Family and Technology Essay

The internet is affecting the way modern families interact with each other in negative ways. Experts are saying that there is a connection between a recent increase in childhood injury and parents being distracted by technology (Worthen). Additionally, young children have to compete with technology for their parent’s attention. Children are lacking the important interaction that should be taking place between parent and child. Consequently since children grow up seeing mom and dad glued to some form of technology, they learn to do the same and inevitably technology becomes the center of the family. The family is together physically, but mentally and emotionally they are stretched thin between all of their gadgets. From the beginning of a child’s life they are likely to be surrounded by people using Smartphones with cameras, capturing their very first moments. Little do they know that devices like these are going to have a profound effect on their lives maybe sooner than later. According to the Centers for disease control and prevention nonfatal accidental injury rates for children ages zero to five had been steadily declining since the 1970’s, based on emergency room records. Suddenly from 2007 to 2010 these rates went up 12%. Ironically Apple introduced its IPhone in mid-2007 and according to research firm Comscore 9 million Americans owned smart phones at that time. By the end of 2010 that number soared to 63 million. Factors, such as riskier behavior among children and an increase in parents taking children to emergency rooms have been mentioned by child injury experts as the cause for these increases (Worthen). Although the Wall Street Journal interviewed dozens of pediatricians, emergency-room physicians, academic researchers and law enforcement who all agree that using a smart phone while supervising a child could increase the risk of an accident (Worthen). Students, at Temple University observed 30 parents and their children in public places and found that in nearly every case the parent stopped whatever they were doing with their child to use a device. â€Å"In one case a parent let go of her kids hand in the middle of a busy street in Philadelphia in order to check a text message,† says Psychologist Kathy Hirsh-Pasek (Worthen). Transportation Secretary Ray Lahood called for a crackdown on distracted drivers and warned that the use of internet and handheld devices while driving can be a deadly distraction (Greenblatt). It’s a fairly small leap to suggest that supervisors are distracted,† says David Schwebel, a professor of psychology who specializes in injury prevention (Worthen). An example of a fatal accident in which the Florida Department of Children and Families concluded that the drowning of a two year old boy was a direct result of inadequate supervision. The evidence in the case proved that the boy’s mother was â€Å"tweeting† for five minutes before she pulled the boy out and called 911 (Worthen). This is an extreme case where the effect of internet social media left a family devastated by the loss of a child. In Infancy a child’s activity level is low, leaving parents with plenty of time to text message and use the internet. As the child gets older and their brains develop they start to require more engaging activities, which should be provided by parents, but with dad busy checking emails and mom updating her Facebook account, children are lacking the one on one interaction with parents. In the past it was typical to hear about parents who were always nagging their kids to get off the computer or to stop texting, whereas lately the attention has also shifted to the parents (The Washington Post). Many parents are coming forward and openly admitting that their kids are doing all kinds of things, such as banging on keyboards and throwing smartphones to get them to look up from their screens and participate in a family activity. For those who counter that social media and text messaging are helping them stay more in touch with their kids than ever before, experts stress that while these technologies can be a positive communication tool, there is simply no substitute for face-to-face contact. Being able to look your child in the eye, to reflect what they’re thinking, and to really be there with them in a way you can’t be in a text, is incredibly valuable, because it teaches kids to reflect on their own mental state and shows they’re not alone in the world. Eye contact is the number-one sign that you’re relating to your kid,† says child psychiatrist, Patrick Kelley (The Washington Post). Engaged parenting is the key to early childhood learning and it seems evident that parents distracted by all the devices in the home may hinder the child’s development. Kelley states that all the new technology and connectivity comes at a price of not paying much attention to those around us and suggests parents who are easily distracted by technology are modeling potentially harmful behavior for their impressionable children (The Washington Post). Richard Foremen a playwright describes the risk of turning into â€Å"pancake people† spread wide and thin, connecting with a vast network of information and social media that is so readily available (Carr). There is a small window of time where parents have the opportunity to limit their use of technology and set a positive example for their children. How many parents have been seen focused on their mobile phones instead of paying attention to their kids? MIT professor Sherry Turkle finds that kids raised the same three examples of feeling hurt and not wanting to show it when their mom or dad would be on their devices instead of paying attention to them, one of these examples was being at sporting events (Scelfo). Turkle explains that yes it is widely known that teens text all the time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want their parents’ undivided attention when they are picked up from school or sitting at dinner (Dizikes). All the mental and emotional distance between family members has detrimental effects on family interaction. The Kaiser Family foundation did a study and found that children who use the internet the least do better in school and get along better with their families (Greenblatt). The age of children who get cell phones is getting younger and younger. As of 2009, 20 percent of kids between six and 11 years old had a cell phone, according to a Mediamark survey (Conger). Now, Imagine a family where dad has his lap top, mom has her tablet, the kids have smartphones and there is a desktop computer in the home. It’s a given that the face to face interaction between this family will go down especially if there are no limits set on how often and how long internet devices are allowed to be used.

Meeting at Night/Parting at Morning Appreciation

Meeting At Night/ Parting At Morning – Appreciation Meeting at Night and Parting at Morning, composed by Robert Browning, are two poems that represent the personal morality and paradigms associated with an individual living in the early 19th Century. Meeting at Night tells the tale of a young lover travelling a long distance to meet up with his lover whilst it also metaphorically recounts a sexual encounter. Browning chooses to represent society’s repressive nature by portraying a secretive relationship (reflective of his own relationship with Elizabeth Barrett).In, â€Å"And the startled little waves that leap/ in fiery ringlets from their sleep†, Browning uses personification in conjunction with a metaphor to portray that it is late at night and no one knows of their secret meeting. The setting, being very late at night, also symbolises the secrecy and deceit of their relationship. Browning uses onomatopoeia in â€Å"A tap at the pane† to also portray th e silence and secrecy of the scene. The values and morals of the 19th century were predominately those of the church as religion was paramount in this time period.This means that love, desire and sex were often regarded as forbidden or taboo ideas and so were rarely discussed in society. That is why Browning chooses to portray sex in a metaphorical sense rather than a literal. Browning uses imagery to vividly illustrate this concept such as in, â€Å"As I gain the cove with pushing prow†. The use of alliteration in â€Å"pushing prow† emphasises the ‘p’ sound which allows the reader to make associations with a phallic symbol. The rhyming scheme also creates an escalating pace which complements the text, allowing it to convey a fuller understanding of the sexual encounter.The 19th century, being very conservative and strict, was a patriarchal society where societal gender roles defined your place in the world. Browning highlights this by only portraying the poem in the perspective of a male and his own desires and attitudes. This symbolically represents a relationship in this time period as women were seen as insignificant and so only the male was regarded and considered in a relationship. Also, only the male in a relationship will be working.This is seen in Parting at Morning, where the lover leaves the scene with longing to return to his business and career. â€Å"And straight was a path of gold for him,/ And the need of a world of men for me. † Browning uses a metaphor in conjunction with high modality in ‘need’ to represent the lover’s desire to return to his job. â€Å"world of men† is a metaphorical representation of the working class which was dominated by males. Meeting at Night and Parting at Moring are two poems composed by Robert Browning that represent the values and attitudes of society of the 19th century.

Above the Line Advertising Research Proposal Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Above the Line Advertising - Research Proposal Example In the last decade, a lot of research has been dedicated to conceptualizing and measuring customer-based brand equity. However, apart from putting forth various influencing factors, no integrative framework has so far been developed to account for the complex psychological processes underlying the formation of customer-based brand equity. In this context, this paper attempts to propose such a framework by drawing on the theory of the Elaboration Likelihood Model. (Kotler, 1997) This simple reason as to why ATL marketing is not used at all, or not used beyond the launch of a product, by popular brands is that these brands need to retain exclusivity in terms of the outreach and target audience that they are catering to. This generally implies a younger crowd which is constantly on the lookout for things that define their personalities in the most unique way, and in ways that they will not find anywhere else. Implications for Advertising Agencies A decade or so ago, branding meant little to people. Branding until then simply involved designing a logo or creating a corporate profile that will help identify it and differentiate it from other brands. In the past decade, things on the branding front have undergone a sea change due to above the line advertising. There is now a strong emphasis on brand building through the explicit communication of a vision in the whole organization where strong brands are more than mere trademarks that people recognize. In the generation of a branding idea and implementation of the same to build a brand profile, organizations behind the strong brands have managed to build a brand identity. "Brand identity should help establish a relationship between the brand and the customer by generating a value proposition involving functional, emotional or self-expressive benefits" (Aaker 1991).

Foundations in Strategic Management Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Foundations in Strategic Management - Case Study Example To synchronize with markets that are culturally diverse in the international network requires deep insight into the dynamics of the environment (Hitt, et al, 2013). To receive joint venture partnerships and licenses, the company has to strategically place mechanisms that will leave it in a win-win situation (Murray-Webster and Williams, 2013; Lasserre (2012).   Using PESTLE model, the above issues can be analyzed such that clear and comprehensive perspectives on the factors can be unearthed. PESTLE involves considering ‘Political, Economic, Social, Technological’ as well as the ‘legal and environmental’ frameworks of an issue (Tesar, 2008). It is advantageous since it provides a multi-dimensional framework that is all-inclusive in capturing all points of a problem. It is disregarded as a model that may veer off analysts owing to its long comprehensive techniques (Tschà ¤ppeler and Krogerus, 2011).   Cultural is a social aspect that requires analysis from an inclusive point of view as it touches and embeds on many other spheres within the society (Gassmann, et al, 2008). PESTLE model starting with the social values of the culture, its norms and traditions among others that will enable the strategists to understand and predict the consumer attitude and behavior (Caddle, et al, 2010). This will enable devise approaches aimed at harmonizing the organizational values with customers’ expectations and culture since it already has the ability to integrate easily into various cultures (Austin, 2008). The political analysis will consider what it will take to survive in the political temperatures of the country such that the company does not find itself aligning to one political division that might make it lose customers (Lasssere, 2012).   

Sentencing Disparity Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Sentencing Disparity - Term Paper Example Moreover, this paper identifies the most important factor of prosecutorial discretion. It will also answer the question on whether or not sentencing disparity is fair or equitable. Finally, this paper will compare and contrast this disparity from the ethical point of view. People have an intuitive idea of the meaning of sentencing disparity. Paradoxically, the concept of unwarranted disparity becomes bleak upon deeper reflection. Two offenders, for instance, with the same crime of breaking and entering, are sentenced with one year and five years, respectively. Roberts (1999) posed an enduring question: Which sentence is disparate? They seem to emphasize the sentence or conviction that is categorically considered as disparate. Undoubtedly, there exists an unwarranted disparity in the case between the two above-mentioned offenders. In a survey conducted, 60 percent of over four-hundred respondents admitted that there is a degree of sentence variation among judges (Roberts, 1999). By and large, sentencing disparity occurs two or more offenders, having different committed crimes, are convicted with the same level and nature of punishment (Clear, Cole, & Reisig, 2009). And sentencing disparity is more obvious in the prosecutors’ judgment. Sentencing disparity is normative rather than empirical (Alschuler, 2005). Its archetype is the sentencing by lottery. In the lottery system, different numbers are treated as the same number by virtue of chance or probability. Similar to lottery, offenders with different crimes committed are equally treated like the same criminal by virtue of sentencing disparity. Equality, of course, means the consistent application of principles to different cases (Alschuler, 2005). Apparently, sentence disparity deviates from consistency or equality. There are three chief divisions of factors influencing prosecutorial discretion: (1) legal issue, (2) extralegal issue, and (3) resources issue (Siegel, 2008). First, legal issue refers to

Leadership and the Professional Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Leadership and the Professional - Essay Example And since we live in a free society, there are always opportunities for people to seek after a â€Å"career† instead of merely a dead end job. Also, because society tends to value them more, professionals are typically paid the most money and awarded the most respect in society. Using Plato’s â€Å"The Republic,† Darwin’s â€Å"Origin of the Species,† Lenin’s â€Å"What is to be Done,† and â€Å"The Rule of St. Benedict† as a guide, this essay will explore what it means to be a modern professional and the moral and ethical dilemmas that professionals (leaders) have to routinely deal with. Because professionals are regarded as experts in their fields, they are given greater authority within society and are viewed as leaders. It is a given that since we grant them this authority, they should use their influence wisely and be ethical and moral people in addition to having certain knowledge and skills. In other words, a professional should also strive to be a well-rounded person with a variety of positive character traits and skills. In â€Å"The Republic,† Plato referred to this type of person as a â€Å"philosopher-king.† Of course, all professionals are not kings, but his ideal of a philosopher-king can also be applied to any person who is in a significant leadership position. Plato refers to ideal leaders of the State and â€Å"Guardians.† He also discusses virtually all the important traits that a Guardian should possess. He believed that leaders should possess not only intelligence and wisdom, but also courage, moderation, and justice. Furthermore, he said that a leader should possess knowledge and reason to rule over baser desires such as desire for money, food, and pleasure. In addition to all these traits, he believed that a leader was one who should have the wisdom to realize what makes for a good life and what makes for a bad one. Still, this is not all Plato believes a leader should posses. He also believes they should have the right temperament; meaning they’re not vicious yet not passive either. Also, this type of person should have a proper education, which he defines as an education that teaches a person to be truthful and just. He also placed a great emphasis in teaching mathematics and, later in a person’s education; the study of philosophy was viewed as the most important subject. Additionally, Plato believed that leaders should stand out from the group as the most virtuous (380 BC). Plato’s views imply that only a select minority are capable of being leaders. While this is mostly true in today’s society, nearly everyone is capable of pursuing a professional career and therefore becoming a leader. Also, Plato was not speaking about leaders in a business sense, but more in a political leadership or â€Å"ruling class† sense. However, I believe the ideas he sets forth are relevant to the modern professional as well. After all, because a professional is seen as an expert, they are leaders and people who others look up to for advice and enlightenment. In our society, professionals are basically given the authority to manage or govern in their particular field. Therefore, it is important that these professionals are taught and trained in philosophy as well as in the technical aspec ts of their profession. If Plato’s Guardians (managers and leaders) are virtuous and just, it will lead to a more productive and happier society. It is interesting that, like Plato, we live in a Democracy but there is still a lot

How Government Actions Improves Market Outcomes Assignment

How Government Actions Improves Market Outcomes - Assignment Example Such measures included quantitative easing characterized by debt-for-bond swap plan with an objective of keeping domestic markets afloat, among others. Notably though was an increase in margin financing of stock purchases that fuelled an extraordinary increase in equity prices. Following stabilization of equity prices, the government embarked on contractionary measures aimed at ceasing government direct intervention so that the market may adjust to internal market forces, and eventually sustain itself. As pointed out by Frankel, while it appears that the apparent market failure resulted from misguided government intervention in the market, the cause may as well be the unpremeditated plans and subsequently implementation by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to limit the amount that brokerages could put into stock trading. The resulting increase in margin requirements gave rise to a state where economic instruments grew weaker, resulting in the resent crush of the Chinese stock market. The measures undertaken by the Chinese government, even though they seem to have been catastrophic rather than beneficial, were in no way intended to compromise or to further cripple the economy. Measures such as quantitative easing have been proven quite pragmatic in resuscitating downward spiraling economies around the world. However, currency devaluation superficially appears to provide relief to currencies whenever implemented, boosting their respective performance internationally.

Financial management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Financial management - Assignment Example Days payable out is too high beyond the working days allowed for 90days. The company should aim to reduce the number of days either by increasing the payables or number of purchases. The manager should be able to know where the cash is tied up. PART B Question three a) Price earnings ratio This is a ratio that is used to determine the value of a share or stock taking into consideration the earnings of a share of the company. By analyzing different price earnings ratios of companies, an investor can be able to determine where to purchase shares. A P/E ratio of 21.1 of Spikiri Company depicts that high returns can be expected. This is followed by Papi and Akanani Companies with 14.2 and 13.0 respectively. It is wise to purchase shares from Spikiri Company. The P/E ratio is also used to depict the amount of money investors are willing to pay for each dollar earned in a company. b) Dividend cover prices dividend paid P/E current high low dividend yield current high low Akanani 291 317 18 7 0.021 6.111 6.657 3.927 13 spikiri 187 201 151 0.023 4.301 4.623 3.473 21.1 Earnings per share current high low 22.38462 24.38462 14.38462 8.862559 9.526066 7.156398 dividend cover = earnings per share/ dividend paid per share current high low Akanani 3.663004 3.663004 3.663004 spikiri 2.060581 2.060581 2.060581 Dividend cover shows the ability of a company to pay dividends to ordinary shareholders from the profits that have earned. An investor is able to determine how much dividends are paid out of profits before making any investments in the company. Akanani pays more dividends from its profits as compared to Spikiri. Question three i. Cost of debt of bond A Kd = interest rate *(1-tax) = 9% (note taxes are ignored) ii. Different bonds in the same may have different costs of capital. This is explained towards the time period required to clear the payment. A bond with longer duration to payment will have a lower cost of capital. The yield to maturity also affects the cost of debt. Bonds have different yields to maturity which in turn determine the bond’s interest rates to be paid. The coupon rate may differ with each bond hence the cost of each debt. C i. Cost of equity 4+ (11-4)1.2= 10% ii. Ex-dividend share price = old share price/ (1+ dividend) = 1/(1+0.2) = 0.83 iii. Capital gearing (debt dividend by debt plus equity) = 30/90 = 0.33 iv. Market value weighted average cost of capital Cost of debt 9% + 7.82%= 16.82% WACC = kd * weight of debt + ke * weight of equity = 16.82 *30/90 + 10*60/90 = 12.27% d. change in dividend policy Dividend policy is explained as the long term decision that will show how cashflows will be deployed from the company’

Assess and illustrate the changing nature of the secularisation deabte Essay

Assess and illustrate the changing nature of the secularisation deabte - Essay Example Bryan Wilson posits three dimensions on which secularization may be analysed, namely religious practice, religious organization and religious thought. Religious practice refers to the number of members within a particular religious organization as well as the number of individuals that are present for the actual participation in the practice. Religious organization refers to the amount of influence the Church has on the operation of a society. Religious thought refers to the concept of God and good and evil and the amount of value that each member of society places in these concepts. (Livesey p.5) Wilson noted that this third ingredient is vital in the discussion of secularisation since both religious practices and religious organizations may be on the decline but in the hearts of the individual members of society religious thought could be increasing in leaps and bounds. Peter Berger (as quoted in Aldridge 2000, p.78) defines secularisation as â€Å"the process by which sectors of society and culture are removed from the domination of religious institutions and symbols.† Consistent with this idea, Wilson (as quoted in Aldridge 2000) defines secularization as â€Å"the process by which religious thinking, practice and institutions lose social significance.† Has secularization indeed taken root in today’s society? On the surface it appears that there are fewer persons attending church, fewer marriages taking place, fewer men willing to make a profession in the clergy and fewer individuals regarding Christian celebrations as meaningful. However, is there any empirical evidence to ascertain that these factors are in fact truth? Has the indoctrination of empirical research and industrialization influenced secularization, defined broadly as â€Å"religious decline† (Haralambos, p.436)? In the nineteenth century Auguste Comte believed that human history comprised three phases: the theological stage in which religion held a dominant role, followed