How Has Physical Theatre Changed Over Time Essay

Physical theatre is a form of performance where movement and physicality of the body has the main part within a performance. There are several quite distinct traditions of performance which all describe themselves using the term â€Å"physical theatre†, which has led to a lot of confusion as to what the definition of physical theatre actually is. The term physical theatre has been applied to performances consisting mainly of mime, contemporary dance, theatrical clowning and other physical comedy (such as slapstick), puppetry and mask work and theatrical acrobatics and lifts. One of the early practitioners of physical theatre was Artaud. His ideas included total theatre, wherein actors appeal to all of the audience’s senses; he rejected the idea of the proscenium arch and directed his actors to use the space in different ways. It was also his view that in performance, all expression was physical expression. Whereas Steven Berkoff’s style incorporates actors using their whole bodies, including facial expressions to tell the audience the story, and actors using their bodies to create sound effects. He is also a great believer in Le Coq’s seven states of tension, in this exercise the actor will move through seven different body states, starting off as exhausted and lazy and finishing in an the highest state of tension. The style of physical theatre can differ widely, but generally in a performance of physical theatre the audience would expect to see: elements of contemporary dance (fluid, graceful movements), detailed mime, as there are often limited props in physical theatre performances, complex lifts sometimes with several people, acrobatics and gymnastics and many fast-paced moments where actors will be stretching the limits of their bodies. One of the first instances of physicality being used within theatres was by the Greeks, as they used a lot of mime and pantomime acts within their performances. The performance of pantomime originates from Ancient Greece, the first recorded pantomime actor being TelestÄ“s in the play Seven Against Thebes by Aeschylus. Mime is u sed to give actors a way of portraying feelings, emotions, and entire stories through movement and expression, which helps in telling the overall story. It gives a focus on expression and movement, and it takes away speech, which makes performers use their bodies and their faces to show to the audience what is happening, therefore making it physical theatre as the body is used rather than the voice. Around the  16th century, Italian theatre developed, what they called, Commedia dell’arte, which is a form of theatre characterized by masked â€Å"types† which began in Italy in the 16th century. The Commedia dell’art characters first began to appear in English plays around 1660. This style of theatre has three important aspects to it; mask, music and costumes. The audience was able to pick up from each character’s dress the type of person he was representing. For example, loose–fitting garments alternated with very tight, and jarring color contrasts opposed monochrome outfits. Males would identify themselves with character-specific costumes and half masks and all the fixed character types, the figure s of fun or satire, wore colored leather masks. Today in Italy handcrafted theatre masks are still created in the ancient tradition of carnacialesca (carnival). Commedia dell’arte is classed as physical theatre as masks forced actors to project their characters’ emotions through the body. Leaps, tumbles, stock gags, obscene gestures and slapstick antics were incorporated into their acts. Pantomime (informally panto), is a type of musical comedy stage production, designed for family entertainment. The origins of pantomime go back to ancient Rome, and was developed in England to generally be performed during the Christmas and New Year season. Modern pantomime includes songs, slapstick comedy and dancing, employs gender-crossing actors, and combines topical humour with a story loosely based on a well-known fairy tale. It is a participatory form of theatre, in which the audience is expected to sing along with certain parts of the music and shout out phrases to the performers. The development of English pantomime was strongly influenced by commedia dell’arte. This was a â€Å"comedy of professional artists† travelling from province to province in Italy and then France, who improvised and told comic stories that held lessons for the crowd, changing the main character depending on where they were performing. Pantomime mainly incorperated song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick, cross-dressing, in-jokes, topical references, audience participation, and mild sexual innuendo. The general movement within Pantomime creates physical theatre as the storyline is presented to the audience mainly through lifts, dance and slapstick, although performers also use their voice throughout. The Theatre of the Absurd is the name for particular plays of absurdist fiction written by a number of primarily European playwrights in the late 1950s, as well as one  for the style of theatre which has evolved from their work. Their work expressed what happens when human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down, alerting their audiences to pursue the opposite. The Absurd in these plays takes the form of man’s reaction to a world apparently without meaning, and/or man as a puppet controlled or menaced by invisible outside forces. Theatre of the Absurd consisted of horrific or tragic images; characters caught in hopeless situations forced to do repetitive or meaningless actions; dialogue full of clichà ©s, wordplay, and nonsense; plots that are cyclical or absurdly expansive. The term â€Å"Theatre of the Absurd† was coined by the critic Martin Esslin, who made it the title of a book on the subject first published in 1961. The â€Å"Absurd† or â€Å"New Theater† movement was originally a Paris-based form of theatre, tied to extremely small theatres. There are many conventions of â€Å"absurd† theatre, such as words often appearring to have lost their denotative function, thus creating misunderstanding among the characters. Instead, language gains a certain rhythmical, almost musical quality; no plot, minimal staging, babbling; abstract setting, â€Å"It is sometimes said to express the ‘human condition’ in a basic or ‘existential’ way† (Worthen 1639 ). Pirandello, one of the first experimentalists, wanted to bring down the fourth wall that was created by Realism, thus creating more physicality and a deeper connection with the audience. Modern physical theatre has grown from a variety of origins. Mime and theatrical clowning schools, such as L’Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris, have had a big influence on many modern expressions of physical theatre. Practitioners such as Steven Berkoff and John Wright received their initial training at theatre schools just like this. Contemporary Dance has also had a strong influence on what is regarded as physical theatre, partly because most physical theatre requires the performers to have a level of physical control and flexibility. This is rarely found in those who do not have some sort of movement background. Modern physical theatre also has strong roots in more ancient traditions such as Commedia dell’arte and some people suggest this links to the ancient greek theatre. Eastern Theatre traditions have influenced a number of practitioners who have then influenced physical theatre. A number of Oriental traditions have a high level of physical t raining, and are visual masterpieces. Antonin Artaud was fascinated with the energy and  visual nature of Balinese theatre and wrote extensively on it. He admired Eastern theatre because of the highly ritualized and precise physicality of Balinese dance performance, and advocated what he called a â€Å"Theatre of Cruelty†, which he used to create physical theatre within performances and to describe a form of theatre that he hoped would unleash unconscious responses in audiences and performers that were normally inaccessible. Another physical theatre practioner, Steven Berkoff, used techniques such as background movement, repetitive actions, and mime to explore further the ways in which he approaches exchanges between two characters. Berkoff said that it was important â€Å"to see how I could bring mime together with the spoken word as its opposite partner, creating the form and structure of the piece†. Berkoff also used a theory he called Total Theatre, which is key to him and stemmed from Artaud’s theatre style. Total Theatre maintains that every aspect of theatre must have purpose: every movement, that is chor eographed; to each line, that is learned perfectly; to each lighting effect, that is used to convey a mood or message; to each sound effect, that enhances the audience’s experience; to each prop that has a use. The aim of Total Theatre is to create extreme moods to give the audience an overwhelming experience and to shock, amuse, scare, or amaze them. As a result of Total Theatre, performances are often minimalist, with bare stages and little language so that the focus remains on the physical movement and not on all the effects or the creation of a scene. This serves to detach the audience from the play and make them think about what was being said. However, from 1911 to 1916 Stanislavski, proposed that actors study and experience subjective emotions and feelings and perform these experiences to audiences by physical and vocal means. While in the early stages his ‘system’ focused on creating truthful emotions and embodying them, even though he later worked on the Method of Physical Actions. Its focus was on physical actions as a means to access truthful emotion, and involved improvisation. The focus remained on reaching the subconscious through the conscious. In other words, he wanted the performer to focus internally to portray a character’s emotions onstage. Later, between 1934 and 1938, this technique evolved to a method of physical actions in which emotions are produced through the use of actions. From Greek theatre to modern day, physical theatre has been used by many different practitioners and theatre  groups for one sole purpose; to impact the audience. On one hand, the mime and Commedia dell’arte that the Greeks first developed is still used widely today; mime is still an extremely popular form expression within plays, and commedia dell’arte is still extremely popular in creating humorous performances using masks, and over-exaggerated costumes. Similarly, pantomime is still one of the most popular forms of theatrical entertainment used across the world, achieving physical theatricality by including slapstick, lifts and dances, occasional mask work and costumes. This is effective as it provides the audience with the storyline in a less conventional and, arguably, more interesting way. It intrigues the audience, and makes them feel more emotionally connected with the characters involved in the performance, especially when the performers break the fourth wall, which frequently happens during pantomimes. However it can also be argued that many things have changed as time passed in regards to physical theatre. As technology advanced, the use of lighting and special fx have made creating a dramatic and intense atmosphere easier. Breaking the fourth wall is also a new idea, as the Greeks and Romans believed that the audience should not be included in the performance, and should purely be onlookers, whereas Artaud and Stanislavski believed that by bringing the audience into the performance, it would not only make it more intense and engaging, it would also achieve the â€Å"attacking the senses† criteria that Artaud believed in, by using â€Å"in yer face† theatre to scream and shout in the audience’s face. Physical theatre as it is used today, is st ill very popular with both performers and audiences, as it is both entertaining to watch and perform.

Consequentialist Versus Deontological Ethical Systems

What is â€Å"good†? How does a person decide what is good? Over the course of history, various thinkers have tried to develop systems which guide human thought on this question. Some of the most important ethical theories are the â€Å"normative† theories — that is ethical theories which try to establish authoritative standards by which conduct can be judged. Under the general heading of â€Å"normative,† two of the most important schools of ethical thought are the â€Å"consequentialist† and the â€Å"deontological schools of ethical thought. (â€Å"Normative Ethics† n. d. )Consequentialism is the school of thought which asserts that the morality of a given action is to be judged by the consequence of that action. If the consequences are good, the action is good. Consequentialism is generally divided into a number of theories, including: utilitarianism and ethical egoism. Utilitarianism holds that the right action is one that produces the greatest good/pleasure (and least pain) for the greatest number of people. Utilitarianism has its root in the seminal figures of Jeremy Bentham, John Stuart Mill, and Henry Sidgwick.Classic utilitarians developed a system which is could best be described as â€Å"hedonistic act consequentialism. † Their system was â€Å"consequentialist† in that its proponents claimed that an act is morally right if the act causes the greatest good. To calculate this, one had to compare the total amount of good that the act caused, minus the total amount of bad that the act caused. If the net total net amount of good was greater than this net amount of good for any other act that the agent might have performed, then the act was good.Their system was â€Å"hedonistic,† in that they claimed that pleasure was the only true â€Å"good† and pain is the only true â€Å"bad. † This system was summed up in the common statement, â€Å"the greatest happiness for the greates t number. † (Kemerling, 2002; Hollinger, 2002, p. 31-34: â€Å"Normative Ethics,† n. d. ; Lee, 2000, â€Å"Utilitarianism†; Sinnott-Armstrong, 2006) As Mill articulated this system, utilitarianism was consequentialist rather than deontological because included certain key points of denial. Utilitarianism denied that the moral rightness of any act depended on anything other than the consequences of the act.This left the utilitarian system open to attack because of the hedonism it advanced. (Hollinger, 2002, p. 34-36; â€Å"Normative Ethics,† n. d. ; Kemerling, 2002; Lee, 2000, â€Å"Utilitarianism†; Sinnott-Armstrong, 2006) From the beginning, critics of hedonism attacked utilitarianism. They criticized John Stuart Mill as trying to degrade the value of human life to an animalistic level. One of the more commonly used arguments was that vulgar acts, such as orgiastic sex might produce greater transient pleasure than some disciplined higher act such a s studying fine poetry. (Hollinger, 2002, pp.34-36: â€Å"Normative Ethics,† n. d. ; Kemerling, 2002; Sinnott-Armstrong, 2006)Mill tried to respond to these charges by setting up a distinction between lower and higher qualities of pleasure. (Mill, 1861, 56) This did not satisfy Mill’s critics, who contended that in the end, utilitarianism supported hedonism. Critics find these systems overly technical and confusing, and utilitarianism fosters an â€Å"end justifies the means† line of reasoning. Further utilitarianism does not accept the notion that some acts are absolutely ethically wrong, so that potentially it can be warped into a system justifying any means.Hollinger, 2002, pp. 34-36; â€Å"Normative Ethics,† n. d. ; Kemerling, 2002; Lee, 2000, â€Å"Utilitarianism†) Egoism is the view that a moral person is a self-interested person. The primary exponents of ethical egoism, include Epicurus, Adam Smith, and Ayn Rand. Critics charges that the eth ical system of Epicurus leads to an austere hedonism. Adam Smith’s â€Å"invisible hand† would cause the most productive state of an economy to be reached by allowing all of the people in the economic unit each to pursue his own self-interest.Ayn Rand professed a view of rational self-interest, saying that altruism was irrational. (Hollinger, 2002, pp. 28-31; â€Å"Normative Ethics,† 2002; Sinnott-Armstrong, 2006) Deontological ethical theory takes its name from the Greek root â€Å"deon,† meaning â€Å"that which is obligatory. † It is ethical theory based on a concept of duty or obligation. Turning then to principled ethical systems, stem from Socrates, who felt himself duty bound to accept the ruling of the court in Athens, which had ordered him put to death.From Socrates, one can move ahead to Immanuel Kant, whose philosophical system led to his system of the â€Å"categorical imperative†: â€Å"Act so that you treat humanity, whether i n your own person or in that of another, always as an end, and never as a means only. † To develop his â€Å"Categorical Imperative,† Kant looked to the roots of morality in humanity's rational capacity and meticulously developed a system based on moral absolutes. He argued that these are inviolable duties, rules which must be followed absolutely and in every possible situation. (â€Å"Normative Ethics,† n. d. ; Hollinger, 2002, pp.37-39)Another school of deontological thought is the contractarianistic school exemplified by John Rawls or Thomas Hobbes. This theory asserts that moral acts are those act that all people would agree to if they were completely unbiased. (â€Å"Normative Ethics. † n. d. ) Finally, there are philosophers such as John Locke, also considered deontological, who presented the idea that all men are endowed with certain inalienable rights. (â€Å"Normative Ethics. † n. d. ) Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) set forth what is generally a ccepted as the most advanced theory of deontological or duty-based ethics.Contrary to the consequentialism of Mill, Kant’s theory judges morality by examining the nature of actions and the will of agents rather than the goals sought or the ends achieved. To describe this in general terms, this deontological theory focuses on the inputs leading to actions rather than outcomes produced by those inputs. This does not mean that Kant did not care what the outcomes of his actions were. Like other men, he wished that things would go well. But Kant insisted that as far as the moral evaluation of our actions was concerned, consequences did not matter.  (Hollinger, 2002, pp. 37-39; â€Å"Normative Ethics,† n. d. ; Kemerling, 2002)In his philosophical studies, Kant tried to establish a rational principle that would stand as a categorical imperative for ethical judgments. He insisted that the imperative, or duty, had to be categorical, not merely hypothetical, or conditional, be cause true morality could not depend on such things as individual likes and dislikes, abilities, or opportunities. These were mere the â€Å"accidents† of history, and an ultimate principle of ethics had to go far beyond such incidentals.Eventually, Kant developed his categorical imperative, which he articulated in several different versions, including: Always act in such a way that you can also will that the maxim of your action should become a universal law. and Act so that you treat humanity, both in your own person and in that of another, always as an end and never merely as a means. The first version of the categorical imperative emphasizes an idea important to Kant’s thinking of the idea that any rule was valid only if it could be applied universally. The second statement of the rule stresses the importance of respecting persons as more important than things.(Kay, 1997)Deontological ethical theories are strongest in the areas where utilitarian theories face the g reatest difficulty. Ethical rules based on duty have the great advantage that the ends can never justify the means. For example, suppose a ruler wished to revive the Roman practice of public crucifixion of criminals. Even if it was determined that the general populace was so caught up in a blood lust that the pleasure of the masses who would watch the agonies of the condemned far, far out-weighed the suffering of the victim, the categorical imperative demands that individual human rights be acknowledged and held inviolable.No matter how much the public wants this spectacle, it must be dismissed from our moral deliberations. (Hollinger, 2002, pp. 38-39: Kay, 1997) Putting Kant’s categorical imperative into practice, however, has presented a number of serious problems. First, the categorical imperative gives only absolute results. Actions are â€Å"good† or â€Å"bad. † There is no room for â€Å"gray areas. † For example, lying is always wrong — eve n the â€Å"polite lie† or the lie told for noble reasons. Second, duties often come into conflict, and the categorical imperative gives no means to resolve these conflicts.Utilitarianism permits a ready comparison of all actions, and if a set of alternatives have the same expected utility, they are equally good. Conflicting duties, however, may require that I perform logically or physically incompatible actions, and my failure to do any one is itself a moral wrong. (Hollinger, 2002, p. 39: Kay, 2002) Because neither theory is satisfactory in its pure form, I am compelled to use a blend in real life. I follow a utilitarian approach in the sense of trying to maximize the good that I bring to people, but with an awareness that there are categorical situations beyond which I will not go.

How Potato Chips Are Made

The Manufacturing Process * 1 When the potatoes arrive at the plant, they are examined and tasted for quality. A half dozen or so buckets are randomly filled. Some are punched with holes in their cores so that they can be tracked through the cooking process. The potatoes are examined for green edges and blemishes. The pile of defective potatoes is weighed; if the weight exceeds a company's preset allowance, the entire truckload can be rejected. * 2 The potatoes move along a  conveyer belt  to the various stages of manufacturing.The conveyer belts are powered by gentle vibrations to keep breakage to a minimum. Destoning and peeling * 3 The potatoes are loaded into a vertical helical screw conveyer which allows stones to fall to the bottom and pushes the potatoes up to a conveyer belt to the automatic peeling machine. After they have been peeled, the potatoes are washed with cold water. Slicing * 4 The potatoes pass through a revolving impaler/presser that cuts them into paper-thin slices, between 0. 066-0. 072 in (1. 7-1. 85 mm) in thickness. Straight blades produce regular chips while rippled blades produce ridged potato chips. 5 The slices fall into a second cold-water wash that removes the  starch  released when the potatoes are cut. Some manufacturers, who market their chips as natural, do not wash the starch off the potatoes. Color treatment * 6 If the potatoes need to be chemically treated to enhance their color, it is done at this stage. The potato slices are immersed in a solution that has been adjusted for pH, hardness, and mineral content. Frying and salting * 7 The slices pass under air jets that remove excess water as they flow into 40-75 ft (12. 2-23 m) troughs filled with oil.The oil temperature is kept at 350-375 °F (176. 6-190. 5 °C). Paddles gently push the slices along. As the slices tumble, salt is sprinkled from receptacles positioned above the trough at the rate of about 1. 75 lb (0. 79 kg) of salt to each 100 lb (45. 4 kg) of ch ips. The Manufacturing Process * 1 When the potatoes arrive at the plant, they are examined and tasted for quality. A half dozen or so buckets are randomly filled. Some are punched with holes in their cores so that they can be tracked through the cooking process. The potatoes are examined for green edges and blemishes.The pile of defective potatoes is weighed; if the weight exceeds a company's preset allowance, the entire truckload can be rejected. * 2 The potatoes move along a  conveyer belt  to the various stages of manufacturing. The conveyer belts are powered by gentle vibrations to keep breakage to a minimum. Destoning and peeling * 3 The potatoes are loaded into a vertical helical screw conveyer which allows stones to fall to the bottom and pushes the potatoes up to a conveyer belt to the automatic peeling machine. After they have been peeled, the potatoes are washed with cold water.Slicing * 4 The potatoes pass through a revolving impaler/presser that cuts them into paper -thin slices, between 0. 066-0. 072 in (1. 7-1. 85 mm) in thickness. Straight blades produce regular chips while rippled blades produce ridged potato chips. * 5 The slices fall into a second cold-water wash that removes the  starch  released when the potatoes are cut. Some manufacturers, who market their chips as natural, do not wash the starch off the potatoes. Color treatment * 6 If the potatoes need to be chemically treated to enhance their color, it is done at this stage.The potato slices are immersed in a solution that has been adjusted for pH, hardness, and mineral content. Frying and salting * 7 The slices pass under air jets that remove excess water as they flow into 40-75 ft (12. 2-23 m) troughs filled with oil. The oil temperature is kept at 350-375 °F (176. 6-190. 5 °C). Paddles gently push the slices along. As the slices tumble, salt is sprinkled from receptacles positioned above the trough at the rate of about 1. 75 lb (0. 79 kg) of salt to each 100 lb (45. 4 kg ) of chips. Potatoes arrive daily at manufacturing plants.After they are checked for quality, they are stored at a constant temperature unfil they are processed into potato chips. Some manufacturers treat the potatoes with chemicals to improve the color of the final product. To make the chips, potatoes are fried in either corn oil, cottonseed oil, or a blend of vegetable oils. Flake salt rather than crystal salt is used to season the chips. * 8 Potato chips that are to be flavored pass through a drum filled with the desired powdered seasonings. Cooling and sorting * 9 At the end of the trough, a wire mesh belt pulls out the hot chips.As the chips move along the mesh conveyer belt, excess oil is drained off and the chips begin to cool. They then move under an optical sorter that picks out any burnt slices and removes them with puffs of air. Packaging * 10 The chips are conveyed to a packaging machine with a scale. As the pre-set weight of chips is measured, a metal detector checks th e chips once more for any foreign matter such as metal pieces that could have come with the potatoes or been picked up in the frying process. * 11 The bags flow down from a roll. A central processing unit (CPU) code on the bag tells the machine how many chips should be released into the bag.As the bag forms, (heat seals the top of the filled bag and seals the bottom of the next bag simultaneously) gates open and allow the proper amount of chips to fall into the bag. * 12 The filling process must be accomplished without letting an  overabundance  of air into the bag, while also preventing the chips from breaking. Many manufacturers use  nitrogen  to fill the space in the bags. The sealed bags are conveyed to a collator and hand-packed into cartons. * 13 Some companies pack potato chips in I O cans of various sizes. The chips flow down a chute into the cans.Workers weigh each can, make any necessary adjustments, and attach a top to the can. Quality Control Taste samples are ma de from each batch throughout the manufacturing process, usually at a rate of once per hour. The tasters check the chips for salt, seasoning, moisture, color, and overall flavor. Color is compared to charts that show acceptable chip colors. Preventing breakage is a primary goal for potato chip manufacturers. Companies have installed safeguards at various points in the manufacturing process to decrease the chances for breakage. The heights that chips fall from conveyer belts to fryers have been decreased.Plastic conveyer belts have been replaced with wide mesh stainless steel belts. These allow only the larger chips to travel to the fryers and the smaller potato slivers to fall through the mesh. Byproducts/Waste Rejected potatoes and peelings are sent to farms to be used as animal feed. The starch that is removed in the rinsing process is sold to a starch processor. The Future Potato chips show no sign of declining in popularity. However, the public's increased demand for low-fat foo ds has put manufacturers on a fast track to produce a reduced-calorie chip that pleases the palate as well.In the late 1990s, Proctor and Gamble introduced olestra, a fat substitute that was being test-marketed in a variety of products, including potato chips. Food technicians are using computer programs to design a crunchier chip. Upper- and lower-wave forms are fed into the computer at varying amplitudes, frequencies, and phases. The computer then spits out the corresponding models. Researchers are also working on genetically engineered potatoes with less sugar content since it is the sugar that produces brown spots on chips. Potatoes arrive daily at manufacturing plants.After they are checked for quality, they are stored at a constant temperature unfil they are processed into potato chips. Some manufacturers treat the potatoes with chemicals to improve the color of the final product. To make the chips, potatoes are fried in either corn oil, cottonseed oil, or a blend of vegetable oils. Flake salt rather than crystal salt is used to season the chips. * 8 Potato chips that are to be flavored pass through a drum filled with the desired powdered seasonings. Cooling and sorting * 9 At the end of the trough, a wire mesh belt pulls out the hot chips.As the chips move along the mesh conveyer belt, excess oil is drained off and the chips begin to cool. They then move under an optical sorter that picks out any burnt slices and removes them with puffs of air. Packaging * 10 The chips are conveyed to a packaging machine with a scale. As the pre-set weight of chips is measured, a metal detector checks the chips once more for any foreign matter such as metal pieces that could have come with the potatoes or been picked up in the frying process. * 11 The bags flow down from a roll. A central processing unit (CPU) code on the bag tells the machine how many chips should be released into the bag.As the bag forms, (heat seals the top of the filled bag and seals the bottom of t he next bag simultaneously) gates open and allow the proper amount of chips to fall into the bag. * 12 The filling process must be accomplished without letting an  overabundance  of air into the bag, while also preventing the chips from breaking. Many manufacturers use  nitrogen  to fill the space in the bags. The sealed bags are conveyed to a collator and hand-packed into cartons. * 13 Some companies pack potato chips in I O cans of various sizes. The chips flow down a chute into the cans.Workers weigh each can, make any necessary adjustments, and attach a top to the can. Quality Control Taste samples are made from each batch throughout the manufacturing process, usually at a rate of once per hour. The tasters check the chips for salt, seasoning, moisture, color, and overall flavor. Color is compared to charts that show acceptable chip colors. Preventing breakage is a primary goal for potato chip manufacturers. Companies have installed safeguards at various points in the ma nufacturing process to decrease the chances for breakage. The heights that chips fall from conveyer belts to fryers have been decreased.Plastic conveyer belts have been replaced with wide mesh stainless steel belts. These allow only the larger chips to travel to the fryers and the smaller potato slivers to fall through the mesh. Byproducts/Waste Rejected potatoes and peelings are sent to farms to be used as animal feed. The starch that is removed in the rinsing process is sold to a starch processor. The Future Potato chips show no sign of declining in popularity. However, the public's increased demand for low-fat foods has put manufacturers on a fast track to produce a reduced-calorie chip that pleases the palate as well. In the late 990s, Proctor and Gamble introduced olestra, a fat substitute that was being test-marketed in a variety of products, including potato chips. Food technicians are using computer programs to design a crunchier chip. Upper- and lower-wave forms are fed int o the computer at varying amplitudes, frequencies, and phases. The computer then spits out the corresponding models. Researchers are also working on genetically engineered potatoes with less sugar content since it is the sugar that produces brown spots on chips. Read more:  http://www. madehow. com/Volume-3/Potato-Chip. html#b#ixzz2LGhArQvs

Does the British media frame public opinion Essay

Does the British media frame public opinion - Essay Example Journalists prefer to deliver news from a certain angle in which the public is going to accept. They target public expectation on a particular issue that is rising in that society. Journalists know that when people receive information that favors their culture and the society, they consider that information true. These societies love to hear news that revolves around them positively. Any information that describe their way of living is considered false and will never be accepted by anyone in that society even if it is a true story. However, journalists try their best to deliver reports at an angle they know will favor their audience. Journalists from the other wing tend to report the same information but in a very different angle that they know that the audience they are, targeting will accept the information. This process is called framing in media. Framing is the act of selecting features of a perceived reality and making them salient in the text of communication with the aim of pr omoting problem definition and evaluation1. Generally, framing involves selection and salience8. Many reporters use this idea in most of their information that they deliver to the public. Media frames much of the public opinions to ensure they give the right information that the public is expecting from the media news. What the media does here is that, it draws public attention to particular topics and later the journalists select the topics that they know what the public is thinking. Media organizes the events and issues they want to present and the audience are the one to interpret the information in those events. British media has used this criterion in much of their news. This media has been framing public opinion to ensure that they give acceptable information in the news they broadcast to their audiences. Mass media are the technologies used to reach audience through mass communication. There are very many types of mass media although it is divided into two i.e. the old media and the new media. Television, radio, and newspapers represent the old media. On the other hand, new media came to existence due to the improved technologies in the mass communication sector. They include Twitter, Blogs, Facebook, You Tube, and Google. The public uses each of these media differently. Each individual chooses the media to use depending on the information they are searching. All these categories of mass media are useful in Britain. They are used to deliver information to the public through many ways. Political advertisements in Britain have been banned in all television channels and radio stations5. This was put in place when Communication Act 2003 was written. None of the radio stations and TV channels was allowed to make any advertisement that was political. Political advertisements are those advertisements that are more for campaigning rather than other information. Their main aim is to influence people concerning a particular party matters. ASA is responsible for r egulating all advertisements that are made in radio stations and TV channels. Although they can regulate these advertisements, they have a limit at which they cannot go further. ASA has written a notice to all political parties informing them that they should follow the rules that have been put in place. Political advertisers are supposed to be guided by rules that are in CAP Code. These principles states that all advertisements made must have a responsibility to both the consumers and the society. Newton and Brynnin noted that, â€Å"Television has major effects on the decision that people in the public make†. This is evidenced during election s when the candidates are having debates live in the television channels. Many people who watch those debates are swayed by what they hear from these political candidates. Many people are not desired on whom they are going to vote but when they watch the debates, most of them desired on their favorite candidate to vote for. This was ev idenced when Gordon brown, David Cameron, and Nick Clegg were

Curriculum Development Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Curriculum Development - Essay Example The authors focus on the standard of curriculum design for higher education as well as secondary education (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). The objective of Oliva’s model is to analyze the needs of society in which schools are established. The model further aims to enhance the requirements of students and exigencies regarding the subject that will be taught in school. The purpose is to implement and organize the curriculum to establish and formulate the structure by which the course design will be prepared (Oliva, 1992). Wiggins and McTighe states that the profession of teaching is very close to engineering and design. Like the later, teachers too need to be client-centered. The authors believe that the effectiveness of teacher through instruction, assessment, and curriculum, determines the desired learning (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). Oliva’s model shows that teachers choose instructional strategies to use in the classroom with students. Furthermore, the instructors need to use preliminary selection technique for evaluation. At this point, the teachers think ahead and commence to consider ways that will assess the achievements of students (Oliva, 1992). Wiggins and McTighe use the clichà © ‘form follows function’ that describe the idea how the course should be developed around its planned purpose. They state that content focused design is too ambiguous as it does not elucidate the reason of how discussion and reading help students. The authors formulated templates of questions for instructors to develop a lesson (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). In Oliva’s model, very diminutive attention has been given to cognitive construct and development of understanding. The author has consistently focused on identifying and specifying needs of students. However, Wiggins and McTighe explores the concept of understanding and its importance if course designs. Understanding is highly crucial for cognitive construct

The history of a technology Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

The history of a technology - Research Paper Example To put in more bluntly, Cooper’s history of air conditioning refers to the human history of managing or controlling the atmosphere in relation to man’s needs. The history of air conditioning as the history of air becomes apparent in the debate on whether or not windows should be close in exchange for mechanical system; this debate largely transpired in the 1970s. As if following Cooper’s idea of air conditioning, Arora (2009) traces its history from Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century ventilating fan. This ventilating fan lessens the experience of heat generated by the natural weather. In the 17th and 19th centuries, Boyle and Dalton were able to find the scientific laws involving heat or gasses. Arora (2009) notes that it was Robert Buchanan in the 1815 who first wrote into text pertaining to the theories of heating and ventilating. On the other hand, Whitman, Johnson, and Tomczyk (2005) define the notion of air conditioning not only as an air filtration and ventilation but also as a â€Å"space cooling, heating, humidification, [and] dehumidification.† Following this definition, they state that the first â€Å"air conditioning† (i.e., storing natural ice) occurred in 1000 B.C. ... It is interesting that Whitman et al. (2005) put the time line, in a visual representation, of the history of air conditioning from the 1800s (p. xxvi). Here, they appear to view the concept of air conditioning in its present understanding. Of Scientific Theories There are several scientific theories and/or laws that predate the theory characterized in the modern-day air conditioning. So-called Charles’s Law and the Law of Partial Pressures are Dalton’s contributions to the understanding of temperature, pressure, and gasses. The former refers to the proportional expansion of gases given an equal increase of temperature at constant pressure; the latter points to the independent exertion of gasses, as if they are the â€Å"only gas[es] present,† upon their mixture â€Å"in a closed vessel† (Weber, 2000). Charles’s Law helps comprehend the phenomenon occurring within and outside the present-day air conditioner when temperature increases or decreases. M oreover, The Law of Partial Pressures provides a greater depth in understanding the gases that come in and go out from the air conditioning machine. However, the theory of present-day notion of air conditioning is traced highly to Michael Faraday’s 19th-century equation concerning gases and constant pressure. According to Freudenberger (2006), today’s scientists are able to figure out the quantitative measurement of the absolute zero: -273.15 degrees Celsius. In this theoretical state, cold is very much evident while heat is utterly absent. In Thermodynamics, heat is a form of energy. Since the theory of cold signifies the absence of heat, then the law of heat is quite essential in fully comprehending the nature of cold or cooling. In explaining the processes involved in

2 contract law assignments Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3750 words

2 contract law assignments - Essay Example However, that right would have arisen by virtue of common law principles rather than statutory law as contained in the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. Owen Fox explains that ‘for many years, the doctrine of privity of contract was a fundamental feature of English law, meaning that it was only the parties to a contract who could rely upon or enforce the terms of that contract. The consequence of this was that if a third party suffered a loss because the contracting parties failed to fulfil their obligations to each other, then the third party had no recourse under the contract.’2 This is the background against which Sarah Jones Development’s claim for damages against Archibald must be examined. There were and are exceptions to the privity of contract rule. One exception is to be found in circumstances where a collateral contract exists. For example when there is a contract between two parties one of the parties thereto may have a collateral contract with a third party in respect of the same matters contained in the primary contract. Shanklin Pier v Detal Products [1951] 854 provides a good example. In this case the plaintiff hired a contractor for the purpose of painting a pier. The painting contractor was instructed to purchase the paint from the defendants. The defendants informed the plaintiffs that the paint would last for seven years when in fact it only lasted for three months. As a result the plaintiff took the defendants to court despite the absence of a contract between them and defendants. 3 The court ruled that the plaintiffs could sue the defendants for damages on the basis of a collateral contract. The plaintiff had provided consideration in exchange for the defendants’ assurance of the quality of the paint by indorsing a contract with the painting contractor which specifically required that they purchase the defendants’ paint.4 The general tone of judicial findings was that there must be an intention to form a

A short review of Nancy Folbre, Valuing Domestic Product New York Term Paper

A short review of Nancy Folbre, Valuing Domestic Product New York Times, May 28, 2012 - Term Paper Example One of its major points is the significant economic effects of domestic work to the economy. This is because the unpaid domestic workers offers a supplementary role to the employed member of households, roles that would have been paid for if they were for example taken over by a house help. The article illustrates this with the example of marrying a paid worker thereby ceasing to pay. This will reduce the gross domestic product while a divorce in the arrangement to effect payments for the services would increase the gross domestic product. This identifies the significance of unpaid domestic work to the gross domestic product (Folbre, 2012). Another identified issue in the article is the undervaluation of the value of unpaid domestic works. One of the reasons for the underestimation of the unpaid domestic work is its equivalent rating with average rate for commercial household workers. The difference in family based skills, and probably self-interest in the unpaid domestic work, howev er illustrates a higher value for the unpaid work. As a result, published estimates are less than the actual value of unpaid domestic work. ... Similarly, those who still dedicate to it have a reduced invested time in the work. The reason for such reduced time is the technological developments that provide time efficiencies and cheaper substitutes. These have also led to loss of significance of unpaid domestic work (Folbre, 2012). The article also explains the role of homemakers, as unpaid domestic workers, as social and economic equalizers. This is because their shift from the domestic chores into paid works leads to a significant difference across households a factor because of the less volatility in the value of domestic chores as compared to employment opportunities (Folbre, 2012). Why full time homemakers are income equalizers Full time homemakers are income equalizers because the value of domestic roles and domestically generated products are less volatile that the value in employment opportunities and market products. This means that the homemakers generate almost equal utility levels to harmonize the differences from the breadwinners’ market income. The transition from full time homemakers to the employment market however increases wage rate inequality. Similarly, the shift from a full time homemaker into an employee means that market products whose values are highly volatile substitute the almost uniformly valued domestically produced products. The volatility factor that is less significant in domestic roles than in the market therefore explains the role of full time homemakers as income equalizers (Folbre, 2012). Unpaid household work in Canada The value of unpaid household work in Canada is estimated to fall within the range of between 35 percent and 55 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (Perelman, 2011).

Auditor's Professional Ethics and Legal Liability Essay

Auditor's Professional Ethics and Legal Liability - Essay Example instance, ‘Compensation’ though is a legitimate action it can become unethical when the top executives of companies fix ‘excessive compensation’ for themselves (Anthony, 2004, p.28). Accountants and auditors must have a code of conduct so as to coordinate their work and to fix a standard for their actions. The significance of the predetermined code of conduct is that it enables accountants and auditors to carry out their duties and responsibilities more accurately and transparently. The code of conduct remains to be an assessment tool for management to evaluate employees’ professional ethics based on their performance. In order to uphold the reliability and integrity of the profession auditors must comply with legal and ethical norms of the firm. For instance, an auditor should not reveal the audit report or any information concerned with the firm under audit to any persons or companies other than to the management which assigned the audit work. It is very difficult to bring out a fraudulent action if it is committed by persons at the higher level of the management. However, auditor should take all possible efforts to reveal the organizational misconduct of any sort. The auditor being held criminally liable under current regulations may suffer cash fine or imprisonment subsequent to his/her mistake on the concern. The punishment may also differ for intentional and unintentional mistakes which have committed during the course of audit. An auditor can minimize his legal liability by submitting audit memorandum in order to prove that he has discharged the responsibilities correctly. Audit memorandum is a personal document of the auditor which consists of all details and explanations of audit work he/she had performed. This document helps to defend the auditor in case of lawsuits and thereby minimizes his/her legal liability. Individuals like accountants, managers, and auditors play significant roles in the sustainable profitability of a firm. If the

Summary Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Summary - Lab Report Example Even today, every job that a person has, is somehow or the other related to the environment and thus an environmental studies student needs to evaluate his skills and define his values on a personal as well as societal level. In order to develop an academic plan, a student needs to understand the requirements for transfers to different universities, mainly CSU and UC, which have been explained with respect to the marks, units and courses. Students have been clearly explained regarding how they need to go about understanding the requirements of the various departments within each and every course in these various colleges so that they have options once they get out of school in order to make themselves productive. The A.A degree is then emphasized upon which requires a total of 90 units. The various major and minor environmental studies plans have been talked about and the vitality that an internship holds in the life of a student has been greatly discussed in order to help the studen ts understand that only when they work in various fields will they understand what interests them and what excites them. Therefore, the options that an environmental studies student has have been deliberated upon along with the various credentials associated with each and every course which may be beneficial during the course of his study. Every student needs to check his major requirements as his academic plan will ultimately consist of a GE or general education and a major. Students require a guide and De Anza College provides exactly that for them to be lead towards the various programs and questions were encouraged greatly. The teacher again and again highlighted the need for preparing a strong mission statement because that in it would act as a blueprint for the student towards his course achievement. A tremendous amount of careers in the environmental studies field was talked about like the jobs in fields of recycling, energy, agriculture etc. and how each student can finally contribute towards fostering the environment and making a difference. Teachers from universities like the San Jose University spoke about the various departments and courses that they offer as well as the areas of expertise that they excel in and unique features of their programs which include an excellent atmosphere for learning as well as the personal attention provided to each and every student and the internships that they are entitled to as part of the program. The environmental studies degree is very flexible because there are various job opportunities and so students are taught to be focused but be light on their feet in order to move from one field to another under the same branch. The second class mostly emphasized on the various careers that a student can get into, taking into account the internships that one must undergo before associating himself with a particular job; for example an energy management advocate, biologist working in various fields, undertaking work in the biodiversity etc. and time must be spent reviewing various books in order to work towards the final journal which would include the path that each student would want to finally undertake instead of simply juggling the various options. A concrete academic plan consists of focusing on a single area which throughout the course would be made. Various organizations like eco.org were talked about with respect to job opportunities

Patients in Pain Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Patients in Pain - Research Paper Example The study is a qualitative research conducted in natural settings, and uses data that are words or text rather than numerical in order to describe the experiences that are being studied as recommended (LoBiondo-Wood, 2010). Ten (10) participants were selected from a sample size of twenty (20) nurses from three (3) hospitals. They were given in-depth, unstructured interviews in form of dialogues focusing on their care of patients in pain. The study was conducted to appraise the problem: hospitalized patients still suffer from pain due to poorly managed nursing processes. The study question is: â€Å"what are the nurses’ experiences when caring for patients in pain?† The research study is phenomenological; that is aimed at obtaining a description of an experience as it is lived in order to understand the meaning of that experience for those who have it. It is also non-experimental; that is the investigator observes a phenomenon without manipulating the independent variabl e and finally it is qualitative; that is research about human experiences whose data types are words or text rather than numerical in order to describe the experiences that are being studied (Auerbach,  et al 1990) Overview of the Study In virtually all hospitals world over hospitalized patients report the same thing: pain. This is in spite of a wider knowledge-base, the advancements in technological as well as a wealth of research (Auerbach,  et al 1990). The professionals who are charged with pain assessment and the administration of analgesia or other relief are the Nurses. On the face of it, it might appear automatic to point an accusing finger on them as failing in their duties. However a closer look on these complaints exposes several situations; that is one, nurses usually do not make decisions independently as to the prescription of drugs meaning that what they may consider as a prescription ideal to a paining situation may differ from issued guidelines, inter alia. Nurs es therefore do not have a free hand to operate mainly due to their relationship with the ‘gate-keepers’; that is the physicians (Walker, J2002), in spite of the problems and costs associated with and inherent in unrelieved postoperative pain (Walker, J2002). This therefore makes it essential for researchers, physicians as well as nurses and patients to deeply understand the strengths and weaknesses of the nursing profession in the process of achieving pain relief for hospitalized patients. Other barriers include:- Anxiety: Most nurses are anxious about the possible consequences of using opioid drugs, such as respiratory depression and addiction. Assessment Inadequacies: owing to the huge workload on most nurses on the one hand, and the organizational ineffectiveness (Shealy, 2006) on the other, pain assessment by nurses is usually inadequate as well. However, it has been observed that most of researches conducted have tended to conclude negatively with regard to nurses and their pain management. Conclusion about the Strength of Evidence/Findings The study exposed that the challenges encountered by nurses while caring for hospitalized patients in pain can more easily be understood if the role of a nurse is viewed from a goal-directed mission standpoint; that is an aim towards relieving

Implement Marketing Strategies and Tactics Essay Example for Free

Implement Marketing Strategies and Tactics Essay Briefing stakeholders- Persons involved directly or indirectly with the organisation or project. BBQfun will be the leading outdoor-lifestyle retailer, catering to the growing need for furnishing new and renovated dwellings in the greater Brisbane area. Board of directors- BBQfun’s board of directors need to approve the plan, customers specific needs, prepare a report of high population in Greater Brisbane area, new homes and renovated homes growing from a base of 50,000 per year, low employment. Human resources staff-Human resources staff may need to adjustment demographic factors like – * Male and female population * Age segment that makes up 50% of the Brisbane new and renovated house markets, according to the chamber of commerce * High percentage of young professionals who work in the central Business district. * An average household income of over $130,000. Services marketing- Marketing based on relationship and value. BBQfun will position as a broad assortment, quality, unique outdoor –lifestyle retailer. Brisbane customers appreciate high quality and uniqueness will recognise the value and unique offerings of BBQfun. Manager- BBQfun’s manager looking for security in purchasing and house proud factor in outdoor lifestyle purchasing. Marketing and non-marketing personnel- The success of any marketing activities is equally shared between both external and internal customers group. BBQfun’s basic market need is for quality, fashionable and unique outdoor –lifestyle items that caters to the house- proud needs of our market. The success of the marketing plan of BBQfun’s many aspects are responsible for this like- advertising personnel, manager, public relations personnel, sales manager, sales team, staff, and supervisors. Objectives of the plan- * Increase sales from $15 millon per year to $20 million per year in the next three years. * Increase our loyalty customers list from 10,000 to 16,000. * Establish brand recognition in Brisbane so that at least two in three people recognise our brand in a random survey taken in 12 months’ time. * Continue increase gross profit margins. Roles and responsibilities-BBQfun’s responsibility is to provide customers with the most extensive assortment of quality outdoor-lifestyle products available in the market. Second, easy to manage long term repayment plans make unique, imported and high quality outdoor-lifestyle affordable to all. Performance measures- it is very important to know the performance measures of the BBQfun’s. There are four main steps for measuring Customers- BBQfun’s excellent staff that is highly skilled and knowledgeable about outdoor lifestyles. High customer loyalty among repeat customers.BBQfun’s great retail space that is bright, functional and efficient. Customers can see the quality of the product as it is displayed in the store. Financial-BBQfun’s advertising budget is set at $250,000 for the year. Continue to finance the easy manage long term repayment. The imported products make up 33% of the assortment. Internal business process- BBQfun wants their products and service meet customer needs so BBQfun try to new dwelling population, shopping patterns requiring easy access and customer car parking counts. Learning and growth-BBQfun has created an outdoor- lifestyle range of retail products that are differentied and superior to competitors. BBQfun provide 3 year guarantee is unique in the market place. BBQfun want to grow their business in the commercial, suburban neighbourhood or urban retail district. BBQfun‘s will do direct mail and local advertising. BBQfun has 15-20 full time staff, plus casuals. Marketing strategies and the resources-A marketing strategy is the foundation of a marketing plan; it integrates an organisation’s marketing objectives, goals, policies and actions.BBQfun’s 3 types of marketing strategies- Defensive strategies- BBQfun’s mission is to provide customers with the most extensive assortment of quality products available in the market. BBQfun continue to finance the easy manage long term repayment plan for customers. Developing strategies-BBQfun’s developing strategy is increase sales from $15 million per year to $20 million pe r year in the next 3 years, increase loyalty customers list from 10,000 to 16,000. Attacking strategies- BBQfun’s customers are mostly aged between 20 to 50, making up 50% of the new and renovated dwelling market. Outdoor lifestyle stores have been very successful in stand alone, extensive car park access, close to new housing estates being established. By offering a superior service in range and uniqueness, BBQfun will excel relative to the competition and achieve goals. Resources -Elements that are utilised to assist the process like- human, information and communication technology, financial and physical. * Human resources relates to the people. BBQfun’s marketing plan and strategy related to the people because this is a outdoor lifestyle retailer company. BBQfun’s customers are male and female and high percentage of young professionals. * Financial- BBQfun’s advertising budget is $250,000 for the year. BBQfun will try to get articles about BBQfun into the BrisNews magazine. BrisNews magazine has seen a dramatic increase of sales immediately after the article was published. * ICT – For advertising purpose BBQfun is using local letter box, radio, and magazines. BBQfun‘s will do direct mail and local advertising, with coupon inserts in the BrisNews magazine likely to be the most successful of the campaigns. Communication and team building strategies- Effective communication is essential in any workplace and is essential for building or improving business and work relationships. Team building strategies are also essential in effectively running an organisation or team. BBQfun’s objective is to create customer awareness regarding their services offered, develop that customer base, and work toward building customer loyalty and referrals. The message of BBQfun is easy access outdoor-lifestyle products in Brisbane. This message will be communicated through a variety of methods like- direct mail. BBQfun will also use ads and inserts in Brizzy magazine. The 5Cs of effective team building are- Clear expectations-If we want to implement successful team building strategy then clear expectation is very important. In a team every person knows the role they are expected to play as well as the roles of other team members. Each and every member of the team needs to understand how and where they fit in the organisational structure. Channels of communication- Team building strategy cannot achieve without open channels of communication. It involves everyone like directors, managers, team leaders and team members. It helps to create working atmosphere and encourage to employees to discuss the problems amongst themselves. Conflict resolution-When a group of people working together then differences emerge into the open. By communication they try to solve the differences. If they can’t resolve their problems without assistance then implement mediation with an impartial third party and organise a workshop on this subject. Consequences- Make sure each team member feels responsible and accountable for team achievements. Understand the individual contribution and give them appreciation if they are doing well. In this way it encourages them for individual creativity. Celebrating achievements as a team- Every employee or team member plays an important role in the success or failure of an organisation. So need to celebrate achievements as a team. Marketing mix- BBQfun’s marketing mix is comprised of these following approaches to pricing, distribution, advertising and promotion and customer service. Strategies for monitoring marketing activities- The marketing plan require the monitoring of all marketing activities in order to analyse their performance. Implementation strategies for effective and accurate monitoring processes need to be considered and implemented. BBQfun’s each aspect of marketing plan should be monitored and evaluate. These aspects are important to achieve goal- Timeline, Resource, Costs, sales, contacts made relationship. BBQfun‘s single objective to position BBQ as the premier outdoor –lifestyle store in the greater Brisbane area within 5 years. BBQfun wants to create customer awareness regarding their service and work toward building customer loyalty and referrals. The direct mail campaign will be away to communicate directly with the consumer in this way BBQfun create a good relationship with customers. It is envisaged that new products will be developed on a regular basis in line with changes in customer taste which is targeted at every 12 months. By getting feedback from these firms then changes is possible in the product. Feedback, decision making process of customers is very important aspect for the development of the product. Local business owners are often part of an informal fraternal organisation where they support each other’s business. BBQfun recently become a member of the outdoor Lifestyle Association. BBQfun’s marketing manager is responsible for marketing activities and has the authority and responsibilities over all company activities that affect customer’s satisfaction. .

Incredible Years Series theoretical based intervention programme

Incredible Years Series theoretical based intervention programme A promising intervention programme should be theoretical and evidence-based. The Incredible Years programme, a well-designed and comprehensive intervention package, has strong theoretical grounds (Webster-Stratton et al., 2001). It was originally invented to treat early onset conduct problems among young children (Webster-Stratton, 2000), then was revised to prevent conduct problems by promoting social competence universally (Webster-Stratton, Reid Stoolmiller, 2008). Children who display high rates of anti-social behavior or aggression are at risk of developing conduct problems (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009b). It is found that these children experience more peer rejection and non-supportive comments from teachers (Carr, Taylor Robinson, 1991; Webster-Stratton Reid, 2002), and as a result, they dislike going to school and may display more negative emotions and behaviors (Birch Ladd, 1997). This is a vicious cycle which The Incredible Years Series are aiming to bring it to an end. The Incredible Years programme is not only targeting on children, but also the factors that contribute to the cause of such conduct problems. Webster-Stratton (2005) suggested that a disorganized home environment, ineffective parenting and teachers lack of instrumental classroom management skills were all provocative. Although it is believed that parental influence on childrens social development is the most prominent (Webster-Stratton et al., 2001), past research showed that parent training might not be effective enough, as the children only made short-term improvement at home, but not at school (Gresham, 1998; Taylor Biglan, 1998). Therefore, a multi-faceted intervention project that includes trainings for parents, teachers and children is designed (Webster-Stratton, Reid Hammond, 2004). The Incredible Years Series was compared and evaluated against single or paired training programmes; longitudinal results indicated that the childrens improvement in the integrated training serie s were longer-lasting and could sustain beyond the training setting (Webster-Stratton Hammond, 1997; Webster-Stratton, Reid Hammond, 2001; Webster-Stratton, Reid Stoolmiller, 2008). The Incredible Years Series that address multi-levelled risk factors are strongly supported by a number of theories. In the following, I shall briefly introduce the underlying theories, following by an extensive discussion on how these theoretical underpinnings are applied to the training programmes and the method of delivery. Theoretical underpinnings Behaviorism According to the theory of operant conditioning, human beings behavior is contingent upon the consequences (Butterworth Harris, 1994). Behavior is likely to be reproduced if reinforcement follows (Baer, Wolf Risely, 1968). The presentation of reinforcement not only serves the informative function to indicate the appropriateness of certain actions (Bandura, 1977), but also serves the motivational functioning that increases the probability of future production (Bolles, 1979). Childrens development is closely linked to their experiences of reinforcement. It was found that children whose parents who did not reinforce their social skills were weaker in establishing friendly relationships (Patterson Dishion, 1985). In classroom setting, appropriate use of praise and reward improves childrens classroom behavior (Pfiffner, Rosen, OLeary, 1985) and a consistent punishment system is also effective in reducing undesirable behaviors (Pfiffner OLeary, 1987). The behavioral approach explains aggression as a result of external reinforcement. Bandura (1973) proposes that by acting aggressively, some children may gain approval, power, or enhancement in self-image that reinforces them to continue. Social learning theory In agreement with the behaviorists, social learning theorists also believe in the importance of environmental stimuli (e.g. reinforcement), but it is proposed that personal determinants cannot be ignored (Bandura, 1977). Human behaviors are seen as an outcome of the reciprocal interactions between the persons and their surroundings (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009b). Bandura (1977) believes that learning can occur without personally experiencing the action and its consequences. He suggests that most children learn to use aggression through modeling. The sources can be very diverse, ranging from the mass media, peers in schools, to parents aggressive punishment. It was discovered that children with parents who had bad marital relationship had higher probability of developing conduct disorders (Webster-Stratton, 1996). The social learning theory provides a justified reason: when parents are openly criticizing each other, displaying hostility, or producing aggressive behaviors, children observe and learn to use these coercive tactics to solve conflicts (Patterson, Reid, Jones Conger, 1975). Bandura (1989) also proposed the idea of self-efficacy. It is defined as the personal evaluation of ones ability to accomplish a certain task (Harter, 1993, Kanfer Zeiss, 1983). It is believed that human beings have an innate tendency to strive for social self-efficacy with the parents, and would be discouraged if not successful (Heydenberk Heydenberk, 2007). Perceived self-efficacy influences peoples actions and beliefs, and also ones persistence in difficult times (Bandura Adams, 1977). For people who have high self-efficacy in social aspects, they expect success in forming and maintaining positive relationship with the others. For people who have low social self-efficacy, they might have experienced failures in interpersonal aspects before (Webster-Stratton Lindsay, 1999). They judge themselves as socially incompetent and put less effort in forming social relationships. Self-efficacy stems from successful experiences, vicarious learning and verbal persuasion (Bandura Adams, 1977). Ones own expectation of the probability to get contingent reinforcement (Kanfer Zeiss, 1983) and also the significant others expectations is crucial for the development of self-efficacy (Cooley, 1902). Children understand what their parents or teachers are expecting from them through verbal or non-verbal means (Webster-Stratton, 2006). If they then act according to what others expect from them, they will be contingent to the others expectations, it is called the self-filling prophecy (e.g. (Lee Bishop, 2008; Strassberg, 1995). The lower the teachers expectations on their students, the less motivation the students have (e.g. Chung Westwood, 2001; Jussim, 1989; Wigfield Harold, 1992). But it is hopeful that children can benefit a lot too when the teachers increase their support and expectations on them (Webster-Stratton, Reid Hammond, 2004). Theory of the coercive process The coercive hypothesis generated by Patterson (1982) can be regarded as an extension and integration of behaviorism and social learning theory. It starts with a social interactional perspective and considers childrens aggressive behavior as a product of repeated coercive interactions between a dyad that are created and maintained by the positive and negative reinforcement (Mesman, et al., 2008). Both members of the dyad should be responsible for the undesirable outcome (Webster-Stratton, 2000). The coercive model sees the importance of parents and teachers interactions with the children. Continuous negative reinforcement and modeling escalates both the childrens and the parents/ teachers coercive attitudes and behaviors (Patterson, Reid, Jones Conger, 1975). A reinforcement trap occurs when one member of the conflicting pair gives up during the coercive interaction (Webster-Stratton, 2005). From the viewpoint of the member who insists, this can be seen as a negative reinforcement and would encourage him/her to use such coercive tactics again (Webster-Stratton Hancock, 1998). The other member also learns by observation and modelling to escalate their aversive behaviors to avoid further failures. So, the intensity of aggression increases and accumulates after every conflict (Patterson Dishion, 1985). And children may generalize such pattern of conflict managements to other contexts. Parents fall into the reinforcement trap because of their non-contingent parenting skills and ineffective disciplinary strategies to deal with coercive behaviors (Patterson Dishion, 1985). To decrease aggression, one must change the coercive process by stopping the negative reinforcement. Parents and teachers can be taught using more effective and positive discipline methods and no longer triggers childrens aggressive behaviors, and change theirs by modeling. Attachment theory Bowlbys (1997) attachment theory emphasizes the importance of a positive parent-child relationship. It is found that children who have a loving and trusting relationship with a major caregiver are more socially competent (Lee, 1990), while children who experience hostile contacts from parents lack emotional regulatory and conflict-management strategies (Webster-Stratton, 2005). By using the strange situation, four types of attachment styles can be identified, namely secure, insecure-avoidant, insecure-ambivalent and insecure-disorganized (Van Ijzendoorn, Bakermans-Kranenburg Sagi-Schwartz, 2006). The attachment pattern highly affects how one thinks and feels (Cummings-Robeau, Lopez Rice, 2009) and has enormous influence on interpersonal functioning (Collins, 1996). Insecure attachment may develop when the parents are being inconsistent, rejecting and insensitive to childrens needs (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009b). Children with this type of attachment may have higher level of aggression and greater difficulty expressing their feelings and trusting the others (Fagot, 1997). In contrast, securely attached children possess greater social skills (e.g. Schneider, Atkinson Tardif, 2001; Weinfield, Scoufe, Egeland Carlson, 1999) and feel safe to explore the world as they trust their parents (Juffer, Bakermans-Kranenburg van IJzendoorn, 2008b). better social co mpetence (e.g. Schneider, Atkinson Tardif, 2001; Weinfield, Scoufe, Egeland Carlson, 1999). As the kind of attachment formed is closely linked to the parenting skills and parental sensitivity (Bakermans-Kranenburg et al., 2008), Incredible Years aims to improve those elements so as to alter the attachment pattern. Moreover, the attachment theory can also be applied to the teacher-child relationship, as children also have a lot of contact with teachers (Birch Ladd, 1997). The Incredible Years Programme Based on the above theories, Webster-Stratton (1981) developed three interlocking programmes, targeting at the parents, teachers and children to promote social competence. Parent training The parent series is the most important one (Webster-Stratton et al., 2001), with four sub-sections designed for promoting different skills and accommodating children of different age groups. One of the heaviest elements in this series is the training of parenting skills. In line with the underlying behavioral theory, parents are taught the effective use of reinforcement and punishment. In order to encourage childrens exhibition of prosocial behaviors, parents make good use of reinforcers. They are guided to create a hierarchy of reinforcement that is tailor-made for their own children. Examples of powerful reinforcers are social rewards like attention, smiles and hug and social activities like going to beach together (Neville, Beak King, 1995). The way parents administer the reinforcements is very crucial they have to make sure that the reward is immediate and contingent to specific favorable behaviors; and also, children should receive the rewards together with labeled praise. Moreover, parents are reminded that materialistic rewards like money and toys may apparently seem to be incredible reinforcers, but their effectiveness may not be very long-lasting. This kind of tangible rewards is better used at times when children achieve a particular goal that is clearly defined beforehand (Webster-Stratton Herbert, 1994). Conversely, to reduce childrens aversive behaviors, parents are trained to use a wide range of methods depending on the intensity and type of misbehaviors. Examples are removing existing reinforcements like ignoring and timeout, and rewarding alternative positive behaviors (Neville, Beak King, 1995). Parents are taught not to argue and shout with the children during conflicts, as those naggings are also reinforcing, as they are parental attention. Yet, using ignoring is not easy, as parents have to be consistent and determined to neglect the child until the unwanted behavior vanishes (Webster-Stratton, 2006). Or else, parents would have been fallen into the reinforcement trap, as suggested by Pattersons (1982) coercive model. Timeout is another good strategy if used probably as it gives both the parents and the children a cooling period. Children are kept isolated for a while, and are deprived of any possible reinforcement, including parents attention (Webster-Stratton Herbert, 199 4). Using these methods can reduce childrens coerciveness, model children the peaceful way of managing conflicts and still to remain a trusting parent-child relationship. No matter it is the administration of rewards or punishments, one rule that parents must follow is to be consistent. Previous research studies show that unpredictable parenting style seriously affects the parent-child bonding and makes children feel insecure and frustrated (Lee, 1990). To manage discipline, both reinforcements and punishments may be needed (Pfiffner OLeary, 1987). The latter one should be used as last resort (Neville, Beak King, 1995), as punishments may trigger childrens anger, create tension and model unwanted, aggressive behaviors to them. Moreover, punishing for a bad behavior does not give children ideas what an appropriate behavior is. To prevent using punishments, one of the best ways is to set limits. Parents can set clear, realistic and positive goals with the children (Webster-Stratton, 2005). With limit setting, coercive process of aggression can be prevented, and childrens experience of reaching goals or keeping within the limits reinforces them, and enhances their social self-efficacy (Webser-Stratton Reid, 2007). According to the expectancy theory, when children recognize that parents have high but reasonable expectations on them, their self-confidence is enhanced and self-fulfilling prophecy predicts that they will try hard to act accordingly. To enhance childrens self-esteem, the support from parents is essential (Harter, 1993). According to Bandura (1977), ones self-efficacy can be improved by verbal persuasion. Parents should view their children in a positive way, accept their weakness and encourage them to think positively about themselves (Webster-Stratton, 2006). For elder kids, parents can try to involve them more in family meetings, limit settings, or any other activities can require collaborative decisions (Coopersmith, 1967), so that children have more opportunities to express themselves and they might feel confident as becoming a contributor in the family (Webster-Stratton, 2000). The ADVANCE parent training programme focuses on the parents interpersonal skills. It is found that parents who have poor communicate skills and anger management strategies are more likely to have children who suffer from conduct problem (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009b). This is due to the fact children can observe and may have modeled their parents behaviors (Webster-Stratton, 1996). In this training series, parents are empowered to act as a good role-model of their children. And by modeling, parents can foster social skills and desirable learning habits to them (Webster-Stratton, 2005). Teacher training The teacher training series focuses on skills and tactics to manage a large of children (Webster-Stratton et al., 2001), mainly by using reinforcement, managing misbehavior, fostering a warm and safe environment, building positive relationships, teaching social and problem-solving skills (Webster-Stratton, 2004). Although the target is different, the major concepts used in the teacher training are similar to that of the parent one (Webser-Stratton Reid, 2007). To promote positive behaviors, reward again is very important. Besides praising children specifically and enthusiastically, teachers, persons that are familiar with childrens learning progress, should praise children for their improvement instead of the scores they achieve. A consistent rewarding system can enhance childrens self-efficacy and social competence (Webser-Stratton Reid, 2007). Another special component of the teacher training series is the effort of teachers to collaborate with the childrens family (Webster-Stratton, 1999). It is desirable for teachers to visit their students family, so that they can better understand the students home environment and background, and thus to be more sensitive in catering the students special needs. It is equally valuable for parents to visit their childrens schools. Teachers in the Incredible Years programme are equipped with techniques to communicate and cooperate effectively with the parents (Webser-Stratton Reid, 2007). Children Training The children training series emphasizes enhancing childrens emotional literacy, social skills, conflict management and problem-solving skills (Webster-Stratton, 2004). Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize, understand, handle and appropriately express emotions (Sharp, 2001: 1). This is one of the most fundamental communication skills that children acquire in the Incredible Years student series. Children with conduct problems usually have worse emotional literacy and ability to identity and understand facial cues (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2003). The ability to convey emotional messages are closely linked to ones emotional and social health (Morrison and Matthews, 2006; Nyland, 1999). It was found that enriching emotional literacy can lead to a reduction and delinquency and aggression (Carnwell Baker, 2007); and children with higher emotional literacy have comparatively better social outcomes like having more friends (Hubbard Coie, 1994; Miller et al., 2005). Olson (1992) explained that for children who were not equipped with enough vocabularies to communicate their emotions, it was likely for them to use their bodies to express themselves. This is often quite undesirable, as for example, if the child was angry at the moment, and because he did not know how to verbalize it, he transformed his anger to physical responses and hit his classmates. Research evidence did show that the lack of emotional vocabulary and emotion understanding were correlated with aggressive behaviors (Bohnert, Crnic Lim, 2003) and ineffective conflict management (Heydenberk Heydenberk, 2005). After building up a list of emotional vocabularies and learning the usage of strategic communications skills like I messages (e.g. I want toà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, I feelà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, I hopeà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦, etc.), children displays significantly less anti-social behaviors (Heydenberk Heydenberk, 2007). It is easier for them to regulate their emotions (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2 009) Methods of Delivery In the Incredible Years Programme, most of the sessions involve group discussion and practice, while one-fourth of them are administered through videotape modelling (Webster-Stratton and Herbert, 1994). Group Discussion One of the goals of the Incredible Years is to provide a cost-effective intervention program. This is achieved through the use of group-based delivery (Webster-Stratton, 2000). There are around 12 to 14 participants per group, with one group leader to assist in administrative issues and encourage discussions. Besides the economical value, the group setting allows parents or teachers to share and normalizes their experiences (Webster-Stratton, 1981), to provide support for each other, and to facilitate modeling (Webster-Stratton, 2004). When parents or teachers know that there are so many other people that are encountering the same difficulties as they do, they feel more relieved and confident with their parenting or teaching skills. Video Modelling and live modeling Video Modelling is a cost-effective training method that has been extensively used in the programme (Brestan Eyberg, 1998). This method is based on Banduras (1989) theory of observational learning. It was proposed that participants would model the positive behaviors by observing the interactions shown in the videotapes (Webster-Stratton, 2005). The study done by Singer and Singer (1983) showed that children who watched a television programs that promote prosocial behaviors really exhibited significantly greater desirable behaviors upon watching. Parents are mainly shown about parent-child interactions at home during dinner, play, etc.; teachers are shown the teacher-child interactions in classroom during circle, work time and play, etc. (Webser-Stratton Reid, 2007). Some of scenes are positive, while some are negative, so the adults understand there is no perfect teaching or parenting (Juffer, Bakermans-Kranenburg van IJzendoorn, 2008a), and this may raise their self-efficacy. Seeing the adult-child relationships give them an idea how to increases childrens prosocial behaviors and reduces aggressive or aversive behaviors (Webster-Stratton, 2004). Previous research, in line with the hypothesis, indicated that children video which showed some positive peer interactions were effective in enhancing childrens politeness and friendliness and in decreasing childrens noncompliant and negative behaviors (Webster-Stratton, 1982). Unlike, one-to-one interventions, video modeling makes it possible to show different kinds of people interacting in different contexts, which creates greater generalization and participants may find it easier to apply the skills learnt in daily lives (Webster-Stratton, 2000). There are some important points to note when using modeling. First, video-makers have to ensure that the participants have affirmative feelings about the model, and they can identify with the model to some extent. One way to achieve this is to explicitly tell the participants that those models are not actors, but real parents like them. Secondly, the video must have scenes showing the model getting reward upon doing some favorable (Webster-Stratton, 1981). For example, the childrens cooperation is a kind of intangible reinforcement for the adults. Thirdly, group leaders should ensure that participants are paying attention, and not being disturbed by some external distracters. Lastly, there should be chance for the participants to practice the new skills and gain the reward as shown. In the Children Training Series, the leader and a puppet named Wally act as a live model (Webster-Stratton, 2000). The group leader uses the puppet to role-play and model a positive interpersonal interaction, so that children can learn the appropriate behaviors through vicarious experience (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009). Behavioral research (Homework and practice) Homework and exercises are given to participants to try out the newly learnt skills and to apply the knowledge to real life context (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2007; Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009). The role-playing exercises allow participants to understand the concepts and skill more thoroughly and clearly (Webster-Stratton, 2000). And through this, they know how it feels to use appropriate strategies in interactions. Experiences of success is very important for participants to be motivated in using such skills and real achievements can boost their self-esteem (Emler, 2001). Child-directed play Child-directed play is a useful tool in enhancing attachment and positive relationship between adults and children (Axline, 1969; Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009). This kind of play can also enhance childrens social competence and self-efficacy (Lee, 1990). There are a number of techniques that aid child-directed play. First, the adults should give minimal comments, not to judge or question during the play. Adults reinforce and encourage the childrens effort, concentration, creativity and all the other positive behaviors. This can help promoting the childrens perceived competence and self-worth (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009). Second, adults try to follow the childrens thoughts and allow children to have independent thinking (Webster-Stratton, 2006). There are six different child-directed play skills that can help teaching children academic and social skills, and building a positive adult-child relationship (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009). First, the adults use descriptive commenting to show that they are paying attention to the children, and at the same time, to teach children important vocabularies. The joint attention reinforces children to continue playing. Second, adults can use academic coaching to teach children academic skills like counting and names of objects. Third, when children are encountered with challenges in the play, adults try to promote persistence in playing (Schunk, 1981). As suggested by Bandura (1989), the longer one stays in the difficult problems, the stronger confidence one has about his abilities. Adults use persistence coaching to encourage children by commenting on their cognitive condition. Being praised and knowing oneself as persisting, children feel reinforced and contented. Fourth, emotion coachi ng can be used to teach children feeling words. The last two are one-on-one and peer social coaching that allow children to practice playing with children, so that they can model the interaction techniques and experience real success (Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009). Conclusion The Incredible Years Series is a theoretical-based intervention programme that is found to be effective in treating or preventing childrens conduct problems in many previous research studies (e.g. Webster-Stratton, 1994; Webster-Stratton et al., 2001; Webster-Stratton Reid, 2009; Webster-Stratton, Reid Stoolmiller, 2008). A lot of developmental or educational psychologists from different countries have been trying to revise and adopt the programme to their culture, reflecting the effectiveness and popularity of the programme. All the three training modules (parents, teachers and children) place great emphasis in promoting childrens positive behaviors by reinforcement, reducing misbehaviors using sensible skills and learning effective social skills through observational learning. Overall, this is a well-planned intervention programme and it is hopeful that Incredible Years can really helping creating incredible lives for the next generation.

Applications Of Remote Sensing Environmental Sciences Essay

Applications Of Remote Sensing Environmental Sciences Essay Remote sensing technique has emerged as an effective tool for systematic survey, analysis, and better management of natural resources (land, soil, water, forests, mountains) along with the monitoring of desertification, flood, drought, and landform change. It provides a vast scope to explore, identify, and analyze the natural resources of undeveloped regions. It documents the dynamic changes in physical processes and resulting landforms, usually by satellite images. This paper provides a general overview of remote sensing. While this technique has been used on beaches, valleys, and other landforms, the main concern of this paper is its role in geography. Key Words: Remote Sensing, Geography, Application Introduction Despite advances in geographical studies, the methods of traditional geography have become insufficient to apprehend its reality and complexity, considering technological and scientific changes that have happened in the last 30 years. However, this does not mean that these changes are not useful for geographic research. This has become evident now that Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are developing spatial studies to appeal to such technologies as remote sensing and computer sciences (MEC, 1999). This paper focuses on a particular research tool for geographic research known as remote sensing. This benefits the study of geography in many ways, especially as a research tool, a tool for collecting high quality data, and a tool that aids in the reasoning process. It achieves these tasks by virtue of its spacial and temporal coverage (Rhoads, 2004; Doreen, 2009). Geographers increasingly use remotely sensed data to obtain information about the earths land surface, ocean, and atmosphere because it supplies objective information at a variety of spatial scales (local to global), provides a synoptic view of the area of interest, allows access to distant/inaccessible sites, provides spectral information outside the visible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and facilitates studies of how features change over time. This data may be analyzed independently or in conjunction with other digital data layers (e.g. in a GIS). General Overview of Remote Sensing Although this paper is mainly concerned with remote sensing used for geography, the field of remote sensing is very wide in data acquisition methods, data processing procedures, and various techniques and applications. Therefore, it is useful to provide a general overview about several important topics regarding remote sensing of the surface of the earth. The text also attempts to give the reader an understanding of the capabilities and limitations of remote sensing. Very few equations and formulas will be given in the text, as the focus will be on understanding the basic ideas. Remote sensing is defined according to certain functions. It involves acquiring the information of an objects property by a device not in contact with that object under study. This involves the utilization at a distance of any device for gathering information pertinent to the environment, such as measurements of force fields, electromagnetic radiation, or acoustic energy for aircraft, spacecrafts, or ships. The technique employs such devices as a cameras, lasers, radio frequency receivers, radar systems, sonars, seismographs, gravimeters, magnetometers, and scintillation counters. Some examples of remote sensing applications are given in the areas that have importance for the geographers. Due to the wide scope covered, the subjects could not be covered in detail and the interested reader should turn to the relevant literature (Lillesand Kiefer, 2000; Sabins, 2007; Jenson, 2007; Longley et. al., 2005; Shukla Pathak 2009). As humans, we are intimately familiar with remote sensing in that we rely on visual perception to provide us with much of the information about our surroundings. As sensors, however, our eyes are greatly limited by sensitivity to only the visible range of electromagnetic energy, viewing perspectives dictated by the location of our bodies, and the inability to form a lasting record of what we view. Because of these limitations, humans have continuously sought to develop the technological means to increase our ability to record the physical properties of our environment. Beginning with the early use of aerial photography, remote sensing has been recognized as a valuable tool for viewing, analyzing, characterizing, and making decisions about our environment. In the past few decades, remote sensing technology has advanced on three fronts: from predominantly military uses to a variety of environmental analysis applications that relate to land, ocean, and atmosphere issues; from analogue photographic systems to sensors that convert energy from many parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to electronic signals; and from aircraft to satellite platforms. 1.1 Modern Advantages of Remote Sensing Remote sensing technology is becoming more important in geography due to attention being paid to the latest information, planning, and management for public and private interests. It is most useful for natural resource management, sustainable development, environmental degradation, and disaster management. Its satellite data are used as basic inputs for the inventory of natural resources and development processes like agriculture, soil, forestry, and geology (Chavez et al., 1977). There are other important technologies that are available to geographers as well, such as maps, aerial photography/photogrammetry/pictometry, SAR, LiDAR, SONAR, and GIS. The next section discusses the technologies mentioned above along with the similarities and differences between them and the field of remote sensing. 1.1.1 Maps: According to the International Cartographic Union, a map is a conventionalised image representing selected features or characteristics of geographical reality, designed for use when spatial relationships are of primary importance. This definition declares that in every map there is scientific accuracy and a process of selection present (symbolization, abstraction, generalization). However, the International Cartographic Union adds that a map shows us the world as we know it, and what we know is a very complex subject that is comprised of: The limits of matter, technology, and our measurement tools; what we believe that exists; what we think to be important; and what we want and aspire to. Thus, a map is subjective, for we always decide what to put on it and how to represent it. A remote sensing image, in contrast, is an objective recording of the electromagnetic reaching the sensor. Another important difference is that a map is a projection of the earth on paper without a ny relief displacements, while in a remote sensing image it is a projection of relief displacements and geometrical distortions. 1.1.2 Aerial Photography/Photogrammetry/Pictometry: These systems gather data about the upper surface of the earth by measuring the electromagnetic radiation from airborne systems. The major differences are detailed below: Aerial photos are taken by an analogue instrument (the film of a photogrammetric camera), then scanned to be transformed to digital media. The advantage of a film is its high resolution (granularity), while the advantage of the CCD is that we measure quantitatively the radiation reaching the sensor (radiance values, instead of a gray-value scale bar). Thus, remote sensing data can be integrated into physical equations of energy-balance. An aerial photograph is a central projection, with the whole picture taken at one instance. A remote sensing image is created line after line, so the geometrical correction is much more complex, with each pixel needing to be treated as a central projection. Aerial photographs usually gather data only in the visible spectrum, while remote sensing sensors can be designed to measure radiation along the electromagnetic spectrum. Pictometry  is the name of a patented  aerial image  capture process of the Pictometry International Corp., USA. It produces imagery showing the fronts and sides of objects and locations on the ground. Images are captured by low-flying airplanes, depicting up to 12 oblique  perspectives as well as an  orthogonal  view of every location flown. These perspectives can then be stitched together to create composite aerial maps that seamlessly cover large areas. Pictometry imagery can be overlaid with various shape files because every pixel is  georeferenced  to its exact location on the earth.  This allows pictometry imagery to be integrated into many existing  GIS  software applications  for use in many areas.  Direct measurements can be made on pictometry imagery that includes area, distance, height, elevation, pitch, and bearing (http://www.pictometry.com). 1.1.3 SAR: Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) provides imagery during night or in bad weather as well as during the day. SAR images can be utilized for earth resource mapping and environmental monitoring, which require broad-area imaging at high resolutions. Synthetic aperture radar complements photographic and other optical imaging capabilities because of the minimum constraints on the time-of-day, atmospheric conditions, and unique responses of terrain/cultural targets to radar frequencies. Synthetic aperture radar technology can provide terrain structural information to geologists for mineral exploration, oil spill boundaries on water to environmentalists, ice hazard maps to navigators, and reconnaissance-targeting information to military operations. 1.1.4 LiDAR: Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) is another technique that offers several advantages over the conventional methods of topographic data collection. This technique provides data with higher density, higher accuracy, less time for data processing, light independence, and minimum ground control points required. Due to these characteristics, LiDAR is complementing conventional techniques in some applications while completely replacing them in several others.  Various applications where LiDAR data are being used are geomorphology, glacier studies, forest biomass mapping, and generation of the digital elevation model.   1.1.5 SONAR: The SONAR can also be considered as remote sensing by studying the surfaces of the sea (bathymetry and sea bed features) from a distance. The SONAR is an active type of remote sensing but with sound waves instead of electromagnetic radiation (like Radar, it does not depend on an external source of waves). Both systems transmit waves through an interfering medium (water, air) that adds noise to the data. For corrections, these must be applied to the raw data collected. In remote sensing, however, RADAR is considered to be almost weather-independent, and atmospheric disturbances affect mainly passive remote sensing. To make these necessary corrections, both systems depend on calibration from field data (be it salinity, temperature, pressure measured by the ship while surveying, or measurements of the atmospheric profile parameters by a meteorological radiosonde). There are some notable differences between SONARs and RADARs. SONARs are mainly used to produce the bathymetry of the sea, while remote sensing techniques focus more on identification of the materials properties than on its height.Echo-sounders (single or multi-beam) can be compared to Airborne Laser Scanning both of them create point (vector) data containing X, Y, Z that need to be further processed in order to remove noise (spikes). An added complexity when dealing with bathymetry (as opposed to topography) is the need for tide corrections. Another major difference is that in remote sensing the results of the analysis can be compared easily to the field (aerial photos, maps, field measurements), while in SONAR the underlying bottom of the sea is hidden from us, and we depend totally on the data gathered. 1.1.6 GIS: GIS is a combination of hardware and software that enables: The collection of spatial data from different sources (remote sensing being one of them). It relates spatial/tabular data, performs spacial/tabular analysis, and designs the layout of a map. A GIS software can handle both vector and raster data. Remote sensing data belong to the raster type and usually require special data manipulation procedures that a regular GIS does not offer. However, after a remote sensing analysis has been done, its results are usually combined within a GIS or into a database of an area for further analysis (possibly overlaying with other layers). In the last few years, more and more vector capabilities have been added to remote sensing software, and some remote sensing functions are inserted into GIS modules. General Remote Sensing Applications: Each application itself has specific demands for spectral resolution, spatial resolution, and temporal resolution of the satellite sensor. There can be many applications for remote sensing in different fields. Some of them are described below. 1.2.1 Agriculture: Agriculture plays a dominant role in the economies of both developed and undeveloped countries. Satellite and airborne images are used as mapping tools to classify crops, examine their health, examine their viability, and monitor farming practices. Agricultural applications of remote sensing include crop type classification, crop condition assessment, crop yield estimation, mapping of soil characteristics, mapping of soil management practices, and compliance monitoring (farming practices). 1.2.2 Forestry: Forests are a valuable resource for providing food, shelter, wildlife habitat, fuel, and daily supplies (such as medicinal ingredients and paper). Forests play an important role in balancing the earths CO2 supply and exchange, acting as a key link between the atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. Forestry applications of remote sensing include the following: Reconnaissance mapping: Objectives to be met by national environment agencies include forest cover updating, depletion monitoring, and measuring biophysical properties of forest stands. Commercial forestry: Of importance to commercial forestry companies and to resource management agencies are inventory and mapping applications. These include collecting harvest information, updating inventory information for timber supply, broad forest type, vegetation density, and biomass measurements. Environmental monitoring: Conservation authorities are concerned with monitoring the quantity, health, and diversity of the earths forests. 1.2.3 Geology: Geology involves the study of landforms, structures, and the subsurface to understand physical processes that create and modify the earths crust. It is most commonly understood as the exploration and exploitation of mineral/hydrocarbon resources to improve the standard of living in society. Geological applications of remote sensing include the following: Bedrock mapping, lithological mapping, â‚ ¬Ã‚  structural mapping, sand and gravel exploration/ exploitation, mineral exploration, hydrocarbon exploration, environmental geology, geobotany, baseline infrastructure, sedimentation monitoring, event/monitoring, geo-hazard mapping, and planetary mapping. 1.2.4 Hydrology: Hydrology is the study of water on the earths surface, whether flowing above ground, frozen in ice or snow, or retained by soil. Examples of hydrological applications include wetlands monitoring, soil moisture estimation, snow pack monitoring, measuring snow thickness, determining the snow-water equivalent, ice monitoring, flood monitoring, glacier dynamics monitoring (surges, ablation), â‚ ¬Ã‚  river/delta change detection, drainage basin mapping, watershed modelling, irrigation canal leakage detection, and irrigation scheduling. 1.2.5 Sea Ice: Ice covers a substantial part of the earths surface and is a major factor in commercial fishing/shipping industries, Coast Guard operations, and global climate change studies. Examples of sea ice information and applications include ice concentration, ice type/age/motion, iceberg detection, surface topographyâ‚ ¬Ã‚ ¬Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  tactical identification of leads, navigation, safe shipping routes, ice condition, historical ice, iceberg conditions, dynamics for planning purposes, wildlife habitat, pollution monitoring, and meteorological change research. 1.2.6 Land Cover and Land Use: Although the terms land cover and land uses are often used interchangeably, their actual meanings are quite distinct. Land cover refers to the surface cover on the ground, while land use refers to the purpose the land serves. The properties measured with remote sensing techniques relate to land cover from which land use can be inferred, particularly with ancillary data or a priori knowledge. Land use applications of remote sensing include â‚ ¬Ã‚  natural resource management, wildlife habitat protection, baseline mapping for GIS input, urban expansion, logistics planning for seismic/exploration/resource extraction activities, damage delineation (tornadoes, flooding, volcanic, seismic, fire), legal boundaries for tax/property evaluation, target detection, and identification of landing strips, roads, clearings, bridges, and land/water interface. 1.2.7 Mapping: Mapping constitutes an integral component of the process of managing land resources, with mapped information the common product of the analysis of remotely sensed data. Mapping applications of remote sensing include the following:  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Planimetry: Land surveying techniques accompanied by the use of a GPS can be used to meet high accuracy requirements, but limitations include cost effectiveness and difficulties in attempting to map large or remote areas. Remote sensing provides a means of identifying planimetric data in an efficient manner, so imagery is available in varying scales to meet the requirements of many different users. Defence applications typify the scope of planimetry applications, such as extracting transportation route information, building/facilities locations, urban infrastructure, and general land cover.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Digital elevation models (DEMs): Generating DEMs from remotely sensed data can be cost effective and efficient. A variety of sensors and methodologies to generate such models are available for mapping applications. Two primary methods of generating elevation data are stereogrammetry techniques using airphotos (photogrammetry), VIR imagery, radar data (radargrammetry), and radar interferometry.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Baseline topographic mapping: As a base map, imagery provides ancillary information to the extracted planimetric detail. Sensitivity to surface expression makes radar a useful tool for creating base maps and providing reconnaissance abilities for hydrocarbon/mineralogical companies involved in exploration activities. This is particularly true in remote northern regions where vegetation cover does not mask the microtopography and where information may be sparse. 1.2.8 Oceans Coastal Monitoring: The oceans provide valuable food-biophysical resources, serve as transportation routes, are crucially important in weather system formation and CO2 storage, and are an important link in the earths hydrological balance. Coastlines are environmentally sensitive interfaces between the ocean and land, and they respond to changes brought about by economic development and changing land-use patterns. Often coastlines are also biologically diverse inter-tidal zones and can be highly urbanized. Ocean applications of remote sensing include the following:  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Ocean pattern identification:â‚ ¬Ã‚  Currents, regional circulation patterns, shears, frontal zones, internal waves, gravity waves, eddies, upwelling zones, and shallow water bathymetry.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Storm forecasting: Wind and wave retrieval.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Fish stock and marine mammal assessment: Water temperature monitoring, water quality, ocean productivity, phytoplankton concentration, drift,â‚ ¬Ã‚  Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  aquaculture inventory, and monitoring.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Oil spill: Predicting the oil spill extent and drift, strategic support for oil spill emergency response decisions, and identification of natural oil seepage areas for exploration.  ·Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚  Shipping:â‚ ¬Ã‚  Navigation routing, traffic density studies, operational fisheries surveillance, and near-shore bathymetry mapping. General Observations on Remote Sensing in Geography Higgitt Warburton (1999) have argued that remote sensing techniques provide fresh insights in geography in four main ways: They provide new applications for geography. They provide new and improved accuracy of measurement. They provide new data that allow the investigation of ideas that were previously untestable. They involve the development of data processing capability. Application of Remote Sensing in Geography Geographic applications of remotely sensed data typically take one of four explanatory forms: Remote sensing images have specific uses within various fields of geographical study. Remote sensing data possess advantages over conventional data and can provide multispectral, multidata, and multisensor information. This data is very useful in the agricultural fields for the crop type classification, crop condition assessment, crop yield estimation, and soil mapping. In geology, remote sensing can be applied to analyze large, remote areas. Remote sensing interpretation also makes it easy for geologists to identify an areas rock types, geomorphology, and changes from natural events such as a flood, erosion, or landslide. The interpretation of remote sensing images allows physical- and biogeographers, ecologists, agricultural researchers, and foresters to easily detect what vegetation is present in certain areas, its growth potential, and sometimes what conditions are conducive to its being there. Additionally, those studying urban land use applications are also concerned with remote sensing because it allows them to easily pick out which land uses are present in an area. This can then be used as data in city planning applications and in the study of species habitat. Conclusion Remote sensing data has proven to be an important tool in geography. Multi-temporal satellite data help to delineate the various change of the earth surface. Remote sensing has progressively expended applications in various fields such as urban-regional planning, utilities planning, health planning, geomorphology, and resource planning. Because of its varied applications and ability to allow users to collect, interpret, and manipulate data over dangerous areas, remote sensing has become a useful tool for all geographers, regardless of their concentration.