Human Performance Enhancement Technology :: Science Engineering Essays

Human Performance Enhancement Technology One of the funniest things about human nature is that nothing is ever good enough. No matter how good we are at something, there will always be someone in those 6 billion plus who can do it better. My mom told me that when I was a kid playing soccer in the back yard. They don't sound like the words of encouragement you might expect from a nurturing mother to an aspiring child but it was true. No matter how long I practiced, how many goals I scored, games I won, trophies I put on the shelf of my bedroom, there would always be someone, somewhere who could do me one up. When faced with this thought, we have a choice to make. Give up and accept life for what it is, try to enjoy every moment and yield to share the glory with the word, or try harder. Obsess over the prospect of achieving perfection and stop at nothing: all for that that one moment, that one instant when we ARE the best. People are like technology, they may be the newest hottest thing on the market but lined up for years behind them are thousands of advancements and improvements, maybe still in the works, but chomping at the bit to break out on the world and push even farther. So what's the point? What's the moral we are supposed to derive from all this? No moral. No point. Just a thought I think is pertinent to the changing tides out there in the battle we all face to be the best we can be. How far will we take it? What is advancement and what is too much? We live in an interesting time. Information technology is growing rapidly, new products and ideas popping up every day in relation to every field. By the same token biology and chemistry are as strong as they have every been, discoveries in medicine and health care are booming. So what happens when these potent ingredients are thrown together? What happens when we apply IT to biology? Well we already are, we ¡Ã‚ ¦ve been doing it for years. Doctors and Scientists couldn't accomplish anything without their computers. The human Genome project could never have even existed if not for computers and the special software used.

NCR Corporation Essay

NCR Corporation, known as a world leader in ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) retail checkout scanners, and check- in kiosks at airports, announced in June 2009 that it would move its world headquarters from Dayton (OH) to Duluth (GA), a suburb of Atlanta, after more than 125 years. An employer of 1,200 mostly high-salaried, profes- sional workers in Dayton, NCR was enticed to move by Georgia’s offer of more than $56.9 million in tax credits; its fast-growing, educated 25- to 34-year-old population cohort; international offices for 10 European state govern- ments; and the busiest international airport (Atlanta) in the world. aWhat qualitative research might NCR have done to reach this decision? b NCR will use its move to Georgia to downsize its world headquarters workforce. What qualitative research could help NCR determine which of its 1,200 employees will be offered positions in Duluth? Qualitative research is the type of research people use to gain insight into a problem, issue or theory. Qualitative research is an in-depth exploration of what people think, feel or do and, crucially, why. If you want to know identify human behavior and what barriers there may be to their changing that behavior, you would use qualitative research to explore those issues. Qualitative research does not give statistically robust findings. In the case of NCR and their decision to move, focus groups I think would have been utilized to form this decision. This method would have reduced the risk of researcher’s bias. A focus group is basically research that organizations do to gather information about person’s perspectives and opinions about new ideas. Focus group participants are asked questions in an interactive setting and are encouraged to discuss thoughts freely with other participants. The open and free discussions typically generate ideas and can provide a wealth of information for the business or organization. Questions asked of group participants should be based on the objectives of the project. For the decision of which employees to take in the move, one  on one interviews would be a useful qualitative research method. When qualitative research takes the form of an interview, the interviewer asks open-ended questions and simply records what the participant says. The more intimate environment allows participants to talk openly and is particularly appropriate where participants are competitors who would not agree to come together in a focus group. The individual interview is a valuable method of gaining insight into people’s perceptions, understandings and experiences of a given phenomenon and can contribute to in-depth data collection. However, the interview is more than a conversational interaction between two people and requires considerable knowledge and skill on behalf of the interviewer. (Ryan;Coughlan;Cronin,2009) 7.10 Pepsi launched a new global branding campaign based on the concept of live in the moment called â€Å"Live For Now.† It did extensive research prior to the campaign’s launch. What research should be done to determine if the campaign is resonating with worldwide audiences? Qualitative research would be the method that would be uses. Qualitative research follows a semi-structured discussion guide to ensure that all topics under consideration are covered and that the discussion stays relevant. However, the questioning is open and participants are encouraged to explore the reasons for their responses. The discussion process can reveal underlying views and motivations, behavioral triggers and barriers. It can explore reactions to messages, printed material, design features and new products, test understanding of terminology, help generate new concepts and much more. Qualitative research is usually audio-recorded and transcribed. The transcriptions form the data which is then analysed by the moderator. Groups can also be video-recorded and can also be observed in real-time at venues specially designed for that purpose. You can expect a report or a presentation of the findings supported by verbatim quotes from the participants. References Cooper, D. R., & Schindler, P. S. (2014). Business Research Methods. (12th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Irwin. Frances, R., Coughlin, M., & Cronin, P. (2009). Interviewing in qualitative research: The one-to-one interview. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 16(6), 309-309.

Persepolis and Courage Essay - 653 Words

Persepolis and Courage Marjane Satrapi’s memoir Persepolis is considered a â€Å"coming of age† story based on her experiences growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. This graphic novel explores the life she lead in Tehran which encompassed the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. Undergoing life with such a chaotic environment, it took Satrapi courage to act and live as her â€Å"authentic self† and explore what it meant to her to be authentic. Similar to Aristotle, May and Medinas Persepolis examines the concept of courage, through the view of innocence; through Satrapi’s childhood. Firstly, Aristotle discusses the idea of the courage of the†¦show more content†¦Her courage to dress the way that she does and go out in public is a significant moment in which she progresses towards her authentic self. This scenario coincides with May’s statement that â€Å"we are left the responsibility to choose mindfully and have the courage to remain constantly embroiled in the struggle between daring to amplify our inner thoughts or being directed by the external cacophony of seemingly solid imperatives in the world of others† (Medina 289). Satrapi has a choice, and so do we, every day. We make the choice to amplify our thoughts and we must strive to do so otherwise we’ll be drawn into this ambient noise. Furthermore, May discusses three conceptual branches of courage: physical courage, social courage and moral courage. These concepts are evident throughout the graphic novel as Satrapi’s childhood curiosity delves her further into the understanding of the situation she is around. Yet, her child naivetà © blocks her ability to fully comprehend the decisions others are making around her. Her social courage comes from her audacious responses towards her teachers and her moral courage comes from her curiosity and guilt she has as she grows up when she speaks to â€Å"god† In conclusion, the graphic novel Persepolis is a bildungsroman, which develops the character of Marjane Satrapi through the vehicle of courage in developing the conflict of individual vs. society. This relates to the readings of May,Show MoreRelated##jane Satrapis Persepolis And Letter From Birmingham Jail : Character Analysis871 Words   |  4 Pagesa disadvantage even if it endangers yourself is the most admirable thing to do. This argument is demonstrated in both Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and in Martin Luther King Jr.’s â€Å"Letter From Birmingham Jail†. King and Satrapi both honored their people by fighting for the oppressed, and working towards a government that recognizes rights for all. Both Persepolis and â€Å"Letter from Birmingham Jail† address government oppressing the dissenting minority, and how bravery, respect for others, and protectingRead MorePersepolis Reflection Paper1578 Words   |  7 PagesDuring our â€Å"Interactive Oral Dis cussion† regarding Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi the class discussed many topics. As a group, we began by talking about the genre of the graphic novel. The artistic style and technique used by Satrapi was addressed specifically. I mentioned that I appreciated the mono color, by using black and white it effected the readers by making the text more serious. Another comment was added; the use of minimal color was effective. 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The graphic novel Persepolis explores this change in government and the conflict-ridden road leading to it through the story of a young girl named Marjane and her family. It explores how the family’s Communist attitudes cause them to be willing to risk their lives speaking out for a change,Read MorePersepolis Essay833 Words   |  4 PagesAs a child, an individual is an unchangeable person, but through experience and growing up, it is learned that said individual will in fact change. Marjane Satrapi presents the topic of coming of age in her graphic novel, The Complete Persepolis, which takes place in Iran during the revolution in the late 1970’s and beyond. The memoir recou nts and reflects Marjane’s life during this trying time. Although there are many key events in Marjane’s life that affect her, uncle Anoosh’s general presenceRead MorePersepolis Essay887 Words   |  4 PagesAdolescence is an age where children began to find themselves or, in some cases, lose themselves, an idea clearly developed by Satrapi in her graphic novel â€Å"Persepolis†. Satrapi explores the challenges and difficulties experienced by a sheltered and naive girl during the tumultuous and uncertain years of the Iranian revolution and attempts to solve the oppression she witnesses by the Islamicist government. This is important to the whole text as it identifies the religious conservatism and IslamisationRead MoreThe Complete Persepolis By Marjane Satrapi1017 Words   |  5 PagesThis pepper identifies and analyses some of the highlights found in the culture narrative of a visual comic memoir titled â€Å"The Complete Persepolis† by Marjane Satrapi, and a culture storyline, â€Å"Code White† by Debra Anderson. Starting with â€Å"The Complete Persepolis† the book is about Satrapi’s experience as she transitions from a young woman into adulthood in Rasht, Iran and Vienna, Australia during and after the Islamic and culture revolution between the periods of 1979-1995. The first publishedRead MoreThe Women Behind The Veil2291 Words   |  10 PagesIran’s contemporary culture. For this purpose, the veil, which is worn by Iran women, is often identified as a symbol of obedience, respect or modesty which is otherwise an example of an oppressed patriarchal society. Author Marjane Satrapi’s novel Persepolis, exposes the regime behind this oppression of the Iran woman and compares western cultural expectations to that of Iranian culture. Yet, even behind the confinements of the veil many women are finding ways to rebel against the Iranian society’sRead MoreThe Women Behind The Veil2301 Words   |  10 PagesIran’s contemporary culture. For this purpose, the veil, which is worn by Iran women, is often identified as a symbol of obedience, respect or modesty which is otherwise an example of an oppressed patriarchal society. Author Marjane Satrapi’s novel Persepolis, exposes the regime behind this oppression of the Iran woman and compares western cultural expectations to that of Iranian culture. Yet, even behind the confinements of the veil many women are finding ways to rebel against the Iranian society oppressionRead MorePersepolis : Marjane Satrapi s Persepolis1756 Words   |  8 PagesPersepolis is a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi, this graphic novel was based on the eyes of a Ten year old that experiences all types of emotions before and after the Islamic revolution, the oppression from the leaders. This novel gives us a brief on the history of Iran and their leaders, to the Embassy being taken over, via how they weren’t allowed to party . They also experience prohibition just like the United States in the 1920-1933 and like many countries they didn’t have any freedom. In the