Sony Research Paper

Journey of SONY : A Revolution of Walkman to I-Pod 1981 Walkman II Sony is arguably Japan's best known company and one of the world's largest and most well respected consumer-product manufacturers. Its products are world famous and sold everywhere around the globe. Surveys in early 2000s have showed that Sony was the most recognized and esteemed brand name in the United States (ahead of Coca Cola, General Motors and General Electric) and is third coolest global brand after Nike and Tommy Hilfinger among American teens. Although Sony has some of its luster since then it is still a remarkable company.Sony is the world’s No. 2 consumer electronic maker after Panasonic with around $70 billion in worldwide sales. One of Japan’s first internationally-minded companies, it has relied heavily on exports and was among the first Japanese firms to build a U. S. factory. In the 1960s, 70s and 80s it helped turned â€Å"Made in Japan† from a joke into a symbol in unsurpassed q uality. Sony has traditionally been known as a great innovator that transformed entire categories of electronics with products like the Walkman music player and PlayStation game console, and was able command premium prices for its top-quality products.Sony not only changed business and the electronic industry it also changed the world. Before it came along electronics were large bulky products that kept people sequestered in their homes. After Sony, they became small products that people they could to take with them to enhance their surroundings wherever they went. Sony topped a Harris poll for best brands for the 7th consecutive year in 2006. Dell and Coca Cola were 2nd and 3rd respectively. In 2004, it was ranked by Forbes as the 72nd largest company in the world. Sony placed 35th in the 2011 Interbrand Best Global Brands ranking. Coca Cola and IBM were No. and 2. Sony had 160,000 employees and 57 manufacturing sites as of September 2008. It has traditionally been regarded as one of the top transnational companies in terms of foreign assets and foreign employees. The goal of the company has been to apply the most advanced technology to consumer products for fun and enjoyment rather than just practical uses. Sony Walkman Walkman prototype The Walkman miniature cassette player first went on sale in July, 1979. Inspired by pocket cassette recorders designed for dictation, it changed the way we lived by making music and electronics portable, personal and mobile.It changed the lifestyles and listening habits of millions and was particularly embraced by young people, commuters and joggers. In 1986, â€Å"Walkman† was added to the Oxford English dictionary. For a while it was used as a generic term for all portable music devices. The Walkman was originally made as a prototype so that Sony co-founder Akio Morita could listen to opera on long-distance flights. The device, which was original marketed in Britain as the Stowaway, almost didn’t happen. â₠¬Å"Everybody gave me a hard time,† Morita said in his memoirs.Sony engineers and executive said it was ludicrous to sell a tape-player without a recording function. It took a while for the Walkman to catch on. Sales initially were sluggish. The Walkman has been described as Morita’s product and his greatest contribution to Sony. It was Ibuka who came up with the idea for product but Morita was the one who overcame resistance of senior Sony executives to bring the product to market. The Walkman was the right product for the right time. It was the prefect device for the me generation era and the fitness craze.Its headphone output jack was originally named â€Å"guy† and input hole â€Å"doll. † A famous Walkman ad from the 1980s featured a monkey (a Japanese macaque) listening to a Walkman with a very human-like relaxed, content expression on its face. The Walkman was followed by Watchman mini television (1982) and Discman compact disc player (1984) and hund red of imitations by competitors. As of 2004, 340 million Walkman had been sold and130 different Walkman models had been released. They included models that ran MDs and memory sticks. The first device to gain as much attention as Sony’s Walkman was Apple Ipod, released in 2004.In response to that Sony introduced a hard disk Vaio pocket and a hard disk Walkman. In October 2010, Sony announced it was cease producing conventional Walkman cassette players. They were done in by competition from MP2 players and Ipods. They lasted for 31 years. Sony and Sweden’s Ericsson produce cell phones together, mainly making mid- and high-range handsets, In recent years sales have suffered. It has profits have been around $300 million on around $4. 5 billion in sales Sony and KDDI developed a Walkman brand cell phone that downloads music Sony: How did the former gadget king lose its mojo?Before the iPod, everyone's headphones were plugged into the Sony Walkman. But as the Walkman lost i ts relevance, Sony seemed to, as well posted on April 2, 2012, at 6:25 AM Sony has faded since its classic '80s-era Walkman went out of style, but a new CEO is trying to change that. Photo: DK Limited/CORBIS Like Xerox, Kleenex, and Google, Sony's Walkman was the rare brand that was so popular it became the thing itself. The Japanese electronics giant was ubiquitous in other ways, too, and there was a time when it seemed as if everyone owned a Sony device, whether it was a television, a camcorder, or a stereo.But in the iPad age, Sony seems to have all but disappeared from the marketplace for must-have gadgets. What happened? And how can its new CEO, Kazuo Hirai, turn the company around? Here, a guide to Sony's woes: How badly is Sony struggling? It's not pretty. The company is set to post a loss of $2. 7 billion for the current fiscal year. It was worth $100 billion in 2000, but since then has lost 80 percent of its value. And it's even struggling in its native Japan, where Apple f or the first time was just voted the country's top consumer brand. Where did Sony go wrong?Sony is an enormous company, and its movie unit (which produced the Spiderman movies) and music business (which distributes Adele and Taylor Swift) post profits. In fact, its biggest moneymaker is Sony Life, an insurance company. The problem is lackluster gadgets. Consumer electronics still account for half of Sony's sales, and the company's once-unrivaled television division, for example, â€Å"is drowning in red ink,† says Matt Burns at TechCrunch. Why can't it make another Walkman? Sony's â€Å"gift for innovation† came more easily when the company was â€Å"young and streamlined, not sprawling,† says Chico Harlan at The Washington Post.Sony has become an â€Å"unwieldy multiheaded beast,† says Burns, and is simply less focused on product development. Furthermore, Sony is reluctant to take the draconian steps — firing workers, for example — that are often necessary to make companies more nimble. Like other struggling Japanese companies, Sony still adheres â€Å"to cultural expectations of lifetime employment,† says Harlan. What is Sony's new CEO planning to do? Hirai, who took the helm on April 1, is proposing a new business structure called â€Å"Sony One,† which will see the company focus on gaming, mobile devices, and digital imaging.For a company that missed out â€Å"completely on the iPod era of portable music devices,† it's hoping to â€Å"make up for lost time† with a big splash in the smartphone industry, says Devindra Hardawar at VentureBeat. Gaming is still a â€Å"cash cow† for Sony, and its digital cameras are â€Å"better† than most, so the Sony One plan seems solid. Can it make a comeback? Hirai says he's willing to take the â€Å"painful† steps it will take, says Cliff Edwards at Bloomberg Businessweek, including cutting costs. But Sony will also have to do a bet ter job of wedding its gadgets with the vast music and movie content at its disposal.Sony's â€Å"engineers were slow to weave it all together, as Apple did seamlessly with its iPod and iTunes,† says Harlan. It's an ironic twist of fate for the reigning company â€Å"Apple and Steve Jobs were aiming to dethrone 15 years ago,† says Burns. Sony's Walkman Disappears With a Whimper Few tears were shed as Sony announced plans to shelve most editions of its once ubiquitous Walkman cassette player. The now-unwieldy device, which debuted in 1979, was credited with beginning the portable music player craze and ushering the transition of music fans â€Å"from listeners into users. But many columnists, instead of penning fond farewells to the iPod's ancestor, are bidding the device good riddance, asking why it wasn't discontinued â€Å"years ago. † Still, there were a more than a few who waxed nostalgic about those tinny headphones blaring their favorite '80s tunes. A Ver y Subdued Goodbye for the Device The Wall Street Journal's Daisuke Wakabayashi wonders how the iconic device managed to disappear so inconspicuously, especially in Japan. â€Å"Perhaps there was no raucous send-off in Japan, because the Walkman has come to symbolize, fairly or unfairly, how Sony relinquished its portable music player lead to Apple Inc. s iPod on its ways to taking a backseat to Steve Job’s seemingly endless string of hits†¦. To be sure, most consumer electronics products disappear with barely a whimper†¦. However, one can not help but think the Walkman and its incredible success deserved more than a gadget’s equivalent of a gold watch and a pat on the back. † ‘The Best Symbol of the Demise of Sony' Douglas A. McIntyre at 24/7 Wall Street pens a eulogy for the Walkman and, in turn, Sony. â€Å"There will be many histories of Sony written and most will question why the company was not more aggressive to court music companies and c reate its own iTunes store. Unfortunately, McIntyre argues, â€Å"Its digital version of the Walkman came to market too late†¦. The burial of the Walkman signals the death of Sony’s own ambitions in the portable multimedia device industry. It will be a case study at business schools for decades to teach how a company can lose a market it has dominated. † It Used to Be Amazing, Today It's ‘Kind of a Joke' Talking Points Memo editor Josh Marshall briefly recalls 1979. â€Å"It wasn't just that the device was small, though it was — not that much bigger than the size of a cassette itself.It was that the headphones were so small and managed to provide — right up against your ear — a surprising degree of audio fidelity. Remember, holding a boombox up on your shoulder wasn't just an affectation. It was the only real way to listen to music on the go. † We Wouldn't Have the iPod Without It After making the requisite quips about the Walkman (â€Å"at least it outlived disco†) CNet's Greg Sandoval notes that the devices designers â€Å"likely influenced† the eventual concept of the iPod. â€Å"[Steve] Jobs took portable music to a new level, one where even [Sony] couldn't compete.Jobs wrapped his offering around a cohesive and as yet unbeatable combination of hardware, software, and digital retail. Sony knew hardware but was at best so-so in retail and a total disaster at developing software (see Sony Connect). Some have speculated that Sony's failure to keep up in a segment that the company created was one of the reasons it has given the Walkman such a quiet send off. † ‘Enough Nostalgia. Let's Recall the Bad Times. ‘ NPR's Jacob Ganz remembers the music players with little fondness. Walkman was all about smaller and cheaper: headphones were light, but breakable. You could hear your music on the go; so could everyone else, since the speakers in the headphones were so bad that you had t o crank the volume. † It also had the interesting effect of turning â€Å"music into a drug, boiled down into capsules that were lower in purity but easier to acquire and manipulate. The device itself may have been too rigid and flawed to survive changing times, but the Walkman changed us from listeners into users. † 30 facts from 30 years of the Sony WalkmanThe first Walkman was launched 30 years ago today Related stories Three decades ago today, Sony launched the Walkman in Japan. It changed how and where we listened to music and its legacy and name still continue today. To celebrate the anniversary of the launch, we've gathered together 30 facts from the last 30 years of one of tech's biggest product icons. 1. The idea for the Walkman came from Masaru Ibuka, the founder of Sony. He was a regular user of the 1978 TC-D5 portable tape recorder, but found it too heavy.He and Sony's Executive Deputy President Norio Oga challenged Nobutoshi Kihara to come up with a simple, playback-only stereo version of the small Pressman tape recorder. 2. Despite initial troubles with batteries and the strangeness of a large pair of headphones teamed with a small device, Ibuka said to Sony's Chairman Akio Morita â€Å"Don't you think a stereo cassette player that you can listen to while walking around is a good idea? † 3. Over 300 different Walkman models have now been produced. 4. Walkman was chosen as a name partly because of the popularity of Superman in 1979. 5.In early 1979, Morita held a meeting in which he held up the prototype Pressman-derived device and said the product should be manufactured and would be a hit among the young. He gave the engineering team less than four months to produce the model, which needed to launch in June. 6. Due to the short time frame, members of the engineering team had to work through the night two or three times a week. 7. The first H-AIR MDR3 headphones weighed just 50 grams at a time when most headphones were 300-400 grams. They were being developed in Sony's research labs at the time of the Walkman project. . By June 1989, a decade after the original, 50 million units had been shipped. 9. Morita ordered an initial production run of 30,000 Walkman units to be made – double the montly sales of the best-selling tape recorder. Poor initial response and sales 10. The first TPS-L2 model was shown to the press on 22 June 1979. Journalists were driven to a park, given a Walkman and were told to walk around while listening to an explanation of the Walkman in stereo. 11. However, initial press responses were very lukewarm. They believed it wouldn't take off. 2. By the end of the first month on sale only 3,000 units had been sold. 13. Retailers weren't keen on the product as they didn't think they could sell something that wouldn't record. 14. Yet, the word of the Walkman spread quickly among the young in Summer 1979. So much so that Marui Department Store placed an order for 10,000 units – even though major Japanese retail was still ignoring it. 15. The initial batch of 30,000 units sold out by the end of August and Sony had problems fulfilling orders for the rest of the year. 6. A worldwide launch was planned for six months after the Walkman's Japanese launch, but Sony subsidiaries didn't like the Walkman name. 17. Other proposed names were Soundabout in the US, Freestyle in Sweden and Stowaway in the UK. 18. But Morita went on a business trip and in both France and the UK people asked him when they would be able to get a Walkman. The name was already set in stone. 19. The latest Walkman line is the X-Series portable video player. A complete success 20.To emphasise the nature of the product, the 1979 launch event was held outside with Walkman demos in the form of people roller skating or cycling while listening to the device. 21. 100 million units were shipped by 1992. 22. In 1986 the name Walkman was included in the Oxford English Dictionary. 23. Many at Sony initia lly felt that the Walkman should be able to record, but Morita was determined to produce a playback-only unit. 24. Again, due to the short time frame, the development team was told not to worry too much about what the original Walkman looked like. 25.In the UK, the first Walkman in the UK came with stereo and two mini headphone jacks – even though it only had one pair of MDR-3L2 headphones. 26. Sony does not like Walkman to be pluralised in the traditional form – either as Walkmans or Walkmen. 27. The first Discman was launched as early as 1984 – the D-50 or D-5. Later models included ESP for shock protection. 28. 1992 saw the launch of the digital re-recordable, MiniDisc Walkman. 29. The Sports line of waterproof players was introduced in 1983. 30. Incredibly, Sony still manufacturers cassette-based Walkman players today.

Sculpture in the Indian subcontinent

Sculpture in the Indian subcontinent From Wisped, the free encyclopedia Part of a series on the Culture of India History People Languages Mythology and folklore[show] Cuisine Festivals Religion Art[show] Literature[show] Music and performing arts[show] Media[show] Sport Monuments[show] Symbols[show] Culture portal India portal Bronze Vishnu Gain figure of Thirthankarasuparshvanath, 14th century, marble One of the first representations of the Buddha, 1st-2nd century CE, Kandahar The first known sculpture in the Indian subcontinent is from the Indus Valley civilization (3300-1700 SC), found in sites at Enjoy-dare and Harp in modern- ay Pakistan. These include the famous small bronze female dancer.However such figures in bronze and stone are rare and greatly outnumbered by pottery figurines and stone seals, often of animals or deities very finely depicted. After the collapse of the Indus Valley civilization there is little record of sculpture until the Buddhist era, apart from a hoard o f copper figures of (somewhat controversially) c. 1500 BCC from Diamond. [l] Thus the great tradition of Indian monumental sculpture in stone appears to begin relatively late, with the reign of Soak from 270 to 232 BCC, and he Pillars of Shook he erected around India, carrying his edicts and topped by famous sculptures of animals, mostly lions, of which six survive. 2] Large amounts of figurative sculpture, mostly in relief, survive from Early Buddhist pilgrimage status, above all Ashcan; these probably developed out of a tradition using wood that also embraced Hinduism. [3] During the 2nd to 1st century BCC in far northern India, in the Greece-Buddhist art of Kandahar from what is now southern Afghanistan and northern Pakistan, sculptures became more explicit, representing episodes of the Buddha life and teachings. Although India had a long sculptural tradition and a mastery of rich iconography, the Buddha was never represented in human form before this time, but only through some of his symbols. This may be because Ghanaian Buddhist sculpture in modern Afghanistan displays Greek and Persian artistic influence.Artistically, the Ghanaian school of sculpture is said to have contributed wax. Y hair, drapery covering both shoulders, shoes and sandals, acanthus leaf decorations, etc. The pink sandstone Hindu, Gain and Buddhist sculptures of Mature from the 1st to 3rd centuries CE fleeted both native Indian traditions and the Western influences received through the Greece-Buddhist art of Kandahar, and effectively established the basis for subsequent Indian religious sculpture. [4] The style was developed and diffused through most of India under the Guppy Empire (c. Which remains a â€Å"classical† period for Indian sculpture, covering the earlier Lealer Caves,[5] though the Elephant Caves are probably slightly later. 6] Later large scale sculpture remains almost exclusively religious, and generally rather conservative, often reverting to simple frontal stand ing poses for deities, though the attendant spirits such as papayas and yaks often have sensuously curving poses. Carving is often highly detailed, with an intricate backing behind the main figure in high relief. The celebrated bronzes of the Chula dynasty (c. 850-1250) Portsmouth India, many designed to be carried in processions, include the iconic form of Shiva as Natural, [7] with the massive granite carvings of Manipulator dating from the previous Papilla dynasty. [8] The â€Å"dancing girl of Enjoy Dare†, 3rd millennium BCC (replica) Shook Pillar, Visalia, Briar, c. 50 BCC Stump gateway at Ashcan, c. 100 CE or perhaps earlier, with densely packed relief Hindu Guppy terracotta relief, 5th century CE, of Krishna Killing the Horse Demon Skies Buddha from Saran's, 5-6th century CE Hindu, Chula period, 1000 Marble Sculpture of female yaks in typical curving pose, c. 1450, Restaurants The Colossal tritium at the Elephant Caves Typical medieval frontal standing statue falloffs, 950-1150 In Khartoum Rock-cut temples at Lealer Copular of the Tail Natural Temple, Catamaran, Tamil Undue, densely packed with rows of painted statues Contents [hide] 1 Greece-Buddhist art 2 See also 3 Gallery 4 Notes 5 References 6 Further readingGreece-Buddhist art[edit source I editable] Greece-Buddhist art is the artistic manifestation of Greece-Buddhism, a cultural synthetics between the Classical Greek culture and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to 1000 years in Central Asia, between the conquests of Alexander the Great in the 4th century BCC, and the Islamic conquests of the 7th century CE. Greece-Buddhist art is characterized by the strong idealistic realism of Hellenic art and the first representations of the Buddha in human form, which have helped define the artistic (and particularly, sculptural) canon for Buddhist art throughout the Asian continent up to the present. Though dating is uncertain, it appears that strongly Hellenic styles lingered in the E ast for several centuries after they had declined around the Mediterranean, as late as the 5th century CE.Some aspects of Greek art were adopted while others did not spread beyond the Greece- Buddhist area; in particular the standing figure, often with a relaxed pose and one leg flexed, and the flying cupids or victories, who became popular across Asia as papayas. Greek foliage decoration was also influential, with Indian versions of the Corinthian capital appearing. 9] The origins of Greece-Buddhist art are to be found in the Hellenic Greece-Bacteria kingdom (250 BCC – 130 BCC), located in today's Afghanistan, from which Hellenic culture radiated into the Indian subcontinent with the establishment of the small Indo-Greek kingdom (180 BCC-II BCC).Under the Indo-Greeks and then the Khans, the interaction of Greek and Buddhist culture flourished in the area of Kandahar, in today's northern Pakistan, before spreading further into India, influencing the art of Mature, and then th e Hindu art of the Guppy empire, which was to extend to the rest of South-East Asia. The influence of Greece-Buddhist art also spread northward towards Central Asia, strongly affecting the art of the Atari Basin and the Dunging Caves, and ultimately the sculpted figure in China, Korea, and Japan. [10] Kandahar frieze with devotees, hallucinating leaves, in purely Hellenic style, inside Corinthian columns, 1st-2nd century CE. Bunker, Swat, Pakistan. Victoria and Albert Museum Fragment of the wind god Borers, Haddam,Afghanistan.Coin of Demerits I of Bacteria, who reigned circa 200-180 BC and invaded Northern India Buddha head from Haddam, Afghanistan, 3rd-4th centuries Kandahar Poseidon (Ancient Orient Museum) The Buddhist gods Pancake (left) and Harriet(right), 3rd century, Kandahar Taller Buddha of Banyan, c. 547 AD. , in 1963 and in 2008 after they were dynamited and destroyed in March 2001 by the Taliban Statue from a Buddhist monastery 700 AD,Afghanistan See also[edit source I ed itable] Sculptures of Bangladesh Gallery[edit source I editable] Marble stone work, Jailers Gain Temple,Restaurants Seated Changes, sandstone sculpture from Restaurants, India, 9th century, Honolulu Academy of Arts yellow sandstone Sculpture of a Standing deity,11 the century CE,RestaurantsAsia and Africa Indian sculpture Buddhist sculpture Fife and Benign Europe Renaissance in Europe Baroque 18th century Africa and Oceania To be completed HISTORY OF SCULPTURE Timeline More Sharing Serviceable Share on backlasher on milkshake on forefathers on print World Cities Discover in a free daily email today's famous history and birthdays Enjoy the Famous Daily Indian sculpture: from the 3rd century BC The lively traditions of Indian sculpture date back to the first Indian empire, that of the Marry dynasty. Sculptors begin to carve characters and scenes from the stories of Indian's three interconnected animism. Religions -Hinduism, Bud deism and to a lesser extent Read more:http://www. Histor ically. Net/world's/Plenipotentiaries. Asp?Paragraphed=tidbits sculpture: 5th – 6th century AD Buddhism moves out of India and into Afghanistan (where the two great rock-carved Buddha of Banyan, from the 6th century, reveal the influence Afghanistan until destroyed by Taliban in 2001). It then continues east along thesis Arrowheads China. Paragraphed=edge#ixzz2c6zKdbCoForms Of Sculptures In India Indian sculptures of numerous sorts have evolved gradually. Since pre-historic era, the sculptures are everyday soaring new dimensions on India. Indian sculptures offer a truly diverse variety. The creation of sculptures aimed at fabrication of an undying piece of art which is long-lasting.As the sculptures of India Journeyed various eras and witnessed various dynasties, there is a vast variety seen among them in terms of styles and materials used. Sculptures of the Indus Valley The story of Indian art and sculpture dates back to the Indus valley civilization of the 2nd and 3rd mille nnium BC. Tiny terra-cotta seals discovered from the valley reveal carvings of appeal leaves, deities and animals. These elemental shapes of stones or seals were enshrined and worshipped by the people of the civilization. Two other objects that were excavated from the ruins of the Indus valley indicate the level of achievement that Indian art had attained in those days. The bust of a priest in limestone and a bronze dancing girl show tremendous sophistication and artistry.In the 1st century AD, the position changed somewhat radically in art and sculpture. The human figure replaced the symbolic representation of Buddha and his teachings. Though Buddha opposed the idea of idol worship, his cult image was established and became essential for acts of worship. The Mature and the Kandahar schools of sculpture imparted human form to Buddha image. To emphasis his divinity, this human form was depicted with features like a halo around the head, the drachma's engraved upon his palms and soles of his feet, and the lion throne representing his royal ancestry. These early stone images of Buddha are awe-inspiring in terms of size and magnificence.The link between dance, drama, literature and art became crucial to aesthetic expressionism in centuries to come. This new era in art and sculpture witnessed a unique fusion, a synthesis embodied in the caves at Junta and Lealer and the temples of central and South India. Located north-east of Bombay, near Arranged, Junta and Lealer are two astonishing series of temples ca centuries. Khartoum out of living rock over the course of fourteen The tranquil town of Khartoum, in the central state of Madhya Pradesh boasts of the best medieval temples in India, known all over the world for their erotic sculptures. These glorious temples are the state's most famous attraction.Amid green lawns and brilliant pink flowers is a complex of temples, glowing with the armor of sandstone and ornamented with the sinuous curves of sculpture unparallele d in their beauty. Out of the 85 temples built originally, only 22 survive today. These temples were created by the Candela rulers in the Indo-Aryan style. Elephant Caves The most profound aspect of the mighty Shiva is in evidence at the Shiva temple in the Elephant caves. Situated near Bombay, these caves present an introduction to some most exquisitely carved temples. One can witness a symphony in stone in praise of Lord Shiva, created by Indian's expert stone carvers of the sixth century.

451 Essay

Fahrenheit 451 Essay A dystopia is defined as a community or a society that is undesirable or frightening in some important way. There have been many novels written about such societies, such as 1984 by George Orwell, The Giver by Lois Lowry, and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Fahrenheit 451 describes a dystopian society in which books are outlawed and technology is prevalent. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury conveys a significant message through the contrasting tones he uses to describe Clarisse and Mildred.Bradbury uses a reverent, respectful tone to describe Clarisse, when Guy Montag sees her for the first time in the street as he walks home from work (3). The diction â€Å"slender† and â€Å"milk-white† portrays that Clarisse is young and innocent. These words create this feeling because one would normally associate slimness and a clear complexion with youth. The personification used in â€Å"gentle hunger† and â€Å"tireless curiosity† reveal the fact that Clarisse is inquisitive to the reader.The use of â€Å"gentle† and â€Å"tireless† allow the reader to see that Clarisse has a hunger for knowledge. The imagery â€Å"sliding walk† and â€Å"dress was white† creates an image of Clarisse’s demeanor and general appearance in the reader’s mind. Using these words also gives the reader the sense that Clarisse is pure, like an angel, because a sliding walk and white garments are associated with angels. Bradbury’s praising and positive tone shows that he strongly identifies with her personality.In contrast to the tone he uses when describing Clarisse, Bradbury uses a dull, monotonous tone to talk about Mildred when Guy Montag sees her as he walks into their bedroom shortly after his encounter with Clarisse (11). The metaphor â€Å"felt no rain† and â€Å"felt no shadow† compares rain and shadow to the feelings that Mildred does not feel. With this metaphor, Bradbury revea ls to the reader that Mildred is apathetic, unfeeling. The diction â€Å"tamped-shut ears† and â€Å"ears all glass† suggests to the reader that Mildred is oblivious to her surroundings.These words create the effect that Mildred does not see and hear what is going around in front of her. The simile â€Å"like a snow-covered island† compares Mildred’s face to a snow-covered island. This simile leaves the reader with the impression that Mildred’s face is pale, almost lifeless. Bradbury’s apathetic, negative tone shows that he does not approve of Mildred’s obliviousness and lifelessness. Bradbury uses an admiring, awed tone to describe Clarisse when Guy Montag is remembering his encounter with Clarisse (8).The simile â€Å"face like the dial of a small clock† compares Clarisse’s face with the dial of a small clock. Bradbury goes on to describe the clock as the type giving off light in the darkness in the middle of the night . This comparison conveys the idea that Clarisse represents good early on in the book. The simile â€Å"how like a mirror too, her face† emphasizes the fact that Clarisse’s demeanor in general makes Montag reflect on his actions, thoughts, and words. Bradbury is trying to relay the message that Clarisse has the type of personality that makes other people reflect upon themselves.The simile â€Å"like the eager watcher of a marionette show† compares Clarisse to an eager watcher of a marionette show through a simile. This simile demonstrates how perceptive Clarisse is. Bradbury’s tone of disbelief and awe shows his admiration of Clarisse’s character. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury uses contrasting tones towards Clarisse and Mildred in order to convey his opinion that one should not blindly the beliefs that are presented to them. Bradbury strongly believes that we should constantly question the world around us.

E-commerce Transactions Scare Customers Research Proposal

E-commerce Transactions Scare Customers - Research Proposal Example This has necessitated the need to have a secure environment, over the internet, where sellers and buyers can safely transact the business. On the other hand, the private details of internet users are being accessed by unauthorized fakes, which make it mandatory to have in place the measures for combating such menace. In view of the above, the proposed research intends to investigate the privacy issues from social, psychological, economic and regulatory perspectives. Apart from this, the paper would investigate into the technical issues, related to the provision of security for e-commerce transactions. However, the personal information submitted at the time of such transaction by the customer can be misused by various fakes for committing many frauds, which include credit card and payment crimes. Hence, it is imperative to understand the effect of correctional methods that are needed to counter the challenges of privacy and security in e-commerce. Whether such measures have really hel ped the buyer and seller? On the other hand, it might have dampened the business prospects of sellers, as consumers fear that their personal data can land up in the hands of criminal elements. This is particularly relevant, considering the current terrorism threat, all-over the world. Research Question As businesses, around the world, are still trying hard to find a perfect solution to the above-stated problem, the proposed research question for this paper would be: â€Å"What steps companies should take, in e-commerce, to ally the fears of customers regarding reuse of their personal information?† Literature review Previous research studies conducted in this direction have reported in detail about various perspectives that relate to security and privacy issues. A poll conducted by business week revealed that 40% online shoppers were surprised to find their personal details being used by others, for different business purposes, while 57% of such online consumers favored mandat ory laws for regulating the use of such information. (Harris Poll, 200). The reason for these concerns could be traced to non-implementation of fundamental regulations with regard to fair information practices, by the online businesses. This has left only a few online consumers believing in the safety of their personal details provided to website owners, while many online businesses might sell such information to others.(Culnan & Armstrong 1999). (Ackerman & Davis) Privacy concerns, However, the subject of privacy being a debatable one, it is necessary to understand its definition. Culnan has defined privacy as an ability of individuals to have the control over the collection and use of their personal data. Nevertheless, there may be certain cases where disclosing private information is necessary. These would include cases involving access to credit or public health schemes.(Clarke 1999). While people feel the need to have control over the things which they want to share with others , the changing technology mandates new rules for safe conduction of business, particularly e-commerce. Clarke has discussed in detail various terms connected with the issue of privacy, which includes choice, identification, digital persona, trust, among others.  

Current Issues in Education and Traing- Seminar Paper Related to the Essay

Current Issues in Education and Traing- Seminar Paper Related to the New Diplomas in the UK - Essay Example ke a smooth transition from school to work and may go on to university however many other students lack support for this activity and they dont have the proper guidance to get to this point. Many dont have a clear pathway to go to good jobs or good career opportunities. (Blair, 1999, p. 6). It is important to bring training to these students so that they can make better choices after they leave school. Some of the students in this category have family problems or emotional issues that stop them from doing well in regular school and these students become socially excluded because they cant get the jobs they need. This creates less structure for students than the New Deal for older unemployed young people (Blair, p. 8).There are many obstacles that have been present for these older young people and therefore when life goes wrong for them and they are involved in a pattern that keeps them there, they will be disproportionately involved in social exclusion. These young adults are more likely to be "unemployed, dependent on benefits, to live in unstable family structures, and to be depressed about their lives" (Blair, p. 8). Other challenges for these students are that the regular compulsory education may cause some students to be truant too often and others to be disruptive to their classrooms. This has leaded many to see a weakness in the vocational aspects of training. This also called for a new way of looking at education ("Opportunity and Excellence", p. 3). According to Opportunity and Excellence (2005), the New Diplomas would combine traditional study with tailored programmes that would fit the individual needs and aptitudes of each student. This would enable them to continue to learn English, mathematics and science but in a different atmosphere in school. They would also learn about work and enterprise and learn computer skills as some of the classes (Opportunity and Excellence, p. 4). These classes will be done in modules that make the diploma more

Concepts of Population Health, Primary Health Care and Health Essay

Concepts of Population Health, Primary Health Care and Health Promotion - Essay Example The rate of unemployment has shot over 20% and theft incidences in the grocery store have markedly increased in the past year. As a community nurse, I also noted multiple signs of anemia, fatigue, and a high level of susceptibility to respiratory infections among members of families of various ages. Smoking is also prevalent in this community, which requires an urgent intervention. There are also concerns about diet adequacy and insufficient funding from the Social Services unable to meet their basic food needs. This requires sensitization and financial support to be accorded to the community. It is also certain that due to the distant urban center where large stores are located, the families cannot make it there to do their shopping and end up purchasing food items in the local stores where food prices are significantly higher. However, such families have accumulated huge debts in those stores and the owners, though sympathetic, cannot extend their customer’s credit lines. Th e community has also grown pessimistic about both the economic and unemployment situation in the community; however, some parents are still expecting things to turn around. These mentioned situations are demanding and as a community health nurse in the region, I have decided to work closely with the community to promote the situation in collaboration with the small group of local businessmen and farmers who have expressed their concern in developing a food bank to ensure needy families help each other. Therefore, this proposal seeks to integrate the concepts of primary health care, population health promotion, and health promotion in addressing the existing situation in the community. According to the World Health Organization, health promotion strategies can be applied to multiple population groups, diseases, risk factors, and other settings. This is because the strategies of health promotion are neither limited to a particular health related problem nor to a set of specific behavi ors. As a community nurse in this case study, I advocate health promotion that will put emphasis on community education, food policy development, community development, and regulations and legislation which are vital in preventing high poverty levels as well as communicable and non-communicable diseases. Action needs to be taken in this community so as to improve the health of the people, especially those who have shown the signs of anemia, fatigue and respiratory infections. The health promotion strategies influence most of the underlying factors and those that determine the health of the community members. This approach is recognized by both health promotion and population health. As a nurse, I would work with the community in constructing a population health promotion model in order to develop strategies that would curb the deteriorating health status of the community. In reference to the population health promotion, the following action areas need to be addressed in order to cur b the existing situation in the community: Building healthy public policy which ensures that all the public and private sectors are committed to health promoting situations Creating a supportive environment that recognizes the nature of the rapidly changing society Strengthening the community action in order to facilitate the ability of the community members to make decisions and set priorities on issues affecting their health Developing personal skills to impart knowledge and skills on community members that can help them meet their daily life challenges and make contributions to the society Reorienting health services in order to create systems focusing on the

Montefiore Medical Centre Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Montefiore Medical Centre - Case Study Example In this particular case , one of the fundamental issues that had to be tackled before the introduction of any new system was the introduction and implementation of proper motivational schemes due to the layoffs which had created a demotivated environment for the remaining workforce. And wages were already an issue as the hospital was facing an issue of merit payment non-payments as a result of financial issues which had made such payments impossibility. However, during the year 1999, the hospital had thought along the lines of providing the Senior Executives 20% bonuses in case the hospital was not able to meet its targets. However, these measures should not be used in those circumstances when the hospital when is facing financial crunch which it is at present and hence, this would not be the best of motivational schemes to introduce. An alternative to using money as a motivational technique would be using non-financial motivational techniques such as praising the work of the workforce, giving awards to the best performer, having better communication lines in order to allow the worker a chance to voice their concerns and creating a friendly environment in which the workers were made to feel like a part of a team rather than people who were being used as guinea pigs in some experiment. The second question dealt with the issue of the way the management dealt with the issue. The management would have to change its current operational strategy as that has resulted in creating a misunderstanding between it and the workers who not are unaware of what is required of them but also the purpose as to why the management is doing what is doing. Hence, this not only shows a severe breakdown in communication but also outlines the vast differences that exist in terms of the hierarchical structure. In order to overcome these, the management would have to take greater interest in the workforce and listen to their viewpoints and make them feel like they are actually part of a team instead of merely having meetings. The meetings were surely not successful when the workforce was still being left in the dark as to be required of them; hence the management would have to do a complete overhaul of its communication and co-ordination policy. The third question dealt with the issue of implementing the balanced score card and whether it was actually a wise decision on the behalf on the management to introduce it or whether it resulted in aggravating the situation even further. In terms of the effectiveness of balanced scorecard, it allowed Brennan to create a focused system in which the financials were aligned with the goals of the company, the performance measure which would allow the medical centre to become an interactive centre which would be connected to the external environment. At the same time, it would be outline the cost, quality and cycle of the clinical and administrative measures. Considering the sort of investment that this tool took and the sort of feedback that it received despite having met fierce resistance in the initial times, this tool is certainly worthy enough to become a real and animated technique adopted by the centre. However, in order for it to be successful proper communication and

Mid-Term Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Mid-Term - Essay Example this title, I will use the term children under concern to refer to children in the United States who include abandoned, orphaned or children separated from one or all of their parents. Before the Civil War, these children were used as servants. Many were traded and shipped to colonial America from England. Most of them provided labor in the farms in exchange for boarding and food. There was little government involvement in their welfare. Mostly they were held under the indenture system. A movement, congregate living movement, just before mid-eighteenth century, fought against the indenture system. The movement held that these children under concern be rehabilitated and mass housed in orphanages like charity-supported almshouse. The first of these facilities in North America got opened in Georgia and was termed â€Å"private orphan asylum†. Most of them were mostly funded by religious charities and mostly white children under age ten were taken in. When the American Revolutionary War ended, seven years in South Carolina there was established the first public orphanage. By this time private ones were being opened up in many places in the United States. In 1838 the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in EX PARTE CROUSE, held that children have needs, not rights, and that the government has to ensure provision of education, protection and care needed by children including those under concern herein. Charles Loring Brace, considered the father of modern foster care, in 1953 founded the New York Children’s Aid Society (NYCAS). This was partly motivated by the fact that orphanages were getting overwhelmed. He oversaw transportation of the children under concern from highly populated to less populated regions of the country. This ran for seventy five years till before start of the Great Depression. Around 1875, states started passing child labor laws in their legislature and got more active in foster care. 1909 then saw the first national conference for children under

The World is becoming flatter Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The World is becoming flatter - Assignment Example I believe that we are better informed in today’s information society because we have a lot of communication and learning tools that have been introduced to us through the use of information technology. Schools and colleges are implementing the use of ICT tools so that students can get equipped with the most modern technological tools which help them enhance their learning process. Matthews and Schrum (2003, p.125) have found that children, who incorporate the use of IT in their education or those who take help from the internet for research purposes, get higher GPAs than those who are not familiar with IT or who get distracted when they are online. Internet is being widely used in research and development purposes and the new softwares and applications that are coming in the market with each passing day tend to make us better informed about the world and ourselves. One example is that people can learn about diseases through the internet and ways to cope with them too. This hel ps them make decisions about their health. All of these facts prove that the world is becoming flatter, because every opportunity and facility is being offered to us right at our

History of Civil Engineering Essay Example for Free

History of Civil Engineering Essay Civil engineering involves the design, construction, and maintenance of works such as roads, bridges, and buildings. Its a science that includes a variety of disciplines including soils, structures, geology, and other fields. Thus the history of civil engineering is closely associated with the history of advancement in these sciences. In ancient history, most of the construction was carried out by artisans, and technical expertise was limited. Tasks were accomplished by the utilization of manual labor only, without the use of sophisticated machinery, since it did not exist. Therefore, civil engineering works could only be realized with the utilization of a large number of skilled workers over an extended period of time. * Prehistoric and Ancient Civil Engineering Structures It might be appropriate to assume that the science of civil engineering truly commenced between 4000 and 2000 BC in Egypt when transportation gained such importance that it led to the development of the wheel. According to the historians, the Pyramids were constructed in Egypt during 2800-2400 BC and may be considered as the first large structure construction ever. The Great Wall of China that was constructed around 200 BC is considered another achievement of ancient civil engineering. The Romans developed extensive structures in their empire, including aqueducts, bridges, and dams. A scientific approach to the physical sciences concerning civil engineering was implemented by Archimedes in the third century BC, by utilizing the Archimedes Principle concerning buoyancy and the Archimedes screw for raising water. ASCE Online Library www.ascelibrary.org Free search 800,000 pages All areas of civil engineering Software Engineer Degree EducationDegreeSource.com/Free_Info 100%Online Master Degree Software Engineering for Busy Programmers! Seismic Design Group www.SeismicDesignGroup.com Seismic Bracing Engineering Commercial Non-Structural Trades Ads by Google * The Roles of Civil And Military Engineer in Ancient Times As stated above, civil engineering is considered to be the first main discipline of engineering, and the engineers were in fact military engineers with expertise in military and civil works. During the era of battles or operations, the engineers were engaged to assist the soldiers fighting in the battlefield by making catapults, towers, and other instruments used for fighting the enemy. However, during peace time, they were concerned mainly with the civil activities such as building fortifications for defense, making bridges, canals, etc. * Civil Engineering in the 18th 20th Century Until the recent era, there was no major difference between the terms civil engineering and architecture, and they were often used interchangeably. It was in the 18th century that the term civil engineering was firstly used independently from the term military engineering. The first private college in the United States that included Civil Engineering as a separate discipline was Norwich University established in the year 1819. Civil engineering societies were formed in United States and European countries during the 19th century, and similar institutions were established in other countries of the world during the 20th century. The American Society of Civil Engineers is the first national engineering society in the United States. In was founded in 1852 with members related to the civil engineering profession located globally. The number of universities in the world that include civil engineering as a discipline have increased tremendously during the 19th and the 20th centuries, indica ting the importance of this technology. * Modern Concepts In Civil Engineering Numerous technologies have assisted in the advancement of civil engineering in the modern world, including high-tech machinery, selection of materials, test equipment, and other sciences. However, the most prominent contributor in this field is considered to be computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM). Civil engineers use this technology to achieve an efficient system of construction, including manufacture, fabrication, and erection. Three-dimensional design software is an essential tool for the civil engineer that facilitates him in the efficient designing of bridges, tall buildings, and other huge complicated structures. * http://www.thecivilengg.com/History.php CIVIL ENGINEERING (CE) Overall Focus: â€Å"Public works†/infrastructure and buildings/structures. Note: Given the number of potential applications, Civil Engineering is a very broad discipline. Primary Areas of Specialization: 1. Construction Management (combining engineering and management skills to complete construction projects designed by other engineers and architects).   2. Environmental Engineering (see separate entry) 3. Geotechnical Engineering (analysis of soils and rock in support of engineering projects/applications building foundations, earthen structures, underground facilities, dams, tunnels, roads, etc) 4. Structural Engineering (design of all types of stationary structures buildings, bridges, dams, etc.) 5. Surveying (measure/map the earth’s surface in support of engineering design and construction projects and for legal purposes locating property lines, etc.) 6. Transportation Engineering (design of all types of transportation facilities/systems – streets/highways, airports, railroads, other mass transit, harbors/ports, etc.). 7. Water Resources Engineering (control and use of water, focusing on flood control, irrigation, raw water supply, and hydroelectric power applications) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AR001_ARCHCRUZ/files/3.%20LETTERING/

Major Roles Of Development Studies Politics Essay

Major Roles Of Development Studies Politics Essay We live in an unequal world: one part of the world is suffering from hunger, poverty, high child mortality rates, mortal diseases and numerous other grave issues; the other part of the world benefits from high income rates, very good health care systems, excellent educational institutions and superior standards of living. Progressively, many international institutions and non-governmental organizations have taken a stand against this inequality and they continuously seek to develop the world into a better place with better standards. These organizations believe they can make a change by supporting underdeveloped countries and by coming up with measures and goals for the whole world in order to try and stop the biggest threats to further development. Development Studies is, in fact, one of the recent and most important branches of political science nowadays. It is through Development Studies that one can understand the tragic imbalance of the world, and come up with solutions to tackl e the issues threatening development. Therefore, research and statistics form a major role in Development Studies; by carrying out specific research, one can identify what is hindering a particular country from further development and what solutions may be applied. Throughout the years, many scholars tried to quantify development and find ways to measure it and undoubtedly the most successful instrument for development existing today is the one named Human Development Index (HDI). While many believe that this is the best system and the best indicator vis-à  -vis global development, some others believe that there is still much more to be done, and that the HDI might still need some adjustments. This paper addresses the issue of development in todays unequal world, as well as presents all the arguments in favour and against the use of HDI as the first and most important tool to measure development. What is Development? Many scholars, politicians and writers use the term development in their studies, talks or books; however, these persons might be using the word in different contexts. For the sake of this essay, it is imperative to give out the definition of the word development as it is going to be used throughout the whole paper. Professor Jeffrey Haynes, successful author and lecturer, defines development as a key dimension of personal life, social relations, politics, economics and culture.  [1]  Development does, in fact, touch many branches of one particular country (economic, social and cultural development); therefore it is made up of various components. Furthermore, Development Studies is a vast and rapidly expanding field of inquiry  [2]  ; as the word itself suggests, development continuously changes it is never static. The components making part of development might increase or decrease throughout the years. It is difficult to set a date to the rise of interest in Development Studies. However, Dr Clark, through his acclaimed book, estimates the origin of awareness in the field of development around the late 1940s and early 1950s  [3]  , when there was an increasing interest in development economics  [4]  . Other scholars, such as Todaro and Smith comment on how the Europeans were unable to reach a certain level of developed economy within their countries a decade or so after, despite the willingness and hard work involved.  [5]   The notion of human development concerns the actual lives and conditions of the citizens of a specific country; Haynes accurately defines human development as a matter concerned with [the] stability, security and citizens relative prosperity.  [6]  Human development treats all of its components on an equal basis, giving them direct value  [7]  . Since development has a vital link with the wealth of a country, this does not mean that it is highly or solely influenced by the national income rates: Human development is about much more than the rise and fall of national incomes. It is about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations.  [8]   The importance of global development in the world has gradually increased. Nowadays we know more about development, how to measure it and achieve it. Furthermore, there are numerous organizations and international institutions, such as the UN, who give development a huge significance within their agenda and who continuously give their support to underdeveloped countries and urge the world to support each other out. Measuring Development There can be no improvement in the field of development if proper analysis is not carried out for every single country and region of the world. Good analysis of statistics provides identification of threats to further development and of possible solutions for improvement: The analysis of development goals is part of the analysis of development.  [9]   Therefore, measuring development is a significant step in identifying the development index of a country. The problem still remains on what is considered to be a component in measuring the development of a country. Development indicators can be many: the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) within a country, the Gross National Income (GNI), the life expectancy rate, gross education enrolment rates and more. Many scholars do not agree on what these development indicators should be. There have been numerous conflicting papers written by scholars stating their own opinions on the matter. For example, economist Jan Drewnowski repeatedly states that while economic development indicators contain concrete figures, social development indicators do not possess such precise quantitative results.  [10]  He states that welfare indicators are observable and measurable phenomena and that welfare is not directly measurable, but he also says that although measuring such development indicators might not produce perfect results, it is better than doing nothing at all. Other scholars provide other views; economists Irma Adelman and Cynthia Taft-Morris make a case for a more flexible approach to the measurement of institutional phenomena, which would rely on expert judgment on qualitative rankings.  [11]  12 Throughout the years many scholars and organizations have attempted to come up with an instrument to measure development. Although there is still no existing perfect method of achieving such data, there is one leading collection of data which is continuously cited by organizations and governments alike. This index-list was undertaken by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and is mostly referred to as the Human Development Index (HDI). What are HDR and HDI? The HDI is a result of the Human Development Report (HDR), a report produced every year by the UNDP. The first HDR was published in 1990 while the latest HDR was published last year, marking its 20th anniversary edition.  [13]   Within the report, the UNDP analyses the results of its research in the development field. For example, the 2010 HDR published by the UNDP contained chapters about various branches of development which analyzed either progress or regress on a global level. In the 2010 HDR, one can learn how progress in the health sector has slowed down, while gender differences in the education sector decreased as well. Other examples include the increased (global) levels of education but also the problem of children not learning.  [14]   For better or for worse, the annual HD reports have provided an intrinsic method of measurement of development. One of the highlights of the HDR is undoubtedly the HDI. Most governments, international and national organizations give a lot of attention to the HDI, because it provides a set of ranks and indices attributed to a number of countries in the world.  [15]   The HDI essentially is a figure, ranging from 0 to 1. This is measured by combining indicators of life expectancy, educational attainment and income.  [16]  All countries participating in the HDR are ranked numerically according to this figure. The HDI list in itself is made up of four categories of groups of countries with: very high human development (42 countries in 2010), high human development (43 countries in 2010), medium human development (42 countries in 2010) and low human development (42 countries in 2010)  [17]  . It is through these three basic development indicators that the UNDP was able to produce such a high-quality index: Life expectancy For this particular development indicator, the HDI takes the average life years of a citizen in a specific country during a period of thirty years. For the 2010 HDI, for every country on the list, the life expectancy rate was calculated on the timeframe starting from 1980 till 2010. The minimum value was set at 20 years, whereas the maximum one was set at 83.2 years.  [18]   Education The second development indicator used in the HDI is education, and this is calculated by looking at the average years of schooling of every minor and adult citizen at every level of education.  [19]  This HDI indicator also encompasses the gross enrollment rate of the country; both the people applying for education and the school-leavers are taken into consideration when formulating the education indicator. This indicator, just like the previous one, reflects the regress or progress made in a specific country on a timeframe of thirty years, from 1980 till 2010.  [20]   Income The last indicator for development is income, or the wealth component.  [21]  When carrying out its research and analysis, the UNDP sets the minimum per capita gross national income (GNI) rate at $163 (purchasing power parity PPP) at its maximum income rate at $108,211.  [22]  The minimum rate was actually attained by Zimbabwe in 2008, marking it the lowest income rate in history so far. This income value of $163 means just around 45 cents of income every day.  [23]   It is therefore believed that the key to further development is found in the combination of the above three development indicators. Geometrically, the HDI ranking can be calculated using the following economic formula: HDI = ( 1/3 Life expectancy rate + 1/3 education rate + 1/3 income rate)  [24]   Using this formula, the UNDP was able to create the HDIs of the last twenty years. The following table portrays some results from the 2010 HDI, showing one country from all four categories of the HDI. For every country represented in the table there are the resultant figures of the three main HDI indicators. HDI Rank Country HDI value Life expectancy (years) Mean years of schooling (years) Expected years of schooling (years) GNI per capita (PPP 2008 $) GNI per capita rank minus HDI rank Nonincome HDI value 1 Norway 0.938 81.0 12.6 17.3 58,810 2 0.954 56 Mexico 0.750 76.7 8.7 13.4 13,971 -3 0.785 89 China 0.663 73.5 7.5 11.4 7,258 -4 0.707 169 Zimbabwe 0.140 47.0 7.2 9.2 176 0 0.472 Data source: UNDP 2010 HDI  [25]   As one can clearly see, the leading country in the world with the best possible value was found to be Norway, which attained the HDI value of 0.938. All Norwegian statistics are impressive in all sectors of development. Leading economical countries, such as China and India, do not have such impressive results, with them ranking 89th and 119th respectively. The country ranking last with the worst HDI value in the world is the African country of Zimbabwe, of which statistics contrast severely with those of Norway. In fact, an average Zimbabwean lives up to 47 years and enjoys only $176 GNI per capita. The Arguments in Favour of HDI Since 1990, there have been many scholars and economists who have praised the initiative behind the HDI. In fact, many have considered the HDI as a huge step towards understanding what human development constitutes and what changes are needed. The HDI was first seen as an ideal way to compare one country with another and to find a specific countrys place in the whole world. In fact, this method simplifies the comparison among countries  [26]  , and this can beneficial to all governments in order for them to perform better as countries and states. Consequently, this index is described as instructive  [27]  as its empirical relevance has proved to be very meaningful to [both] UN agencies and governments all over the world.  [28]   Throughout the years, distinguished political scientists have continuously declared that the HDI contributes in terms of multidimensionality  [29]  . Among such scholars, one finds Streeten (1994 and 1995), Desai (1993) and Ul Haq (1998), with the latter saying that HDI can capture many aspects of human life that were not capture before.  [30]   Most positive feedback concerning HDI has been about how the HDI has managed to reflect the human condition in no other way other methods can. The methodology used in HDI has also been described as being relatively simple  [31]  , thus favoring it over other indices such as the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) and the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI); its strength lies in its simplicity: a simple measure is more understandable to the policy-maker and the public.  [32]   The Arguments against HDI The HDI gained a lot of criticism from scholars and economists alike; this chapter will focus on the most famous critiques. Some writers criticized the indicators the UNDP used to measure development and discourage the practice of classifying countries into the three bins,  [33]  while others disapproved of the whole system, labeling it theoretically weak (Srinivasan 1994). Moreover, Amartya Sen was concerned by the difficulties of capturing the full complexity of human capabilities in a single index.  [34]  There are also a few who think that the HDI leaves a lot of questions unanswered and they proposed development indices specific to each and every country (such as an American HDI)  [35]  In fact, the HDI seems to conduct general analysis, ignoring differences.  [36]  37This last argument is also sustained by Hicks.  [38]   The majority of critiques debate on the HDI indicators used. Some of them do not agree on how the UNDP uses these indicators, or on how the UNDP interprets its results. For example, the Task Force on Education and Gender Equality disapproves the use of education enrolment rates, finding them imprecise, and proposes school completion rates instead, defining them a more appropriate indicator of educational output'.  [39]   Some others argue on the lack of HDI indicators. Eric Neumayer believes that there is the need of a greener HDI; he argues that the HDI does not take into account natural resource exploitation and environmental degradation  [40]  Finally, there is also a group of writers (like McGillivray, 1991) who believe that the HDI is redundant, meaning that it provides very little or no insight to its analysis. Conclusion Taking into consideration what has been said on the subject, one cannot deny that the HDI has been influential in bringing forward the concept of development. It has been an impressive advancement from the previous attempts. Using the HDI as the main tool for development presents many advantages for governments, to improve their countries its role has been instructive throughout. However, many critics emphasize the disadvantages of HDI, such as the lack of sufficient insight or efficient indicators. Therefore, one can conclude that while it still stands as the reigning instrument to measure development, the HDI leaves much to be done and that in order to achieve a more efficient result, one has to make amendments the HDI is not [yet] an indicator that can reflect properly the idea that Human Development concept brings in itself.  [41]