Technology Essay -- essays research papers

Executive Overview There is a definite desire for better traffic data to give drivers more choice and control for avoiding traffic congestion. And what’s more, today there is no viable solution to alleviate the unnecessary aggravation and minimize the loss of valuable time & money. Interviewing a sample of commuter, taxi, and package delivery drivers identified a demand for timely and readily available traffic related congestion information. Package delivery, taxi/shuttle, rental car, and commuter drivers will benefit from a real-time system that provides accurate updated traffic condition information and offers alternative routing recommendations integrated with an existing in–vehicle navigation device. TAS © (Traffic Avoidance System) involves software that will integrate seamlessly with multiple hardware systems. It will be introduced to the time-sensitive package delivery companies that operate in the most traffic congested cities in the U.S. This device will benefit customers by saving them time and money. TAS will help these companies achieve competitive advantage by improving their services, reducing penalties, and improving customer retention. Business success and gaining competitive advantage are thus the compelling reason to buy, making TAS a highly desirable solution. II.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Problem Statement Most, if not all would agree that traffic congestion is a common problem in and around large, highly populated cities in the US today. Everyday in the US millions of people get into their vehicles and drive – some to get to and from work or school, others running errands, or traveling to close and far-away vacation destinations. Many are on the road all day and/or night because their jobs consist primarily of, or require extensive driving. People from different walks of life (who we have interviewed to-date ) share a common outrage from poor traffic conditions and a â€Å"helplessness† in their inability to avoid â€Å"being stuck† – most say they â€Å"hate traffic,† â€Å"wish they didn’t have to ever get on the road during rush hour,† â€Å"can’t wait until I start working from home to avoid the hours in traffic hell†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Rush hour / peak travel times, accidents, road construction, and detours are among the most common reasons for traffic problems, but regardless of the cause and impact, traffic jams always lead to frustra... ...traffic advisory system that provides accurate updated traffic conditions information and offers alternative routing recommendations at one’s vehicle, at every driver’s fingerprints in a proactive way. This system will be integrated with an existing in–vehicle navigation & information device. TAS is such a solution. To develop such a solution, our company has conducted a number of customer interviews as a crucial starting point for our (initial) market research and this paper will further explore the findings and study the market opportunity to launch TAS for success and alleviate many people’s traffic related frustrations, lost time & money. IV.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Market Analysis In analyzing the market opportunity we have focused on the classic model of estimating market size, deriving macro & micro segmentation and settling on selection criteria that would best match with trends suggested from customer feedback. XIII.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Conclusion Market research has demonstrated a need for TAS. The product will be piloted with a small package delivery/courier company to ensure feasibility and customer satisfaction.

Critical Thinking Assignment

Exercise 1-1 1. What is an argument? An argument is a two part structure of claims; one part contains a premise and the other a conclusion. 2. T or F: A claim is what you use to state an opinion or a belief. 3. T or F: Critical thinking involves attacking other people. 4. Tor F: Whether a passage contains an argument depends on how long it is. 5. T or F: When a claim has been questioned, an issue has been raised. 6. Do all arguments have premises? Yes 7. Do all arguments have conclusions? Yes 8. T or F: if it is impossible for the premises of an argument to be true without the conclusion also being true the argument is deductively valid. . T or F: The more support the premises of an argument provide its conclusion, the stronger the argument. If the premises being true means that probably the conclusion is true, the argument is inductively strong. 10. Can a conclusion be implied, or must it always be explicitly stated? It must always be explicitly stated and consists of words and phra ses like therefore, thus, and consequently. 11. Explain the connection between an argument and an issue. When you have an issue you are raising a question to a claim and arguments are claims structured into two parts. Both are connected through claims. 12. T or F: â€Å"Miller Lite tastes great† is a value judgment. 13. Are all value judgements about matters of taste? 14. T or F: All value judgments are equally subjective. 15. T or F: Only claims subject to scientific testing are worth discussing. 16. T or F: All arguments are used to try to persuade someone of something. 17. T or F: All attempts to persuade someone of something are arguments. 18. T or F: Whenever a claim is called into question, an issue has been raised. 19. T or F: Moral value judgments might all be true. 0. T or F: Sometimes we transfer a favorable or unfavorable opinion of a speaker to what the speaker says 21. T or F: Explanations and arguments serve the same purpose. 22. â€Å"Therefore† and â€Å"consequently† are conclusion indicators. True 23. T or F: â€Å"Rhetorical† or â€Å"emotive force† refers to the emotional content or associations of a word or phrase. 24. T or F: the rhetorical force of language can get in the way of clear and critical thinking. 25. T or F: We should not try to put our own position on any issue in the most favorable light.

Pascal’s Wager Essay

There are many things in this world that we have no means to confirm. This is especially true when we are talking about things that are spiritual in nature, such as the existence of God. While no living person has claimed that he has seen God using the limits of his sight, there is no way to prove otherwise. Since I don’t believe in God, I would surely be in trouble if Pascal’s wager turns out to be correct. He states that it is better to believe in God because there is nothing to lose if God exists. In fact, if it turns out that God does exist, the one who believes will have a reserved slot in heaven. While Pascal has a point, his argument is not in the least bit persuasive. I am an atheist not just because I chose not to believe in God. It’s just that I can’t see the proof of His existence anywhere. I can’t imagine that there is an omnipotent God who watches over all of us. But Pascal’s wager suggests that atheists like me should leave their â€Å"sinful† ways and start believing in God because it is the most logical and beneficial choice. Why should I choose to believe just for that reason? Pascal should have provided tangible evidence of God’s existence and cited other convincing reasons to make me believe in God. Thus, I have to disagree with Pascal’s wager because his argument does not provide sufficient reasons to believe in God. In fact, his reason to believe is childish and shallow. Another reason why I disagree with Pascal is that his wager is flawed in many ways. First, it assumes that God is a rewarding or punishing god when he has no basis to state this. Since nobody has seen God, then nobody can claim that he has seen God award or punish anyone. And if God does turn out to be a rewarding or punishing god, it suggests that reward or punishment would be based on belief alone. It disregards how one spent his life on earth, regardless of whether he believes in God or not. Second, it overlooks the fact that many religions claim that their god is the only god. Therefore, we cannot determine through Pascal’s argument what would happen if there is one true God and we chose the wrong God to believe in.

Free Essays on Aging

Although the term â€Å"aging† might conjure up only a few wrinkles in one’s mental imagery, there is much more to aging than the physical aspects. There are four different types of aging discussed in the text: chronological, biological, psychological, and social aging. There is a necessary distinction between these categories of aging. They are unique in the description (i.e. 70 years of age, wrinkled skin, Alzheimer’s disease, a senior citizen, etc.), but related because these descriptions determine the â€Å"age† of an individual. Chronological age describes the years that have passed since the individual was born. A 60 year old, was born 60 years ago and is therefore chronologically older than a 30 year old who was born 30 years ago. There are certain expectations that come from being a certain chronological age such as your physical appearance. Although there are exceptions, one could easily guess an individual’s age (within 10 years) just by their physical appearance. Biological age describes the physical â€Å"wellness† of the individual. As a person ages, certain physical changes occur. Organs deteriorate and certain organ cells cease to replicate. The conditions of most organs are consistent with the chronological age of the individual, with the exception of individuals who overuse certain organs (i.e. an alcoholic’s liver). Psychological aging refers to the deterioration of an individual’s sensory and perceptual processes, mental functioning, adaptive capacity, and personality (Hooyman and Kiyak, 2002). This covers a very wide range of functions such as speech and even intellect. Certain mental disorders are consistent with a certain age group. One would find it typical for an elderly person (70 or older) to experience Alzheimer’s disease, but would find it atypical for a 20 year old to experience Alzheimer’s disease. Social aging refers to an individual’s changing roles and relationships with t... Free Essays on Aging Free Essays on Aging Although the term â€Å"aging† might conjure up only a few wrinkles in one’s mental imagery, there is much more to aging than the physical aspects. There are four different types of aging discussed in the text: chronological, biological, psychological, and social aging. There is a necessary distinction between these categories of aging. They are unique in the description (i.e. 70 years of age, wrinkled skin, Alzheimer’s disease, a senior citizen, etc.), but related because these descriptions determine the â€Å"age† of an individual. Chronological age describes the years that have passed since the individual was born. A 60 year old, was born 60 years ago and is therefore chronologically older than a 30 year old who was born 30 years ago. There are certain expectations that come from being a certain chronological age such as your physical appearance. Although there are exceptions, one could easily guess an individual’s age (within 10 years) just by their physical appearance. Biological age describes the physical â€Å"wellness† of the individual. As a person ages, certain physical changes occur. Organs deteriorate and certain organ cells cease to replicate. The conditions of most organs are consistent with the chronological age of the individual, with the exception of individuals who overuse certain organs (i.e. an alcoholic’s liver). Psychological aging refers to the deterioration of an individual’s sensory and perceptual processes, mental functioning, adaptive capacity, and personality (Hooyman and Kiyak, 2002). This covers a very wide range of functions such as speech and even intellect. Certain mental disorders are consistent with a certain age group. One would find it typical for an elderly person (70 or older) to experience Alzheimer’s disease, but would find it atypical for a 20 year old to experience Alzheimer’s disease. Social aging refers to an individual’s changing roles and relationships with t...

Listen to and Learn Spanish on the Internet

Listen to and Learn Spanish on the Internet Many people want to hear what native-speaker Spanish sounds like, but dont have access to native speakers or even Spanish-language radio or TV. Chances are that if youre reading this article, you have all the tools you need need to start listening. An abundance of Spanish-language webcasts, podcasts, and other programming is available for free on the Internet. The system requirements for listing to Internet audio vary with the site, but chances are that if your computer was built within the past three or four years, you already have the hardware you need. Most sites that provide audio content also have links to the software you need. Most audio content can be played using one of three audio players that are readily available for free: Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and Apple QuickTime. The three are available for both recent versions of the Windows and Macintosh operating systems; the RealPlayer is also available for Linux. Some sites also have downloadable audio in MP3 or other formats that you can listen to on portable players. A high-speed Internet connection is helpful, although a good dial-up connection will sometimes be sufficient if you arent Web surfing at the same time. Listening Online in Spanish Spanish-language programming can be found for almost any interest, and a complete list would be far too long to list here. Following, however, are some of the sites that have been recommended by readers of this site: Batanga: You wont find any classical music here (unless you count classic rock), but youll find just about every other style of music.BBC Mundo: True, the BBC is well-known British news service. However, youll find quality programming in Spanish here.Deutsche Welle: This German network offers streaming programming in nearly all the European language and then some. At the time of this writing, however, its Spanish-language programming is not available to U.S. listeners.Ke Buena: Popular music from Acapulco, Mexico.La100: Rock from Argentina.Notes in Spanish: Tips about Spain, news, conversation and all the cool words they never teach you in class.M80 Radio: Classic rock from Madrid.Mitre: Variety of programming from Argentina.RAC105: International rock and pop from Spain. The home page is in Catalan, but if youre adept at reading Spanish you can probably comprehend most of it.Metro951: Self-described as the most popular radio, from Argentina.Radio Bilingà ¼e: Public radio-type progra mming from the United States. Radio Isla: Talk shows and more, from Puerto Rico.Radio Jai: Catering to Argentinas Jewish community with a mix of programming.Radio Progreso: Music, news and a bit of propaganda from Cuba.RTVE: This network from Spain provides a choice of six channels streamed over the Internet.Terra Radios: Talk, music and sports are featured on stations from Guatemala.Yahoo Music: About a dozen music stations feature Spanish music of various genres including rock, rap, reggaeton, pop, tejano, and jazz.

Soil Enzyme Activity Lab Report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Soil Enzyme Activity - Lab Report Example Results show that combined fertilizer had the highest enzyme activity of 1.493 followed by organic fertilizer (1.148), inorganic fertilizer (0.529) and unammended (0.459) soil sample in that order. Combination of inorganic fertilizer and organic fertilizer provides efficient environment for the growth of soil bacteria hence production of more alkaline phosphatase enzymes thus resulting into high enzyme activity. These findings shows how an integrated fertilizer regime play an important role in altering the structure of the soil microbial composition, stimulates microbial growth and increases enzyme activity as compared to the inorganic fertilizer. Microorganisms play a vital role in biochemical transformation important for nutrient cycling in soils. The microorganisms in the soil are capable of breaking down insoluble nutrient sources in the soil and in the process produce extracellular enzymes. Extracellular enzymes are biochemical catalysts, protein compounds produced within the bacterial cell and exported out into the soil solution. While outside the cells, enzymes catalyze reactions that break down the structure of nutrient source in order to make it more accessible to the plants. The quantities of extracellular enzymes are therefore dependent on substrate concentration, soil microorganisms’ metabolic ability, soil environmental conditions such as temperature and pH and the number of microorganisms present in the soil (Lichtfouse, 228). Alkaline Phosphatase is an example of extracellular enzyme produced by many soil microorganisms and exported out into the soil solution. The main function is to eliminate the phosphate molecule from the organic compounds such as nucleic acids and phospholipids.

Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation - Essay Example Thus, it is in line with this that KFC should understand further everything about its strategy development. It should understand the necessary things it needs to know as product of its strategy process. Finally, it should be able to define and understand the specific contexts in which its strategy should be embedded. Global operation is one of the modern trends applied in modern operations strategy (Waters, 2006). This is the reason why Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation (KFC) had become so aggressive with its global expansion strategy. This strategy enabled KFC to become the world’s largest chicken restaurant chain and in general the third largest food chain in the world (Krug, 2004). In fact, it is known to have around 14,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries including China, Japan, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, Malaysia, Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and Philippines. Franchise and joint ventures are integrated with the whole business system of KFC in order to allow local business people to handle since they know better the external and internal environments of their respective markets. This paper tries to understand more about the strategic operation of KFC Corporation by incorporating various analytical concepts in strategic development and management. The entire analysis is placed in the context of international fast food industry. ... This paper tries to understand more about the strategic operation of KFC Corporation by incorporating various analytical concepts in strategic development and management. The entire analysis is placed in the context of international fast food industry. SWOT and Porter’s value chain SWOT technique SWOT stands for strength, weaknesses, opportunity and threats in which it is a simple management technique which draws information together prior to decision-making process (Murdock et al., 2003). A SWOT analysis is composed of understanding both internal and external factors within an organization prior to knowing its major advantages and disadvantages. It is a non-complex way of identifying specific details in the business operation in order to understand the extent in which an organisation holds its competitive advantage or knowing the necessary steps to be taken further for improvement of the operation. This technique is very relevant in the case of KFC especially among its strate gic planners because they will be given opportunity to outline the internal and external factors affecting the whole operation of the business. Shown in figure 1 below are internal and external factors within the present environment of KFC. This is a good evaluative technique prior to formulating effective strategies because the strategic planners in this case seek to understand both the internal and external factors affecting the business environment of KFC. Figure 1. SWOT Analysis KFC (Internal and external factors) Internal factors Strengths Weaknesses Product offering Brand image/good-tasting and highly accepted recipes Many substitute products in the market Competitive advantage High market share Not culturally