the website. Other way to notify the students is used Email as an instant notifier, but consider using email as an instant notifier is not really effective because students didnt open their email every day but using the SMS as the instant notifier to notify the students are more effective because most of the student is own and bring their own cell phone, therefore the MS as an instant notifier is more appropriate. Since the advancement of the technology nowadays, using this system will help in reduce the paper usage. Project Objective To give efficiencies for staff of Sunway University who want to post announcement. To use SMS as an instant notifier, for example every announcement post on the website the student will receive a SMS about the annoncement. In long term of view, this system will help in notify student about things that happen in college. Project Scope To become the most useful media for announcement notification. When the system is run it involves the Sunway University students and staffs that want to use the service. The user of the system should be students of Sunway University and staffs. All users that want to use the system have to become member. Methodology Methodology is a formalized approach to implement the SDLC (System Development Life Cycle). There are many different systems development methodologies, and each one is unique based on the order and focus it places on each SDLC phase. Some methodologies are formal standards used y government agencies, while others have been developed by consulting firms to sell to client. Many organizations have internal methodologies that have been honed over the years, and they explain exactly how each phase of the SDLC is to be performed in that company. There are many ways to categorize methodologies. One way is looking at whether they focus on business process or the data that support the business. There are three types of system development methodologies, it is called Structured Design, RAD (Rapid Application Development), and Agile Development. Types of Software Development Methodologies Structured Design This is the first type of system development, it is introduced in 1980s. This methodology adopts the formal step by step approach to the SDLC, it moves logically from one phase to another phase. Waterfall Model This is the original structured design of methodology, with this methodology, the analyst and users proceed in sequence from one phase to the next phase. The key deliverables for each phase are typically very long and are presented to the project sponsor for approval as the project moves from phase to phase. This methodology is referred to as waterfall development because it moves forward from phase to phase in the same manner as a waterfall. Advantages of using waterfall model: It identifies system requirements long before programming begins It minimizes changes to the requirements as the project proceeds. Disadvantages of using waterfall model: The design must be completely specified before programming begins This model required significant rework, if there is a changes in the business environment, in order to going back to the initial phase need to go through each of the subsequent phase in return. Parallel Development This model of methodology attempts to address the problem of long delay between analysis phase and the delivery of the system. Instead of doing design and implementation in sequence, it performs a general design for the whole system and then divides the project into a series of distinct subprojects that can be designed and implemented in parallel. Once all subprojects are complete, there is a final integration of the separate pieces, and the system is delivered. Advantage of using parallel model: It can reduce the schedule time to deliver a system There is less chance of changes in the business environment causing rework Disadvantage of using parallel model: The approach still suffers from problem caused by paper documents It adds new problem, sometimes subprojects arent completely independent; design decisions made in one subproject may affect another subprojects Phased Development In this model, the overall system is divided into a series of version that are developed sequentially. The analysis phase identifies the overall system concept, and the project team, users and system sponsors then categorize the requirement into a series of version. Advantage of using phased model: Quickly getting a useful system into the hands of the users While the system does not perform all the functions the users need at first, it does begin to provide business value sooner than if the system were delivered after completion, as is the case with waterfall or parallel methodology. Disadvantage of using phased model: The users begin to work with the systems that are intentionally incomplete, it is critical to identify the most important and useful feature and include them in the first version, while managing users expectation along the way. Prototyping In this model, it performs the analysis, design and implementation phases concurrently, and all the three phases are performed repeatedly in a cycle until the system is completed. In this methodology, the basics of analysis and design are performed, and work immediately begins on a system prototype, a â€Å"quick and dirty† program that provides a minimal amount of features. Advantage of using prototyping model: It is very quickly provides a system for the users to interact with, even it is not ready for widespread organizational use at first. Reassure the users that the project team is working on the system Helps to more quickly refine real requirements rather than attempting to understand a system specification on paper, the user can interact with the prototype to better understand what it can do and cannot do. Disadvantage of using prototyping model: Its fast paced system releases challenge attempts to conduct careful, methodical analysis. This can cause problems in the development of complex systems because fundamental issues and problems are not recognized until well into the development process. Software Development Methodology Comparison After do research about the types of methodology that is appropriate to be used into the project. The author compared the 4 types of methodology that is compatible with the current development. The following table is the result of using the described methodology to the project. System Characteristic Waterfall Parallel Phased Prototyping Unclear User Requirement Poor Poor Good Excellent Unfamiliar Technology Poor Poor Good Poor Complexity of the System Good Good Good Poor Reliability of the System Good Good Good Poor Short Time Schedule Poor Good Excellent Excellent Schedule Visibility Poor Poor Excellent Excellent Table 1 Methodology Comparison Selecting the appropriate Methodology According to the project objective that the author proposed, author analyze each methodology that is already been researched. The author decides to use the Phased Methodology. The main reason on why the author uses this methodology is because the author would develop this system all by himself and the project will be easier to be built phase by phase. Other considerations in choosing this model are: User Requirement: the requirement of the system is clear, which is to address the problem of inefficiency and ineffectiveness of conventional way in notify the student for announcement. Familiarity with Technology: for designing the website, PHP, VB.Net language technology is going to be used, since it is still in area of the author expertise. System Complexity: the complexity of this project is at medium level, since the author familiar with the technology used in the project so it is not really difficult. However the author still need to do research on certain area of technology, for this case the knowledge of SMS gateway, and how to integrate the web based system with the SMS gateway. Duration: the duration of developing the project is approximately 4 months in order to fully complete the project. Development Method: it is a web based application that is built using the PHP, and VB.NET as the programming language. Area of Research Certain areas that we research for this project are: How to create easy and manageable database system? What is SMS (Short Message Service) portal and SMS (Short Message Service) gateway? How to integrate web based system with SMS portal? How to create easy and manageable database system? This part is one of the crucial parts in order to make a good web based application system. Therefore, creating an easy and manageable database system is really important. The database system that the author used to manage the College Announcement System web based application is MySQL. Several reasons become the consideration of choosing the MySQL software are, first reason is because the main programming language system that the author built is using the PHP technology, and PHP language has an integrated connector that able to connect it to SQL. Second reason, MySQL is open source software so it is free for download, it is will help in determining the project cost development. There is other software which is better than MySQL but looked back at the scope of the project; this is just an undergraduate project, then the author decides that using MySQL software is a wiser choice. The third reason, the author already took the MySQL subject during the study in Sunway University College, which is still in the author expertise. However, if this system wants to be implemented into the real organization, further study to create easy and manageable design is needed. When the project is already on the run, this would be very beneficial in doing maintenance of the application system. How to integrate the Web based System with SMS portal? As most people known that SMS is the most famous service that a mobile phone give. It is a service where the users able to send short text message from a mobile phone to another mobile phone. Basically the SMS would not work with just the mobile phone itself, it I because the Mobile Phone Network Operator that give the service so the SMS can be delivered to the recipient by the help of the mobile phone device as the medium to type the message. The SMS can travel all the way from the sender device to the recipient device must go through a pathway through a network called SMSC (Short Message Service Centre). SMSC works as a hardware that stores the SMS that is sent from a mobile phone then forward it again to the recipient. From the early of 1990s, the era when the first SMS is sent through the network using the mobile phone device. Nowadays with the advancement of the technology, SMS not only can be done through using mobile phone but can be integrated in other application such as web based application system, using the SMS gateway technology. However, the SMS that is sent still have to go through SMSC, which is still needed to use the SIM Card that is given by the mobile network operator. SMS gateway act as a bridge the platform that cannot use the mobile phone SIM Card to use the mobile service by using the GSM modem, in this case the mobile service is to send the SMS. The mobile SIM Card will be inserted into the GSM modem. GSM modem will act as the third party to connect to the SMSC. The web based application store the message that will be sent into the database, and the GSM will retrieve the data from the database and ready to send the SMS to the destination number. The basic function of SMS and e mail is the same, for email the sender need to enter the destination email and for SMS the sender need to enter the destination phone number. The difference is why SMS is more popular than email is because it is mobile and user can send and receive SMS wherever they are. The mobile advantage of using SMS is the reason that makes the author choose the SMS application system to be added into the College Announcement Notification system instead of using email. Another reason the author choose to use SMS is because most of the students in Sunway didnt have mobile phone that can handles in receiving and sending email, but most of the students have mobile phone that enable them to send and receive SMS. Therefore, using the SMS as additional software into College Announcement Notification system is the best choice, and the author also learn to use the GSM modem and the implementation of it into the system. Software / Hardware Requirements In order to make this project successful there are some hardware and software which is required to use in order to complete the project are: Software and Hardware requirement to develop the system. Software: SQL YOG: is the database software that the author chose to be implemented inside the College Announcement Notification system. SQL Yog had the user friendly interface and it is open source software. XAMPP: this software is applied as the localhost to compile the web based application. Adobe Dreamweaver: is the software that makes it easier to edit the coding for PHP, JAVA. Hardware: PC (with mouse, keyboard, monitor) / laptop with minimum specification: Intel Core Duo processor(1.66Hz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM HDD Software and Hardware Requirement to run the system. User Side Hardware Requirement: PC (with mouse, keyboard, monitor) / laptop with minimum specification: Intel Core Duo processor(1.66Hz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM HDD User Side Software Requirement: Web browser: Mozilla Firefox, IE, Google Chrome, etc Server Side Hardware Requirement: PC (with mouse, keyboard, monitor) / laptop with minimum specification: Intel Core Duo processor(1.66Hz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM HDD GSM Modem Server Side Software Requirement: Adobe Dreamweaver SQL Yog Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox, IE, Google Chrome, etc XAMPP Server side software requirement is needed to do the regular maintenance on the system. The development software might be needed to fix error that might be occurred when the system on the run. Chapter 2: Literature Review Literature Review Literature Review is a critical look at the existing research that is significant to the work that is currently undergo. The author currently did a project; College Announcement Notification System is the project. College Announcement Notification System is a web based application system, which is proposed as a solution to Sunway University College regarding the poor information flow in Sunway University College especially School of Computer Technology. The author chose to propose the solution only to School of Computer Technology because of the course that currently taken is under it. College Announcement Notification System is a web based application, it is hoped the system would work perfectly and increasing the information flow within School of Computer Technology (SCT). The users of the system able to access the College Announcement Notification System via laptop or PC, as long there is an internet connection. The author think if it just a normal website, there is no uniqueness that makes my project different than the others. After doing research, the author decided to add the SMS feature as the instant notification system. Integrate the system with SMS feature; means need to deal with SMS gateway. The author aware that using the SMS feature is almost the same like adding the Email as the instant notification where the system is able to send automatically the posted announcement that is already posted in the website. Email is an electronic mail that worked same like a normal mail, where the users need to write the content of the letter, after that the address of the recipient is a must for the users to add. Email enables users to send and receive electronically over the internet. SMS and Email basically is the same, it contains text and to send it need to know the exact recipient email address for email and phone number for SMS. There are many email server company that is give services for the users to send and receive email such as Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, Go ogle Mail, etc. There is also an application that handles email such as Microsoft Outlook. Some advantages that email could give are emails is free for users to use like send and receive mail, it can contains richer message contents than the conventional mail did. However from the advantages that an email, there are also a few disadvantages of emails. With the advancement of the technology nowadays, the previous email only can sent the words but nowadays, users can sent not only words but can attach richer media such as picture, video, file, etc. This advantages of email were misused by some people, it enable them to send virus, malicious software, spam that can harm the recipients PC or laptop. In order to overcome this security issue, the email provider companies try many ways to increase the security but the spammer can overcome the security and still sent the spam email that may contain virus and malicious software. Using the email as an instant notification to the College Announcement Notification System is a good choice but users may not open their own email daily, usually users open their email whenever the feel like to open it. Therefore, the author proposed to use the SMS system as the instant notification. There are few reasons that become the considerations of choosing SMS to be implemented. First reason, the project is a notification system so SMS is the best choice because after the sender sent it then the recipients received it in instant. Second reason, if using email the recipients of the email need to open their own laptop or PC, and then open the email service web page, it will takes time and not instant. Most of the students nowadays had their own mobile phone and they carry their mobile phone everywhere they go, so it is one of the reason why the author choose to use SMS as an instant notification. Mobile phone user aware that open a SMS is faster than open an Email. Nowadays, ma ny mobile phone producers now produced a new mobile phone that can handles in send or receive an email. However mobile phone that can handles send and receive email is still too expensive for the most of the mobile phone users only a few that can afford that. But if the SMS only, most of the mobile phone users able to send and receive that because it is the basic function that the mobile phone offer. SMS (Short Messaging Service) As most people known, SMS is a protocol used in communication that gives way to exchange of short message from one mobile phone to another mobile phone (tech-faq.com, 2009). Nowadays mobile phone takes an important part because it provides connections to the others that in the past impossible to do. The main usage of the mobile phone is to enable users to make a phone call wherever and whenever they are, beside used to call others; other main function of mobile phone that is growing rapidly is the usage of SMS service. SMS stands for Short Message Service. It is a technology that enables the sending and receiving of messages between mobile phones. SMS first appeared in Europe in 1992. It was included in the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standards right at the beginning. Later it was ported to wireless technologies like CDMA and TDMA. The GSM and SMS standards were originally developed by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is responsible for the development and maintenance of the GSM and SMS standards. As suggested by the name Short Message Service, the data that can be held by an SMS message is very limited. One SMS message can contain at most 140 bytes (1120 bits) of data, so one SMS message can contain up to: 160 characters if 7-bit character encoding is used. (7-bit character encoding is suitable for encoding Latin characters like English alphabets.) 70 characters if 16-bit Unicode UCS2 character encoding is used. (SMS text messages containing non-Latin characters like Chinese characters should use 16-bit character encoding.) SMS text messaging supports languages internationally. It works fine with all languages supported by Unicode, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Besides text, SMS messages can also carry binary data. It is possible to send ringtones, pictures, operator logos, wallpapers, animations, business cards (e.g. VCards) and WAP configurations to a mobile phone with SMS messages. One major advantage of SMS is that it is supported by 100% GSM mobile phones. Almost all subscription plans provided by wireless carriers include inexpensive SMS messaging service. Unlike SMS, mobile technologies such as WAP and mobile Java are not supported on many old mobile phone models. (developershome.com, 2008) Usage of SMS As the mobile voice communication market approaches saturation, carriers are focusing on messaging as crucial value -added service to garner more mobile subscribers and generate greater market revenue. Specifically, SMS (Short Messaging Service) is emerging as one of the most important asynchronous communication that carriers provide. It is projected that in 2009 U.S subscribers will send over 126 billion messages via their mobile phone device, generating $8.6 billion revenues (Deng, Sun, Turner, Prince, 2008). Nowadays, people are presented with a wide variety of communication media such as email, instant messaging (IM), etc. To date, most researchers have focused on the use of SMS by teenager and young adult. Recently as SMS become the needs in our daily lives, older people also recognized the convenience of using SMS. It has been reported that over 74% of the mobile phone users worldwide is using SMS text messaging (Deng, Sun, Turner, Prince, 2008). How does the SMS works? Even if you are not talking on your cell phone, your phone is constantly sending and receiving information. It is talking to its cell phone tower over a pathway called acontrol channel. The reason for this chatter is so that the cell phone system knows which cell your phone is in, and so that your phone can change cells as you move around. Every so often, your phone and the tower will exchange a packetof data that lets both of them know that everything is OK. Your phone also uses the control channel for call setup. When someone tries to call you, the tower sends your phone a message over the control channel that tells your phone to play itsringtone. The tower also gives your phone a pair of voice channel frequencies to use for the call. The control channel also provides the pathway for SMS messages. When a friend sends you an SMS message, the message flows through the SMSC, then to the tower, and the tower sends the message to your phone as a little packet of data on the control channel. In the same way, when you send a message, your phone sends it to the tower on the control channel and it goes from the tower to the SMSC and from there to its destination. (howstuffworks.com, 2005) The SME (Short Message Entity), which is typically a mobile phone or a GSM modem, can be located in the fixed network or a mobile station, receives and sends short messages. The SME was sent to the SMSC.TheSMSC (Short Message Service Center)is the entity which does the job of store and forward of messages to and from the mobile station. After receiving the SME, then SMSC sent the SME to the SMS GMSC. TheSMS GMSC(SMS gateway MSC (Mobile Switching Center)) is a gateway so that MSC that can also receive short messages. The gateway MSC is a mobile networks point of contact with other networks. On receiving the short message from the short message center, GMSC uses the SS7 network to interrogate the current position of the mobile station form the HLR, the home location register. HLRis the main database in a mobile network. It holds information of the subscription profile of the mobile and also about the routing information for the subscriber, i.e. the area (covered by a MSC) where the mobile is currently situated. The GMSC is thus able to pass on the message to the correct MSC. MSC(Mobile Switching Center) is the entity in a GSM network which does the job of switching connections between mobile stations or between mobile stations and the fixed network. AVLR(Visitor Location Register) corresponds to each MSC and contains temporary information about the mobile, information like mobile identification and the cell (or a group of cells) where the mobile is currently situated. Using information from the VLR the MSC is able to switch the information (short message) to the corresponding BSS (Base Station System, BSC + BTSs), which transmits the short message to the mobile. The BSS consists of transceivers, which send and receive information over the air interface, to and from the mobile station. This information is passed over the signaling channels so the mobile can receive messages even if a voice or data call is going on. (logixmobile.com) How to send SMS using a computer? After done some research about how the SMS works, there are several ways in sending SMS using computer, they are (developershome.com, 2008): Connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer / PC. Then use the computer / PC and VB commands to instruct the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to send SMS message. Connect the computer / PC to the SMS center (SMSC) or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier or SMS service provider. Then send SMS messages using a protocol / interface supported by the SMSC or SMS gateway. Connection between mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to computer using VB command for sent SMS A GSM/GPRS modem is a wireless modem that works with GSM/GPRS wireless networks. A wireless modem is similar to a dial-up modem. The main difference is that a wireless modem transmits data through a wireless network whereas a dial-up modem transmits data through a copper telephone line. To send SMS messages, first place a valid SIM card from a wireless carrier into a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem, which is then connected to a computer. There are several ways to connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer. For example, they can be connected through a serial cable, a USB cable, a Bluetooth link or an infrared link. The actual way to use depends on the capability of the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem. After connecting a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer, you can control the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem by sending instructions to it. The instructions used for controlling the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem are called by using VB commands. The above figure showed the process of sending SMS using the VB application. In this case, the system that the author developed is using PHP that act as the third party to store the announcement data inside the database. After finish with the stored announcement, VB application is used to instruct the GSM modem to send SMS. As shown in the figure above, VB application will retrieve the stored data that will be sent as SMS. Then after retrieving the data, it will be sent to through SMS gateway until it arrived in the hand of the recipient. One of the benefits from using the VB application to send SMS is users will have a very reliable notification system, because before sending SMS intended recipient can be configured so it is received at the intended recipient. Using a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to send SMS messages has a major drawback, which is the SMS sending rate is too low. Only 6-10 SMS messages can be sent per minute (when the SMS over GSM mode is used). The performance is not affected by the connection between the computer and the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem (i.e. the SMS sending rate is about the same no matter the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem is connected to the computer through a serial cable, USB cable, Bluetooth link or infrared link) and does not depend on whether a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem is used (i.e. the SMS sending rate is about the same no matter a mobile phone or a GSM/GPRS modem is used). The determining factor for the SMS sending rate is the wireless network. (developershome.com, 2008) Send SMS from Computer through SMS Gateway The way for sending SMS messages from a computer through a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem has a major limitation, which is the SMS sending rate is too low. If you need a high SMS sending rate, obtaining a direct connection to the SMS center (SMSC) or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier is necessary. It can be difficult for small businesses or individual application developers to obtain a direct connection to the SMSC or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier since a wireless carrier may only provide such service to those who have huge SMS traffic. Buying SMS messages in bulk means the total fee will be very high (although the fee per SMS message will be low). (deve Development of College Announcement Notification System Development of College Announcement Notification System Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction This project proposal is created to propose an IT solution to the student of Sunway University. The main point that the author want to highlight is regarding the efficiencies for student in Sunway University. An example, inefficiencies that occur in posting the announcement that is post on the website or in the notice board, it is hard to inform to the student and also the staff may also forget to post the announcement that will inconvenient for the student itself. In order to solve those problems, the author proposed to create a website as a third party for the staff to post the announcement. The author feel that only a website is very simple and common nowadays, so to improve the effectiveness and give more efficiency, a SMS (Short Messaging Service) feature is added to the system. Every announcement is posted by the SCT Staffs in the website, a SMS notification will be sent to the student that already registered to the website. The content of the SMS just a brief notification abou t the title of the event, venue and time, for more brief detail the students can refer to the website. Other way to notify the students is used Email as an instant notifier, but consider using email as an instant notifier is not really effective because students didnt open their email every day but using the SMS as the instant notifier to notify the students are more effective because most of the student is own and bring their own cell phone, therefore the MS as an instant notifier is more appropriate. Since the advancement of the technology nowadays, using this system will help in reduce the paper usage. Project Objective To give efficiencies for staff of Sunway University who want to post announcement. To use SMS as an instant notifier, for example every announcement post on the website the student will receive a SMS about the annoncement. In long term of view, this system will help in notify student about things that happen in college. Project Scope To become the most useful media for announcement notification. When the system is run it involves the Sunway University students and staffs that want to use the service. The user of the system should be students of Sunway University and staffs. All users that want to use the system have to become member. Methodology Methodology is a formalized approach to implement the SDLC (System Development Life Cycle). There are many different systems development methodologies, and each one is unique based on the order and focus it places on each SDLC phase. Some methodologies are formal standards used y government agencies, while others have been developed by consulting firms to sell to client. Many organizations have internal methodologies that have been honed over the years, and they explain exactly how each phase of the SDLC is to be performed in that company. There are many ways to categorize methodologies. One way is looking at whether they focus on business process or the data that support the business. There are three types of system development methodologies, it is called Structured Design, RAD (Rapid Application Development), and Agile Development. Types of Software Development Methodologies Structured Design This is the first type of system development, it is introduced in 1980s. This methodology adopts the formal step by step approach to the SDLC, it moves logically from one phase to another phase. Waterfall Model This is the original structured design of methodology, with this methodology, the analyst and users proceed in sequence from one phase to the next phase. The key deliverables for each phase are typically very long and are presented to the project sponsor for approval as the project moves from phase to phase. This methodology is referred to as waterfall development because it moves forward from phase to phase in the same manner as a waterfall. Advantages of using waterfall model: It identifies system requirements long before programming begins It minimizes changes to the requirements as the project proceeds. Disadvantages of using waterfall model: The design must be completely specified before programming begins This model required significant rework, if there is a changes in the business environment, in order to going back to the initial phase need to go through each of the subsequent phase in return. Parallel Development This model of methodology attempts to address the problem of long delay between analysis phase and the delivery of the system. Instead of doing design and implementation in sequence, it performs a general design for the whole system and then divides the project into a series of distinct subprojects that can be designed and implemented in parallel. Once all subprojects are complete, there is a final integration of the separate pieces, and the system is delivered. Advantage of using parallel model: It can reduce the schedule time to deliver a system There is less chance of changes in the business environment causing rework Disadvantage of using parallel model: The approach still suffers from problem caused by paper documents It adds new problem, sometimes subprojects arent completely independent; design decisions made in one subproject may affect another subprojects Phased Development In this model, the overall system is divided into a series of version that are developed sequentially. The analysis phase identifies the overall system concept, and the project team, users and system sponsors then categorize the requirement into a series of version. Advantage of using phased model: Quickly getting a useful system into the hands of the users While the system does not perform all the functions the users need at first, it does begin to provide business value sooner than if the system were delivered after completion, as is the case with waterfall or parallel methodology. Disadvantage of using phased model: The users begin to work with the systems that are intentionally incomplete, it is critical to identify the most important and useful feature and include them in the first version, while managing users expectation along the way. Prototyping In this model, it performs the analysis, design and implementation phases concurrently, and all the three phases are performed repeatedly in a cycle until the system is completed. In this methodology, the basics of analysis and design are performed, and work immediately begins on a system prototype, a â€Å"quick and dirty† program that provides a minimal amount of features. Advantage of using prototyping model: It is very quickly provides a system for the users to interact with, even it is not ready for widespread organizational use at first. Reassure the users that the project team is working on the system Helps to more quickly refine real requirements rather than attempting to understand a system specification on paper, the user can interact with the prototype to better understand what it can do and cannot do. Disadvantage of using prototyping model: Its fast paced system releases challenge attempts to conduct careful, methodical analysis. This can cause problems in the development of complex systems because fundamental issues and problems are not recognized until well into the development process. Software Development Methodology Comparison After do research about the types of methodology that is appropriate to be used into the project. The author compared the 4 types of methodology that is compatible with the current development. The following table is the result of using the described methodology to the project. System Characteristic Waterfall Parallel Phased Prototyping Unclear User Requirement Poor Poor Good Excellent Unfamiliar Technology Poor Poor Good Poor Complexity of the System Good Good Good Poor Reliability of the System Good Good Good Poor Short Time Schedule Poor Good Excellent Excellent Schedule Visibility Poor Poor Excellent Excellent Table 1 Methodology Comparison Selecting the appropriate Methodology According to the project objective that the author proposed, author analyze each methodology that is already been researched. The author decides to use the Phased Methodology. The main reason on why the author uses this methodology is because the author would develop this system all by himself and the project will be easier to be built phase by phase. Other considerations in choosing this model are: User Requirement: the requirement of the system is clear, which is to address the problem of inefficiency and ineffectiveness of conventional way in notify the student for announcement. Familiarity with Technology: for designing the website, PHP, VB.Net language technology is going to be used, since it is still in area of the author expertise. System Complexity: the complexity of this project is at medium level, since the author familiar with the technology used in the project so it is not really difficult. However the author still need to do research on certain area of technology, for this case the knowledge of SMS gateway, and how to integrate the web based system with the SMS gateway. Duration: the duration of developing the project is approximately 4 months in order to fully complete the project. Development Method: it is a web based application that is built using the PHP, and VB.NET as the programming language. Area of Research Certain areas that we research for this project are: How to create easy and manageable database system? What is SMS (Short Message Service) portal and SMS (Short Message Service) gateway? How to integrate web based system with SMS portal? How to create easy and manageable database system? This part is one of the crucial parts in order to make a good web based application system. Therefore, creating an easy and manageable database system is really important. The database system that the author used to manage the College Announcement System web based application is MySQL. Several reasons become the consideration of choosing the MySQL software are, first reason is because the main programming language system that the author built is using the PHP technology, and PHP language has an integrated connector that able to connect it to SQL. Second reason, MySQL is open source software so it is free for download, it is will help in determining the project cost development. There is other software which is better than MySQL but looked back at the scope of the project; this is just an undergraduate project, then the author decides that using MySQL software is a wiser choice. The third reason, the author already took the MySQL subject during the study in Sunway University College, which is still in the author expertise. However, if this system wants to be implemented into the real organization, further study to create easy and manageable design is needed. When the project is already on the run, this would be very beneficial in doing maintenance of the application system. How to integrate the Web based System with SMS portal? As most people known that SMS is the most famous service that a mobile phone give. It is a service where the users able to send short text message from a mobile phone to another mobile phone. Basically the SMS would not work with just the mobile phone itself, it I because the Mobile Phone Network Operator that give the service so the SMS can be delivered to the recipient by the help of the mobile phone device as the medium to type the message. The SMS can travel all the way from the sender device to the recipient device must go through a pathway through a network called SMSC (Short Message Service Centre). SMSC works as a hardware that stores the SMS that is sent from a mobile phone then forward it again to the recipient. From the early of 1990s, the era when the first SMS is sent through the network using the mobile phone device. Nowadays with the advancement of the technology, SMS not only can be done through using mobile phone but can be integrated in other application such as web based application system, using the SMS gateway technology. However, the SMS that is sent still have to go through SMSC, which is still needed to use the SIM Card that is given by the mobile network operator. SMS gateway act as a bridge the platform that cannot use the mobile phone SIM Card to use the mobile service by using the GSM modem, in this case the mobile service is to send the SMS. The mobile SIM Card will be inserted into the GSM modem. GSM modem will act as the third party to connect to the SMSC. The web based application store the message that will be sent into the database, and the GSM will retrieve the data from the database and ready to send the SMS to the destination number. The basic function of SMS and e mail is the same, for email the sender need to enter the destination email and for SMS the sender need to enter the destination phone number. The difference is why SMS is more popular than email is because it is mobile and user can send and receive SMS wherever they are. The mobile advantage of using SMS is the reason that makes the author choose the SMS application system to be added into the College Announcement Notification system instead of using email. Another reason the author choose to use SMS is because most of the students in Sunway didnt have mobile phone that can handles in receiving and sending email, but most of the students have mobile phone that enable them to send and receive SMS. Therefore, using the SMS as additional software into College Announcement Notification system is the best choice, and the author also learn to use the GSM modem and the implementation of it into the system. Software / Hardware Requirements In order to make this project successful there are some hardware and software which is required to use in order to complete the project are: Software and Hardware requirement to develop the system. Software: SQL YOG: is the database software that the author chose to be implemented inside the College Announcement Notification system. SQL Yog had the user friendly interface and it is open source software. XAMPP: this software is applied as the localhost to compile the web based application. Adobe Dreamweaver: is the software that makes it easier to edit the coding for PHP, JAVA. Hardware: PC (with mouse, keyboard, monitor) / laptop with minimum specification: Intel Core Duo processor(1.66Hz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM HDD Software and Hardware Requirement to run the system. User Side Hardware Requirement: PC (with mouse, keyboard, monitor) / laptop with minimum specification: Intel Core Duo processor(1.66Hz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM HDD User Side Software Requirement: Web browser: Mozilla Firefox, IE, Google Chrome, etc Server Side Hardware Requirement: PC (with mouse, keyboard, monitor) / laptop with minimum specification: Intel Core Duo processor(1.66Hz), 1GB RAM, 60GB 5400 RPM HDD GSM Modem Server Side Software Requirement: Adobe Dreamweaver SQL Yog Web Browser: Mozilla Firefox, IE, Google Chrome, etc XAMPP Server side software requirement is needed to do the regular maintenance on the system. The development software might be needed to fix error that might be occurred when the system on the run. Chapter 2: Literature Review Literature Review Literature Review is a critical look at the existing research that is significant to the work that is currently undergo. The author currently did a project; College Announcement Notification System is the project. College Announcement Notification System is a web based application system, which is proposed as a solution to Sunway University College regarding the poor information flow in Sunway University College especially School of Computer Technology. The author chose to propose the solution only to School of Computer Technology because of the course that currently taken is under it. College Announcement Notification System is a web based application, it is hoped the system would work perfectly and increasing the information flow within School of Computer Technology (SCT). The users of the system able to access the College Announcement Notification System via laptop or PC, as long there is an internet connection. The author think if it just a normal website, there is no uniqueness that makes my project different than the others. After doing research, the author decided to add the SMS feature as the instant notification system. Integrate the system with SMS feature; means need to deal with SMS gateway. The author aware that using the SMS feature is almost the same like adding the Email as the instant notification where the system is able to send automatically the posted announcement that is already posted in the website. Email is an electronic mail that worked same like a normal mail, where the users need to write the content of the letter, after that the address of the recipient is a must for the users to add. Email enables users to send and receive electronically over the internet. SMS and Email basically is the same, it contains text and to send it need to know the exact recipient email address for email and phone number for SMS. There are many email server company that is give services for the users to send and receive email such as Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, Go ogle Mail, etc. There is also an application that handles email such as Microsoft Outlook. Some advantages that email could give are emails is free for users to use like send and receive mail, it can contains richer message contents than the conventional mail did. However from the advantages that an email, there are also a few disadvantages of emails. With the advancement of the technology nowadays, the previous email only can sent the words but nowadays, users can sent not only words but can attach richer media such as picture, video, file, etc. This advantages of email were misused by some people, it enable them to send virus, malicious software, spam that can harm the recipients PC or laptop. In order to overcome this security issue, the email provider companies try many ways to increase the security but the spammer can overcome the security and still sent the spam email that may contain virus and malicious software. Using the email as an instant notification to the College Announcement Notification System is a good choice but users may not open their own email daily, usually users open their email whenever the feel like to open it. Therefore, the author proposed to use the SMS system as the instant notification. There are few reasons that become the considerations of choosing SMS to be implemented. First reason, the project is a notification system so SMS is the best choice because after the sender sent it then the recipients received it in instant. Second reason, if using email the recipients of the email need to open their own laptop or PC, and then open the email service web page, it will takes time and not instant. Most of the students nowadays had their own mobile phone and they carry their mobile phone everywhere they go, so it is one of the reason why the author choose to use SMS as an instant notification. Mobile phone user aware that open a SMS is faster than open an Email. Nowadays, ma ny mobile phone producers now produced a new mobile phone that can handles in send or receive an email. However mobile phone that can handles send and receive email is still too expensive for the most of the mobile phone users only a few that can afford that. But if the SMS only, most of the mobile phone users able to send and receive that because it is the basic function that the mobile phone offer. SMS (Short Messaging Service) As most people known, SMS is a protocol used in communication that gives way to exchange of short message from one mobile phone to another mobile phone (tech-faq.com, 2009). Nowadays mobile phone takes an important part because it provides connections to the others that in the past impossible to do. The main usage of the mobile phone is to enable users to make a phone call wherever and whenever they are, beside used to call others; other main function of mobile phone that is growing rapidly is the usage of SMS service. SMS stands for Short Message Service. It is a technology that enables the sending and receiving of messages between mobile phones. SMS first appeared in Europe in 1992. It was included in the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standards right at the beginning. Later it was ported to wireless technologies like CDMA and TDMA. The GSM and SMS standards were originally developed by 3GPP (Third Generation Partnership Project) is responsible for the development and maintenance of the GSM and SMS standards. As suggested by the name Short Message Service, the data that can be held by an SMS message is very limited. One SMS message can contain at most 140 bytes (1120 bits) of data, so one SMS message can contain up to: 160 characters if 7-bit character encoding is used. (7-bit character encoding is suitable for encoding Latin characters like English alphabets.) 70 characters if 16-bit Unicode UCS2 character encoding is used. (SMS text messages containing non-Latin characters like Chinese characters should use 16-bit character encoding.) SMS text messaging supports languages internationally. It works fine with all languages supported by Unicode, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Besides text, SMS messages can also carry binary data. It is possible to send ringtones, pictures, operator logos, wallpapers, animations, business cards (e.g. VCards) and WAP configurations to a mobile phone with SMS messages. One major advantage of SMS is that it is supported by 100% GSM mobile phones. Almost all subscription plans provided by wireless carriers include inexpensive SMS messaging service. Unlike SMS, mobile technologies such as WAP and mobile Java are not supported on many old mobile phone models. (developershome.com, 2008) Usage of SMS As the mobile voice communication market approaches saturation, carriers are focusing on messaging as crucial value -added service to garner more mobile subscribers and generate greater market revenue. Specifically, SMS (Short Messaging Service) is emerging as one of the most important asynchronous communication that carriers provide. It is projected that in 2009 U.S subscribers will send over 126 billion messages via their mobile phone device, generating $8.6 billion revenues (Deng, Sun, Turner, Prince, 2008). Nowadays, people are presented with a wide variety of communication media such as email, instant messaging (IM), etc. To date, most researchers have focused on the use of SMS by teenager and young adult. Recently as SMS become the needs in our daily lives, older people also recognized the convenience of using SMS. It has been reported that over 74% of the mobile phone users worldwide is using SMS text messaging (Deng, Sun, Turner, Prince, 2008). How does the SMS works? Even if you are not talking on your cell phone, your phone is constantly sending and receiving information. It is talking to its cell phone tower over a pathway called acontrol channel. The reason for this chatter is so that the cell phone system knows which cell your phone is in, and so that your phone can change cells as you move around. Every so often, your phone and the tower will exchange a packetof data that lets both of them know that everything is OK. Your phone also uses the control channel for call setup. When someone tries to call you, the tower sends your phone a message over the control channel that tells your phone to play itsringtone. The tower also gives your phone a pair of voice channel frequencies to use for the call. The control channel also provides the pathway for SMS messages. When a friend sends you an SMS message, the message flows through the SMSC, then to the tower, and the tower sends the message to your phone as a little packet of data on the control channel. In the same way, when you send a message, your phone sends it to the tower on the control channel and it goes from the tower to the SMSC and from there to its destination. (howstuffworks.com, 2005) The SME (Short Message Entity), which is typically a mobile phone or a GSM modem, can be located in the fixed network or a mobile station, receives and sends short messages. The SME was sent to the SMSC.TheSMSC (Short Message Service Center)is the entity which does the job of store and forward of messages to and from the mobile station. After receiving the SME, then SMSC sent the SME to the SMS GMSC. TheSMS GMSC(SMS gateway MSC (Mobile Switching Center)) is a gateway so that MSC that can also receive short messages. The gateway MSC is a mobile networks point of contact with other networks. On receiving the short message from the short message center, GMSC uses the SS7 network to interrogate the current position of the mobile station form the HLR, the home location register. HLRis the main database in a mobile network. It holds information of the subscription profile of the mobile and also about the routing information for the subscriber, i.e. the area (covered by a MSC) where the mobile is currently situated. The GMSC is thus able to pass on the message to the correct MSC. MSC(Mobile Switching Center) is the entity in a GSM network which does the job of switching connections between mobile stations or between mobile stations and the fixed network. AVLR(Visitor Location Register) corresponds to each MSC and contains temporary information about the mobile, information like mobile identification and the cell (or a group of cells) where the mobile is currently situated. Using information from the VLR the MSC is able to switch the information (short message) to the corresponding BSS (Base Station System, BSC + BTSs), which transmits the short message to the mobile. The BSS consists of transceivers, which send and receive information over the air interface, to and from the mobile station. This information is passed over the signaling channels so the mobile can receive messages even if a voice or data call is going on. (logixmobile.com) How to send SMS using a computer? After done some research about how the SMS works, there are several ways in sending SMS using computer, they are (developershome.com, 2008): Connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer / PC. Then use the computer / PC and VB commands to instruct the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to send SMS message. Connect the computer / PC to the SMS center (SMSC) or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier or SMS service provider. Then send SMS messages using a protocol / interface supported by the SMSC or SMS gateway. Connection between mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to computer using VB command for sent SMS A GSM/GPRS modem is a wireless modem that works with GSM/GPRS wireless networks. A wireless modem is similar to a dial-up modem. The main difference is that a wireless modem transmits data through a wireless network whereas a dial-up modem transmits data through a copper telephone line. To send SMS messages, first place a valid SIM card from a wireless carrier into a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem, which is then connected to a computer. There are several ways to connect a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer. For example, they can be connected through a serial cable, a USB cable, a Bluetooth link or an infrared link. The actual way to use depends on the capability of the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem. After connecting a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to a computer, you can control the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem by sending instructions to it. The instructions used for controlling the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem are called by using VB commands. The above figure showed the process of sending SMS using the VB application. In this case, the system that the author developed is using PHP that act as the third party to store the announcement data inside the database. After finish with the stored announcement, VB application is used to instruct the GSM modem to send SMS. As shown in the figure above, VB application will retrieve the stored data that will be sent as SMS. Then after retrieving the data, it will be sent to through SMS gateway until it arrived in the hand of the recipient. One of the benefits from using the VB application to send SMS is users will have a very reliable notification system, because before sending SMS intended recipient can be configured so it is received at the intended recipient. Using a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem to send SMS messages has a major drawback, which is the SMS sending rate is too low. Only 6-10 SMS messages can be sent per minute (when the SMS over GSM mode is used). The performance is not affected by the connection between the computer and the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem (i.e. the SMS sending rate is about the same no matter the mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem is connected to the computer through a serial cable, USB cable, Bluetooth link or infrared link) and does not depend on whether a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem is used (i.e. the SMS sending rate is about the same no matter a mobile phone or a GSM/GPRS modem is used). The determining factor for the SMS sending rate is the wireless network. (developershome.com, 2008) Send SMS from Computer through SMS Gateway The way for sending SMS messages from a computer through a mobile phone or GSM/GPRS modem has a major limitation, which is the SMS sending rate is too low. If you need a high SMS sending rate, obtaining a direct connection to the SMS center (SMSC) or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier is necessary. It can be difficult for small businesses or individual application developers to obtain a direct connection to the SMSC or SMS gateway of a wireless carrier since a wireless carrier may only provide such service to those who have huge SMS traffic. Buying SMS messages in bulk means the total fee will be very high (although the fee per SMS message will be low). (deve