Monday, August 19, 2019
Bosnia-Hercegovina :: World History Essays
Bosnia-Hercegovina Missing Works Cited The origin of the arms with the argent between 6 fleur-de-lys, which is now on the flag of the republic of Bosnia-Hercegovina, has long puzzled me, but they are in fact the arms of the Kotromanic family, which ruled Bosnia in the 14th and 1 5th centuries. Other arms have also been attributed to Bosnia in the 19th century. I finally thought of a way to get at this question of the origin of the current Bosnian flag: numismatics, of course. I found a book by one Ivan Rengjeo, Corpus der mittel-alterlichen Mnnzen von Kroatien, Slavonien, Dalmatien und Bosnien, Graz, 1959, which is as exhaustive as you can get on the topic (coins from those regions, that is). I have also consulted an article by Pavao Andelic on Medieval Seals of Bosnia-Hercegovina, in the monograph series of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Bosnia-Hercegovina (Sarajevo, 1970),but it is in Serbo-Croat, so I can only look at the (numerous) illustra tions. What follows is a historical/heraldic account, pieced together from these sources, and a few encyclopedias. Bosnia was dominated alternatively by Serbia and, from the 12th c. onward, by Croatia (in personal union with Hungary) until the early 14th c. Typically, the king of Hungary and Croatia appointed bans, or local governors; and, in typical medieval fashion, these bans took advantage of any weakness of the central monarchy to carve out territories for themselves. In the early 14th c., the ban of Croatia was Pavao (Paul) Subic of Brebir or Breberio (a town in Dalmatia which was given to the family in 1222): his father and grandfather were counts or Trau or Trogir, his cousins were counts of Spalato or Split. This p owerful man titles himself ban of Croatia and dominus Bosniae, and appoints his brother Mladen I Subic (1302-04) and later his eldest son Mladen II (1312-14) as ban of Bosnia. His second son Georg was count of Trau and Split, his third son Pavao was count of Trau. By the third generation, however, the family had lost its power. This first dynasty of bans issued byzantine-style coins, with no heraldry. Their seals, however, show the Subic arms: an eagle wing displayed, and 5 flowers with stems as crest (mi sread by Siebmacher as ostrich-feathers). The style of the arms is very German, with the shield tilted to the left, a German helm, lambrequins, and a crest. There are no tinctures, but a junior branch issued from Pavao count of Trau, the Subic de Zrin, bo re Gules, two wings sable (an interesting violation of the s -called tincture rule).
Sunday, August 18, 2019
The History Of Computers :: essays research papers
The History of Computers A computer is a machine built to do routine calculations with speed, reliability, and ease, greatly simplifying processes that without them would be a much longer, more drawn out process. Since their introduction in the 1940's. Computers have become an important part of the world. Besides the systems found in offices, and homes, microcomputers are now used in everyday locations such as automobiles, aircrafts, telephones, and kitchen appliances. Computers are used for education as well, as stated by Rourke Guides in his book, Computers: Computers are used in schools for scoring examination papers, and grades are sometimes recorded and kept on computers (Guides 7). "The original idea of a computer came from Blaise Pascal, who invented the first digital calculating machine in 1642. It performed only additions of numbers entered by dials and was intended to help Pascal's father, who was a tax collector" (Buchsbaum 13). However, in 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer that could not only add but, multiply. Multiplication was quite a step to be taken by a computer because until then, the only thing a computer could do was add. The computer multiplied by successive adding and shifting (Guides 45). Perhaps the first actual computer was made by Charles Babbage. He explains himself rather well with the following quote: "One evening I was sitting in the rooms of the Analytical Society at Cambridge with a table full of logarithms lying open before me. Another member coming into the room, and seeing me half asleep called out, ââ¬ËWell Babbage, what are you dreaming about?', to which I replied, ââ¬ËI am thinking that all these tables might be calculated by machinery'"(Evans 41). "The first general purpose computer was invented in 1871 by Charles Babbage, just before he died"(Evans 41). It was still a prototype of course, but it was a beginning. Around this time, there was little or no interest in the development of computers. People feared, due to the lack of their knowledge, that computers would take over everything and run their lives (Buchsbaum 9). If only these 18th century Americans, who were ignorant to the necessity of computers, would have known the many benefits they were missing out on, they would have more readily funded individuals such as Charles Babbage. As Glossbrenner states in The Complete Handbook of Personal Computers,
Forced Reading :: Reading Writing
Forced Reading Before I entered kindergarten, my mother, who had been an elementary school teacher, had me read and do arithmetic every day while my brother, four years my elder, was in school. I remember the days sitting at the dining room table. I was only four and my body was still disproportional to the furniture. The chair was too low and the table too high. My easy reader was on the table, and I strained to view it properly from my position. I fidgeted a bit as I wondered why I had to do this. I could hear the dogs outside. I wanted to play with them. I spotted my kitchen set in the next room. I wanted to play with it. My mother was in the kitchen baking something that smelled much more appealing than reading. She must have been looking at me through the pass-through window, as she caught me in my daydream and reminded me that I was supposed to be reading my book. The cat ran away from the man. I made my own story up in my head. The girl ran away from the table. She played with the toys. She was happy. I suppose, for quite a few years, I was a big disappointment to my mother as far as reading went. It wasnââ¬â¢t that I couldnââ¬â¢t read, it was that I never wanted to, and compared to my older brother, who read a book everyday, I was quite a let down. It might not have been such a dilemma to any other parent, but to my mother whoââ¬â¢d taught and encouraged kids to read for many years, it certainly was. Kindergarten was successfully useless, as between recess and nap time there was only time for coloring, and none for reading or learning of any type. I kept this fact hidden from my mother, though Iââ¬â¢m certain she knew as my daily dining table ritual continued throughout the year. When I started first grade, I finally started to appreciate some of my motherââ¬â¢s work. At the beginning of the year, everyone had to take a reading level test, and I ranked the highest among my classmates. I flexed my reading skills before everyone. I volunteered to read during class. I read to my parents, to my grandparents, to my dog.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Examples from placement
Whilst on my placement, there was a girl starting school full time; named Megan. Megan was why and reluctant to Interact with the other children, I noticed this and sat down next to her. To make her feel more secure, I tried talking to her In a calm voice. When listening to her, I was showing Interest In what she was saying, by positive facial expressions I made sure I gave enough time for Megan to think about her answer and if she answered correctly, I praised her to effectively boost her self-esteem and make her feel valued.However, she asked to participate in an activity that wasn't available, I calmly said in a slow voice ââ¬Å"you are not allowed to do thatâ⬠. When she kept asking, I reinforced my previous statement, to help her understand the boundaries expected of her. After she told me what games she enjoyed, I asked if she wanted to join in with the other children. Whilst asking her, I showed her pictures of the activities. Megan asked toxin the play-doe group, so I se tup an area for her.I introduced Megan to some of the other children, so she would feel more comfortable and welcome within the group.. Throughout the day, I was making sure Mean's needs were being met, for example asking her If she needed the toilet. I felt Like Megan was at an age, where she can Independently ask for the toilet, but to be safe I asked anyway. I needed to make sure that when asking her. I spoke clearly, so she could fully understand what I was asking and she could reply appropriately.I also, needed to make sure that she knew where things were, so she felt confident going herself. So I didn't lower Mean's self-esteem, I spoke to her in an assertive tone, if I had spoken to her in an aggressive manner it would have made her feel uncomfortable talking to me. For example ââ¬Å"Can you please help the other children clean up? During my placement, there was a three year old girl, named Victoria. Victoria and family had just moved from Russia. Her parents could speak lit tle English and Victoria none.Very shy and reluctantly, she sat in the corner, playing by herself. I decided to have 1-1 time with her, and try to build a trusting relationship. I knew she was shy because she turned her body away from me and wouldn't make eye contact with me. Violator was obviously upset leaving her parents and feeling left out from the other children. In order for Victoria to understand me I spoke In basic minting to the picture of the sandpit, because she didn't understand English and it made it easier for her to understand which activities I was saying.When I gain some for her trust, she started using eye contact and more body language. By rubbing her eyes, I sat down with her and slowly and calmly asked what was wrong. She looked at me and said ââ¬Å"tiredâ⬠. I had to have her explain to me in more detail, so I showed her pictures of a bed and of possible activities she would enjoy. I made sure that I gave her enough time to reply, without interrupting and waiting patiently, or this could sibyl lower her self-confidence.She regained eye contact and pointed to the jigsaw puzzle. I taught Victoria a few basic words in English, by pointing to the object and waiting for her to repeat the word after me in English. When she repeated the word, I made sure I had positive facial expressions and body language, and praised her when she said it correctly. It was important that I used non-verbal communication, because it would affect her emotionally, by boosting her self- confidence and self-esteem and she would comfortable talking to me.If I made no effort to acknowledge she didn't know English, this would lower her self-esteem and make her feel isolated within the setting, because she wouldn't feel comfortable coming to talk to me and make her feel like she couldn't trust me. This means, she would have trouble communicating and interacting with the other children, and she wouldn't be able to tell me any problems she has; because of the lack of trust. To build our relationship further, in return, Victoria can teach me some words/phrases in Russian. This will allow us to have conversations in her language and she can feel more comfortable.
Friday, August 16, 2019
American Apparel Case Analysis Essay
Key Facts of the Case (no analysis) -Who is the decision maker? (Remember: in analyzing a case you have to put yourself in the position of the decision maker and try to figure out what YOU would do in his/her position). -maximum 5 key facts that summarize the case. Key Decision Maker Board of Directors (AA is a publicly traded company) Key Facts American Apparel minimized their use of outsourced labour. They localized their manufacturing activities and were known for their anti-sweatshop practices The company was also praised for their environmentally friendly practices such as using organic and recycled materials in several of their products, and participating in charitable causes Their advertising campaigns stirred up a lot of controversy for the company, as some consumers believed them to be too sexual and borderline pornographic Charney (CEO) took the ad pictures himself using women he found on the streets or his own employees. As a hiring practice, employees were required to provide full length self-portraits to him Charney brought heat to the company via sexual harassment lawsuits and by creating a hostile working environment (using foul language, walking around in his underwear, flirting with employees, etc.) Problem(s) Statement -What is the main problem(s) or opportunity(s) that you (as decision maker) must deal with? -How urgent and how important is this issue and why? Main Problem The main problem presented for American Apparel is that there are discrepancies between their controversial advertisements and workplace practices and their positive business initiatives, which has resulted in a loss of sales for the company. They must determine how they are going to move forward and inspire a turnaround. Urgency Moderately urgent The company forecast a turnaround by 2015 (3 years to the future) Problem(s) Analysis -What is the background that has led to the problem(s)? -What are the key points that the decision maker must consider when figuring out a solution? (eg. constraints that limit the possible solutions or opportunities that could arise) -If a financial analysis is required, outline that in this section. -Perhaps a different format for analysis is more appropriate? (eg. SWOT, PEST, Porterââ¬â¢s Five Forces). Background American Apparel strived to promote raw natural beauty. To do this, they used real, non-photo-shopped, airbrush-free models in their advertising campaigns Their signature advertisements featured women in racy outfits and poses Charney took the pictures himself and either found women on the streets or used his own employees Charney said it was the companyââ¬â¢s way of marketing to millennials, targeting contemporary adults who desired sexual freedom, and fighting against the pressures on women to achieve perfection Charneyââ¬â¢s strange and inappropriate workplace behaviours made some employees feel uncomfortable SWOT Strengths Pro-labor practices Anti-sweatshop Made in USA label Pay their employees nearly double minimum wage Provide job security and good benefits for employees Environmentally friendly practices Use of organic and recycled materials Strong international presence ââ¬â 253+ retail stores in 20 different countries Reasonably priced and good quality products Weaknesses Provocative advertisements Store environment makes some customers feel uncomfortable ââ¬â ââ¬Å"reeked of sexual sinâ⬠CEO Dov Charneyââ¬â¢s workplace behaviour and practices which have led to complaints and lawsuits The companyââ¬â¢s cost of production is likely higher than their competitors because of their ââ¬Å"made in USAâ⬠policy High labour costs $120 million in debt Opportunities The company has the opportunity to tame their provocative advertising campaigns They can also steer the focus back onto their positive business initiatives Ethical buying habits are on the rise ââ¬â consumers are becoming more conscious of the environment Expand online and catalog business sectors ââ¬â Focus product lines ââ¬â eliminate those that arenââ¬â¢t as successful and profitable ââ¬â Reform advertising campaign ââ¬â focus more on AAââ¬â¢sà positive political activism and ââ¬Å"homegrownâ⬠products ââ¬â Restructure corporate-executive-suite and construct a more positive public image Expand online and catalog business sectors ââ¬â Focus product lines ââ¬â eliminate those that arenââ¬â¢t as successful and profitable ââ¬â Reform advertising campaign ââ¬â focus more on AAââ¬â¢sà positive political activism and ââ¬Å"homegrownâ⬠products ââ¬â Restructure corporate-executive-suite and construct a more positive public image Threats Their competition who offer similar products at equal or lower price points, and have cheaper production costs Threats of lawsuits against Charney which create a negative public image Threats of consumers shopping elsewhere due to dissatisfaction with AAââ¬â¢s sexual advertisements SWOT Findings: The SWOT analysis shows that American Apparel needs to bring the focus back onto the strengths of the company. They need to remind consumers of the ethics the company was built on and their goodwill and valuable contributions. Their weaknesses primarily revolve around being too overtly provocative, whether this is towards consumers or within the workplace itself. The company clearly cannot continue with this controversy, as they risk overshadowing the positive aspects of their business. Decision Criteria for Solutions -What goals or objectives must be achieved by any potential solution to the problem? (eg. Must maximize market share) -What constraints limit the range of solutions (eg. Canââ¬â¢t cost more than $1 Million) Goals and Objectives The goal is to save the companyââ¬â¢s reputation which will in turn stop their money-losing streak Constraints Must not incur further debt 10 Identification of Realistic & Practical Alternatives available to the Decision Maker ââ¬â In most situations there will be at least 3 alternatives, one of which can be status quo. One or two short sentences to describe each. ââ¬â Each alternative MUST be a stand alone solution to your problem(s). Alternative 1: American Apparel should fire their current CEO, Dov Charney,à and elect a replacement. Alternative 2: American Apparel should change their advertising strategy by toning down their sexual nature and focusing on their business strengths to create positive publicity. Alternative 3: American Apparel should continue with their current advertising strategies. Pros and Cons of each Alternative Alternative 1 Pros Charneyââ¬â¢s provocative vision and proneness to scandal will leave the company with him It shows that AA will not stand for sexual harassment and inappropriate workplace behaviours The company can bring in a new vision and have a fresh start Cons The company may lose customers who supported Charney and his vision The replacement CEO may not be any better than Charney at running the business Alternative 2 Pros It helps AA to fix the disconnect between their ethical and unethical practices It reminds consumers of the companyââ¬â¢s positive values Cons Charney may not go for the new vision; he may push back It doesnââ¬â¢t solve the issue of unethical workplace incidents The company may lose customers who support the provocative and ââ¬Å"naturalâ⬠ads Alternative 3 Pros No changes will need to be made, therefore employees will not need to be trained or guided through any change The controversy surrounding the company may actually bring in customers Cons Discrepancies of the companyââ¬â¢s business practices will not be solved Consumers who do not like the provocativeness of the company may continue orà start to avoid it Recommendation & Implementation Plan ââ¬â You must have a sentence that says, ââ¬Å"I recommend alternativeâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ ââ¬â Do not combine alternatives. Pick just one. ââ¬â Defend your choice of alternative. Explain WHY it is better than the others. ââ¬â If applicable, explain how the alternative will be implemented. (who, what, where, when, how) Recommendation I recommend alternative 1 ââ¬â firing Dov Charney. I do not believe alternative 3 is an option because the unethical advertisements and workplace practices would likely catch up with the company and really affect their performance in the long run. The reputation of American Apparel would just continue to deteriorate if nothing is changed, which would deter consumers from shopping there. Alternative 1 is a better path to take than alternative 2 because it really gets at the root cause of all the issues ââ¬â Dov Charney. The provocative and controversial advertisements were largely inspired by the CEO himself. Simply changing the companyââ¬â¢s advertising campaigns is good and well, but there is no guarantee that Charney will even go for that. And whatââ¬â¢s to say he wouldnââ¬â¢t go back to his old ways in the future? Also, alternative 2 doesnââ¬â¢t fix the issue of employee complaints and sexual harassment lawsuits that have given the company a bad image. Alternative 1 has the potential to resolve both the advertising strategies and the inappropriate workplace incidents. Implementation Who Board of Directors What Fire Dov Charney Where At a board meeting When As soon as possible How Gather all documentation of Charneyââ¬â¢s inappropriate behaviours Review the termination agreement that was made at the time of hiring Charney Review the companyââ¬â¢s succession plan for the CEO ââ¬â determine who may be able to take Charneyââ¬â¢s place in the interim Seek counsel from the companyââ¬â¢s lawyers on the best method to fire Charney Overall Quality (logical consistency & readability)
Thursday, August 15, 2019
Journeys Speech
To complete any Journey one must take risks and overcome obstacles. Inner or physiological Journeys are Journeys of the mind which when traveled can increase one's knowledge and sense of fulfillment. This type of Journey is explored in both Robert Frost's ââ¬Å"The Road not Takenâ⬠and Gabriele Musician's film ââ¬Å"The Pursuit of Happiness. â⬠In Frost's poem the idea of decision-making is explored through the use of the extended metaphor of the two roads, ââ¬Å"Two roads diverge in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both.Frost uses this extended metaphor to illustrate that Journeys involves choices we have to make and like the split path in the woods the choice we do end up making will shape the next part of our lives. The two road are also contrasted, one said to be ââ¬Å"having better claimâ⬠and ââ¬Å"wanting wear. ââ¬Å"Frost indicates here that taking the path less traveled or the riskier path has ââ¬Å"made all the differenceâ⬠and therefor e delineates the fact that although we face obstacles such as these difficult decisions in our own Journeys, when we overcome them we increase our knowledge and our self-worth.Another technique used by Frost is that of first person, which enables the audience to be included in the decisions Just as he, himself was, ââ¬Å"Two roads diverged in a wood and I ââ¬â I took the one less traveled by. â⬠Here Frost shows his inner Journey Through his thoughts and thinks, at the caesura, about the path he has taken. Although Frost is happy with the path he took there is still a bit of regret as he will never know what would have happened if he took the other path. Musician's film ââ¬Å"The Pursuit of Happinessâ⬠portrays the concept of an inner Journey through its protagonist Chris Gardener.A defining moment in Chrism's Journey is when he passes by a stock broking firm and learns of an internship which he'd like. In this scene Nuncio uses calm uplifting music to symbolism the opportunity which has arrived Chrism's Journey. A viceroy accompanies this scene where Chris says, ââ¬Å"They all looked so damn happy, why couldn't I look like that. â⬠Although over 500 applicants plied for the internship and only 20 get in Chris decides to take a risk by applying and in doing so misses the opportunity to sell his bone density scanner which would have been used to pay the rent.When Chris takes the risk of becoming an intern and later becomes a stockbroker he had to overcome many problems such as homelessness, unemployment and being a single parent but in overcoming these obstacles, he gained a sense of identity and became fulfilled. Nuncio also uses the cinematic technique of close ups to show the difficulty of risks. When Chris finds out that his internship is unpaid the camera closes in straight onto Chrism's face and all music suddenly stops.This is very effective in showing an obstacle in Chrism's Journey. Again, like Frost's poem, this adds to the idea of decision making and risk taking and thereby enhances the audience's perception of the characters' Journey. Both of these texts are affective in their uses of techniques to express the concept of effective technique as it allowed the audience to see how difficult decisions in a Rooney are made and gives an insight to what and how the character feels about this decision.Frost's poem, I believe, is open to so many different readings that may add to a responder's confusion. In studying the concepts of Journeys through my two chosen texts I have extended my knowledge and found out that Journeys involve risks and obstacles, however, if you overcome these aspects you become a better person. As David Viscose said, ââ¬Å"If your life is ever going to get better, you'll have to take risks. There is simply no way you can grow without taking chances. ââ¬Å"
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
A wide range of technologies Essay
In this report I will describe a wide range of technologies used by John Smith. John was involved in a car accident 5 years ago where he lost the use of his legs and also injured his spinal cord. He has used a wheel chair ever since. He works as a lecturer at imperial university where he teaches science. This has been deeply traumatic towards his physical, social and working aspects of his life. I am going to find out what technologies he uses to get by in life and to decrease the hardships he faces with his disabilities and also to find out how he uses these technologies for his personal, social and working aspects of his life. John is known by all his colleagues and is very popular in his work place. He also goes out with friends in his workplace on social gatherings like clubs but this doesnââ¬â¢t often happen because of the trouble he has coping with his disability. Technology 1 ââ¬â Work Related One technology that John uses for work is his eyegaze. An eyegaze is a communication and control system for people with complex disabilities itââ¬â¢s a response interface that tracks the eye allowing hands free computer operation. By looking at certain control keys a person can do almost anything e.g. turn his house lightââ¬â¢s on and off, open certain doors in his house and use the internet. The eyegaze is an excellent system used by many disabled people. John has an eyegaze computer system attached to his wheelchair. At his university he can monitor his students and use the interactive white board in his classroom to show his students pictures or set them question for class work. His eyegaze can also connect to his printer wirelessly so that he can print out question that he has set his class for homework or revision sheets for their test. Advantages Advantages of an eyegaze are that it allows people with complex disabilities like spinal cord paralysis to surf the net and do day-to-day tasks that would normally have been impossible in their current state of wellbeing. The eyegaze allows them to do their work and play games that they would normally have been unable to do due to the fact that they would not have been able to reach the keyboard with their disability. The eyegaze allows them to surf the net, keep in touch with others around the world and have video conferences. Disadvantages The eyegaze has many disadvantages is that itââ¬â¢s harder to use then a normal keyboard as it track youââ¬â¢re eye if you make the slightest twitch it will follow and go onto what you looked at. It is very difficult to use as it will follow every move you eye make and the slightest twitch could change the page or delete the sentence you were on. It could also turn off the lights when you want them on or shut a door you want open. Eyegazes are also very expensive and if they break down it take along time to replace because only a small minority of business produce the technology also the technology needs to shipped from other countries and that takes a lot of time. How the technology meets the Needs of the adult in a work related environment: To John his eyegaze is a great comfort as he needs to mark his classââ¬â¢s work and as he is disabled it would take along time with normal pen and paper so his students send it to him by email. He uses a special program which allows him by using his voice to mark their work and send it back to them on by one. His eyegaze allows him to do this without putting a great strain on his back whereas using a keyboard and mouse would have put a great strain on his spinal cord and caused him a great deal of pain. His eyegaze is very useful to him in work related situations as it allows him to go throw his work and lecture note quickly without any strain or pain on his back. WHAT WOULD HE DO WITHOUT THIS PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY Without his eyegaze John wouldnââ¬â¢t be able to monitor his students in class or set them work by email. Also he would have to use a normal mouse and keyboard to monitor his constant stream of emails which he receives from students, his colleagues and his doctors and this would have been a constant strain on his back and would have put him in a lot of pain. He would also be unable to automatically turn on lights or open doors as his eyegaze is connected wirelessly to his house and allows him to control his environment. Technology 2 ââ¬â Socially Related One technology that John uses in his personal life is his electronic wheelchair which allows him to move around anywhere without the hassle of pushing the wheels. His electronic wheelchair has a portable eyegaze computer connected to his electrical wheelchair allowing him to take his work with him on the go. He uses his electrical wheelchair in a number of personally related activities. Thanks to his electrical wheelchair he can move anywhere around his house and area without straining his back by having to manually push the wheels. Advantages Electrical wheelchairs have many advantages including because theyââ¬â¢re battery powered there is no hassle of moving it instead you push the control stick forward and the wheels move of their own accord. This is excellent as John has spinal paralysis which means that he cannot use his back and if he had a manual wheelchair then someone else would have to push him around and John has told me that ââ¬Å"I donââ¬â¢t like having people wait on me as I had difficulty coping with the realism that I cannot use my back or legs anymoreâ⬠. Disadvantages An electrical wheelchair has many disadvantages like: it is dependant on batteries therefore it will not work if it has no charge. Another disadvantage is that it cannot be folded and be put into the boot of a car. It is also very heavy and it can be quite a nuisance when going up the university stairs as he needs his students help as the ramps are on the other side of campus and it would take him an hour to get from his car to the back to his lecture hall. His wheelchair is also very expensive and if it breaks down it will take along time to repair. How the technology meets the Needs of the adult in a socially related environment: For John his electric wheelchair is one the best pieces of technology he can use as it is fast and reliable and allows him to go everywhere without the hassle and strain of a normal manual wheelchair. It is also a great relief as his back is often in pain and thanks to the wheelchairs special cushions he can lie back and have the special in-built massagers take his backs pain away. WHAT WOULD HE DO WITHOUT THIS PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY Without his wheelchair John would be unable to move around as efficiently as with his electric one. Also it would have put increased constant strain on his spinal cord and put him in a great deal of pain. He would be unable to take his work with him on the go as there would be no battery to connect the wires to. Without his electric wheelchair it would take him longer to go shopping or go anywhere else. Technology 3 ââ¬â Personally Related Another piece of technology that John uses is his single fingered keyboard. The single fingered key board is a special type of keyboard which follows a new style of keyboard allowing the disabled person to be able to type on his/her computer without putting a lot of stress on themselves. Another definition for a single fingered keyboard is: The Maltron Single-handed keyboard is curved, with a single recess. It comes in left-handed and right-handed versions and is divided into four major blocks of keys: * 1 block for the fingers * 1 block for the thumb * 1 flat panel of keys to the side * 1 row of function keys along the top The keyboard has ââ¬Å"push-on push-offâ⬠functions for the shift, control, and alt keys. The blocks for the fingers and thumb are mirror images of one another in the left-handed and right-handed versions (whereas the flat block and function key row are identical in both). Advantages There are a lot of advantages of a single-fingered keyboard like the fact that it doesnââ¬â¢t put a lot of strain on the individual using the keyboard. Another advantage is that the special shape and layout takes into account of the letters used in modern day typing. This is done to make the layout more efficient than a normal QWERTY keyboard and can save strain and unnecessary movement between keys. The user of this type of keyboard will find input than is ideal so itââ¬â¢s recommended that the user used a predictive word processor such as TEXTHELP or prototype to speed up entry and avoid frustration. Disadvantages Some disadvantages of using a single fingered keyboard is the fact that itââ¬â¢s very slow and takes long time to process a sentence you wrote and even longer for a paragraph. Also because of itââ¬â¢s design youââ¬â¢re hand may be to small to reach the buttons or too big and you may press the wrong button meaning that you would have to wait until the entire word or letter or sentence appeared before being able to change it. Needs of the adult in a personally related environment: John enjoys writing papers and articles for various scientific magazines. Thanks to his keyboard and software that increases the speed of appearance of words he can write fast without straining his back or being frustrated at the slowness of his keyboard. This piece of technology allows him to type fast as he is a fast single fingered typer and the keyboard allows him to do this without the fear of him injuring his back further. Without this technology John feels that he cannot have the same hands on affect to his work like so many of his colleagues. WHAT WOULD HE DO WITHOUT THIS PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY Without his technology John would have to use a Braille keyboard which in affect would have been more comfortable to use thanks to the special polymer which allows the user to type with his hands on the surface of the table but this would have injured John further as he cannot strain his back as that may prolong his recovery further. CONCLUSION In conclusion I feel that the technologies available to disabled people have been enhanced exponentionally as more people these dayââ¬â¢s are concerned about the welfare of the disabled. This means that there is more awareness now than there was several years ago. The technology in our decade has also been enhanced therefore the development of newer, more practical technologies are easier to produce. The technologies in Johnââ¬â¢s life mean that he can now appreciate life and enjoy experiences like a normal, healthy person. However there is still room for improvement in the technologies in our life today. In the future we should expect life to become much better for the disabled as there has been much more research into how our body works so their may be development in flexible devices for the disabled.
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