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Mate selection theories free essay sample

For this report I have chosen to meet my dad to get familiar with the procedure he experienced while choosing my mom as his mate. I have cre...

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Notes for Driving Essay Example

Notes for Driving Essay When you become a driver you are part of the â€Å"system†. This â€Å"system† is the Highway Transportation System (HTS) 3 parts to the HTS: 1- People 2- Vehicles – all types 3- Roadways The goal of the HTS is to move people and cargo from one place to another in a safe, efficient, and economical manner. How is the HTS regulated? By local, state, and federal government agencies. The federal government established the National Highway Safety Act. All agencies enforce the following guidelines set forth in this act. 1- Vehicle code – the laws that have been passed Assure that these laws are obeyed 3- Motor vehicle departments set the rules to assure that driver and vehicle standards are met 4- Rules for the courts to go by for guilty or innocent 5- Engineers plan, build, and maintain roadways The driving task This involves all of the social, physical and mental skills required to drive. You MUST develop habits to perform these tasks with low-risks results. Habits you MUST develop: 1- Using knowledge and visual skills 2- Obey all traffic laws 3- Judging time and space Anticipating how your car will react under normal and emergency situations SOCIAL SKILLS You must be able to drive while interacting with other people Courtesy and cooperation make low-risk driving possible PHYSICAL SKILLS You need to practice and develop the skills needed to drive, until they become a habit. MENTAL SKILLS Decision-making is a mental skill you need to develop in order to be a safe, low-risk driver. Developing the IPDE System into your driving. I – identify important information in the oncoming scene. P – predict when and where possible points of conflict will develop. D – decide when, where, and how to communicate, adjust speed, and/or change position to avoid conflict. E – execute the right action to prevent conflict. There are two other systems that can help you in the IPDE system: 1- The Smith System – helps develop seeing habits 2- The Zone Control System – helps you manage the space around your car. You need to develop the system approach to become a defensive driver. This will help you lower your risks and keep you and others from dangerous situations. Your Driving Responsibilities DRIVING IS A PRIVILEGE – NOT A RIGHT The privilege is based on the assumption that you will be a responsible traffic citizen and obey the traffic laws. ATTITUDE Your attitude toward driving as well as life affects your willingness to develop the habits needed to be a safe driver. ROAD RAGE What is it and what causes it Breakdowns in the HTS. These occur when any part of the HTS does not work well. Collision – occurs when a vehicle has a problem and hits another object. Which is more correct? Collision or Accident? An accident is something that happens by chance†¦ a collision is something that has a predictable cause. The most common cause for a collision is†¦ We will write a custom essay sample on Notes for Driving specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Notes for Driving specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Notes for Driving specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer DRIVER ERROR (P. 9) Causes of deaths: A major cause of vehicle deaths is†¦ LACK OF EXPERENCE Social and Economical Loss Collisions cause social and economical loss by: property damages (p10) time away from work or school medical fees insurance premiums Your financial responsibilities. vehicle related costs: fuel, maintaince, and insurance. Any damage that you cause while driving. Your environmental responsibilities. air and water pollution chemical spills land pollution What you need to do: 1- maintain your vehicle buy fuel efficient vehicles 3- use fuel efficient driving practices 4- recycle materials you can 5- car pool or use public transportation when you can 6- work with the government to encourage use of energy-efficient driving DRIVERS LICENSE Most of the time young drivers simply make mistakes from inexperience. 41% of young people killed in collisions died in single car collisions. GETTING YOUR LICENSE IN SC The Graduated Licensing System 1- Permit can drive with an adult licensed driver must have permit for 6 months (180 days) must log at least 40 hours of driving at night 2- Intermediate (restricted) must have had a permit for 180 days and completed a driver’s education course can drive from dawn ‘til dusk by yourself drive at night with a licensed adult limited number of passengers must not get into a collision or have any violation for 180 days. Violators turn the clock back to zero. Repeated violations could land you in traffic school. 3- Full License unrestricted driving – as related to time of day you can drive alone. Organ Donor Program You may indicate on your license that you wish to be an organ donor. IMPLIED CONSENT PROGRAM (LAW) When you sign your license in SC you give an officer the right to test your blood alcohol content (BAC). If you refuse the test you will lose your driving privilege. WHY DO YOU TAKE A DRIVER’S EDUCATION COURSE Chapter 2 Signs, Signals, and Roadway Markings Traffic Signs There are three types 1- Regulatory – control traffic flow 2- Warning – alerts of a possible hazard or road condition 3- Guide – give direction Stop Signs This is the only red, octagon sign we have. You must come to a COMPLETE(full) stop at this sign. Four-way stops – rules you need to follow 1- The first one stopped gets to go first 2- If 2 cars get there at the same time, the car on the right gets to go first 3- If 2 cars get there together and are across from each other, the car traveling straight goes first 4- If 3 or 4 cars get there together, one needs to enter the intersection to show intent, but with caution 5- ALWAYS CHECK THE INTERSECTION BEFORE ENTERING IT Yield Signs This is the upside down triangle – red and white You must allow others in the intersection or approaching the intersection to go first before you. This is called giving the right of way. Right of way is given, not taken. p. 2 Speed Limit Signs These are white, mostly rectangles, with black writing. They indicate what the safest maximum speed for that roadway in IDEAL conditions. Basic Speed Laws state that when conditions are not IDEAL you must not travel faster than what is safe for the conditions. Advisory Speed Limits are set for certain sections of the roadway. Once you have cleared that section you may resume the posted speed limit. Warning Signs These are yellow signs that warn you of upcoming conditions in the roadway. Most are diamond shaped with black symbols. School Signs indicate where school zones and crossings are. They are shaped like a house (pentagon). No Passing Signs are placed before where the roadway begins to narrow. Construction Signs indicate where construction zones are. They are orange signs with black symbols and letters. Railroad Signs – There are two types of railroad signs; a yellow circle with a black â€Å"X† and two â€Å"R†s also black and a white cross with black railroad crossing letters. The yellow sign indicates you are approaching a railroad crossing and the white â€Å"X† indicates where the railroad tracks begin. p. 3 Guide Signs These signs mark routes, intersections, service areas, and other points of interest. Route signs are local, state, U. S. and interstate markers. US = white shield on a black sign with black #s State = white square with black #s and letters Interstate = red and blue shield with white letters and #s Even #s = east and west Odd #s = north and south 3 numbered route that begins with an odd # goes into a city 3 numbered route that begins with an even # goes round a city (beltway) Other guide signs are: Green = give information on destinations and distances Blue = roadway service information (hospital â€Å"H†) Brown = recreation areas and points of interest TRAFFIC SIGNALS Include traffic lights, arrows, flashing signals, lane signals, and pedestrian signals. Traffic lights are red, green, and yellow. Red = stop Green = proceed through the intersection if it is clear to do so. Yellow = slow and stop if you can do so safely. Right turn on red and left turn on red. When can you do it. p. 4 Flashing signals: Red – treat it as a stop sign Yellow – treat it as a yield sign Arrows tell you the direction in which your lane must travel. Green = proceed if it is clear to do so Yellow = yield and stop if possible Red = Stop only in that direction Lane Signals – these lights will switch the direction of traffic in a certain lane to control the need for traffic flow. Pedestrian Signals – allow walkers to cross at an intersection safely. â€Å"walk† â€Å"don’t walk† When a police officer is standing in the intersection, their directions overrule any signal. Roadway markings These are yellow or white lines as well as arrows, stop lines and crossings. Broken Yellow Line = separates two-way traffic and you may pass when it is clear to do so. Solid Yellow Lines = separate two-way traffic and you are not allowed to pass. Shared Turn Lanes = you may enter and wait until it is clear before you turn left across traffic. Broken White Line = separates traffic traveling the same direction. You may pass if it is clear to do so. Solid White Line = indicates the right side of the road and should not be crossed. White Arrows = indicate which direction you are allowed to travel in that particular lane. Rumble Strips Lane Reflectors – Yellow Curb Markings Chapter 3 Basic Vehicle Controls INSTRUMENT PANEL Speedometer – tells you how fast you are going Tachometer – tells you how many revolutions your engine makes in one minute Odometer – tells you how far your car has traveled in its lifetime Fuel Gauge – tells you how much gas is in your gas tank Temperature gauge or light – warns you when the coolant in your engine is too hot Oil pressure warning light or gauge – warns you when the oil is not circulating at the proper pressure Alternator warning light or gauge – tells you there is a problem with your electrical system, the alternator is not generating enough electricity to keep the engine running Brake system warning light – tells you 1st that your parking brake is engaged and 2nd that there is a problem in your braking system Antilock braking system light – tells you that your ABS is working properly Safety belt light – reminds you to fasten your safety belt Air bag warning light – tells you that your air bags are working properly Turn signal indicators – tells you which direction that you have indicated you are going to turn. Most are small green arrows. High beam indicator – tells you that your high beam head lights are on, blue light. VEHICLE CONTROLS Steering wheel – controls the direction of the front wheels. Turn right to go right and turn left to go left. Steering wheel adjustment lever – can tilt the wheel up and down Selector lever – lets you put the car in a gear. Either on the steering column or in the center console. Gear shift lever – lets you put a manual transmission car into a gear. Ignition Starter switch – you start the engine by putting the key into the ignition switch. Page 42 – picture or positions Cruise control – lets you set and maintain a certain speed. Parking brake – keeps the car in place when it is parked. Locations? Clutch pedal – is in a manual transmission car, is located to the left of the foot brake and s pushed down (in) to change gears. Foot brake pedal – push the pedal down to slow and stop the car. Also makes the brake light on the back of your car light up. Accelerator pedal – Located to the right of the brake pedal, push it down to get the car to go faster, release the pedal to get the car to slow down. SAFETY, COMMUNICATION COMFORT DEVICES Safety belts – always wear you seat belt when your car is in motion. It will help protect you from injury in a collision. Head restraints – padded devices that help prevent head injuries in collisions. Inside and outside rearview mirrors – these mirrors help you see what is behind your car ithout turning around and looking. Blind spots are the areas that your mirrors do not show you. Horn – located on the steering wheel. Hazard flasher control – located on the steering wheel or control panel. Turns on both sets of turn signals when engaged. Windshield wipers and washers – one switch for both usually, it turns on your wipers and squirts water onto your windshield to clean off the dirt. Light switch – controls the headlights, taillights, side marker lights, instrument panel, license plate and dome light. Hood release lever – located on the left side under the instrument pa nel, pull to release he hood, then go out and open by releasing the front latch. Heater, air conditioner, and defroster – heating and air conditioner warm and cool the car passenger area and the defroster keeps the windows clear of moisture. Sun visors – located above the windshield, pull down to block the sun. Seat adjustment lever – usually at eh lower front or left side of the seat. GETTING READY TO DRIVE Outside Checks 1- Walk around the car looking for obstructions and spills. 2- Glance at the tires. 3- Where are the front wheels pointed. 4- Make sure that the windows are clean and clear. Lights also. Check back window ledge for sight obstructions. 6- Look inside for any unwanted passengers. Getting into the car 1- Have your keys ready, especially if you enter from the road side. 2- Walk around the front of your car and back to the door facing traffic. 3- Get in quickly, lock the doors and put the key in the ignation. Inside Checks 1- Lock the doors 2- Adj ust your seat and steering wheel so that you are about 10 inches from the wheel 3- Your hands should be able to reach the steering wheel with your elbows slightly bent and you should be able to reach the pedals with your knees slightly bent. Your head restraint should be adjusted to hit the middle of your head. 5- Adjust your rear view mirror and side mirrors 6- Fasten seat belts. DRIVING AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE Gear selector lever positions: P = park – transmission is locked in this position. R = reverse – used for backing up (backup lights) N = neutral – allows the wheels to roll without engine power D = drive – moves your car forward (overdrive) Low (L1, L2 or 1,2) = allow you to put more power to the wheels at lower speeds Starting the Engine 1- make sure that the parking brake is set 2- gear selector is in park don’t press the accelerator (fuel injection) 4- Turn the key to ON and then START. Release the key when the engine starts 5- Check your gauges, lights and fuel level CHAPTER 4 Managing Risks with the IPDE Process The IPDE Process Every driver uses some kind of process to help them drive. Those who don’t, have a higher risk of collisions. The IPDE process helps reduce these risks. Risk can cause collisions. Factors that contribute to this risk are the driver, the vehicle, the roadway and the environment. Driver-contributed factors: adjusting the radio being angry or upset blurred vision grooming driving while drinking cell phones If you are doing one or more of these and the driver you meet is doing one or more of these then you are increasing your risk. You can control what you do but you can’t be sure about what the other driver is doing. Vehicle-contributed factors: bald tires bad brakes dirty windshield broken or burnt out headlights worn out wiper blades Roadway and environment-contributed factors: bright sun construction dark shadows snow or ice sharp curves Good drivers make an effort to lower these risks if at all possible. Taking care of your vehicle and practicing a process, such as the IPDE, you can lessen your risks while you drive. The IPDE process Safe driving depends of your ability to see and analyze traffic situations correctly. The driving task is mostly a thinking task. When you are not thinking about your task of driving you increase your risk of a collision. By using the IPDE process you can develop the habits that allow you to drive more effectively while thinking of other things. The four parts of the IPDE, identify, predict, decide and execute. The IPDE process can be enhanced with the aid of The Smith System: Aim High Get the big picture Keep your eyes moving Leave yourself a way out Make sure they can see you As well as the Zone Control System: See a zone change Check other zones Create time and space by getting the best speed control, lane position, and communication Identify – you must know when to look, where to look, how to look and what to look for. The sooner you can learn to identify the correct things the more time you will have to react. The Zone Control System aids you in this. You have six zones around your car, each zone is about the width of a lane and extend as far as the driver can see. (pic. 65) An open zone is a space you can drive without a restriction to your line of sight or your intended path of travel. Your target area is the section of the road that is the center of your intended path. Far out there, up the road. A closed zone would be an area that your car can not go into without conflict. Book example is a red traffic light. You have to react to the light. The sooner you identify the closed zones the more time you have to respond. You should develop searching habits in three ranges: 1- your target area range – as far as you can see 2- 12-15 second range – 12 to 15 sec. in front of you 3- 4-6 second range – where your car will be in 4-6 seconds How to develop an Orderly Visual Search Pattern: steps on page 67 Your Field of Vision affects how you search. Most people have a field of vision which covers about 90 degrees to each side or 180 degrees total. Central Vision is what you are focusing on, it’s about 10 degrees. Peripheral Vision is the rest of your field of vision that is not in focus. When you are scanning the scene you need to Aim High in Steering. This means to look down the road, into your target area, and not just in front of your car. You also need to keep your eyes moving, this helps you scan the scene. If you put all of these scanning methods together you will Get the Big Picture. What do you need to look for? Look for open zones – you want to look for things that could cause the open zone to close. Look for other users – look for anyone who could affect your path of travel. Ground viewing – look at the vehicle approaching for clues that they will come into your path. Look for roadway features and conditions – intersections, hills, curves, width of the road (multilane to single lane, change in width of lane, surface hazards) Look for traffic controls – know where controls are located at different times and places. Predict – once you have identified, you need to predict how the hazard might affect your path of travel. How you go through the predicting process will help determine how the hazard may affect you. Learning how to look at a situation is important. You must identify all possible hazards to determine what each one may do. Knowledge of driving laws and this class will help you predict. You know what the driver is supposed to do and how they are supposed to react to certain traffic situations. You must however make yourself prepare ahead of time for situations that could occur. Play the head games at times. The main thing that makes you a better predictor is EXPERENCE. You can’t get it if you don’t experience it. The two things that you must be able to predict are the actions of other vehicle users and the way your car is going to react in situations. When predicting the actions of others you need to look at their path of travel, the actions they may make, do I have an open zone? , and where might the point of conflict be? Predicting the reactions of your vehicle is the easiest of this process. You should know what condition your car is in, how are the tires, how soon can I stop, etc. Decide – Once you have identified and predicted what may happen, you now need to decide what you need to do. Maintain, swerve, brake, speed up, or just communicate with my lights or horn. You may decide to change your speed. You can avoid conflicts by maintaining, slowing down, or speeding up. To make a change in direction you need to look at your zones. Try to leave yourself a way out or cushion so you are able to move into that area without conflict. You may also avoid conflict by changing you position in your lane. You may need to be centered, slightly left or slightly right in your lane. If you decide that all you need to do is communicate with the other driver you may do this by your lights, horn, car position or eye contact. You want to try to minimize your number of hazards by separating the hazards. Sometimes you are going to have to pick the hazard that will possibly do the least amount of damage. This is compromising space. Give way to the big truck swerving into your lane. Execute- Once you make your decision you need to execute it. Remember, DON†T second guess yourself. The three areas that you have execution control over are speed control, steering, and communication. The hardest thing when driving is how so I handle multiple conflicts that occur? Being able to use the IPDE process effectively takes practice and time. You are not as good at using it today as you will be next week. You will learn how to use the IPDE process selectively. This means that you start one process and something else will come up that makes you begin the process all over again. Remember this: You used the IPDE Process getting to this class today and you will use it again going to every class you take today. Chapter 5 Natural Laws and Car Control In this chapter you will learn about gravity and energy of motion, friction and traction, stopping distance and controlling the force of impact. Gravity – Gravity is the force that pulls you to the earth. Going up and down hills in a car you can feel the pull of gravity. You need to be able to adjust your driving to accommodate for this pull. The point at which your car’s weight is evenly distributed is called the center of gravity. The lower the center of gravity, the better the handling of the car. Energy of Motion – Energy of motion is called kinetic energy. What you must understand about this energy is the way it will affect your driving. The faster your vehicle is moving, the more energy you have, the heavier it weighs, the more energy of motion it has. Two important facts to know† 1- Your energy of motion doubles when the weight doubles 2- Your energy of motion increases by the square when your speed increases by a certain amount. ( speed doubles – energy quadruples) If your energy of motion increases your stopping distance will also go up that amount. Friction and Traction Friction is the force that keeps your tires from sliding on the road. Traction makes it possible for your vehicle to grip the road for you to change speed and direction. The grooved surface of the tire is called the tread. This tread cuts through the water on the road allowing your tire to grip the road. As the amount of tread decreases, the amount of traction also decreases. If the tire tread gets worn almost completely off (bald tire) the possibility of a blowout becomes great. A blowout is when the tire loses all pressure at once. The way your tire is inflated also determines how much of the tire tread is touching the road. An under inflated tire causes the tread to gap in the middle. An over inflated tire causes the tire tread to only touch in the middle (like a balloon) Things that could reduce the traction you have are: 1- bad tires 2- bad shocks 3- faulty steering system 4- road surfaces Checking for traction while you are driving can be done but must be done carefully. check rear zone – brake gently for response – if you don’t slow down reduce speed Driving on curves can be very tricky. The energy of motion tries to keep your car in a straight line but the traction from the tires pulls you around the curve. Driving around curves: Speed – reduce your speed to avoid skids 2- Sharpness – the sharper the curve the more traction you will need to go around it. 3- Banked – most curves are banked, this helps prevent your car from wanting to stay in a straight line. 4- Load – The heaver the load or weight of your vehicle the more friction it is going to take to get through the curve. Stopping Distance Total Stopping D istance – the distance your car travels while you are making a stop. Total stopping distance is made up of three parts: 1- perception distance 2- reaction distance 3- braking distance Look at the chart on page 98. To estimate the distance you need to stop you can use the four second rule. pick a spot in the road, a sign or driveway When the car in front of you reaches that point begin counting, one-thousand one, one-thousand two†¦ If your car gets to that same point after you reach one-thousand four you have enough space to stop if you need to. Factors that affect you’re stopping distance: Speed – the higher the speed the longer the distance Car condition – worn out tires, etc need more distance Surface – rain, snow, ice, dirt, leaves gravel increase the distance Driver ability – if distracted or impaired you increase the distance ABS – helps when stopping while turning Hills – up or down hills shortens or lengthens the distance Loads – the weight of your vehicle, heavier takes longer. Force of Impact The force at which a moving object hits another object is force of impact. Force of impact is determined by: 1- Speed 2- Wei ght 3- Distance between impact and stopping Safety Belts When you are in a collision, three collisions actually take place. First the car hits an object and stops. Second, you hit the inside of the car or a restraining device (seat belt) Third, your body organs slam against your skeleton or each other. There are two types of restraining devices: 1- restraining devices – seat belts 2- passive restraining devices – air bags (automatic) Air Bags Air bags deploy automatically. They are there to protect your life. When an air bag deploys it comes out at a speed over 200 mph. Air bags are designed to work with the seat belts. Just relying on the air bag will not save your life. To avoid the air bag injuring your arms or shoulders you need to keep your hands about 9 and 3 or a little below. You don’t want to sit too close to the air bag, @ 10 away is good. Tilt your steering wheel to deploy the bag at your chest and not your face. Of course, child seats need to be in the rear seat or facing away from the air bags. Some air bags now have a feature that senses the weight of the person in the seat and will deploy in two stages. Some vehicles have switches for you to turn the passenger air bag off. Other protective devices in vehicles today: n Automatic seat belts n Front and rear crush areas n Energy absorbing bumpers n Side door beams n Reinforced windshields Energy absorbing steering wheel and column n Padded dash n Child seats built in n Head restraints Chapter 6 Performing Basic Vehicle Maneuvers STEERING Straight forward: hands should be at a comfortable spot, look ahead and avoid looking at your feet and hands. You need to pay attention to what is approaching you. Try to avoid over or under-steering: over-steering is when you make too sharp of a turn and you w eave from side to side; under-steering is when you don’t turn the wheel enough to keep it on its intended path. When you are trying to back a straight line (driving test skill) you need to: keep the brake pressed and put the car in reverse 2- turn your body to the right, put your right arm over the back of the passenger seat and look out of the back window. 3- Place your left hand at 12 o’clock on the steering wheel 4- Release your pressure on the brake enough to get moving 5- Adjust your position by turning the wheel in the direction that you wish to go 6- Keep you foot over the brake (covering) and take quick glances to the front and sides checking for traffic. When you wish to stop keep looking out of the back window until you have come to a complete stop. SIGNALING Make it a habit to signal your intent every time you plan to turn or stop. You must use your turn signals when you are making a left or right turn, changing lanes, pulling over to the side of the road. Make sure that you know the hand signals for when you are driving. Left arm out and angled up = right turn Left arm out and pointing straight out = left turn Left arm out and angled down = braking You need to remember to signal early but not too early. CHANGING LANES You must be able to make the lane change smoothly and safely each and every time. Try to get the steering down. You don’t want to over or understeer. Steps for a lane change: Check traffic in front and to the side in which you are going to move into 2- Signal your intent and check your blind spot 3- Increase your speed slightly as you steer into the next lane; if it is clear to do so 4- Cancel your signal, if it did not do so automatically, and adjust your speed and steering. MAKING TURNS AND TURNABOUTS Two method s for steering your car: 1- Hand over hand 2- Push – pull Left and Right Hand Turns You should make a turn only after you have checked traffic. 1- Look for pedestrians and oncoming vehicles; check your rear zone for cars getting ready to pass you. Plan well in advance. Put yourself in the correct lane well before the turn. 3- Obey all traffic signals and controls plus roadway markings. When turning left you MUST yield to oncoming traffic. Procedures for turning: (page 114) 1- Get in the proper lane 2- Brake early and get to the proper speed 3- Do a visual search 4- Before the crosswalk you should be at about 10 mph 5- Turning right you need to check left then right and begin your turn when your front bumper reaches the curve of the curb line. 6- For a left turn check left then right and then left again. Begin your turn when your front bumper gets to the center of the intersection. 7- As you begin your turn check your blind spot and turn into the first lane you come to. When you are backing to your left you want to look more over your left shoulder to where you are trying to back. If backing right you want to look over your right shoulder. You will use hand over hand steering and do the visual search before you begin the maneuver. Turnabouts Precautions when you are planning to do a turnabout: †¢Be sure that local laws permit it †¢Need at least 500 feet of visibility Don’t do on hills or curves or within 200 feet of an intersection †¢Should not be done where high-speed traffic or any traffic would be †¢Check all zones while doing the turnabout U-Turn Select your spot and signal right to move over and stop. When the way is clear, turn on your left signal and move into the lane Check your front and left rear zones and your blind spot. Turn the wheel hard left and move through the turn until you have completely turned around. Driveway turnabouts Backing into on the right Pull in on the left Pull in on the right Which of these is the safest? Three point turnabout (driving test skill) Check your zones, signal right and pull to the curb (or side of road) and stop Signal left, turn the wheel hard left and pull across the road as far as you can Signal right, put the car in reverse, turn the wheel hard right and back as far as you need to back Signal left, put the car in Drive, turn the wheel hard right and pull forward finishing the turnabout. Parking When you are trying to park you need to have speed control, steering control and accurate judgment. Before parking you need to find a space big enough for your car to get into. Avoid end spaces or beside large trucks or poorly parked vehicles. You need to learn some reference points for

Sunday, November 24, 2019

How to Write a Computer Science Research Paper

How to Write a Computer Science Research Paper When asked to write a computer science research paper, or any research paper, one should always keep in mind that a good research paper is one that clearly spells out the problem it is addressing and the results achieved from carrying out the research. The research paper should also elaborate on what has already been done in an attempt to resolve the problem and identifying new developments aimed at solving the problem more efficiently. For instance, if one is writing a research paper on describing novel technical results, one may decide to explore the four available types of technical results – (1) namely the algorithm, (2) the system construct, (3) the performance evaluation, and (4) a collection of theories. Such a paper would focus on sufficiently describing the detailed results with the aim of establishing and demonstrating the validity of those results. The paper would also identify novel perspectives of the results or point out things that are not so obvious about the situation or problem. The paper would also identify the importance of the results of the research being written about with the aim of indicating how these results improve or impact on the problem. A typical research paper, such as one on computer science, should begin with an abstract which is typically a paragraph of about 150 words. After the abstract is the introduction which, just like the abstract, should be brief and serve to introduce the problem, outline the solution, and give a clear statement pointing out the importance of the problem and possible solutions to the problem. After summarizing the problem, the next thing would be interpreting any related work. This is the place where the writer points out any other works that are similar to those used in the research paper. Once the introduction of the research paper is complete, the writer should now embark on writing the body of the paper and this should entail writing about the problem being covered by the research paper, the approach the research paper takes in attempting to find a solution to the problem, and the results of the experiment conducted while trying to understand the problem and seek viable solutions to it. Finally, the body of the paper is the main part of the Computer science research paper and it contains the most details about the essay. It should contain sufficient motivation and should also have some examples that illustrate the issue being discussed with the aim of enabling the readers to understand the issue better. The essay should then end with a conclusion.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Comparative politics 3 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Comparative politics 3 - Essay Example The population comprises of a mix of people with European, African, and Native American roots, as well as other immigrants from Europe and Asia. Despite having a large resource base and a well-developed economy, Brazil has deep-seated social problems such as income inequality and poverty. This can be seen from the fact that, in Brazil, there is a dramatic variation in the living conditions of the Brazilian people. The nation is characterized by varying poverty incidence rates among the nonmetropolitan urban areas, metropolitan areas, and rural areas. There are also considerable income disparities among different regions. Income Inequality in Brazil Income inequality in Brazil has been very high for a long time. A large number of Brazilians live in poverty despite the fact that Brazil is not a poor nation. In fact, â€Å"Brazil has one of the most unequal income distributions in Latin America, a region with the highest income inequality in the world† (Almeida 2008, 7). A recent study conducted by the World Bank showed that over half of Brazilians live in very poor conditions. ... zilian people in families earning average incomes that were below the poverty line were approximately 51 million, which is about half of Brazil’s total population. However, it is important to note that there are many nations whose levels of per capita income are lower than that of Brazil. Causes of Income Inequality in Brazil Income inequality in Brazil can be attributed to a number of factors. These include: 1. Extreme land concentration among Brazil’s elites. This has led to unequal land distribution among people in Brazil, and is a major cause of inequality and poverty in the country. According to Almeida, â€Å"in Brazil, 1% of the population controls 45% of the farmland† (2008, 8). 2. Differences in incomes among different regions in Brazil. Brazil is the most unequal nation in Latin America in terms of income. â€Å"In income distribution, Brazil is among the 10 most unequal countries in the world. An estimated 95 percent of the world’s population l ives in countries where income is more equally shared than in Brazil† (Thomas 2006, 28).The differences in income among different regions has led to overall income disparity in Brazil, and consequently, to poverty. 3. Racial differences. Racial component as a cause of poverty in Brazil is affirmed by the Brazilian government. A significant part of the overall income inequality in the country can be attributed to income differences based on skin color. Afro-Brazilians, who are Brazilians with an African descent represent almost half of Brazil’s population, and constitute sixty four percent of the poor and sixty nine percent of the very (Almeida 2008). 4. Lack of access to quality education. Educational attainment in Brazil is very disproportionate. Brazil is not characterized by low public expenditure like other

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Size, growth, current trends, developments & key factors of The Essay

Size, growth, current trends, developments & key factors of The Reformation - Essay Example Since the company only operates in USA now and has a unique sustainability, it is likely to expand globally. Indeed, its sustainability attracts a competitive advantage and good will that can push the company to the international front. Ideally, Reformation is an environmentally sustainable fashion brand that recycles vintage and surplus materials to create a chic, limited edition collection (The Reformation, 2014). The brand abhors environmental conservation and efficiency in operations. As such, the company seeks to produce their collections in the shortest time possible. Most importantly, the designers at the factory are flexible, moves with technology, and satisfy the customer’s fashion needs. Moreover, the factory ensures that their collections get to the customer at the right time upon placing an order. The factory has a mission of producing high quality and fashionable collections. With these aspects, the brand may be heading to the international market. The Reformation deals in the production of a wide range of products, which include dresses, tops, jumpers, bottoms, basics, outerwear, sweaters, and accessories (The Reformation, 2014). Nevertheless, the brand has the capacity to produce other collections in response to the growing customers’ needs. Notably, the brand operates in three renowned stores in the United States of America. These fashion stores include Reformation LES in New York, Reformation SoHo in New York, and Reformation Melrose in Los Angeles (The Reformation, 2014). The factory is planning to open other stores outside America. Indeed, the factory has been delivering its collections to its online customers based in other locations outside USA. As such, the size of the factory is growing and soon it might go global. Subject to the difficulty and time consumption in operating Vintage stores, Reformation builds its product

Monday, November 18, 2019

Analysis of BRIC countries Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Analysis of BRIC countries - Essay Example The availability of abundant natural resources and growing mining, agriculture, manufacturing and service industries has taken the economy of Brazil to highest ranks among South American nations and has gained a commendable position in world economy. The fall in real wages during the period 2001 to 2003 slowed the economic growth of Brazil to 2.2 percent per year. Subsequently, it was affected by several internal and global economic crises. But the economy did not collapse because Brazilian economy has a strong foundation built by the economic programs and policies instituted by President Cardosa and taken forward by President Lula Da Silva. The Brazilian economy is undergoing a steady growth and development since 2004 that has given rise to the rate of employment and real wages. The economic system operates using floating exchange rate, adopts compressed fiscal policy and keeps the inflation rate on check. The Brazilian currency underwent a sharp depreciation which in turn resulted in extreme adjustment in current account during the period 2003 to 2006. Following this situation there was trade surpluses and the surplus agricultural production lead to increase in the rate of exports. However, Brazilian economy has certain weaknesses. The economy is mostly associated to debts. The rate of debts has increased during the period 1994 to 2003. The rise in debt was controlled in 2006 with the introduction of economic programs to increase public investment and control taxes. The current GDP of Brazil is 1.6 trillion with a real growth rate of GDP at 3.7 percent. The inflation is 3 percent and the rate of unemployment is 9.6 percent. Agricultural products that contribute to the economy are wheat, coffee, rice and sugarcane. Major industries include aircraft, textiles, chemicals, steel, shoes, motor vehicles, etc. (Brazil Economy) Official figures indicate that the GDP of Brazil has

Friday, November 15, 2019

Influence of Personality on Success

Influence of Personality on Success The present paper attempts to examine the inherent connection between personality and success. The term personality is derived from Latin word persona, a mask worn by actors in classical dramas. Behaviorist psychologists feel that if a person has some kind of impact or makes a certain impression on others, it must be because of his actions. The simplest meaning of personality, therefore, is the pattern of responses which characterizes the individual. An individuals personality is invariably revealed through interactions in the personal, social and the professional arena, for the act of communication determines how one views and in return is viewed by the world around. In the modern world of professional rivalry and competitive business, obsessed with power and achievement, personality becomes the byword for success. There are qualities that enable one to evolve and grow into an empowered and well-balanced personality, a choice that proves to be a wise investment for long-term achieve ments. Such qualities along with the ability to effectively communicate and interact have become much sought after, with everyone trying to understand how one may acquire them. So much so that soft skills and personality development have become the new slogans for professional and career advancement. The paper examines a few such skills and also how one may cultivate them. The paper also takes a look at whether these should be/can be acquired merely for material success or else, these constitute an inherent part of a certain way of living having roots in time-tested and acknowledged cultural practices that leads one to peace, harmony and happiness. Contrary to the general idea that good personality refers to good physical features or trendy looks, personality includes many other important behavioral and mental features. Take the example of Mahatma Gandhi. Most people did not find him to be attractive or impressive as far as his physical make up was concerned. Yet, this short, meek looking, bald, dhoti clad old looking man moved and inspired the entire nation to stand up and demand freedom. Even today he is known for his Personality which established everlasting impression on the people around him and made him the man of fame and world. There have been many others too, relatively recently being Barack Obama, the President of America, who electrified Americans, captured their imagination, inspired million viewers with his twenty minutes speech at the stage of 2004 Democratic National Convention. He, with his outstanding soft skills and emotional intelligence not only transcended race and historic barriers, but also conveyed his vision, inspired confidence, persuaded and motivated people and became Americas first African American President. Thus what makes the difference is the understanding of what is commonly called, the soft skills. Soft skills are essentially people skills the non-technical, intangible, personality-specific skills that determine ones strengths as a leader, speaker, listener, negotiator, and conflict mediator. It means skills related to human attitude, team work, leadership qualities, over all human nature enhancements. Soft skills thus is a sociological term relating to a persons EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient), the cluster of personality traits, social graces, communication, language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that characterize relationships with other people. They are, in many instances, complementary, and serve to unlock the potential for highly effective performance in people qualified with the requisite hard skills. In broader terms soft skills is a range of abilities including work ethics, courtesy, teamwork, self-discipline and self-confidence, professional presence, language proficiency, cultural sensitivity, communication skills, ability to accept and learn from criticism, ability to handle client relationships, networking, creativity, ability to motivate yourself and lead others, time management, leadership and interpersonal skills. Studies have shown that personality measures parameters like conscientiousness, dependability and agreeability and they are equally important predictors of work success as cognitive ability and work accuracy. These parameters or traits can yield significant return on investment for an organization. For this reason, soft skills are increasingly sought out by employers in addition to standard qualifications. The wide rivers of culture, language and environment can only be crossed with being proficient with soft skills. Also, today Indian companies are facing inten se competition from MNCs who are offering identical services in their own backyard. The only way that Indian companies can continue to dominate this space is by up-skilling their employees in soft skills. Importance of Soft Skills There is an axiom in business circles which suggests hard skills will get a person an interview, but soft skills will land that person a job. Thus, an applicant with years of education and experience in the field might have the hard skills necessary to fill the position, but lack of soft skills such as leadership ability or self-motivation will not allow one to accomplish the task in the desired manner. Research in many fields such as sales and marketing, software development, engineering and law, has shown that to be successful in the workplace, knowledge alone is not enough. Soft skills play a vital role in dealings with the external world and help us to work in a collaborative manner with our colleagues. Studies by Stanford Research Institute and the Carnegie Mellon Foundation among Fortune 500 CEOs found that 75% of long term job success depended on people skills and only 25% on technical skills. This is true at other levels as well. For effective performance in the workplace, companies need their employees to have not only domain knowledge, technical and analytical skills, but also the skills to deal with the clients, customers, vendors and to work in a collaborative manner with their colleagues. We manage and think with our head. ­Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ ­ Service learning, Critical thinking, problem solving, decision making are related to our thinking processes, which we manage with our mind. ­ Functions of the heart are related to people and caring. We relate to people by accepting differences, adopting conflict resolutions, putting into practice social skills, showing cooperation and keeping the channels of communication open. The second function we perform with our heart is caring. We care through nurturing relationships, sharing, empathizing and displaying genuine concern for others. This all constitutes Soft Skills. Indiana Business Research Center (IBRC) has found that, while credentialing in the form of degrees and certificates is important, development of soft skills-skills that are more social than technical-are a crucial part of fostering a dynamic workforce. Skills projected to be in the highest demand include active listening, critical thinking, speaking, active learning, writing, time management, and social perceptiveness. Hence, one must focus on learning and putting into practice various soft skills. The Important soft skills and the ways one may perfect them are: 1 Positive Attitude We have all heard that its better to see the glass half full instead of half empty. And in the workplace, that type of positive thinking can go a long way. A person who focuses on the brighter side of things is definitely much sought after as compared to a fellow who wallows in negativity. An overall positive outlook leads to a positive attitude and that can be a valuable asset in work environments that typically breed cynicism and negativity. The key to having a winning attitude is readiness to face and tackle obstacles and challenges that come our way. For example, instead of complaining about a stressful workload, one may think about it as an opportunity to show off ones abilities and getting through it productively and efficiently. Shiv Khera rightly puts it, Stick to the fight when youre the hardest hit (68). 2. Effective Communication Skills. Effective communication skills help in transforming a manager into an efficient leader. It includes both oral as well as written forms: oral skills for public speaking, presentations, negotiating, conflict resolutions, knowledge-sharing; writing skills for preparing reports, proposals, instruction manuals, writing memos, notices, official correspondence etc. As English for Indians is a second language, so for good communication skills, constant practice at home/school/college followed by language-lab sessions is need of the hour. While good oral skills inspire and motivate employees and win over customers, the written communication helps in following it up at front and back office jobs, clinching deals and ensuring retention of valued employees and prized customers. 3. Confidence and Self-efficacy In almost every situation where one is trying to impress others, confidence is the key. While its important to accept our limitations and act humble when we receive praise, its also important to acknowledge our strengths and embrace them. If one acts confident in some of ones job responsibilities like at written communication, project management skills or leadership abilities, one must make sure that it is based on genuine, positive reinforcement. Confidence comes from preparation, which is nothing but planning and practice. According to Albert Bandura, self-efficacy is the belief in ones capabilities to organize and execute the courses of action required for managing prospective situations (1977; 2). Thus self-efficacy is a persons belief in his or her ability to succeed in a particular situation. In other words it is confidence that Bandura believes can be developed in leaders and employees for specific tasks in given situations. Confidence is not only open to development, but the more confident the individual, The more likely the choice will be made to really get into the task and welcome the challenge. The more effort and motivation will be given to successfully accomplish the task; and The more persistence there will be when obstacles are encountered or even when there is initial failure (2000; 42). This profile of a highly confident leader or employee seems ideal for effectiveness and high-performance in todays workplace. In addition to performance outcomes, confidence has been shown to positively affect goal aspirations and attainment. This strength and positive attitude has also been shown to have an impact on strategy formulation, entrepreneurial start-ups and managing very difficult situations. 4. Creative Skills Creativity and imaginative thinking are valued in any job. Even the most technical positions require the ability to think outside the box. Whenever handed a tedious task, one should try to tackle it in a way that allows it to be completed more efficiently. When a problem comes along that others are reluctant to take on, the one who dares to jump at the opportunity to find a creative solution is the ideal performer. 5. Accept and learn from criticism This is one of the most challenging soft skills, which is why it is typically one of the most impressive to employers. Our ability to handle criticism says a lot about our willingness to improve. At the same time, being able to criticize the work of others in a constructive way is just as important. It requires enormous maturity to be aware of how defensive one gets when confronted by negative feedback and how not to reject a piece of constructive criticism completely without acknowledging that at least part of it is helpful. Hence how to offer criticism in a diplomatic manner is an important skill to work at. 6. Motivate yourself and lead others It is important for an employer to know what type of person his employee is. If one is a self-starter who takes initiative, such an individual must be given space to carry out his/her activities. This means constantly seeking out new ways to keep the job interesting and motivational, even if at the surface it seems repetitive and mundane. Creativity plays a big role in this, but theres more to motivation than just that. It requires courage to pursue ideas one has had stuck in the back of the mind, and dedication to follow through with them and be successful. The important skill to work at is to be able to nudge others in the same direction to work towards a common goal. If you want to climb the echelons of success, you should show a personality with strong leadership skills. One must always remember that a good leader leads by example. Proactive Being proactive means thinking and acting ahead. Basically, this means using foresight. It is a great method for avoiding more work down the road and for averting disasters. By planning well for the future and instituting systems at work, makes life easier not just for oneself, but for others as well. This can be done by following some procedures: Try to prevent problems from ever arising. This means tackling possible failings in advance to prevent them from becoming a reality. Get into the habit of taking precautions and developing fallback plans As Shel Leanne advises Sweep aside low-priority issues, and promote most assertively those ideas of greatest importance, and shine a light on them. So one should be aware of the tasks to be considered on priority basis and those which can wait. Eliminate altogether any task that is truly unnecessary. Evaluate procedures and processes while in use. 8. Wide Perspective Looking at the larger picture in the work means being able to see the determining factors of the success. It also means recognizing a risk thats worth taking, and knowing when to take it. Thus for example, if one is in advertising and has to handle the task of creating a campaign for a brand of soap one must recognize that the goal is not just to sell soap, but also to satisfy the client and provide him with a quality service. Feeling pride in ones job and having a sense of accomplishment are necessary ingredients of a well-balanced personality. 9. Interpersonal and Teamwork Skills Interpersonal and teamwork skills contribute to higher productivity and better environment as people work together to reach common goals. Some individuals are born leaders or intuitively adopt the traits required in team work. However, in general, these skills need to be taught or can be learnt through practice and awareness. As leader or as member of a team, a worker at times has to handle interpersonal conflicts, personality clashes and other issues related to the team. One should be able to analyze the differences in various persons in the team and take impartial decisions. For this a motivational leader is required who inspires a team to new levels of innovation and productivity by working with the following dimensions: Assertiveness is the quality necessary to learn so that one is able to get the point across in a forceful manner and show others that one will not back down. If the leader does not then he/she will get run over and ideas which are probably good will be thrown righ t out of the window. One must be able to persuade others to get the job done in a timely manner and also in an efficient one. Persuasion is a nice and more gentle way to motivate than assertiveness, but since there will be diversity within the group, we must understand that everyone is motivated in different ways. Empathy is important because we must not assume that everyone has the same background or same feelings about certain topics. Diplomacy is essential because negotiation between members is highly important. We have to bring ideas together not just say that one way is the best. 10. Presentation Skills People, who are working in the corporate sector, need to be good presenters. Every area of corporate life requires presentation. It can be presenting before existing or prospective customers, suppliers, media or people within the organization. It is very important to have necessary presentation skills to present the service, plan or product before the audience. One should customize ones presentation according to the audience. It should be based on the level of education, interest, requirements and suitable time of the audience. Presentation in both forms; oral as well as written form, should be well taken care of by the managers. Other Live skills required for improving Personality are: Etiquette Etiquette refers to the socially accepted behavior and manners to be followed in formal situations. It includes office manners, eating etiquette and procedures to be followed in different situations. Etiquette differs according to the cultures and nations. But there are certain common features which are generally accepted in the corporate world. For example; giving respect and being gentle with elderly people and ladies, taking care of the guests, being gentle and polite in our words and movements, eating without making loud noise, etc. Todays manager is a participative leader with the appropriate etiquette. Personal Hygiene and Grooming It is implicitly believed and expected that the employees should take care of their personal hygiene for their own, as well as for the sake of the organization. An employee must take care of the body odour, bad breath, unkempt and crumpled clothes, dirty finger nails, shoes and socks, unruly hair and unshaven face. Neat people are appreciated and accepted in all organizations Grooming implies mainly the presentability of a person. It is about the right dressing sense of the people according to the situation. Men and women should be impeccably but comfortably turned out according to convention and the occasion. Dress code of the organization should be given due respect. People with right dressing sense are appreciated in all organizations. Body Language For achieving effective personality, proper body language is required. Body language is a non-verbal communication which is expressed through facial expressions, gestures, posture, and body movements. These gestures and postures say a lot about our personality. There are various body language movements and expressions you need to have to develop a positive personality: Maintaining eye contact is a sign of respect and interest towards the other person. If someone is talking and you make sure you are keeping your eyes focused on them then this will make them feel that you are in fact interested in what they have to say. Your facial expression is very important. If you are always frowning, this would indicate that you have a negative aura, and this will push others away. Whereas if you are constantly seen smiling, you are going to attract other sunny and happy people to you. Posture is also very important. You need to sit properly, avoid slouching, and if you can, keep an open posture at all times, leaning towards the speaker whenever necessary, to show that you are interested. Flexibility Flexibility stands for the ability to be open to changes, new ideas and environment. It needs a lot of effort to accept, listen to and respect others opinions. A successful and efficient manager will show flexibility in listening to the opinions of the team and take every one into confidence while taking important decisions. Management should accept new thoughts and ideas for its growth. Time management A stitch in time saves nine. A professional should be a good example to others by setting a high standard on time management. If things are not planned or completed on time, it will have adverse effect on the organization. In todays competitive age, everyone is running behind time. It has become a necessity for all companies to work on timely schedules to meet and surpass the competitors. Work Ethics Work ethics is a set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence. It is also a belief in moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character of the employer or any individual. A work ethic may include being reliable, having initiative or maintaining social skills. Apart from that a sense of responsibility, honesty and commitment may also be included in it. Work without ethics will not give a long life to organizations as well as individuals. Adhering to the general principles and guidelines is mandatory for the company to function smoothly in the market. Each employee should stick to the work ethics and cultures of the company. In order to possess the above discussed skills one needs to be self-aware and cultivate positivism in thought and approach. Common sense What is lacking among most people is common sense. People are good in repeating what others do or what the boss says. Many people fail to think on their own and take appropriate decisions at the time of crisis. The solutions to many of the problems are related to basic facts and minimum efforts. But people think much and work less towards the solutions. People at the managerial level are expected to have the knowledge of basic facts, simple solutions and common sense. Conclusion To conclude, the above mentioned skills are easy as well as difficult to incorporate in ones personality; easy, because these are simple values mostly already instilled in us right from childhood by parents, teachers, culture and religion, so just need to be reinforced, strengthened, and difficult, because these require constant and continuous effort, and a sense of deep-rooted commitment to certain ideals in life. The important thing to remember and realize is that these are skills; as such anyone anytime can learn them, put into practice to embellish ones personality. After all we determine what choices we make in life. Community service, volunteering, leadership, responsible citizenship and contributions to group effort are our way of giving back to the society. ­ We work through our marketable skills, teamwork and self-motivation to get the things done. All the soft skills listed above are essentially choices that we make about the kind of life we want to lead. Healthy lif estyle choices, stress management, disease prevention and personal safety are our prime concerns for better living. Success at economic, social, professional as also personal levels actually is a natural and logical outcome of the efforts we put in to acquire these skills and subsequently put them into practice. In an increasingly competitive, globalized world, the practice of these soft skills may be the only way we may lead peaceful, harmonious, satisfied, happy lives. Hence, self-esteem, self-responsibility, character, managing feelings and having self-discipline must be practiced without fail. In a nutshell, the essence of life skills is share well, care well and fare well. Works Consulted: Bandura, A. Self-efficacy: Towards A Unifying Theory of Behavioural Change.Psychological Review, 1977: 191-215. Bandura, A. Exercise Of Human Agency Through Collective Efficacy Current Direction of Psychological Science 2000:75-78. Cellars,Tara. Human Resources Team Development Ideas: Interpersonal Skills and Effective WorkTeams,2007 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/237723/human_resources_team_development_ideas.html?cat=3. Deol,Navjot S. Communication, Types and Significance.A Concise Book Of Communication Skills: New Academic Publishing Co., 2nd ed. (2010) EI Report Use the EI to Select the Dependable People Your Business needs to be Competitive Newsletter for the Users of PDI Employment Inventory. Personnel Decisions, Inc.:November,1991 Khera, Shiv.You Can Win: A Step by Step Tool For Top Achievers: Macmillan India Limited,.New Delhi.1998 Kumar,Anurag Career In Soft Skills Training Employment News Weekly,Aug,2010 Klaus,Peggy . The Hard Truth About Soft Skills: Klaus Associates, 2004 Luthans, Fred. The Need For And Meaning O f Essay Positive Organizational Behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior.23, 2002:695-706 Leanne,Shel. Say It Like Obama: The Power of Speaking With Purpose And Vision: Tata Mc Graw-Hill,2008 Soft Skills Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_skills Stajkovic, A.D. Luthans, F. Self-Efficacy And Work Related Performance: A Meta-Analysis.Psychological Bulletin 124, 1998:240-261.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

Computer Addiction Essay -- Technology

Technology today is progressing at an exponential rate with new devices being released practically daily. With each new invention comes new and exciting possibilities as well as ever growing temptations and danger. One such pitfall many have fallen victim to is that of computer addiction. Computer addiction can be defined as the obsessive use of computers that interferes with daily life. This addiction has been shown through many activities over computers such as video gaming, chat rooms, and net surfing to just name a few. In order to truly understand what computer addiction is one must understand the symptoms and motivations that lead one to become addicted. Computer addictions have been found in every race, gender, and socio-economical class in America, and yet many still view it as pure laziness. While it is still widely disputed many psychologist recognize it as a valid mental disorder. Like many addictions the origins of computer addictions cannot be accurately identified as there are always many causes of such addictions. Some psychologists speculate that the origins lay in our increased reliance on computers. The majority of people are required to use computers in their professional lives and throughout their educations. This reliance coupled with increased time restraints may lead to individuals to spending longer periods of time on the computer. A recent study was conducted by Robert Kraut at Carnegie Mellon University in which one hundred and sixty nine individuals from ninety three diverse households in the Pittsburg area were monitored during their first two years of internet use. By using monitoring software and surveys Dr . Kraut was able to establish a direct correlation between the amounts of internet use to a... ...lcoholics Anonymous. Regardless of the treatment sought, professional help is needed in order for addicts to overcome the dependency on computer time. As technology progresses more and more people are drawn to computers for their professions and education. If caution and restraint is not maintained some will become addicted, and this will have a tremendous impact on their personal and professional lives. Many have fallen prey to computer addictions and some have paid with their lives. Works Cited James Fearing, Ph.D. Computer / Internet Addiction - Self Diagnosis. n.d. 25 April 2009. . Spaith, Judith. "Sony Online Entertainment: EverQuestor EverCrack?" Journal of Business Ethics 58 (n.d.): 3–6. Williams, Ian. Vnunet. 01 March 2007. 25 April 2009. .