Linguistic analysis of Gypsie's (ROMANI) dialect of Cyprus (I WOULD Research Paper

Linguistic analysis of Gypsie's (ROMANI) dialect of Cyprus (I WOULD LIKE ONLY A PROPOSAL) - Research Paper Example Romani is a phenomenon of Indic language - the only one - spoken without interruption in Europe since medieval times (Gray 2003). Academic and ethnic studies have largely ignored the existence of this enclave: a glaring omission of which linguistic analysis is urgently required. This Cyprian pocket of Gypsies merits analysis and accurate recording, or the language of such a small and scattered population runs the risk of complete extinction within a few generations (Williams 2000). A detailed study will attempt to discover salient adaptations of this special dialect, and which linguistic system: morphological, phonological, lexical, or syntactical, carries the highest proportion of detectable loan adaptations. The lexical miscellany that survives does evolve, and therefore requires documentation (Trimiklitios 2008). Analysis is needed of certain terms and structures, as in this example: A project currently under way at Manchester University in England has the Romani language, its Indo-Aryan origins and history, and the diaspora of its speakers, under a magnifying glass. It studies ‘place, mobility and dialect differentiation of the Romani people’, exploring the linguistic features and their distribution in geographical space (Matras 2009), using interviews and custom software. Readings of this study and others like it will be invaluable: firstly to discern any mention of the Cypriot Kurbet, and then to understand different methodologies and styles of inquiry. It will provide an excellent launching point, show what already has been discovered and what problems solved, and help decision-making. It has already resolved matters of geneaolgy and culture. Starting with a similar foray into the history and culture of the Cypriot Kurbet, this proposal for research will deepen into an examination of the linguistic shifts and the reasons behind them, with the primary intention of setting up a lexicon of record. The plan is to carry out a

Criminal Investigation - Cover Identity and Story Assignment

Criminal Investigation - Cover Identity and Story - Assignment Example There were people who sold drugs there and were involved in other criminal activities like stealing, terrorizing people, and so on. We formed a gang of our own and started enjoying activities such as troubling and terrorizing people, stealing things and snatching money from people. My mother was worried about my sisters and me. She enrolled me in a nearby school, but I always ran away from there to join my friends. I got arrested thrice till now. Once because of a street fight when I was sent to children’s jail, then because of stealing and hitting a woman in the juvenile jail and then once more to juvenile jail because of breaking in a house. Otherwise, I am the good player at doing certain activities for which, I get away without being arrested. Every time when I was arrested, I met with new friends who supported me in my life. I started living away from my mother and sisters when I turned fifteen. I do not know anything about them now, as I lead a self-reliant life now. I do not like to live with family or friends, as I like a lonely and independent life. However, I enjoy drinking and playing games with friends. Previously, I was in California and I ran from there because I had a clash with some people who tried to kill me. I need a place to live and want some work so that I can earn something for my survival. I can also live with someone who is ready to accommodate me and I can do the work that he assigns me to whatever nature it is. I can do all the works that a person can do. I can sell products legal or illegal as I have already sold drugs before in California. Nevertheless, you know that I have left the place now, so everything here is new for me and I want someone to help me. Part II: In two to three pages, explain how you chose this identity and how you will make it work. How does it fit your knowledge and experience? How will you remember your story and keep your statements/facts consistent? I chose the identity of a criminal with the help of Kozol’s book, â€Å"Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-five years among the poorest children in America."  Ã‚  

Concepts of Money Measurement

Concepts of Money Measurement Business Entity Concept can also be known as separate entity concept. A business entity concept is the financial activities are record distinct from the people who finance it such as owners, creditors, customers, and employers. The accounting records reflect the financial activities of a specific corporate entity. So, the business should separately from the proprietor or investor. When the profit is return in to the business, the profit must be taken into account. For example, the sole trader invests available funds in the market share account. These available funds are not affecting the financial status of the business itself. Money Measurement Concept Money Measurement Concept is expressed in monetary term. Every transaction is records in terms of money. If the transaction cannot be measured in monetary term, then the transaction cannot be taken into account. Going Concern Concept Going concern concept is the business that expected that a business will continue to operate its business for the next 12 months or next accounting period. This concept assumes that the business is going on steadily training for year to year without reducing its operation. When an enterprise liquidates or scale down a part of operation of the enterprise, the ability of the enterprise to continue as going concern concept is not impaired normally. Materiality Concept This materiality concept is refers to purposes paying attention to important events and ignoring insignificant accounting items as well as suggests small aster purchases or improvements should be initially written off as an expense. Prudence concept Prudence concept is taking a proper caution in measuring profit and income. Prudence must be exercised when preparing financial statements because of the uncertainty surrounding many transactions. In this concept, income should not be anticipated at all possible losses should be provided for. a.) Give FOUR reasons why depreciation may occur. The definition of the depreciation is refers to noncash expense that reduces the value of an asset as a result of wear and tear, age, or obsolescence. Most assets lose their value over time and must be replaced once the end of their useful life is reached. The main reason of the depreciation is due to the physical wear and tear and the passage of time. For example, the value of the car is reduced over time as new model is introduced to the market, or the value of used motor vehicles is lower than a similar model but new motor vehicles. The second reason is obsolescence of the asset. For instance, the old machine in a factory is become more obsolescence due to time that the machine used. After many years, the value of the machine is depreciated because the residual or scrap value of the asset and similar new machine is come out in the market. The third reason is passage of time. Some assets diminish in value on account of sheer passage of time, even though they are not used. For example, the patent rights, copy rights and lease hold property. The forth reason is depletion of the asset. The depletion is to provide for the consumption on charge against earnings, based on the amount of wasting natural resources that are taken out of total available reserves during an accounting period. 2 b.) A firm buys a motor vehicles in January 20X5 for RM10,000. Calculate the annual depreciation for the first four years using. Reducing Balance Method, at an annual rate of 20%. Reducing Balance Method: Depreciation: Reduced Balance: Year 1 (20X5) 20% x RM 10,000 = RM 2,000 (RM 10,000 2,000) = RM 8,000 Year 2 (20X6) 20% x RM 8,000 = RM 1,600 (RM 8,000 1,600) = RM 6,400 Year 3 (20X7) 20% x RM 6,400 = RM 1,280 (RM 6,400 1,280) = RM 5,120 Year 4 (20X8) 20% x RM 5,120 = RM 1,024 (RM5, 120 1,024) = RM 4,096 Straight Line Method, if the vehicle is to be sold in four years time for RM2,000. Straight Line Method: Depreciation per year = = = RM 2,000 Dt Motor Vehicle account Ct ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   RM ÂÂ   ÂÂ   RM 20X5 20X5 Jan 1 Bank 10,000 Dec 31 Balance c/d 10,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X6 20X6 Jan 1 Balance b/d 10,000 Dec 31 Balance c/d 10,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X7 20X7 Jan 1 Balance b/d 10,000 Dec 31 Balance c/d 10,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X8 20X8 Jan 1 Balance b/d 10,000 Dec 31 Balance c/d 10,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Dt Provision for Depreciation on Vehicle Ct ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   RM ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   RM 20X5 20X5 Dec 31 Balance c/d 2,000 Dec 31 Profit Loss A/C 2,000 ÂÂ   20X6 20X6 Dec 31 Balance c/d 4,000 Jan 1 Balance b/d 2,000 Dec 31 Profit Loss A/C 2,000 4,000 4,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X7 20X7 Dec 31 Balance c/d 6,000 Jan 1 Balance b/d 4,000 Dec 31 Profit Loss A/C 2,000 6,000 ÂÂ   6,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X8 20X8 Dec 31 Balance c/d 8,000 Jan 1 Balance b/d 6,000 Dec 31 Profit Loss A/C 2,000 8,000 ÂÂ   8,000 Profit Loss Account ( extract ) for the year ended 31 December ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X5 20X6 20X7 20X8 Operating expenses : RM RM RM RM Depreciation of Motor Vehicle 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 Balance Sheet ( extract ) as at 31 December ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   20X5 20X6 20X7 20X8 Fixed Assets RM RM RM RM Motor Vehicle, at cost 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 Less : Provision for depreciation 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 Net book value 8,000 6,000 4,000 2,000 ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   ÂÂ   Calculate the cost of raw materials issued from the following data using : DATE PURCHASES SALES JAN 15 units x RM 10.00 FEB 10 units x RM 10.50 APRIL 20 units x RM 25.00 JUN 8 units x RM 11.00 AUG 10 units x RM 25.00 SEPT 20 units x RM12.00 NOV 13 units x RM 25.00 a.) LIFO method Date Purchases Cost of goods sold Balance Jan 15units x RM 10 15units x RM 10 = RM 150 Feb 10units x RM10.50 10units x RM 10.50 = RM 105 TOTAL 25 units @ RM 225 April 10units x RM10.50 10units x RM 10 10units x RM10.50 = RM105 10units x RM 10 = RM100 TOTAL 5 units x RM10 = RM 50 Jun 8 units x RM11 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 TOTAL 5 units x RM10 = RM 50 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 13 units @ RM 138 August 8 units x RM 11 2 units x RM 10 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 2 units x RM 10 = RM 20 10 units @ RM 108 TOTAL 3 units x RM 10 = RM 30 Sept 20 units x RM 12 20 units x RM 12 = RM 240 TOTAL 3 units x RM 10 = RM 30 20 units x RM 12 = RM 240 23 units @ RM 270 Nov 13 units x RM 12 13 units x RM 12 = RM 156 Closing stock 3 units x RM 10 = RM 30 7 units x RM 12 = RM 84 10 units @ RM 114 Sales = ( 20 units + 10 units + 13 units ) x RM 25 = RM 1075 Cost of goods sold = (10units x RM10.50) + (10units x RM 10 ) + (8 units x RM 11 ) + (2 units x RM 10 ) + ( 13 units x RM 12 ) = RM 105 + RM 100 + RM 88 + RM 20 + RM 156 = RM 469 GROSS PROFIT =Sales Cost of Goods Sold = RM1075 RM469 = RM606 b.) FIFO method Date Purchase Cost of goods sold Balance Jan 15 units x RM 10 15 units x RM 10 = RM 150 Feb 10 units x RM 10.50 10 units x RM 10.50= RM 105 TOTAL 25 units @ RM155 April 15 units x RM 10 5 units x RM 10.50 15 units x RM 10 = RM 150 5 units x RM 10.50= RM 52.50 20 units @ RM 202.50 TOTAL 5 units x RM 10.50 = RM 52.50 Jun 8 units x RM 11 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 TOTAL 5 units x RM 10.50 = RM 52.50 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 13 units @ RM 140.50 August 5 units x RM 10.50 5 units x RM 11 5 units x RM 10.50 = RM 52.50 5 units x RM 11 = RM 55 10 units @ RM 107.50 TOTAL 3 units x RM 11 = RM 33 Sept 20 units x RM 12 20 units x RM 12 = RM 240 TOTAL 3 units x RM 11 = RM 33 20 units x RM 12 = RM 240 23 units @ RM273 Nov 3 units x RM 11 10 units x RM 12 3 units x RM 11 = RM 33 10 units x RM 12 = RM 120 13 units @ RM 153 Closing stock 10 units x RM 12 = RM 120 Sales = ( 20 units + 10 units + 13 units ) x RM 25 = RM 1075 Cost of goods sold = ( 15 units x RM 10 ) + ( 5 units x RM 10.50 ) + ( 5 units x RM 10.50 ) + ( 5 units x RM 11 ) + ( 3 units x RM 11 ) + ( 10 units x RM 12 ) = RM 150 + RM 52.50 + RM 52.50 + RM 55 + RM 33 + RM 120 = RM 463 GROSS PROFIT =Sales Cost of Goods Sold =RM1075 RM463 =RM612 c.) Average cost method Date Purchases Cost of goods sold Balance Jan 15 units x RM 10 15 units x RM 10 = RM 150 Feb 10 units x RM 10.50 10 units x RM 10.50 = RM 105 WAVCO 15 units x RM 10 = RM 150 10 units x RM 10.50 = RM 105 25 units @ RM 225 = RM 10.20 / units April 20 units x RM 10.20 20 units x RM 10.20 = RM 204 TOTAL 5 units x RM 10.20 = RM 51 Jun 8 x RM 11 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 WAVCO 5 units x RM 10.20 = RM 51 8 units x RM 11 = RM 88 13 units @ RM 139 = RM 10.69 / units August 10 units x RM 10.69 10 units x RM 10.69 = RM 106.90 TOTAL 3 units x RM 10.69 = RM 32.07 Sept 20 units x RM 12 20 units x RM 12 = RM 240 WAVCO 3 units x RM 10.69 = RM 32.07 20 units x RM 12 = RM 240 23 units @ RM 272.07 = RM 11.83 / units Nov 13 units x RM 11.83 13 units x RM 11.83 = RM 153.79 Closing stock 10 units x RM 11.83 = RM 118.30 Sales = ( 20 units + 10 units + 13 units ) x RM 25 = RM 1075 Cost of Goods Sold = ( 20 units x RM 10.20 ) + ( 10 units x RM 10.69 ) + (13 units x RM 11.83 ) = RM 204 + RM 106.90 + RM 153.79 = RM 464.69 GROSS PROFIT =Sales Cost of Goods Sold = RM1075 RM 464.69 = RM 610.31 5a.) Explain clearly the difference between capital expenditure and revenue expenditure. Capital expenditure is acquired to be used in business operation to generate revenue for a period of more than one year. Capital expenditure is the money that spends on buying asset. For instance, office equipment and motor vehicle are the examples of the capital expenditure. Capital expenditure also can be considered as the useful economic life of the asset. Therefore, the expenditure incurred is allocated over the period it is used to match the revenue earned. On the other hand, revenue expenditure are incur in the current year in the business operation. The revenue expenditure is the expenditure on the wages, premises, and utility bills. Therefore, the revenue expenditure need to written off to the profit and loss account in the year in order to measure the profit or loss. This is an accounting concept termed matching and accruals concept. Revenue expenditure also is the money that spends to obtain the use of the asset and maintain the dairy operation of the business. b.) Classify the following items as capital or revenue expenditure. i .) Cost of new machinery Capital expenditure ii . ) Petrol and oil for the motor vehicle Revenue expenditure iii . ) Wages of office staff Revenue expenditure iv . ) Extension of factory Capital expenditure v . ) Repainting office Revenue expenditure vi . ) Cost of road tax and insurance for new van Capital expenditure vii . ) Cost of road tax and insurance for existing van Revenue expenditure viii . ) Repair and maintenance of existing van Revenue expenditure ix . ) Legal fees paid in connection with factory extension Revenue expenditure x . ) Cost of painting firms name on new van Capital expenditure Bibliography Internet sources Wikipedia 2009, Entity concept, 5 Dec, viewed by 3 July 2010 BusinessDictionary.com 2010, business entity concept, viewed by 18 June 2010 Tutor2u, accounting concept and conventions, viewed by 18 June 2010 Anil Kumar Gupta 2007, Depreciation, Causes of Depreciation, Need for Provision of Depreciation , 2 June ,viewed by 18 June 2010

Living with Computers :: Essays Papers

Living with Computers Ergonomics is the study of the physical relationships between humans and their tools, such as computers. Office chairs should be adjustable in height and should have lower-back support and arm rests. Desks that allow proper keyboard height and special ergonomic keyboards have been developed to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, a type of repetitive stress injury. To avoid damaging your eyes, avoid starring at the screen for long periods, position yourself from the monitor between two and five feet from your eyes, make sure no bright lights reflect off your screen, and use a monitor that has a relatively large screen without noticeable flicker. The computer industry has become know the fast pace rate of obsolescence, with both hardware and software being replaced every couple of years. Some of the leading toxic wastes coming form homes and offices are heavy metals used extensively in batteries, such as cadmium. Although some experts recommend leaving computers on all the time, this practice was shown to consume unnecessary amounts of electricity. One response has been the development of energy star equipment, which conserves electricity even when left on. Our legal system is gradually developing a code of laws to provide a legal framework for working with computers and on the Internet. The most prevalent breach of law in cyberspace is software piracy, the illegal copying or use of a program. Copyright laws relevant to computers and software are covered by the Copyright Act of 1976 and the Software Piracy and counterfeiting Amendment of 1983. Instead of building copy protection into their programs, most software developers discourage privacy among organizations by offering site licenses and network versions. Software viruses are parasitic programs that can replicate themselves, infect computers, and destroy data. Users can protect their data and software by using an anti-virus program. Hardware is sometimes stolen for the value of the data stored on it rather that for the value of the machine itself. Government, legal professionals, and computing professionals continue to debate computer-related ethical questions and attempt to develop laws that protect the freedoms of computer users while limiting immoral or illegal use of computers. Few actual laws, however, have been created or enforced to requiring computer users to let their own sense of ethics guide them.

Virtual Reality Research Paper

Technology has transformed people’s perception of the world by either creating new environments for them to traverse, or by providing them passage to corners of the earth they will never otherwise visit in their entire lifetimes. Technology has put to reality what people in the past could only dream of. Virtual reality, briefly defined as an environment that is computer-simulated, has transcended social and geographical barriers ever since its applications have been increasingly used by everyday people. Social and geographical barriers are just terms of the past and do not anymore apply on the strictest sense. Everyone can be anyone online. Whereas before it was limited only to labyrinth and high-cost applications availed of by expert users, virtual reality has now broadened its breadth to encompass the general public – which optimizes the Internet to configure, share and create virtual communities – benefitting society in the areas of education, law enforcement, medicine and industries. Defining Virtual Reality Virtual reality is an environment, which is computer-simulated, and the simulation could be that of an imaginary world, or a real one (Gajera, n.d.). Virtual reality environments are mainly three-dimensional â€Å"visual experiences† that are â€Å"displayed either on a screener through special or stereoscopic displays,† and enhanced by sensory information such as sounds that emanate from headphones or speakers (Gajera, n.d., p. 3). There are modern applications that provide force feedback or tactile information, which are generally used for gaming and medical applications. To experience this, multi-modal devices such as the omni directional treadmill, the Polhemus boom arm, or a wired glove is used, as in Figure 1 at Appendix Page (Gajera, n.d.). Michael R. Heim, in his book entitled, â€Å"The Metaphysics of Virtual Reality,† has named seven applications of virtual reality: network communication, full-body immersion, telepresence, immersion, artificiality, interaction and simulation (Gajera, n.d.). In light of these, a virtual environment may be defined as a digital space in which a user’s activities are monitored, and â€Å"his or her surroundings rendered, or digitally composed and displayed to the senses, in accordance with† those activities (Fox, Arena & Bailenson, 2009, p. 95). According to Jesse Fox, Dylan Arena, and Jeremy N. Bailenson, the critical element of the most fascinating virtual reality experiences is the hindering real, sensory impressions; a user’s senses are engaged in the virtual world, with the body consigned to a reality engine, as in Figure 1 at Appendix Page (Fox, Arena & Bailenson, 2009, p. 95). Technically, the virtual reality system uses both software and hardware which allow developers to produce virtual reality systems (Riva, 2009). The hardware elements are equipments, such as the central processing unit, the monitor, and other peripheral tools that receive inputs coming from devices that are manipulated by the user, and sends â€Å"multi-sensory output† to generate an imagery of a virtual world (Riva, 2009, p. 337). Meanwhile, the software element of a virtual reality system does not really create the virtual world. Rather, there is a separate software which projects the virtual world through the use of the virtual reality software system (Riva, 2009, p. 337). Hence, a virtual reality system is made up of a graphic rendering system, a â€Å"database construction and virtual object modeling software† and the input and output tools (Riva, 2009). The Impact of Virtual Reality on Society Virtual Reality has taken the world by storm, and is now tagged as the next dominant technological development. In the same way as the Internet, virtual reality was created for a specific purpose – but modern technology has made it more versatile. At first, virtual reality was conceptualized as a new medium of entertainment; but as time passed, it has found more useful uses from providing online education, to applications in the medical field and giving hope to people with terminal diseases. Currently, virtual reality is used in (i) businesses, specifically in the presentation of graphs and charts, (ii) industries like the automotive industry’s manufacturing arm, (iii) military for simulations and training, (iv) medical field for treatments of various ailments and disorders, and (v) education, specifically in laboratories, online education and virtual museums (Fortune City, 2010). It is foreseen that in the future, virtual reality will further enhance training at medical schools, commercial airlines, the Air Force, and will even be utilized by clothing manufacturers in the form of virtual reality shopping (Fortune City, 2010). 1. Education Educators and scientists have joined forces all throughout the U.S. to establish virtual reality education to students and teachers alike, through the use of head-mounted displays (HMD), Immersawalls, ImmersaDesks and Cave Automated Virtual Environments (CAVEs), see Figure 3 at Appendix Page (Rusch, Sherman & Thakkar, 2002, p. 205). CAVE has a standard size of 10’ x 10’ x 10’ space and has a floor, ceiling and three walls. Students utilizing this system don stereographic glasses which intensify images, and use a CAVE wand to assist that user as, i.e., molecule, or pedestrian, or fish, in navigating the virtual environment (Rusch, Sherman & Thakkar, 2002, p. 205). This is just a bird’s eye view of the role that virtual reality will play in education. Despite the fact that there are a good number of educational applications of virtual reality being availed of in the U.S. these days, the development of virtual reality has not yet achieved its maximum potential in the classroom (Rusch, Sherman & Thakkar, 2002, p. 205). The field of Career Technical Education has begun to benefit from virtual reality. Students can explore operating rooms, submarines, a prototype car, airplane cockpits, biotech laboratories, crime scenes and agricultural farms without having to travel, through the use of virtual reality (Ausburn & Ausburn, 2008). Again, through the use of CAVEs and HMDs, students are provided with three-dimensional simulations to give them a â€Å"sense of ‘being there’† (Ausburn & Ausburn, 2008, p. 43). This is not only beneficial in giving students a feel of the real thing but is also highly cost-effective for them. Those who cannot afford these courses in the past because of costs associated with training are now able to enroll in CTE courses because of virtual reality. A good number of careers necessitate learning that will allow individuals to safely carry out their tasks amid dangerous circumstances. In the past, students had to actually go through the tests using real-life situations. Because virtual reality is supremely realistic, it enables the student to benefit from active involvement with accurate and intricate visual scenes (Ausburn & Ausburn, 2008). Hence, training programs utilize virtual reality for railway and mining operations, dangerous driving scenarios, handling of hazardous materials, nuclear energy, marine exploration, space and aviation exploration, emergency medical operations, firefighting, military and law enforcement (Ausburn & Ausburn, 2008). The aim of these training programs is to teach students how to efficiently and effectively respond under high-cost, high-risk and complex circumstances, without damaging equipment and endangering personnel while still at training. There is no need for students to be apprehensive about the trainings because they are all simulated and safe. Despite being safe, they resemble the real scenarios such that students learn what they need to learn to equip them with the skills needed to respond according. The military uses simulated environments for its engineering squad to allow them to build or dismantle structures under different constraints without the personnel's lives in danger. Educational programs for courses like spray painting, bio-technology, aircraft maintenance, crime scene investigation and forensics, engineering, dentistry, surgical technology and welding also benefit from virtual technology. Because the technology is still fairly new, CAVEs are expensive to avail of. Moreover, it is also expensive to implement and sustain, because of the specialized skills that are needed to set it up and maintain it. Nevertheless, as technology continues to evolve, there is much promise for virtual reality systems that may be used through laptops or desktops, utilizing special software that are based on JAVA, Flash and QuickTime technologies (Ausburn & Ausburn, 2008). Figure 4 illustrates how virtual reality may be accessed from a web system (Ottoson & Holmdahl, 2007). Because of the benefits offered by virtual reality technologies, there is a high degree of enthusiasm surrounding it in the world of the academe. Figure 5 summarizes the benefits of virtual reality in education. 2. Law Enforcement Taking its cue from the September 11 terrorist attacks, the U.S. has been innovating on taking protective measures preserve the security of its citizenry. One effective way of doing this is through the use virtual reality for training and intelligence gathering purposes. The U.S. intelligence community has been using virtual reality to simulate â€Å"actual battlefields in the future,† utilizing cyber weapons for initiating attacks against terrorists and other potential adversaries (Wilson, 2008, p. 4). Military use of virtual technology is efficient and effective in training personnel manage better under potentially risky scenarios. Participants utilize avatars in virtual environments that simulate, i.e., a checkpoint in Iraq, or a New York subway tunnel subjected to terroristic chemical attacks (Wilson, 2008). The downside is that a study conducted in 2007 showed that American firms are not ready to take the lead in embracing Web 2.0 technology which is the foundation of virtual technology in the years to come. The leaders in this area are (i) India, with plans of escalating their virtual reality investments by 80%, (ii) Asia-Pacific companies, by 69%, (iii) European companies, by 65%, (iv) Chinese companies, by 64%, (v) North American companies, by 64%, and (v) Latin American companies, by 62% (Wilson, 2008, p. 4). Number one in the list, India, has been showing a strong economic presence in the global markets. Figure 6 indicates its industry production forecast until 2012 (Economist Intelligence Unit, 2010). The implication here is whether the U.S. can protect its citizens if its virtual reality servers and communication systems were operated by another country – very much possible, by an enemy nation. Under wraps in the virtual reality program of the military is â€Å"Sentient Worldwide Simulation,† which will depict mass casualty events, that not only need military action but medical interventions as well. Hence, this program includes virtual reality hospital rooms that emulate military and civilian facilities, populated by avatars representing victims, casualties, nurses, the National Coast Guard and other first responders. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, virtual reality was used as a training ground for emergency responders in the event of man-made or natural disasters. Other training simulation modules are â€Å"Urban Resolve,† for urban war fighting in Baghdad in the year 2015, with over two million simulated objects (Wilson, 2008, p. 5). In addition to this, â€Å"Noble Resolve† is being developed, which is a training exercise covering â€Å"homeland security scenarios† in the event of a terroristic attack in various strategic locations in the country (Wilson, 2008, p. 5). This allows personnel the opportunity to hone their skills in coordinating and responding. Meanwhile, police units utilize virtual reality programs such as the Meggitt Training System, which teaches basic firearms skills and responses in â€Å"both shoot/don’t shoot decision making (Griffith, 2009). The Los Angeles Police Department uses the IES Milo System; the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police Department uses the Advanced Interactive Systems; and, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department uses the IVR-300. Most of these systems permit multiple students in the virtual environment (Griffith, 2009). 3. Medicine Techniques in virtual reality are increasingly being utilized in medical education, treatment and diagnosis (Yellowlees, 2009). Early adoptions of virtual reality in the field of medicine pertained to representation of intricate data emanating from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) (Yellowlees, 2009). Recently, virtual reality has been applied to virtual colonoscopy in which information from â€Å"contrast enhanced abdominal CT scan† is utilized to present a â€Å"fly-through of the colon† which is then used for screening for colon cancer. Virtual reality is also used to let medical professionals study the heart and the brain without causing damages to these organs in real people (Yellowlees, 2009). They can examine different diseases in simulated environments, as well as, responses necessary to prevent patients suffering from fatal attacks. Phobias and post-traumatic stress disorders are also being treated now using virtual reality, Figures 7 and 8 illustrate virtual environments for the treatment of agoraphobia (Cà ¡rdenas, Munoz, Gonzà ¡lez, and Uribarren, 2006). These virtual environments can help patients confront their fears by recreating them using computer technology. In particular, training for medical students are enhanced by the use of a virtual psychosis environment, wherein they have the opportunity to experience visual and auditory hallucinations of schizophrenic patients (Yellowlees, 2009). As mentioned earlier, indispensable training may be provided by virtual reality for mass casualty, as well as for disaster response and medical emergencies. Although it has been found out that the use of standardized patients for training such as these were more effective because of the realism element, virtual reality simulations were more cost-effective, it was also advantageous in the sense that the simulations may be repeated unlimitedly, so that skills may be practiced and mastered (Yellowlees, 2009). Virtual reality has been used in other areas of medicine like in chemotherapy distraction intervention, providing leisure time opportunities for people with intellectual and physical disabilities, brain damage rehabilitation for stroke victims, smoking cessation, physical therapy, autism, mental retardation and other relevant areas. 4. Business Marketing efforts for businesses have been greatly enhanced by virtual reality. Business owners can now advertise their products over various multi-media, and depict a 360-degree image of products that they are manufacturing, marketing and selling. Websites have been high-tech critical missions for Top 500 companies, triggering a competition on virtual reality advertising (Kassaye, 2006). Figure 9 depicts a chart tracing these new breed of competitors and how they fare through their communication objectives (Kassaye, 2006). Meanwhile, virtual reality is also useful for the manufacturing process, because layout planning for assembly systems and machines require â€Å"more data than the basis geometry (Okulicz, 2004). Moreover, 3D CAD Systems are not effective for plotting out production processes, and virtual reality has no restrictions as the two aforementioned processes (Okulicz,2004). In addition to this, virtual reality provides semi-immersive and/or interactive immersive visuali zation that is essential for the visual estimation of each manufacturing process (Okulicz, 2004). With some slight overlap with the aforementioned field of Education, virtual reality platforms are valuable in training and education for businesses. For instance, â€Å"developing, testing and operating† sophisticated machinery and fixing it under tight tire pressure when it malfunctions are some skills that employees in the industries have to master (Blumel, Termath and Haase, 2009). Companies benefit from investing in learning platforms like the Fraunhoffer IFF Learning Platform which utilizes virtual reality in customizing training modules to suit its end users’ levels of knowledge through configuration (Blumel, Termath & Haase, 2009). Virtual Reality in the field of business encompasses a much broader scope, and development in this area is anticipated to be quick and impressive. In some industries, particularly that of construction, virtual reality has been applied to simulate office environments wherein real-time coordination can be done. This is very useful in project management wherein the main participants are located in different locations. They can simply log on to the virtual environment and provide updates for others to see. There is no need to call on meetings in a physical location because this can be done in virtual reality. Conclusion People have benefited from virtual reality in more ways than one, attesting to the fact that it has positively impacted society in general. Education has been enhanced by virtual reality, and students have been provided a new dimension of learning that prepares them for their chosen careers more efficiently. The dangers associated with real situations have been eliminated because they can already be replicated using virtual reality. Students get the benefit of the trainings without facing real dangers. Meanwhile, security measures being adopted by the government have been highlighted with modern technology, especially virtual reality. Police and military forces can now be trained for highly-dangerous scenarios, without actually exposing them to great risks, which is similar to what students do. The military and special forces in particular greatly benefits from virtual simulations because they can rehearse their acts before going to missions in dangerous lands. On the other hand, the medical field has furthered its growth due to the advent of virtual reality. Of the advantages of virtual reality, this is one of the most significant because of its potential in assisting scientists discover life-saving technologies and techniques. Lastly, business enterprises also benefit from virtual technology, to enable organizations to compete more in international markets. Virtual reality has a long way to go, and more benefits are anticipated for humankind. Its potentials are still great and th e possibilities remain vast for applying virtual technology to life.

Chess vs Human

It is hard to distinguish between that that is better in chess Human or Artificial Intelligence. Some would say humans because of their critical thinking and throwing computer off guard. And others would say artificial intelligence like Deep Blue because of its capability to calculate upto 4,000,000 chess moves per second as compare to human chess player who could only calculate upto three moves in a second. But in my opinion I think human has the upper hand. Human plays better chess than Artificial Intelligence. We know that presently computers can only use the intelligence that is load in it.It is not capable of thinking anything else as human minds can do so. All the moves that computer make are based on the series of calculations and this all based on the positions of the pieces on the chessboard. A computer chess program like Deep Blue makes its move by using its evaluation function. The evaluation function is an algorithm that measures the chess position. Positions with positiv e values are good for ‘White’ and positions with negative values are good for ‘Black’ (IBM Research – Deep Blue – Overview).Here is where I think that human has the upper hand while playing chess with an artificial intelligence. Human chess players use their skills, judgment and previous experiences to decide about the moves they are going to make next (Connor, 1993). And artificial intelligence moves are based on its algorithms and so a human chess player can disturb its algorithms making an unusual move that artificial intelligence does not recognize. In 1996, Gary Kasparov beat Deep Blue by 4-2 in a â€Å"regulation-style match† held in Philadelphia.Although Gary Kasparov lost the opening game to Deep Blue but he came game back and won the game 2. â€Å"Gary Kasparov won in an interesting ending, though due to programming errors the computer in that game played without any opening database. Two draws followed. Kasparov's second win came in Game 5 after the IBM programmers refused a draw offer even though Deep Blue considered the position roughly equal. In this game, Deep Blue demonstrated its lack of understanding of the danger of a kingside pawn majority.In Game 6, Kasparov totally outplayed Deep Blue by gaining a ecisive space advantage and by avoiding any weaknesses. In this game, Kasparov trapped the computer's rook and bishop, in part because the IBM programmers had never properly adjusted a parameter that signals when bishops are trapped† (Lesson 4: Deep Blue vs. Kasparov). Here a human player skills, experience and critical thinking helped him to win the match against artificial intelligence. Also it also shows that artificial intelligence has flaws in its. And how can it not have flaws. Artificial intelligence is created by us ‘Humans’. And we are not the perfect being on this planet.So how could we create something that is better or at our level in every circumstance of the life? We could not. We tried cloning and we failed in it to. So how could we create an artificial intelligence that is by no means different from us? We are not God, so we could not create anything like what He has created. â€Å"Although Man has done a pretty good job in creating his own complexities here on Earth, they're still nowhere near what Nature has done on her own†(Artificial intelligence vs. Human intelligence). Furthermore, the human brain has the capacity to do anything.Its possibilities are endless, which is why the imagination is so powerful. And computers lack the traits of humans; they are tools for our use and are limited physically. Computer cannot do anything on its own. Series of arguments and methods are inserted in it in order to preform an action. â€Å"But humans have the capacity to store information indefinitely, seeing as how we cannot be rebooted or turned off/on†(Intelligence: Artificial vs. Human). Also â€Å"The human brain is the most complex part of the human body if not the most complex subject known to human kind.Although a computer may work on a complicated series of circuits and processors it is a relatively simple item to understand in comparison to the human brain. So many important functions of the brain is beyond our understanding and has un-quantifiable properties† (Artificial Intelligence). Thus a simple program, which uses artificial intelligence by no means, is capable of beating a complex human brain. Another important point is that Howard’s mentioned is that intelligence suddenly changed in the last 30 years, while several putative causal factors had been present since 1920, such as the fact that chess became a popular sport, many illions played.Also chess participation rate was very high, chess was taught in schools and factories, and was identified early and given special training, sizeable government salaries, and overseas travel. Howard’s reasoning is that if these factors, rather t han rising general intelligence, were the explanation for the decreasing age of younger chess top players after 1970 (Howard 1999). Its would not be reasonable to say that humans minds have no limits to its critical thinking but it has the power to make the correct decision while the artificial intelligence may not be capable of doing that.All the artificial intelligence has is memory and the programs that are in it to perform the action. It cannot think on its own. It works on the algorithms and as soon as it is disturbed, artificial intelligence gets confused and makes the wrong moves. But a human chess player if in the same situation can make the right move that is need using his critical thinking, which is why I think that human play better chess than artificial intelligence.