The Proposition & Gomorrah Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Proposition & Gomorrah - Term Paper Example em miniature, and many filmmakers use aperature flare, an artifact of having a camera, to make CG sequences feel more â€Å"real.† Two films, â€Å"The Proposition† and â€Å"Gomorrah† use color and camera movement to create two vastly different visual styles, which leaves the audience with two very different impressions: â€Å"The Proposition† seems like a storey book, or a distant tableau, whereas â€Å"Gomorrah† creates a sense of immersion. The color palettes of these two films are one of the first thing one notices when comparing them. â€Å"The Proposition† has an incredibly warm color palette, almost seeming to have yellow or orange gels over the camera lens during every single shot. â€Å"Gomorrah,† on the other hand, has a somewhat cooler, grittier, and more realistic color palette. This creates very different impressions for the audience - the color palette in â€Å"The Proposition† reminds readers of the fact that they are watching a film, a story, and creates a tableau for them to enjoy in the distance. The color palette of â€Å"Gomorrah,† on the other hand, creates a sense of being there, of realism, and of immersion. The choice of camera movement has a similar effect in both films. The camera movement in â€Å"The Proposition† is long and careful – things like slow zooms, smooth movements and so on are incredibly common, as are dolly shots. â€Å"Gomorrah,† however, has a more documentary-style camera movement – many of the scenes are shot by hand-held camera or are given the effect of being shot on hand-held camera, with significant bouncing, jostling and so on. This creates the impression that the film maker is actually documenting real things that are happening, rather than painting a story for the viewer’s enjoyment. All of this serves to make â€Å"The Proposition† more like a storybook, and â€Å"Gomorrah† more like a brutal, real world documentary. The audience’s awareness of the artifice of film is a principle object of a director’s

W.E Dubois Essay Example for Free

W.E Dubois Essay William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, known as W.E.B. Du Bois, was born on February 23, 1868, in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In 1885, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to attend Fisk University. It was there that he first encountered Jim Crow laws. For the first time, he began analyzing the deep troubles of American racism. After earning his bachelors degree at Fisk, Du Bois entered Harvard University. After completing his masters degree, he was selected for a study-abroad program at the University of Berlin. While in Germany, he studied with some of the most prominent social scientists of his day and was exposed to political perspectives that he remembered for the remainder of his life. In 1895, he became the first African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University. A year later, Du Bois published The Philadelphia Negro, marking the beginning of his writing career. In 1903, he published The Souls of Black Folk, a collection of 14 essays. In the years following, he adamantly opposed the idea of biological white superiority and vocally supported womens rights. In 1909, he co-founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and served as the editor of the associations monthly magazine, The Crisis. Du Bois was a proponent of Pan Africanism and helped organize several Pan African Congresses to free African colonies from European powers. He died on August 27, 1963, at the age of 95 in Accra, Ghana, while working on an encyclopedia of the African Diaspora.

Competitive Analysis of the Global Toy Industry

Competitive Analysis of the Global Toy Industry Welcome to the colorful world of teddy bears, singing dolls, miniature pianos that play nursery rhymes,  battery operated cars and stuffed dogs and rabbits that walk, talk and shake hands. In one word: Toys. Toy merchants of yester years gave shape to the creative fancies and dreams of young ones and growups  alike. The world market has seen various upheavals due to changing consumer preferences, new fads,  technological advances and trade liberalization. Countries like China have marveled the world with their  low cost manufacturing expertise while at the same time astonished them with their quick imitation,  leading all the gigantic players of the world to act on their feet and formulate strategies to counterattack  them and safeguard their shares. India too has seen a shift in focus from traditional board games like Chess (Shatranj) and Ludo (Paasa)  and sports like cricket to video games and consoles, puzzles, and Monopoly. The traditionally scattered  market has shown signs of consolidation with the entry of companies like Reliance ADAG and Mahindra   Mahindra who are both expanding the market and adding sheen to it. India as a developing economy  is a hotspot for MNCs like Mattel and Hasbro which have now become household names with Barbie  and Monopoly respectively. Big retailers of the world which exclusively cater to this segment include Toys R Us and Hamleys, which  house the best brands of the world and add a service dimension to toys. This document discusses the various classes of toys, the current global scenario for toys, how China has  affected the global toy industry, Indias market and its growth prospects. CATEGORIZATION Toys and games can fall in one of four general categories:- 1. Traditional toys: the category is essentially stagnant with 6296 manufacturers and the growth  being consistent over the years. In 2007 revenues were $21.2.billion (US Market) and $22.3  billion in 2006. It includes: Action Figures Accessories (G.I.Joes) Building Sets (Lego Sets) Dolls (Barbies) Games Puzzles (Monopoly) Plush (Soft Toys) Vehicles (HotWheels) 2. Video games: one of the fastest growing segments with revenues of $18.9 billion which is 51,2%  higher than its 2006 revenues. It includes:- Youth Electronics (PS2, X-Box) Gaming Parlours (Jammin, TimeZone) 3. Casino Games: Slot machines were introduced by casino games manufacturers which have  ultimately benefitted the video game industry. Mostly offered by hotels. Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research 4. Accessories and Others: Includes traditional games including sports items and educational toysfor infants, which is also a fast growing industry GLOBAL SCENARIO The US, China and Japan rank among the top 3 countries in terms of toy sales worldwide; their sales  being US$21.5 billion, US$4.9 billion, and US$5.8 billion respectively. Other countries with a significant  toy sector include Germany, Brazil, France, India, Australia and Canada. Though the recession influenced  toy sales, the sector did witness growth of about 3.6% with sales reaching $80 billion. The worlds largest toy manufacturer and exporter China makes 2/3 of the worlds toys; the export  value of Chinese toys in 2009 was US$7.8 billion. Guangdong, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Shandong  are the foremost production and export bases for toys in China, accounting for more than 90% of the annual sales of Chinese toys. Chinas plush toys enjoy a large share of the total sales in European American market. But the low  prices are also responsible for a low profit margin. However it entails high labor costs and therefore  manufacturing costs are pretty high. Wooden toys also have a significant share of 10% and plastic toys  are suffering due to the continuously rising price of raw materials, quality and safety issues, etc. Chinas  intellectual toys too have a broad prospect, but relevant standards need to be released so as to  guarantee the healthy development of the market. In 2009, in pace with the upgrading of technology, the toy export industry has witnessed several  changes: developed countries have diverted their demands of toys to toys such as adult toys, high-tech  electric toys, intellectual educational toys from traditional medium and low-grade products like plastic  toys and stuffed toys. Electric toys and online toys produced with high new technology have become  the new development orientation. MAJOR PLAYERS WORLDWIDE Mattel Inc.:- Mattel sells products under a host of well-known brand names such  as Barbie, Matchbox, Fischer Price, and Hot Wheels. Hasbro :- Produces popular board games such as Clue, Monopoly, and Scrabble. Its other  products include the Transformers, Mr. Potato Head, Play Doh as well as licensing agreements  with brands such asStar Wars and Marvel. JAKKS Pacific:- Produces traditional toys under licenses for brands such as Cabbage Patch  Kids, Care Bears, andHannah Montana, a particularly big earner for JAKKS in 2007. Other big names include Russ Berrie and Company, RC2, Action Products International and  Corgi International. Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research Together, Mattel Inc. and Hasbro Inc. have less than 40% of the market, which analysts expect will  grow at a compound rate of roughly 2% annually. INDIAN SCENARIO Currently there are about 800 Indian games and toy manufacturers, exporters and suppliers in the small  sector of India, with a turnover nearly $2.5 billion. This includes manufacturers of electronic toys, soft  toys, educational games, toy cars, rattles, dolls, plush toys, computer games, brain teasers, children  puzzles etc. The total toys and games market in India stands at around Rs.2500 crore, of which Rs.250  crore is in Chennai. Total Market Size: Rs.2500 crore Market Structure: 35% Organized Sector, 65% Unorganised Sector Duties and Taxes: Excise Duty: 12.5% CST(Central Sales Tax): 4% Global Export Contribution: 0.4% Governing Body: Toys Association of India (TAI) Compared to European and American games and toy markets, Indian toy volumes are very low, mainly  because toy buying is a relatively urban phenomenon. Most toy manufacturers are from the  unorganised sector, who in turn sell their toys and games to big traders who market these toys. The total export market for toys and games is around Rs.18 crore. The export volumes are low because  of the quality norms abroad. Manufactured toys for export have to conform to EN 71 norms, the  European standards. The toys have to be non-toxic and safe to sell abroad. $0.00 $5,000.00 $10,000.00 $15,000.00 $20,000.00 $25,000.00 2009 (Million $) 2009 (Million $) Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research Mattel, Lego and Funskool are three of the major players in the Indian toy industry. The toys and games  available in India are a mix of both fun toys and educational tools. They include dolls, puzzles, electronic  games, handmade toys, soft toys, board games, computer games etc. Indian wooden toys are of good  quality and comparable to international standards. The demand for fun toys is greater than that of  educational toys since parents usually prefer buying educational toys for their children. MAJOR INDIAN PLAYERS Zapak Games: It is a part of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. Zapak Games operates in two  categories Game CD Toys. It is the leader in Games CD in India. It holds licenses for leading kids  properties from Cartoon Network, Nick, Disney, Pogo etc as well as represents some of the leading  global toy companies in India. The product distribution is across all toy stores and retail chains in the country through the traditional  mom n pop outlets as well as large format key account stores. We had the opportunity of seeing  some of these toys with Landmark outlets across the city. It acts as the merchandizing and licensing arm of Zapak Digital Entertainment Ltd. They are also in an association with Spin Master Ltd. which according  to NPD is the third largest toy company in North America. Mahindra and Mahindra Mom Me outlets across the city are operated by Mahindra which hosts  educational toys for children. It also has the marketing rights for Lego brand of toys and soft toys from  Disney. Some small players are: Prasid Toys Pvt Ltd. Delhi based Little Genius Toys Ltd. (Wooden Educational Toys) Leo Plast EFFECT OF CHINA ON INDIAN TOY INDUSTRY From a 2,000 players a few years ago, barely 800 survive today, it is believed that nearly 40 per cent of  toy companies have shut shop since Chinese products started flooding into the Indian market. Even as  the unorganized sector has been most hit, some of the other players like Mattel, Funskool (joint venture  between MRF Tyres Hasbro Intl), Mahindra Intertrade (markets the Lego and Disney range of toys)  and a few others are forced to fight back with a string of innovative strategies. Compared with an average Rs 35 per kg a Chinese toy maker spends, an Indian manufacturer spends Rs  65 per kilogram for raw materials. High excise duties and taxes including local taxes that vary greatly add  to their woes. Indian companies have not made efforts to market their products in a planned manner and while some  Indian companies are trying to combat the threat from Chinese toys by slashing prices by 10 to 15%;  others are strengthening their distribution skills in smaller towns, where the reach of imported toys is  still limited. INDUSTRY GROWTH Finding the right niche marketing limited to premium segment  Indian consumers are gradually becoming less price sensitive, but are ready to pay for something they  believe has a value proposition. They are realizing that toys help in the all round development of a child. Take the $6-billion Mattel Inc. for instance, after a runaway success with Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher  Price, it has introduced the Harry Potter range of toys which caters to the premium segment. With its  Fisher Price range, Mattel is also launching developmental activities along with toys associations,  pediatricians and playschools to educate parents on how toys help the child in understanding the adult  world better. Glocalization Go Global Act Local Almost all major players, have launched an indigenous range of competitively priced soft toys range, to  cater to the growing market. Mahindra Intertrade, for instance, launched Soft Wonders, to cater to the  economically sensitive customers. Similarly, Mattel has launched Star Beanies for Indian market and  Funskool has launched soft toys. Act Faster than the Fastest These players have also spruced up legal activities against spurious products and taken actions to make  the vigilance stricter. They try to bring in designs faster than the Chinese can imitate. For instance, once  the market gets flooded with fake products with Mickey or Donald motives, be it on cups, bottle, plates,  tiffin boxes etc, Mahindra Intertrade would quickly launch Mickey in sportswear and shift the demand. Such marketing skills a range of strong brands have enabled them withstand the Chinese threat and  allowed them to play a crucial role in growing the market. TRENDS Online Buying In 2004 when Mattel registered on Indiatimes, Rediff and Baazee, they discovered that when kids did  not look for toys online, their parents (on the lookout of discounts) did. Also online shopping for toys  accounted for approximately 2% of total sales, that is Rs 21.24 crore in 2005-06. $74.00 $76.00 $78.00 $80.00 $82.00 $84.00 2007 2008 2009 2010 $78.30 $77.50 $80.28 $83.90 USD (Billion) Mall practice Malls are an undisguised blessing for the toy makers. In a mall one gets better shelf space to exhibit  products, and the entire range can be displayed with the add ons which then have a good chance of  being sold to the potential customers. Better sales tracking is another advantage one gets from the  malls. In 2005, Mattel opened two 1,200 sq ft Barbie stores in Mumbai. Approximately 35% of the sales  for Funskool and Mattel take place at the malls. Fusing Entertainment with toys Mattel has produced five movies to promote its existing range of toys, whereas Funskool, its rival has  been using existing movies like batman to create a new range of toys for itself. Toys for Men Mattel has also launched toys for men. It featured models of premium cars including BMW 645 Ci,  Ferrari Scaglietti; and Williams and Renault in its Hotwheels Collectibles; having a price ranging from Rs  999 to Rs 1,999. Changing Demographics Demographic variables like greater divorce rates, due to which kids get two sets of toys; increased  buying power per child due to 2 income families; and increasing involvement of grandparents are all  influencing the growth rate of the toys. THREATS/HINDRANCES/CHALLENGES Raw Material Costs There is a rise in the raw material costs, due to an increase in the manufacturing costs for  traditional toys Manufacturing Costs Most of the traditional toys are made from plastic resin. Petroleum, whose price is continuously increasing, is one  of the main components of plastic resin. This has a negatively impact on the manufacturing costs . Changing Consumer preferences Nowadays, customers prefer electronic games to traditional table games. This trend is not beneficial for  the traditional game equipment manufacturers. Revenue of the Video Games Industries and Traditional Toys ($ in billions) Industry 2004 2005 2006 2007 Video Games 9.9 10.5 12.5 18.9 Traditional Toys 22.4 22.2 22.3 21.2 Toy Industry : Present and the Future 2010 10 KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies Research In India, toys arent perceived as developmental. So toy manufacturers take advantage of impulse  purchasing trends and the pester power of kids works in advantage for the toy manufacturers.Indian  parents perceive expenditure on toys as a waste of money. Educational games like Scrabble and toys for  pre-school children and infants are an exception to this belief. Impact of Recession Only when the consumers have enough disposable income to afford luxury goods, they buy toys. A  struggling U.S. housing market, rising oil prices and other factors have limited their income. The toy  industry was also affected by this trend, as its overall revenue decreased. Declining profits due to emphasis on product safety Product safety is another major concern of the toy industry. This was discovered when there was a rising  number of product recalls in the second half of 2007. So while companies put more focus on their higher  margin core brands, the positive margin implications from this shift are offset by quality and safety  testing, as well as higher costs for raw materials.   Competing with large brands Small manufacturers which form the bulk of the unorganized sector are unable to brand and market  their products, which has been a critical disadvantage for them. With a large number of players in the  market, only the international brands have a strong brand recall. Here, manufacturing competency isnt  the real concern since most of the branded players outsource their requirements from Indian  manufacturers. However, lack of marketing acumen and an expertise to cultivate brands is found to be  lacking in most indigenous companies. NEW STRATEGIES Coupling toy launch with movies and vice versa Transformers, Shrek, etc Art Attack a Television series by Hit Entertainment has also entered the toy market. It showcases  Do-It-Yourself arts and crafts in their videos and has now made them available in DVD formats  across major stores. They also merchandise their creative works through books. Cradle catching: In 2005, Mattel entered into a partnership with diaper brand Huggies. By this  move, Mattel targeted its potential audience at their birth place, and even before they were  born at the maternity homes.When the mothers visit the doctor for the first time, they are given  a medical file, as well as well as the information on the different phases that a child is likely to  pass through as it grows which helps in selecting toys from the Fisher Price range that fits each  growth phase ie. crawling, sitting, standing, etc. Within a very short period of time, they claimed to have targeted 600,000 mothers by having tie  ups with 300 pediatricians and 50 gynecologists, across the top six Indian cities. Also, another  innovative technique used by Mattel is a toy directory which is placed in retail outlets that  informs parents about the best toy for each age group. CASE ANALYSIS: TOY INDUSTRY AND BUYING TRENDS CASE #1 HAMLEYS, PHOENIX MILLS MALL, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI Hamleys, the worlds iconic toy maker from UK, has set up a 21000 sq ft outlet spread over three floors in  Mumbai, its first branch in India through franchise agreement with Reliance Retail. The tie-up is valid for  20 years. The company plans to invest Rs.150 crore in the next seven years to set up 20 more stores  across the country, including tier-II cities. Brands Other than Hamleys own-brand range of toys, imported brands such as Mattel,  Hasbro, Disney, Fisher-Price, Playmobil, Leapfrog, Mecchano ,, Scalextrics, Hornby, Maisto,  Burrago, and Lego are also present in the store. Segments The shop has been divided into segments catering to infants, young boys girls,  teenagers and adults. It has a Barbie Doll House and Barbie Salon and Spa for young girls. Grand Racing Track for RC Cars, London Double Decker Bus, Safari Jeep for young boys. Petals Pods-Play area and Bear Tree House are for infant and pre-school children. Science Molecules, Candy Shop, Disney Castle, Experiential gaming stations, Party rooms  area are for teenagers. A KodakExpress studio has a shop-in-shop strategically placed in the center of the shop to  capture moments at Hamleys. Prices The price varies from as low as Rs 200 to as high as Rs 30,000 depending upon the  requirements and preferences of the customer. Most products are priced on the higher end of  the spectrum keeping the affluent urban folk in mind. Age Group It caters to infants, young boys and girls and teenagers. Board Games are popular  with adults also. MANAGERS VIEWS The shop is one of its kinds in Mumbai, since it is an exclusive toys only outlet with all kinds of toys  under one roof. The trends noted by them are that parents are more interested in buying toys and  games that offer educational value to their children; and children too are more interested in games that  offer intellectual stimulation. Children have moved from the traditional sports of cricket and kabaddi to  gaming consoles and Scrabble. Also adults are a growing segment with them fraying towards traditional  games such as Mancala a French board game, Monopoly, and Poker for which they buy Poker chips.   Workshops are organized to engage the children and merchandise related to new films are sold every  now and then to offer something new to the customers. CUSTOMERS VIEWS Customers always find it a delight to visit Hamleys since it offers so much variety . A few of the  customers just come with their children to provide some entertainment and spend time in the shop.   They appreciate the display of the store and the hygiene maintained in the store. Also, though a few  products were manufactured in China, they didnt mind buying them if they were sold in Hamleys since  the name offered credibility to the product. The range and variety of toys offered by them is also  unmatched. ANALYSIS COMMENTS Layout: The layout of the store is very carefully planned with the store being divided into a girls section  and a boys section. Educational board games, interior decoration kits and games for adults are placed in  the center of the shop. The section which caters to toys for toddlers is separate, and the floor above  only houses gaming consoles, CDs and educational books. Staff: A large number of staff take care of the customers needs and are specially trained to provide entertainment to their most important consumers the kids! The manager himself caters to customers  and entertains all doubts and queries to help them purchase what best suits their requirements. Store Aesthetics and marketing: A lot of effort has been taken to enhance the visual appeal of the store  through visual merchandizing and display walls. Most toys are displayed and little remote controlled  cars and helicopters zoom in and around the store some of them hovering above ones head or new  cars that stick to the walls. The store has a facility for gift wrapping their products, and children and  adults alike are allowed to touch and operate various toys in the store. CASE #2 MOTHER AND ME, R CITY MALL, GHATKOPAR, MUMBAI Mother Me is a Retail store owned by Mahindra Group, which caters to the need of Pregnant women,  infants, toddlers, pre-schoolers learners. Its toys section is huge and is gaining popularity day by day. Following are the details of its toys section:- Brands:-Fischer price, Funskool, Mattel, Lego, Disney V-tech Segments:-Soft toys, Wooden toys, Metal toys Plastic toys Prices:- 350 5000 Age Group 0 9 Yrs MANAGERS VIEWS Following are the points which Store Managers told us. They prefer to keep toys of price range 350 to 5000. Mother and Me use SAP for inventory replenishment. They have kept the toys according to their type (wooden toys at one place soft toys at another  place) rather than age group wise (toys for 0-5 yrs at one place). According to them toys which are able to connect to Indian traditions are highly in demand, eg.   Indian Barbies. Maximum complaints they receive are against Chinese toys and toys manufactured in China. CUSTOMERS VIEWS We received the following feedbacks from customers. Most of them buy toys once a month. Fishcer price is preferred by most of them Most of them prefer plastic toys over metal Wooden toys Most of them are not in favour of Chinese toys despite of the low of cost. Most of them were in favour of interactive toys. Some Customers stressed the need of toys, which inculcate the values necessary in human  society were against the toys, which resembles the violent figures or creature. ANALYSIS COMMENTS From the information provided by store Managers feedbacks from customers we analyzed that the Toy Industry has a bright future ahead but only if it meets the challenge of providing better quality Interactive toys, which not only make learning easy but also help in cultivating the  values necessary in human society. Light weight Plastic toys as they are easy to handle more resistant to wear tear. Value for money, as most of the parents feel toys overly priced. CASE #3 LANDMARK, PHOENIX MILLS MALL, LOWER PAREL, MUMBAI Landmark is a one s top destination for s hopping for toda ys youth. It consists of books, s tationery, garments, merchandize, music, toys, movies, gaming, Technology products and other gift items. Brands -There were various brands present in the store and a few of them are as follows Mattel,  Disney, Fisher-Price, Zapak and Lego are also present in the store. Segments The shop has been divided into segments where toys for infants, young boys and  girls and teenagers can be found. It also has a sports section and board game section. Prices The price varies from as low as Rs 200 to as high as Rs 15,000 depending upon the  requirements and preferences of the customer. The pricing is not exorbitant in Landmark and  most of the toys are priced by keeping the Indian customer in mind. Age Group It caters to infants, young boys and girls and teenagers. Board Games are popular  with adults also. MANAGERS VIEWS Maximum profit is generated from the infants toy section of the store. Selling one item from the infant  section is equivalent to selling 3-4 items from the others sections. Boys prefer hotwheels,cricket kit and  board games and girls are still hooked onto Barbie dolls. Toys are imported from France and Germany  and most of them are made in India. CUSTOMERS VIEWS Toys are ideal gifts for young children and they dont even cost a fortune when it comes to buying them.  Customers dont mind paying for the latest and most popular toys for the kids. ANALYSIS COMMENTS Landmark has been doing a good job of catering to the growing toys market and plans to introduce  more imported toys in future. The Sports goods have a prominent place in Landmark and a lot of  importance has been given to the sports and board game section. FUTURE OF TOYS Predicting the future is never easy. The future of toys specially very difficult to predict . You never know  when an old favorite toy will make a sudden resurgence into the mainstream or a new technology will  bring about yet another revolution in toy technology. Generally speaking, video game consoles would predictably always rise to the top of wish  lists. However, classic toys often come back to take over the lists for top toys. In recent years, weve  seen old comic book characters and action heroes rise to the top again after being in the bottom of  comic bins for years. This years Iron Man 2 brought back an old action favorite, and action figures and  cars are available with an Iron Man twist. Other movies like Transformers have done the same. Old favorite cartoons are also being brought to the forefront. A few years ago, a new Teenage Mutant  Ninja Turtles movie in CGI was released, and this past year, Transformers were all the rage. It wouldnt  surprise me to see He-Man or the Thundercats rise up to become live action or CGI movies themselves. If they do, expect them to corner the toy market after the movie is released. It would also be prudent not to underestimate the power of toy fads that are still going strong even 12  years later. Pokemon first got big in 1998, and has been a huge hit with video games, playing cards, and  T.V. shows ever since. It has been hard for toy manufacturers to dethrone Pokemon, because its such a  huge hit among kids and even young adults who grew up playing the game. Its very possible that it  could last for another 12 years or more. (What do you think of Pokemon? Indeed, toy inventors are pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, speech synthesis, wireless  communications, and networked virtual reality. Whats more, they are figuring out how to cram huge  chunks of realistic graphics, dialogue, and sensory cues onto tiny, inexpensive computer chips. The toy  industry is really at the mercy of technology for the limits it can go to. There are only so many  interesting ways for them to reinvent dolls like Mr. Potato Head before kids are no longer  interested. Dolls like Furby were a step in the right direction, but the fad did not last for very  long. Technology working its way into the toys of the future will bring in a wider audience of interested  kids, but it has to be directed at toys that are more than just popular, but are fun too. The future of toys is bright and exciting. Any new innovation could shape the kinds of toys kids play  with. You can bet that the toys of the future are going to have something of the past, however. AUGMENTED REALITY: JET FUEL FOR THE IMAGINATION The future of toys almost undoubtedly belongs to augmented reality. Mattels i-Tags, will use Augmented Reality will be included with action figures the company will make  for Titanic director James Camerons blockbuster film, Avatar. Augmented reality is an overlay of digital information or imagery on top of real-world objects. WIKIPEDIA: Augmented Reality is a field of computer research that deals with the combination of realToy world and computer-generated data (virtual reality), where computer graphics objects are blended into real footage in real time. Think about it. The possibilities are just about endless, and could mean a whole new life for the kinds of  toys that kids at first play with a lot, and then quickly abandon. By embedding special software in imagery that can be placed just about anywhere on a toy, toy makers will now have an incredibly wide  range of virtual things to add to their physical toys. TOYS OF THE FUTURE ELECTRIC POP UP BOOKS Electronic Popables by Jie Qi is a pop-up book that lights up as you interact with it, producing the most  beautiful and dynamic pop-up pages ever. As you begin to go flip through the book open pages, pull  tabs, press pressure points and fold objects different LED lights will blink away on all over the page. They  can be a very efficient means of connecting holistically with the technology savvy kids. HORIZON HYDROCAR TOY The hydro car is a case in point. It does not depend on  batteries or electricity. Surprisingly this car produces  its own energy, running entirely on water. It is not only  Hydrocars functionality, but also its trendy, scientific  design that sets it apart. SCRIBBLE BOTS Scribble Bots is just a concept at the moment, but the idea is that children  can connect with their friends through the official website and share their  drawings, artwork and also the artistic process. The Scribble bots toy can  record and recreate movement so anyone with a scribble bot can download  your drawing and their scribble bot will draw it right for them, then and  there. TOUCH SENSITIVE VIDEO GAMES Usually, a lot of people do not see any fun in playing with  buttons and joysticks. This concept of touch sensitive games  employs touch sensitive silicon that simulates the terrain in a  game, empowering the users to feel their way through. No  major video game manufacturers are using technology quite  like this as of now, but we could see such technology being  used in the future. PARROT AR DRONE QUADRICOPTER Flying helicopter toys meets handheld video games with the Parrot  AR Drone Quadricopter. This isnt a simple chopper that flies around  the corner and crash because you cant see it. This device has a  built-in camera that lets you see everything from an iPhone or other  similar smart phones. Since joysticks are outdated, this toy uses  tilting gyroscopic controls, tilting the AR Drone as you tilt the  iPhone. MINDFLEX Remote controls are a thing of the past. Toys of the  future use mind control! Mindflex is a telekinetic  obstacle course that uses brainwave activity to move a  ball. Were not really sure how it works, but we like to  believe its because we have sci-fi like psychic powers. MILO The next biggest innovation in the toy world does not  belong to the genre of barbies or remote controlled cars or  thought controlled machines, but a virtual best friend. By  late 2010, Microsoft would release a new add-on for the  Xbox that will replace contr

E.e. Cummings, Poem, Anyone Li Essay -- essays research papers

E.E. Cummings "anyone lived in a pretty how town" I first read this poem and I thought of love, two people in love. Anyone and noone are in love and that is what matters to them, to be in love with each other and with life. It involves the day, the night, and how the weather changes. The seasons revolve and the children grow up to become adults. As I read the poem I realized there were three sections to it. Which consist of anyone and noone, "women and men" in line four, and the children. The first stanza is strange the first time you read it. You do not understand "anyone" is a person and not just anyone. I believe that line six is referring to all of the adults in the town, Cummings does not want us to think of the town people as separate people but as a whole group undistinguishable from on another. This is told in line five where it states "little and small", he is grouping them in very close together. The children are separated into there own group. As they grow through the seasons in lines ni ne, ten, and eleven, they pass on into adulthood. They in essence no longer exist in the poem. The bells ringing might have something to do with them becoming adults, since I do not see them relating to any other parts of the poem. The bells seem to be an important part of the town since they are mentioned in the second line of the poem and those exact lines are repeated in line twenty-four, sixth stanza of th...

Ethernet or Token Ring Checkpoint

Ethernet or Token Ring checkpoint †¢Saguaro Federal has mainframes for all of its banks and businesses. Must the company use the Ethernet or Token Ring protocol? Explain your choice. Why is this choice appropriate? In this particular situation I would have to say that the token ring protocol should be used for its banks and businesses and part of my reasoning is because it has banks and business that are not all located in the same building or so it seems.In Token Ring LAN’s each station is connected to a wiring concentrator called a multistation access unit using UTP or STP. Some topologies for this are a ring or star with the ring topology being the more logical choice. The access method used on a Token Ring is called token which is a special data packet that is generated by the first computer that comes online in a token ring network, this token is passed from one station to another around the ring.A network device only communicates over the network when it has the tok en. †¢XYZ Technology Consultants has offices on the second, third, and fourth floors of the office building it occupies. Must the company use the Ethernet or Token Ring protocol? Explain your choice. Why is this choice appropriate? In the XYZ technology consultants particular situation an Ethernet protocol. What first brought me to this conclusion was due of the company being located in one building on various floors.Ethernet is one of the most popular and widely used LAN technologies because of its speed, reliability, the cost, and lastly its ease of installation. Ethernet networks can be configured in either a star topology using UTP connected to a hub or a bus topology using a coaxial cable acting as a backbone. When a computer wants to send data over the network, it will listen to see if there is any traffic on the network, if it is clear, it will then broadcast the data through the network.

Literature Review Format Essay

This packet details the steps necessary to produce a literature review that may be required for work in various disciplines, including English, history and psychology. This packet is not intended to replace instructor guidelines and should not be used in that manner. The packet’s intended use is as a supplement to classroom instruction on assembling a literature review. Therefore, it contains only general information that must be tailored to fit specific guidelines as required by your discipline and by your instructor. This packet is subdivided into six sections: I. General Information States what a literature review is and what purpose it serves. II. Process Gives step-by-step instructions on how to get started on your literature review. III. Organization Explains the two most common ways of arranging information in a literature review. IV. Format Provides descriptions for two of the most common formats used in a literature review, the item to item comparison and contrast (Format A) and the criteria to criteria comparison and contrast (Format B). V. Checklist Allows appraisal of your completed literature review to assure that it follows all necessary guidelines. VI. Resources Lists helpful resources used to compile this packet so that you may obtain further information. General Information Definition Literature reviews can have two roles: In their first role, they function as a stand-alone paper. At other times they will actually be part of a larger research thesis. In this handout, literature reviews will be referred to in the stand-alone sense. As a stand-alone paper, literature reviews are multi-layered and are more formal and detailed than book reviews. As the author of a literature review, you must become familiar with a large amount of research on a specific topic. You will then develop your own thesis about the topic related to this research. After this, you will classify and critically analyze research on the topic by making a comparison between several different studies and by emphasizing how these studies and their comparison relate to your own thesis. In effect, a literature review is a paper that compiles, outlines and evaluates previously established research and relates it to your own thesis. It provides a context for readers as if they Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 were researching the topic on their own. Just from reading your paper, readers should be able to gain insight into the amount and quality of research on the topic. Your thesis and the literature reviewed serve several important functions within the paper: †¢ Your thesis creates a foundation for the literature review because it helps narrow the topic by providing a sense of direction; however, you will have to conduct some initial research and reading before deciding on an appropriate thesis. Your personal thesis may be a statement addressing some of the following situations: â€Å"why your research needs to be carried out, how you came to choose certain methodologies or theories to work with, how your work adds to the research already carried out† (Brightwell, G. and Shaw, J. , 1997-98), or it may present some other logical perspective. †¢ Reviewed literature is organized in a logical manner that best suits the topic of the review and the hypothesis of the literature (see Organization and Format). The selected method of organization and style of format should draw attention to similarities and differences among the reviewed literature; these similarities and differences are based on specific criteria you revealed in the literature review’s introduction. According to Brightwell and Shaw (1997-98), your goal in the body of the review â€Å". . . should be to evaluate and show relationships between the work already done (Is Researcher Y’s theory more convincing than Researcher X’s? Did Researcher X build on the work of Researcher Y?) and between this work and your own [thesis]. † Additional information on these topics can be found in the Organization and Format sections of this packet. Therefore, carefully planned organization is an essential part of any literature review. Purpose Although literature reviews may vary according to discipline, their overall goal is similar. A literature review serves as a compilation of the most significant sources on a subject and relates the findings of each of these sources in a rational manner while supporting the literature review author’s own thesis. A literature review establishes which sources are most relevant to its author’s point and which sources are most credible to the discipline at hand. In a literature review, the results of previous research are summarized, organized and evaluated. Discipline-Specificity A literature review’s organization, format, level of detail and citation style may vary according to discipline because different disciplines have different audiences. Examples here pertain to the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities. †¢ Natural and social sciences The author of a literature review in the natural or social sciences must pay close attention to measurements, study populations and technical aspects of experimental findings. Typically, a portion of the natural or social sciences literature review is set aside for reviewing sources on the primary topic. Then, a comparative analysis or discussion section is used to analyze the similarities and differences among the sources, tying them in with the literature review author’s original thesis. †¢ Humanities The author of a literature review in the humanities usually does not set aside a special section for reviewing the sources; instead, citations may be found randomly throughout the paper. The literature being reviewed is arranged according to paragraphs based on the author’s points, which in turn, support the author’s thesis. The paper itself may not be called a literature review at all. It is more likely to be called a critical analysis. Remember that the best bet for determining what type of literature review is appropriate for your course is checking with the instructor prior to beginning research. Email at tutor@uhv.edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 REVIEW 1. What is the purpose of a literature review? What is the connection between the author’s thesis and the literature being reviewed? 2. What discipline will your literature review be classified in? Process 1. Find several articles that deal with your research topic. Sometimes it is helpful to review the bibliography of one of the first scholarly sources that you encounter and compare it to the bibliographies of other sources on the topic. If the same source is listed within several of these bibliographies, it is probably a fundamental, credible source that will aid you in your review. 2. Before you begin reviewing literature, realize that you are looking to accomplish two things: A. Defining your research problem/thesis (examples: finding a flaw in research, continuing previous research, etc . . . ) B. Reading and evaluating significant works that are relevant to your research problem. You will be conducting Steps A and B simultaneously because the two form a circular pattern. As you read related sources (Step B), you define your problem, and as you define your problem (Step A) you will more easily be able to decide what material is relevant enough to be worthy of reading (Step B). 3. Once you begin reviewing, make an entry with complete bibliographical information and comments for each work that you are going to include in the review. 4. Compare the articles by evaluating the similarities and differences among them. This will be the initial stage in the formulation of your thesis. 5. Form a thesis that is clearly written and can be logically supported by the literature you will include in your review. 6. View the articles briefly again and jot down any notes that seem to relate to your thesis. 7. Decide which organizational pattern and format are best for the topic of your review. 8. Construct an appropriate outline for the literature review. 9. Write an introduction that introduces the topic, reveals your thesis statement, and arranges key issues. 10. Organize and write the body of your paper according to the appropriate format: topical or chronological. 11. Write a conclusion that reconciles similarities and differences on the topic and reemphasizes the criteria used to arrive at this conclusion. 12. Complete the final draft of the literature review. Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 13. Check over the final draft for grammar and punctuation errors. 14. Use the checklist provided here to make sure that all parts of the literature review are addressed and focused. Establishing a Critical Response for a Literature Review You may find this section helpful at Steps 3, 4 and 5 of the process. When reviewing your sources, explore the following areas to help develop your critical response: What is the purpose of the research or work? What research or literary methods are used? How do the major concepts operate? In a research study, how accurate are the measurements? In a literary work, is the author’s position objective or biased? What are the different interpretations of the results of the study or of the literary work itself? REVIEW 1. What do you consider to be the most crucial step(s) in the process of your literature review? Why? Justify your response(s). Organization A literature review can be arranged either topically or chronologically. Topical organization occurs in reviews where previous research being evaluated is divided into segments with each one representing a part of some larger issue. In a topical review, the author begins by describing the characteristics of research shared by several studies and then moves on to analyze their similarities and differences. For more information, see the example below. Example The organization of a literature review begins in the introduction. For example, in the introduction of a literature review about the effect of seating arrangements on peer tutoring communication, you would first introduce the topic and what your literature review will attempt to assess: †¦Writing centers can set the table for collaborative tutoring sessions through a careful consideration of spatial arrangement . . . Then state what angle is going to be explored: †¦These studies will be used to support the author’s claims that spatial arrangement is instrumental in encouraging collaborative environments in the writing center†¦ Then, arrange key issues that will be addressed in this review by answering questions that you have personally developed and are tailored to fit your topic. In the introduction, give the audience a clear picture of how you will organize your paper: Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129. (361) 570-4288 In the following, I1 first review some relevant research concerning spatial arrangement and then discuss some recommended and alternate seating arrangements to encourage a collaborative environment in the writing center. Finally, I include some other considerations. In the body of this literature review, you would organize the information topically around each point (or question) that you asked yourself: -Research Review -Recommended Spatial Arrangement -Alternative Spatial Arrangement -Other Considerations. Then, write a conclusion that explains the significance of your findings: †¦While the seating arrangements outlined above are generally a good ‘setting’ for peer tutoring sessions, we should remember that each tutoring session is unique. Not all students will be comfortable with a side-by-side spatial arrangement at a round table. Tutors should be perceptive of and receptive to students who may have other spatial needs†¦ Chronological organization occurs when a review is organized in time order and is most often used when a historical context is needed for discussing a topic from its beginning to its current state; chronological organization is  especially helpful when discussing inactive periods and shifts in perspective on a given topic. Example The organization of a literature review begins in the introduction. For example, in the introduction of a literature review entitled Development of Social Science Research on Attitudes Towards Gender in America, you would first introduce the topic and what your review hopes to assess: †¦This literature review will assess the development of research designed to uncover gender attitudes in America during the latter part of the 20th Century†¦ Then state what angle is going to be explored: .. As research progressed throughout the 20th century, the methods that social scientists use for measuring these attitudes developed and changed as well†¦ Then, chronologically arrange issues that will be addressed in this review: Gender stereotypes still exist today, and varying attitudes can be traced over the past fifty years. Survey instruments used to gather data on these varying attitudes have also changed drastically over the course of time. In the body of this literature review, you would organize the information chronologically, adressing each point (or question) that is being asked for a particular time period: -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1950’s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1960’s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1970’s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1980’s -Stereotypes and Survey Instruments of the 1990’s -Current Advancements Always clear the use of I with your instructor. An alternative to this would be the use of third person wording, such as â€Å"This paper reviews some relevant research concerning spatial arrangement and then discusses some recommended and alternate seating arrangements to encourage a collaborative environment in the writing center. † 1 Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 Then, write a conclusion that explains the significance of your findings: Although the survey instruments used in the 1950’s and 1960’s developed an obvious bias when surveying Americans regarding gender attitudes, the 1970’s brought about great change. Today social scientists are more careful than ever about testing the quality of a survey instrument before using it on the general public. Format There are also two suggested formats for composing your literature review. Format A is used when comparing several studies that have similar hypothesis but different findings. Each piece of research is summarized individually. Format A is good for reviews with a small number of entries; however, this format may confuse the audience when used with a large number of reviews because descriptions of so many studies may get in the way of the analysis. Keep in mind that each piece of research usually will not receive equal attention in the review. Format A Outline I. Introduction consists of four parts that are usually discussed in one paragraph. a. Identify the general topic being discussed. b. Mention trends published about the topic. c. State thesis establishing the reason for writing the literature review. d. Explain criteria by giving a description of each of the criteria used in evaluating the literature review and rationalizing its organization II. Literature reviewed section is divided up according to study. a. First study is summarized and discussed. b. Second study is summarized and discussed. c. Third study is summarized and discussed. III. Comparative analysis acknowledges the similarities and differences between studies. a. Similarities (if any) among the studies are evaluated and discussed. b. Differences (if any) among the studies are evaluated and discussed. IV. Conclusion/Summary effectively wraps up the review. a. Summarize points of comparison or contrast among the works based on Section III of your review. b. Provide insight of relationship between the topic of the review and a larger area of study such as a specific discipline or profession Format B. organizes the literature review according to similarities and differences among research rather than by literature studied. In a review organized according to Format B, little background information on the literature being reviewed is given outright. Instead, it is worked into the body paragraphs of the sections on similarities and differences. The conclusion then uses these two sections (similarities and differences) to tie in points of comparison and contrast between the works. Format B better suits papers that are topically organized. Format B is outlined below. Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 Format B Outline I. Introduction consists of four parts usually discussed in one paragraph. a. Identify the general topic being discussed. b. Mention trends published about the topic. c. State thesis establishing the reason for writing the literature review. d. Explain criteria by giving a description of each of the criteria used in evaluating the literature review and rationalizing its organization II. Similiarities within the research are discussed. a. First similarity among research is discussed. b. Second similarity among research is discussed. c. Third similiarity among research is discussed. III. Differences in the research are discussed. a. First difference between research is discussed b. Second difference between research is discussed c. Third difference between research is discussed IV. Conclusion/Summary a. Summarize points of comparison or contrast between the works. b. Provide insight into relationship between the topic of the literature and a larger area of study such as a specific discipline or profession. The most important thing to remember when organizing a literature review is that it is not a list summarizing one work after another. The review should be organized into sections according to theme that are set apart by subject-related headings. REVIEW 1. Which format have you chosen for your literature review? Why? A Literature Review Checklist: Did I . . . . . . ? ? Establish a valid thesis based on the examined research ? State this thesis clearly in my introduction ? Define unfamiliar terms ? Incorporate background information to define the problem ? Begin each entry in the review with a complete bibliographical reference ? List and describe the hypothesis/thesis in each work reviewed Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288 ? Describe the outcome of the work or the research ? Develop and incorporate my own comments, including response to the research, similarities and differences among literature reviewed, and reservations regarding author’s methods or conclusions ? Avoid overquoting ? Check for grammar and punctuation errors ? Correctly cite all references in uniform documentation style Resources Brightwell, G. and Shaw, J. (1997-98). Writing up research. Retrieved August 20, 2002 from Languages and Educational Development at the Asian Institute of Technology’s Web page at http://www. languages. ait. ac. th/EL21OPEN. HTM Central Queensland University Library. (2000). The literature review. Retrieved July 22, 2003 from http://www. library. cqu. edu. au/litreviewpages/ Cuba, L. (2002). A short guide to writing about social science. New York: Addison-Wesley Publishers. Leibensperger, S. (2003). Setting the table: Encouraging collaborative environments with spatial arrangement in the writing center. Unpublished literature review. Northern Arizona University. (1999). Electronic textbook – A blast from the past: Your literature review. Retrieved May 30, 2002 from http://jan. ucc. nau. edu/~mid/edr720/class/literature/blast/reading21-1. html Taylor, D. , & Procter, M. (2001). The literature review: A few tips on conducting it. Retrieved June 17, 2002 from http://www. utoronto. ca/writing/litrev. html Trinder, L. (2002). Appendix. The literature review. Retrieved August 27, 2003 http://www. uea. ac. uk/~w071/teaching/ppf/Appendix%20Lit%20Review. pdf The University of Wisconsin-Madison Writing Center. (2001). Academic writing: Reviews of literature. Retrieved May 30, 2002 from http://www. wisc. edu/writing/Handbook/ReviewofLiterature. html *In traditional APA style, this section would be entitled â€Å"References† and would be listed on a separate page double-spaced. Due to space constraints in this packet, it has been formatted differently. Copyright 2003 by the Academic Center and the University of Houston-Victoria. Created 2003 by Candice Chovanec-Melzow. Email at tutor@uhv. edu University West, room 129 (361) 570-4288.