Sustainable Design Essay -- Sustainability

The definition of Sustainability in the Merriam Webster Dictionary is simply ‘involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources (Merriam Webster, 2014)’. In design we consider sustainability in two different ways: †¢ The functional and financial sustainability of a product, design or even a design process †¢ The impact of resources or renewability of a product, design or process (University, 2014) Designers today have a social responsibility with what they produce as our products are the future and we can have a massive impact on sustainability by making our business decisions based on the environment. White and Stewart note that â€Å"The diverse set of risks and opportunities that now confront companies make consideration of environmental and social impacts in design more than a nice thing to do. Increasingly, it is becoming a matter of remaining relevant and viable in domestic and global economies.† (White & Stewart 2008, p. 5) Sustainability is not a new topic it is how humans have evolved. It’s humans that have undermined their own planet over time that have made it a contemporary issue. EVOLUTION AND RECOGNITION Whilst sustainability did not become a noticeable issue in design until the 1970’s, we can see the evolution over time. The American Indian back in the 1800’s would hunt buffalo, however they knew this was their main resource for survival so they greatly respected it. The way they hunted and utilized the whole animal meant there was no waste and never a threat of extinction. The hide was used for clothing, blankets and smeared with smashed buffalo brains as waterproofing and then used to make teepee’s (History Learning Site, 2014). Native people (first designers) of our planet knew that... ...ch 29). Buffalo and the Native American. Retrieved from History Learning State: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/buffalo.htm Knight, A. (2009). Hidden Histories: the story of sustainable design. Proquest Discovery Guides, 3. Merriam Webster. (2014, March 29). Sustainability. Retrieved from Merriam Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable Nations, U. (2014, March 28). Kyoto Protocol. Retrieved from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php University, F. (2014). Contemporary Design Issues - Course Learning Materials Week 2. Ballarat: Federation University. Valluzzo, A. (2014, March 29). A Tale of Two Chairs. Retrieved from Antiques and the Arts Weekly: http://antiquesandtheartsweekly.wordpress.com/ Woodham, J. M. (2005). A Dictionary of Modern Design. New York: Oxford Press. Sustainable Design Essay -- Sustainability The definition of Sustainability in the Merriam Webster Dictionary is simply ‘involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources (Merriam Webster, 2014)’. In design we consider sustainability in two different ways: †¢ The functional and financial sustainability of a product, design or even a design process †¢ The impact of resources or renewability of a product, design or process (University, 2014) Designers today have a social responsibility with what they produce as our products are the future and we can have a massive impact on sustainability by making our business decisions based on the environment. White and Stewart note that â€Å"The diverse set of risks and opportunities that now confront companies make consideration of environmental and social impacts in design more than a nice thing to do. Increasingly, it is becoming a matter of remaining relevant and viable in domestic and global economies.† (White & Stewart 2008, p. 5) Sustainability is not a new topic it is how humans have evolved. It’s humans that have undermined their own planet over time that have made it a contemporary issue. EVOLUTION AND RECOGNITION Whilst sustainability did not become a noticeable issue in design until the 1970’s, we can see the evolution over time. The American Indian back in the 1800’s would hunt buffalo, however they knew this was their main resource for survival so they greatly respected it. The way they hunted and utilized the whole animal meant there was no waste and never a threat of extinction. The hide was used for clothing, blankets and smeared with smashed buffalo brains as waterproofing and then used to make teepee’s (History Learning Site, 2014). Native people (first designers) of our planet knew that... ...ch 29). Buffalo and the Native American. Retrieved from History Learning State: http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/buffalo.htm Knight, A. (2009). Hidden Histories: the story of sustainable design. Proquest Discovery Guides, 3. Merriam Webster. (2014, March 29). Sustainability. Retrieved from Merriam Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sustainable Nations, U. (2014, March 28). Kyoto Protocol. Retrieved from United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: https://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php University, F. (2014). Contemporary Design Issues - Course Learning Materials Week 2. Ballarat: Federation University. Valluzzo, A. (2014, March 29). A Tale of Two Chairs. Retrieved from Antiques and the Arts Weekly: http://antiquesandtheartsweekly.wordpress.com/ Woodham, J. M. (2005). A Dictionary of Modern Design. New York: Oxford Press.

Porter Generic Stratey Essay

The key drivers of competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation product †¢COMPETITIVE STRATEGY- the means by which an organisation seeks to achieve and sustain a competitive advantage†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ Porter suggests that competitive strategy means taking an offensive or defensive action to create a defendable position to cope with the competitive forces- this would lead to greater returns †¢Porter suggests that a firm’s strengths fall into two headngs; cost advantage and differentiation. By applying these strengths in a broad or narrow focus, three generic strategies result: COST LEADERSHIP, DIFFERENTIATION AND FOCUS†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦they are generic because they are not specific to a firm or industry. †¢4 strategies to gain a competitive advantage: COST LEADERSHIP-(superior profits through lower costs), DIFFERENTIATION-(higher profits by adding value the products areas that are of real significance for customers who are willing to pay a premium price), FOCUS STRATEGY-(concentrate on a specific area on the market) †¢COST LEADERSHIP- concentrates on becoming the lowest cost producer through economies of scale. With this, the organisation can compete on price with the potential to earn higher unit profits. Cost reduction provides the focus for the orgaisations strategy. Competitive advantage is achieved by driving costs down. There is room for only one cost leader †¢Firms that succeed in cost leadership have the following strengths: access to capital to make big investment, design skills, high level of expertise in manufacturing process, efficient distribution channels †¦. EXAMPLES- RYANAIR, TOYOTA, TESCO, AND WALMART †¢Cost leadership is often seen as a strategy that aims to attract customers with low prices made by low costs†¦.. ut this doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest selling price, but due to low costs, the profit margins are higher †¢DIFFERENTIATION- this strategy calls for a development of a product or service that offers unique and valued attribute by customers. The customers believe that the product is different than rivals. – the uniqueness gives a product added value which enables companies to charge a higher price premium. Successful differentiation- differentiating products from competitiors, charging a higher price†¦. an base differentiation on omage, durability, after-sales customer service/ needs strong R&D †¢HOWEVER, adding value increases a firms cost base for a product which reduces the unit profit margin- these costs can only be recouped if the consumer is willing to pay the premium price. Also, customers must recognise these differences†¦. EXAMPLES: BMW, MIELE (HIGHER QUALITY DOMESTIC APPLIANCES), BANG AND OLUFSEN, MERC, ETC †¢Benefit – a chance of charging a premium price, demand for differentiated less elastic, above average profits, additional barriers to entry? Risks – difficult to sustain, higher costs, risk of creating differences, comsumers may become too price sensitive, compititors who attain a focus strategy may achieve greater differentiation. †¢FOCUS STRATEGY- Like differentiation, but organisation concentrates on one or more segments of the market, this may offer the firm more security for achieving its competitive advantage†¦. However there are specific requirements for the focus strategy†¦. Firms benefit form specialisation, differentiation on a lower scale, so the costs are lower than full scale differentiation

Itchy and Scratchy cartoon Essay

The purpose of this study is to discuss the extent to which The Simpsons is representative of American family and social values. I will discuss how each member of the Simpsons family behaves, as well as highlighting what may be socially expected of them. Secondly, I will examine how the Simpsons family interacts with the surrounding community, concentrating particularly on the images that they portray. In order to do this, I will examine the regular codes and conventions of the series to show how the characters work together in the whole scheme of things Introduction Set in the north-western Illinois town of Springfield, The Simpsons is an animated sit-com about the day-to-day tribulations of a disfunctional lower-middle-class family. The main family itself consists of the father, Homer, his wife Marge, son Bart, and daughters Lisa and Maggie. Other family members include Homer’s father, Abraham Simpson, as well as Marge’s sisters, Patty and Selma. Occasionally, Marge’s mother, Mrs Bouvier, makes an appearance, and on one occasion, Homer discovered that he had an adopted older brother, Nigel. Since its official launch in 1989, The Simpsons has become one of the world’s most popular animated series, and has been enjoyed the world over by children and adult’s alike. Originally, the show occupied a space on the Tracey Ullman Show between 1987 and 1989, and was then called The Bart Simpson Show. Its immense popularity proved so great that Twentieth Century Fox decided it would be worthwhile to launch The Simpsons as a show in itself. In this format, the first episode was broadcast in 1989, and in this season there were thirteen episodes. In fact, the show was so immediately popular that a huge wave of cross-media production and merchandising took place, and this culminated in the release of a single, â€Å"Do The Bartman†, in early 1991. Other examples include toys, comics, and computer games But what is it about The Simpsons that continues to make it so popular? Is it Homer? Is it Bart? Or is it just the culmination of the shows different elements? These are some of the ideas I hope to cover in the course of this study. To this day, The Simpsons is still largely rated as the greatest of all the animated sit-coms. Since its release there has been a whole trail of subsequent cartoon impersonations, such as King of the Hill, South Park, Daria, and Beavis and Butthead. Unlike most cartoons, the comedy in The Simpsons is not based solely on situational comedy and site gags. The characters themselves make the comedy, with their personalities, their uniqueness, and their own personal points of view. Having such strong characters means that the writing can practically do itself, and that is one reason that The Simpsons has been able to endure for so many years. Innovative comedy, including the lack of a laugh track, makes The Simpsons one of the funniest shows on television. As well as this, a continual supply of hilariously stupid jokes also helps to keep the comedy running smoothly. For example, when Bart asked why he thought he was receiving money for nothing, Grandpa Simpson replied, â€Å"I just figured the democrats were back in office†. Also, when the zoo director is asked if he’s going to save Ned Flanders from baboons, he replies, â€Å"Ooh, I’d like to, but if they don’t kill the intruder, it’s really bad for their society. † These are just a few examples of Simpsons humour. Simpson family analysis Homer From the shows beginnings, Homer has been portrayed as a well-intentioned, yet moronic person. Homer’s virtually disabling stupidity is what makes him so funny. His job in the powerstation often provides much of the humour, as do his experiences at home and in Moe’s bar. In one episode, when Homer takes on a student from Albania as part of Bart’s foreign exchange programme, he takes him on a tour of the powerstation, unsuspicious of why a 10-year-old would show interest in such a tour. Later we find out through F. B. I. agents that the boy was actually a communist spy and Homer had unwittingly given him detailed plans of the station’s nuclear reactor as well as several sticks of plutonium. In another episode, Homer and Bart adopt a new son and brother respectively. In a subsequent fight scene with Bart’s new brother, Homer was punched in the face, and he fell and bent his back over a fire hydrant. To this he said, â€Å"This is even more painful then it looks†. Another facet of Homer’s persona is his love of food and beer. At work, Homer consumes unending amounts of donuts, whilst at home his passion is pork, whether it be pork-rinds, pork-steaks or pork-chops. Homer also has a famous passion for ‘Duff’ beer, which at one point became so extreme that Marge challenged him to give up alcohol for a month. And he did. In another episode, Homer sneaked out of work half-an-hour early just so he could take a tour around the ‘Duff’ factory. Here he managed to consume one casket each of several varieties of beer, just to find out the difference in taste. Thus, his stupidity, combined with an amazing luck, forms the basis for one of the funniest characters on television. Homer will manage to find the only way to completely ruin a situation and then, through sheer luck, he will find the only way to repair it. Indeed, he always manages to â€Å"pull a Homer. † Marge Marge is portrayed as the most straight-minded, straight-thinking member of the family. Past episodes, namely the one where Marge and Homer tell the children how they met, portray Marge as an intellectual, linguistically gifted student with great career prospects. At least that was the case until she met Homer. However, it cannot be said that Marge has not used her linguistic skills to her advantage. In one episode, â€Å"Marge vs. the Monorail†, Marge single-handedly battles to stop the building of an unsafe, fraudulent rail line around Springfield. In the end she wins the battle, and the citizens of Springfield are grateful to her for saving their lives. In another episode, she becomes board with her housewife role and she decides to open up a business, choosing a pretzel franchise to make her fortune. As well as this, Marge is the pillar that keeps the Simpson family standing. She is always the one who maintains the sanity and keeps the family going. She is the only voice of reason in the household, as evidenced when she goes away and the household nearly collapses. No sooner had she left for her healthfarm weekend then the family began telephoning her to ask her all manners of questions, such as Bart’s question, ‘where do you keep my socks’? Her answer, ‘In the sock draw’. Another example can be seen in her crusade to ban the violent Itchy and Scratchy cartoon. This came about after she witnessed Maggie trying to stab Homer with a knife after she saw the same thing on TV. She continued her crusade, despite the fact that she knew Bart and Lisa were getting bullied at school, and eventually she won. Marge provides the reference on which the rest of the family is based, so the audience can see just how bizarre everyone else is when in immediate juxtaposition with Marge. It would be strange to imagine what the show would be like if this were not the way of things, as much humour is born out of the family’s dependence on her.

1/8/99

1/8/99 Essay Lord of The FliesThree major themes in this story were: fear, the need for civilization, and instinct to be a follower. The most obvious of all the themes is mans need for civilization. The total opposite of the belief that man is innocent and society is evil is displayed in the story by showing that laws and rules, schools and policemen are all important to keep the dark side of human nature in line. When these concepts are ignored or slip away then we go back to the earliest part of their nature. An example of this is when the boys on the island get together at the beginning of the story and try to set some rules and assign a leader. This does not work out the way Ralph had expected, and it shows that uncivilization may occur when there are no regulations, and guidance from a leader. Fear of the unknown on the island are in the minds of the boys because of the terror of the beast. The fear is allowed to grow because they play with the idea of it. They cannot accept the belief of the beast, and they also cannot let go of it. The recognition that no real beast exists, that there is only the power of fear, is one of the deepest meanings of the story. I someone believes that another is superior, usually in strength and intelligence, they will be a follower of that person and fulfill their wishes. At first in the book, Ralph was elected chief. Everyone followed Ralphs commands because he was the superior. Ralph was Jacks superior, but Jack was still in charge of the members that left Ralph. Jack did not believe that Ralph was his superior in strength and intelligence. He left with choir, who followed him. The others soon believed Jack was superior to Ralph because he could hunt and supply them with food. They, of course, went and became part of Jacks tribe. Thsi all shows that people are easily fooled by a show of superior ability and will follow anyone that they believe to be powerful. Three symbols used in this novel are: the conch,the boys, and the hunting rituals. The conch stands for order and stability. It was a way of getting everyone together for meetings, and showing respect to whomever was speaking while holding the conch. The boys themselves represent the different ways of life, they had the intellectual Piggy, the adventurer, the bully, and the torturer. These all give the impression of diversity that is found in an actual society. the several hunting rituals symbolize the increasing powers of evil in them. All of the chanting and dancing they did when hunting was taken to another level of satisfaction, and excitement of that in murderers. Simon symbolizes the prophet-like figure. He is intelligent, and sensible, and he keeps up the hope that the boys will get rescued even when Ralph is doubting it. Some of the other boys on the island find him strange and think that theres something wrong with him. Simon meets the Lord of the Flies, which is represented by the pig skull on the stick. He is the only boy who realizes that there is no real beast on the island, and the only beast is the boys themselves. Simon is killed by the other boys who were caught up in a savage dance, which was an event that represented their barbaric way of living.

Ecology lab report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Ecology lab report - Essay Example This report looks at diversity of different species and draws conclusion about the findings. In community ecology, there is a study of how species interact within themselves in a given community. This study considers variables such as structure, abundance, distribution and demography. Further, some patterns of ecology like equitability, food web, productivity, and species richness and community assembly are considered in modern study of communities in ecology. Background History. In a community, species interact in different ways. There has been a cleavage on how community works in the field of ecology. There are different biotic and abiotic factors that affect the way species in a community interact. Competition, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism and predation are some of the biotic factors that affect the way a community exists. Depending on how the factors interplay, a community may change within a given time frame, thus looking different from the way it was before. Competition occurs when there are finite resources to be used by an increasing population of different species. Competition is a very important limiting factor in biomass, population size and richness of species. There exist different types of competition. Competition can happen between individuals in a direct manner, or between populations or species. Interference competition is that which happens when an individual of a species directly interferes with anothe r individual in other species. For example, if a hound makes a kill and is chased from it by a lion, this is called interference competition. (Hollar p 66). When Deers fight during a rut, this is a manifestation of competition in form of interference. This takes form of aggression between individuals. Individuals interfere with others through survival, foraging, preventing others from reproduction and physical prevention of others to establish a habitat. Exploitative

Groups and Teams Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Groups and Teams - Essay Example d 20 in forming stage (the initial stage of the team when they are high dependant on other factors such as leader, company, atmosphere, rules and regulations), 22 in storming stage (it is the stage when the members of the team are not sure about their goals, they are familiar with each other but they are not making much progress), 28 in norming stage (a stage where there are arguments and discussion but they are resolved after through work and exercise, the goals have to be achieved with some difficulty and it is hard to bifurcate between the what has to be done and what is the team doing) and 30 in performing stage (a most stable stage in which the team is well aware about the goals and has the ways to achieve them). According to the test taken it has been proven that our team is in the performing stage. It is a stage when the team is clearer about their goals and objectives. The team has a proper vision that they follow. The team is more focused in achieving their goals. The message is clear and in unity, there are certain discussions on various topics but they don’t turn into arguments that can result in a negative impact on the group’s performance. Team work is highly complicated and complex matter, and they need to be handled in a much efficient manner to achieve the desired goals (Chapman, 2013). Each individual in a team has to be understood accordingly and instead of managing them collectively they need to manage individually. Each member had to be given the work that suits their abilities to the best, had to ensure a balance between the work and no discrimination is made between the works distributed. Good teams are formed by good leaders and good leaders. A good leader is a person who is not insecure of his teamwork, understands the responsibilities, ensures that his team is also appreciated in their work and rewarded accordingly. A good team leader is a person who can motivate his employee, and create respect for himself. Where the employees are

Blank Activities in English Language Teaching Article

Blank Activities in English Language Teaching - Article Example The teachers can make students read the complete context. This activity makes students increase students reading ability, as they need to go to the material thoroughly. In this way, students get to know about the important and keywords used in the context. The more the students read, the more they improve their vocabulary. The teachers get to know about the student's that they take reading seriously or not. The Fill in the blanks activity is also used in psyche testing. Psyche testing is commonly used when recruiting military persons. Fill in the blanks is used in psyche testing in such a way that the sentence is incomplete and the portion of the sentence has to complete by the student. This technique can easily be evaluated by psychiatrists as they can figure out the person personality and aptitude by looking at the complete meaning which student has tried to deliver. This psychiatrist can judge whether the person has positive or negative thinking. Fill in the blanks technique is friendly for both students and the teachers. The students do not need to answer the questions in paragraphs i.e. lengthy answers are avoided. For teachers, it is easy for grading of the exam, as there are mostly absolute answers to be filled in the blanks, so they do not need to read long answers and grade them on a relative basis.