Augmented Reality in Action

Augmented Reality in Action Augmented reality is technology that enables you to overlay digital objects onto the real world. And its pretty freaking cool. Ive been following augmented reality and virtual reality closely since the beginning of 2016, but it wasnt until the AR in Action conference last week at the MIT Media Lab that I got to try out an augmented reality headset for the first time. Above is a short demo of me using the Meta 2. On the computer screen, you could see what I was seeing. I played around with a digital Earth floating in the room, spinning it around and stopping it to look at different parts. There was also a demo of the human brain and a gesture-controlled user interface. To everyone else, it looks like Im just standing there waving my hands around in the air. But from my point of view, Im moving digital objects around the room, spinning and zooming in on them with different gestures. Throughout the conference, I met lots of interesting augmented reality researchers and startup founders. Many of them were MIT grad students in the Media Lab working on AR/VR tech. The main organizer of AR in Action is John Werner, the former Head of Innovation and New Ventures in the Media Labs Camera Culture Group. He co-founded the Media Labs Emerging Worlds, Ideas in Action, and is the curator of TEDxBeaconStreet, all of which are organizations Ive volunteered for in the past before I even knew who John Werner was. He is currently the Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Meta, and his vision is to enable Boston to become the augmented reality capital of the world. I also got to try Microsofts HoloLens. The screen was a lot narrower and the headset was less comfortable but it was wireless and entirely self-contained. With the Meta, I had to be tethered to a computer the whole time. With the HoloLens, I could walk freely because the computer was built into the headset. When I pulled up a 3D graph of stock market forecasts, I could walk around and look at it from different angles as if it was an actual object in the room. Other people who put on the headset could see the same object. Im really excited thinking about the way this could be used for creating digital worlds overlaid over the real one. Imagine the future! Imagine your computer space was your room, where you could walk to your drawers and pull out digital work files, or find your movie files floating around when you hop into bed. From what Ive seen, the two main ways augmented reality exists today is through headsets and through cameras. In my blog post Virtual Reality, Startups, and Donuts, I posted about an example of smartphone augmented reality: The way this works is by matching digital objects to certain visual cues. Then, when a camera passes over the visual cue (in this case, the cover of this New Yorker issue), a digital object is overlaid on the screen. You can move around the camera to view the object from different angles, but if the visual cue disappears from view, the object also disappears. We saw smartphone augmented reality hit mainstream briefly during the Pokemon Go craze of last summer. Digital Pokemon (Digimon? lol) overlaid on the real-world, popping up and standing on whatever surface the camera could identify. Another quirky example of smartphone AR is, interestingly enough, tattoos. At the after-party, we met a guy who showed us his wrist. It had a tattoo of a gecko. Then he put his phone camera over it and a digital gecko popped up to life on his wrist. His company, HoloTats, makes a wide variety of these augmented reality tattoos.  He had to leave in a hurry, but he gave me one to try out Horace the pig. Horace became my virtual pet for the weekend that I could summon every time I held my camera over my wrist. I almost felt sad when the tattoo finally washed off and Horace faded away to the great beyond. Ill miss you, Horace. Thank you to everyone at AR in Action conference and to the organizers. I got to try both the Meta and Microsofts HoloLens and expand my mind to the possibilities with augmented reality. Its only a matter of time before we go from this: to this: Post Tagged #photography

The Lost Truth The Western Civilization - 2828 Words

The Lost Truth: The Western Civilization was built by the Catholic Church It is not unusual for an average American to possess a negative view on the Catholic Church. Indeed, historians find it difficult to convince most people that the Catholic Church did not give rise to the cultural and intellectual retrogression experienced during the Middle Ages. Dr. Thomas E. Woods, Jr. wrote a book called â€Å"How the Catholic Church built Western Civilization† to demonstrate that the Church’s contributions to Western societies go past the aspects of music, arts and architecture. As the title suggests, the author goes beyond: The Catholic Church built Western civilization. Dr. Thomas Woods completed a Bachelor of Arts at Harvard University and a Ph.D. in History at Columbia University. He is also the author of 11 New York Times bestselling books. In this essay, there will be a synopsis of each chapter of Dr. Woods’ book. A detailed discussion of chapter 5 (The Church and Science) will also be included. Hope: â€Å"A Light in the Darkness† The beginning of the Middle Ages was marked by barbarian attacks in the West which resulted in an intellectual and cultural reversion. After the sack of Rome in 410, the Catholic Church tried to hold civilization together while seeking protection elsewhere. She eventually affiliated Herself with the Merovingian ruling family after successfully converting Clovis, the Frankish king in 481. When the Merovingian family experienced aShow MoreRelatedWhile Generally, People Aim For Truth In The Pursuit Of1540 Words   |  7 PagesWhile generally, people aim for truth in the pursuit of knowledge, differences in power hierarchy can inhibit the veracity of the new information. This paper seeks to analyze the effect of power relations on the production of knowledge in the case of the Middle East. To do so, the paper first reflects on the general manner in which power relations affect knowledge before proceeding to examine the case of the Middle East upon the colonial era of the Brit ish and French. Specifically, this paper arguesRead MoreWhos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Articulates the Crises of Contemporary Western Civilization867 Words   |  4 PagesEdward Albees (1928) play Whos Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1961-62) exhibits concern with the crises of faith of contemporary western civilization. This thematic concern is rooted in two sources. First it establishes a link with the dramatists of the thirties such as Eugene ONeill (1888-1953), Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) and Arthur Miller (1915-2005). These dramatists had in their plays critiqued America as it moved from confidence to doubt. In a land of success they wrote obsessivelyRead MoreModern European History. Speaks of Paul Valery and what he meant by saying that Europe doubted itself profoundly828 Words   |  4 Pagesanxiety was created. People didn t know or what to expect anymore. They did not know what was going to happen after the war. They re so devastated by the war that many who were still alive lost faith and all hopes. Many intellectuals began to doubt the Enlightenment and even the future of Western civilization. This state of uncertainty and unpredictability brought out many modern philosophers of that time. One of them was a French poet and critic Paul Valery. He stated that Europe was lookingRead MoreHow Truth Was Defined By Medieval Europeans1696 Words   |  7 PagesEric Green Urban British Literature 1st 3 December 2015 How Truth Was Defined By Medieval Europeans In life majority of people believe telling the truth is the correct way of living. Truth has endured the world throughout time and is seemingly unanswerable to those who do not understand it because this subject appears in every culture. Truth goes along with universal questions such as what is beauty, justice, and power. And love but none have a direct answer because they are all dependent onRead More Modern European History Essay886 Words   |  4 Pagesanxiety was created. People didnt know or what to expect anymore. They did not know what was going to happen after the war. Theyre so devastated by the war that many who were still alive lost faith and all hopes. Many intellectuals began to doubt the Enlightenment and even the future of Western civilization. This state of uncertainty and unpredictability brought out many modern philosophers of that time. One of them was a French poet and critic Paul Valery. He stated that quot;Europe was lookingRead MoreThe Mosquito Coast Essay example1150 Words   |  5 Pages21st century world where the increase in technology and communication has lead to the homogenization of cultural values. The concept of navigating through these complexities is referred to by critic T. Friedman as â€Å"An inevitable process of western civilization battling forces of primitivism and localism† Which can be seen in the 1981 novel The Mosquito Coast (TMC) by Paul Theroux and the 2007 film Into the wild directed by Sean Penn (ITW) demonstrates the consequences brought by failure to adoptRead MoreWhy Do Ficers Consider Kurtz Unsound?1009 Words   |  5 Pagesthe need to destroy that contradicting factor. The way to achieve this was to kill Kurtz. The truths, mores, and general reality set forth by the officers is based on support from other, similar realities. Without that support structure found in civilization, the baseline reality of nature takes its place, and constructed civilized realities crumble. As Kurtz left the influence of civilization, his reality was destroyed, and in turn fell into the baseline of nature, with little of its previousRead MoreAnalysis Of Joseph Conrad s Heart Of Darkness1164 Words   |  5 Pagesbut also portrays through the Vietnam War, the contrasting misguided crusades of enlightenment that the supreme race forces upon savages. The reversed meanings amongst the colors and entangled description in Heart of Darkness shows how backwards civilization is through the need to enlighten or civilize the natives is flamboyantly flaunted in both the movie and book. Ultimately, both portray an allusion to Dante’s inferno and through comparing and contrasting the symbolisms and imagery effectively personifyRead MoreThe Greatest Question For Today s Christian1212 Words   |  5 Pagesbelieved that Christianity will ultimately die if not rooted in true foundational principles built upon the cornerstones of scriptural truths. There are two large threats to Christianity in today’s world. The most obvious and impending power of evil Webber argues to be the over whelming force of Radical Islam. While this book was written nearly 8 years ago, the truth still rings clear today, if not even more so. The threat of ISIS today leaves the human race scared of its own kind. Webber’s predictionRead More Cahills How The Irish Saved Civilization Essay737 Words   |  3 Pages Cahills How the Irish Saved Civilization Thomas Cahill opens his story describing Romes fall, â€Å"For as the Roman Empire fell, as all through Europe matted, unwashed barbarians descended on the Roman cities, looting artifacts and burning books, the Irish who were just learning to read and write, took up the just labor of copying all of western literature - everything they could get their hands on. These scribes then served as conduits through which Greco-Roman and Judeo-Christian cultures were

The Neurobiological Factors Associated with Depression Essay

The Neurobiological Factors Associated with Depression Depression is a mood disorder that affects approximately ten percent of men and nearly twenty-five percent of women at least once in their lifetime (1). There are several types of clinical depression, such as unipolar depression and bipolar depression. Unipolar depression consists of primarily depressive states while bipolar depression involves a fluctuation between states of depression and mania (2). Some of the most common symptoms of depression include excessive feelings of sadness, guilt, or worthlessness, a significant change in appetite, insomnia or hypersomnia, energy loss, thoughts or attempts of suicide, and anhedonia (3), (4). While the symptoms of depression are†¦show more content†¦While some of the findings from these genetic studies are still preliminary, several investigations have indicated that the role of certain neurotransmitters, called monoamines, in depression is immense (7). Neurotransmitters are chemicals in the brain that bind to receptors in order to excite or inhibit the firing of neurons (6). The Catecholamine Theory of Mood was proposed as a major explanation for the cause of depression in the 1960s by Joseph Schildkraut (7). Schildkraut suggested that a deficiency of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine at receptor sites caused depression while increased levels of norepinephrine caused mania. Some evidence for Schildkraut’s account was established by the success rate of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor drugs, which block the reuptake of monoamines and facilitate the release of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin (8). Further evidence has been established by studies that found decreased norepinephrine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of deceased depressed patients (5). More recently, drugs have been developed that selectively block the reuptake of norepinephrine by the presynaptic cell. It has been found in preliminary st udies that the level of depression decreases in these patients, which provides further evidence for the role of norepinephrine in depression. While empirical support for the Catecholamine Theory of Mood has grown substantially, evidence from more recent studies highlights theShow MoreRelatedIntroduction to Addictions and Substance Use Disorders Essay646 Words   |  3 PagesIntroduction to Addictions and Substance Use Disorders Cognitive-Behavioral Models The cognitive behavioral models say that incentives make way for the right conditions for the need for drug abuse. Drug use is associated with experiences such as self-exploration, religious insights, altering moods, escaping boredom or despair, enhancing creativity, performance, sensory experience or pleasure, and so on (Capuzzi Stauffer, 2012). Cognitive behaviorism has brought in appreciated data at the sameRead MoreNeurobiological And Biological Relationships Of Major Depressive Disorder1312 Words   |  6 PagesNeurobiological and Biological Relationships to Major Depressive Disorder Biological and neurobiological studies have become more and more closely correlated with mental disorders throughout the past decade of scientific progress. This paper aims to expound models that have contributed to our developing understanding of the origins of Major depressive disorder (MDD) and treatment guidance, from both neurobiological and biological fields. It will also explore the implications, both positive and negativeRead MoreMajor Depressive Disorder Impacts Many People Worldwide1310 Words   |  6 Pagescharacterized by feelings of sadness accompanied by emotional and physical withdrawal, all thought to result from molecular and cellular abnormalities that interact with genetic and environmental factors. To date, no concrete neurobiological explanation exists to completely define, diagnose and treat this illness. Depression debilitates patients, society and economies. An estimated 14.8 million Americans (6.7% of the population) suffer from this disease, costing the eco nomy 83.1 billion US dollars annuallyRead MoreOutline The Processes Of Nociception1498 Words   |  6 Pages-Weak surrounding ankle muscles -Referred pain -Unable to fully weight bear -Reduced Passive Active range of motion Q (2b.) Explain how these factors might impact on her pain. Describe the likely neurobiological mechanisms involved. Relate to the Clinical Model of Pain. Linda may have psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression, fear of moving her limb for it might cause more damage and due to her previous injury 2 years ago. Additionally, she is feeling quite disappointed andRead MoreStroke Accounts For 11.13% Of Total Worldwide Mortality1416 Words   |  6 Pagespatients stop taking their prescribed medication 1 to 2 years after their stroke incident [1][2][3]. These high rates of non-adherence are influenced by multiple factors such as patient’s cognitive characteristics, behavioral factors, social support and environmental-related factors (Einsiedel Eastlick, 2000). The consideration of these factors will give us a clearer insight in understanding non-adherence. The causes of non-adherence can be categories into ability, information and motivation (â€Å"AIM†Read More Traumatic Brain Injury Essay1983 Words   |  8 Pagesresponse to a perceived threatening stimulus and is frequently accompanied by negative affect, facial expressions described as hostile, temper tantrums, anger and a reported feeling of loss of self-control has been strongly associated with a range of adolescent physical and social factors such as peer rejection and lower social orientation , social skills problems starting fights, getting angry and physical abuse . On the other hand, Proactive aggression (PA) is pre-meditated, controlled or has the specificRead MoreExposure To Social Violence1134 Words   |  5 Pagesfindings showing that intra-familial ACEs (child abuse and household dysfunction) are associated with premature delivery (11–13) and low-birth weight (10,13). Furthermore, it spread out past research (23–25) by confirming the association between maternal history of adversities during childhood and depression during pregnancy. Our analysis adds power to the previous literature on the negative impact of social ACEs on depression. Previous research’s explored peer violence, which has shown that bullied adolescentsRead MoreThe Causes And Consequences Of Anxiety943 Words   |  4 Pagesfurther exploration of these beliefs by Carver and White (1994) will be explored. In addition to these, it is also suggested that anxiety is correlated to hippocampus and amygdala formation and volume, therefore, this idea will also be explored, other factors that may influence anxiety will also be discussed in order to consider other potential causes and consequences of anxiety. After review and consideration of this evidence, the question â€Å"To what extent can individual differences in anxiety be explainedRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Ptsd3334 Words   |  14 Pagesobserved to be comorbid in post-trauma patients. As PT SD is often considered the most severe manifestation of post-trauma psychopathology, this review will focus more specifically on the risk factors for developing PTSD and associated psychopathology in response to trauma exposure. Identification of risk factors for the development of PTSD could inform the optimal delivery of services and resources after trauma and disaster to those who are most likely to develop psychopathology and might benefit theRead MoreSubstance Misuse And Substance Abuse Essay1837 Words   |  8 Pagesmisuse behaviour characterised by a strong desire to continually take the drug in uncontrolled manner, which leads to withdrawal symptoms once the dosage of the drug is discontinued (Koob, Sanna Bloom, 1998). This disorder has its roots in both neurobiological and social processes (Galizio Maisto, 2013), this essay will critically discuss both the biological and social catalysts in which substance misuse initiates and leads to substance misuse behaviour, with r eference to the psychopharmacology of

The Good Earth’s Relationship Between Wang Lung and O-Lan Free Essays

The relationship between O-lan and Wang Lung is stabilized by O-lan’s hard work and resourcefulness, based largely upon a woman’s inferiority, and threatened by superficial tendencies. Their affiliation also ends romantically with the loss of love and is regretted, in the end, with sufficient sympathy. O-lan proves to be beneficial through means of outdoor labor. We will write a custom essay sample on The Good Earth’s Relationship Between Wang Lung and O-Lan or any similar topic only for you Order Now In the afternoon she took a hoe and a basket and these upon her shoulder she went to the main road leading into the city where mules and donkeys and horses carried burdens to and fro, and there she picked the droppings from the animals and carried it home and piled the manure in the dooryard for fertilizer for the fields† (Buck 29). O-lan also proves her helpfulness by performing household chores, to much of Wang Lung’s appreciation. â€Å"And she took their ragged clothes and with thread herself spun on a bamboo spindle from a wad of cotton she mended and contrived to cover the rents in their winter clothes† (Buck 29). Although this is true, Wang Lung’s gratitude towards O-lan appears repressed as he constantly hides his feelings for her in the beginning. The protagonist immediately becomes mortified by his affection for O-lan. â€Å"And then he was ashamed of his own curiosity and of his interest in her† (Buck 30). Wang Lung subsequently attempts to dissuade these thoughts. O-lan’s aid and usefulness obviously weakens the tension between both spouses and creates a more mutual, stable life at home. Arguments are rarely heard amongst the lips of either husband or wife. This may be due to O-lan’s unusual quietness. â€Å"But she never talked, this woman, except for the brief necessities of life† (Buck 30). This silence almost utterly terminates all heated conversations. However, it also enhances her appearance as a slave and overall working image. â€Å"But in the day her clothes, her plain blue cotton coat and trousers, covered all that he knew, and she was like a faithful, speechless serving maid, who is only a serving maid and nothing more† (Buck 30). Women, in ancient cultures are, as shown in The Good Earth, thought to be of lesser value than that of men. She was, after all, only a woman† (Buck 30). On numerous occasions, O-lan is treated as if she is a piece of property obtained by her new husband. â€Å"It seemed that during these next months he did nothing except watch this woman of his† (Buck 28). Wang Lung acts this way due to the environment in which he grew from, where both elders and men reign, leaving women at the bottom of the totem pole. Wang Lung’s uncle once questioned, â€Å"Have you not heard it said that in the Sacred Edicts it is commanded that a man is never to correct an elder,† (Buck 66). As the novel progresses, Wang Lung’s thoughts of his wife’s exterior begin to surface as superficial tendencies emerge. He complains of her horrid hair and rough features. â€Å"He saw for the first time that her hair was rough and brown and unoiled and that her face was large and flat coarse-skinned, and her features too large altogether and without any sort of beauty or light† (Buck 179-180). These cruel comments are the first slap in the face of O-lan, as Wang Lung’s manly instincts begin to kick in and he discovers beauty abroad. Lotus enters the story when Wang Lung gives into the temptation of lust. He buys her, despite the fact that he is a married man. Threatening the relationship between O-lan and Wang Lung, Lotus slowly tears the couple apart even more than they were before. Earlier in the novel, during the raid of an aristocrat’s home, O-lan finds many valuable gems within the walls. Once money becomes a necessity, Wang Lung asks for the gems in order to grant them to the House of Hwang in return for additional land. O-lan is allowed to keep only two of her choosing and she quickly decides on two pearls: And he was moved by something he did not understand and he pulled the jewels from his bosom and unwrapped them and handed them to her in silence, and she searched among the glittering colors, her hard brown hand turning over the stones delicately and lingeringly until she found the two smooth white pearls, and these she took, and tying up the others again, she gave them back to him. (Buck 157-158) These white spheres represent more than just the upcoming twins. They also symbolize Wang Lung’s love for O-lan, no matter how limited it may be. Once Wang Lung becomes completely entangled inside Lotus’s web of desire, he demands that O-lan give him the pearls at once so he could, in turn, award them to his concubine. This simple act may be construed as Wang Lung’s thievery of his affection for O-lan and Lotus’s gain in the matter. As O-lan begins to die, she utters a phrase that entirely reveals all of her inner thoughts. â€Å"Well I know I am ugly and cannot be loved—,† (Buck 277). These ideas show her lack in confidence that may have been even more destroyed with Wang Lung’s brutal behavior and harsh words. Wang Lung, however, felt guilt beyond measure and â€Å"wondered and grieved at himself most of all because what she said was true, and even when he took her hand, desiring truly that she feel his tenderness towards her, he was ashamed because he could feel no tenderness, no melting of the heart such as Lotus could win from him with a pout of her lips† (Buck 277). This not only serves as evidence of Wang Lung’s sympathy towards O-lan and his regret for everything that he induced. It also reiterates the fact that Wang Lung and O-lan’s relationship changed instantaneously as his feelings for Lotus blossomed. How to cite The Good Earth’s Relationship Between Wang Lung and O-Lan, Papers

How To Write A Persuasive Essay Essay Example

How To Write A Persuasive Essay Paper A persuasive essay is a type of paper that helps the writer assure his audience about some idea. The writer takes one defensible position and makes the reader believe him. This is the common task in the school or college classes. You may also need to write a persuasive paper to convince your boss or colleagues to believe in something. In any situation, you should know how to write persuasive essay successfully and sound confident. Some useful tips for writing your essay persuasively Do some research; before you intend to persuade the audience, become self-confident in your ideas; surely, you need to do some preparation for writing. Dont be in a hurry; you should spend enough time to write your essay successfully; research to find all information you need to know. Study your audience; it is extremely important to decide before writing what readers you are going to appeal to. You aim to convince them, thus you should identify which facts and statements will be persuasive for your audience. It is impossible to assure all the people; you should focus on the specific group. For example, before writing about the utility of high education, decide whether you are appealing to the young people, their parents or even their teachers. Choose a defensible position; not surprisingly, the topic youve chosen may have different sides and questions inside. State only those arguments that you can prove. Your task is to take a strong position and expand only one stated opinion in your essay. Let your readers understand your stance and dont confuse them by touching contrary views. Present your thesis statements; as we mentioned above, your audience should realize your point of view concerning the topic. For that reason, you are supposed to state the thesis at the beginning of your essay. It should be written in the understandable language and give the reader a clear picture what you are arguing about. Share your testimony; think what pieces of evidence created your opinion and presented these proofs to your audience. Generate your ideas and try to show them in the most beneficial way; be accurate and unshakable. Write your paper consecutively, logically and smoothly; you aim to make people think you are specialist that is completely aware of his topic. Some more hints Give facts to prove your opinion; do not rely only on your own opinion; your thoughts are interesting for the reader, but giving facts, you make him believe in your irrefutability. Try to be objective and present real facts and events that will help prove your view. Use the reliable sources that will let you choose the appropriate information for your paper. Is it clear how to write the persuasive essay? Use the persuasion techniques; persuasion is a kind of craft you should learn. There are various useful skills and knacks that will help you become a successful writer. Among them, we can distinguish repetition, when you keep echoing over what you say several times. Use quotations to help the reader think you are not the only person that sticks to stated opinion. Actually, it will sound like appealing ‘dont stay alone, join us. Use rhetorical devices to sound more convincingly. Use emotional language; psychologists proved, that people are more compliant when someone induces their emotions. They become more complaisant and subconsciously decided to agree. Make them feel sorry for the presenting situation and show how badly it is and how immediately we need to find the solution. Choose the topic that is complicated and interesting for everyone in your audience. Stimulate your audience to act; make your reader sense that they are obliged to do something to improve the situation. Make them think about the problem even after theyve read your paper. Confute the opposite opinions. Operate only with those arguments that are strong enough to stand against the opposite points of view; your evidence should refute the contradicting opinions. Step by step guide for writing How to write the persuasive essay? Like any other type of the composition, the persuasive essay has its definite structure. Build the essay in the following way: the introductory paragraph, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. 1 The introduction The first paragraph of your paper is called the introduction. It should present the main idea to your readers. The primary task of this part is to capture the readers attention, for that reason you are supposed to present your opinions neatly and interestingly. Begin your writing with a general idea and smoothly narrow to the specific ones; state your thesis statements at the end of the introduction and place them only in one sentence. Dont give any wider information; youll give it in the body paragraphs; just make the reader interested in your paper. 2 The main body We will write a custom essay sample on How To Write A Persuasive Essay specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on How To Write A Persuasive Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on How To Write A Persuasive Essay specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The body of the essay usually consists of three paragraphs. Each of them goes with a specific subtopic stated in the beginning sentence; body paragraph should broaden the thesis statement presented in the introduction. You state your argument and prove them with evidence; it is extremely important to support the thesis. You must have a testimony for every mentioned opinion or else; you wouldnt sound effective. Mind your evidence; they should be understandable and reliable. To sound more cogent, create an imaginary opponent who gives you his arguments and reply him with your counterarguments. Each paragraph should offer some facts and information the reader needs to receive; be careful to put only one idea in the sentence. Fill the last sentence of your paragraphs with the conclusion and smooth transfer to the next one. Try to structure your ideas like a building, decide which of the arguments would be better represented in each part. 3 The conclusion The conclusion is the part where you summarize your ideas, by restating the thesis and show how your evidence proved your arguments. Be careful not only restate the thesis but present how you proved them; leave the reader making him think about the problem and stimulate him to take some actions. Finish by editing Dont forget to read your persuasive essay once more after having written it. Check your spelling, grammar, and fluency; think carefully whether you achieved your goals in writing. Make certain you sound absolutely persuasive to convince the reader to believe in your opinion. Check if you have enough transition words to connect your ideas. You may ask someone to look through your paper and give his notes, to help you improve the essay. Now you know how to write the persuasive essay.

Role of Media in Society

Role of Media in Society Introduction In today’s society, the flow of information among the citizenry plays an important role towards the development of an informed society. To this effect, the media has been instrumental in ensuring that the population gets current news and information on different issues affecting various societies.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Role of Media in Society specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Arguably, without the media, the world would consist of an ignorant population devoid of any relevant information relating to issues affecting their environment. With this in mind, it could be argued that the media provides the backdrop against which we make sense of any new conditions and information that we encounter in a world that is increasingly becoming globalized. Since its conception, the media has been hugely influential in the development of the society. The media can be used to drive public opinion, repor t on current news and advance some social values. The media is at best a complex genre which may be broken down into a large number of subs include movies, sports, music and news. Truth be told, football clubs would never have gained such a strong and wide fan base were it not for the media. In regards to change in journalism, Pavlik highlights on how journalism has been affected by the transformation of the new media (Fernback 163). In his opinion, new media technologies have greatly affected the traditional perspective of journalism. This he explains by expounding on the new journalistic trends such as changes in the contents provided to the audience as news, changes in how journalists work, structural changes in news organizations and changes that have occurred in the correlations between media outlets, journalists and different audiences (Fernback 163). These changes brought about by new media technologies have to a large extent led to the contextualization of journalism; a situ ation whereby journalism has become less objective and practical. On the same note, Palvik (as cited by Fernback 163) further notes that these new trends perceive journalists as interpreters of current events who in their efforts â€Å"empower the audience and reconnect communities (Fernback 163).†Advertising Looking for essay on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More According to Palvik, the new transformations being experienced in media outlets can be attributed to the availability and emergence of online infrastructure, high degree of customization, instantaneity and interactivity that characterize new media. In his point of view, Palvik believes that such developments will at the end make journalism a better tool to promote democracy (Fernback 163). Evidence of such developments can be derived from the emergence of the internet and the online architecture that supports this vast source of information. Through online encyclopedias such as Wikipedia and the various search engines, people are able to access information and learn about different issues that affect their lives. In addition, students in all academic fields are able to do more research in their designated fields and as a result, they become more knowledgeable in these areas than they would have been while using the traditional means of acquiring knowledge. Similarly, the internet ha s also provided people with a global means of communicating and learning about each other through websites like â€Å"facebook† and â€Å"twitter†. People from different countries globally are able to interact and socialize in the comfort of their homes without the inconveniencies caused by travelling as well as the enormous costs that would have otherwise been incurred. These facts prove Palvik’s assertion that new media is at the forefront in empowering the masses (by providing useful information) and connecting communities (interactive nature of the internet, radio and TV talk shows e. t. c.). On the other hand, Preston (as cited by Fernback 163) contends that the transformations being experienced in media are as a result of political, social, economical and communication patterns rather than technological developments. Preston asserts that the interrelation that exists between social and informational sciences accompanied by non-academic and industrial liter atures can be used by media so as to develop an equitable society and ensure social order (Fernback 163). In his book reshaping communication, Preston uses the aforementioned aspects to develop a model that explores the social role of information and communication in societies today (Fernback 163). In his opinion, Preston argues that our cultural, informational and social bearings are hinged not on technological advancements, but on the socioeconomic, political and communication trends that we adapt (Fernback 164). In this regard, it can arguably be stated that the role of the media in society is not determined by technological advancements, but by the socio-technical paradigm (Fernback 164). The positive view of the media has greatly been challenged with time. No longer do the various media outlets stand out as the ‘last front were nobility and idealism still had a foothold.’ Instead, the media just like any other business has been influenced by competition and ratings . As such, it has been noted for a fact that media outlets do at times express their own biased opinions which may not always be ideal or noble at that. For example, Gay Talese attests to the fact that the New York Times editor Gerald Boyd refused to print a story about an interracial wedding simply because it never emphasized on Black victimization (Kramer, Meyers and Rothstein 575). According to Gay Talese, any story that would soften the perception people had on such issues was disallowed and could not be printed (Kramer, Meyers and Rothstein 575). In this case, the Media’s actions which were previously perceived as being selfless and socially motivated have been exposed to not always have been driven by benevolence. These actions are at times resounded with self interests and personal gains for the media houses and the corporations that sponsor them. The previous view of the media’s ability to correctly reflect on the society’s mood has also been greatly que stioned as the media does at time appear to affect the set the society’s mood as opposed to reflecting it through the use of propaganda. (Kramer, Meyers and Rothstein suggest that the one of the media’s greatest power is in its ability to subtly influence our opinion (575). They further assert that in events that elicit a lot of public opinion, propaganda plays a great role and polarizes people along lines that they may not necessarily have taken had they not been persuaded to do so. This subtle psychological nudges can be used to further the cause of big corporations in the form of advertisements or by politicians who want to sway public opinions for their own good. To this effect, the people’s previous trust in the media report has therefore been greatly clouded by this realization. In terms of the unbiased reporting which had for a long time been viewed to be the hallmark of the popular media, it has been noted that some media reports are actually aimed at ma king the recipient of the information form a certain pre-determined opinion thus destroying any illusion of un-biasness (Kramer, Meyers and Rothstein 575). Media outlets can therefore set out to further some social cause which they believe in. Using the cultivation theory, Burton propose that exposure to some kinds of media often cultivate certain attitudes and values (Steffen 455). As an example, Steffen sheds some light on how Arab media has in the recent past adopted the western form of journalism and media presentation (455). In this regard, the author states that even journalists from countries such as Egypt and other Arabic countries which has stringent media policies accept western media values such as accuracy and balance (Steffen 455). As such, the reporter’s opinions and attitude will rub on the general population thus coloring their view of some events. In addition, the aforementioned assertion that advertisement aired in different media outlets is aimed at making the consumer better informed has been changed by evidence which strongly suggests that advertisements are aimed at actively influencing the decision that the consumer makes or may make in future (Steffen 456). What this means is that advertisement is no longer a primary tool for marketing, instead, it has been used to combat the aggressive competition. To this effect, only the consumers suffer because the advertisements no longer help them make informed decisions about the products but instead, the advertisements influence their judgments by giving half-truths. An especially troubling fact that revealed through various research efforts is that uncontrolled media in some instances leads to desensitization of the population on issues such as violence. Continuous exposure to media violence especially on the young and impressionable segment of the population can lead to catastrophic results as has been witnessed before in the various random shootouts that occur in our schools. Research shows that media violence encourages aggressive behavior and leads to pessimism in children (Burton 123; Steffen 456). This information contradicts the aforementioned perception of the media as a guardian and propagator of social values since the compelling evidence presented by research showed that media also leads to breaking of social values and leads to a disruption of harmony through the violence it encourages. On the same note, rampant advertisements through media outlets have in the recent past characterized modern media. These advertisements aim at influencing the consumer to maintain or develop some form of ideology (Bernt 194). This close relationship that media and advertising have developed raises concerns over the influences that the media may be willing to wield so as to achieve the advertising objectives. A closer observation of the movies and other entertainment forms presented by the media revealed heavy advertisements therein. These rampant acts of branding were pr eviously unknown to many and their effect though unconsciously administered is substantial. The medias promotion of social values is also at times only used as a cover to influence consumers by use of advertisement (Fernback 164). Due to these advertisements, naive recipients of the information presented are unwittingly influenced into buying the products that the particular advertisements promote. This is at best a very irresponsible behavior by the media since most people are favorably disposed to agree with sentiments that are projected by the media. These misuses of social issues as a marketing tool have also changed the positive role that the media was supposed to deliver. This is mainly due to the fact that the media is being used as a tool for furthering the objectives of corporations at the cost of an unsuspecting population. Conclusion The role played by the media in today’s society cannot be understated. However, caution should be taken because as expressed in this study, not all media is healthy. Through this research, the knowledge that has been transferred herein should not make the public skeptical of the media but should help them become more skeptical about the issues being addressed through various media outlets. This will invariably transform them from being passive, unquestioning and all-believing recipients, to active and questioning recipients of the information which is provided by the media. Nevertheless, a free and vibrant media is necessary for the good of the society. An unfettered media is the hallmark of a truly unbiased society. However, one should adopt a more questioning stance when dealing with any information provided by the media. Bellah, Robert. ET AL.Community, Commitment, and Individuality. Literacies: Reading, Writing, Interpretation. New York: W.W. Norton, 2000. 65-74. Print. Bernt, Joseph. P. â€Å"Ads, Fads, and Consumer Culture: Advertisings Impact on American Character and Society.† Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly 78.1 (2001): 193-194. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. Fernback, Jan. Journalism and New Media / Reshaping Communications: Technology, Information and Social Change.†Journalism Mass Communication Educator 57.2 (2002): 162-164. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. Kramer Hilton, Michael Meyers and Edward Rothstein. The media and our countrys agenda.† Partisan Review 69.4 (2002): 574-606. Research Library, ProQuest. Web. Steffen, Brian. J. â€Å"Media and Society: Critical Perspectives.† Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly 83.2 (2006): 455-456. Research Library, ProQuest. Web.

Free sample - Psychological Disorders. translation missing

Psychological Disorders. Psychological DisordersPsychological disorders which are also called mental disorders are models of behavior or psychological symptoms that influence many different areas of life. Such disorders cause affliction for the individual having these symptoms. Though psychological disorders are in general signalized by some form of strange behavior, sometimes it is hard to find out the abnormality, especially as it differs depending on the culture (Merrell, 2008). There are some kinds of standard approaches for determining abnormality with the aim to diagnose the disease. The statistical approach has to reckon up behavior by establishing how closely it relates to or differs from that of the most of people. Behavior of an individual can also be determined by whether it corresponds to social norms and cultural standards, an approach that eludes blaming heretics as abnormal for behavior that, while being extraordinary, may not encroach on social rules and may even be appraised in the certain culture. Personality is the mixture of thoughts, feelings and conducts that makes every individual unique. It's the way people treat, comprehend and relate to the world, as well as how they consider themselves. Personality is formed in childhood subject to the influence of two elements: - inherited tendencies, or genes, i.e. traits of character which influence an individual’s personality through parents, namely shyness or having a happy outlook which is known also as temperament. - environment, or life situations, i.e. the place where a person grows up, events that happened in his or her life, and relationships with family and other people. It also embraces such moments as the type of parenting a person had, namely loving or offensive (Coon and Mitterer, 2008). Personality disorders are considered to be caused by a mixture of these genetic and environmental features. Some individuals may be born with a genetic vulnerability to evolving antisocial personality disorder - and different life situations of a person may initiate its actual development. There may be a connection between an early lack of sympathy, i.e. realizing the perspectives and problems of other people, including other children as well - and later attack of antisocial personality disorder. A person may inherit such personality problems, so it they can be defined in early stage, it may help make better long-term results. The other way to evaluate if the behavior is to be considered as normal or not should be made by determining whether it is adaptive or maladaptive, and to what extent it intervenes with the behavior of everyday life of people. There are certain situations when psychologists may also determine the normality exclusively on the grounds of whether or not an individual is made unhappy or uncomfortable by his or her own conduct. Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by the behavior violating legal and moral standards that are typical for the society. American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is accepted to be the norm for the classification of psychological disorders; its latest edition is referred to as DSM-IV. It has established five axis for determining conduct and conception models, and presented a complete setting in which to determine a person's psychological image (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). According to DSM-IV people suffering the antisocial personality disorder are characterized by constant lying or stealing, conning for profit or pleasure, lack of behavioral self-control, impulsiveness and inability to plan actions and fulfill financial obligations, annoyance, intolerance, assault. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder may also have periodic difficulties with the law, promiscuity, they show tendency to encroach the boundaries and rights of other people, hostile, often cruel conduct; disposition to getting involved in fights, incapacity to permit tedium, neglect for right and wrong, poor or offensive relationships, irresponsible work conduct, indifference for safety etc (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Antisocial personality disorder has a tendency to be congruous with criminal conduct and is mostly known as sociopathic conduct. Individuals suffering from antisocial personality disorder have lack sympathy and tend to be superficial. In most cases they think very high about their personality while looking down on other people or blaming them for their problems. Besides, it is common for individuals suffering from antisocial personality disorder to show fascination which is helpful for taking advantage of others. Persons suffering from antisocial personality disorder show no compassion for hurting other people, will easily cheat in order to get profit or some other pleasure, and demonstrate a thoughtless inattention for their or other's safety. In many cases, such people will not have close relationships because of these conduct patterns. As for gender differences, it is proved that antisocial personality disorder affects more men than women at a three to one ratio. It is known that it is very hard to cure antisocial personality disorder. People suffering from such disorder may not even wish to be treated or think they have such an illness. People suffering from antisocial personality disorder may also need treatment for other illnesses, such as depression, fear or thyroid disorders. Such people may need help of family or primary care doctor, psychiatrist, pharmacist, members of the family and different social workers. Both psychological and pharmacological interventions for people suffering antisocial personality disorder are not researched enough and direct proofs on the treatment of this population are not numerous. Duggan reports that at least three researchers did not find positive effect of psychological and pharmacological treatment (Duggan, 2009). There can be some other ways of treatment of antisocial personality disorders such as stress and anger management skills, hospitalization, psychotherapy and medications. It shall be admitted that the effectiveness of anger management is doubted as anger is not a symptom of the antisocial personality disorder. Generally, the choice of treatment depends on the certain situation and severity of symptoms. DSM-IV informs that psychotherapy is the major kind of treatment of antisocial personality disorder, a general term for the process of treatment by talking about the illness with a mental health provider. The usage of psychotherapy was explained in a number of guidelines. Cognitive behavioral therapy is aimed to reveal unhealthy, negative opinions and conducts and supersede them with healthy and good ones. These guidelines also emphasize on the applying of moral reasoning as an active part of treatment, social information processing approach, and planning in order to prevent relapse. In addition, the treatment should be organized in the way that patients will be not required to tell about their emotional states. Asking them about ‘feeling states’ is not applicable for the patients who have difficulty with assessment of such states, and who may be aggressive if confronted with a potential personal shortcoming. High level of external structure (supervision of the patient a nd contingent reinforcement of specific pro- social behavior) is likely to lead to improved outcomes in antisocial patients. (Hesse, 2010). If you have a person you love who is suffering from antisocial personality disorder, it's essential for you to get help for yourself. Mental health professionals can help teach you the way how to protect yourself from the attacks, fury and indignation which are often present in the nature of people with antisocial personality disorder. Mental health professionals can also provide some recommendations about support groups for families and friends influenced by antisocial personality disorder Nowadays there is no certain way to prevent antisocial personality disorder from developing. The only thing that may help is attempt to determine those most at risk, such as children living with carelessness or insult, and providing early interference may help. Receiving proper treatment in early stage may forestall symptoms from getting worse.