The Ford Motor Company Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

The Ford Motor Company - Term Paper Example This has lead to $153 billion in revenues and a market value of $ 73 billion (Hochman 90-7). However, due to the economic crisis, the company has seen its revenues and market value slumber in the recent past (Hochman 90-7). As one of the leading automobile producers, Ford Motor Company competes in the oligopoly market (Hochman 90-7). Its main competitors include Honda, Toyota, Kia, Subaru, and many other companies. The market entry in the automobile industry is free to every interested party; however, due to huge initial capital investment requirements needed only a few firms are players in this industry. When Ford Company started with the Model T, they were enjoying the monopoly power as they were the only producers. But this has changed since many firms have also ventured into the industry (Hochman 90-7). A market-centered company is a company that identifies the needs and the wants of its customers and tailors all its businesses towards those needs and wants (Hochman 90-7). The customers have enough knowledge about the products and the market; and are willing to be persuaded. The company offers mass customization and utilizes the importance of 4 Ps in its marketing. Ford as a company had experienced both the good and bad business experience. From one of the leading automobile companies accounting for 25 percent of all cars and trucks to drop in revenue and market share to $146 and 14 percent respectively (Hochman 90-7). It may have attributed to the financial crisis that had befallen the entire motor industry hence reducing the sales. However, Ford did not explain its drop in market share or magnitude of its losses compared to the rest of the companies in the industries. Ford’s company operations were characterized by excessive costs, it had lost touch with its main customer's needs and finally, his innovation was not up to date (Hochman 90-7). After the arrival of Mulally, the company started to improve their innovativeness, reducing the costs, and axing some of the un-performing brands. Mulally was convinced that competition in all market segments was the way to go and this policy was adopted.  

Transhumanism: Societal Revolution

Transhumanism: Societal Revolution   Krishtina Amatya This report will consider the ways transhumanism will revolutionize society whether that be via cyborg integration, life extension, or the singularity, and how ethics dictates a lot of what happens in scientific fields of research. Technology such as prosthetic limbs, telomerase expression and CRISPR-Cas9 will be explored and discussed, as well as the morality behind the advancements of biotechnology and what it could mean in terms of classism. This research was supported by Dekkel Simmons and Andre Mostert, Centre for Innovation Management and Enterprise, University of East London. Society is constantly changing with the inventions of new technologies that impact the way humans interact with each other and communicate, as well as how they go about their daily lives. Transhumanist theory dictates that the only way for the human race to evolve and move on from our current societal state is by transforming the human condition so much so as to create an era of post-humans; beings whose basic vital capacities exceed those of present humans by so much that they can no longer be classified as humans by current standards. [DS1]This report is going to delve into future of transhumanism (H+) such as its effects on biotechnology, life extension, and the introduction of the singularity. This report is based off of only secondary data; methods of obtaining this data includes critiquing texts, piecing through events/incidents, using documents such as online journals and articles, and analysing official data in order to draw conclusions. This means that there is no need for a research budget as no primary data needs to be collected.[DS2] The first known use of the term Singularity in this context was by John von Neumann in 1958; when speaking with Stanislaw Ulam they made note of how the progress of technology was accelerating, constantly changing human life (Dvorsky, 2010). Now, nearly 60 years later, this is even more apparent and relevant in day-to-day life; the majority of people carry smartphones in their pockets all day, thinking it impossible to leave the house without them. However, the concept of the singularity itself is heavily disputed between technological luminaries and is considered controversial when it comes to its plausibility. Professor of Psychology at Harvard, Steven Pinker, does not believe the singularity will ever occur, stating that there is no reason to even believe such an event should take place (Pinker, 2008), whereas Vernor Vinge, Professor of Mathematics at San Diego State University, believes that the singularity will occur soon, before the year 2030, and that once it does, itll be the rise of humankind (Vinge, 1993). Whilst it is interesting to read discussions on others views on the singularity, it is important to approach it from an unbiased frame of reference; its practicality must be considered as well as the current advances that are being made in that area of study and the directions theyre going. Current evidence in favour of the singularity includes a woman, unable to use her arms and legs, who is able to control a prosthetic arm with just her mind via two chips being implanted directly onto the neurons in her brain (Stibel, 2015). This shows how if a woman who is unable to move herself can move another object, surely someday humans themselves will be able to merge with technology and AI in order to become post humans, triggering the start of what is currently known as the singularity. The process of developing the idea that humans will one day be able to merge with computers is already underway. Although the ability to implant chips into ones brain is a risky and arduous one, as it does involve intricate brain surgery, there are currently many brainwave sensors being developed that can be used outside of the skull; helmets that allow you to interact with and manipulate virtual reality in video games, sleep monitoring headbands, and caps that measure the alertness of a driver. These inventions could lead to things like implantable nanochips that would give humans access to centuries worth of data. At the moment, however, the human beings are perhaps slowly edging towards becoming cyborgs what with about 59,000 people having received some type of neurological prosthetics since 2002 such as eye glasses, cochlear implants, pace makers, heart valves, and artificial limbs (University of Adelaide, 2016). ­ Alongside the medical benefits of humans slowly turning into cyborgs comes the possible consequences of such technology. The divide between the rich and the poor could substantially increase as those with more money would easily enhance their personal attributes to their hearts desires as a more advanced form of plastic surgery whilst those without money continue to suffer from plague and hunger. Another consequence would be the inevitable use within the military in order to engineer super-soldiers with faster reflexes, better accuracy, and improved resistance to fatigue and hunger. Although this type of soldier seems ideal, theres nothing stopping these soldiers from turning on their creators who have, in turn, become their inferiors. (Mizrach, 2001) The main argument against cyborg technology is the potential risk towards human health and safety in regards to the actual merging of human and machine. For example, although there are high hopes when it comes to implanting nanochips into the brain, many people doubt that this will be possible due to the human nervous systems inability to regenerate so will most likely not be able to accept the chip within its system (Mizrach, 2001). It is also plausible to question whether the human body will even accept the chip and whether itll have any adverse reactions to it. There have been many times when this has been the case such as during the 1960s when pregnant mothers were given thalidomide in order to treat morning sickness. This resulted in the babies being born with multiple limb deformities (Cullen, 1964). Although this is an extreme case of the human body reacting with technology, it still calls into question the safety of modern technology. One of the main goals of the transhumanist movement is the ability to acquire superlongevity. There are currently many different theories regarding the means in which this is to be achieved however well-known theories include anti-aging drugs, stem cell research, and gene therapy. An example of life extension through anti-aging drugs is the possibility of human endothelial cell life extension by using telomerase expression. Expression of the catalytic component of human telomerase, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), extends the life span of human fibroblasts and retinal pigment epithelial cells beyond senescence (loss of a cells power of division and growth) without causing neoplastic transformation (Yang, et al., 1999). Stem cells aid in the quest for immortality as they can either replicate or differentiate into many cell types. This is useful to replace dead cells, repair damaged organs/cells, regenerate and renew biological functions, and to rejuvenate cells by making them healthier and younger (Cell Malaysia, 2012). However, the use of stem cells has been met with controversy as the main source of stem cells is via human embryos. Many people disagree with the use of embryonic stem cells as it forces them into an ethical dilemma: whether to value the person who is using the stems in comparison to the belief that the embryo itself is also a human; that the embryos life must also be respected (EuroStemCell, 2015). Gene therapy is the delivery of nucleic acid polymers into a patients cells in the form of a drug to treat disease. A renowned type of gene therapy known as CRISPR-Cas9 has been considered when it comes to life extension as the Cas9 component of the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a protein that is able to modify DNA. Once CRISPR has been perfected, old cells may never age again as the CRISPR technology allows for scientists to reprogram cellular DNA in order to get rid of unfavourable genetic changes (Faloon, et al., 2016). This report has considered the ways transhumanism will revolutionize society whether that be via cyborg integration, life extension, or the singularity, and how ethics does dictate a lot of what happens in scientific fields of research. Technology such as prosthetic limbs, telomerase expression and CRISPR-Cas9 have all been explored and mentioned and discussed, as well as the morality behind the advancements of biotechnology and what it could mean in terms of classism. Transhumanism (H+): an intellectual movement that aims to transform humanity by developing and using sophisticated technology that will be widely available in order to enhance human intellectual, physical, and psychological capabilities. The Singularity: the hypothesis that the invention of artificial superintelligence will trigger runaway technological growth, resulting in drastic changes to human civilization. Biotechnology: technology that is developed according to cellular and biomolecular processes that helps to improve the health of the planet and peoples lives. Cyborg: a hypothetical person whose physical abilities are advanced beyond normal human capabilities by mechanical elements built into the body. Life Extension: the study of slowing down/reversing the processes of aging to extend the average and maximum lifespan. References Cell Malaysia, 2012. How adult stem cell therapy do the reverse/anti aging ?, s.l.: Youtube. Cullen, J. F., 1964. OCULAR DEFECTS IN THALIDOMIDE BABIES. British Journal of Ophthalmology, March, 48(3), pp. 151-153. Dvorsky, G. P., 2010. Theres More to Singularity Studies Than Kurzweil. [Online] Available at: http://ieet.org/index.php/IEET/print/4168[Accessed 03 September 2016]. EuroStemCell, 2015. Embryonic stem cell research: an ethical dilemma. [Online] Available at: http://www.eurostemcell.org/factsheet/embyronic-stem-cell-research-ethical-dilemma[Accessed 7 September 2016]. Faloon, W., Fahy, G. M. Church, G., 2016. Age-Reversal Research at Harvard Medical School. [Online] Available at: http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2016/7/Age-Reversal-Research-at-Harvard-Medical-School/Page-01[Accessed 7 September 2016]. Mizrach, S., 2001. Should there be a limit placed on the integration of humans and computers and electronic technology?, s.l.: s.n. Pinker, S., 2008. Tech Luminaries Address Singularity [Interview] (1 June 2008). Stibel, J., 2015. The Coming Merge of Human and Machine Intelligence, s.l.: s.n. University of Adelaide, 2016. Cyborgs closer to becoming a reality of human evolution, s.l.: s.n. Vinge, V., 1993. The Coming Technological Singularity: How to Survive in the Post-Human Era, s.l.: s.n. Yang, J. et al., 1999. Human Endothelial Cell Life Extension by Telomerase Expression. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 10 September, 274(37), p. 26141-26148.

Raps Controversy :: essays research papers

Rap’s Controversy The most popular new music to emerge from the ‘80’s was rap music. It first developed in the mid ‘70’s in New York City, and soon in other urban areas, primarily amongst African-American teen-agers. It became very popular with the urban public that it soon began to spread throughout the United States and much of the world. It replaced rock music as the creative force in music of the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. However, as popular as it was then and it is now, the lyrics of many rap songs have caused controversy. Many believe and have charged that these lyrics promote racism and violence and show contempt for women. Those in the mainstream have long considered rap music controversial. However its controversy escalated to a whole new level when the world was introduced to â€Å"Gangsta Rap,† where violent acts and suggestions are graphically portrayed (yale). The notorious rap group responsible for the introduction of gangsta rap was NWA (bomp). Gangsta rap has been criticized and debated over for its graphic sexual content, and violent imagery (yale). The lyrics in many songs contain violent and explicit lyrics that usually talk about killing someone along with sounds of gunshots in the background. Gangsta rap also talks about drug use and portrays negative attitudes toward women, especially black women. The artists refer to women as, â€Å"bitches,† â€Å"whores† and sex dispensing â€Å"hoes.† On the contrary there is a nice sideffect to controversy; you can use it to get a message across and most importantly it sales records, just like NWA, Ice-T, Public Enemy, and the 2 live crew soon discovered early on in their time. Today most young people think that if a person is rich and famous, they can get away with anything. They see rappers get charged with felonies and then they see that the charges get dropped. They’ve heard of celebrities running over children while drunk and get away with it without doing any time. However, not all rappers have run-ins with the law, but the ones that do are very well known. Tupac Shakur (RIP), for example, had many run-ins with the law. He was arrested for aggravated assault, and charged with shooting two off duty police officers in Atlanta in 1993, but the charges were later dropped (bomp). He was also accused of beating a limousine driver in Los Angeles and found guilty of threatening a fellow rapper with a baseball bat in Michigan (bomp).

Computerized Enrollment System Essay

INTRODUCTION As the generation change past, technology innovation is also past changing mostly the computers. Computer benefits such as the way of using certain application for office or project works, for record keeping purpose or even communication. Moreover, computer performs various tasks accurately, quickly and efficiently. This is very user friendly that caters all the banking transportation and even in a smallest business for record keeping intention. This is the essence of modernized technology. Computing technology has an impact on almost every aspect of daily life. Computer applicants abound in art, business, entertainment, essence, engineering and medicine. In addition, the discovery of the computer was great function of modernity for difference to make work easier, more capable and more adaptable of humanity. It has brought a new level of knowledge that became the new standard in the industry. It made the school more efficient for students and provided path to communicate to entire ea rth. Nowadays, computer base system is commonly used by company and institution and one of this is COMPUTERIZED ENROLLMENT SYSTEM is the must have system in school. It is convenient way storing and retrieving information of a student that provide more easy way of enrolling. One of the schools that badly needed this computerized enrollment system is MARIKINA POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE (MPC) that located at #3 Mayor Chanyungco Street, Sta. Elena, Marikina City. At this computer age, they are still practicing the manual procedure of enrolling students which is resulted to a very time consuming and keeping records of students that is not safe and hard to find when need it, lost of data will probably the huge effect. This COMPUTERIZED ENROLLMENT SYSTEM (CES) is proposing in exchange to the existing system in Marikina Polytechnic College. This proposed system will cut down the cost during enrollment and reduce much effort. OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to fulfill a better system that will serve as a more reliable tool in registering and enrolling students in an institute. The study is to show the advantages and disadvantages that arise in the computerized enrollment system. The study is to show the innovation of registration and enrollment system from traditional to high-technology. The study also serves the purpose of revealing the mechanics of the said system. The user interface provides ease through its organized interface and functionality. The administrating side provides efficiency in keeping and gathering work. The system will have two parts. The user account and the administrator account. In the user account, user was logged in as guests. They may register and enroll through filling up the available computerized forms. The administrators may interface with the data in every way possible. Scope The computerized enrollment system covers the major process in MARIKINA POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE namely; registration of the current and incoming student class scheduling sectioning and report needed. Since one of the specific objectives of the system is to secure the data being inputted to the database, the system would allow two user accounts which are the faculty and the registrar. Faculty user account would only access some features of the developed system. On the other hand, registrar can access every features of the system. Enrollment System is a good example of a computer generated process. This can lessen the workload and provides accurate information needed of the school. As a result, it will benefit not only the student but the administration as a whole. Limitation The computerized enrollment system does not include the payment of tuition fees, account/payment processing and it cannot determine if the student was already paid his/her payment or not. The cashier will be the one who will print the summary of student with unpaid accounts and sent them to the respective department chairman.

Real Beauty Sketches Essay

In April 2013, Dove launched a â€Å"Real Beauty† campaign after performing marketing research and discovering that only 2% of all women consider themselves to be â€Å"beautiful†. In an effort to boost self-esteem and moral, Dove introduced a television ad in the form, which incorporated a powerful and touching social experiment. In this commercial, several different women are asked to describe their physical appearance to a forensic sketch artist, who cannot see them as he sketches their physical descriptions. They are told to use neutral terms, and to â€Å"stick to the facts† when describing their own self-reflections. Next, the same women are described to the same forensic sketch artist by a complete stranger, whom they had only met the day before. The strangers are given the same instructions. At the end of this unknown experiment, both descriptions are drawn by the artist and then compared. Upon comparison, it is incredibly obvious that the stranger’s physical descriptions of the subject are more flattering, and more accurate depict the subject’s true appearance. The commercial sends a very inspiring, real message to the women: to be less critical of yourself, and to embrace the natural beauty of womanhood. After the experiment took place, one woman admitted, â€Å"I should be more grateful of my natural beauty. It impacts the choices and the friends we make; the jobs we apply for; how we treat our children; it impacts everything. It couldn’t be more critical to your happiness. † To the same point, another woman added, â€Å"we spend a lot of time as women analyzing and trying to fix the things that aren’t quite right, and we should spend more time appreciating the things that we do like. † The commercial ends with a powerful and honest message: â€Å"You are more beautiful than you think. † The â€Å"Real Beauty Sketches† ad resulted in widespread reactions worldwide- some positive, some negative. Many praised the commercial for its ability to acknowledge and accept natural beauty and what society may traditional deem as physical â€Å"flaws†. But there were many negative critics as well. Despite the good nature behind the commercial’s intent, many criticized the ad for its heavy emphasis on physical appearance. Critics claimed that Dove’s advertisement still focused too heavily on the physical appearance of woman, and its remaining influence as the single-most defining element of a woman’s worth; as opposed to her personality or personal achievements. Which led me to question: How could this advertisement be improved to focus on the â€Å"true beauty† and essence of a woman’s worth? The message is a refreshing change from the typical message that beauty supply companies often send; instead of shaming women into purchasing things to make them more â€Å"beautiful†, Dove takes a non-traditional approach by supporting the natural beauty, without the enhancement of material products. Although this may seem to counter-act their ultimate goal of selling beauty products, Dove gains seeks to gain more than just revenue- they seek to gain self-confidence and acceptance. But in order to overcome the heavy emphasis of a woman’s physical appearance as the defining element of a woman’s worth, I think it is important to emphasis how the woman achieved her â€Å"beauty lines†, wrinkles, or â€Å"flaws†. Perhaps pulling on the viewer’s emotional heartstring of laughter and love would prove to play a beautiful part in the development of a woman’s wrinkles around her eyes, or expression lines in her forehead. By approaching the beauty from this marketing angle, marketers are focusing on the internal beauty that a woman envelopes, and justifies their natural beauty with self-worth and personal accomplishment. By casting very â€Å"average† and â€Å"typical† looking women, marketers sought to appeal to the majority of women, in an effort to reflect a more realistic depiction of women. By refraining from using â€Å"traditionally† beautiful women, viewers and women find the message to be more relatable to themselves. Marketing Applications: In April 2013, Dove marketers applied a story-like short film to their Real Beauty campaign, in an effort to reveal each woman’s true natural beauty. Marketing Relevance: Marketing emphasis: to encourage the improvement of self-image and confidence among women worldwide. Dove marketers sought to prove that â€Å"we† are our own worst critics, and that our own self-image is often skewed and far less beautiful than our true natural beauty suggests. Intangible elements: Dove focused on producing a moral campaign that reflects the ideals and beliefs of their corporate personnel. In this powerful, thought-provoking message, Dove effectively used an emotional story to â€Å"make a culturally positive difference†. Marketers drew upon an emotional appeal in an attempt to attach these positive ideas to their own product line. In doing so, Dove successfully attached an extension of their own feelings to their product, as well as their corporate image. Many accredit the campaign’s success to its ability tap into deep-seated emotions and â€Å"hit on a real human truth for women. Many women undervalue themselves and also the way they look. † In this ad, Dove focused on the emotional appeal, rather than simply â€Å"communicating a particular product or service benefit. † As a result, consumers will be more likely to remember the positive emotions that the advertisement evoked, and thus, â€Å"associate them with Dove products. † Discussion Questions: