About Finnish Architect Alvar Aalto

About Finnish Architect Alvar Aalto Finnish architect Alvar Aalto (born February 3, 1898) became famous for both his modernist buildings and his furniture designs of bent plywood. His influence on American furniture-making continues to be seen in public buildings. Aaltos unique style grew out of a passion for painting and a fascination for the works of cubist artists Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. Fast Facts: Alvar Aalto Known For: Influential modern architecture and furniture designBorn: February 3, 1898 in Kuortane, FinlandDied: May 11, 1976 in Helsinki, FinlandEducation: Helsinki University of Technology, 1916–1921Key Accomplishments: Paimio Tuberculosis Sanatorium and Paimio Chair; Baker House dorm at MIT; three- and four-legged stools for adults, children, and restaurantsSpouses:  Finnish architect and designer Aino Maria Marsio and Finnish architect Elissa Mkiniemi Early Years Born in the age of form follow function and at the cusp of Modernism, Hugo Alvar Henrik Aalto graduated with honors in architecture from Helsinki University of Technology. His early works combined Neoclassical ideas with the International Style. Later, Aaltos buildings were characterized by asymmetry, curved walls, and complex textures. Many people say his architecture defies any style label. except for Modernist. Alvar Aaltos passion for painting led to the development of his unique architectural style. Cubism and collage , explored by the painters Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, became important elements in Aaltos work. As an architect, Aalto used color, texture, and light to create collage-like architectural landscapes. Professional Life The term Nordic Classicism has been used to describe some of Alvar Aaltos work. Many of his buildings combined sleek lines with richly textured natural materials such as stone, teak, and rough-hewn logs. Hes also been called a Human Modernist for what we might call today his client-centered approach to architecture. The Finnish architect received international acclaim with the completion of the Paimio Tuberculosis Sanatorium. The hospital he built in Paimio, Finland between 1929 and 1933 is still looked upon as one of the worlds best-designed healthcare facilities.  The details incorporated into the building design by Aalto illustrate many of the evidence-based design strategies published in recent years, writes Dr. Diana Anderson, MD in 2010. With an open-air roof terrace, sun balconies, inviting pathways throughout the grounds, orientation of the patient wing for rooms to receive full morning sunlight, and calming room colors, the architecture of the building is more modern than many healthcare facilities built today. Aalto also designed interiors and furnishing, and one of his most enduring creations is the chair designed for the tubercular patients at Paimio. The Paimio Sanatorium chair is so beautifully designed that it is part of the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Based on the metal tube Wassily chair designed in 1925 by Marcel Breuer, Aalto took laminated wood and bent it like Breuer bent metal to form a frame in which was placed a bent wooden seat. Designed to ease the breathing of a  tubercular patient, the Paimio chair is beautiful enough to be sold to todays consumer.   Maire Mattinen writes in the Forward  to the Nomination of Paimio Hospital for Inclusion in the World Heritage List, The hospital can be described as a Gesamtkunstwerk, all the aspects of which - the landscape, the function, the technology and the aesthetics - aim to promote the well-being and recuperation of the patients. Marriages Aalto was married twice. His first wife, Aino Mariso Aalto (1894–1949), was a partner in Artek, the furnishings workshop they established in 1935. They became famous for their furniture and glassware designs. After the death of Aino, Aalto married the Finnish architect Elissa Mkiniemi Aalto (1922–1994) in 1952. It was Elissa who carried on the businesses and completed ongoing projects after Aalto died. Death Alvar Aalto died on May 11, 1976 in Helsinki, Finland. He was 78 years old. Mr. Aaltos style was not easily characterized, but it was frequently described as humanistic, wrote architecture critic Paul Goldberger at the time of Aaltos death. Throughout his career he was more interested in creating architectural housings to reflect the complexities of functions within than in fitting functions into a simple form. Legacy Alvar Aalto is remembered with the likes of Gropius, Le Corbusier, and van der Rohe as a major influence on 20th century modernism. A review of his architecture realizes an evolution from simple classical forms of the 1924 White Guards Headquarters to the functional modernism of the 1933 Paimio Sanatorium. The 1935 Viipuri Library in Russia has been called International or even Bauhaus-like, yet Aalto rejected that modernism for something less stark. The 1948 Baker House dormitory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may be known on campus for its piano tossing event, yet the buildings wavy design and open spaces promote community and humanism. The Baker House, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Alvar Aalto. Santi Visalli/Getty Images (cropped) The curve in Aaltos architecture continued for the next 30 years, even in designs completed after his death, like the 1978 Church of the Assumption of Mary in Riola di Vergato, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. His impact on furniture design, however, is Aaltos legacy for not only people around the world, but to furniture makers such as the Eames partnership. Alvar Aalto often integrated architecture with interior design. He is the acknowledged inventor of bent wood furniture, a practical and modern idea that had far-reaching influences at home and abroad. As Aalto transformed Breuers bent metal into bent wood, Charles and Ray Eames took the concept of molded wood and created the iconic plastic molded chair. Without knowing the designers names, who hasnt sat on one of Aaltos curved wood designs or Breuers metal chairs or the Eames stackable plastic chairs? Furnishings by Alvar Aalto, 1938. Print Collector/Getty Images (cropped) One can easily think about Alvar Aalto when coming upon a bad reproduction of his furniture. Discover a three-legged stool in your storage shed, and you wonder why the legs keep falling out of the underside of the round seat, as they are only glued into little holes. Many old, broken stools could use a better design - like Aaltos STOOL 60 (1933).  Ã‚  In 1932, Aalto had developed a revolutionary type of furniture made of laminated bent plywood. His stools are simple designs with bent wooden legs that provide strength, durability, and stackability. Aaltos  Ã‚  STOOL E60 (1934) is a four-legged version. Aaltos BAR STOOL 64 (1935) is familiar because its been copied so often. All of these iconic pieces were designed when Aalto was in his 30s. Furniture that doesnt end up in storage is often designed by modern architects, because they have better ideas of how to keep things together. Sources Anderson, Diana. Humanizing the hospital: Design lessons from a Finnish sanatorium. Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), 2010 Aug 10; 182(11): E535–E537.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2917967/ Artek. Art Technology Since 1935. https://www.artek.fi/en/companyGoldberger, Paul.  Alvar Aalto Is Dead at 78; Master Modern Architect. The New York Times, May 13, 1976National Board of Antiquities. Nomination of Paimio Hospital for Inclusion in the World Heritage List. Helsinki 2005. nba.fi/fi/File/410/nomination-of-paimio-hospital.pdf

Adjective Order - Definition and Examples in Grammar

Adjective Order s in Grammar In English grammar, adjective order is the customary order in which two or more adjectives appear in front of a noun phrase. Although adjective order in English isnt random, ordering relations . . . are tendencies rather than rigid rules. (David Dennison, Cambridge History of the English Language) Examples and Observations (a) Very smart little gold-plated collar pins come in various designs.(Marion C. Taylor, Shopping for the Smart Set. The Smart Set, December 1911)(b) Stanley was the little smart one whom we went to for authoritative answers.(Philip Zimbardo, The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. Random House, 2007)(a) This brave old man and his sons were amongst the first to hear and heed the trumpet of freedom calling them to battle.(Frederick Douglas, Life and Times of Frederick Douglas, 1881)(b) This is the roadstead all of boardreached by the sailorwearing the watchthat tells the timeof the old, brave manthat lies in the house of Bedlam.(Elizabeth Bishop, Visits to St. Elizabeths. Partisan Review, Spring 1957)[A] brave young man and a brave old man are acceptable, but *brave blond man is not. Both young and old help specify the meaning of brave (brave young ... suggests taking risks, and brave old . . . suggests enduring, perhaps), but brave blond... is odd because it has no appropriate meaning elements to specify the sense of brave.(Jim Feist, Premodifiers in English: Their Structure and Significance. Cambridge University Press, 2012) The order of adjectives in English is not rand om; different types of adjectives occur in a certain order. The exception to this is with adjectives of general description and those of physical state (size, shape, color), where their order may be reversed. ( 16a) They own an enormous, long-handled cutting knife.( 16b) They own a long-handled, enormous cutting knife.( 17a) She has a round yellow sofa.( 17b) She has a yellow round sofa. When the adjective order is reversed, as in the sentences above, the speaker generally wants to emphasize or draw attention to the first adjective in the sequence.Native speakers and highly proficient non-native speakers know intuitively the order in which adjectives should occur when more than one is used. . . . However, the order of a string of adjectives is something that ESL/EFL learners need to learn.   (Andrea DeCapua, Grammar for Teachers: A Guide to American English for Native and Non-Native Speakers. Springer, 2008) The Order of Limiting and Descriptive Adjectives When limiting and descriptive adjectives appear together, the limiting adjectives precede the descriptive adjectives, with the articles usually in the first position: The ten yellow taxis were sold at auction.[article ( The), limiting adjective ( ten), descriptive adjective ( yellow)] (Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu, The Business Writers Handbook, 9th ed. Macmillan, 2010) The Order of Adjectives in a Series Sometimes adjectives appear in a string; when they do, they must appear in a particular order according to category.Adjective appear in the following order: 1. Determiners articles and other limiters . . .2. Observationpostdeterminers and limiter adjectives and adjectives subject to subjective measure . . .3. Size and shapeadjectives subject to objective measure . . .4. Ageadjectives describing age . . .5. Coloradjectives describing color . . .6. Originadjectives denoting the source of the noun . . .7. Materialadjectives describing what something is made of . . .8. Qualifierfinal limiter that is often part of the noun . . . (Kevin Wilson and Jennifer Wauson, The AMA Handbook of Business Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Style, Grammar, Punctuation, Usage, Construction, and Formatting. AMACOM, 2010) Norms and Variations Adjectives have mutual ordering relations which are tendencies rather than rigid rules: big brown bag is a more likely ordering than brown big bag. Over the entire recorded history of English there have been some changes herecompare Chaucers the old pore mans dethbut in our period there seems to be little chronological variation. We find such examples as ( 93a) but indeed that little foolish Woman has made me very uneasy.(1789 Betsy Sheridan, Journal 60 p. 171 ([15 June])( 93b) you little ungrateful puss(1848 Gaskell, Mary Barton vi.87)( 93c) Mrs Lee is a little timid woman(1850 Gaskell, Letters 70 p. 112 [26 April])( 93d) they came into the little interesting criss-crossy streets that held the most interesting shops of all(1906 Nesbit, Amulet i.18)( 94a) Then there is an old curious seat of the Marquis of Northampton(1838 Gaskell, Letters 12 p. 28 [18 August])( 94b) down some old mysterious stone steps(1841 ibid. 15 p. 820)( 95) in order to find the knitting old woman [some old woman who was famous . . . for her skill in knitting woolen stockings](1851-3 Gaskell, Cranford xi.101) In (93) we might expect little to come one place further to the right in PDE [present-day English], likewise old in (94), while knitting in (95) would probably come next to the head noun. Of course, isolated oddities do not in themselves show a difference in the language system, since at any period there has been freedom to violate the norms of adjectival order.(David Dennison, Syntax. The Cambridge History of the English Language, Volume 4, ed. by Suzanne Romaine. Cambridge University Press, 1998) Idiomatic Placement of Adjectives Harper 1975, 1985 points out that some precisiansnit-pickers is Harpers wordobject to the illogical placement of adjectives in such expressions as a hot cup of coffee, a brand-new pair of shoes. The argument is that its the coffee thats hot, the shoes that are brand-new. . . . Harper points out that the placement of these adjectives is idiomatically correct, so the nitpickers may be ignored.(Merriam-Websters Dictionary of English Usage. Merriam-Webster, 1994) Semantic Factors Affecting Adjective Order In most publications that discuss adjective order, the semantics of the adjectives is presented as the main factor determining their ordering, although phonological and pragmatic factors (like euphony, idiomacy and emphasis) are generally thought to have some influence as well. The publications do not agree, however, on the nature of the semantic factor that is responsible for the order of the adjectives. Biber et al. (1999) argue that (English) adjectives expressing inherent features have to stand closer to the noun than those expressing non-inherent features (e.g. a new red ball). Martin (1969), Posner (1986) and Sproat and Shih (1988), on the other hand, assume that the crucial factor for adjective ordering is their (in)dependence on comparison (i.e. the degree in which recognition of the feature asks for comparison with other objects). They argue that the less dependent on the comparison, the nearer the adjective is placed to the noun. Hetzron (1978) and Risselada (1984), in thei r turn, suppose that the subjectivity/objectivity of the adjectives controls their position: the more objective the quality expressed by the adjective (i.e. the more a matter of recognition instead of opinion), the closer to the noun it has to be expressed (e.g. a nice green shirt, *a green nice shirt). Wulff (2003), finally, concludes on the basis of a statistical corpus analysis that various factors affect adjective ordering, of which (in)dependence on the comparison, affective load and the subjectivity/objectivity of the adjective are most influential.(Stà ©phanie J. Bakker, The Noun Phrase in Ancient Greek. Brill, 2009) Also Known As: order of adjectives, adjectival order

Unique Image of Nelson Mandela Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Unique Image of Nelson Mandela - Essay Example Nelson Mandela bore a lot of pain for the sake of his country, thus, I have learned the importance of empathy. Understanding and helping others is what keeps us connected. Mandela willingly suffered for his country and that is why in turn he received a lot of love from millions of people. He is an example of the importance of connecting with others through his relationship with some men who would have been his enemies instead. He was a friend of Christi Brand who was his jailer and not at one time did he feel the urge to revenge. Mandela instills in me the importance of living a life at peace with everyone and the value of forgiveness. Consequently, Nelson Mandela’s life is also important to all college students since they have a lot to learn from him. The college students are the future presidents and they need to have all the good leadership qualities Mandela had to be great leaders in history. Mandela also went to law school and it is in school that he started non-violent a cts of resistance. This is a good example to college students who are willing to make changes in the society. He was set out to unite people in fighting the apartheid rule thus; students can learn the importance of unity in doing things. The project on Nelson Mandela is important in current times because we are experiencing a society filled with poverty, inequality, and suffering. All these things were among what Mandela fought tirelessly and we can learn from him that we really need to eradicate them for a better society.

World war II technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

World war II technology - Essay Example Hence World War II is characterized by the introduction of modern warfare. It was the peak of the activities, such as industrial development and scientific introduction into machine industry and military field that enabled advancements. The build up to the usage of heavy military machinery and technology was in action and practice way earlier than the World War II set into action. For example, the traces can be seen in late 1920s and mid 1930s where the Germans resolved to expand their military strength by enhancing their military, naval, and air force strength. For example, the usage of nuclear technology and nuclear physics enabled the use of atomic bomb which was an unprecedented event and a single bomb resulted in destruction of the entire city. During the war, the capturing of the iron ore rich areas in Norway and Denmark was similar moves, which were based on the concept of capitalizing on the areas of strength and capturing them before the enemy, so that the military needs cou ld be fulfilled in terms of the heavy machinery needs. (Parker 25) It was rightly said by Churchill that never in the history the battle field had so many owed so much to so few. Referring to the outstanding performance of the Great Britain’s air force, the battle of Britain which lasted over 2 months, resulting in destruction of over 700 fighters of British forces and over 1300 of German forces, speaks of the kind of technology that was adopted and introduced at that time. This technology enabled the battle that lasted for over two months to complete and all through the courtesy of science and technology incorporated into military field and defense purposes. Despite the global recession and days of Depression all over, Germany had focused on establishing military strength and large arsenal that would be used in a few years time against the enemy. Hence, technically it would be wrong to say that the technology and advancements crept in only during the course of the Second Wor ld War, rather it was in force and action for number of years. The German military and air force might which was known as Luftwaffe (Pimlott 141) was famous for its smart and timely work and was nicknamed as lightening fast, since it enabled to reach the targets in no time and over powering them. Aircrafts, counter machines and weapons, such as anti air craft missiles, radar systems, interceptors, use of chemical weapons, atomic bombs, all were the gifts of the Second World War. The presence of large amount of arsenal manufacturing industries in different parts of the axis region was focused and motivated by the sole reason of usage on large scale during the Second World War. Use of tanks was exhibited for the first time in the history of battle fields. The tanks were richly supported to allow moving through the canals, and other marshy areas which were not accessible at earlier times, and in absence of such ability the tanks would become a liability. However, this was not the case in this particular war and owing to the advancements in the military and scientific field, tanks had become a very necessary tool to overcome the enemy and thereby each side invested heavy in this domain. V2 and U2 (Bishop ,323) bombers were another feat that were achieved and gifted through the Second World War expedition. While the First World War was more of static in nature, and relied heavily on the naval strength, since Britain being part of the Allies group had strength on naval front, the convention was changed and both the allies and Axis, resorted to new means and tactics, and thereby expanded their strength in ground and air domain, as a result pressing the pedal over inventions and introduction

Organizational Culture Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Organizational Culture - Assignment Example During the recruitment phase the prospective employees are required to fill firms having features like cross-word puzzles, so as to extend to the future employees the idea of what Zappos is all about. During the encounter phase Zappos resorts to an extensive orientation program to immerse the new employees into the quintessential Zappos values. The company offers the new employees a $1000 reward in case they decide not to join Zappos. This gives the new employees an idea of the kind of commitment to organizational values that Zappos expects of them. During the last phase of organizational socialization that is during the change and acquisition phase, Zappos allows the employees to evince commitment to its essential value of customer service in an extempore and innately natural manner. The Zappos employees are not expected to resort to any script or format while dealing with the customers. Zappos also offers happy hours to its employees when they engage in team activities and recreati on. This allows the employees to develop commitment to the Zappos values in their own unique and natural manner. 2. There is no denying the fact that the success of a company to a large extent depends on its employees’ capacity to gel their personal beliefs and values with the organizational values. Zappos has a concerted strategy aimed at assuring that its organizational values fit with the values of the people it hires. Zappos has an extensive recruitment program which seriously digs into the values of the prospective employees to access as to what extent the values of a future employee blend with the Zappos’ organizational values. Once the employees are recruited, Zappos conducts an orientation programs to make sure that the new employees do get an idea of the essential Zappos values woven around customer service and ingenuity. Zappos offers to every new employee an incentive of $1000, in case one decides to quiet right at the start. This strategy extends to Zappos an opportunity to access as to what extent the values of the recruited employees blend with the organizational values. This also helps Zappos configure that to what extent an employee is comfortable with and committed to the organizational values. Part B 1. A few years back I had a chance to work at the local Sugar Sweet Bakery. It was a Big Bakery that employed around 67 people. Extending a personalized service to each and every customer happened to be a core value at Sugar Sweet Bakery. To embed this value in the organizational culture, Mr. Butler, the owner of the Bakery made it a point to role model the core values that this business was committed to. Each and every employee at Sugar Sweet was personally greeted by Mr. Butler every morning as one entered the Bakery. All employees were expected to have their breakfast every morning with Mr. Butler and other managers at the Bakery premises. During breakfast employees were encouraged the share their experiences and concerns with ea ch other and the management. The objective was to give way to a family like atmosphere at the organization. Consequently the employees carried this acquired value of personalized care to the customers and extended a personalized and customized service to each and every customer that visited the Sugar Sweet Bakery. 2. Though the family like organizational atmosphere at this

Accounting Essays Comparability of Financial Statements

Accounting Essays Comparability of Financial Statements Comparability of Financial Statements. 1.0 Financial Statements and its Significance. In recent times, we have witnessed tremendous policy reforms and recommendations being made to tackle and control the manner in which businesses carry out their accounting work. Numerous accounting mismanagement and malpractices have only added to the urgency to bring regulations that seek to keep a check on accounting procedures followed by the corporate world. The failure of companies such as Enron due to inappropriate accounting tactics stands out as a perfect example. Investors in the form of shareholders and stakeholders provide huge sum of capital anticipating higher future returns. Firms are known to tamper with financial data in order to attract prospective investors to finance their capital requirements and debt elimination. Recently, Shell, one of world biggest energy and oil producing companies was accused of overstating oil reserves to attract investments and had eventually admitted to have tampered with its financial data. Therefore, proper scrutiny of financial statements is essentials especially since various individual and business interests are developed citing information provided in these statements. Countries such as the US have come up with regulations such as US GAAP1 to assess financial policies pursued by corporates and the format to be followed in publishing financial statements. Countries have adopt accounting procedures and guidelines framed under the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to eliminate discrepancies in financial analysis, improve investment opportunities and to make financial information available. By 2005, all companies registered in the EU have to adhere by new accounting standard. Countries such as UK have come under immense pressure to replace UK GAAP with the new IFRS scheme. Investors often depend on various financial ratios to determine when and where to invest. Such complexities and the presence of diverse interests groups make it essential to develop financial mechanisms that determine the financial health of a company. Companies have to publish Annual Reports that summarise its financial status and act as a medium of information to its shareholders. An important and significant step in determining the health of a company is to analysis its historical financial statements. These historical data provides a picture of the financial health of a business and a roadmap outlining the direction the business is heading. The financial data are covered under various headings such as the Balance Sheet and Income Statements. Each of these has a particular format and is based on the principles of financial regulation framework such as the GAAP. We shall look at them briefly in the following chapter and also look at other techniques developed due to the shortcoming some of these financial ratios are known to show. 2.0 Understanding Financial Ratios Ratio is nothing but the comparison of one figure with another and is normally depicted as a percentage. Financial ratio is an analytical tool used to analyse trends, strength and weakness of a companys assets and its liabilities. Financial ratios are compared overtime on a year to year basis. The basic source for these ratios comes from the companys financial statements which contains information on the assets, liabilities, profits and losses and dividends accruing to its shareholders.2 The most common ratios can be classified under the following headings: Profitability Ratios Liquidity Ratios Capital Structure Ratios In the financial world, firms rely on investors to raise funds for its short and long term needs. This is done by floating shares in the stock markets or by issuing debentures or bonds (loans). The funds may come in the form of short term, medium or long term loans. An investor will only invest if he is fully convinced that his investment will gain higher returns/dividends. He may look at the balance sheet to analyse how much the company is worth. Liquidity is an important criterion that influences investor decisions. The company must be able to pay back its loans on time and doing so will only raise its reputation in the capital market for future borrowings. The company that relies heavily on borrowing its expenses will obviously find it difficult to service its liabilities. Besides, customers spending habit has a larger impact on the companys sales and liquidity. Purchase affects the companys stock of goods which, in turn, affects its liquidity. Since stocks cannot be sold in short notice, it has a direct impact on the firms capability to raise fund to finance short term debt financing. The current liabilities have to be settled in cash within short period of time. The presence of large stocks will artificially inflate the total current assets which may make it appear as if the company has enough resources to meet its short term liabilities. We shall look at some popular ratios that, though informative, cannot be used as an ideal tool for financial analysis. Lets see how. The annual report 2004 of The EMI Group suggests that group has current assets (including stocks) worth  £1107 million and current liabilities worth  £1403.5 million. The resultant current ratio is 0.78:1.3 This figure suggests that the Group does not have enough short term resources to meet its short term requirements. It has only 78 pence to meet a pound of debt. If we deduct the stocks ( £36.4 million) from its current assets to see its immediate liquidity, the quick ratio shows an even poor debt financing capability. The quick ratio is 0.76:1.4 This figure suggests that the Group has only 76 pence to meet every 1 pound worth of debt.5 Analysing the results suggest that it would be inappropriate to rely on the current ratio as it does not explain how much the company real assets are readily convertible into cash in short notice. Stocks are not highly liquid and therefore must be excluded in assessing the companys liquidity in the short period. Therefore, current ratio cannot be used as a reliable means to make investment decisions and that it essential that we look at other ratios and their merits and demerits to determine which of these is appropriate in the capital market. The Gross Profit Ratio is the ratio between the Gross Profit and the Sales Revenue. The Gross Profits is arrived at by deducting the Cost of Sales from the Sales Revenue.6 To analyse this ratio we shall look at the Income Statement of The Sandvik Group.7 The Consolidated Income Statement suggests that the group had an Invoiced Sales of  £4010.2 million and Cost of Sales equalling  £2742 million. The GP ratio between these two figures is 1.46:1 meaning that the group is able to make 46 pence extra from every  £1 of sales. It may look appealing but it must be noted that the Cost of Sales does not include other expenses that may significantly reduce the gross profits.8 If we deduct other expenses worth  £741.9 million, the operating profits drop to  £526.3 million. The Shareholders and the companys future investment plans and its dividend policies depends on the Net Profits. It is arrived at by deducting the interest payables. The Sandviks Net Profits for the year after tax de ductions are equivalent to  £327million. We can see that though the Gross Profit ratio is a useful ratio it does not shows the companys financial position and does not influence any investment decisions. The real true figure that matters is the Net Profits after taxation. The ratio categorised under capital structure ratios are more elaborate and descriptive. However when using ratios such as gearing and interest cover, factor such as market structure, consumer preference and taste, economies of scale, product type have considerable influence. For example, payments from debtors depends of consumer income and preference. These factors have its affect on the current assets (cash) which will in turn affect the company ability to pay its creditors. The points here is that though some factors cannot be measured and may not have direct consequences (market structure) it cannot be ignored. The ideas highlighted above are very important in performing financial analysis of a company. The accounting professionals have introduced techniques that are more accurate and explicable. We shall look at one such technique in the next chapter. 3.0 Improvement in assessment of financial statement. We have seen the technical failure of various financial ratios and the difficulty in using them as a tool to make investment decisions. Comparing financial results from different periods has its own drawbacks because there are no independent frameworks to assess whether the companys current results are good or bad. It is very important that care must be taken when comparing results between two different companies in terms of products, size, market share etc. For example, company A may have a significant market share (turnover) compared to company Bs but smaller net profit due to its bigger operational costs. Such discrepancies can influence wrong investment patterns and decisions. Another major drawback of ratio analysis is that accountants indulge in creative accounting techniques where ratios calculated from published financial statements show favourable figures. For example, sale and repurchase agreements manipulate liquidity figures and off-balance sheet finance which distorts return on capital employed and thereby influencing companys gearing. It is therefore essential that new approach to assessing financial statement must be devised and changed to suit to new market conditions. One such technique was developed by Professor Altman who devised a new technique popularly known as the Z-Score.9 The Z-Score is a statistical model that incorporates the use of five different ratios which serve to predict the health of a firm.10 The Z-Score is used to predict bankruptcy of the business using traditional financial ratios and statistical method known as the Multiple Discriminant Analysis. The Z-score is considered to be 90 % accurate in forecasting business failure one year into the future and 80 percent accurate in forecasting it two years into the future.11 By selecting various financial ratios and applying weight to each ratio it is possible to estimate the financial position of the company. In his study, he analysed over 22 such financial ratios and selected 5 distinctive ratios that focused on the balance sheet and performance ratios. Weights were assigned by establishing appropriate coefficients to show how each of these ratios influenced the dependent Z-Score. Altman Z-Score equation: Z = X1 (a) + X2 (b) + X3 (c) + X4 (d) + X5 (e)12 Where, X1 Working Capital/Total Assets. X2 Retained Earning/Total Assets. X3 EBIT/Total Assets.13 X4 Market Value Equity/Book Value of Total Debt. X5 Sales/Total Assets a, b, c, d, e are respective coefficient assigned to each ratios (X1,X2 ¦Ã‚ ¦..X5). Z Overall Z-Score. Now, companies expand their reach in the global market by producing goods that belong to different markets. Firms engage in horizontal and vertical integration to expand their market and also to reduce risk by spreading their resources in different activities. It is therefore illogical to do a financial comparison of firms from different industry. Professor Altman overcame the problem of comparing companies that specialised in different industries by altering the above equation by eliminating certain ratios. For example, Ratio X5 for non-manufacturing companies. This is done because sales/total assets ratio greatly varies from industry to industry. Z = X1 (a) + X2 (b) + X3 (c) + X4 (d) He modified the equation for a privately held company by implementing book value of equity as a private companys stocks are not publicly traded. He further devised Z Score table to determine a financial healthy company from a sick company in various industries. The companies in the grey area were considered misclassified. Unhealthy Gray Area Healthy Private Companies < 1.23 1.23 2.90 > 2.90 Public Companies < 1.81 1.81 2.99 > 2.99 Non Manufacturing Companies < 1.00 1.11 2.60 > 2.60 The Z Score technique is gaining popularity in the financial world as an efficient and accurate method to predict financial health of a company and also it is less likely to be manipulated as Ratio Analysis are known to be. In the next chapter I shall focus on the International Financial Reporting standard and look at ways it can be improved to promote comparability and facilitate globalisation and movement of capital. 4.0 Financial Reporting and Applications. The International Financial Reporting Standards also known as the International Accounting Standard are a set of accounting standards companies must follow when formulating financial policies and publication of financial statements. In the EU, new regulations require EU companies to adopt International Accounting Standards by the year 2005. Questions have been raised as to whether we need international standards with massive movement towards free market. As Mr. Andrew Crockett puts in advances in IT and the ascendancy of free market principles have underpinned government-led to market-led financial system ¦.the period saw the emergence of financial instability 14 Mr. Crockett also stress on the fact that we need to develop, seek global acceptance of, and implement a set of codes or standards that pertain to key elements of financial system infrastructure . It was felt that certain regulations on financial prices, financial statements framework, and accounting principles pertaining to domestic and cross border transactions were hindering market forces. These factors combined with the shift towards greater fiscal and monetary prudence laid the foundation for a system that controlled capital movement across borders and international standards that improved global accounting principles. The steps taken to achieve efficient financial mechanism must be able to address two factors firstly, it must be able to identify the most economic way of utilising resources and secondly, it must be able to control the manner in which these resources are utilised. It forms the basis for the allocation of income among various claimants on the company and to bring in financial discipline. The major advantages of such reporting standards are:- It helps in poverty reduction by reducing the risk of financial crisis and their impact on the global poor. It achieves significance because the scope of globalisation has reached almost every single country. It helps in creating investor confidence by improving investment climate, eradication of loopholes affecting direct and indirect investments. Its helps by eliminating barriers on free movement of market information and sentiments. It assists local governments to implement taxation regulations and also unwanted barriers to trade. Despite the advantages of having international standards for financial reporting, it is quite evident that certain factors act as a barrier to accounting standards. For e.g. the UK banking sector has been in the forefront of this conflict between the international standards and the national standards. Lets very briefly look at two such regulations that will have an impact on the banking sector the Basel II capital accord and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), which apply to all companies listed in the EU.15 Basel II requires banks to link their capital to risk. It is likely to have consequences on all types of lending to SMEs and large companies. Despite the advantages in terms of better risk management and accurate pricing of loans, the complexity involved in switching will cause some problems. The eventual replacement of UK GAAP with the IFRS comes with the complexity of changing over, cost involved and bad debt provisions. According to an article published in the Business Money magazine by Mr. Mike Imeson, the HSBC bank incurred $ 400 million in expense to bring regulatory changes in accounting standards world over in 2003. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr. Stephen Pegge, Lloyd TSB in this article by saying that when a business approaches you for a loan, you wont know for certain which legislation applies .16 Considering the above statements, it is essential to look at national concern towards the development of an international standard on financial regulation. It is true that it will improve investment opportunities by elimination of unwanted barriers and it is also likely to create expenses that may prove as a hindrance to an already volatile and underdeveloped financial systems in most countries. As Mr. Pegge puts in, it will create confusion in the mind of investors and lenders as to what legislation applies and bureaucratic delays in understanding and applying them. 5.0 Conclusions In the preceding chapters, we have seen the importance of financial analysis in investment choice and decision making. The ratio forms a very important aspect in making financial choices and also acts as a medium for companies to assess their business performance. Financial analysis of these ratios influences the interests of various groups of individuals and organisations such as Individual shareholders, Employees, Managers, Directors, Governments. Considering these interest groups and affects on each of these entities, the need for an international framework for accounting standard has being increasing felt. It acts as a medium of information for the investors who would assess the basis for making further investments and also to see how well the company is performing. The managers stand to benefit as their remuneration and income are directly linked to the company performance. The governments policy towards economic development and need for further reforms are based on these financial analysis and financial statements. It forms the basis for taxes on trade and tax benefits and exemptions. While the importance haves been highlighted, it is also essential to note that drawbacks are not ignored. As Mr. Pegge points out there must be a clear understanding of the legislations and it must work towards reducing costs rather than increasing it. To conclude, financial reforms and regulations are an essential component in todays global economy. Financial statements must as an informative source free from manipulations of date and figures. References and Bibliography Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA), (2005 Edition), Financial Accounting Fundamentals Paper C2. Chartered Institute of Management Accountant (CIMA), (2005 Edition), Management Accounting Fundamentals Paper C1. Annual Report, 2004, The EMI Group. Annual Report, 2004, The Sandvik Group. Internet Sources: The EMI Group www.emigroup.com/financial.html The Sandvik Group www3.sandvik.com/pdf/annualreports/sandvik2004_eng_web.pdf Vercor The Global Resource for Business, Sales, Merger and Acquisitions www.vercoradvisor.com/articles/companyscore.html Bank for International Settlement www.bis.org/speeches/sp020227.htm BusinessMoney.com http://www.business-money.com/features_mike_imeson_jan05.html Ventureline www.ventureline.com/SampleOneIndustry.asp

Essay --

Gay Marriage is an issue that our society deals with on a day to day basic. It is an issue that has been brought up in many states. It has even had issues brought before the Supreme Court. In the United States gay marriages are frowned upon in some states and in others gay marriages are supported. There are people who would argue that there is nothing wrong with gay marriages. They would further argue and believe is that gays should have the same rights as a heterosexual marriage. There are some stereotypes and issues that gay couple faces some are: What makes them different from any other marriage, why (in some states that gay marriage is supported) their spouses do not have the same rights as those with a heterosexual marriage, and why society frown upon this issue. Over the years people have come to accept that there is not anything wrong with gay marriages. But there are some people who fight the idea that it should be legal. If marriage is defined as the union between two people, why is it considered morally wrong for two people of the same sex to get married? That’s when the question is proposed, what makes gay marriage different from heterosexual marriages? Why can’t they have the rights to love, honor and commit like heterosexual couples? Some may argue in the bible it states it is wrong to be involved in a gay marriage. If two people love each other why can they not get married? There are so many arguments that can be brought up to justify marriage and for couples to receive benefits like any other couple. In this society understand why some people like myself I feel like people have the right to be with who they want to be with and just because you don’t believe in it doesn’t make it bad. A gay person is no diffe... ...y should someone be denied the right to get married just because they are gay? Why shouldn’t someone marry who they want just because some has a personal or moral issue with it from their beliefs. To me that is not morally fair to judge someone, how can someone preach about morals and say god don’t judge but that what they are doing to others judging. Gay people need love too, they cannot help the fact that they fell in love with a person of the same sex as they are love is uncontrollable. From a Christian point of view you know that God has planned out your life before you even started your life. I believe that know matter race, religion or sexual preference anyone should be able to marry. Also if gay marriages are morally wrong why did God allow some people to fall in love with someone of the opposite sex? Gay marriage will be an ethical issue for years to come.

Salesforce Case Study

1 . How does Salesforce. com use cloud computing? Salesforce. com use clound computing software as a service . Many advantages and disadvantages come with using the software-as-a-service model. Some of the advantages include: Automatic updates- This means that the user will always be getting the latest version of the software, with no new downloads required. No installs- You don’t have to worry about installing software onto any of the computers. This leaves less room for compatibility issues for computers. Usually if you use a standard web browser, more than likely you will be able to use the service. Low Cost- The upfront cost of cloud computing is small. The user can space the payments out over a period of time, paying monthly payments. Doing this avoids any large upfront costs. There are also disadvantages of using this model. These include: Security issues- Since software-as-a-service is not run directly by the company using it, it is possible that the information can be seen and leaked by others who run the program. Online connection-An online connection is needed to run the system. Therefore if you are somewhere without internet service, you will be unable to use the program. Ongoing payments-Ongoing payments are necessary to keep the service going. Unlike regular software where you only pay one payment to install it, if you don’t pay for the services your account will be shutoff. 2. How does Salesforce. com use cloud computing? AnsSalesforce has come across several challenges throughout its growth. One of these challenges is competition from new businesses wanting to replicate Salesforce and also from traditional industrial leaders. A few of these competitors includes Microsoft, SAP, Oracle, and smaller companies such as NetSuite. Another challenge for Salesforce is deciding if it should expand its business into other areas. As of now, Salesforce is used mainly by sales staff to keep track of leads and customer lists. Salesforce has formed a partnership with Google to hopefully expand functionally. A third challenge for Salesforce is its availability. It has occasional outages, causing companies that depend on Salesforce to be available 27/7 to rethink their usage as software as a service. Salesforce is working very hard to overcome these challenges. They are doing their best to keep up with competitors and to expand their business. They are also providing tools to assure dependability to their clients about the systems reliability. They are offering an application that allows users to work offline, which is a big advantage in case a person is unable to have internet service and needs to use the system. 3. What kinds of businesses could benefit from switching to Salesforce and why? Ans. Just about any company could benefit by switching to Salesforce. com. Salesforce is a great way for companies to keep track of records and information. Almost every company needs a place to be able to manage these types of things. Salesforce gives companies a single place to store all their information and can only be accessed by authorized employees. 4. What factors would you take into account in deciding whether to use Saleforce. com for your business? One of the factors I would take into consideration when deciding if I would use Salesforce for my business is its reliability. If my company had a rough time with its internet service, then I probably wouldn’t use Salesforce, considering that internet service is a requirement. I would also determine if my company would have the money to continuously pay for the program. I would think about its security issues and how that could affect my business. I would also think about how no installation is needed. This means that it’s one less software I have to download on my computer to slow it down and take up storage space. I consider this to be a really big advantage to using Salesforce. 5. Could a company run its entire business using Salesforce. com, Force. com, and App Exchange? Explain your answer. Yes, a company could run its entire business using Salesforce. com and App Exchange. From what I have seen on the Salesforce. com website, it can accommodate businesses processes such as sales, marketing, finance, manufacturing, and HR. When I looked up all the different applications on App Exchange, I saw that there are apps for just about everything. Applications can support tasks such as emailing, creating documents, and e-signatures. Between Salesforce. com and App Exchange, a company has everything necessary to successfully run a business.

Peroxisomes - Eukaryotic Organelles

Peroxisomes - Eukaryotic Organelles Peroxisomes are small organelles found in eukaryotic plant and animal cells. Hundreds of these round organelles can be found within a cell. Also known as microbodies, peroxisomes are bound by a single membrane and contain enzymes that produce hydrogen peroxide as a by-product. The enzymes decompose organic molecules through oxidation reactions, producing hydrogen peroxide in the process. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to the cell, but peroxisomes also contain an enzyme that is capable of converting hydrogen peroxide to water. Peroxisomes are involved in at least 50 different biochemical reactions in the body. Types of organic polymers that are broken down by peroxisomes include amino acids, uric acid, and fatty acids. Peroxisomes in liver cells help to detoxify alcohol and other harmful substances through oxidation. Key Takeaways: Peroxisomes Peroxisomes, also known as microbodies, are organelles that are found in both eukaryotic animal and plant cells.A number of organic polymers are broken down by peroxisomes including amino acids, uric acid, and fatty acids. At least 50 different biochemical reactions in the body involve peroxisomes.Structurally, peroxisomes are surrounded by one membrane that encloses digestive enzymes. Hydrogen peroxide is produced as a by-product of peroxisome enzyme activity which decomposes organic molecules.Functionally, peroxisomes are involved in both the destruction of organic molecules and the synthesis of important molecules in the cell.Similar to mitochondria and chloroplast reproduction, peroxisomes have the ability to assemble themselves and reproduce by dividing in a process known as peroxisomal biogenesis. Peroxisomes Function In addition to being involved in the oxidation and decomposition of organic molecules, peroxisomes are also involved in synthesizing important molecules. In animal cells, peroxisomes synthesize cholesterol and bile acids (produced in the liver). Certain enzymes in peroxisomes are necessary for the synthesis of a specific type of phospholipid that is necessary for the building of heart and brain white matter tissue. Peroxisome dysfunction can lead to the development of disorders that affect the central nervous system as perioxsomes are involved in producing the lipid covering (myelin sheath) of nerve fibers. The majority of peroxisome disorders are the result of gene mutations that are inherited as autosomal recessive disorders. This means that individuals with the disorder inherit two copies of the abnormal gene, one from each parent. In plant cells, peroxisomes convert fatty acids to carbohydrates for metabolism in germinating seeds. They are also involved in photorespiration, which occurs when carbon dioxide levels become too low in plant leaves. Photorespiration conserves carbon dioxide by limiting the amount of CO2 available to be used in photosynthesis. Peroxisome Production Peroxisomes reproduce similarly to mitochondria and chloroplasts in that they have the ability to assemble themselves and reproduce by dividing. This process is called peroxisomal biogenesis and involves the building of the peroxisomal membrane, intake of proteins and phospholipids for organelle growth, and new peroxisome formation by division. Unlike mitochondria and chloroplasts, peroxisomes have no DNA and must take in proteins produced by free ribosomes in the cytoplasm. The uptake of proteins and phospholipids increases growth and new peroxisomes are formed as the enlarged peroxisomes divide. Eukaryotic Cell Structures In addition to peroxisomes, the following organelles and cell structures can also be found in eukaryotic cells: Cell Membrane: The cell membrane protects the integrity of the interior of the cell. It is a semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cell.Centrioles: When cells divide, centrioles help to organize the assembly of microtubules.Cilia and Flagella: Both cilia and flagella aid in cellular locomotion and can also help move substances around cells.Chloroplasts: Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis in a plant cell. They contain chlorophyll, a green substance that can absorb light energy.Chromosomes: Chromosomes are located in the cells nucleus and carry heredity information in the form of DNA.Cytoskeleton: The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers that support the cell. It can be thought of as the cells infrastructure.Nucleus: The cells nucleus controls cell growth and reproduction. It is surrounded by the nuclear envelope, a double-membrane.Ribosomes: Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis. Most often, individual ribosomes have both a small and large subunit.Mitochondria: Mit ochondria provide energy for the cell. They are considered the cells power house. Endoplasmic Reticulum: The endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes carbohydrates and lipids. It also produces proteins and lipids for a number of cell components.Golgi Apparatus: The golgi apparatus manufactures, stores, and ships certain cellular products. It can be thought of as the shipping and manufacturing center of the cell.Lysosomes: Lysosomes digest cellular macromolecules. They contain a number of hydrolytic enzymes that help to break down cellular components.

Learning from a world class designer, Erik Spiekermann

Learning from a world class designer, Erik Spiekermann Learning from a world-class designer and typographer, Erik Spiekermann Today, our CEO Emmanuel has the amazing  opportunity to interview Erik Spiekermann. Erik is a world-famous art historian, typographer, designer and author who says  he is â€Å"suffering from typomania: a sickness that is incurable but not lethal.†Erik is the designer behind many global brands and publications such as Audi, Bosch and The Economist. Erik also designed exclusive typefaces for Nokia and  Mozilla, as well as designing the reading app  Blloon  from his own design agency Edenspiekermann.Followed by over 300,000 people on Twitter, he is frequently asked to contribute to books and magazines on a range of topics from visual language to bicycles (he owns 13 of them).When I first reached out to you to present you Reedsy and our cover designers, you said to me:  Ã¢â‚¬Å"There are plenty of great cover designers out there and while I love designing covers, I find that way too easy and superficial. I have seen too many books with great covers but horribly designe d content. It’s like great packaging, but when you open it, the food inside looks brown and boring. It may still be nourishing, but my appetite is gone. I am interested in designing the actual words, adding an aesthetic dimension to the text while making it easily readable and appropriate to the medium.†I thought it was fantastic to see that you wouldn’t stop at the cover and pay attention to the design and craftsmanship of the entire book, similar to what Apple does with their iMarvels. But do people generally understand the importance of design for books the same way they now care about the craftsmanship behind their iPhones?Design works not because people understand or even appreciate it but because it works subliminally. Just like background music in a store. Nobody would admit to being influenced by it, but it generates a mood, whether we listen consciously or not.Are you a maverick or a trendsetter?You cannot deliberately be a trendsetter, just like you can not design a classic. Only time will tell if something becomes a trend. My track record isn’t bad - probably because I look around, read a lot, travel and generally have my ear to the ground. I’m probably a maverick because I’ve never written or read a business plan but have raised a few successful businesses.I have seen your complaints about the printed version of The Circle: not enough leading, wrong typeface, etc. What do you look for when you first open a book? Could you give us an example of a beautiful novel and tell us a little bit why you like its design?I don’t have one in front of me, but if we were near my bookshelves in Berlin, I’d pull out some of the books from Andere Bibliothek, like this one, Der Nazi und der Psychiater we happened to have designed. They have every book designed by a different designer and I do my own typesetting. It doesn’t take any longer to pick the right typeface and try it out than it does to pick the wr ong one. You do have to read the book (if only diagonally) and you have to know your typefaces and how to use them. But that is the craft I expect every graphic designer to know.Are some publishers better than others at publishing nicely designed books? What about indie authors?Yes, some take more care. I have no idea about indie authors, but most authors are their own worst enemies when it comes to designing their books. They are way too close to them. If you establish a good template and perhaps even pick just one typeface that works for whatever type of books you publish, you can just flow your manuscript into it and get 80% quality.I read on a Kindle and I’ve never changed the typeface, the margins or the spacing. It doesn’t look very refined, but I find it pleasant to read. Am I missing something? Which e-reader has the best typefaces? Are there e-reader settings you believe enhance the reader experience?I know nothing about e-readers. What little I’ve seen made me despair. Things may be better by now but I have not been interested. But the same goes for a screen that goes for paper: consider your text, your substrate, your audience and know the rules of typography. Most editors don’t and seem to consider designers a nuisance and a superfluous expense.Do typographers and book interior designers have a new role with the progressive switch to ebooks?Yes, but the same one as always. It may be more difficult because the engineers always pretend that nobody can get past their technical constraints.As a more general question, what are the innovations in the publishing industry you find most interesting?The fact that I don’t really need a publisher anymore, except perhaps for distribution. I am going to publish the German version of my â€Å"Stop Stealing Sheep and find out how type works†. I am the author and the designer and deliver a complete ready-to-print pdf anyway. The printing costs aren’t that much of a d eal and I can generate enough demand through my own channels. The printer will warehouse the books for me, so all I have to do is pay someone to do the shipping.By the time most first-time indie authors reach the phase of book development generally reserved for design, they are chomping at the bit to see their book finished. What are the top three features of a good book design that authors should value above all others?I have never been involved with indie authors, so I’ve never had to make up any rules for them. What I do as a designer is what I mentioned above: I bring content, media and audience together.You share your time between San Francisco, Berlin and London. Which city cares the most about typography?London. They have more tradition and variety although Berlin has higher technical standards. If it hadn’t been for WWII with its interruption and subsequent definition of German culture and intellectual life, it would be ahead. But the continuum broke when Germa n intellectuals left the country. That cut was too deep to ever heal.Many thanks for answering my questions, Erik!Best from SF. Erik SpiekermannFollow Erik Spiekermann and Reedsy on Twitter:  @espiekermann  and @ReedsyHQWhat do you think the future holds for book design and typography? Do you agree with Erik that  Ã¢â‚¬Å"design works not because people understand or even appreciate it but because it works subliminally†?

Pyramids at Giza Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Pyramids at Giza - Essay Example Many theories have been proposed to explain how the huge blocks of stone were maneuvered up the 481-foot tall pyramid. Of the many theories proposed two theories have gained prominence and these are the crane theory and the more recently proposed internal ramp theory. The crane theory as explained by Bob Brier in an article from the Archeology Magazine is based on the theory by Herodotus who had visited the pyramids around 450 B.C. He had proposed that machines like cranes were could have been used to raise the stone blocks up the pyramid. In the article Bob Brier further explained that crane-like devices called the shadouf were used to draw water from the Nile for the purpose of irrigation. These devices have been depicted in tomb paintings which further confirm that these were available to the tomb builders. Herodotus proposed that several hundreds of these cranes could have been placed at various points of the pyramid as and when it was erected to facilitate the lifting of the sto ne blocks. However, manufacturing several hundreds of cranes would have required huge quantities of wood and timber was not available in abundance in ancient Egypt. While large amounts of timber were imported during that time for building ships it would have been an expensive task if timber were to be imported for manufacturing these cranes. Another flaw identified with the theory was the lack of space to accommodate the cranes higher up in the pyramid due to the decrease in its size. Thus the crane theory did not provide any substancial evidence on how the pyramids were built. In addition to the crane theory, several ramp theories have also been proposed to explain the construction of the pyramids. Of these the more recent theory on the use of internal ramps to build the top two-thirds of the pyramid has gained wide acceptance. This theory has been presented by Jean-Pierre Houdin who carried out an extensive study of the Great pyramids over the

Marketing Research on Internet Television Essay

Marketing Research on Internet Television - Essay Example It would be conducted using qualitative method, along with two sets of Questionnaires, first, containing personal data about the respondents, and second, the relevant rankings of the preferences in the score 1-5, 1 being assigned for strong disagreement, and progressive rankings given for level of preferences till rank 5 for strong agreement, ascribed to the highest preference or usage liking. A Sample of Personal data Questionnaire is being attached as an Appendix to this work. The Main Statements that would be put forth to the respondents and tested are as follows:1. The respondents believe that these forms or mediums are easy to use given the benefits and satisfaction of watching television on them. Computer Terminals, Mobile phones, iPod, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, PDA. 2. The respondents favour watching internet Television on the following mediums: Computer Terminals, Mobile phones, iPod, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, PDA. 3. The respondents intend to watch Television on the following mediums: Computer Terminals, Mobile phones, iPod, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PDA. 4. The respondents have actually used internet TV on the following mediums and have been satisfied with its use: Computer Terminals, Mobile phones, iPod, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PDA. 5. TV on the following mediums will be useful in improving the respondents' life style and standard of living: Computer Terminals, Mobile phones, iPod, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PDA. The Methodology would need to consider the following aspects pertaining to the survey: Objective: The main objective of this research study would be to determine the popularity levels of computer terminals vis--vis other devices for television viewing. This also needs to consider the relative ranking of... The work is aimed at finding out popularity of TV in comparison with other digital means in the UK. The author carries out a survey to determine the ranking of popularity of television against its main competitors – computer terminals, Mobile phones, iPod, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PDA. The survey is a number of house-to-house surveys in a district of Sussex, England. The experiment with the questionnaire, interviews, focus group respondents, external secondary data are thoroughly described. The author comes to conclusions that accordingly to the facts and figures that have been made available in this study, the active role of internet computer technology forms the nucleus of any modern business or recreational need. At the same time the author points out the disadvantages of the internet dominance. Its overuse can become a form of abuse also and in the process, it creates more harm than good. For one thing, it could veer children away from their educational and career pursui ts and create addiction on a larger scale, which may require counseling and intervention if allowed to continue over a long time period. This obsession with television and the internet should be controlled effectively in order to develop and nourish individual capacities and, in the larger scale, one’s physical and psychological health. While it needs to be given the wider depth in the context of modern ecommerce aided business, it also needs to be controlled and managed effectively to build up a healthier environment.