Government Hospitals of India

Healthcare in India features a universal health care system run by the constituent states and territories of India. The Constitutioncharges every state with â€Å"raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties†. The National Health Policy was endorsed by the Parliament of India in 1983 and updated in 2002. [1] However, the government sector is understaffed and underfinanced; poor services at state-run hospitals force many people to visit private medical practitioners. citation needed] Government hospitals, some of which are among the best hospitals in India, provide treatment at taxpayer expense. Most essential drugs are offered free of charge in these hospitals. Government hospitals provide treatment either free or at minimal charges. For example, an outpatient card at AIIMS (one of the best hospitals in India) costs a one time fee of rupees 10 (around 20 cents US) and thereafter outp atient medical advice is free. In-hospital treatment costs depend on financial condition of the patient and facilities utilized by him but are usually much less than the private sector.For instance, a patient is waived treatment costs if he is below poverty line. Another patient may seek for an air-conditioned room if he is willing to pay extra for it. The charges for basic in-hospital treatment and investigations are much less compared to the private sector. The cost for these subsidies comes from annual allocations from the central and state governments. Primary health care is provided by city and district hospitals and rural primary health centres (PHCs). These hospitals provide treatment free of cost.Primary care is focused on immunization, prevention of malnutrition, pregnancy, child birth, postnatal care, and treatment of common illnesses. [citation needed] Patients who receive specialized care or have complicated illnesses are referred to secondary (often located in district and taluk headquarters) and tertiary care hospitals (located in district and state headquarters or those that are teaching hospitals). [citation needed] In recent times,[when? ] India has eradicated mass famines, however the country still suffers from high levels of malnutrition and disease especially in rural areas.Water supply and sanitation in India is also a major issue in the country and many Indians in rural areas lack access to proper sanitation facilities and safe drinking water. However, at the same time, India's health care system also includes entities that meet or exceed international quality standards. The medical tourism business in India has been growing in recent years and as such India is a popular destination for medical tourists who receive effective medical treatment at lower costs than in developed countries.Disease India suffers from high levels of disease including Malaria,[17] and Tuberculosis where one third of the world’s tuberculosis cases are in In dia. [18] In addition, India along with Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan is one of the four countries worldwide where polio has not as yet been eradicated. Ongoing government of India education about HIV has led to decreases in the spread of HIV in recent years. The number of people living with AIDS in India is estimated to be between 2 and 3 million.However, in terms of the total population this is a small number. The country has had a sharp decrease in the estimated number of HIV infections; 2005 reports had claimed that there were 5. 2 million to 5. 7 million people afflicted with the virus. The new figures are supported by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS. [19][20][21] [edit]Pollution According to the World Health Organization 900,000 Indians die each year from drinking contaminated water and breathing in polluted air. 22] As India grapples with these basic issues, new challenges are emerging for example there is a rise in chronic adult diseases such as cardiovascular i llnesses and diabetes as a consequence of changing lifestyles. [23] [edit]Malnutrition Half of children in India are underweight, one of the highest rates in the world and nearly same as Sub-Saharan Africa. [24] India contributes to about 5. 6 million child deaths every year, more than half the world's total. [25] [edit]Water and sanitation Main article: Water supply and sanitation in India Water supply and sanitation in India is a matter of concern.As of 2003, it was estimated that only 30% of India's wastewater was being treated, with the remainder flowing into rivers orgroundwater. [26] The lack of toilet facilities in many areas also presents a major health risk; open defecation is widespread even in urban areas of India,[27][28] and it was estimated in 2002 by the World Health Organisation that around 700,000 Indians die each year from diarrhoea. [26] No city in India has full-day water supply. Most cities supply water only a few hours a day. [29] In towns and rural areas the s ituation is even worse. [edit]

Be Careful of the Hidden Clause in Contract

We use contracts to handle a lot of things in our life. Such as, we need contract to rent an apartment, to get a wireless phone service, to install a cable TV, to get a job, to open a bank account etc. However, the contract is not simple and straightforward. There are many hidden dangers that we are not conscious. We must be careful of the hidden clause in contract in order to protect the benefit of us. At the first glance, you may feel eased since there are a lot of tedious clauses in contract to protect you if the service does not get delivered in time with good quality as promised, if another pay does not pay you on time. You may feel that the contracts are wordy and unreadable so you don’t have to study it cautiously. I am even thinking why all the person like to make the contracts so wordy? I open a bank account only. Why give me contract more than 10 pages? I just rent an apartment; does it need a contract like a book? I know that the longer contract can make the rights and the obligations clearer than the short one. But just because it is wordy, I don’t read it all; and because I don’t read it all, I fail to know the most important thing to me in the contract and lost a lot. However, contracts do not always protect you, especially the pre-prints from service providers, if you ready contract carefully with enough patience, you will find a number of areas you can unknowingly find yourself getting into trouble or being taken advantage of. For example, some contract may look like to give you a large rebate, but you will find you are bounded to the server provider for two years just after you signed it, you can get out of it unless you pay a large penalty. In the contract like this, the part of rebate usual is written in the easy-find-way and the part of unconscionability used euphemistic description. So, my mind is full of the benefits I can get and forget what I need pay for that. Whatever, the clause you ignored maybe the very critical. Read the contract carefully and patiently is very important.

Characteristics of a Business Partnership

A partnership is a voluntary association between the partners that is based on a contract. The life of a partnership is limited by agreement or by the death of incapacity of a partner. Normally, each partner can act as an agent of the others partners and commit the partnership to any contract within the apparent scope of its business. All partners in a general partnership are personally liable for all the debts of the partnership. Limited partnerships include one or more general partners plus one or more (limited) partners whose liabilities are limited to the amounts of their investments in the partnership. The risk of becoming a partner results in part from the fact that partnership characteristics include mutual agency and unlimited liability. The initial investment of partnership assets is recorded by debiting the assets contributed at the fair market value and crediting the partners’ capital accounts. A partnership’s profits or losses are allocated to the partners according to the terms of the partnership agreement. The agreement may specify that each partner will receive a given fraction, or that the allocation of profits and losses will reflect salary allowances and/or interest allowances. When salary/ or interest allowances are granted, the residual profit or loss usually is allocated equally or on a stated fractional basis.When a new partner buys a partnership interest directly from one or more of the existing partners, the amount of cash paid from one partner to another does not affect the total recorded equity of the partnership. The recorded equity of the selling partner (s) is simply transferred to the capital account of the new partner. Alternatively, a new partner may purchase an equity interest in the partnership by investing additional asset in the partnership. When this occurs, part of the new partner’s investment may be credited as a bonus to the capital accounts of the existing partners. Also, to gain the participation of the new partner, the existing partners may give the new partner a bonus whereby portions of the existing partner’s capital balances are transferred to the new partner’s capital account.When a partnership is liquidated, losses and gains from selling the partnership assets are allocated to the partners according to the partnership profit – and – loss – sharing ratio. If a partner’s capital account has a deficit balance that the partner cannot pay, the others partners must share the deficit in their relative profit and loss sharing ratio.

Aryans and Dravidians Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Aryans and Dravidians - Essay Example This essay will discuss the history and culture of two of the most unique civilizations that inhabited the Indian continent, the Aryans and Dravidians. The term ‘Aryan’, according to the Indo-European philology, refers to an individual, recognized ethnically or racially, and the Aryan language, regardless of the ethnicity or race of the inhabitants speaking its different variants (Basham 1954). The Aryan civilization was a new beginning in the culture of India. Harappa was basically a blind alley; the Aryans borrowed almost nothing of the culture of the Harappan civilization (Basham 1954). They did not develop a writing system, built no states, and cities. Rather they were a hostile civilization that governs themselves in kinship, tribal, and individual units (Gottschalk 2000). Basically, the Aryans were a group of nomadic and tribal people inhabiting the remote part of Euro-Asia in unfriendly steppe territories hardly making a sufficient subsistence (Gottschalk 2000). They were undoubtedly a strong population, and they were brave and aggressive. Their religion is governed by a sky-god that commands combat and invasion (Gottschalk 2000). The culture of the Aryan civilization was concentrated around warfare. They were exceptional horseback riders and charged into combat in chariots (Knott 1998). They were ruled by a raja, or a war-chief. They started to move southwards in series of continuous invasion across Persia and India at some point in the second millennium B.C. (Knott 1998). The term ‘Dravidian’ is given to peoples of India related by language. They are claimed to be the earliest inhabitants of ancient India (Basham 1954). The population is mostly made up of the lower class Indian people. Particular groups of people comprise the Tamil, the Todas and the Ghats (Basham 1954). The culture of the Dravidian is quite diverse, with several

Anesthetic Management of the Patient with Aortic Stenosis Essay

Anesthetic Management of the Patient with Aortic Stenosis - Essay Example Surgery is indicated in many of the cases in order to repair or replace the diseased valve. Therefore, it is the purpose of this paper to investigate the current anesthetic management of this disease, from preoperative to postoperative care. This paper will describe the basic anatomy and physiology of the heart, in particular, the aortic valve. The pathophysiological changes in the aortic valve and the heart will also be discussed. The heart is a hollow muscular organ that is somewhat pyramid-shaped and lies within the inferior mediastinum (3). It is covered by a fibroserous sac called the pericardium, within which pericardial fluid fills the space between the serous and fibrous layers. The pericardial fluid acts as a lubricant to prevent friction during the contraction of the heart. The pericardium is not very distensible, and therefore it strongly resists a large, rapid increase in cardiac size. Hence, the pericardium also prevents sudden overdistention of the chambers of the heart (4). The heart is divided by a vertical septa into four chambers: the right and left atria, which occupy the upper chambers and the right and left ventricles, which occupy the lower chambers. ... Although most myocardial cells are able to perform both these functions, the vast majority is predominantly contractile cells (myocytes) and a small number are specifically designed as electrical cells. The latter, collectively known as the conducting system of the heart, are not nervous tissue but modified myocytes lacking in myofibril components. They have the ability to generate electrical impulses which are then conducted to the myocytes, leading to contraction by a process known as excitation-contraction coupling (5). In order to produce a synchronized contraction, there must be a normal spread of electrical activity within the heart. Depolarization is initiated in the sinoatrial node (SA) node hence it is known as the pacemaker of the heart. It sets the contractions of the heart at a rate of 60-100 beats per minute. From the SA node, the electrical impulse travels to the atrioventricular (AV) node and then propagates through the Bundle of His. From the top of the septum, the wa ve of depolarization spreads in the rapidly conducting Purkinje fibers to all parts of the ventricles (6). Between the atria, ventricles and great blood vessels arising from the heart (aorta and pulmonary artery) are valves, which are made up of cusps or leaflets to prevent backflow of blood, ensuring a one-way conduit of blood through the chambers and to the pulmonary and systemic circulation. There are four valves: two semilunar valves (aortic and pulmonary valves) and two atrioventricular valves (tricuspid and mitral valves). All of these valves have 3 cusps except the mitral valve which has two cusps. Unoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava and coronary

The uniform Commercial Code Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The uniform Commercial Code - Essay Example The UCC is used by every jurisdiction in the United States except for Louisiana. Article 2 of the statute only governs a contract for the sale of goods (movable property only)2, and is most often used to resolve contract disputes of that nature. Other types of transactions are governed by the different Article in the UCC. The statute is governed by TARR, which refers to tender, acceptance, rejection and revocation. When a buyer intends to purchase goods, he is entitled to reject such goods, if the goods do not meet the conditions set out in the contract (tender stage). A buyer may accept the goods in such belief, that the manufacture will repair the problems, which are under warranty (acceptance stage). However, if a buyer finds a problem with the goods, he may reject the goods within the reasonable time (rejection stage), or during the revocation stage. The provisions of UCC are applicable to the sale of goods in the United States; however, it is subject to United Nations convention for the international sale of goods if parties to a contract choose not to be governed by the statute. Applicability of the UCC Sections Relative to Zabriskie Case In this case, Mr. Zabriskie purchased a new car 1966 Chevrolet Biscayne and gave a check for payment. Later on he went for a drive with the said car on the same day, it got spoilt within 2.5 miles away, and he immediately gave instructions for the said check not to be paid. The dealer argued that he (buyer) could not reject the car as he had taken a test drive and was satisfied vehicle. He also argued that it was a reasonable opportunity for him to inspect the product. The court held that: Driving for a few miles was significant to the buyer, since it was his reasonable opportunity to enjoy his new vehicle and to see if it conforms to the agreement. How long the buyer may have driven the new car under the guise of inspection is not an issue as it is within the ambit of a reasonable opportunity to inspect. If the consumer has used the new car for a long period of time, article 2 of the UCC3 provides that a buyer may refuse to accept the goods if the defects impair the goods too much. The article also provides this when the buyer has accepted the goods without discovery of non-conformity because it was difficult to discover, or if he was assured that non-conformity would be repaired. In explaining the reasoning, the court defined non-conformity substantially impairing the value of the vehicle as: 1) Having many small defects whose cumulative value added up to a big impairment- This is the â€Å"shake faith† doctrine first stated in the Zabriskie case. 2) One that includes a failure or refusal to repair the goods under the warranty- Substantial non-conformity and lemon laws often defines what may be considered a substantial impairment. Public Policy Consideration That Support the Decision in the Zabriskie Case and Other Cases like It Courts’ main function is the administration of justice to all who come seeking justice. In doing so, they are guided by the principles of fairness and reasonableness in delivering judgments. When it comes to contracts, courts may refuse to enforce contracts containing unconscionable clauses at the time of formation or only enforce the remainder of the contract without the unconscionable clause to prevent oppression and unfair surprises to buyers; this principle was considered in the Zabriski

International Etiquette Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

International Etiquette Paper - Essay Example In-spite of having a well known government, the country was considered powerless during the period of 1912-1949. However, the dominance of the country in the Second World War against the Japanese smoothens the way for China to become a powerful nation. After that period, Mao Zedong, Chairman of the communist party formed PRC. Hence, with the changing time frame, the country established itself as amid the super powers of the globe (The Ohio State University, â€Å"Part 2: Themes in Chinese History†). Business in China is quite different from other nations of the globe. People in this part of the world focus more on conducting business by building effectual relationship. The people of the country provide maximum value to punctuality. Both English and Chinese languages are widely used in this nation while conducting business (The Canadian Trade Commission Service, â€Å"Business Etiquette in China†). In China, business and works are not conducted on national holidays of the nation. The regular business hours in the country ranges from 7-8 hours each day from Monday to Friday and Saturdays along with Sundays considered as off days. The standard operational hours of business comprise 08 hours to 1800 hours each day with lunch period ranging in between 1200 hours to 1400 hours (Travel China Guide, â€Å"Business Hours in China†). In order to analyze this particular section, it can be affirmed that it is quite important that people end or disconnect their phone calls politely while being in a business meeting or having an important conversation regarding business. However, maintaining contacts through emails, phones and fax is highly appreciated by business group of people in China (Travel China Guide, â€Å"Business Hours in China†). As mentioned above, business people in China values maximum punctuality especially when participating or attending in any sort of meeting. Being on time for having business related conversations or

Jean jacque rousseau Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Jean jacque rousseau - Research Paper Example In relation to legitimacy, life is a rare and precious possession that every human being is awarded. Rousseau acknowledges that indeed life is short and that is why he fights for freedom so that all individuals enjoy their space. In addition, law is always enforced to guide those who need to enjoy the freedom thus the concept of natural law. Nature helps guide historical changes even in absentia of those currently using it. On nature law, Rousseau’s thinking was that people willing or forcefully enters into social relations at the price of their nature right. Therefore, all those who chose the path had alternatives that could be used in case the social structures were tampered with. Overall, it was a matter of priority and the urge of liberation. Everyone is preservative. Just as Hobbes had earlier thought about self-preservation, so did Rousseau. The idea was seen as a true and genuine reason as to why are after entering into social relationships since there is always much to gain from one another. The sovereign idea was fully applicable to all social participants (Viroli Maurizio 78). There is often a great deal of difference between the will of all and the general will; the latter considers only the common interest. While the former considers private interest, and is no more than a sum of particular wills: but take away from these same wills the pluses and minuses that cancel one another, and the general will remains as the sum of the differences (Viroli Maurizio 36). The explanation directly shows that all social participants have either private or general interests that have to be observed if the relation established is to nourish. The democratic right was born at that time and that is why there is always an opposition when some groups come up with their own interests. He was quoted saying that when one of these associations is so great as to prevail over all the rest, the result is no longer a sum of small differences, but a

U.S. law-making and implementation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

U.S. law-making and implementation - Essay Example However, the process of law making is not as easy as it appears since it involves lengthy processes, as well as political involvement, which makes law making and implementation very complex. Law making starts with only one member making a proposal based on legislation idea from outside or inside the congress. Members of the congress receive drafts from academics, the state legislature, interest groups, executive branch departments, the president, and the federal agencies. When members like the concept that is in the draft, they will introduce it as their own idea or they can distance themselves from it and introduce it by request. This means that they introduce the bill just because of professional courtesy and not because they embrace the ideas in the proposal. A legislative proposal made by the president is given advance publicity or he announces it formally when giving a speech in a state of the union or when giving a press conference. An example is president Obama’s proposal on Gun control and the 2010 act on healthcare. However, a proposal emanating from the president does not have privileges of passing into a law automatically; it must pass through the proc ess as any other bill. Politics from both sides of the government have a great influence on the passing of a bill. Although, for the case of the president, he can rely on his party for support, there is still a great challenge because the other party might fail to support the bill (U.S. G.P.O. 3). Furthermore, the checks and balances of American traditional law making process limit the president’s powers by not allowing him to pass his own legal proposal into law without hustle. Hence, for the bill to pass, he must lobby ferociously just as the other legislative advocates do to protect and respect the independence of the American legislature from the executives. For instance, the legislative proposal on gun control by

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) Term Paper

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) - Term Paper Example However, each improvement in the aviation industry has got a ripple effect that brings change all through the industry (Salas and Maurino, 2010). The demands for air travel have continued to grow, resulting to unprecedented growth within the industry. Growth in the aviation industry has resulted to an expanded workforce that has put pressure on aviation companies to reduce training period and quickly train qualified pilots (Salas and Maurino, 2010). At the same time, technological advancement is helping in implementation of highly complex, computerized systems that change the manner pilots and other personnel relate with other aircrafts. Similarly, there have been calls for broad improvements in traffic control system putting more pressure on industry professionals and researchers. All these influences, thus, have had a great impact on the industry and on the human factors. This present paper discusses the impact of NextGen will have on the human factors in the aviation industry. Nex tGen technology Despite program by Next Generation Air Traffic System (NextGen) being merely one of the many vehicles of transformation in aviation industry, presently, it stands for the most remarkable call for transformation in the aviation industry. ... Through the use of this new technology, the NextGen technology is bound to considerably improve service provision. For instance, projections by NextGen estimate that there is the need to reduce clogging in the air transports system of the US (FAA, 2007) NextGen has availed data equipment that has the ability to tap weather sources all over the airspace. This data has also enabled to provide accurate information on what lies ahead for any particular flight. This ability is also remarkably since aircrafts can access timely information from all dimensions (Salas and Maurino, 2010). The human factor through NextGen has totally overhauled earlier and outdated ways used by airspace bodies. This has significantly changed aviation sector since National Airspace System (NAS) of the US has managed to install better traffic loads. Moreover, it has also helped to project better means by reducing gridlock as well as maintaining safety in the aviation department. Essentials and Benefits Fundamenta l measures and improvements that NextGen has applied to refurbish human factor in the aviation sector include the inception of System Wide Information Management, Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, Next Generation Data Communications, Next NAS voice switch and Generation Enabled Weather. Through the use of, Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), NextGen (GPS) satellite signals offer efficient information to air controllers and pilots. Such information is much accurate and has increased aircraft safety through safe navigation in the sky. Besides, ground safety for airplanes has tremendously improved. In addition, NextGen has improved the human factor by fixing airplanes with special transceivers known as

Thin Lines between Histories Essay Example for Free

Thin Lines between Histories Essay The connection—history and culture between Africans and Americans can be traced way back in ancient history (Duignan and Lewis xiii). No event linked these two groups—Africans and Americansand Australian natives or the Aboriginal people until the European expansion beginning in the 15th century. In a history review â€Å"Aboriginal Australians,† Nicolas Peterson states that, changes in native-Australian-living began in 17th century. Apparently, customary relationship between Africans and Americans and later the Afro-American, was established in the same event—European occupation. The article â€Å"Aboriginal Australians† reviewed by Nicolas Peterson, claims that, the Aborigines or Aboriginal people were the indigenous occupants of Australia. For at least 50,000 years they have lived and have inhabited every region of Australia. Following their accustomed practice, this tribe lived as hunters and gatherers in the vast lands of Australia. The word Aboriginal is a collective term for indigenous tribes of various cultures. Researches claim that, Aboriginal people also inhabited North America, particularly in Canada which was recognized as parcel of Indians, Metis and Inuit with unique traditional practices, and spiritual beliefs. Native Americans, also known as American Indians, Indians, and native peoples were indigenous peoplefirst people. of North America, as the writing entitled â€Å"American Indians† suggests. They had lived throughout the continent for thousands of years before the European exploration. They built houses and excelled in utilizing the resources around them. On the other hand, African Americans, the Afro-Americans or the American Blacks or Black Americans, whose ancestors are from the West Africa, were considered as a racial group in the United States. Though, they also claimed the European, Native American and Asian ancestry (Duignan and Lewis 6). The two thin lines connecting these tribes lie in the episode of history in the 15th and 17th century. First, the occupation of the Europeans in Australia, Africa and America marked the beginning of the histories of the said three continents; second, while the expedition of the Europeans transcended, Aboriginal history and that of Native and Afro-American history were meeting in the same grounds—declining population and diminishing culture and tradition. In the 15th century, European settlers and explorers began to arrive in the Americas, bringing with them a mass number of Africans, beginning in 1619 from the West Africa, as slaves in farms and European industries, based on â€Å"American Indians†. European wars—natives fighting for their lands and diseases depreciated Native American population. Native Americans learned to work with Europeans by abandoning some of their traditions and adopting new technologies. Duignan and Lewis agree that, slave trade became America’s first link to Africa. Slavery existed in large scale—as the demand for slaves increases, the number of Africans in America also increases intensely and so the Afro-American population. African Americans provided most of the labor for the Europeans. Most of the Africans—who became slaveswere employed to subsistence farming and raising livestock. Their natural abilities both in industries and agricultural fields gave them an advantage as laborers of Americas (6). In 1788, as Nicolas Peterson argues in â€Å"Aboriginal Australians,† the invaders of the West began colonizing Australia. The 17th century marked the devastating period of history in the Aboriginal way of life. The new settlers immediately interrupted the life of the Aboriginal natives, taking over their rich fisheries, sources of water and farm land. Similarly, a number of Aboriginal people died from the outbreak of European diseases and from the struggle to win the control of their lands. Europeans changed the way of life as well as the history of the Aboriginal people and of the Native American to worst. These tribes have lived in their lands long before the colonization happened—the Europeans took it away. They never came in contact with epidemics—the Europeans introduced and brought diseases to their lands. They had the same old tradition and spiritual beliefs—the Europeans attempted to export theirs to them. These changes caused the largest decline in population recorded in history and also a large impact on the history and culture of the natives of America and Australia. And even so with the Africans whose population grew more in the Americas. Europeans conquered countries trying to expand their political power and land ownership. As they did this, their cultures were also expanding and taking over the rich and endemic culture of the Aboriginal people, Native Americans and Afro-Americans. The Native Americans and the Afro-Americans affected the existence of each tribe. The first had its own rich tradition before the Africans were introduced by the Europeans, which it shared to the Negros. The African, likewise, had unique technologies and ways of living, which it allowed to make known to the natives of America. Duignan and Lewis emphasized the dependence of Americans upon the African labor and population (16). The Aboriginal people, nonetheless, were enjoying their fruitful culture long before the colonizers came. And the same lines fall here, both the Aboriginal history and the Native and Afro-American history were marked by the overpowering Europeans. That these Westerners went down to meet the Africans, sent them to America, went east and conquered Australia. But the line does not end there. The lessened population of the continents and tribes they overpowered due to same reasons—land loss and diseasesand the weakened culture during the European occupation, changed the whole course of the parallel histories of the Aboriginal people and Native and Afro-American populations.

Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology Essay Example for Free

Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology Essay The book Mythology by Edith Hamilton is a novel devoted to the legends of Greek Mythology. Such legends tell stories of mighty heroes, ghastly creatures, and Gods and Goddesses with amazing powers. In order to fully understand these myths, a reader must examine each of these Gods or Goddesses individually and identify the unique Characteristics they have. The first humanoid Gods that appeared in Greek Mythology were the Titans, or the Elder Gods. They were the children of Mother Earth and Father Heaven, and due to their enormous size and strength, they ruled over the universe for eons. Some of the most famous Titans were: Atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders; Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind and then was famously chained to a mountain; and Cronus, the king of the Titans. The Titans were in complete control of the heavens and earth, and it would have stayed that way if it weren’t for their own children. The children of the Titans were the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus, or also known as the twelve great Olympians. The king of the Gods, and the God who overthrew Cronus to take his power, was Zeus. Zeus was the supreme ruler after the fall of Cronus, as well as the Lord of the Sky, the Rain-god, the Cloud-gatherer, and the wielder of the awful thunderbolt. His power was greater than all of the other Gods combined. Zeus was also a lover of many mortal women, and had many demigod (half-god half-mortal) children. Zeus’s bird was the Eagle, his symbols of power the thunderbolt and his breastplate Aegis. Hera was Zeus’s wife and sister. She was the Goddess of Marriage. She was always venerated in the home, and it was she married women turned to with their problems. Ironically enough, Hera was also well known for her hatred of the women who Zeus had affairs with, punishing them for mercilessly in blind anger. Poseidon was the God of the Sea, and was the most powerful God besides Zeus. He could calm the waters with his golden chariot, or create mighty storms. He carried beside him a three pronged trident that could cause earthquakes. Besides being honored for the lord of the water, he also created the first horse and gave it to man. Hades was the God of the Dead. Not to be confused with the God of Death itself, who was Thanatos; Hades ruled the underworld. His kingdom was under the surface of the earth, so all the precious metals under the ground belonged to him; therefore, he was also the God of Wealth. He did not often leave his dark realm, and he was not a welcome visitor when he did. Athena was often recognized as a ruthless war Goddess. She was born from Zeus’s head fully grown and clothed in battle gear. She has been called gray-eyed and the protector of civilized life. She was a symbol of wisdom, purity, and reason. The city of Athens was her special city, honorably named after her; the olive invented by her was her tree. Apollo has been known as the Archer and God of Truth. He was also the Healer, who first taught men the healing art. He was the master musician at Olympus, and delighted the Gods with his beautiful golden lyre. The Laurel was his sacred tree, and the Dolphin and Crow his most sacred animals. Artemis was a Lady of Wild Things, huntsman in chief to the Gods. She was known as the Moon Goddesses, and carried silver arrows that could pierce an animal as harmlessly and quickly as moonlight. Notably, all animals were sacred to her, especially the deer. Aphrodite was the Goddess of Love and Beauty. She was said to be born of the foam of the sea near the islands of Cythera and Cyprus. Where ever she goes, beauty follows and men succumb to her love. Her husband was the disfigured God Hephaestus; however she was often portrayed as in a love affair with Ares. Hephaestus was the God of Fire; also known as the Master of the Forge. He was the only ugly and lame Olympian. He built furnishings and weapons for the Gods, and it was said his forge was under a volcano. He was a kindly, peace-loving, and popular on earth and on Mount Olympus. Hestia was the God of the home and hearth. Though she had no distinct personality, when a baby was born it was always carried around her shrine, and every meal started and ended with an offering to her. Every city had a hearth dedicated to her that was never allowed to go out. Hermes was a messenger, trickster, trader, and thief. Before he was even a day old, he stole Apollo’s herds; then, as recompense, he invented Apollo’s lyre for him out of a tortoise shell. He was a God to all traders and merchants, and was Zeus’s personal messenger. He was the most cunning and shrewd out of all the Gods. The God of War was Ares. He was a fierce cruel son of Zeus and Hera, both who detested him. He delighted in bloodstained battles and the fury of fighting, yet was also described as a coward, who ran away moaning when he was wounded. His bird was naturally the vulture. The twelve great Olympians listed above were not the only Gods in Greek Mythology. In addition to these Olympians, the Greeks also had many minor Gods that they worshiped as well. They lived on the Earth rather than on Mount Olympus. The two most important minor Gods were Demeter and Dionysus. Demeter was originally the Goddess of Corn, though she grew to represent the Goddess of all harvests. She was the one who brought summer and spring to the earth, and who brought every fall and winter when sorrowed for her daughter. She was very important to Greek culture had many mortal like qualities, such as grief and sadness. Dionysus was the God of Wine and drunken revelry. He had a strong dual personality, where he could make men ecstatic and oblivious to their troubles, but then also make them hostile and insane. He traveled the world, hardly staying on Mount Olympus, discovering the secrets to winemaking. He was a welcome visitor at any party, and Greek Culture loved him. Another minor God that was well known was Pan. He was the shepherd and goat herder’s God. He was not divine, glorious, or radiant, but rather ugly because of his goat hooves and horns. He was an excellent musician and famous for the sweet nature melodies he played on his reed pipes. In addition to Gods and Goddesses, the magical creatures of Greek Mythology are also important to know. Satyrs were half-goat half-man dwellers of the forest. Centaurs were a half-horse half-man creature; The Gorgons were three dragon-like creatures who turned men to stone; The Sirens lured seamen to their deaths with enchanting songs. The Gods, Goddesses, and creatures of Greek Mythology were fascinating. The unique characteristics of each god and goddess are what supported entire cultures, as well as made the timeless tales of so remarkable. With help from Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, a person really can understand who the Gods and Goddesses of Greek Mythology were, and gain knowledge about how each of them was different but important individually.

Motion Control Techniques In Visual Effects Industry Film Studies Essay

Motion Control Techniques In Visual Effects Industry Film Studies Essay In this research we will see the motion control rigs and its contribution to create the realistic movement of the camera with help of the computer softwares. Though it is very difficult at the student level to create such a rig and experiment with it with the available budget I will try to build a motion control rig and control it with the help of the computer programming. It is a long process. The main advantage of the motion control rig is it is able to reproduce the same movement very accurately in a short period of time which is highly impossible for human hand to achieve. This report will contain the information about the motion control rig and its uses with advantages over the traditional camera cinematography to achieve the visual effects in the film. Introduction Motivation The filmy camera action which is solely dependent on the work and instincts of the cinematographer is very difficult work and if you want to shoot the same scene with same action and the camera movement it is highly impossible to achieve that with a traditional camera work. Even if you try to create that action in the computer graphics software it is very difficult and time taking process, which requires too many efforts to achieve the goal. The main disadvantage of that is if you are not able to do it perfectly it can spoil all the work, time and money invested because the film wont look like as you have imagined finally. So its a big loss of the everyones work process. The most recent technological improvement to solve the problem which too many studios are facing is they are developing their own hardwares and motion control rigs which can be controlled by the computer systems and can store the movement of the camera which a cameraman is handling physically. So the person can achieve whatever motion he wants repeatedly that to naturalistic. But everyone cant afford these all the things to do and the person who is doing that must have sound knowledge of all the departments to build a motion control rig which needs to be done by experts. So subject is if this motion control system can be used at an affordable price to explore the ideas by the low budget and new comers film makers to experiment with visual effects. Definition of Motion Control In our day to day life if we go and check out the technology related to the entertainment segment you might hear very complex terms as multipass , go motion, slit scan, streaking which you might not be aware of but you have actually seen it on the screen in the movies and TV advertisements for example the Star Wars etc. The technology of the Motion control system is developed for the need of creating the visual effects and animation and to have more control over it with the help of the computer programs. So motion control is the medium of technology to combine all the elements needed to create the amazing world of the special effects. As you are controlling the motion of the camera with help of the computer programs you have more options and ideas to create a movement is an added advantage. The main advantage of the motion control systems that it repeats the same action with great accuracy and that is the reason this technology is being favored nowadays by most of the film makers. Many of us may argue with possibility that the actions which we can shoot easily with the motion control systems can be shoot by the traditional cameraman with the efforts but the accuracy level of that action wont be the same at any level that shot been produced because we are shooting it with human hands with some limitations. And also it takes more time for completing the shot if you do it manually. The main motive of using the motion control system is to produce the naturalistic camera movement within a short time and at the affordable cost to get the amazing output for the films.. Motion control, is the foundation upon which maximum visual effects work stands (Alex Alvarez, Director at Gnomon) In this research report the main area of study is to explore the techniques used in the motion control systems and how those are far better than the traditional methods of shooting for creation of the visual effects. The literature study for the motion control systems will include the history of the motion control system and need for it and the future of the same. We will also focus on the use of the different cameras to be used on the motion control rigs and how that helps in the pre visualization stage previously. The last part of my research will conclude the main motive for this dissertation is how this technology gives more control and plays a vital role and also how it is a great tool or opportunity for the low budget film makers and new comers to create the new world of the visual effects. Motion control the name itself derives that it is meant to be use to get control over the motion or movement which can be the change in the position of the camera or might be the rotation of the axis of the camera in the space. As explained above if we wish to create the wonderful world of the special effects it is the need to be accurate with our actions at the stage of the production while shooting the footage. This is the place where exactly the motion control plays the most important role to give the accurate and the repetition of the action or movement. But in earlier times because of lack of the knowledge and technology the reliability of the Motion control systems was an issue and the reason for not getting its credit for its vital role in the production stage. If you try out and go back to history you will find the only other option to create the spectacular special effects is to use the computer softwares and the virtual cameras in that which is highly complicated and a very much time consuming process which also requires the expertise in the softwares. The Significance of Motion Control to the Film Industry The significance and importance of motion control to the film industry, includes the research done with help of the literature and industry news along with views of the professional people in interviews. The people had very different views regarding the role of the motion control systems in the movies as well as its necessity to the industry. After doing this research I came to an approach that if you really wish to the movie with motion control rig it should be built very professionally and with quality materials or else if you do it with the temporary basis structure it is not reliable at any point to create the good output as you have expected or imagines with a waste of money and time. The importance of the motion control systems for the film industry should be observed and clarified on the basis of its previous success and the failure reports and not on the persons likes and dislikes about the use of the technology. You can see the impact of the movies recently made on the viewers minds because of the spectacular world of the special effects is because of the use of the motion control system. I would say it is not the most important aspect as before use of motion control systems, films were made just fine but it gives film makers more options with what they can do with cameras (M. Thompson, personal communication, March 25, 2010). Here the point to be noted is that technology is not the ultimate source but just the medium that it helps to tell the story in a very different and a strong perspective. That is the contribution of the motion control systems to the film industry. Motion control has given too much freedom to control the movement of the cameras while shooting. If you go back to history and check out if the films which were the greatest hits of all the times with the spectacular special effects would never have been possible without use of technology of the motion control system. So you can imagine the really ordinary version of the Star Wars with the usual special effects as in any TV serials. Because of the strong advantages of the motion control system nowadays it has started to make its own place now in the production pipeline of the VFX film industry very rapidly. And this is the need for the todays style of filmmaking as it is the different and very strong medium to convey the story in more beautiful way. The difference between a failed shot and a spectacular shot can often boil down to the camera movement (A. Hargreaves, personal communication, March 31, 2010). Research Questions and hypothesis 1. Reason for Using Motion Control Motion control is a system technology that enables the programming and repetition of the motion of the cameras very accurately .The advantage of this technology is we can shoot various special effects shots in very less time instantly, which are highly impossible to create without Motion Control or can only be possible to do using a non-moving camera. With the help of Motion control we can get really natural and stunning looking shots like we want to move the camera in a scene to follow a pattern of subject or an action, so it plays a very vital role while shooting. I will give one example of the special effect which is pretty simple as a scene including a guy is just walking on a road and gradually starts disappeared into air while walking. This is can be done by shooting 2 takes. In the first take the guy will walk on the road and in the second take will be the road. In the process of editing the editor will take the two takes and will merge with each other slowly so that it appear s like a guy is disappeared in the air. This kind of shot is quite simple to achieve only if the camera is steady, but when there is the movement of camera this shot is not possible without the Motion Control because the 2 takes shot will not match in perspective and speed so we cannot merge it. Like this with the motion control we can shoot innumerable scenes of the special effects. 2. Use of motion Control in live action films In live action films we have to concentrate on too many things at a time. Motion control system can repeat the camera movement properly and accurately which includes change of focus, zooming and sometimes to control the lights so all important work is done by the motion control rig so the director can focus on the actors mainly and their acting without any worry about camera movements and continuity. This is a very beneficial reason for using motion control rig as it saves money and also the time. This is more useful when you have hired very talented actors you can set up all the settings and camera movements so when the actors come on the sets you can start the shoot right away for saving the time. 3. Setting up a movement on a Motion Control System Since many years people and technicians have developed various methods for setting up the movements on the Motion control rig. Which I understood I have divided them in parts for better understanding. 1) Direct enter movement-Traditionally the person has a remote control to control the rig and he sets it up at the position from which he wants to start and fix the position by the remote control. After fixing the start position he will move the rig to next position where he intends it to be at and again with remote control he saves that place. This king of camera movement setup gives movement along 3 points. Usually to shoot any shot 2 to 5 points is necessary. Those points on the motion path are joined by the computer using software. While setting up this move the person decides for that scene the number of frames to be taken and with which speed the camera should move. Then you can be ready for the shooting. 2)The Mimic movement-For this movement a hardware is available which allows the person to set up the movement by pushing the rig like crane or dolly and with the help of wheels to record the movement been done. As soon as the movement has been set you can repeat it at your desirable speed like other movements. Whenever a director wants the hand held feel for the movement or for the unpredictable behaviors for animals make use of this hardware to set up a movement. 3) The movement imported from CGI packages- If you are friendly with CG software as Softimage/Xsi and Maya you can decide and create the own movement and import those in the motion control system. With the help of this you can do very unique and complicated movements also. 4. Advantages of the Motion Control in Post production Post production part of the film depends on the very well shot scenes. Motion Control is behind the scenes master for the special effects which enables the scenes from the physical world to be merged and layered with the software help and effects. Motion control is a production device because of this all the people give more importance and credit for the special effects to the computer graphics software but cant understand that without the important role of the motion control footage these special effects wouldnt have been so special. The additional advantage of using the motion control is that it gives the accurate movements and perspective so it becomes easy to export that to software directly so that the scenes can be composed and merged together very easily. 5. Accuracy count of the Motion Control The movement of the each axis which is controlled motion is measured to an extent of micron level which is done with the help of optical encoders the electronic machines attached to the motors which is too fine extent that is visible to eyes. Due to the heat generated by the heavy and bright lights the metals with which the rigs are made up of tend to expand. As the measurement is too small it affects the calculation. But this doesnt happen so often. 6. Tracking verses Motion Control The calculation which the tracking gives for the position of camera in space is derivable only forms 2d footage. The condition on which the foreground and background elements can be merged with the live action footage is position and path of the camera. In motion control system first we shoot with the rig and then calculate the camera path movement and export it to the software. As the motion control camera system is aware of the position of the camera in space very accurately its very simple, convenient and faster to export the data to the softwares. The need for the motion control cannot be deleted by the tracking concept because of its accuracy and complicated camera movements. Motion control is the one and only one solution for the desired result of multiple pass scenes. The concept of tracking is heavily dependent on the fixed markers in the background to calculate the movement of the camera path. Sometimes these markers are difficult to see because the markers wont be in focus or they will be out of the frame so it wont work out according to wish. Actually we can use the previous tracking data calculation to export it to the motion control path of the camera which can be available as element for the foreground in live action shoot. This can be useful in the film industry especially for new comers to experiment the old moves with new technology again. 7. Benefit of Motion Control in pre visualization The significance of the pre visualization of the shot while designing and planning the film is increasing day by day. Pre visualization gives the perspective of the producer, director and cinematographer of the look of the final scene. The pre visualization stage eliminates the chances of the heavy and costly mis understandings, helps to prepare the shot, enables the set designers to calculate the space for the sets, positioning of the sets, enables the cameraman for the better understanding of the lights to be used in a scene, so ultimately it saves the time and lots of money. So the camera movement which can be fixed like this can be directly given to the motion control camera system rig as it has been visualized previously in the pre visualization stage. 8. List of cameras can be used on Motion control rig The motion control rig can handle most number of the film cameras with different sizes and weights. The cameras best suitable for the motion control are as follows- 1. Fries Mitchell 2. Mitchell 3. Arri 435s 4. Arri IIIs 5. Movie cam 6. Compacts 7. Panavision 8. Broadcast video cameras and camcorders 9. HD video cameras. 9. Different motion control systems The 1st is named as Cyclops which is studio based motion control system. This is considered as the best suitable system for motion control. It has unique qualities as it is extremely rigid, it can attain the high speed motion around 4 m/s and also can attain the high heights as more than 7m lens. The 2nd one is named as Milo which is a large system with portability. The main advantage of its design that it can be easily moved from one location to other comfortably because you can build it very quickly compared to other rigs and also dismantles it easily. It can give speed very closer to the speeds of the Cyclops, but it cant attain that much height as it is very small. The Milo has another option for the longer reach is that it has a longer arm. But the point of concern is it is not as rigid as the Cyclops. The 3rd one is named as Juno. It is the smallest rig, which is portable as well. It has a fixed arm. It contains a head with parallelogram to keep it to the level. The advantage of its design that can be easily accommodate in a very less space which can fit thorough the standard doorways. So because of this advantage you can shoot comfortably I the commercial complexes and buildings. As compared to Milo it has less height and reach than Milo. 10. Reliability of the Motion Control System While designing the motion control rigs the main concern is always the reliability. If you go and check out the pages from history you will get to know that people had misbelieve in the motion control systems because of the failure of the equipment to work at the proper time when needed. That got the motion controls very bad names in few countries because of many home made motion control systems assembled to give quick and cheap deals to satisfy the persons needs at that time. When we are shooting the quality product we cant deal with such thing to compromise with reliability of the parts. So regularly it should maintain and if any issues they can be solved quickly and completely. Cyclops and Milo rigs have got the very good name and reliability in the film industry. Background History Overview of Motion Control Motion Control and the computer used to control require different calculations or work processes. Even though these processes come from different areas of research they quickly became linked for purposes such as VFX. The US defense department first developed the concept of motion control for use in missile guidance systems. The earliest VFX use of motion control is perhaps in 1985 at the famous NYIT graphics lab Tom Brigham and J.P. Lewis implemented a rig (Seymour, M. 2004) The advancements in technology as well as developments in CPU and graphics speed started to make video editing and VFX production possible to the film industry. In a storytelling process person needs to show too many imaginary illusions to convey the story more beautifully. To show and express these illusions we have been gifted with one technology that is term called as special effects, which are usually used in film, television, theater, or entertainment industries. The concept of Special effects is categorized divided into the parts named as of optical effects and mechanical effects. As the years passed the film industry has grown with too many technologies mainly the digital techniques because of which we are now enable to realize the difference between the special effects and visual effects. The visual effects mean the one which are created during the process of the post production digitally. The special effect means those are created with the help of the cameras mechanically on the sets while shooting. The computer graphics has been playing important role with special effects from the period of 1990s.The main advantage of the computer graphics is that it allows the filmmakers to get rid of the traditional limitations to create the effects and gives more control over it which is more convenient and fine to achieve with the help of this technique. This technology saves money and time both at the greater extents many of the special effects which we used to create mechanically are went to lower hand by the computer graphics. The first motion picture special effect to be considered as was the time in 1857 when Oscar Gustave Fletcher Rejlander combined the different parts of the 32 photographs in one image. The first commonly granted special effect in the industry was in 1895 by Alfred Clark .At the time of shooting for a reenactment of the beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots an instruction of to step up to the block in Marys costume was given to the actor. In that scene when the executioner came with the axe above his head, the camera was stopped, he told all the actors to freeze, and instructed the person playing Mary to go off the set. Then the trick was replacement of the dummy in Marys place instead of the actor. Then the next shot was the axe coming down to cut the head of the dummy by the executioner. Suchà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ techniques would remain at the heart of special effects production for the next century (Rickitt). Special effects technology was grown and reconstructed by the motion pictures company in the period of the 1920s and 1930s. Most of the effects techniques were created and improvised the methods of illusions from the background of the theaters like ghosts made up of papers and still photography like as double exposure and matte compositing. The idea was to use the painted backgrounds as the projections and to replace them with the moving pictures. In those times they used to create faces with life casting with the help of the usual mask making. They used to create awesome masks which would fit the actor perfectly. After the science of materialization improved and that gave more depth for horror film mask making. The greatest evolution for the special effects was the amazing success of the science fiction and fantasy films in 1977.The film Star Wars created by George Lucass unlashed an era of fantasy films with expensive and awesome special effects. That times special effects supervisor was John Dykstra, A.S.C.He and his crew did many improvements in technology. For the movies needs they created a motion controlled camera rig named as Dykstraflex. It created the wonders at that time as repetition of the motion which drastically enhanced the compositing the matte. The film images went through the process of the degradation by the use of other innovative techniques: For the widescreen images photography that to horizontal with the stock they used the cameras named Vista vision on that rig .They used the more length of the film per frame rate and for the compositing part they used thin films with emulsions. In the same year, the movie named Close Encounters of the Third Kind creation of Steven Spielberg burst out with amazing special effects. Those were the creation of veteran Douglas Trumbull. They developed their own motion control rig system. They also introduced the term lens flare which is intentional and created by the reflection of light in the camera lenses. That was intentionally done to create the shapes of the flying saucers. The main reason for the investment in the special effects was the grand success of these films. That created so much buzz turned into opportunities for the special effects studios and the birth of the computer graphics. As the years passed the film industry has grown with too many technologies mainly the digital techniques because of which we are now enable to realize the difference between the special effects and visual effects. The visual effects mean the one which are created during the process of the post production digitally. The special effect means those are created with the help of the cameras mechanically on the sets while shooting. Methodology This dissertation researches the integration of motion control techniques in the film industry. As for the artefact itself, conclusions drawn from the research will provide guidance as well as technical knowledge. The information acquired from the interviews of industry active personnel in areas of motion control will create the basis of the shots. Each shot will have an in depth description of its particular approach and reasoning, as well as problems and techniques used to achieve a solid track. These approaches evaluate and support the information that has been derived from both primary and secondary research. Primary Research In order to receive relevant, accurate and up to date information, the primary research for the evaluation and interpretation of the research questions was based on contacts and interviews with industry professionals. These interviews were conducted in different manners according to the flexibility and time of these sources. These included email questionings, telephone conversations. Although the question order and wording may vary, all interviews contain similar areas of focus and question principles. The following individuals where included in the questioning: 1. Mr. Ramdas A. Dale (General Manager Productions, Amtek Engineers PVT LTD.) 2. Mr. Rahul S. Sharma ( The questions asked were specifically designed to not only aid with specific techniques needed to produce an artifact, but also to highlight any problem areas that might be encountered during use of motion control rig in a professional environment. The main area of research discussed in the introduction of this paper still stands and the key investigation into The integration of motion control system in the film industry remains. Evaluating Primary research The primary research conducted by these questions was categorized into 6 subject areas. This approach was necessary in order to structure the information received for either secondary research approaches, or technique evaluation. The main headings of the primary research evolutions are: 1. The term Motion Control 2. Motion Control for VFX 3. The work of a motion control rig 4. Tricks and problems 5. The Importance of Motion Control to the Film Industry 6. The future of Motion Control Secondary Research The secondary research involves the assessment of motion control literature in order to support the primary research on a more technical level. The main methodology and reasoning for this research, is to show a good understanding of some subject areas discussed in the primary research, as well as how to use the motion control rig for low budget films. This will further aid in the understanding and problem solving. The technique of motion control is there since countable years but now is the time when this technology can be available in a affordable cost with which at least we can I mean low budget film makers can think of using it as a great tool for the shoot and experiment thoroughly. Earlier days the cost of a completely-featured computerized animation camera was up to Rs.90000000. Now a days the Motion control system is available for under Rs.540000.For shooting this type of work if you hire a camera it costs around Rs.3500 per hour and more and if you compare that with above price can consider as 270 hours of shoot with motion control. If you compare the shots per hour with motion control you can shoot 45 minutes of movie as the film camera will shoot 10-12 seconds of film in an hour. The motion control systems require the test shoots so if you count the final shooting output will be around 25 minutes. This is the reason you can think of getting your motion control rig which can pay for it in a comparatively less time. That has other side advantage of experimenting more on your own ideas for more time. The main advantage of using this technology is you can own less priced system and can get direct and great entry into more comprehensive and awesome field of TV and media. That too is a best opportunity to low-budget filmmakers who can improvise new and unique techniques. Newcomers can make most use of the camera productively and they save money for the studio who wants get a break in this industry. There are two options which are available for the shooting of the films. One is Cameraman and the other is motion control rig. Everyone one of them consists of the parts namely: the system, the added electronic devices to control the movement by the motors and computer softwares, the person controls the motors with the help of the systems to get the special effects. Each option uses the name of the brand and computer systems to get control over the movement of the axes, motion paths. Usually a cameraman will use the number of action will be and he uses a computer. In The motion control rig it consists of 3 or 6 or more axes to create the motion and it uses the computer systems as IBM or Apple. The package of the motion control rig and computer with which it can control 6 axes and computer software costs almost Rs.540000. The package of the Cameraman and computer system and motion along the 6 axes and computer software at the most about Rs.440000. The computer software package which the cameraman uses has more features like the streak mode along with fitting of curve. The other thing is the electronic devises he uses are made up of very simple design so the advantage is it has less maintenance. The studios with big budgets can be more comfortable and reliable with motion control rigs if they have a strong history of developing the large motion control systems and to work with them. Future Work My research will primarily concern itself with translating physical camera action with motion control rig in an extraordinary way. The functionality and usefulness of the motion control can be greatly expanded in the future. Opportunities for future work could include developing a real-time depth of field preview that would allow for realistic focal length changes to be made using the motion control system camera, adding an additional level of intuitive control to motion of camera. Reprogramming other controls of the motion control to make it more self-sufficient. Scope and limitations Results I got an approach to that how can I use the motion control system for the low budget movies. That is possible if I can get a good configured personal computer and make the motion control rig by myself. To build a motion control rig you have to have the sound knowledge of the different parts of engineering such as electrical, computers and mechanical engineering and the vast effects. If you cant do it on your own you may get help from your engineer friends who might be interested in all this stuff. Motion control creates too many visual illusions which are extraordinary and amazing which may be we can create by the duplication of the images formed in the computer systems. At the moment the motion control system is quite affordable but it will be vast in the future. In fact as soon as the less priced motion control systems will get evolved the main advantage will be for the new film makers to emerge as great as possible with the amazing special effects treatment which will let the audience and viewers to get entry into to the next world of magic created by you. Conclusion Over the course of this di

Exemplification Essay: Separation of Church and State -- Expository Ex

   Because of my strong beliefs, I have been called the Antichrist, a witch, an atheist, and a Satanist. Fervent Christians have told me that my â€Å"kind† is solely responsible for the downfall of American morals.    Actually, none of these labels fits me. I am not a witch because the only modern religion to practice witchcraft is Wicca (American Heritage 1381), and I am not a Wiccan. I am not a Satanist because modern Satanists do not believe in Satan as an actual entity; instead, they follow a "religion of the self," as the founder of the Church of Satan, Anton LaVey, put it. (LaVey 1) Satanists also belong to an organization such as the Church of Satan or the Temple of Set, and I do not belong to any such organization. I do not call myself an atheist because atheists tend to not have well-developed ethical systems. I am a secular humanist. This means that I have no belief in supernatural beings or forces (gods or goddesses, angels, demons, leprechauns, etc.); that rational thought is more important to me than blind faith; and that I value freedom of expression, belief, and inquiry.    Now, because I value freedom of belief, it doesn't bother me that people think these things about me. If they want to believe that I fly through the air on a broomstick to a Satan-worshipping orgy, that's their misunderstanding. If they want to think my life is more exciting than it really is, they're welcome. What bothers me is the way that religious bigotry extends to the highest levels of government. George Bush was quoted as saying, "I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God." ("Quotes" 5) The problem is that the first amendment states that "C... ... of the majority, the minority endures oppression. The quality of government suffers when it has been mixed too much with religion, and the quality of religious motives suffer when they have been polluted by political motives.    Let's move to a true separation of church and state.    Works Cited American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd. College Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1982. "Blue Laws." Barron's Concise Student's Encyclopedia. 1993 ed. LaVey, Anton. "The World's Most Feared Religion." Cloven Hoof, Issue 127. Scott (Last name unknown). "Quotes." 6 pp. Online. Internet. 13 Jan. 1997. Available http://www.paranoia.com/~wcs/quotes.htm Worbois, Dean. "Founding Faiths." 3 pp. Online. Internet. 13 Jan. 1997. Available http://www.postfun.com/worbois.html [Note: this document has been moved here --webmaster, 11/25/97]   

The Effect of John Keats Health on His Work Essay -- Biography Biogra

The Effect of John Keats' Health on His Work      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In his elegy for the poet John Keats, Adonais, his friend and fellow poet Percy Bysshe Shelley writes: "With me / Died Adonais; till the Future dares / Forget the Past, his fate and fame shall be / An echo and a light unto eternity" (6-9).   Shelley speaks of the eternal nature of Keats' poetry, which, although written at a specific time in literary history, addresses timeless issues such as life, death, love, sorrow, and poetic expression.   Keats lived only twenty-six years, but his poetry reflects a mind concerned with his own place in the present and the future; he seemed to want most desperately to belong to the world as a poet.   Perhaps he felt this way because he knew, once he was diagnosed with tuberculosis, that he would not live long and would, therefore, have less time in which to write and to say what he wanted to say.   He has been described as "the most significant mythical figure of the tubercular poet in Britain" (Lawlor and Suzuki 488).   Keats' knowledge of his illness affected his work to the extent that his readers often feel his own sense of sorrow and impatience as he tries to express his creative ideas in the brief time which he knows he will have.      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   John Keats was born on Halloween in 1795 in London, the oldest of four children (Keats).   Keats' father died when the poet was only eight years old (Keats), and the resulting trauma and anxiety that it caused his family seems to have affected him deeply.   As one critic states, these events contributed "to his mature sense that the career of the artist was an exploration o... ...H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000. 851-853.    ---. "Ode to a Nightingale." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume 2. Seventh edition.   Ed. M.H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000. 849-851.    ---. "When I Have Fears." The Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume 2.   Seventh edition.   Ed. M.H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000.   833-834.    Lawlor, Clark and Akihito Suzuki. "The Disease of the Self: Representing Comsumption, 1700-  Ã‚   1830." Bulletin of the History of Medicine 74.3 (2000): 458-494.   The Gale Group. Literature Resource Center.   Union County Coll. Lib., Cranford, NJ. 27 March 2003.    Shelley, Percy Bysshe. Adonais.   The Norton Anthology of English Literature, volume 2. Seventh edition.   Ed. M.H. Abrams, et.al. New York: Norton, 2000.   772-786.

cuban missle crisis: a front row seat for the end of the world :: essays research papers

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A Front Row Seat for the End of the World   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  During the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962, I had a front row seat. I was Under Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and, as a consequence, a member of President John Kennedy’s Executive Committee (ExComm) which dealt with our response. I believe I was the only one permitted to keep notes of the meetings, and have from time to time referred to them over the years. However, my recollections of our debates have been stimulated with the recent release of edited transcripts of the discussions.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  When in mid–October reconnaissance photos revealed that the Soviets were building missiles and bomber bases in Cuba, I was not surprised. Since July, there had been an increase in shipping from Soviet ports to Mariel in Cuba. On October 11, the French reported that their diplomats had seen trucks loaded with what appeared to be tarpaulin– covered missiles lumbering through Havana at night. I thought it probable that these were indeed offensive missiles, despite Soviet pledges that they would never put bases in Cuba and only defensive weapons. My thought at the time was that whatever Moscow was up to in Cuba was somehow connected with the lingering crisis over Berlin which had begun the previous August when the East Germans began to construct a wall sealing off the eastern sector. I believed that Khrushchev, recognizing that the importance of the city to the West made the risk of war high, was lying low on that crisis while creating a new one in Cuba with the intent of trading one off against the other, perhaps gaining leverage for concessions. But there were other reasons that the possibility of missiles in Cuba was not far–fetched. During the Berlin crisis, most of our contingency planning for military options had been based on estimates of impressive Soviet conventional and nuclear capabilities. For that reason, we had thought the possibility of escalation into a nuclear war was likely, and the Soviets could hit us very hard. However since then, the double agent Penkovskiy had confirmed what our own intelligence had been suggesting: that Soviet nuclear capabilities had been overestimated, and that we held the advantage—evidently one of the reasons why Moscow was putting intermediate and medium range missiles in Cuba. I viewed the existence of the missiles as a serious threat. They could reach any number of targets in the United States in a short time and, since we had set up no southern early warning system, a surprise attack would put us in a difficult position.

Groupon Strategy

1. How have companies like Groupon affected the pricing strategy of firms? Historically, companies have issued coupons in order to attract new business or irregular customers that seldom purchase a company’s products and/or services, with the hope that they come back more often. This is consistent with the idea that getting new customers is more expensive that maintaining a customer base.Companies’ approaches when issuing coupons have usually been one of three: 1) taking a small hit (loss) in order to stimulate subsequent buys (â€Å"loss leaders†), 2) incentives and bonuses (free items when another one is purchased), or 3) making a lower profit, but nevertheless a profit, by issuing price discrimination coupons. All in all, these approaches usually constitute a minimal economic encouragement that only super-couponers seem to really take advantage of.Groupon and its competitors, on the other hand, offer discounts that are usually much more aggressive, usually 50% or more off the retail price (keeping half of the transaction value for itself). Since these social, mass deals reach high numbers of consumers, these daily coupons that make available large discounts have eroded from the consumers’ minds the idea of a fixed retail price. Companies that do use the Groupon approach hope in the mass success of the discount and that a portion of those new customers will become regulars.But for companies that don’t adopt the Groupon model for issuing discounts, they risk losing or never getting those customers that don’t want to pay the full retail price, specially if those customers never bought any goods or services from them. Nowadays, companies’ pricing strategies that don’t consider the effect of online social coupons on their own margins might lose their appeal if they continue issuing regular, unattractive coupons that average consumers would not consider appealing enough. The consumer is not necessarily depend ent on the terms dictated by the vendor anymore. . How have companies like Groupon affected consumers’ perceptions of prices? For consumers other than super-couponers, meaning, those consumers that are not like bargains but don’t spend the time to hunt for the best deal, Groupon and its competitors have been revolutionary: these companies find attractive businesses, negotiate with them the deals, and deliver the coupons in convenient, effortless ways for consumers to find (online, in mobile devices, via e-mail and social media as friends’ recommendations, etc. ).For these consumers that didn’t or maybe couldn’t find the best deals, the best deals and finding them, making the purchase experience fast and convenient. And even for free, if enough of your friends buy a deal you recommended to them. In this sense, the buying experience has become a more interactive, social experience, where the best deals and shared and echoed online. This is making cus tomers exponentially smarted, maybe not about the true cost of products and discounts, but certainly about what they and their friends are willing to pay for them.Groupon has also broadened the standards of what consumers are willing to spend money on, especially when it comes to more unusual experiences that were not part of a buyer’s purchasing habits. As long a the price is low enough, Groupon is making it possible for consumers to spend their money on great deals for, likely, unnecessary but gratifying experiences, sharing with others the buying experience and, who know, a hot air balloon ride. 3. What is the downside for firms using Groupon? How can firms mitigate it?Some businesses have argued that the Groupon – offering deep discounts for daily deals, usually with a maximum number of coupons available – disproportionally benefits consumers more than businesses. These firms complain that discounts purchased on Groupon, for example, are great for attracting large crowds of customers who never materialize on the promise to become regular customers. This type of situations leaves the firm at a loss, having provided goods or service 75% below their retail price and without the returning customers to make up for it.To mitigate this, firms should work with Groupon and the like to find better ways to reinforce policies, such as making a deal available for first time customers only. Or by offering a discount that is only good if a required number of future purchases is pre-bought. Of course, these approaches would likely scare off a number of customers genuinely interested in assessing the quality of a product and service, not wanting further commitment. Psychologically, it might be hard for consumers to become regular customers and have to pay twice for a product or service they’ve already experienced for half the price.The best solution is for firms to offer such a high quality or differentiated product, service, and/or customer exp erience that costumers will want to come to come back. 4. What will be the long run effect of companies like Groupon? Groupon and similar companies will likely become the standard way coupons and discounts are offered to most consumers. Offering discounts through these firms will become an entry requirement for many new businesses, especially those offering more obscure or less common products and services.Nevertheless, any business in any market could potentially benefit from offering discounts through online social mass coupon firms, such as Groupon. Today, it has become a sound approach for firms that are not attracting enough buyers and traffic with their retail prices. If retailers don’t make the necessary adjustments to their pricing strategies now, they might have to come to Groupon or its competitors as a last resource to increase revenue through an attempt to increase consumer traffic and online buzz (added bonus advertising for using Groupon).It is unlikely most fir ms attempting to remain unchanged in regards to its pricing strategy will stay relevant for long; they must acknowledge the pricing threats of Groupon and the like. Customers, either by choice or by constant exposure to aggressive online discounts, are become smarter and savvier shoppers. The retail price is becoming dangerously easy to avoid for firms not willing to recognize new pricing strategies.

Role of Women in Society (the Story of an Hour and a Rose for Emily)

Kate Chopin’s â€Å"The Story of an Hour† written in 1894 and William Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† written in 1930 are two stories that show major roles of women in society. Although the two stories have a different perspective of the women due to their era, they both give a great explanation of how the women were and how they were treated by other people during their time. The women in both of the stories explain how they perceive each of their own roles and how they cope with their own situations, which are much different and alike from our society today.For many years women have tried finding their place in society, which is hard when males are usually perceived as the leaders or ones who control their wives. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Chopin explains the freedom of a once married woman, and how much she enjoys her freedom from being married, this story is based on the role of women in marriage and relationships. In the scene where Mrs. Mallard believes that her husband is dead after receiving the shocking news â€Å"She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same† (Chopin 106), this sentence explains that Mrs.Mallard takes it in differently than most other women do when they find out that their husband has died. For a while, Mrs. Mallard is sad but only when she was alone â€Å"When the storm of grief had spent itself she went away to her room alone. She would have no one follow her† (Chopin 106). When Mrs. Mallard had abandoned herself she caught herself whispering over and over again the words â€Å"Free, free, free† (Chopin 107). This sentence showed that Mrs.Mallard was finally free â€Å"She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring of life† (Chopin 107). The words â€Å"New spring of life† show that Mrs. Mallard had a new spring in life which symbolized freedom. â€Å"There would be no one to liv e for during those coming years; she would live for herself† (Chopin 107), this shows that she has had enough from her marriage and wants to enjoy her freedom and not waste it on someone else, she just wants to enjoy it for herself.Mrs. Mallard was obviously in a bad marriage â€Å"And yet she loved him-sometimes† (Chopin 107), this phrase shows that she was confused about her love for her husband and only loved him sometimes. â€Å"Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own† (Chopin 108), explains that she was just so happy to finally spend those days on her own and not have her husband to hold her back from the things that she loves, that she is finally free to do whatever she enjoys to do. At the end of the story when Mrs.Mallard’s husband shows up at the house and as she looks at him she has a loud screeching cry and that was it. Mrs. Mallard had died of heart disease â€Å"a joy that kills† (Chopin 108). Mrs. Mall ard expected to be free for the rest of her life, then after seeing her husband alive she realizes she will not have her life the way she had imagined and then she died from disappointment of not having her â€Å"Free! body and soul free† (Chopin 107) life. In the story â€Å"A Rose for Emily† Faulkner explains the anger of a lonely, unloved woman that is desperate for affection but is shocked when she does not get it.This story plays a major role of women in society due to uncontrollable anger and revenge. Miss Emily’s lonely life begins from the death of her father which left her depressed and unloved. â€Å"She went out very little; after her sweetheart went away, people hardly saw her at all† (Hemingway 117), this shows that Miss Emily cannot handle being outside of her house while she is depressed. When Miss Emily met Homer Barron in the story, she fell deeply in love with him and people said â€Å"they are married† (Hemingway 120).After being with Homer for a while he finally admitted that, â€Å"he liked men- and it was known that he drank with the younger men in the Elks’ Club† (Hemingway 119). In the scene where Homer had admitted he liked men and threatened to leave the following day, Miss Emily went and bought arsenic poison which showed that Miss Emily could not handle the fact that he was going to leave her. This is a typical role of women in society today because most women have a feeling of revenge when a man threatens to leave them.For a long time after that many people were not surprised when Homer Barron was not seen for some time. In this story Miss Emily poisons her husband and kills him leaving his body in her bed for many years. The ending of the story shows the biggest part in the role of women. Miss Emily is believed that she killed her husband due to the revenge of him threatening to leave her. Miss Emily probably would have not killed her husband if it were not for her father leaving he r at a young age.As Emily grew up she only knew how to be lonely and when she found Homer she took it for granted that he was not going to leave her, and when he finally did threaten to leave her she figured that she would not want to go through loneliness which explains when they found Homer’s body in her bed. She put his body in her bed because she could not handle being alone the rest of her life and she knew if she killed him that he would have no way of leaving. From the two stories Josephine and Miss Emily both saw death as a solution to their situations.Josephine perceived her own role as being a free woman out of marriage, while Miss Emily saw loneliness as a problem. These women did not handle or cope with their situations well at all, which is like most women today. Most women do not know how to handle situations that are very tough, especially ones that make them disappointed. In both of the stories it is the men’s fault for their deaths. Men to this day cau se many women to become disappointed because men are controlling and both of the stories Josephine and Miss Emily were controlled by their husbands or, they were disappointed in what their husbands’ did.

Process Improvement Essay

ABSTRACT This document will be evaluating an existing process within Toyota during the time of their accelerator crisis. A problem statement will be defined around the process of internal communication of concerns and ideas between foreign-based Toyota employees and the authoritative management of Toyota based in Japan. PROBLEM ANALYSIS OF SELECTED PROCESS Problem framing is a very important, but easily overlooked, part of decision-making. Framing a problem can have a heavy influence on the decisions that are made. It isn’t enough to frame the problem; it should be framed with the solution in mind. This helps to keep the end goal of the decision-making process in mind so that the correct choices are made. In the case of Toyota, at the highest level, they had a major problem with some of their products involving unintended acceleration and their handling of  customer reports of the problem led to a whole mess of other problems. So from the outside looking in, it seems that many processes internal to Toyota had room for improvement. Although there are many different business sections of Toyota with their own respective problems such as customer service, public relations, manufacturing, the problem I would like analyze and offer improvement on is internal communication process between management and foreign employees and how the breakdown in this process affected some of the business decisions made by Toyota’s upper management. â€Å"As Toyota grew into a global powerhouse in the auto industry, the organizational structure that emerged was a centralized design †¦Ã¢â‚¬ that put key decision-making in the hands of executives in Japan†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Some believed that Toyota’s structure in the U.S. ultimately impaired its ability to prevent the safety problems before they reached the crisis† (Greto, Schotter & Teagarden, 2010, pg. 7-8). A quality tool or method used to help with the identification and prioritization of the potential causes of quality problems in a process is cause-and-effect analysis. In a way, this is a reverse engineering method used to identify the elements of a specific quality problem and to identify the causes so that it can be corrected. The problem wasn’t the unintended acceleration of certain vehicles; the problem was the internal management decision-making that impacted the engineering of those vehicles which created the engineering problem. For some background information, the defining and founding philosophy of Toyota, the Toyota Way, has been around for a long time but it wasn’t until the late 1980s in which they began production of their vehicles in the U.S. Specifically the problem of ideas from U.S.-based employees has been largely ignored for almost 20 years when it comes to key engineering or financial-based decisions. â€Å"Despite the global sales volume gain, Toyota reported revenues of US $211 billion for 2009, a decrease of 19% for the previous year† (Greto, Schotter & Teagarden, 2010, pg. 2). Even though Toyota has been making large profits throughout the past 20 years, they experienced a decrease in 2009 and part of this was related to the ambitious initiatives and business decisions made by Toyota’s upper management. â€Å"Japan is notoriously consensus oriented, and companies have a strong tendency to mediate differences among individuals rather than accentuate them† (Porter, 1996, pg. 63). Japanese culture and Toyota’s centralized decision-making structure made it difficult for U.S. based employees to offer ideas, suggestions for improvements, or to elevate critical problems to upper management in Japan. Toyota’s upper management, in their minds, let the U.S. employees do what they do best, which is supposedly marketing and selling. The process used by Toyota to communicate foreign employees’ ideas to upper management was heard, but not listened to. Even the process of internal communication between management had its breakdowns because of the perception by family-oriented managers of nonfamily managers in that nonfamily members didn’t have such thoughts as safety and quality in the forefront of their minds. Overall, the communication process seemed to be that ideas were submitted from employees, whether by Japanese or foreign employees, to management and ideas were reviewed and pushed up the management chain when it was appropriate. However, ideas that might have some bearing on engineering, manufacturing or financing were largely ignored when the source of the ideas were from U.S.-based employees and this violated the Toyota Way. To add to the complexity, the process for communicating ideas became more convoluted depending on the audience, nonfamily or family-based managers. To sum this up into a problem statement: â€Å"Toyota has violated their founding philosophy of employee empowerment, especially for non-Japanese employees, and continues to make important business decisions without any regard to concerns or ideas from foreign employees when appropriate. Employees may have ideas that could be used in the decision-making process to achieve better quality solutions. Toyota needs a better mechanism or improvement to this internal communication process to capture the knowledge and ideas of all employees and to share these ideas across the organization. All in all, it’s to improve the internal communicat ion process between employees and management in order to support the idea of continuous improvement and quality.† CONTEXT OF SELECTED PROCESS FOR IMPROVEMENT â€Å"The _Toyota Way_ mandates planning for the long term; highlighting problems  instead of hiding them; encouraging team work with colleagues and suppliers; and, perhaps most importantly, instilling a self-critical culture that fosters continuous and unrelenting improvement† (Greto, Schotter & Teagarden, 2010, pg. 3). Two cores ideas from the statement above are the idea of team work and most importantly employee empowerment. These two values are what made Toyota into a successful global corporation during their fast rise in the 1980s. Employees were encouraged to offer ideas for improvement for any process within the organization and this helped with continuing the idea of continuous improvement. An important part of making business decisions is having real-time and critical information. The selected process for improvement: improving the communication of ideas and concerns and the sharing of foreign employees’ ideas to Toyota’s Japanese management team needs to be addressed immediately. The process selected for improvement is the process used to capture the ideas of all employees, U.S.-based included, and to have these ideas be properly represented and presented to management for review in real-time. â€Å"You know the joke that every bank branch has a president – well, every Toyota facility has a president, and one can’t tell another what to do† (Greto, Schotter & Teagarden, 2010, pg. 8). This statement touches the surface of why the internal management communication process needs improvement at Toyota. The way the process is currently being represented in Toyota’s organization is a complete violation of their founding philosophy. During the 2000s, Toyota pushed for a lot of initiatives that in hindsight were either short-term profit driven or too ambitious. For example, â€Å"despite the savings of more than US $10 billion over the six years since CC21’s inception, Watanabe set out to achieve even more cost savings through the new â€Å"VI† (Value Innovation) strategy† (Greto, Schotter & Teagarden, 2010, pg. 5). This was a business decision made to further drive up profits despite the respectable amount of savings already made financially. If the knowledge, ideas and concerns of employees were properly captured and communicated to management, it could have prevented some of the poor business decision-making made and the impact of these decisions on engineering and manufacturing. Two impacts of the poor decision-making was the decision to become leaner with the manufacturing process and  overstretching existing resources in trying to supplant GM as number on in the automobile industry. Toyota’s has employees in many different markets who most likely had concerns regarding these decisions or ideas on how to improve the ideas and _communicated_ these ideas but these ideas weren’t being heard in time or heard at all by management. To put this all into context, the process for communicating ideas and concerns internally is impacted by the culture and internal structure of Toyota. These are both tough things to change but the process used to capture and represent ideas to management is something easy to improve. IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROCESS If the current internal communication process continues as is, there will continue to be a breakdown in the communication of potentially important ideas and concerns from employees to management. If employees feel as if their input isn’t listened to or even heard, they will become apathetic or not even bother trying to communicate important ideas or concerns. As a result, this can lead to the cycle of poor business decisions being made resulting in more damage to the company. Even worse, this will continue to cause Toyota to stray away from the core values of the Toyota Way that made them a successful global corporation. Already what has happened as a result of the ignoring of ideas and making business decisions with only the goal of short-term profits in mind is that Toyota during the oil sludge crisis had to pay millions of dollars as a result of class action lawsuits and took a hit to their business image. Fast forward to the accelerator crisis, Toyota experienced losing $2 billion dollars during the recall, had to pay a $16.4 million dollar civil penalty under U.S. law, experienced a customer relations nightmare and even had some of their car models dropped from Consumer Reports. The dollar amount lost due to the alienation of customers, lack of accountability at first by Toyota, and corporate reputation and image hit is immeasurable. Implementing some mechanism to improve the communication process between  employees and management and even management can be improved with the use of something such as a knowledge management system. â€Å"Effective knowledge management tools can help firms reduce internal costs of maintaining electronic filing systems and reduce the administrative expense of locating documents. Second, just as efficiency can improve profitability, leverage can have the same effect where knowledge transfer enhances the quality of work performance, and therefore, its value. In this context, leverage is the ability to delegate work to the most cost-effective resource. The transfer of knowledge is, in fact, the essence of knowledge management† (Martin, 2002, pg. 1). Although it is a large internal expense, the benefits of a KM system would have a great effect on the general business results and business relationships of Toyota with its employees, management and even their supply chain. POTENTIAL OUTCOMES OF IMPROVING THE PROCESS Improving the current internal communication process of ideas and concern helps to improve employee relations between management and their reports. It helps to re-establish a culture of knowledge sharing and representing that captured knowledge in such a way that it can help to improve the business decision-making by upper management. Any important business decisions made by upper management have a direct impact on the shareholders. So any improvement in the process that results in better business decisions being made will have a direct positive impact for the shareholders. The current decision-making and straying away from the founding principles of the Toyota Way has damaged the company and continuing down this path will only make the future worse for Toyota. So having an internal mechanism to capture ideas and improve communication such as a KM system can only improve the situation. Employees would feel like their ideas are being heard and will continue to offer suggestions for continual improvement. An improvement in communication can help to break down the false perceptions that family-oriented managers have of nonfamily managers. For example, a family-based manager might come across an idea from an unexpected source, a nonfamily manager, and come to respect that person for their knowledge. In a  way, this could help to improve the Japanese culture way of making decisions internally. Toyota is almost in the top of their market, so they are their own worst enemy when it comes to being competitive. So an improvement in their internal decision-making around all important financial, engineering and manufacturing decisions will only help to sustain and further their current competitive edge. Sometimes an organization has to make a large internal expense in order to position themselves differently from their competitors. â€Å"Strategic positioning means performing _different_ activities from rivals’ or performing similar activities in _different_ ways† (Porter, 1996, pg. 62). So collecting ideas internally and using them to make better business decisions will help Toyota to strategically position themselves even further away from their competition. SUMMARY Overall, Toyota is its own worst enemy with the current decision-making process they have in place internally. Even though the centralized decision-making structure is what Toyota currently has in place, the decision-making needs to take into account employee input, whether foreign or not. Employee input has been a cornerstone of the Toyota Way and Toyota has strayed from this founding principle. The implications of continuing down this path will result in more crises which in turn results in loss business, damaged business reputation, lawsuits and losing the competitive edge. Improving this process will result in better employee relations; establish a knowledge sharing culture which is needed for an environment that is striving for continual improvement and better business decisions being made. REFERENCES Greto, M., Schotter, A., & Teagarden, M. (2010). Toyota: The accelerator crisis. Thunderbird School of Global Management. Martin, K. (2002). Features – â€Å"Show Me the Money† – Measuring the Return on Knowledge Management. LLRX. Retrieved from http://www.llrx.com/features/kmroi.htm Porter, M. E. (1996). What is strategy? _Harvard Business Review, 74_(6), 61-78. Russell, R.S., & Taylor, B.W. (2011). _Operations management: Creating value along the supply chain_ (7th ed.)_._ Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 9780470525906