Luxury Brands in India Essay

A luxury brand is a brand for which most of products offered are luxury goods. Luxury goods in general refer to products or services which are not fundamental and can be described as affluence. The three words which compliment luxury brands are high price, high quality and prestige. These brands create and set the seasonal trends and are also capable to pulling all of their consumers with them wherever they go. India being the second-fastest growing economy is believed to be one of the most sought after market by the luxury brands. Designers around the world have been taking inspiration from India’s rich fashion history with bright Bollywood colours, exotic saris, elegant embroidery and stunning jewellery. The growing number of Indians in the billionaire’s club coupled with a evident rise of the urban elite class has seen many international luxury giants queue up to woo the Indian customer who has a peculiar culture of â€Å"status†. A big brand like Chanel launched its 2012 Paris-Bombay Collection. in December of 2011 and Hermes put out a limited-edition line of saris, which instantly drew the world’s attention to the glamour and glitz of India. Luxury brands have thoroughly considered the significance of understanding India’s spending power and rituals as there are definite times when luxury spending isn’t welcome, but other times like weddings and festivals which are prime times for offering high-end, luxury items. As per Millward Brown Optimor consulting company the top 10 luxury brands are: 1. Louis Vuitton- $25. 9 billion, 2. Hermes- $19. 1 billion 3. Rolex- $7. 2 billion 4. Chanel- $6. 7 billion 5. Gucci- $6. 4 billion 6. Prada- $5. 7 billion 7. Cartier- $4. 8 billion. 8. Hennessy- $4. 6 billion. 9. Moet & Chandon- $4. 2 billion. 10. Burberry- $4. 09 billion. Features of Luxury market in India: ? India is the second fastest growing region in Asia Pacific for Luxury Products. ? The Indian market is expected to grow at the rate 25% over next 5 years. ? At $4. 8 billion, the luxury retail market has place for everyone. ? Apparel, jewelry & personal care are the biggest sells in the luxury market. ? Indian Luxury Market is worth $4. 9 Billion, it forms only 2% of global share thus there is a huge scope for expansion. ? There are 103,000 millionaires in India, 16,000 are added each year. ? Luxury and prestige brands such as Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Cartier represent the highest form of craftsmanship and command a staunch consumer loyalty that is not affected by trends. Now that India has emerged as a hot market for Luxury Brands it is important for these brands to market themselves well to the Indian consumer. Most of the Luxury Brands attract a new consumer by indicating high brand worth. With introduction of several Luxury brands in India, Luxury Brand marketing has emerged as a significant ancillary service. Luxury marketing strategies are developed in a unique way which ensures success; some of the strategies are listed below: ? Brand needs to be â€Å"expansive†- it needs to be full of modernization opportunities for the marketer for satisfying the divergent needs of the luxury consumer ? Brand must always tell a majestic story heritage & performance or other aspects that goes on to build the aura of a brand over time. The story always accentuates the identity of the brand. ? Brand needs to be relevant to the needs of consumers-Depending upon the mindset of the luxury class, it is imperative for a brand to satisfy those needs, whether they be catering to recognition or functional use etc. ? Brand must always align itself with consumers’ values-A brand that does not concur with the basic values of a consumer’s society has a small chance of succeeding because luxury items are forms of expression or identification for a luxury consumer. ? Brand needs to perform-Irrespective of which category the brand belongs to, a performance assurance is a must. For all the above mentioned strategies to work there is a strong need for specialized marketing & PR function. These two services have become backbone of the Luxury Brands in India. Through my research I shall try to find out the role played by these agencies and also the activities under taken by various Luxury brands to establish themselves in India. A RESEARCH ON Fashion shows [pic] Assignment on research problem INTRODUCTION Research can be defined as a formalized curiosity. It is â€Å"The systematic investigation into and study of materials, sources, etc., in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions† Oxford English dictionary. In other words it can also be defined as â€Å"A process of finding out information and investigating the unknown to solve a problem† according to Maylor and Blackmon (2005). The topic of my research problem is FASHION SHOWS. My research shall revolve around answering questions like: 1. What brings about the success of these shows? 2. How it affects the fashion trends in a society? 3. How it affects the sales of a country? A fashion show is an event put on by a fashion designer to showcase his or her upcoming line of clothing during a Fashion Week. Fashion shows are fun and creative way of highlighting some of the ethical issues surrounding the fashion industry. There is a lot to be considered so it is well worth planning ahead. This is where the latest fashion trends are introduced to the people at large. In a typical fashion show models walk down the ramp dressed in the clothing created by the designer. Fashions shows enjoy a good amount of media coverage which is essential for spreading trends across the globe. History In the 1800s â€Å"fashion parades† periodically took place in Paris couture salons. American retailers imported the concept of the fashion show in the early 1900s. The first American fashion show likely took place in 1903 in the New York City store Ehrlich Brothers. By 1910, large department stores such as Wanamaker’s in New York City and Philadelphia were also staging fashion shows. These events showed couture gowns from Paris or the store’s copies of them; they aimed to demonstrate the owners’ good taste and capture the attention of female shoppers. Magazines like Vogue and Harper’s bazaar, whose editors were obsessed with French fashion began to feature more work by American designers. American designs became the new modern trends and made their place in the industry. Many designers began to hold their own shows in private functions but some shows turned out to be mishaps. Some locations were hazardous like that of Michael Kors show where a part of the ceiling began falling on the models. Mishaps like these made the designers to send the collection to Bryant Park and Fashion Week as we know it today was born. Advantages:- †¢ Fashion shows gave many aspiring designers a platform to show their collection. †¢ It gave opportunity to see the best garments and meet the best international designers. †¢ It helps in introducing new trends and make people aware of them. †¢ It amalgamates different trends and presents an overview of seasonal trend. What brings out the success of these shows? †¢ Careful selection of the theme of fashion show. It should be in sync with the collection that the designer shows. Theme along with collection leaves an important impact on its audience. †¢ Venue that can accommodate many people and one which can efficiently handle a fashion show. It should have good lighting system, backstage area, adequate parking and also easy to find. †¢ Proper display of Collection. It should be appealing and attractive. †¢ Models that effectively and beautifully carry the designs. †¢ Proper advertisement by creating a media buzz. . World’s most talked about & influential Fashion Shows: †¢ Berlin Fashion Week – Berlin, Germany †¢ Haute Couture- Paris, France †¢ Sao Paulo Fashion Week- Sao Paulo, Brazil †¢ Copenhagen Fashion Week- Copenhagen, Denmark †¢ New York Fashion Week- New York, US †¢ London Fashion Week A/W- London, UK †¢ Tokyo Fashion Week A/W- Tokyo, Japan †¢ Milan Fashion Week S/S- Milan, Italy †¢ Paris Fashion Week S/S- Paris, France.

Welle

What was the most significant conclusion that Gregor Mendel drew from his experiments with pea plants? A) There is considerable genetic variation in garden peas. B) Traits are inherited in discrete units, and are not the results of â€Å"blending. † C) Recessive genes occur more frequently in the Fl generation than do dominant ones. D) Genes are composed of DNA. E) An organism that is homozygous for many recessive traits is at a disadvantage. 2) How many unique gametes could be produced through independent assortment by an Individual with the genotype AaBbCCDdEE? rite down the gametes ) Why did Mendel continue some of his experiments to the F2 or F3 generation? A) to obtain a larger number of offspring on which to base statistics 8) to observe whether or not a recessive trait would reappear C) to observe whether or not the dominant trait would reappear D) to distinguish which alleles were segregating E) to be able to describe the frequency of recombination 4)Two plants are cro ssed, resulting in offspring with a 3:1 ratio for a particular trait.What does this suggest? 5) The fact that all seven of the pea plant traits studied by Mendel obeyed the rinciple of Independent assortment. What does this suggest about the seven traits studied by Mendel? 6) In the cross AaBbCc x AaBbCc, what Is the probability of producing the genotype AABBCC 7) Given the parents AABBCc x AabbCc, assume simple dominance for each trait and Independent assortment. What proportion of the progeny will be expected to phenotypically resemble the first parent? ) Which of the following is the best statement of the use of the addition rule of probability? A) the probability that two or more independent events will both occur B) the probability that two or more ndependent events will both occur in the offspring of one set of parents C) the probability that either one of two Independent events will occur D) the probability of producing two or more heterozygous offspring E) the likelihood tha t a trait is due to two or more meiotic events 9) Radish flowers may be red, purple, or white.A cross between a red-flowered plant and a white-flowered plant yields all-purple offspring. The part of the radish we eat may be oval or long, with long being the dominant characteristic. *** If true-breeding red long radishes are crossed with true-breeding white oval radishes, what will the Fl phenotype? flower color trait in radishes Is an example of which of the B) sex linkage C) codominance D) incomplete dominance E) epistasis 10) Gene S controls the sharpness of spines in a type of cactus.Cactuses with the dominant allele, S, have sharp spines, whereas homozygous recessive ss cactuses have dull spines. At the same time, a second gene, N, determines whether or not cactuses have spines. Homozygous recessive nn cactuses have no spines at all. *** The relationship between genes S and N is an example of A) incomplete dominance. B) epistasis. C) complete dominance. D) pleiotropy. E) codomin ance. 1) Women (and all female mammals) have one active X chromosome per cell instead of two. What causes this?A) modification of the XIST gene so that it is active only on one X chromosome, which then becomes inactive B) activation of the Barr gene on one of the two X chromosomes that then inactivates C) crossover between the XIST gene on one X chromosome and a related gene on an autosome D) inactivation of the XIST gene on the X chromosome derived from the male parent E) the removal of methyl (CH3) groups from the X chromosome that will remain active 12) Which of the following statements is true of linkage? A) The closer two genes are on a chromosome, the lower the probability that a crossover will occur between them.B) The observed frequency of recombination of two genes that are far apart from each other has a maximum value of 100%. C) All of the traits that Mendel studied-seed color, pod shape, flower color, and others-are due to genes linked on the same chromosome. D) Linked g enes are found on different chromosomes. E) Crossing over occurs during prophase II of meiosis. 13) What does a frequency of recombination of 50% indicate? A) The two genes are likely to be located on different chromosomes. B) All of the offspring have combinations of traits that match one of the two parents.C) The genes are located on sex chromosomes. D) Abnormal meiosis has occurred. E) Independent assortment is hindered. 14) Map units on a linkage map cannot be relied upon to calculate physical distances on a chromosome for which of the following reasons? A) The frequency of crossing over varies along the length of the chromosome. B) The relationship between recombination frequency and map units is different in every individual. C) Physical order on the chromosomes is slightly different in every individual. E) Linkage map istances are identical between males and females. 5) Which of the following is known as a Philadelphia chromosome? A) a human chromosome 22 that has had a speci fic translocation B) a human chromosome 9 that is found only in one type of cancer C) an animal chromosome found primarily in the mid-Atlantic area of the United States D) an imprinted chromosome that always comes from the mother E) a chromosome found not in the nucleus but in mitochondria 16) The following is a map of four genes on a chromosome. Figure 1 Between which two genes would you expect the highest frequency of recombination? A) A and WB) w and E C) E and G D) A and E E) A and G 17) How do we describe transformation in bacteria? A) the creation of a strand of DNA from an RNA molecule B) the creation of a strand of RNA from a DNA molecule C) the infection of cells by a phage DNA molecule D) the type of semiconservative replication shown by DNA E) assimilation of external DNA into a cell 18) Cytosine makes up 42% of the nucleotides in a sample of DNA from an organism. Approximately what percentage of the nucleotides in this sample will be thymine? 19) What is meant by the des cription â€Å"antiparallel† regarding the strands that make p DNA?A) The twisting nature of DNA creates nonparallel strands. B) The 5†² to 3†² direction of one strand runs counter to the 5†² to 3†² direction of the other strand. C) Base pairings create unequal spacing between the two DNA strands. D) One strand is positively charged and the other is negatively charged. E) One strand contains only purines and the other contains only pyrimidines. 20)An Okazaki fragment has which of the following arrangements? A) primase, polymerase, ligase B) 3†² RNA nucleotides, DNA nucleotides 5†² C) 5†² RNA nucleotides, DNA nucleotides 3†² D) DNA polymerase l, DNA polymerase.

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 32

Business - Essay Example The future of being an Educator is great as it provides ways to get involved in the field of study directly, a direct interaction with the students helps to gain awareness about the perspective of the young generation and how the future of the world is going to change according to their mindsets. Now coming to the challenges faced. Professional careers aim is to provide the best of the services one is specialized at without any issues. A decade ago education was not considered a professional job but in today teachers are appreciated to prepare themselves before entering a class. Similarly in coming 4 to 5 years, the level of studies would enhance and a simple explanation won’t be enough to clear the doubts of students. A teacher has to face such challenges and give a logical reasoning and prove his point of view with examples to convince the students. The greatest strength of being a teacher is his knowledge, being a specialized teacher in the field of economics particularly is a benefit in itself. Development is needed in every profession, but specifically for an educator, knowledge of new advancements and discoveries are a must to deliver it to the students. To be a successful educator, a clear way of talking that is easily understandable for all students. Secondly knowledge and skill to teach needs a constant revision. Where as in the coming year I need to enhance few areas to participate and develop professionally. Firstly an educator has to continue his studies as well a professional masters degree in my field of study, secondly adopting the latest way of teaching i-e through presentations and multi-media and lastly to prepare oneself before a particular lecture. All these areas need development to enhance the present as well as future jobs as an educator. The graph of success in a professional career faces sets backs

History of Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

History of Art - Essay Example 2.) Italian Renaissance is more vibrant and more prominent than Northern Renaissance. Since there are more commercial and trading centers in Italy at those times than the countries in the north of Italy, particularly France, the Netherlands, and Germany, Italian Renaissance artists had more patrons than their Northern counterparts. The Dukes of Burgundy in the Northern Renaissance were more interested in buying illuminated manuscripts, tapestries and furnishings while Italian art patrons were more into painting. Humanism, a revisiting of Greco-Roman scientific presentation of art, is the driving force behind the Italian Renaissance artists. The Northern Renaissance focused more on topics on religious reform. In terms of rendering of paintings, Italian Renaissance painters are keener on scientific aspects, while their Northern counterparts are more concerned on what they art look like thus, putting emphasis on color and detail. Jan van Eyck's Madonna in the Church, for example, is painted in vivid colors and in sharp details, in contrast with Raphael's The School of Athens focus on depth and perspective. 3.) Both Robert Campin's Merode Altarpiece and Roger van der Weyden's St. Luke Drawing the Virgin have prominent proportion. However, Weyden's painting is more realistic in scale and proportion. The figures are tilted in almost the same manner as we see the object. Campin's painting consists of elements that are cluttered and unrealistically proportioned. Weyden effectively used shading that suggests depth and more realistic visual space. 4.) Italian Renaissance is concerned more on the scientific aspects of art, presenting humans and objects as scientific specimens that move in logical and predictable ways. Italian Baroque art, in contrast, emphasizes exaggerations in motion and movement to produce dramatic and emotional effect. In painting, Pierro della Francesca's Baptism of Christ reflects the logical movement of people as compared with the overt dramatic tension of Federico Barocci, Aeneas' Flight from Troy. In sculpture Michelangelo's La Pieta is more reserved as compared to the vibrant actions of Bernini's Apollo and Daphne. In architecture the revival of Greek and Roman architecture is prominent in St. Peter's Basilica, while the San Benedetto Cathedral in Catania produces dramatic lighting "chiaroscuro" effect inside the edifice. 5.) Neo-Classicism is a revival of the classical art forms as contrasted from the sensuality and triviality of Rococo art. Arts in this period were also made for political propaganda use. For example, political message is clearly reflected in Jacques Louis-David's Death of Marat. Classical themes painted by fresh techniques, such as the use of contrast, characterize David's style and those of Neoclassical artists (Heindorff). 6.) The Oath of Horatii depicts Jacques Louis David's pioneering effort in French painting. It is marked by the usage of contrast in identifying three different groups of figures in the painting. David also effectively uses harmony of colors, arrangement of figures and of a majestic shadow that provides depth and contrast, as well as abstract nature of the painting (Jacques-Louis David: The Oath of the Horatii). 7.) Since the United States were under the British colonial rule, most European influence can be vividly seen in early American paintings. Neoclassicism, with its aim to use art as a form

AMERICAN HISTORY Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

AMERICAN HISTORY - Essay Example For them Africans and Indian tribes were of low grade as these people were darker in complexion. Indians were distinct in the way they lived, their cultural habits and customs. Indian was thought to be Barbarians by Europeans. Indians used to perform human sacrifice and hunt and lead a primitive life. For these reasoned, they were considered less human and many Europeans countries tried to invade them and destroy their empire. However, Indians were rich in terms of gold and silver acquisition and also had a classic architectural towns and cities. The Europeans also had an eye on their wealth which led to the invasion. The Europeans brought lot of diseases to Native America which has killed many of the native men. The greed for land and wealth has led to the encroachment of Europeans into the land of Native tribes. According to (Colonies, commerce and the Empire Ch- 3, pg 60) â€Å"For some Englishmen, colonization was one way to remove what they considered an extremely large and inc reasingly dangerous population†. Speaking on the basis of our value, the natives had every right to live freely as it was the land where there were born and raised. Everybody has the right to live on earth as all belong to this planet and no one is superior or inferior according to nature’s law. The depredation of Europeans on Native people was a cruel some act. They attacked the men and raped the women for no reason. The Native Americans had wealth which was plundered by the Europeans. This is against human rights and freedom of people to live. Morally it is wrong to attack people, kill them, torture or steal from them. So the acts done by Europeans were heinous. We can give our moral judgments of this shameful act as we are socially reacting creatures and has right to give our opinion. Every person has reasoning and ability to conduct normal livelihood. A person need to share and live and if one need assistance, one can ask or request from a person. But acquisition of land and wealth by force is condemnable act. On moral grounds, it is no way acceptable as we are all human beings and if the same situation doom upon us we may despise that situation. Native Americans have been living in American since time unknown. They have built their empire and were living peacefully in their territory which was disturbed by the Europeans. Morally, it is inhumane to steal their wealth and torture their women and children. Today our values have changed and if compared to the atrocities of Europeans on Native people then we would be ashamed of European civilization. The white men used to capture the native people and used their women physically and men were utilized as slaves. They were treated as animals and given less priorities. We have every right to judge the atrocities of Whites on moral grounds. Since so many centuries, it is obvious the human rights and freedom rules have changed. However, the basic humanity and ethical values has been same since many cen turies. People have the core values embedded in them which cannot be taken by any force. Based upon them there is a basic standard with which people are supposed to interact with each other. The colonization and invasion by the Europeans were resisted by the Native people on a large scale. According to ( Chapter 3,Colonies, Commerce and Empire, pg.62) â€Å"By 1616 colony’s population hovered at only 380, and a well –

Guam Governor Island Address Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Guam Governor Island Address - Dissertation Example He lauds the growth in the private sector and that many business permits have been issued as well as the licensing of over a thousand private contractors, which is attributed by the reduced restrictions to investments resulting in job growth. Moreover, educational reforms have been instituted enabling more children to enroll in school and to stand better chances of employment, and this has also benefited adult learners; in addition, he claims that the education system still requires to be adjusted for it to be both practical and match to international standards. Moreover, he discusses ways to solve housing crisis, the projects in place to build 3000 units by 2017, the achievements made in solving land crisis are mentioned, and he promises to ensure food production is improved for the island to become self-sufficient. These developments will improve the tourism sector and hopes to see tourist hotels fill up, he projects that the Russian and Chinese markets will continue to grow result ing in additional tourists (Calvo 8). Furthermore, he mentions the revitalization of the Hagatna highway and promises that more roads will be developed; museums of the local culture would also be constructed, and that the Guam museum is already under construction. He criticizes the rising cost power and proposes the use of GPA and CCU systems, which would reduce the cost, but also the environment, damage (Calvo 9). He also discusses the need for lifestyle change since the three top killers, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer were lifestyle related, and many people have no access to medical care and the main hospital needs more funding to cover the needs of everyone (Calvo 4). He addresses the need for more projects to honor and assists the veterans and war heroes in making smooth transitions; in addition to the poor and voiceless such as those afflicted with mental problems will be considered. He announces that in his tenure, tax refunds have been prompt and compensation has been c ompletive, he also claims that there have not been new taxes and employees are rewarded on the basis of merit in order to motivate them. He mentions victories in the fight against corruption and discusses the importance of transparency, and pledges to solve understaffing in the police force and congratulates them for a good job, and he assures resident that his administration would crack down crimes, especially the sexual predators with the collaboration of the police. He critics the federal government concerning the funding crisis and imbalance between the state and federal government, and promises to do all he can to fix this to the extent of suing the federal authorities. Finally, he calls the people’s attention to the changes in government over the last few years and its increased efficiency under his governance, he promises in time to turn the extraordinary to commonplace in Guam. Response Drawing from the speech, it is evident that the governor is confident and proud of the accomplishments achieved in his tenure and rightfully so, from the PDFs provided, the claims in his speech are much more than political rhetoric. He makes a clear, coherent and well-organized presentation supported by statistical and concrete evidence, thus, he engenderers the transparency he is trying to institute and thus leads by example. In

Warner Bros Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Warner Bros - Research Paper Example Although Warner Bros. is presently a highly successful company, it has experienced various difficulties in the past considering that its initiation was never smooth sailing. Being the only company alongside MGM amongst the Big Five to evade financial collapse throughout the Depression, it was adverse to MGM in a number of ways. Whereas MGM had remained deluxe during the Depression, Warners managed to survive through siphoning off approximately one-quarter of its total assets during early 1930s and by establishing a mentality that was ruthlessly cost-efficient, as well as factory-oriented mass-production. That symbolized stretched budgets on all features, a more re-organized studio operation, reduction in contract personnel, together with a highly formulaic, as well as routinized tackling of its films and filmmaking. This resulted in Warners splitting its output almost evenly between the A-class star vehicles and a steady output of B pictures. Warners B picture could not be mistaken f or anything else; furthermore, in most cases, Warners often allocated their mid-range stars such as Ann Sheridan and Humphrey Bogart unto low-budget jobs, thereby promptly suspending them if they attempted to balk (Gino, Simone, Lars, Florian 13). Warners happened to be the only family-run studio amongst the Big Five, with the company president Harry M. Warner who was the elder sibling, perceived as the most cost-conscious amongst the Big Five chief executives. On the other hand, the younger brother, i.e. Jack Warner, managed the studio-factory; while filmmaking operations were under the supervision of two longtime studio executives with Hal B. Wallis overseeing the production of all A-class pictures, whereas Bryan Foy controlled Warners’ B-picture production. Although Wallis turned out to be an able administrator who was certainly competent as a creative executive, he was not as competent as Darryl Zanuck, who was his predecessor at production chief at Warners, who ascended through the screenwriting positions to executive status. Wallis depended on a staff of associate producers, who did not have the capability of receiving screen credit until 1942 yet wielded extensive authority over A-class production at Warners. A number of them notably Henry Blanke, Mark Hellinger, Robert Lord and Jerry Wald were either former directors or writers, thereby getting close involvement in all phases of production. Apart from that, Warners had a staff of competent, effectual directors, such as Michael Curtiz, William Keighley, William Dieterle, Raoul Walsh and Lloyd Bacon. A small number of them had considerable power over particular star genre formulations, for instance Curtiz on the Flynn vehicles and Lloyd Bacon on Cagney’s action pictures (Sandler 34). Warners’ strategy of depending on half-dozen star genre formulas for its A-class pictures started to change in the prewar era due to various reasons. In late 1939, Paul Muni departed from the company so as to seek freelance status thereby letting Edward G. Robinson to be in charge as resident biopic star whereas the studio brass re-evaluated their commitment to the genre. In the meantime, there was the dropping of musical production owing to the defection of Busby Berkeley to MGM. Moreover, Warners responded to the even more competitive market by modifying its formulas, as well as by

Review of Capital State Arena Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Review of Capital State Arena - Coursework Example The theatrical lighting system needed for the arena was important because it would be installed in a way that it would light different events; hence, displaying different moods. The committee involved in the lighting of the arena understood that there was a need for the lighting console of the new facility. Therefore, they had to come up with a plan that would make the arena sell during the off-season where no sports were being held (Moser, 2006). However, a lighting console that can change moods, and accommodate different event was computer controlled and the lease rate was at $2,000per day in addition to the operator expenses. The products that were available for the committee were from three different companies. They included the CAE who manufactures Leprecon LP-3000, ETC manufactures of ETC Obsession II and Strand who manufactures Strand 520. The service providers provided a dealer network information, specific information about each console and a warranty repair station list. Therefore, with this information the committee had the expertise of choosing the correct lighting console for the arena. Various features were identified in the three consoles that seemed similar. However, to help in the decision-making process a list was provided to indicate how the committee should select the console. Where the console should be user friendly in the sense that, the programming of the console should only have few keystrokes; hence, eliminating the need to have a technician employed on retainer to keep the system on. It should be accessible to the theatre department where it can be used a teaching aide, especially when it is not in use. The console should be inflatable and the software should be upgradable. This is because today the consoles are computer driven and for that reason, they should be flexible to ensure that they accommodate upgradability. The console should be manufactured in the United

Employment Relationship Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Employment Relationship - Essay Example What above discussion suggests is the fact that the conflict is an inherent and often permanent element in the equation of employment relations as despite being agreed on trading off the job security with the loyalty to be shown to the employers, employees still consider a degree of conflict in their relationship with employers. This however, further depend upon the relative degree of conflict in the employment relations as such conflict may between the different layers of employees as well as the employers/management. The term industrial relation potentially defines the relationship between the workers/employees and the management of the organization. Earlier efforts on defining the industrial relations concentrated on defining the industrial relations in terms of "processes of control over work relations" (Hills). This definition therefore set up the tome of industrial relations in terms of the defining as to how the work relations are controlled within an organization. The emergence of the term Industrial Relations happened during the decade of 1920s due to enormous increase in industrial activity in US and UK. However, over the period of time, its interpretation as well as name has changed from Industrial Relations to Personnel Management and from Personnel Management to Human Resource Management. Despite such change, it is critical to understand that the basic theoretical thrust behind the concept has remained same i.e. management of people. (Edwards). Edwards is also of the opinion that sinc e the industrial relations are basically responsible for the employment management therefore a better representation of the term Industrial Relations can also be Employment relation. The representation of the workers is achieved through the formation of a collective bargaining agent or unions which often negotiate the nature of relationship between workers and the management of the firm. It is also critical to understand that the degree of industrial relations may vary at everyone functional level i.e. they may have different dynamics when viewed at the shop/floor level whereas the intensity and significance may greatly vary when the same is dealt much higher level of employment relations. Further, the degree and variability of industrial relations also depend upon the relative technological strengths of the employers as with the advancement in technology, many jobs may be rendered as redundant and many workers may loose their jobs due to technological change. Employment Relations Employment relationships need to be viewed in two perspectives i.e. from the point of view of the employee and the employer. For an employee, employment is an obvious source of income and a way to achieve the social recognition and identity. Thus the term employment relations not only have the economic influence, but it also carries a social orientation due to the different softer issues involved in the process. (Bamber,

New spirit in the west Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

New spirit in the west - Essay Example The renaissance spread northwards leading to the transformation of monarchies that sought to bolster their authority. Some of the greatest achievements from the new spirit in the west are seen in fields such as architecture, arts and literature (Bartlett 41). The movement also influenced diplomatic, military and political strategies. It is important to note that the movement neglected the poor leading to the proliferation of poverty. The period of the new spirit in the west acted as a break from the middle age. It is important to note that Europe was progressing towards modernity. This paper argues that the new spirit in the west was a period of rapid change during which people turned to realism and individualism rather than medieval values of authority, community or hierarchy. Western civilization influences people all over the world. The western world has played a critical role in the development of social, ideological, political and economical processes and systems. A hallmark of western civilization is the power to transform through association with people. The age of renaissance marked the start of institutionalization of politics and the development of commercial economies (Sherman and Joyce 23). The period encouraged arts, education and music with the aim of moving away from traditional practices to modern practices. One of the main characteristics of the period was the development of new beliefs and inventions. Renaissance first started in Italy in cities such as Venice, Milan and Florence. These cities emerged as centers of commercial developments during the 12th and 13th century. The emergence of renaissance enabled the cities to expand into mercantile societies that contrasted with other traditional societies found in medieval Europe. Another change that was witnessed in these cities was the movement from Christian perspectives or interpretations (Sherman and Joyce 29). Renaissance rejected medieval

How the Maid Made a Difference Essay Example for Free

How the Maid Made a Difference Essay Maid in Manhattan is one of the many Hollywood movies which portrayed the typical fairytale cliche—a love that went wrong but with the couple eventually ending happily ever after. The movie rose above the usual chick flicks in the industry through its capitalistic twist, nonetheless. Marisa Ventura, the hotel maid and single mother from the Bronx, and Chris Marshall, a successor to an American political dynasty, crossed paths and consequently fell into each others’ hands and hearts. The on-screen chemistry of the two artists, as well as the romantic, light, and interesting flow of the plot evidently captivated millions of audience worldwide. Not many, however, might have seen the presence of a deeper elaboration of significant and pressing issues in the movie. An allegory regarding ethnicity and culture, Maid in Manhattan was successful in revealing the ongoing plight of Latin immigrants in the United States. Due to their brown skin color, native tongue, and diverse beliefs, these individuals have been usually employed in blue-collar jobs, as depicted in the movie. The hotel in which Marisa worked in was headed by purely white Americans, with brown-bloods like her assigned for housekeeping. When Marisa’s friend pushed her into applying for the vacated managerial position, she initially declined due to the fact that black or brown was and still remains to be the opposite of white in terms of class status. Aside from the manager application scene, a number of other portions in the movie clearly showcased the same idea in order to emphasize the continuous emergence of cultural inequity. Marisa and Chris’ romance flourished despite their differences in ethnicity and culture. It is necessary to note, however, that during the first time Chris saw Marisa, he did not take notice of her since she was merely a hotel maid cleaning the senatorial candidate’s bathroom. Once Marisa donned the white Dolce and Gabbana suit of Caroline, one of the hotel guests, Marisa turned from ugly duckling into a beautiful swan in the eyes of Chris. This, indeed, is an example of commodification of identity. According to Knadler, this idea signifies the strong power of products and commodities in developing a political representation in society. Unfortunately, however, the political voice and visibility of an American usually depends on his â€Å"whiteness† or financial capacity. As shown in the movie, the physical appearance of Marisa greatly affected how Chris admired and understood her. In addition, it seemed that if the politician met Marisa as her real self, the profoundness of her political opinions with respect to issues such as electoral publicity and housing programs would seem less believable and significant for him. Hence, it can be said that intelligence is inevitably correlated to social class. Caroline’s friend Rachel also judged Marisa’s intellectual capacity during another suite scene. Rachel’s remark that Marisa knew only little English for she was of Latin descent visibly portrayed political prejudice based merely on the difference between skin pigmentation. This kind of misconception is known as victimization ideology, the power and control of vital social institutions to create weakness in a certain class or group (Faun). Unfortunately, this power and control is defined by monetary value. The financially deprived thus continue to end up as underdogs in the field, leaving them lower than they already are. Nevertheless, these conflicts should not be blamed solely outside the group of American immigrants. They, too, are internally outlawed by their own political and social inhibitions. Brown-bloods like Marisa learned to depend too much on the norms readily established in the society that they overlook the fact that these norms are merely standards; these do not dictate yet only inform them how they should live their lives based on a historical point of view that is not their own. It was Marisa’s mother, though, who was significantly captured by these biases and discrimination that she was the one directly trying to put her daughter down. She saw Marisa as a housekeeper and only as a housekeeper for, according to her, that is what the society has supposedly established for Marisa. This limited and narrow outlook regarding one’s concept of self is hence determined and shaped by both outward and inward influences. Maid in Manhattan successfully utilized the abovementioned scenes in order to bring forth an image explaining how cultural differences greatly affect social and working relations to its audience. However, the way in which the viewers comprehend this image is dependent on what group these people hail from. In my opinion, if it were a white-skinned audience, these specific scenes may imply how American immigrants are dedicated to their jobs, whatever this may be. Conversely, if those who are watching this film are of the same heritage as Marisa, then their perception of the movie would be fairly different. In my opinion, the movie serves as a venue for American immigrants to shatter borders and to assimilate themselves with the white culture. This act of multicultural integration remains to be their aspiration—their dream—in a world divided by money and power. Moreover, the brown-skinned audience would very much appreciate a film regarding their own social and political plight. Despite the â€Å"white-washing† of entertainment nowadays, films like these are still produced in the attempt to introduce the culture of the Latin descent and to communicate change in society (â€Å"Ethnic†). Visibility in Media is indeed a positive and necessary step in order to create more meaningful grounds for the harmony and amalgamation of ethnicities. This multicultural integration in Maid in Manhattan is denoted by two symbols, both related metaphorically to Chris and Marisa’s marriage. First is the actual bind of person-to-person through matrimony. In the context of the movie, nevertheless, the connection established was between and among races. This signifies the mergence of people, no matter what their skin complexion is, where they came from, or how much they earn monthly. In addition, the main characters’ marriage represented the unity of ideologies and cultures that define both parties. Individuals may co-exist with each other despite the differences of their beliefs, traditions, and lifestyles as long as they learn to compromise and adapt to each other’s way of living. These two concepts of â€Å"marriage† in Maid in Manhattan uphold egalitarianism, â€Å"a social philosophy advocating the removal of inequalities among people† (Weebies). Though the battle for human and racial equality is still not completely won, there will always be hope not only in the future but in one’s self. â€Å"Although we serve them, we are not their servants. What we do does not define who we are. What defines us is how we rise after falling,† shared Lionel, Marisa’s co-housekeeper in the hotel. Indeed, classes may rise and fall. Mistakes may be done once or all over again. Money can change or damage. Love can make us happy or sad. Whatever occurs in our lifetime, one thing remains the same: we are all humans—humans like everyone else, humans who can make a difference. We just have to believe that we can create our own identity and destiny. Works Cited â€Å"Ethnic and Visible Minorities in Entertainment Media. † Media Issues. 2008. Media Awareness Network. 10 Apr. 2008 http://www. media-awareness. ca/english/issues/ stereotyping/ethnics_and_minorities/minorities_entertainment. cfm. Faun, Feral. â€Å"The Ideology of Victimization. † Insurgent Desire. 1992. Black and Green Network. 10 Apr. 2008 http://www. insurgentdesire. org. uk/victimization. htm. Knadler, S. â€Å"Blanca from the Block: Whiteness and the Transnational Latina Body. † Genders Online Journal. 2005. Anne Kibbey. 10 Apr. 2008 http://www. genders. org/g41/g41_ knadler. html. Maid in Manhattan. Dir. Wayne Wang. Per. Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Bob Hoskins, and Kevin Wade. Revolution Studios Distribution Company, 2002. Weebies. â€Å"Egalitarianism: The Holy Grail of Socialism. † Strike The Root. 2004. 10 Apr. 2008 http://www. strike-the-root. com/4/weebies/weebies5. html.

Should Courts Grant Conscientious Exemptions?

Should Courts Grant Conscientious Exemptions? Should Courts Grant Conscientious Exemptions from Equality Laws as Judicial Remedy? Freedom of conscience and religion is a fundamental right as stated in Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights[1]. The key issue here is that there is no explicit reference to conscientious objection, which leads to a clash of ideals between freedom of thought, conscience and religion which may lead to individuals being permitted to discriminate against others and the principle of equality, which can only be dealt with via conscientious exemptions granted by the court. Therefore the purpose of this essay is to determine whether equality prevails over freedom of religion and whether the courts should grant conscientious exemptions from equality laws. Freedom of conscience and religion allows an individual to practice and change their religious or non-religious beliefs without interference from the government. However exercising ones right to manifest their religion or belief can overstep the mark and be inappropriate, an example being the case of Lee v McArthur[2]. In this case, the appellants were appealing an earlier ruling which stated that the appellants directly discriminated against a customer by not supplying a cake decorated with the message support gay marriage. The court upheld the original decision and gave the ruling that the bakery did in fact directly discriminate against the customer as it was a case of association with the gay and bisexual community and the protected characteristic was the sexual orientation of the community. This was a landmark case as it featured many democratic and political principles such as the right to free speech, the right to manifest ones beliefs, and the principle of equality. The rulin g also proved that, on this occasion as well as many others, equality does take precedence over freedom of conscience and religion, and that the court believed granting conscientious exemption could not be justified. The Equality Act 2010[3], in essence, is the statute that which places the limitations on the right to freedom of religion and one which all employers especially ones which provide goods and services must uphold. This is where the courts must show particular care as to defining the limits of freedom of conscience and religion as they must give particular regard to the legislation and its aim of protecting certain characteristics from discrimination in particular, sexual orientation, and religious and non-religious beliefs. One example where equality came up against freedom of religion was in the case of Hall v Bull[4]. This is a case where a same-sex couple were refused a double-bedded room by Christian hoteliers. The ruling given by Lords Neuberger and Hughes was that the couple were in fact directly discriminated against as he hoteliers were applying the criterion that their legal relationship was not that of one man and one woman, a criterion that cannot be distinguished from s exual orientation. The fact that there are a number of cases with similar rulings is more evidence that freedom of religion will not be favoured above equality, suggesting that courts are unwilling to grant conscientious exemptions. Conscientious objection has been around for many a year now, as historically humanists and religious people alike have exercised their right to refuse military service at times of conscription. One of the many ways to protect freedom of conscience and religion is by the granting of conscientious exemptions, and it is also one of the many varieties of exemption that can be granted by law[5]. This raises the question as to why the courts have not done more to protect the right to freedom of conscience and religion and grant such exemptions from equality laws. There have been a number of cases where the courts have granted conscientious exemptions, as well as being opposed to it in others. The very first case where the issue of the applicability of Article 9 (freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the Convention to conscientious objectors was in the case of Bayatyan v Armenia[6]. In this particular case, a Jehovahs Witness was initially convicted of draft evasion and sentenced to prison for refusing to perform military service for conscientious reasons, which he then appealed to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). The Court noted that a shift in the interpretation of Article 9 was necessary and that, being in the situation of the applicant, Article 9 was applicable to his case. The Court also noted that, by convicting the objector, Armenia had been in violation of Article 9 of the Convention. The Ruling in the Bayatyan case was a significant step in the direction of granting conscientious exemptions in relation to the refusal of engaging in military service. However, it is still debated as to whether courts should grant conscientious exemptions in relation to non-military services. In the case of Eweida and others[7], the complainants ( E, C, L and M) complained that the domestic law of the United Kingdom failed to protect their right to manifest their religion. In the applications of E and C, the complainants refused to remove their respective crosses as they were committed to their Christian faith. Their respective employers did not allow them to remain in their positions, with E not allowed to remain in her post while visibly wearing the cross, and C being moved to a different post which then ceased to exist. L was employed by a local authority as a registrar or births, deaths and marriages. However, as a Christian, she believed same-sex civil partnerships were contrar y to Gods law, and therefore refused to be designated as a registrar of civil partnerships, resulting in the loss of her job. M was employed by a private company with a policy of providing services to equally to opposite-sex and same-sex couples. However M refused to commit to providing counselling to same-sex couples, resulting in disciplinary proceedings being brought against him. The ruling given in the application of Eweida was that while the employer had a legitimate aim of wishing to project a certain corporate image, the domestic courts had given it too much weight[8]. However in Cs case, the judgement made was that interference with her freedom to manifest her religion was necessary in a democratic society and that there had been no breach of Article 9[9]. The reason for this was that asking her to remove the cross was of a greater magnitude than that applied in respect of E, since it was for the protection of health and safety. It was also noted that hospitals were better placed to make decisions about clinical safety than a court, especially one where no direct evidence was heard. The judgement given in the case of L was that there had been no breach of Article 14 in conjunction with Article 9 of the Convention as the local authoritys policy aimed to secure the rights of others, which were protected under the convention as well as Ls right to manifest her religion[10]. As in the case of M, the most important factor was that the employers action was intended to secure the implementation of its policy of providing a service without discrimination. This then allowed the state authorities to benefit from a wide margin of appreciation, which was not exceeded. Therefore, the ruling was that there was no breach of Article 9, taken alone or in conjunction with Article 14 of the Convention[11]. The main issue with all applications within the particular case, as with many other cases, was striking the right balance between the right to manifest ones religion and providing a service equally to everyone. Brian Barry is one theorist who holds the view that conscientious exemptions can rarely be justified and that it is hard to steer a path between the position that doing (or avoiding) X is so important that all should do it, and the alternative position that people should be free to decide for themselves whether to X[12]. This suggests that a path must be found if freedom conscience is to be taken seriously. Even more evidence to suggest that freedom of conscience will not be taken seriously in court and that the principle of equality will always trump the freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The clash between the right to thought, conscience and religion and the principle of equality has been and will be continuing for a very long time. Early evidence suggests that equality does prevail, as domestic and European courts have shown in their judgements of many human rights cases. As with the majority of cases, the complainant is usually an employee who may have been given disciplinary action by their employer. The key issue was whether there is a fair balance in each particular case and whether or not there was a wide margin of appreciation. Each case has different set of facts and what must be known is the circumstances surrounding the facts of the case e.g. was there a policy within the company that restricts one to manifest their religion, can it affect the health and safety of others, and are there other colleagues who wear religious materials but were not disciplined. As courts have shown to be more towards equality, and the fact that one case is completely different t o another, conscientious exemptions should not be granted as judicial remedy. However, whilst conscientious objection is as of now a right under Article 9 of the Convention[13] in relation to refusing to engage is warfare, it is still not explicitly stated so therefore such exemptions from equality laws should not be granted as judicial remedy. Bibliography Cases Bayatyan v Armenia (2012) 54 EHRR 15 Eweida and others v United Kingdom (2013) 57 EHRR 8 Hall v Bull[2013] UKSC 73 Lee v McArthur [2016] NICA 39 Legislations Equality Act 2010 EU Treaties Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, as amended) (ECHR) art 9 Books B Barry, Culture and Equality (2001) 46, 50 (as cited in Yossi Nehustan, Religious Conscientious Exemptions (2011) 30 Law and Phil. 143) Journal Articles Yossi Nehustan, Religious Conscientious Exemptions (2011) 30 Law and Phil. 143 [1] Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights, as amended) (ECHR) art 9 [2] Lee v McArthur [2016] NICA 39 [3] Equality Act 2010 [4] Hall v Bull[2013] UKSC 73 [5] Yossi Nehustan, Religious Conscientious Exemptions (2011) 30 Law and Phil. 143 [6] Bayatyan v Armenia (2012) 54 EHRR 15 [7] Eweida and others v United Kingdom (2013) 57 EHRR 8 [8] Eweida (n 7) [94-95] [9] Eweida (n 7) [99-100] [10] Eweida (n 7) [106] [11] Eweida (n 7) [109-110] [12] B Barry, Culture and Equality (2001) 46, 50 (as cited in Yossi Nehustan, Religious Conscientious Exemptions (2011) 30 Law and Phil. 143) [13] (ECHR) art 9 (n 1) Atrial Fibrillation: Basic Pathophysiology Atrial Fibrillation: Basic Pathophysiology Introduction Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of cardiac arrhythmia; it involves the two upper chambers of the heart known as the atria. During atrial fibrillation the normal pulses generated by the sinoatrial node are overcome by the electrical pulses that are generated in the atria and pulmonary veins, which leads to irregular impulses being conducted to the ventricles, and therefore irregular heartbeats are generated. AF is identified by rapid and oscillatory waves that vary in amplitude, shape and timing instead of regular P-waves. Electrocardiograms are therefore used commonly to diagnose AF in patients. Arterial Fibrillation can present asymptomatically meaning that it can present in a patient but show no symptoms, it is considered to be non life threatening in many cases although it can result in heart palpitations, fainting, chest pain and in chronic cases congestive heart failure. The risk of stroking is also increased due to the fact that blood may pool and form clots in poorly contracting atria. Patients with AF are usually given blood-thinning medication such as warfarin to stop clots forming. Atrial fibrillation can occur in the absence of structural heart disease, known as lone AF, although this only occurs in approx. 15% of cases. Commonly AF is associated with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, coronary artery disease, pulmonary disease, valvular heart disease and coronary heart failure. Basic Pathophysiology of Atrial Fibrillation Atrial fibrillation usually begins with increased premature atrial contractions (ectopic beats) progressing to brief runs of atrial fibrillation usually that are usually self-terminating, over time these episodes can increase in duration and sometimes become persistent. During this progression structural changes in the atria occur as well as biochemical changes in the atrial myocytes. Pathophysiological adaptation of the atria to fibrillation has been broadly termed remodeling. More specifically, the changes primarily affecting the excitability and electrical activity of the atrial myocytes have been termed electrophysiological remodeling. The primary change in the structure of the atria is fibrosis, which is usually considered to be due to the atrial dilation, although in some cases genetic influences and inflammation can also be a cause. In 1990 Sanfilippo stated that atrial dilation was not a consequence of AF although more recently in 2005 Osranek stated that atrial dilation was not a consequence of AF. Dilation is due to almost any structural abnormality of the heart, such as hypertension, valvular heart disease and congestive heart failure; this structural abnormality causes a rise in intra-cardiac pressures. Demonstrating the strong relationship between atrial fibrillation and structural heart disease. Once dilation does occur it begins sequences of events that lead to the activation of the rein aldosterone angiotensin system and a subsequent increase in matrix metaloproteinases and disintegrin, leading to remodeling of the atria and fibrosis. Fibrosis is not limited to muscle mass of the atria, it can occur in sinus node and atroventricular node also, relating to sinus node dysfunction (sick sinus syndrome). During normal electrical conduction of the heart the SA node generates a pulse that propagates to and stimulates the muscle of the heart (myocardium), when stimulated the myocardium contracts. The order of stimulation is what causes correct contraction of the heart, allowing the heart to function correctly. During atrial fibrillation the impulse produced by the SA node is overcome by rapid electrical discharges produced in the atria and adjacent parts of the pulmonary veins. When AF progresses from paroxysmal to persistent the sources of these conflictions increase and localise in the atria. Principles of Catheterization and Ablation The fundamental aim of catheter ablation is to eliminate ectopic beats that arise most often in the pulmonary veins and less often in the superior vena cova and coronary sinus. This is accomplished through catheter insertion into blood veins in order to reach the heart, isolation of abnormal heart tissue and ablation of this abnormal heart tissue through the use of radiofrequency, cryoblation or high intensity focused ultrasound. Rate Control and Rhythm Control Despite ablative techniques and antiarrhythmic drugs available, management of common rhythm disturbance remains a problem. Rate control is the preferred treatment for permanent atrial fibrillation and for some patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, if they are either over 65 years of age or have coronary heart disease. Rate control is usually done through the use of pharmaceutical drugs (usually beta blockers or rate limiting calcium channel blockers) in order to slow ventricular heart rate and stop the atria from fibrillating. Rhythm control is most commonly used for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and in some cases of persistent atrial fibrillation if the patient is either less than 65 years of age, has lone atrial fibrillation or congestive heart failure. Rhythm control is usually achieved through the use of either a cardioversion (electrically or pharmacological) or the use of pharmaceutical drugs (usually beta blockers) in order to maintain sinus rhythm. T his treatment is needed for a longer time in order to stop reoccurrence of atrial fibrillation. [http://www.cks.nhs.uk/atrial_fibrillation/management/detailed_answers/first_or_new_presentation_of_af/rate_or_rhythm_control#-391784). Atrial fibrillation is treated most commonly pharmaceutically although if the drugs cannot control the AF or if the patient is having a bad reaction to the medication, catheter ablation therapy allows for greater control of heart rate and rhythm than drug therapy although it does present more risk to the patient. Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Electrically isolating arhythmogenic thoracic veins is the most important aspect of this procedure. The application of radiofrequency energy to an endocardial surface is used to cause cellular electrical destruction with the loss of cellular electrical properties, essentially the destruction of abnormal electrical activity [39,40]. This technique can be enhanced through the use of larger ablation electrodes, [41-46] allowing the creation of deeper lesions. During the procedure a physician will map the area to locate abnormal electrical activity, this is facilitated through the use of electroanatomic mapping system (fig 2) allowing for better navigation when the catheter is inserted into the artery. Reported success of radiofrequency ablation is dependent on the severity of the condition and ranges from 65% to 85% and patients presenting with complications is 5%.[cryostat] Cryoblation The most used format of cryoblation is the cryoballoon approach. This involves a deflectable a deflectable over-the-wire catheter with an inner and outer balloon inserted, allowing for anatomical variance this balloon is available in two sizes (23mm and 28mm). The guidewire is positioned in the distal part of the pulmonary vein, the deflated balloon is then progressed to the pulmonary vein ostium. Using the central balloon marker the balloon position is then estimated before inflation, once the desired position is found the balloon is inflated; pressurized N20 is then delivered to the tip of the catheter via an ultrafine injection tube down a central lumen in the inner balloon, working like an expansion chamber. Sudden expansion of the liquid gas causes evaporation and absorption of heat from tissue and low temperatures are then achieved (Approx -80dc). An occlusion angiogram is then performed in the central lumen of the catheter to ensure good balloon pulmonary vein contact. Cryobla tion is then started for at least five minutes under the condition that optimum pulmonary venous occlusion is achieved. The most important issue when using this technique is to establish optimum contact between the pulmonary vein antrum and the balloon. High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) High intensity ultrasound is used in percutaneous ablation of atrial fibrillation through the use of a steerable balloon catheter. The high intensity focused ultrasound balloon is positioned at the ostium of the pulmonary veins and forms a sonicating ring to ablate pulmonary vein antrum when high intensity focused ultrasound is delivered. An arrhythmia-free rate of 59%-75% was achieved by HIFU balloon in several studies investigating its effectiveness in atrial fibrillation ablation.15-17 Commercially Available Devices and Systems Medtronic GENius Multichannel RF Generator This generator is used for the creation of endocardial lesions during cardiac ablation procedures for the treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias. The generator delivers temperature-controlled radiofrequency energy, utilizing five radiofrequency energy mode selections: bipolar only, unipolar only, and combination energy mode selections of 4:1, 2:1, and 1:1. This system must be used with a catheter that is single use and sold separately to the device. The generator automatically recognizes the attached Cardiac Ablation Catheter and loads preset default temperature, time, and energy mode setting parameters. Ablation parameters such as ablation duration, energy mode, target temperature and channels can also be manually selected. Medtronic Cardiac CryoAblation Device The CryoConsole contains both electrical and mechanical components as well as exclusive software for controlling and recording a cryotherapy procedure. This system requires catheters that are purchased separately such as Medtronics Artic front cryoablation catheter (Fig. 3). This system stores and controls the delivery of the liquid refrigerant through the coaxial umbilical to the catheter, recovers the refrigerant vapor from the catheter under constant vacuum, and disposes of the refrigerant through the hospital scavenging system. Multiple features are built into both the CryoConsole system and catheters to ensure safety. Epicor Cardiac Ablation System Price The Epicor LP Cardiac Ablation System delivers High Intensity Focused Ultrasound using algorithms designed to precisely deliver energy up to 10mm. Unlike the other treatments high intensity focused ultrasound has the ability to create lesions from the inside out, depositing energy at the endocardium first and then building the lesion back up to the surface. The ability to focus HIFU cardiac ablation energy helps reduce the risk of tissue disruption, charring and collateral damage as well as overcome procedural limitations that have historically been associated with other ablation technologies. Conclusion In terms of ablation the umbrella terminology of Atrial Fibrillation does not take into account the complex nature of the disease. If a patient presents with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation they may only require a single catheter to be used, however if this condition becomes more continuous/chronic the patient may require multiple catheters and 3D navigational software. The three techniques described in this report appear to be similar in terms of their success rate, radiofrequency and cryoablation have a success rate of approx. 65-85% while High intensity focused ultrasound has a success rate of approx. 59-75%, this perhaps indicates that high intensity focused ultrasound may not be as effective in treating atrial fibrillation as radiofrequency and cryoablation although it is worth noting that these figures are taken from different research studies at different times and involve different patients that could be presenting greater or lesser a severity of atrial fibrillation.

Developing High Quality Multimedia Products

Developing High Quality Multimedia Products Introduction: The increasing development of computer science including the web design in parallel to the huge revelation of media has resulted to an increase in multimedia content at the final product presented to the user (Martin Lynch, 2003). From this statement, we can immediately see the important role the multimedia is playing in our lives. We can hardly find a business product or a technical application that does not contain a multimedia content at the user interface level, in this paper we will be stating the best approach and methodology for Creating a high quality multimedia product with successful user interface. This methodology consists of including some important phases in the development process such as : Quality assurance, risk management and validation and verification, in order to get a maximum quality product ( sherwood Rout , 1998 ) and a content that is not noisy. Furthermore, to reach this objective, developers are obliged to consider the Human Computer Interaction discipline, in order to get interactive computer systems for human use (Hewett et al, (n.d.)). Concerning the evaluation of the final product, the multimedia interface needs to be evaluated on its usability and its purity, simplicity and beauty (Martin, Bolissian pimenidis, 2003). To recapitulate what we have said above, multimedia industry is facing many problems, such as â€Å" Noise â€Å" , developers are obliged to follow the a methodology and take in a serious consideration the human computer interaction discipline in order to overcome the bug of â€Å" Noisy multimedia product â€Å". Multimedia The first question one may ask when we talk about multimedia is, What is Multimedia ? Multimedia is, In short, the usage of different form of media put together in one seamlessly combined context. However, the definition of this word has been a problematic issue among scientists; the artists see it as a means of expression, a way of transmitting the information to the others. Whereas technologists have defined the word â€Å" multimedia † as a group of means that let the media to be obtained, represented, delivered and displayed. ( Mckerrow, 2005 ) . Multimedia has become a big essential part of our daily lives, as practically all types of information we exchange are categorized under multimedia from music to Tv to presentations to magazines to web sites. Multimedia development has been in permanent growth, this important field in the information technology incorporates expertise and knowledge from software engineering, business environment and the multimedia interface; In oth er words, multimedia is involved in the fields of computers, communications and the media. Having defined multimedia, let us now talk about a key factor in designing high quality multimedia products. Human Computer Interaction ( HCI ) Human Computer Interaction can be defined as the science concerned with the â€Å" plan and design â€Å", evaluation and implementation of computer systems that have user interface (Hewett et al, (n.d.)). The multimedia user interface has a very important role in deciding whether the multimedia content has been successful or not, because if the interface is usable and elegant the multimedia application will be achieving a big part of its objectives , such as being noiseless. Evaluation of multimedia products As multimedia is a vast domain and is involved in all domains, the evaluation of multimedia applications has never been an easy task, there are different aspects to look at when measuring the success of any multimedia application, for instance, the designer has to look to the business aspect and see whether his product is still demanded by customers, and does his product still meet all the requirements. In the visual design or web sites, success lies under the leanness concept (Martin, Bolissian pimenidis, 2003). The evaluation of multimedia product is hard and needs a structured framework, one should follow the coming framework to get his product well evaluated: Does the project accomplish the task was designed for ? Is the user happy with it ? Is the application reliable ? Is the application complete ? Can the user interact with the application in the best manner ? Can the system respond to any sudden changes ? Are the users served with only the exact requested information ? Can the system respond to all the stakeholders requirements (Martin, Bolissian pimenidis, 2003). Another important notion in the evaluation of a multimedia product is the term â€Å" Quality Of Service â€Å" ( QOS ). With the â€Å" Quality Of Service â€Å" we can measure how high quality is the multimedia application. According to Vogel et al ( 1994 ) Quality of service is those parameters of a multimedia application that influence the presentation of the content of the multimedia system to the user. In short, Quality of service is the customers satisfaction with the multimedia product. To sum up, The evaluation of the multimedia application and the Quality of service, which shows the users satisfaction with the product, are very important for the developers to design a high quality multimedia systems. Noise Noise is the first enemy of multimedia products producers, as it is very hard to control and it is unexpected problem. To ensure that our multimedia application is not noisy or to get a high quality product we, as developers, have to follow a structured methodology for multimedia systems development. Before we get into this methodology, let us see what noise is, and what existing solutions are to have noiseless multimedia content. In general, noise is known in the electronic and telecommunication field, when transmitting some data in a telecommunication system using a wire, we call any loss of data that may occur, Noise. The piece of information to be sent is ciphered and then sent to its destination ( the user for instance ) when it is received the data is deciphered and then read, any difference between the source message and the resulted message is due to the data loss and it is called â€Å" Noise â€Å" . To make sure that the data received is the same as the original one, computer programmers have added some codes that detect and correct errors to the original message (Martin Lynch, 2003). This solution seems to be effective and successful as it is still being used by telecommunication peoples and networking programmers. But what about Noise in multimedia ? ? ? which is more complicated to get rid of. In multimedia information systems and multimedia product, Noise can be defined as any inappropriate piece of information or content that is received by the user with regard to the content, structure of display, time of display, accuracy and in functionality and navigation. Basically , Noise occurs when the usability rules are not taken in consideration (Martin Lynch, 2003). Having defined noise, now, developers need to have a scale so that they can know at what extent their products are noisy or are noiseless, Martin Lynch,( 2003) have done it for us, Here is the recapitulation of their nice work : At first, multimedia is involved in a wide context. To well evaluate multimedia product we need to consider users opinion and do not be satisfied only by the view of visual designers and human computer interaction (HCI) designers. To know how noisy your multimedia system is, you must know the profile and the requirements of all the stakeholders. The system should adhere to the usability rules required by the stakeholders in term of meeting the objectives the system was designed for, with consideration to the computing infrastructure and the location where the multimedia system is operating. The framework for evaluating Noise in multimedia product: Stakeholders : does the system provide the users with only the needed information ? Visual design : is the user interface nice? Usabilty : is the multimedia system easy to use ? Information : is the data given correct ? is it on time ? is it the needed information ? Fit with computing devices : do the computing infrastructures give the results needed with the needed details ? Location : do the infrastructures of the system work in all the places. The need for a methodology to avoid â€Å" Noise â€Å" in multimedia products Multimedia industry is growing more rapidly than expected, high quality product and the gain of the users satisfaction has become now a prime consideration. To reach those objectives, developers must create noiseless multimedia systems. Before, the problem was in the method of production and in the way of thinking of developers and designers, as they used to look to what is being developed rather than looking to how is being developed ( sherwood Rout , 1998 ) . Recently, Multimedia producers have defined a methodology for the development of the multimedia products which leads to a Pure and Simple interface that are â€Å" noiseless â€Å" . Developers can benefit from adopting this well defined approach and a rigorous methodology many advantages such as : the quality of the product will be improved, and the staff will be guided and supported by templates and exemplars ( sherwood Rout , 1998 ) . Brief description of the methodology : The structured approach explained above, can be a benchmark which will help in the increase of the productivity and the quality of the multimedia product ( sherwood Rout , 1998 ) . This methodology brings some innovating ideas and tools. It brings new models of practice and it provides the staff of a multimedia project with templates and models which can be used to create a high quality multimedia products. This methodology, as Sherwood Rout ( 1998 ), have stated, includes six phases of multimedia development: Initiation : during this phase the general planning is done. Specifications : during this phase they test the feasibility and the usability of the Project. Design : during this phase the stakeholders are defined, and solution to perspective problems are found. Production : during this phase the final product will be finalizing. Review and Evaluation : during this phase a critical examination of the final product is done. Delivery and Implementation. during this phase the client is introduced to accept and sign the agreement to finalize the product. The power and the strength of this method is the incorporation of the quality assurance throughout all the development phases, which is a new way and very efficient one to get a noiseless product. Each phase of the previous ones, is divided into three main activities: Development Management : deal with legal issues and risk management Support : quality assurance , validation and verification. Further Issues : Well evaluate the multimedia product and well design it following a structured methodology, is the solution to design noiseless multimedia products. This is what we have given to the readers through this paper. But the problem with this solution is it is just a theoretical process in which the successful result does not follow in all cases. Because in the practical world nothing is perfect, bugs and mistakes have always existed. So in multimedia world also nothing is perfect ( noiseless ). I suggest that rather than trying to develop noiseless multimedia products, developers should try creating applications in which noise is minimized. It is better for both the user and the producer. Conclusion : The multimedia product has been evolving without cease in the last years due to the big importance of this field in the information technology. To have better multimedia systems, developers have to design carefully by including in this process many important points. The most important factor in designing not noisy multimedia product is to follow the structured methodology discussed above. Furthermore, producers or developers should think in the interface of the Human Computer Interaction and work out to develop a usable interface and aesthetic application. In my opinion, I see that if the usability rules are adhered, the developers will have a big step to reach their goal to create â€Å" Noiseless â€Å" multimedia application. But as we know multimedia is a vast domain and the main problem that developers are facing is : The perfect noiseless multimedia product can be developed only theoretically, as in the practical world we, always have some unwanted and unexpected errors and b ugs that make the system noisy. Now, its we who ask this question : â€Å" can we perform such applications in the real word ? ? ? â€Å". References: Hewett, Baecker, Card, Carey, Gasen, Mantei, Perlman, Strong and Verplank (2008), ACM SIGCHI Curricula for Human-Computer Interaction content available at : http://sigchi.org/cdg/cdg2.html#2_1 Martin, S., Bolissian, J., Pimenidis, E., (2003) ‘PURE and SIMPLE: a framework for the evaluation of Multimedia products School of computing and technology, university of east London,Uk Martin, S. and Lynch, J., (2003) ‘VISUAL: a framework for the evaluation of visual ‘noise in multimedia interface School of computing and technology, university of east London,Uk McKerrow, P., (2005) ‘Teaching content creation with programing, IEEE computer society 2005, university of Wollongong, Australia. Sherwood, C., and Rout, T., (1998) ‘a structured methodology for multimedia product and systems development, School of Computing and Information Technology, Griffith University, Australia. Vogel, A. Kerherv, B., Bochmann, G. and Gecsei, J., (1994) ‘Distributed Multimedia Applications and Quality of Service, Universite de Montreal 1994, Canada.

Rappaccinis Daughter - Ambiguous Essay -- Rappaccinis Daughter Essay

Rappaccini’s Daughter  Ã‚  Ã‚  -   Ambiguous  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Hawthorne’s Rappaccini’s Daughter is a Gothic romance and a thwarted, almost-allegory with a plethora of ambiguous meanings. As Hawthorne identifies in the previous quote, this story is a blatant parallel towards the story of Original Sin. The issue, then, lies in the representation. Who is playing Adam and Eve? Who is Satan and who is God? At first glance it is easy to assume that the two love birds, Giovanni and Beatrice, are Adam and Eve; while Beatrice’s black cloaked father is Satan, and God is either an omniscient overseer, represented in nature, or absent from the story all together. However, Hawthorne begins the endless possibilities of role assignments by suggesting that Beatrice’s father, the diabolic scientist, Rapaccinni, could be Adam. "It was strangely frightful to the young man’s imagination, to see this air of insecurity in a person cultivating a garden, that most simple and innocent of human toils, and which had been alike the joy and labor of the unfallen parents of the race. Was this garden, then, the Eden of the present world?---and this man, with such a perception of harm in what his own hands caused to grow, was he the Adam?" (1232) Hawthorne’s "Rappaccini’s Daughter" is a Gothic romance and a thwarted, almost-allegory with a plethora of ambiguous meanings. As Hawthorne identifies in the previous quote, this story is a blatant parallel towards the story of Original Sin. The issue, then, lies in the representation. Who is playing Adam and Eve? Who is Satan and who is God? At first glance it is easy to assume that the two love birds, Giovanni and Beatrice, are Adam and Eve; while Beatrice’s black cloaked father is Satan, and God is either an omniscient ov... ...y evil character as Iago and to simultaneously be compared to a type of Christ. "Rappaccini’s Daughter" contrasts nature to science. Rappaccini and Baglioni are scientists, Giovanni is studying it and Beatrice is a victim of it. Nature, in it’s romantic form, does not exist in this tale. Rappaccini’s garden is about as natural as walking into the plastic flower department of a craft store and commenting on the bold colors and illustrious blooms. It might look magnificent from the window of Giovanni’s abode, but it was crafted by man, not nature. Rappaccini takes "nature" a step further by making something as natural and pure as life, twisted and synthetic. Nature has become perverse and contorted by science. Works Cited: Hawthorne, Nathaniel. Rappaccini's Daughter, included in Heath Anthology of American Literature; Houghton Mifflin Co., New York, 1998.

The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Essay -- God Small Things Aru

The God Of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Before going into the theatre â€Å"to see The Sound of Music for the third time† (35), Estha â€Å"[completes] his first adult assignment† (93). He goes to the bathroom on his own, while Ammu, Baby and Rahel accompany each other to the ladies room. This little detail about going to use the restroom foreshadows another instance where Estha will be forced from being a child into manhood. Ammu tells Estha to â€Å"shut UP!!† (96) because he was singing along to the words of the movies. Instead of shutting up, he leaves the theatre on his own account, because â€Å"he couldn’t help† (96) but sing along to the words he knew. After completing his first adult assignment, his childlikeness comes out in having to sing the lyrics in â€Å"a nun’s voice† (96). He did not know that this act of immaturity, in acting his own age, he would be shoved into yet another adult assignment, something that he kept as a small thing, but ended up as a Big Thing inside him. The Orangedrink Lemondrink Man scolded Estha for â€Å"[disturbing]† (97) him with his song. As soon as he is done scolding him, his â€Å"yellow piano key† (97) teeth offered him a free drink. As Estha came, the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man already knew what he had in store for Estha. The Man asked him questions, and Estha, being a man and a child, had to answer. Where did he live? What did his family do? The Man â€Å"handed Estha his penis† (98) and made Estha masturbate him while he drank his lemon drink, and he had to, because the Man â€Å"knew where to find [him]† (104). After the Man was done with Estha, he sent him back into the theatre. Estha knew from this time that he would be love a little less if anyone knew what he had done with the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man. So he told no one. But in his head, a conversation was taking place between himself and Baron von Trapp, the father in The Sound of Music. Would von Trapp love him even though he was not white? Even though he â€Å"[blew] spit bubbles†¦[shivered] his legs†¦ held a strangers’ soo-soos?† (101). Was he still acceptable to obtain a Baba’s love? He knew that it was â€Å"out of the question. [He could not] love them† (102). No father could ever love him. They leave the theatre because Estha the child, Estha the man, is sick. When they exit the theatre, the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man smiles at Rahel and offers her candy. She goes toward him, and is... ...lowing it to be made into another myth or to be erased by the present. The time was â€Å"painted† on to the wrist-watch that was buried under the History House. When that watch was left to become one with the grass and the dirt, it captured many things. It made time stand still. It took away the desire to speak. This affected Ammu and Estha in everlasting ways. Ammu went mad before she died. Ammu treated Rahel as though she were still seven, when she was actually eleven, saying, â€Å"It was as though [she] believed that if she refused to acknowledge the passage of time, if she willed it to stand still in the lives or her twins, it would† (152). Estha changed dramatically as well. When â€Å"childhood tiptoed out† and â€Å"silence slid in like a bolt† (303), they went to where the watch was, buried with Ammu’s mind. In the ground of the History house, the time would remain at â€Å"ten to two† (121). Ten to two; two small people against ten big people. Rahel and Estha â€Å"trapped in†¦ a story† (224) against Mamachi, Baby, Chacko, Margret, Sophie, Ammu, Velutha, Kochu Maria, Pillai, and the Orangedrink Lemondrink Man. Ten. Ten to Two. Where the God of Small Things, â€Å"if he fought he couldn’t win† (207).

Charlotte Brontes Jane Eyre - Miss Temples Influence on Jane Eyre :: Jane Eyre Essays

Miss Temple's Influence on Jane Eyre "Jane Eyre" is set during the Victorian period, at a time where a women's role in society was restricted and class differences distinct. A job as a governess was one of the only few respectable positions available to the educated but impoverished single women. Not only is "Jane Eyre" a novel about one woman's journey through life, but Brontë also conveys to the reader the social injustices of the period, such as poverty, lack of universal education and sexual inequality. Jane's plight and her "dependant" status is particularly emphasized at the beginning of the novel. Miss Temple is the kind and fair-minded superintendent of Lowood School, who plays an important role in the emotional development of Jane Eyre. Miss Temple is described by Helen as being "good and very clever" and "above the rest, because she knows far more than they do". This description is more significant because it has been said by Helen, and she herself is extremely mature. One of Miss Temple's most outstanding qualities is her ability to command (perhaps unconsciously) respect from everyone around her, "considerable organ of veneration, for I yet retain the sense of admiring awe with which my eyes traced her steps". Even during their first encounter Jane is "impressed"... "by her voice, look and air". Throughout Jane's stay at Lowood, Miss Temple frequently demonstrates her human kindness and compassion for people. An Example of this is when after noticing that the burnt porridge was not eaten by anyone, she ordered a lunch of bread and cheese to be served to all, realising their hunger. This incident is also evidence of her courage, of how she is not afraid to stand up to her superior, when she feels that too much unnecessary suffering has been inflicted on the children Miss Temple's Christianity contrasts with that of Mr Brocklehurst, where instead of preaching restrictive and depressing doctrine, which he then proceeds to contradict, she encourages the children by "precept and example". After the incident involving Mr Brocklehurst announcing to the whole school that Jane is a liar, the reader becomes aware of Miss Temple's sense of natural justice, where before accepting what Mr Brocklehust has said, she inquires from Jane her version. It is of no coincidence that Brontë choose to coincide Miss Temple's arrival into the schoolroom with the moon's light "streaming in through a window near".

Vygotsky’s Views On Cognitive Development Complements Piaget’s

Methods and approaches to teaching have been greatly influenced by the research of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Both have contributed to the field of education by offering explanations for children's cognitive learning styles and abilities. This essay will discuss how rather than being an alternative, Vygotsky’s views on cognitive development complements Piaget’s. Initially, the term cognitive will be defined before having a look at Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and subsequently analyzing how Vygotsky’s views complement Piaget’s.Flanagan (1996:72) states that, ‘Cognitive development is the acquisition of mental process involved in thinking and mental activity, such as attention, memory and problem solving. ’ It is therefore a totality of mental processes. Piaget and Vygotsky were both influential in forming a more scientific approach to analyzing the cognitive development process of the child active construction of knowledge . While Piaget and Vygotsky may differ on how they view cognitive development in children, both offer educators good suggestions on how to teach certain material in a developmentally appropriate manner.Both Piaget and Vygotsky agreed that children's cognitive development took place in stages. (Jarvis, Chandler 2001 P. 149). However they were distinguished by different styles of thinking. Piaget was the first to reveal that children reason and think differently at different periods in their lives. He believed that all children progress through four different and very distinct stages of cognitive development. This theory is known as Piaget’s Stage Theory because it deals with four stages of development, which are sensori-motor, preoperational, concrete operational and formal operational (Ginsburg, Opper,1979:26).In the first stage sensori-motor, which occurs from birth to the age of two is the time in an infant’s life when the child basically deals with what is presented to him. They learn about physical objects and are concerned with motor skills and the consequences of some of their actions (Thomson and Meggit, 1997:107). During this stage children will learn the concept of object permanence. This is where an object will continue to exist even if it is out of sight. (Ginsburg, Opper 1979 P. 48) For instance if the toy fell off the bed, the child will begin to look for it because he understands it continues to exist.The preoperational stage last from two to seven years. In this stage it becomes possible to carry on a conversation with a child and they also learn to count and use the concept of numbers. This stage is divided into the preoperational phase and the intuitive phase. Children in the preoperational phase are preoccupied with verbal skills and try to make sense of the world but have a much less sophisticated mode of thought than adults. In the intuitive phase the child moves away from drawing conclusions based upon concrete experiences wi th objects.One problem, which identifies children in this stage, is the inability to cognitively conserve relevant spatial information. This is when, when a material is manipulated and no longer matches the cognitive image that a child has made, that child believes the amount of material has been altered instead of just its shape. (Jarvis and Chandler,2001:135) During the Concrete Operational stage from ages seven to ten, children of this age are in school and they begin to deal with abstract concepts such as numbers, relationships and how to reason.They can now group certain things into categories, and put objects into size order, number order, and any other types of systematic ordering. There is a form of logical reasoning and thinking. Using logic, the child is capable of reversibility and conservation, which is the understanding of that mental operations and physical operations, can be reversed. They are now beginning to understand other people’s perspectives and views an d are capable of concentrating on more than one thing at a time.In this stage a person can do mental operations but only with real concrete objects, events or situations (Jarvis and Chandler, 2001:139). Finally, in the formal operational stage, age twelve to fifteen, the child has become more adult-like in their thought structures and processes. They begin to reason logically, systematically and hypothetically. (Jarvis, Chandler 2001 P. 139). In other words, they can imagine things that do not exist or that they have never experienced.This stage is generally like the preceding stage but at a more advanced level. The formal operational person is capable of meta-cognition, that is, thinking about thinking. Piaget also theorized on Adaptation, and Development. The adaptation theory (also known as the Constructivist theory) involved three fundamental processes, which contributed to the child’s cognitive development. These are assimilation, accommodation, and equilibrium. Assimila tion involved the incorporation of new events into pre-existing cognitive structures.Accommodation is the adjustment involved in the formation of new mental structures needed to accommodate new information. Equilibration involved the person striking a balance between him and the environment, between assimilation and accommodation. When a child experienced a new event, disequilibrium set in until he was able to assimilate and accommodate the new information and thus attain equilibrium. There were many different types of equilibrium between assimilation and accommodation, which varied with the levels of development and the problems, which needed to be solved.  (Thomson and Meggit 1997:105)This dual process, assimilation-accommodation, enabled the child to form schema, and with each stage there came new methods for organizing knowledge together with the acquisition of new schema. Schemas are â€Å" Form action plans which guide us in understanding what is going on around us† ( Hayes b. P. 15) These are similar to responses but imply more cognitive processes. A schema includes ideas, information, actions and plans. People can learn by adopting new schemes or combine smaller already present schemes to create new larger ones.  (Hayes a. 1999 P. 98)In contrast of Piaget, Vygotsky, a Russian psychologist and philosopher in the 1930’s, is most often associated with the social constructivist theory and came into three general claims; Culture – which is that higher mental functioning in the individual emerged out of social processes. Secondly Language – which human social and psychological processes are fundamentally shaped by cultural tools. Lastly the developmental method Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) which is the concept that the potential of the child is limited to a specific time span.  (Jarvis, Chandler 2001 P. 149-150).Vygotsky believed that it was adults and the Childs peers, which had the responsibility in sharing their grea ter collective knowledge with the younger generations. (Jarvis, Chandler 2001:149-150). This type of learning supports a discovery model of learning and places the teacher in an active role while the students’ mental abilities develop naturally through various paths of discovery. Vygotsky argued that through social activities children learnt cultural ‘tools’ and social inventions.These included language, rules, counting systems, writing, art, and music. Language for Vygotsky was a system of symbolic representation, which had been perfected over many previous generations and allowed the child to â€Å"abstract† the world. It provides the symbols for the child's equations concerning the world; Language came into three separate categories, which were Social, Egocentric, and Inner. For Vygotsky language was what made thinking even a possibility. Language is the difference between thinking on an elementary level and on a higher level.According to Vygotsky's the ory ‘ZPD’ had to do with a child’s current and potential abilities to do something (Flanagan 1999 P. 72). He believed that problem-solving tasks could be placed into three categories, which were as follows: (a) those performed independently by the student â€Å"independent performance† (b) those that could not be performed even with help; and (c) those that fall between the two, the tasks that can be performed with help from others â€Å"assisted performance† (Santrock, 1994).Vygotsky believed the concept of ‘ZPD’ recommended a better move towards to education and allowed a better understanding of the learning process. (Flanagan 1999 P. 73) Bruner built on Vygotsky's idea of the ZPD, by introducing what he described as scaffolding. Scaffolding is the help, which is given to a child that supports the child's learning. Scaffolding is similar to scaffolding around a building; it can be taken away after the need for it has ended. When a chi ld is shown how to do something he can now accomplish this task on its own.  (Jarvis and Chandler 2001 P. 154).Vygotsky believed that the history of the child and the history of the child’s culture needed to be understood because it overrides the cognitive schema process that Piaget described (Santrock, 1994). Piaget believed that the sequence of how children experience the stages was universal, but acknowledged the rate at which each child moved through these stages was flexible and relative upon factors such as maturity, social influences, and other factors.Because of the difference in the skills needed for each level, Piaget believed that children should not be forced into learning the knowledge of the next stage until the child was cognitively ready. (Flanagan 1999:105) However, Vygotsky believed that instruction came before development and that instruction lead the learner into ZPD. Piaget and Vygotsky had many contrasting views which included Piaget believing that cog nitive changes precede linguistic advances, unlike Vygotsky who proposed that language allowed the child a far greater freedom of thought and lead to further cognitive development.  (Flanagan 1999 P. 59)Piaget believed in the development of thinking and that language moved from individual too social (Ginsburg, Opper 1979 P. 84). However, Vygotsky believed that language moved from the social to the individual. (Jarvis and Chandler,2001:150). Vygotsky, like Piaget, believed the relationship between the individual and the social as being a necessary relational. However, Vygotsky believed that it was adults and the Childs peers, which had the responsibility in sharing their greater collective knowledge with the younger generations.He did not believe it was possible for a child to learn and to grow individually and the culture and the environment around the child played a big part in their Cognitive Development. (Flanagan 2001 P. 72). He also believed a child was unable to develop the way he or she had without learning from others in the environment in which they were raised. In contrast, Piaget maintained that children were naturally inquisitive about their own abilities and about their environment (Jarvis, Chandler 2001 P. 129) and that children advanced their knowledge because of biologically regulated cognitive changes.(Flanagan 2001 P. 57). Whereas, Piaget believed that a child was only possible of learning the processes in each stage at any time (Flanagan 1999 P. 60) and overlooked the role of the child's activity with relation to thought processes. For Piaget, children construct knowledge through their actions on the world. By contrast, Vygotsky’s stages, unlike Piaget’s, were that of a smooth and gradual process. That understanding is social in origin. For Vygotsky the cultural and social aspects took on a special importance which is much less symmetrical than Piagets theories.Vygotsky was critical of Piaget's assumption that developmental g rowth was independent of experience and based on a universal characteristic of stages. Vygotsky believed that characteristics did not cease at a certain point as Piaget did. When one thing was learned, it was used from then on. It did not stop just because a child entered another stage of development. Everything was progressive. Vygotsky also disagreed with Piaget's assumption that development could not be impeded or accelerated through instruction.  (Flanagan 1999 P. 57)Vygotsky believed that intellectual development was continually evolving without an end point and not completed in stages as Piaget theorized. Piaget’s stages only approach up to, and end with, approximately age fifteen. This theory does not seem to have any major factors after approximately age fifteen. Due to experiences Piaget had over the years he changed the way he thought and modified his techniques of research to include a greater emphasis of the role of the child's activity.Vygotsky although critica l of Piaget, realized the importance of the information that Piaget had gathered and in spite of his criticisms, Vygotsky built his educational theories on the strengths of Piaget's theories. After examining Piaget’s and Vygotsky's theories on how they complement each other cognitive development there is still more which we can continue to learn and build on with both Piaget’s and Vygotsky's ideas and theories, especially when applied in education construction. Piaget proposed many applicable educational strategies, such as discovery learning with an emphasis on activity and play.However, Vygotsky incorporated the importance of social interactions and a co-constructed knowledge base to the theory of cognitive development. In conclusion, a teacher's focus should be to provide assistance to students in need, and provide cultural tools as educational resources. Teachers should provide for group and peer learning, in order for students to support each other through the dis covery process. Especially in today's diverse classroom, the teacher needs to be sensitive to her student's cultural background and language, and be an active participant in his knowledge.