The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The famed Lighthouse of Alexandria, called Pharos, was built around 250 B.C.  to help mariners navigate the harbor of Alexandria in Egypt. It was truly a marvel of engineering, standing at least 400 feet tall, making it one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. The Lighthouse of Alexandria was also solidly built, standing tall for over 1,500 years, until it was finally toppled by earthquakes around 1375 A.D.  The Lighthouse of Alexandria was exceptional and considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Purpose The city of Alexandria was founded in 332 B.C.  by Alexander the Great. Located in Egypt, just 20 miles west of the Nile River, Alexandria was perfectly situated to become a major Mediterranean port, helping the city to flourish. Soon, Alexandria became one of the most important cities of the ancient world, known far and wide for its famous library. The only stumbling block was that mariners found it difficult to avoid the rocks and shoals when approaching Alexandria’s harbor. To help with that, as well as to make a very grand statement, Ptolemy Soter (Alexander the Great’s successor) ordered a lighthouse to be built. This was to be the first building ever built solely to be a lighthouse. It was to take approximately 40 years for the Lighthouse at Alexandria to be built, finally being finished around 250 B.C. Architecture There’s a lot we don’t know about the Lighthouse of Alexandria, but we do know what it looked like. Since the Lighthouse was an icon of Alexandria, its image appeared in many places, including on ancient coins. Designed by Sostrates of Knidos, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was a strikingly tall structure. Located on the eastern end of the island of Pharos near the entrance of Alexandria’s harbor, the Lighthouse was soon itself called â€Å"Pharos.† The Lighthouse was at least 450 feet high and made of three sections. The bottommost section was square and held government offices and stables. The middle section was an octagon and held a balcony where tourists could sit, enjoy the view, and be served refreshments. The top section was cylindrical and held the fire that was continually lit to keep mariners safe. At the very top was a large statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. Amazingly, inside this giant lighthouse was a spiraling ramp that led up to the top of the bottommost section. This allowed horses and wagons to carry supplies to the top sections. It is unknown what exactly was used to make the fire at the top of the Lighthouse. Wood was unlikely because it was scarce in the region. Whatever was used, the light was effective – mariners could easily see the light from miles away and could thus find their way safely to port. Destruction The Lighthouse of Alexandria stood for 1,500 years — an astounding number considering it was a hollowed out structure the height of a 40-story building. Interestingly, most lighthouses today resemble the shape and structure of the Lighthouse of Alexandria. Ultimately, the Lighthouse outlived the Greek and Roman empires. It was then absorbed into the Arab empire, but its importance waned when Egypt’s capital was moved from Alexandria to Cairo. Having kept mariners safe for centuries, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was finally destroyed by an earthquake sometime around 1375 A.D. Some of its blocks were taken and used to build a castle for the sultan of Egypt; others fell into the ocean. In 1994, French archeologist Jean Yves Empereur, of the French National Research Center,  investigated the harbor of Alexandria and found at least a few of these blocks still in the water. Sources Curlee, Lynn. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. New York: Atheneum Books, 2002.Silverberg, Robert. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. New York: Macmillan Company, 1970.

Army A Profession of Arms Essay - 831 Words

What is a profession? First and foremost let’s look at how we can define a profession from a general point. A profession is an occupation requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation. Profession doesn’t mean only to be perfectly prepared on the basis of theoretical aspects, but to meet the strict criteria as well. A good professional should be a leader and leadership means solving problems. Leaders can be assessed according to the amount of resolved problems. Everybody has a tendency to be successful, in trying this; a successful leader has to be confident in his decisions. It follows from that, that generally we can consider the leader as an expert, a matured personality, somebody who meets the high†¦show more content†¦He is ready to sacrifice his own life. Professional soldiers differ from the ordinary citizen particularly in psychological and personal characteristics and qualities. A soldier professional does not want a war, but he wants to be prepared for the worst possible variant of development. We can say that working in the armed forces is characterized by several attributes. I think the expert work, self-improvement, ethics, fulltime commitment and discipline are the most important ones. The expert work comes out from the requirements for controlling highly specialized equipment and procedures that occur only under the conditions of the armed forces. For example, an engineer knows the procedures for mine-clearing, building floating bridges, command and controlling submarines, fire control of air defense systems, logistic equipment transfers and many others. All of these activities call for a maximal professional approach and adherence to precisely specified procedures, which can be achieved only by professionals with many years of experience. So, to move forward and improve our professionalism it is very important to consider self-improvement. In my opinion, learning from experienced master soldiers, be active in self learning and have good motivation are the right ways to succeed. A profession of arms can be, and it certainly is, a dangerous way to meet our life necessities. It would be quite ridiculous if somebody stated he worked for armed forces only for loyalty to theShow MoreRelatedThe Army As A Profession Of Arms1283 Words   |  6 PagesOver centuries, the Army established and continues to validate itself as a Profession of Arms. As a department of the US Military, the Army earns this title by providing the unique service of defending the Constitution and the American people. In order to be a Profession of Arms then, the Soldiers that fill the Army’s ranks must be professionals. 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For these words to ring true, the Army must deliver trainingRead MoreNew Uniform and Appearance Standards in Army Regulation 670-1895 Words   |  4 PagesIt is impossible to form a perspective on how Army uniform polices relates to Army professionalism without first accepting that Army professionalism itself is an arbitrary concept. On 31st March 2014, the United States Army published new uniform and appearance standards in Army Regulation 670-1 and immediately faced a mixture of vehement resentment and patriotic acceptance. The cause for the differing reactions is the fact that not everyone concerned—everyone being active and retired Soldiers asRead MoreHuman Resource Sergeants ( Hr Sergeants )993 Words à ‚  |  4 Pages The question we must ask ourselves is what exactly the Profession of Arms is and what is our role as Human Resource Sergeants (HR Sergeants) what is it that we bring to the fight, what’s our contribution to the Army’s overall objective. As we emerge from years of war, from constant back to back deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, we find ourselves in an era of persistent conflicts where we find ourselves embroiled in conflicts all around the world. In a world that seems more dangerous today thanRead MoreILE Graduation Address795 Words   |  3 PagesCongratulations on what you have accomplished. I’m sure your families, friends, and colleagues are extremely proud of you. I know I am. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families. We could never do what we as professionals and Soldiers without their support. When we deploy to serve our nation and do the profession we called to, the responsibility of raising of the kids, resolving arguments with the neighbors, fixing the broken refrigerator falls on them. Our families

Communication and Hr Free Essays

4DEP (HR) Developing Yourself as an Effective Human Resources Practitioner By Susanne Collier 7th November 2011 Activity 1 Today Human Resources (HR) is at the centre of business performance. HR professionals have an important role to play in driving decisions that enable their organisations to thrive in both the short and the longer term. Where in the past the function delivered the fundamentals that underpinned the employee lifecycle (such as recruitment, induction and salary administration) supporting organisation performance is now the theme running through HR’s work. We will write a custom essay sample on Communication and Hr or any similar topic only for you Order Now The CIPD have introduced the HR Profession Map which sets out what HR practitioners need to know, do and deliver at all stages in their career. The Map is structured around ten professional areas of HR activity and it focuses on the knowledge, activities and behaviours required in the profession today. The first two professional areas, Strategy, insights and solutions (uses deep understanding of the business – activities, strategies and plans and underlying drivers of and barriers to sustainable performance, and needs of customers and employees – and unique insights to drive business performance through the creation and delivery of HR strategy and solutions) and Leading and managing the HR function (leads and manages a fit for purpose HR function, with a strong track record of operational excellence and a deep understanding of the organisation requirements. Ensures that the function has the right capability, capacity, and organisation design, and that HR employees are fully engaged, work collaboratively and possess a deep understanding of organisation and the drivers that create value). These are central to understanding the organisation and delivering an HR function that delivers success. There are eight behaviours shown on the HR Map that identify in detail how professionals need to carry out their activities and make a contribution to organisational success. Please see Appendix 1 for description of the eight behaviours. The behaviours have been clustered into the following groups: Each professional area and behaviour is described at four bands of professional competence, the bands range from those entering the profession at band one, to those that are leading it, at band four. I currently work as an Office Manager for Miller Heiman Inc at their EMEA headquarters in Milton Keynes. As part of my remit I have to ensure that the delivery of Human Resources (HR) service and information to leaders, managers and staff within the organisation is accurate, efficient, timely and cost-effective and that HR data is managed professionally as I am the first point of contact for all HR-related queries. I have therefore chosen to look at the Service Delivery and Information professional area at Band One, as I believe this is most relevant to my current role. There are eight activities, eleven skills and three behaviours that apply to band one within this professional area, please see Appendix 2. Within my role the behaviours detailed with the respective activity and knowledge are Collaborative, Driven to Deliver, Personally Credible, Curious, Role Model and Courage to Challenge. Collaborative Build appropriate professional, friendly and accessible relationships with employees, line managers, directors and network of suppliers. Driven to Deliver * Assist in the recruitment process – i. e. liaise with recruitment agencies, set up interviews and issue relevant correspondence. * Administer HR-related documentation, such as offer letters, contracts of employment, leavers’ and pensions information. * Provide relevant documentation as requested for example employee handbooks, latest policy updates, sickness forms. * Provide data for and prepare management nformation reports, mainly around absence management. * Ensure the relevant HR databases are up to date, accurate and comply with relevant legislation. * Administer Childcare Voucher Scheme, liaising with employees and external providers. Personally Credible * Provide support and advice to employees and line managers, explaining policies and procedures in a timely and effective manner, including maternity, paternity, adoption, parental leave and health ; safety processes and queries regarding benefit and pay issues. * Assist in the development of HR procedures and policies. Take responsibility for own work. * Communicate well both in writing and verbally. * Use own initiative. * Have the ability to work accurately with attention to detail. Curious * Take part in teams meetings, events and training as required. * Have the flexibility and willingness to learn. * Constantly review suppliers for a cost/qua lity/service comparison. * Good understanding of HR policies and procedures, health ; safety and basic understanding of employment legislation. * Attend Employment Law updates on a regular basis to keep abreast of changes in legislation. Role Model * Be resilient and able to work in an organisation that is undergoing change due to development and growth. * Use tact and diplomacy, being sensitive and respectful to others. * Contribute to the development and implementation of the overall ethos/work/aims of Miller Heiman. * Appreciate and understand the need of confidentiality in dealing with all HR and training issues. * Work in accordance with current policies and procedures. * Appreciate that projects need to be completed, methodical approach with an ability to work under pressure. Courage to Challenge Feedback and look at any changes that are needed in our current practices and implement. * Constantly review personal development plan in line with organisational objectives. Activity 2 HR Customers The HR department has many internal and external customers to serve, including employees, their managers, directors and legal and regulatory agencies. The needs of which may sometimes be in conflict. Below are the main cust omers I have to deal within my role on a daily basis and an example of a few of their needs: Directors| Line Managers| Staff/Peers| Latest Legislations UpdatesManagement Reporting| Appraisal DocumentationPolicy DocumentationHealth ; Safety issues| Payroll QueriesBenefit Entitlement QueriesSickness Forms| A need conflict may arise if for example a director has requested an absence report analysis for a disciplinary meeting be produced for the following day but unexpectedly a line manager has advised you of a potentially serious health and safety issue. Both needs are important to the person requesting them, and I would therefore look at the needs individually to assess their priority and risk to the business if they were not dealt with as a matter of urgency. The absence report could be to assist the director with looking into an individuals time keeping as part of a disciplinary, which is important as this could affect the way forward with the hearing, but the health and safety issue could be a greater risk to the business and/or individual at that precise moment in time so a risk assessment would need to be carried out immediately and then a decision could be made whether action was needed immediately and would therefore then take priority over the absence report. Communication Methods Communication Method| Advantages| Disadvantages| Electronic (Email)| * Quick * Log receipt * Complete * Can send large documentation * Cost advantages| * Eliminate Equal Opportunities due to lack of access * No tone * No relationship * Could be misconstrued | Written (Printed Material)| * Meets legal requirements * Clear audit trail * Provides reference * More in depth detail| * Lack of face to face contact * Unsecure * Slow * Expensive| Verbal(Telephone/Face to Face)| * Checking of understanding * Personal * Immediate| * Trepidation * Language * Lengthy * Lack of control * Cost of calls| Effective communication as explained by Albert Mehrabian in his communication model found that spoken words account for only 7% of what a listener perceives, the remaining 93% of what a listener comprehends originates from the speaker’s body language and tone employed in the delivery of the words. Building and Maintaining Effective Service Building Relationships – It is important to develop a positive attitude, be less judgmental and more accepting of others. Gather Improve Your Communication Skills,  listen carefully and focus on the speaker’s message. This will allow you to respond appropriately and avoid misunderstandings. Resolve conflicts early. Treat ALL colleagues with respect and always be courteous and professional. Be open and honest about your feelings and allow others to do the same. Understand and accept personal or cultural differences. Dealing with Difficult Customers and Resolving their Complaints – Listen to the customer and thank them for bringing the problem to your attention. Sincerely convey to the customer your apology for the way the situation has made them feel, but avoiding blame and determine what the customer is seeking as a solution. Once this is established seek to agree on the solution and take quick action to resolve and follow up to ensure the customer is completely satisfied. Meeting time and Budget Constraints – Set goal and deadline expectations at the outset. Prioritise workload and delegate if there is an opportunity too if time is restricted. Research and compare costings to ensure the best value is gained without compromising quality. Must ensure the regular updates are provided. Continuous Improvement – To ensure high levels of customer satisfaction, it is important for HR to continually measure and monitor the needs of its various customers, determine how well it is meeting those needs and identify any areas that represent gaps, this could be done in the form of an annual employee survey, issuing feedback forms for completion or requesting short feedback via email as well as looking at your PDP plan at your annual review and at regular intervals throughout the year. BIBLIOGRAPHY CIPD HR Profession Map http://www. cipd. co. uk/cipd-hr-profession/hr-profession-map/explore-map. aspx (28 Oct 2011) Albert Mehrabian Communication Model http://www. vestedoutsourcing. com/the-psychology-of-outsourcing-part-4-albert-mehrabian-and-comminication/ (31 October 2011) APPENDIX Appendix 18 Behaviours Description Appendix 2Service Delivery and Information Professional Area Description How to cite Communication and Hr, Papers

Junot Diaz Bio free essay sample

Lent DDS was born In the Dominican Republic and raised New Jersey. He Is a creative writing teacher at MIT and fiction editor at the Boston Review. He also serves on the board of advisers for the Freedom university, a Volunteer organization in Georgia that provides post-secondary instruction to undocumented immigrants. From what I have read I have gathered that he really had to rely on himself. Getting him through college working the Jobs where you have to do the dirty work, dishes, and pumping-gas. Supposedly Drown reflects Diazs strained relationship with his own father, with whom he no longer keeps in contact with. Diaz was born in Villa Juana, a neighborhood in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He was the third child in a family of five. Through most of his childhood he lived with his mother and grandparents while his father worked in the united States. Diaz emigrated to Parlin, New Jersey, in December of 1974, where he was able to reunite with his father. We will write a custom essay sample on Junot Diaz Bio or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page He lived close to what he considered one of the largest landfills in New Jersey. His short fiction has appeared In The New Yorker magazine, which listed him as one of the 20 top writers for the 21st He has also been published in Story, The Paris Review, and in the anthologies The Best American Short Stories four times (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000), The PEWO. Henry prize stones (2009), and African voices. He s best known for his two major works: the short story collection Drown (1996) and the novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007). 80th were published to critical acclaim and he won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the latter. Diaz himself has described his writing style as a disobedient child of New Jersey and the Dominican Republic If that can be possibly Imagined with way too much Diaz has received a Eugene McDermott Award, a fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, a Lila Acheson Wallace Readers Digest Award, the 2002 PEN/Malamud Award, the 2003 us-Japan Creative Artist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a fellowship at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard university and the Rome Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was selected as one of the 39 most important Latin American writers under the age of 39 by the Bogota World Book Capital and the Hay Festival. [18] In September 2007, Miramax acquired the rights for a film adaptation of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. [19] The stories in Drown ocus on the teenage narrators impoverished, fatherless youth in the Dominican Republic and his struggle adapting to his new life in New Jersey. Reviews were generally strong but not without complaints. 20] Diaz read twice for PRIs This American Life

Desirees Baby Essays - Dsires Baby, English-language Films, Quadroon

Desiree's Baby The 19th century was a difficult time for many women and blacks because of the domination of white men over them. The social and economic hardships they faced in day to day life was a constant reminder of this domination. The social ideology in the story "Desiree's Baby" was powerful and dangerous and held no escape for any character. A woman with small children who lost her husband would face extreme hardships without the support of close family members. One who happened to be down on their luck would not find much sympathy among their peers even with children. Kate Chopin was one of these individuals who was down on her luck with six children. But fortunately had the support and comfort of her mother for a short period before her mother passed away. A friend advised this mother of six children that writing was a way to solve her problems concerning money and help deal with her grief. Maternal love and all the grief from losing loved ones were to be an attribute to the writing proficiency of this literary artist. This period in Louisiana was not tolerant for mixed ancestry and one found to be non-white would be ostracized from the white community. There were some whites in Louisiana who was not racist but they would still have to follow a strict code of segregation and social guidelines or risk social or bodily death. Kate Chopin was born fourteen years before slavery was abolished so must have had strong feeling on the subject. She no doubt saw mixed ancestry in the black communities and realized the cause of it. This story crosses the line into the covert world of mixed ancestry and the problems it produced. The racism in the story is not discussed openly but is prudently mixed in with Armand's atrocious character and his evil soul. Armand's evil was deep as he forsakes his loving wife, infant son, and God. The story some proclaim contributed to Chopin's early success was "Desiree's Baby" in this story she mixed many feminist emotions from maternal love, to a wife's love and devotion to her estranged husband. During this period, some found it tolerable to leave a baby on the doorsteps of a family to provide a chance at a better life. This was an important point in the story when the Monsieur found the baby Desiree near the front gate, it would mean that Desiree would probably never be aware of her biological parents ancestry. The chance a baby with both parents would be dropped off is not logical but was probably a single mother. A single mother knew there was little help to be found and the child would be hard pressed for a descent upbringing socially and economically speaking. Desiree grew into a beautiful and gentle-hearted young woman and soon found a wealthy suitor asking for her hand. This young suitor had known of Desiree's past but was in love and did not care of this seemingly innocent unknown factor of her past. This suitor, Armand Aubigny was racist and wretched but the young bride was in love and looked past his flawed character. The concept of young Armand falling instantly in love after seeing Desiree standing by the gate is a bit suspicious and sounds more like infatuation. The evil in Armand did not come from his parents and the black employees were cheerful when he was growing up so it is an open question concerning his acquired hatred. The blacks were cheerful while his father was alive but was not during Armand's strict management of the L'Abri. Armand had changed to a kinder man after his marriage and the birth of his son and it may have been the only time in his life he was truly happy. The death of his mother while living in France when he was eight years old may have had a precarious effect on his character. The way Madame Valmonde described the L'Abri as "a sad looking place, which for many years had not known the gentle presence of a mistress"(1), may have been a hint at Armands evil nature being tied to having no maternal influence during most of his boyhood. Madame Valmonde noticed the baby's mixed ancestry immediately when she went for a visit, exclaiming out loud at first sight of him "this is not the baby"(2), Desiree thought she was referring to how big the baby had grown. Madame Valmonde looked closely at the baby and new that it was

Calculating pH of a Strong Acid - Chemistry Problems

Calculating pH of a Strong Acid - Chemistry Problems A strong acid is one that completely dissociates into its ions in water. This makes calculating the hydrogen ion concentration, which is the basis of pH, easier than for weak acids. Heres an example of how to determine pH of a strong acid. pH Question What is the pH of a 0.025 M solution of hydrobromic acid (HBr)? Solution to the Problem Hydrobromic Acid or HBr, is a strong acid and will dissociate completely in water to H and Br-. For every mole of HBr, there will be 1 mole of H, so the concentration of H will be the same as the concentration of HBr. Therefore, [H] 0.025 M. pH is calculated by the formula pH - log [H] To solve the problem, enter the concentration of the hydrogen ion. pH - log (0.025)pH -(-1.602)pH 1.602 Answer The pH of a 0.025 M solution of Hydrobromic Acid is 1.602. One quick check to make sure your answer is reasonable is to verify the pH is closer to 1 than to 7 (certainly not higher than this.) Acids have a low pH value. Strong acids typically range in pH from 1 to 3.

Current Issue Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Current Issue - Coursework Example Being near green vacant lots was associated with an average heart rate reduction of more than five beats per minute, compared with non-greened lots. Further analysis concluded that the total net reduction in heart rate when near and in view of green vacant lots was more than 15 heart beats a minute. â€Å"We used heart rate as a physiologic marker of acute stress, and the reduction we found suggests a biological link between urban blight reduction strategies like vacant lot greening and reductions in stress,† lead author Dr. Eugenia South, a physician in the department of emergency medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia, said in a university news release. â€Å"Our hypothesis in the earlier published work was that transforming vacant lots from being overrun with weeds and filled with trash to a clean and green space may make it difficult for people to hide weapons and conduct illegal activities such as drug use in or near the space,† South

Networking Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Networking - Term Paper Example Statistics show that the Internet usage has more than doubled over the last five years. However, research indicates that a majority of Internet users tend to assume that the transfer of data on the Internet is safe, reliable and is not at risk of forgery or hacking. Yang et al. (2012) argues that most Internet processes and services depend on data relayed by the Domain Name System (DNS) through excellent functioning and accurate mapping of domain names that can be understood easily using the IP addresses. Nevertheless, the DNS, which is mainly relied on for this function, does not provide any content protection. This implies that data remains unsecured against any manipulation when being relayed or while in the servers and caches. As a result, identification and avoidance of forged data becomes impossible. It is at this point that the Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) becomes useful. DNSSEC, according to Yang et al. (2012) is a technology developed for the purposes of p rotecting data against attacks by digital ‘signing’ so as to provide assurance of its validity to the user. It authenticates the source data by ensuring that the path between the DNS servers and the validating DNS client are secured. The technology has proved remarkably effective in protecting Internet data from forgery, something that DNS has failed to provide. This paper will start by describing the DNSSEC technology in light of what it means and how it works. This will be followed by a SWOT analysis of the technology. The paper will then evaluate the current ethical and legal issues surrounding DNSSEC technology. The essay will also explore the improvements that have occurred over the last two years to DNSSEC technology and provide a suggestion on the improvements warranted on its current usage. Finally, the paper will predict the future role of DNSSEC for both personal and commercial use. It is an acknowledged fact that the Internet has revolutionized the world. Cur rently most parts of the world have Internet connectivity including the remotest regions, thanks to the recent technological advancements, according to Osterweil et al. (2011). Normally, for one to reach another person on the Internet, he, or she must type the recipient’s address on the computer or Internet-enabled phones. The address is usually unique to the individual, making it easy for computers to find each other. The unique identifiers are normally coordinated worldwide using the ICANN. Coordination of the identifiers is very crucial because, without it, the entire world would have a single global Internet, suggests Osterweil et al. (2011). When typing an address, it must first be translated into several systems before the final connection can be established. The translation of the address is performed by the DNS, which does the work of translating addresses such as www.google.com into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. After the completion of the translation, ICANN then ensures that the addressing system is coordinated so as to ensure peculiarity of addresses. However, recent findings showed that DNS is extremely vulnerable and allows attackers to forge this process of searching for someone or site on the Internet using their address. The attacks are mainly committed in order to take charge of the session such as directing the user to the hijacker’s own deceptive website for a password and account collection. The vulnerability of the DNS has prompted the establishment of the DNSSEC

Comparison Between Virtual Teams and Face-To-Face Teams Research Paper

Comparison Between Virtual Teams and Face-To-Face Teams - Research Paper Example Workers like to interact in teams through teleworks, and flexibility in terms of time is often their top most priority (Kortez, 1999). Social media networks and online calling services have made it all the more convenient to do business through virtual teams. The constraints of distance and time have been minimized to a large extent. While virtual teams are very beneficial for the members in many ways, there are also certain unfavorable outcomes associated with working in this way. For example, employees who have never seen their employers are at risk of losing their jobs anytime. There is often no accountability. Employees have limited access to the company’s resources. This means that more power is assumed by the employers than what they have in the face to face teams. This paper explores several aspects of teamwork in virtual and face-to-face style. II. Building effectiveness a. Managing a virtual team â€Å"Dispersed teams can actually outperform groups that are colocated . To succeed, however, virtual collaboration must be managed in specific ways† (Siebdrat, Hoegl and Ernst, 2009a). ... This provides team members with opportunities to interact face to face and understand one another’s psychology so that when they interact virtually, they are able to draw only true meanings from the conversation. Frequent face to face meetings also allow the members to settle the intercultural differences and reach a culture of respect and harmony for maximal utilization of their potential. b. Member selection â€Å"[T]eams are usually made up of members from different national backgrounds, meaning the members come from different national cultures, possibly speak different languages, and were raised in different countries that may have different value systems† (Staples and Zhao, 2006, p. 389). Member selection in virtual teams is more complicated as a process than it is in face to face teams. This is due to the fact that communication in virtual teams is already affected by lack of face to face meetings and the presence of a medium of communication i.e. technology. Comm unication in virtual teams becomes even more complicated if the members are from different cultures and speak different languages. For virtual teams, it is advisable for the management to recruit only local employees so that all team members speak the same language and can converse with one another without experiencing linguistic barriers. In the face to face teams, management can broaden the criteria for selection and can also welcome foreign employees as body language plays a very important role in face to face meetings and the influence of linguistic barriers is minimized anyway. c. Team process Principles of effective teamwork in virtual teams include but are not limited to realignment of the reward structures, identification of innovative ways to

Design Specifications for Engineering Project

Design Specifications for Engineering Project Introduction For large development projects, defining the problem becomes the development of design specifications. Typically, development project are complex, involving a number of people from different disciplines working toward the same goal. This chapter discusses the following topic that describe the process and the importance of developing design specification: Specifications of a Design General Description Specification of Material Circuit Simulation Specification Cost Specification 3.1. Specifications of a Design Specifications are nothing more than a formal document listing the requirements of a project. The opinion of the project is to energy harvesting through flooring, which is built with piezoelectric technology, the electrical energy created by the weight of human footsteps walking around from place to place, which is caught by floor piezoelectric sensors and get compressed and decompressed, then energy is stored and utilized as a power source. The figure (x) here represent the structure of the energy harvesting design in the form of blocks. 3.2. General Description The author has tried to evaluate when a full amount of weight is sensed by the piezoelectric sensors mounted on a platform, and the voltages which generated will be stored in the Battery. The Battery which is charged, further connected to the Mobile Charging Circuit board as appliances. Board consists a USB point, where users may connect cables to charge a mobile phone from the battery charged. The arrangement also consists a 12-volt power supply adapter with voltage regulator, which will provide to the monitoring circuit based on a microcontroller to monitor the output voltage which generated across the sensors using potential divider physics. The level of a voltage generated and whenever human walks through platform the count of the footsteps is to be recorded and displayed on the LCD. LEDs require DC supply to operate. A string of LEDs is mounted below the platform (floor) when the voltage generated by the weight of human footsteps the LEDs will be blink through the microcontroller circuit. Consequently, the voltage which generated using energy harvesting device Piezoelectric Power Generation System is can be utilized within different appliances; mobile charging, street or corridor lighting, bus or airports station lighting, nightclubs, rural areas, charging technologies for electric vehicles, etc. The more power could be generated using the equivalent technique; researchers are investigating in piezoelectricity for bigger designs. 3.3. Specification of Material The minimum requirements of materials to build an energy harvesting device is illustrated below; Statement Of Material Component Name significance Quantity Resistors [ÃŽÂ ©] 10K 5 2.2K 1 100K 1 330K 2 10K POT. 1 Capacitors 10 uF/63V 2 33 PF 2 470 uF/35V 1 Integrated Circuits ATMEGA 328 1 7805 2 IC Bases 8-PIN 1 Transistor BC 547 (NPN) 1 Diodes IN4007 2 Bridge Diode 2 Miscellaneous Piezoelectric Sensor 8 Crystal 16MHz 1 LCD 16ÃÆ'-2 1 Burge Strip 16 Pin-male 1 LED Strip 1 RED LED 3 2-Pin Push Button 1 USB CONNECTOR 1 PCB CONNECTOR 2-Pin 1 Weighing Machine Plate 1 12 Volt Adaptor 1 USB Wire 1 Lead Acid Rechargeable Battery 12 Volt Printed Circuit Board Soldering Wire Connecting Wire 3.4. Circuit Simulation Specification The figure (x), show the schematic diagram for Piezoelectric Power Generation System Utilizing of Human Footsteps. The schematic diagram is constructed through circuit simulation software; Proteus Design Suite, which is an Electronic Design Automation tool including schematic capture and PCB layout modules. circuit simulators allow the circuit designer to draw a circuit schematic and simulate circuit operation on a personal computer. Circuit simulators provide a very quick and easy way to evaluate a particular design concept without using expensive test equipment or having to procure parts and assemble a breadboard. The components short-term justifications of the system are specified below and more in details will found in the further chapter. Resistor (R) The circuit diagram of the device has 10 resistors [ÃŽÂ ©] and that having different values which 10K, 2.2K, 100K, 330K, and 10K POT. The requirement of this resistor in the circuit is to create specified values of the current and voltage. So, its used to oppose an electric current by producing a voltage drop between its terminals in proportion to the current. Capacitor (C) The function of the capacitor is to store power in form of an electric field and is called as a ceramic disc with some features like high stability. The circuit of a device has been provided with five capacitors with a value of 10 uF/63V, 33 PF, and 470 uF/35V. And to operate the crystal its specified frequency capacitor is used in circuits. Transistors A transistor is a device which is used to make a change in large output with respect to the small input applied to it. In a circuit, 3 terminals BJT (bipolar junction transistor) is used. By the use of the transistor, control large signal at another pair by just applying small input at another pair. Also, it can be used as a switch with the help of small input current as it is a current control device. IC-Regulator IC is an integrated circuit used in various applications. In timing device product used 7805 IC as a 5v voltage regulator. Sometimes there is a voltage fluctuation and so it could not get fixed output voltage. So this 7805 IC provides regulated power supply. The main advantage of this IC is to give constant output voltage even there is a variation in input. Also, current limiting protection is provided in IC itself and for other parts of the circuit as well. Crystal Oscillators Crystal Oscillator is a device that used in electrical circuits in order to create an electrical signal with an accurate frequency. The need for the frequency of the circuit is to keep the path of the time in quartz and provide a stable signal for the device. Seven Segments Display Seven segments display (LCD) is a device that utilized for displaying the status of the circuit. The features of the seven segments display are that it operates in low current. The display will show the status of the device; Level of the voltage generated, and whenever human walks through platform the count of the footsteps is recorded and displayed. Piezoelectric Sensors Piezoelectric Sensors also a device, utilize to generate the electrical energy converting different sources. (E.g. Kinetic, Mechanical energy). When a force is applied on a piezo material, a charge is generated. These devices consist an 8 Piezoelectric Sensors which mounted below the platform and convert the human footstep energy into electrical energy. 3.5. Cost Specification This section is one of the most important section and often that is overlooked. This section determines the potential for the financial success of the project. when considering all the technical details, its easy to overlook that the cost of development and the manufacturing cost are crucial to the project success. As such, they must be identified as part of the specification in a compact statement. After research of components required to harvesting the Piezoelectric Power Generation System Utilizing of Human Footsteps, it is expected to fall within the  £90 budget. With research the specifications required for the key component excluding postage. Equipment that will be required within the budget includes; Resistor (R), Capacitor (C), Transistors, IC-Regulator, Crystal Oscillators, Seven Segments Display and Piezoelectric Sensors. However, these are all relatively low cost. Facilities required to develop the project including software are available at no costs for the schematic circuit design. Summary Having completed the design specification, let us note what has been accomplished and the steps that achieve those accomplishments. The following steps can be used as guideline for completing the design specification in any project; Divide the design problem into smaller modules. complete a block diagram. Do research on area relating to each design problem. gather more information. Develop a cost budget. Apply creative thinking! Complete a schematic design. The blank pieces of paper at the beginning of the chapter now have many schematic symbols with their associated circuit traces. The next step involves the selection of the physical components and breadboarding.

Environmental Protection Must Be Our Top Priority :: Environment Earth Nature, pesticides, pollution

A few years ago, Time magazine published a special issue entitled "The Century's Greatest Minds." It was the fourth in a Time series on the 100 most influential people of the century, this particular issue focusing on "Scientists and Thinkers." On the cover, Albert Einstein is pictured on a psychiatrist's couch, hands crossed over his chest, a depressed look cloaking his face. Dr. Sigmund Freud, seated in a chair near the couch, pen and pad in hand, is leaning in toward Einstein, excitedly waiting to perform some bit of psychoanalysis on the saddened scientist. A framed picture of Jonas Salk rests on the side table; a portrait of John Maynard Keynes hangs from a nail in the wall. In the background, resting atop a bookshelf, is a stone bust of Rachel Carson, author of Silent Spring. She finds herself in quite excellent company not only on the cover, but in the interior of the magazine as well. Carson was the only environmentalist and the only woman featured in the entire issue. Evidently, her impact in the world of "scientists and thinkers" was a tremendous one, and, as mentioned in Matthiessen's Time article, her book, Silent Spring, is "nearly 40 years later . . . still regarded as the cornerstone of the new environmentalism."1 Matthiessen goes on to write that "one shudders to imagine how much more impoverished our habitat would be had Silent Spring not sounded the alarm."2 This is indeed a worthy claim by Mr. Matthiessen, but he correctly uncovers a bigger and more alarming truth when he says, "the damage being done by poison chemicals today is far worse than it was when she wrote the book."3 In fact, since 1962, pesticide use in the US has doubled.4 As an environmentalist (or a "radical" environmentalist, as I am often labeled by members of the mainstream environmental movement), I feel it is my duty as a protector of the Earth's well-being to write this editorial as a means of bringing into the American consciousness a variety of frightening environmental issues. Though some of you may be aware of these problems, I know many are not, and thus may be shocked to learn about the degradation of our Earth and the people living in it. Indeed, I truly believe that "since the dawn of the industrial age, America has behaved like an alcoholic with a good job—prospering despite a lifestyle that jeopardizes the future and ruins much of what is good with irresponsible behavior.