Computers Cause Laziness :: Technology

Looking around at daily life, I noticed a pattern of computer oriented devices that make life easier. While I do agree with faster production and less work, I can not allow this degenerative spiral of laziness to continue, it is out of control. These devices are in most daily activities ranging from waking up to an alarm clock to watching the news before going to bed. All of these computerized facets of our society help to increase our daily productivity and help us do whatever it is we need to accomplish in the day in the easiest way possible. The computer age is upon us and it will continue to grow in influence until society revolves around it daily, without any need for improvement. . In personal computers, the industry has been creating faster machines that can store more information than before. For example, speed, the microprocessor has been tweaked to perform high rates of data transactions. What this means for the average person is that we can be much more productive in a day than the average person 50 years ago. to allow faster hook-up to the Internet, fiber optic lines have been added, to transfer data about 35,714,285 times faster than conventional phone lines (about 28,000 bits per second has been pushed to about 1,000,000,000,000 bits per second). This may seem ridiculous to you but if you stop and think how many lazy people get on-line every day to order movies, pizza, and do there E-bay all from the comfort of home you will see that this is not only ridiculous but scandalous and down right insane. As speed enhances, memory and storage space is needed to hold excess information. â€Å"Double data rate three, synchronous dynamic random access memory† or DDR3 SDRAM is a new, faster memory module that helps transfer RAM data about 80 times faster than normal RAM. For long term storage of large amounts of data, hard drives have been under a constant upgrade of performance, and it is not uncommon to find hard drives about 300 gigabytes to 1 terabyte on the market. One terabyte may not sound like a lot of space to you so to give you an example it’s like having the ability of storing 13 million movies on your computer or 26.7 million songs and its all to keep you fat lazy and dumb. Along with technology, an ease of use factor has been instilled in the modern day PC's so it’s easier for the elderly and the toddlers to use.

Fixing California Drought Essay

In an attempt to find a solution that would best resolve the water drought crisis in California, we’ve all heard how we could apply technology such as desalination or green-friendly practices such as water conservation. Finding those who divert water wrongfully is just as challenging as it is to preserve the precious resource. Tough statewide regulations have been already rolled out this year in a bid to punish those who misuse it. Under the emergency conservation restrictions, hosing down driveways and sidewalks is prohibited, along with landscaping that causes excess water runoff that gets noticeable on sidewalk curbs. Californians who wash their cars on their properties must have a hose shut-off nozzle. An offender should expect fines up to $600 a day for unjustified water usage. About 40 percent of all drinking water in Los Angeles is used for landscape irrigation, according to the Department of Water and Power of California. Outdoor watering with sprinklers is restricted to three days a week, with different watering days for odd-numbered and even-numbered street addresses. With new restrictions and ordinances, it’s been reported that some agencies have received more than 30,000 complaints but only issued 300 files through April of 2014. First-time offenders receive a warning. This shows that wasteful water enforcement by city and state departments haven’t put enough effort in a bid to punish violators. Although it has been found that humans had very little to do with the start of the drought, California citizens can affect the duration of it. Ultimately, the only thing that will truly end the drought is drastically increased rainfall. One foot of rainfall would be needed a month to put an end to the effects of the drought. However, there are ways presently available that can help conserve water. This should be a prime focus, as it is the best hope of preventing further damage to our ecosystem. While California cannot control the amount of rainfall it receives its people can slow the growing water deficit; which recently measured at 62 trillion gallons Works Cited: Don Thompson. â€Å"Save California water regulators approve fines for water wasters.† The Associated Press / Los Angeles Daily News. Web. 15 Jul. 2014.

Research Critique of Benefits of Systematic Phonics Instruction

The purpose of this study or major research question â€Å"was to find if children taught with systematic phonics programs outperformed children in nonsystematic phonics or non phonics programs. † (Graaff, Bosman, Hasselman, &Verhoeven, 2009) The authors do list a major research question, but the problem statement was not as clear as it could have been. The reader has to read in depth of the entire article to really bring conclusion to what is being researched. It is not very defined with clarity, but you are able to figure out what is being researched and tested. The problem is significant and relevant because the researchers are looking at two approaches using a control group of children enrolling them in five types of programs: Basal reading programs, regular curriculum, whole language, whole word, and miscellaneous programs. In whole language approaches, it is believed that children will learn language (oral and written) best if it is learned for authentic purposes (Stahl, 1999). The author states the computer-based experiment permitted us to compare the differences and effectiveness of a systematic and a nonsystematic phonics approach, because in both programs the same 10 grapheme-phoneme correspondences were taught. Hypothesis The authors open their article with, â€Å"systematic phonics instruction appears to be more effective than non systematic instruction for teaching reading. † (Graaff, Bosman, Hasselman, &Verhoeven, 2009) In the present study, a systematic phonics approach was directly compared with a non-systematic phonics approach for kindergarten children. Feature Article  Country School  Allen Curnow The authors clearly state what they feel will happen in their research but do not go into much detail other than one or two reviews from other authors of why they support the research in the pre testing of it the way that they do. The author explains on the measures of phonemic awareness, spelling, and reading, the systematic phonics group made more progress than the nonsystematic phonics group and the control group. Results The results of the test in the productive letter sound test at pretest were . 13. The performance showed to be no difference between the two training conditions in this section. The free sound isolation test at pretest was 0. The performance on the free sound- isolation test of children in both the unsystematic phonics training and in the control condition was found to have no difference. The measurement of the Reading Test found no difference between the phonics training and the same measure and outcome was found with the spelling test. The results of the testing procedures were hard to read and understand. The process used by Intra Class Correlation was the measurement used at the pretest. It never discusses the ICC during the posttest. Whether the ICC was used it never refers to it after the pretest discussion.

A REPORT ON CHANGE MANAGEMENT AND CHANGE LEADERSHIP Essay

There is a fundamental difference in the definitions of change management and change leadership. Change management is an embodiment of processes and mechanisms that are designed by an organization to effect transformation within the ranks of an organization. Another process that is often mistaken with change management is change leadership, although the two processes might have the same conation, change leadership involves planning and implementing processes, tools or mechanisms that are associated with large scale changes across an organization, it involves putting structures in place to make the institution process go faster, smarter and more efficiently. It should be noted however that with both processes, it is critical to keep things under control as there would be outflow of resources to ensure that the change is kept in perspective. From the above definitions, it is evident that when change management works efficiently, it tends to be associated with smaller structural changes in an organization while change in leadership is fundamentally different as it involves putting structures in place that have the potential to take things out of control; it also involves implementing big visions, empowering people and institutions by placing experienced and dedicated persons at the helm of affairs to minimize risk of failure. Due to the scope of events involved in change leadership, the business world often clamours for change management as change leadership involves bigger leaps, investments, entering windows of opportunity at a fast and challenging pace. It is important however to note that no matter the change effort implemented whether management or leadership, for change to be successful, it must begin with an individual or group of individuals or some group(s) who have to study the current state of the business, ref lect on the organization’s financial performance as well as its market position and initiate a process that requires cooperation from all individuals as without proper motivation, all change effort would be futile. When organizations begin, often much emphasis is placed on leadership and short on management. People responded quickly to change. Organizations could, and often did, roll out new programs promptly without challenges, however as organizations develop the dynamics are different — slower, costlier, stuck in red tape, less tangible, less experimental. That is because big organizations are complex and have to continually evolve to  remain relevant. When organizations are accosted by complexity, people get anxious hence the need for certainty and coordination — in the form of structures, policies, responsibilities, and rules — to push that fear away. We cannot change our fear of complexity rather there needs to be a paradigm shift from management to leadership. Organizations have to remain robust — even as they grow, they must ensure that innovation does not get crushed with the advent of globalization. When organizations have high competencies in management and leadership, they are able to meet challenges today and in the future as businesses should be forward looking. However, most organizations are usually lacking one or the other. When management exists without leadership, the company is often unable to change. However the management methodologies that helped successfully develop organizations a century ago are no longer sufficient. Achieving continuous growth in an ever-increasing, fast paced society requires a change. The key to survival is a good blend of change leadership and change management. Change Leadership The management methodologies that helped successfully develop enterprises throughout the 20th century are no longer sufficient. Driving results in a world of ever-increasing change requires a new kind of leadership. Management is about coping with complexity. Its practices and procedures are largely responses to one of the most significant developments of the twentieth century: the emergence of large organizations. Without good management, complex enterprises tend to become chaotic in ways that threaten their very existence. Good management brings a degree of order and consistency to key dimensions like the quality and profitability of products. Leadership, by contrast, is about coping with change. Part of the reason it has become so important in recent years is that the business world has become more competitive and more volatile. Faster technological change, greater international competition, the deregulation of markets, overcapacity in capital-intensive industries, an unstable oil cartel, raiders with junk bonds, and the changing demographics of the work-force are among the many factors that have contributed to this shift. We should not try to fight the natural tendency toward coordination and control rather we should embrace change. As a matter of fact, some people will argue against the benefits of consistency as rules they claim offer consistency and, so the theory goes, coherence throughout the organization, but there is a better way to do this than to insist on rigid rules.

ASSESSMENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

ASSESSMENT - Essay Example Non-conventional types of dividend payments, particularly share repurchases are in most cases used currently, and therefore, the dividend decision is much more multifaceted and complex than it was in the past. In addition, there are more significant types of shareholders who should be satisfied today-particularly institutional investors-while managers once merely have to satisfy individual stockholders. Therefore, n increase in the dividend payout is taken to be good news. The company is showing that it not only has positive cash flows, however these cash flows are rising sufficiently to validate an elevated payout to shareholders. The company â€Å"proves† its cash flow by paying out some of that cash to its shareholders. This means that higher dividends might indicate lasting greater earnings for the company. How this argument has been contradicted that the dividend policy is irrelevant. It is for this reason that this paper will examine on the fact that company's dividend p olicy is irrelevant to its market value. ... i-Miller (M&M) theorem, (Irrelevancy Theory) (1961) forwarded by Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller, influences the base for modern view on capital structure, although it is usually perceived as merely scholarly because it presumes away numerous significant elements in the capital structure decision. The theorem argues that, in a perfect market, the value of a firm is irrelevant to how that firm is funded. This outcome offers a basis used to study real global reasons why capital structure is appropriate. These other reasons comprise agency costs, bankruptcy costs, information asymmetry, taxes among others. The theorem has been used to show that dividend is irrelevant to firm’s market share. Merton Miller and Franco Modigliani (MM) under their theory argued that in perfect financial markets (no transactions costs certainty, no taxes, or other market imperfections), the value of a company is impacted by the allotment of dividends. They claim that company’s value is mainl y driven the prospective income and risk of its investments, therefore, maintaining income or paying them to the shareholders in dividends does not affects its value (Grullon et al 2002). MM through its theory indicated that provided the company is attaining the returns anticipated by the market, it does not matter whether the returns is directed to the stockholder as individuals currently, or reinvested. They would perceive it in terms of dividend or price appreciation. Therefore, in this case the shareholder can develop their individual dividend through selling the stock when they need cash (Lie 2000). They qualified their argument through this calculation: V t = 1/1+rt[Dt+Vt+1-m t+1P t+1] Where rt = Discount rate Dt = Total Dividends Paid V t+1 = Firm Value @ t+1 = ntP t+1 M t+1P t+1 = Amount

Reasons why scientist believe the global climate is in the state of Essay

Reasons why scientist believe the global climate is in the state of crisis - Essay Example Earth’s energy budget constitutes the shortwave radiation net flow into the earth from the sun and the long wave radiation out to space. The weather and climate experienced on Earth are determined by the amount and distribution of incoming radiation from the sun. For an equilibrium climate, outgoing long wave radiation (OLR) necessarily balances the incoming absorbed solar radiation (ASR). However, there is a great deal of fascinating atmosphere, ocean, and land phenomena that couple the two. Greenhouse gas warming is caused by a shift in this balance where OLR is reflected back to the surface by the atmosphere. This reflection is due to the presence of heat-trapping gases (greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere. These gases include: carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. Naturally this reflection helps maintain the life sustaining surface temperature of the earth. Human activities have however increased the concentration of these gases; specifically carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere has been building up since the advent of the industrial revolution in the mid-1700s, mainly due to the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) and the cutting down of forests. Human activities have also increased the emissions of other greenhouse gases, such as methane, nitrous oxide, and halocarbons. Halocarbon emissions come from the release of certain manufactured chemicals to the atmosphere. Examples include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which were used extensively in refrigeration and for other industrial processes before their presence in the atmosphere were found to cause stratospheric ozone depletion. Methane concentration has increased mainly as a result of agriculture; raising livestock (which produce methane in their digestive tracts); mining, transportation, and use of certain fossil fuels; sewage; and decomposing garbage in landfills. About 70%

Becoming A Coder Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Becoming A Coder - Essay Example Coding providers give coding that can be used to describe diagnostic information that is in line with the patient’s condition, services offered and procedures followed. These codes are so detailed that they can provide an accurate description of the medical diagnoses and medical procedures performed. They can also correct diagnoses made. The profession of medical coding does not involve the practice of medicine. Instead, it is a simply the application of coding rules to a set of medical or clinical facts. Coder Credential Organizations One of the key necessities in the coding profession is credentialing. This is because the government recommends that only those coders who have the necessary credentials should be allowed to provide coding for Medicare patients. At the same time, credentialing validates the knowledge and skills of the coders to the world. In the US, two national organizations certify persons as having medical coding expertise. The two coder credential organizati ons are, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). AAPC targets experienced coders and as such offers specialist credentials that enable medical coders to portray very high levels of expertise in their various specialty disciplines. Their 20 specialty credentials are independent or stand-alone certifications that do not have requirements for holding of the CPC credential. AAPC allows coders to validate the knowledge they have gained in a specialty with compliance challenges, unique coding and reimbursement (AAPC, 2005). AHIMA is a professional organization that deals with the management of medical records. The organization gives professionals dealing with medical records educational resources and programs. AHIMA certification distinguishes a person as knowledgeable, competent and committed to quality healthcare through quality information. As compared to AAPC, a specialist credential offered through AHIMA f ocuses more on facility coding. Facility coding refers to the kind of medical coding done for hospitals in in-patient settings (Michelle and Jo, 2004). Credential requirements and exams. Examples of credentials offered by AHIMA include RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCA, CCS-P and CHPS (AHIMAa, 2010). A Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) functions as a critical link between patients, care providers and payers. Professionals holding RHIA are experts in managing patient medical records and health information, collecting and analyzing patient information and administering computer information systems. One of the initial requirements for RHIA is a degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program. The pattern of its examination changes annually in response to organization demand or market trends. On the other hand, a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) is a health information technician who ensures that medical records are of good quality by verifying their accuracy, completeness an d correct entry into computer systems. They often specialize in coding procedures and diagnoses in patient records for purposes of reimbursement and research. Just like the RHIA, a degree from a CAHIIM-accredited program is one of the initial requirements for an RHIT. In addition, one must pass an AHIMA-administered written examination. According to AHIMAa (2010), 30% of RHIT exam tests on the knowledgeability in the management of health data. Thirteen percent of it tests on biomedical research, health statistics and quality management. Twenty five percent of this exam tests on information technology and systems. According to AHIMAb (2010), professionals with a Certified Coding Specialist (CCS) certification credential are skilled in classifying medical data from the medical records of the patient in a hospital