ICT Meeting Special Needs Essay Example for Free

ICT Meeting Special Needs Essay Introduction In this report I will describe a wide range of technologies which Tony Mcnulty, who is disabled, with an evaluation of the extent to which these meet their needs. Tony is paralyzed so he can no longer use his hands and legs properly. Sometimes Tony cannot hear very well sometimes and has to have sentences repeated to him several times. Tony was formally an architect but he fell off a building site whilst on a job. He now gets his staff to go on sites and he draws the designs at home. Tony is cared for by his brother but is married with three children. Tony normally goes out with his friends to pubs and clubs with people with similar disabilities. Technology 1 Electronic Wheelchair An electronic wheelchair is a wheelchair which uses a battery (usually a gel cell or wet cell) that must be re-charged on a regular basis. These types of wheelchairs are significantly heavier than most manual wheelchairs because they must house both the battery weight and the weight of any additional adaptive equipment. Advantages The advantages of electronic wheelchairs are that they are powered by a battery which means less physical use of the body for those who find it hard to use their hands properly. Another advantage of electronic wheelchairs is that there is no need for someone to assist you can go by yourself. Another advantage is that it easier going uphill because you are not using up any of your energy. Disadvantages The disadvantages of electronic wheelchairs are that they cannot be folded like manual wheelchairs so this may be a problem in small houses. Another disadvantage is that the battery runs out and needs to be charged so you can not travel far without it needing a recharge. Personal Needs An electronic wheelchair meets Tonys personal needs because he can go out anywhere he wants to go without the need of assistance from anyone. He also goes out and does shopping if his carers are not at home. An electronic wheelchair meets Tonys personal needs because Tony has the chance to go out for fresh air for longer and more often because if Tony used a manual wheelchair he gets tired of moving it with his hands so would then have to go back home. Another personal use that Tony uses the wheelchair for is to go shopping, the wheelchair allows him to do this on his own, as it can lift to reach products on high shelves and it can also climb stairs, meaning that he can go shopping almost anywhere without being assisted by a family member or a friend to help him. But with his power wheelchair he goes out for a lot longer but he has to be back home before the battery runs out. Evaluation of how it meets his personal needs It can be found from the personal needs above that the Electronic wheelchair fairly effective at meeting Tonys needs. This is because Tony needs the wheelchair to be able to run for at least 6 or 7 hours at the time, and it can do this very easily, this is as the battery life of the electric wheelchair is reasonably long and it can allow Tony to stay on the move for long periods of time. Also because the frame of the Wheelchair is so strong, it allows him to do a lot of things. For example the wheelchair has the ability to climb stairs, and without the strong frame it would simply break apart under Tonys weight, so therefore the strong frame allows the technology to meet his needs even more effectively as it proves that it is dependable and will not crack under pressure. Electric wheelchair is mainly positive, however it has some problems, one being that because it is so heavy due to its metal frame, Tony finds it hard to travel with it meaning that he cant really go on holiday on hi s own or even fold it away when he is at home, although he never really does as he cant walk. This means that the electric wheelchair is not completely successful at meeting Tonys needs, but it is the best thing for it as other forms of wheelchair simply do not have enough functions to help Tony. Social Needs An electronic wheelchair meets Tonys social needs because he can take it to go out with his friends and family on outings. He also doesnt have to worry about the battery running out because his friends or family members push him home whenever this does happen. Electronic wheelchairs allow Tony to more free time because he is going out with his friends so he can get to the destination faster rather than pushing a manual wheelchair around and having to stop for quick breaks when he gets tired. He can also set other dates to go out on his days off. The electric wheelchair has quickly become an integral part of his social life as it simply has allowed him to do things he was not able to do before, such as going out for a drink or even going to go and watch a football match with his mates. As the Technology meets this need, it gives him the opportunity to go out with friends to bars and restaurants, which is his main social need. Evaluation of how it meets his Social needs The Electric wheelchair is almost perfect at meeting Tonys social needs as it has almost all the properties needed to meet his social needs. Due to its reasonably long battery life it allows him to successfully meet his social needs, such as going out for lengthy periods of time, giving him more time to enjoy himself. The electric wheelchair is one of his most helpful tools that help him conquer his disability, but even this technology has some problems. For example due to it being quite dangerous because it is vulnerable to faults, such as the brakes not working. Professional Needs Tony uses his electronic wheelchair in his professional life because he cant walk properly very much without falling so he takes his electronic wheelchair to work so he can look around the building site properly An electronic wheelchair meets Tonys professional needs because he can look around the building site properly without having to tell his staff to look around all of the time and make suggestions. The electric wheelchair is a vital part of Tonys workplace, in terms of mobility. As I have said earlier, Tony is an architect, and this involves a large number of tasks that are almost impossible for him. Especially the electric wheelchair, it allows him to perform the most crucial part of being an architect. It lets him get to sites on time and then move around the site so that he can keep on top of all his jobs and do it on his own, as the wheelchair allows him to move freely in and around his workplace. Another important need of Tony that he has at work is that he needs to be able to go up stairs to view sites which require climbing stairs so his wheelchair allows him to climb stairs as it has this function, meaning that he can get around work without having to get people to carry him up stairs. Evaluation of how it meets his professional needs Overall the technology is very effective at meeting Tonys professional needs. It gives him the opportunity to move around building sites freely as the wheelchair can get through the tightest spaces, meaning that is effective at meeting his need off moving around building sites effectively. Also because the battery life of the wheelchair is quite long it can get him through the average 9 to 5 day and even more as it is possible for the day to be delayed. Therefore the electric wheelchair helps Tony get through any un-suspected surprises that might come up at work. This makes the wheelchair very reliable as it is not only mobile but very reliable and Tony can almost always depend on it. Although the wheelchair is very good at meeting Tonys work needs, it lacks a few things, for example, if Tony had a worst job he would not be able to afford the wheelchair that he has and he might not be able to keep his job without it. Also because the wheelchair can be dangerous sometimes, he often ne eds the help of colleagues to help him out in certain situations, such as opening doors or getting down stairs. Technology 2 Braille Keyboard The Braille keyboard was designed to stop the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Cumulative Trauma Disorders, Repetitive Motion Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Disorders and Repetitive Stress Injuries, and other injuries. Your entire upper body and arms are relaxed as your wrists remain straight while you type. Advantages The advantages of a Braille keyboard are that it helps stop the development of many diseases which may save you lots of pain in the future. Disadvantages The main disadvantage of a Braille keyboard is that it costs more than a standard keyboard so this may be a problem for people that cant work. Personal Needs Tony uses his Braille keyboard in his free time when he is using his computer at home he mainly uses it to browse the internet. He also uses it to type letters to companies and spreadsheets for tax purposes. A Braille keyboard meets Tonys personal needs because he uses the internet on a daily basis. Although he can use a standard keyboard it puts lots of strain in his hands so he then has to stop. Another need it meets is that it allows him to use a computer that he can surf the internet and do any other things he may want to do. Also a Braille keyboard allows him to make notes and type letters to people through meaning that he no longer has to rely on a notepad and pen. Evaluation of how it meets his personal needs The Braille keyboard is very successful at meeting Tonys personal needs. This is because it allows him to do a lot of things he was unable to do before on his own, primarily communicating with people in spare time which he was unable to do before due to his disability. Also the fact that he no longer has to rely on people to help him around the house means that the Braille Keyboard does its job really well when he is actually spending time on the computer. The Braille keyboard is also very successful at meeting Tonys personal needs as he can connect it to his wheelchair and have it with him almost everywhere, meaning that not only can he be independent at home but also outside the home. Therefore he can use it like a laptop. Although the Braille keyboard seems to be great it has some setbacks. For example it is very expensive and Tony had to save every penny to get it, meaning that there was a chance he could not get the keyboard. This is because he has already had to invest in other expensive technologies to meet his needs such as the Electronic wheelchair. Professional Needs The Braille keyboard has eventually become the heart of Tonys workplace as it allows him to do his job in almost the same way as he used to do before he sustained his disability. The keyboard gives him the opportunity to go to building sites again and to continue his job as he used to, maybe not as fast as before and with a few mistakes but there is no doubt that slowly it allows him to get back to a normal architects organization. Being a architect also involves a lot of computer input and the Braille keyboard allows him to do it very easily so he can input as much information as he wants into any kinds of types of programs, such as typing letters in Microsoft Word or creating spreadsheets in Microsoft Excel. Evaluation of how it meets his professional needs The Braille keyboard is efficient at meeting Tonys work needs. It gives him the chance to once again have the same work life as he had before his accident by allowing him to do things that are important to his job that he could not do without it. For example with the keyboard he can still create designs which are required of him as an architect. Therefore this allows him to do his job even though he has a disability. Also because it can be connected to a computer it allows him to complete any computer input he may have at his office without the use of extra technologies such as a tracker ball mouse or a single fingered keyboard, meaning that it is very effective as it incorporates a few technologies in one. However the Braille keyboard sometimes has problems inputting information into a computer as he sometimes finds it hard to fully control his hands meaning that the Braille keyboard is not always fully successful at meeting Tonys work needs. Technology 3 Stair lift A stair lift is for people who cannot use their own feet to climb the stairs or for people who sometimes get dizzy whilst climbing the stairs. Advantages The advantages of stair lifts are that you can climb the stairs without being afraid that you will fall and you can climb the stairs any time of the day without the worry of possibly having to climb the stairs. Disadvantages The disadvantages of stair lifts are that most stair lifts are very expensive to buy and maintain. Another disadvantage is that if the lift stops working the person may not be able to climb the stairs until the lift is back working. Personal Needs Tony uses a stair lift personally as he has to climb the stairs to go to any of the rooms. He also has to have a shower upstairs so he uses the lift many times a day. Tony also has to use the lift to get to his bedroom when he is going to sleep. A stair lift meets Tonys personal needs because he uses the lift many times a day and cannot live in his own house without it. Tony has to use the lift every day and several times a day. Also the stair lift has allowed him to and from his own room as he can now use the stair lift without the fear of falling down the stairs. The stair lift can also be used by him to communicate with friends through email, as he has to climb the stairs to get to his computer. Evaluation of how it meets his personal needs The single finger keyboard is good at meeting at Tonys needs, this is as the stair lift is very easy to use and it takes little time to get used to operating it. This means that Tony learns how to use more and more technologies so if he bought another similar technology it would not be very hard for him to use as he can quickly learn the ins and outs of this easy to device. The stair lift is also very good at meeting Tonys personal needs as it is reasonably cheap and he doesnt have to spend large amounts of cash in order to be able to climb stairs, this allows him to save money for more essential things. Professional Needs Tony uses the stair lift for a number of important work needs. One of the most important was that the stair lift allowed him to get to his office on the second floor of his home, meaning that he could do his job again even though at a slower pace. Another need that it met was that he could transport documents whilst on the stair lift without needing someone to help him. Also with the help of the stair lift he can gain access to his computer which is also in his office so he can once again type letters to clients and business partners without having someone to do it for him, meaning that he can do most of the real important things that an architect has to do. Evaluation of how it meets his professional needs The stair lift is good at meeting his work needs as it allows him to do one of the most important architect tasks, which are computer designs. This means that his work life can go back to an almost normal state, as the stair lift is very good at helping him work through the disability and resuming a almost normal working life. Without the stair lift he would have had to move his office downstairs then he would have had to sacrifice one of the rooms downstairs to make way for his office. Due to the large amounts of work that have to be done in a architects office, the keyboard frequently has to be maintained as it is cheap parts and it can easily break, meaning that it could break at any moment, not letting Tony work until he gets a replacement or he has to wait for an engineer to fix it for him. Therefore the stair lift doesnt completely meet Tonys work needs.

Recycling Aluminium into Alum Crystals

Recycling Aluminium into Alum Crystals This experiment was designed to recycle aluminium into alum crystals which have uses in industry. The aluminium was converted to alum by heating the metal samples with potassium hydroxide solution. The product was then reacted with sulphuric acid followed by crystallization. Overall, five trials were conducted with the only variable being the mass of aluminium used. The mass of crystals produced increased until the trial of 0.9g, when excess aluminium was observed. These different aluminium masses consisted of 0.3g, 0.5g, 0.7g and (2x) 0.9g. These particular research questions will be answered throughout this EEI: How the mass of the scrap aluminium related to the final mass of the alum crystal? How can stoichiometry of a sequence of chemical reactions be used to calculate the percentage yield of alum synthesized from aluminium scrap? How can scrap aluminium be chemically converted into a crystal? How does converting aluminium to alum make a worthy recycling process (make use in society, is it financially sustainable?). 2.0 Introduction 2.1 Background Information Alum is a salt that in chemistry is a combination of an alkali metal, such as sodium, potassium, or ammonium and a trivalent metal, such as aluminium, iron, or chromium. The most common form, potassium aluminium sulfate, or potash alum, is one form that has been used in food processing. Modern beverage containers are usually composed of aluminium, in the form of aluminium cans. Australians consumed over 3 billion aluminium cans in 2005. Additionally, approximately 300 million aluminium beverage cans are produced each day in the U.S. Recycling has the benefit of reducing litter from discarded cans and a number of states have passed laws requiring a deposit on aluminium cans to encourage recycling. In this experiment, instead of recycling scrap aluminium into new metal cans, a chemical process will be used that converts scrap aluminium into a useful chemical compound, potassium aluminium sulfate dodecahydrate, KAl(S04)2 à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚ · 12H20, commonly called alum. Alum is widely used in the dyeing of fabrics, in the manufacture of pickles, in canning some foods, as a coagulant in water purification and waste-water treatment plants, as well as in the paper industry. In an aqueous solution of KAl(SO4)2 ,the K+, Al3+, and SO22- are surrounded by molecules of water (they are hydrated). These ions do not have an orderly arrangement in solution. When the compound is forced to crystallize, the ions must begin to join each other in their characteristic order. This process of nucleation may occur spontaneously when the ions of alum collide with appropriate orientation and with sufficiently low kinetic energy to permit them to stick to each other and prevent them from rebounding. Occasionally, some foreign solids (irregularity on the wall of the container, dust particles) will serve as nuclei (or starting points) for the formation of crystals. Once a tiny crystal has formed, ions in their random motion through the solution will hit the faces of the crystal, join the orderly array of ions, and make the crystal grow. There is ionic bonding, covalent bonding and intermolecular attractions, plus hydrogen bonding, which is the attraction between water molecul es. The only type of bonding not present in potash alum is metallic bonding.CAS_GIF_7784-24-9.gif Aluminium, like almost all metals exhibits metallic bonding. It can be oversimplified by saying that metallic bonding is like having positive metal ions in a sea of mobile electrons. The mobile electrons are the loosely held valence electrons that can easily move from atom to atom. In fact, metals behave more like atoms which share orbitals to form delocalized covalent bonds. Orbitals from adjacent metals atoms overlap side-to-side to form pi- bonds. For example, in this diagram, each iron atom, (and the same is true for aluminium) exhibits side to side overlap of the orbitals making pi bonds. Only one axis is shown in the diagram, but overlapping of the atoms in front of and behind this line also occurs. The beauty of this is that the electrons can move along the pi-bonds, from atom to atom, allowing the metal to conduct electricity. Potassium alum is hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate KAl(SO4)2*12H2O. Since all chemical bonds are essentially covalent in nature, then this compound contains covalent bonds as well. The potassium-sulfate bond is the most polar, and the most ionic-like of the bonds. The substance crystallizes in a face-centred cubic arrangement of hydrated K and Al atoms alternating with SO4 radicals. Despite being a vast oversimplification of a complex structure, there are ionic bonds between K and SO4 and Al and SO4, and there are covalent bonds within SO4. This allows an electrostatic attraction between the polar water molecules and the ions. Although aluminium is a reactive metal, it reacts only slowly with dilute acids because its surface is normally protected by a very thin, impenetrable coating of aluminium oxide; such metals are referred to as self-protecting or passivating metals. Alkaline solutions, or bases, (containing OH-) dissolve the oxide layer and then attack the metal: AL2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l) > 2NaAl(OH)4(aq) 2AL(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 6H2O(l) > 2NaAl(OH)4(aq) + 3H20(g) Thus, in aqueous alkaline medium, aluminium is oxidized to the tetrahydroxoaluminate anion which is stable only in basic solution. Aluminium is obtained from a raw material called bauxite predominantly in Latin and South America, Africa, and Australia. Recent technological improvements have seen the energy cost of producing one tonne of aluminium drop to 15,000 kW, but that is still a lot of energy on top of which must be added, the energy of transporting the metal obtained around the world. Therefore aluminium recycling is extremely important and very easy for everyone to do. Because of the energy used during extraction of aluminium from bauxite, aluminium is the only commonly used packaging material with a value that exceeds the financial costs of recycling it. To recycle an aluminium can, it costs only 5% of the energy used to create it in the first place. Additionally, aluminium can be recycled many times without any loss in quality. 2.2 Aim The aim is to investigate the effect of the amount of scrap aluminium on the amount of alum crystal produced when the amounts of potassium hydroxide and sulphuric acid used are kept constant. 2.3 Hypothesis It was hypothesized that if the weight of the scrap aluminium is increased or decreased then the amount of the alum crystal will adjust accordingly, when potassium hydroxide and sulphuric acid are kept the same. 3.0 Materials 3.1 Chemicals Potassium hydroxide, KOH, 1.0 M solution Sulphuric acid, H2SO4, 6 M solution 3.2 Apparatus Aluminium beverage can Sandpaper Scissors Ruler Beakers: 3x 50-100mL, 3x 250mL, 3x600mL Bunsen burner Buchner funnel Filter paper Stirring rod Spatula Graduated cylinder 4.0 Method 4.1 Variables 4.1.1 Independent Variables Independent Variables are those that are changed on purpose. The Independent Variables of this experiment are: The mass of the scrap aluminium 4.1.2 Dependent Variables The Dependent Variables are the factors that change according to the independent variables. The Dependent Variables of this experiment are: The amount of alum crystal produced The size of the alum crystals 4.1.3 Controlled Variables Controlled Variables are the variables that are kept constant during the entire experiment. The controlled variables of this experiment are: Amount of potassium hydroxide poured into the beaker Amount of sulphuric acid poured into the beaker Same size beakers for all five experiments 4.1.4 Uncontrolled Variables The uncontrolled Variables are those that cannot be kept regular and may affect the validity of the experiment. The uncontrolled variables of this experiment are: The impurity of the scrap aluminium 4.2 Procedure 4.2.1 Risk Factors Before the procedure can be commenced, certain safety precautions must be implemented prior to the beginning of the experiment. First of all Alum is non-toxic, although alum solutions can cause eye irritation (potassium hydroxide solutions are caustic). Therefore it is crucial to wear goggles or safety glasses when working with the solution. It is essential that the growing solutions are stored in a safe environment and not be disturbed. In the event of contact with skin or eyes (with any of the solutions especially sulphuric acid which is highly corrosive), the affected area must be washed immediately with lots of water. If necessary, medical assistance should be obtained. Sulphuric acid is corrosive. The aluminium metal may have sharp edges, so it must be handled with care. Before handling any beakers, they must be inspected for any chipped or sharp edges, which may cause injury. Bunsen burners can be very hazardous due to its roaring flame so it must be used with caution. The fla me must not be anywhere near the rubber hose because it can be easily melted. As long as all chemicals are kept distant from the human body, the Bunsen burner, and any other dangerously reactive materials, safety will be optimized. 4.2.2 Method A piece of aluminium was scraped with sandpaper to eliminate the strong, thin aluminium oxide layer. The mass of the clean piece of aluminium was carefully measured; 0.300g (+/- 0.001g). The aluminium piece was then cut into smaller pieces, allowing larger surface area for the following reaction.C:UsersGeorgioDesktopSchoolChemistryMaterials Assignment Yr 11Photos18052010030.jpg These smaller pieces of aluminium were then placed in a 250mL beaker, with an added 50mL of 1M KOH (potassium-hydroxide). A Bunsen-burner was then used to heat up the solution to boiling point, to completely dissolve the aluminium (a stirring rod is useful for enhancing the rate of reaction). Once the aluminium was completely dissolved, the solution was then filtered using filter paper, removing insoluble impurities. After being filtered, 20mL of 6M H2SO4 (sulphuric acid) was then added to the solution. Immediately white crystals began to form in the solution. The alum was removed from the liquid by filtration. The alum was then left for 24 hours to crystallize.C:UsersGeorgioDesktopSchoolChemistryMaterials Assignment Yr 11Photos18052010039.jpg The filtration paper was then placed under a heat lamp to rid any condensation or leftover moist on the paper. The weight of the final alum crystal was then able to be defined by subtracting the original weight of the filtration paper from the weight of the filtration paper with the alum. This resulted in a final given amount of produced alum crystal. REPEATED STEPS 1-13 (x4) with weights of scrap aluminium; 0.5g, 0.7g, 0.9g (2x) 5.0 Results 5.1 Tables Amount of alum produced: Beginning Amount of Aluminium Amount of Alum Crystal 0.3g 3.769g 0.5g 4.913g 0.7g 7.878g 0.9g 8.763g 0.9g 4.437g At temperature, 100 parts of water dissolve (g/100ml): Temperature Potash Alum 0oC 3.90 10oC 9.52 50oC 44.11 80oC 134.47 100oC 357.48 5.2 Graph Beginning weight of aluminium piece Amount of alum produced (g) Starting weight of aluminium Percentage Yield for alum experiments Solubility of potash alum in water: alum_solubility_chart.gif Amount of books containing alum:an17-4a.gif Consumption and Recycling of aluminium can beverages in the world: 5.3 Experiment Yield Theoretical Yield: 2Al(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 4H2SO4(aq) + 22H2O(l) > 2KAl(SO4)2à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢12H2O(s) + 3H2(g) According to the chemical reaction, 2 moles of aluminium will react to form 2 moles of alum. Formulas: Theoretical yield = Mass of aluminium used = Mass of Alum obtained Molar mass of aluminium Molar mass of Alum Percent yield = Mass of alum obtained x 100 Theoretical yield of alum 0.3g Aluminium: 0.300 = X 3.769 x 100 = 71.6 27 474 5.26 = 5.266 The percentage yield is 71.6% 0.5g Aluminium: 0.500 = X 4.913 x 100 = 56% 27 474 8.77 = 8.77 The percentage yield is 56% 0.7g Aluminium: 0.700 = X 7.878 x 100 = 61.55 27 474 12.8 = 12.8 The percentage yield is 61.55% 0.9g Aluminium (trial 1): 0.900 = X 8.763 x 100 = 55.46 27 474 15.8 = 15.8 The percentage yield is 55.46% 0.9g Aluminium (trial 2): 0.900 = X 4.437 x 100 = 28.08 27 474 15.8 = 15.8 The percentage yield is 28.08% 6.0 Discussion From the results obtained, it can now be determined how the mass of aluminium affects the alum crystal mass and size. After making all recordings, different qualitative and quantitative results were questioned. As seen from the results obtained in 5.0 Results, there were two trials for the experiment with the mass of 0.9 grams of aluminium. This was decided because it was apparent that at around 0.9g of aluminium, it would begin to cause the solution to be saturated. Therefore the procedure for these two experiments differentiates in the following way; as with the other experiments, one was filtered after adding the sulphuric acid (creating the alum), and the other was left to crystallize with no further process. These both resulted in a successful and an unsuccessful result, which provided qualitative results. The one that was filtered had completely crystallized within 24 hours. The one that was left in a solution with aluminium was left to crystallize. The alum did not precipitate from this solution. This result was an anomaly for the experiment for it gave dissimilar results which were discarded. The same procedure was successful until 0.9g due to the fact that the aluminium was acting as the limiting reagent. At 0.9g the potassium hydroxide became the limiting reagent allowing the aluminium to serve as the excess reactant.C:UsersGeorgioDesktopSchoolChemistryMaterials Assignment Yr 11Photos19052010040.jpg These were all the chemical equations step by step during the procedure: When sulphuric acid is slowly added to an alkaline solution of this complex anion, initially, one hydroxide ion is removed from each tetrahydroxoaluminate anion causing the precipitation of white, gelatinous aluminium hydroxide, Al(OH)3 2K[Al(OH)4](aq) + H2SO4(aq) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 2Al(OH)3(s) + K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l) The excess potassium hydroxide is neutralized by some of the sulphuric acid to form potassium sulfate. 2KOH(aq) + H2SO4(aq) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ K2SO4(aq) + 2H2O(l) On addition of more sulphuric acid, the aluminium hydroxide dissolves forming the hydrated aluminium cation 2Al(OH)3(s) + 3H2SO4(aq) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ Al2(SO4)3(aq) + 6H2O(l) Addition of alkali to the Al(OH)3 precipitate will also bring about dissolution by reforming [Al(OH)4]. A hydroxide, such as aluminium hydroxide, that can be dissolved by either acid or base is said to be amphoteric. When the acidified aluminium sulfate solution is cooled, potassium aluminium sulfate dodecahydrate (Alum) precipitates. Al2(SO4)3(aq) + K2SO4(aq) + 24H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 2K[Al(SO4)2]à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢12H2O(s) The overall reaction that takes place is the sum of the previous reactions. 2Al(s) + 2KOH(aq) + 4H2SO4(aq) + 22H2O(l) à ¢Ã¢â‚¬  Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ 2KAl(SO4)2à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¢12H2O(s) + 3H2(g) All of the filter papers that were to be used were weighed, and an average filter paper mass was recorded for later purposes. For each of the alum solutions that were produced, once filtered (excluding the one that wasnt filtered), were then given 24 hours to crystallize before data and measurements were recorded. It was apparent that in the beaker that contained the solution of the filtered alum, there were small crystal seeds that had formed. This was due to the saturated solution which still contained alum, therefore in the 24 hours it was able to grow into bigger alum seeds. The remaining liquid in all the beakers was decanted leaving only the crystals; they were placed under heat lamps for 10 minutes to evaporate any adhering water. Some final results from the measurements were now conductible. Knowing the beaker mass, the beaker mass with alum, the filter paper mass and the filtration paper mass with alum, the amount of alum produced was established. These final crystal masses were: 0.3g = 3.769g (+/- 0.004g) 0.5g = 4.913g (+/- 0.004g) 0.7g = 7.878g (+/- 0.004g) 0.9g = 8.763g (+/- 0.004g) (with filtration paper) 0.9g = 4.437g (+/- 0.002g) (without filtration paper) It is quite obvious to state that a trend in this experiment was recognized after noticing that (as stated in the hypothesis) when more aluminium is used, more alum crystal is produced, so long as the aluminium remains the limiting reagent. As the aluminium mass increases, the alum product remains at a fairly relative mass for all four scenarios. In reference to the results obtained from 5.3 Experiment Yields, it was found that the percentage yield for all experiments (excluding the non-filtered one) were relatively impressive, but predictable. In practice, getting 100% yield is incredibly difficult if not essentially impossible. Often reactants or products can be lost to the environment, not all of the reactants could react or other factors could impede the reaction. Although in this experiment, a different factor was the cause of the loss of yield percentage. The manufacturers of aluminium cans use an aluminium alloy when making the cans, therefore causing the aluminium to have impurities. This was also noticeable when the reaction of the aluminium with the potassium hydroxide took place; the black residue which was produced was the sign of impurity. A procedure which could have helped prevent this error would have been to soak the aluminium in NaOH (sodium hydroxide) which would get rid of the oxide layer that the aluminiu m contains and any other impurities. Another possible solution to increasing the percentage yield would be to immediately put the beaker in water and ice, straight after adding the sulphuric acid to the solution; allowing it to chill thoroughly for about 15 minutes. Considering this solubility data, some product will not precipitate from the solution. Considering this table and graph (shown in Results), an improved result would be obtained by precipitation in ice water. This would cool the solution down much faster allowing the crystals to grow at a much greater reaction rate. Whereas when it isnt iced, but filtered immediately, much of the alum saturated solution will fall through into the beaker losing some content. Furthermore, when the alum crystal was being handled (transport to filter paper from beaker, etc.) alum would have been eluded. The consequence of this would result in less alum. 7.0 Conclusion This experiment aimed to investigate the effect of the amount of scrap aluminium on the alum crystal, when potassium hydroxide and sulphuric acid were kept constant. Regarding the outcome of each trial, the results were supported by the theory stated in the hypothesis: It was hypothesized that if the weight of the scrap aluminium is increased or decreased then the amount of the alum crystal will adjust accordingly, when potassium hydroxide and sulphuric acid are kept the same. It was found that the aluminiums mass had a definite effect on the amount of alum produced. It can be concluded that when the potassium hydroxide is kept constant as well as the sulphuric acid, the outcome will be relatively similar and will adjust accordingly to the weight of the scrap aluminium. The crucial errors which were encountered in this experiment, which had a vast impact on the percentage yield, was the impurity of the scrap aluminium, the imprecision of handling the alum, and the improper cleaning procedure which was undertaken with each of the scrap aluminium pieces. The results obtained prove the hypothesis correct which stated that if the weight of the scrap aluminium is increased or decreased then the amount of the alum crystal will adjust accordingly. 8.0 Bibliography Alum Crystals. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2010, from Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/alum-crystals.html Alum Synthesis. (2005, June). Retrieved April 29, 2010, from Chemistry 111 Laboratory: http://employees.oneonta.edu/kotzjc/LAB/Alum_Expt.pdf Aluminium Potassium Sulphate. (n.d.). Retrieved May 05, 2010, from Chemical Land: http://chemicalland21.com/industrialchem/inorganic/aluminum%20potassium%20sulfate.htm Aluminium Sulphate. (n.d.). Retrieved May 22, 2010, from Bisley: http://www.bisley.com.au/industryzones/zonesub.asp?industry=5id=94 Bentor, Y. (2010, May 31). Periodic Table: Aluminium. Retrieved 14 May, 2010, from Chemical Elements: http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/al.html Chemical of the Week. (n.d.). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from Science is Fun: http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/CHEMWEEK/Aluminum/ALUMINUM.html Growing Crystals of ALum. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2010, from Princeton University: http://www.princeton.edu/~pccm/outreach/scsp/mixturesandsolutions/activities/growingcrystals.htm Helmenstine, A. M. (n.d.). Aluminium or Aluminium Facts. Retrieved May 08, 2010, from About: http://chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/aluminum.htm Katz, D. A. (2000). Alum from Waste Aluminium Cans. Retrieved April 22, 2010, from chymist.com: http://www.chymist.com/alum.pdf Katz, D. A. (2000). Growing Alum Crystals. Retrieved May 12, 2010, from Chymist: http://www.chymist.com/alum%20crystals.pdf Potash Alum. (n.d.). Retrieved May 14, 2010, from Encyclopedia The Free Dictionary: http://encyclopedia.farlex.com/potash+alum Potassium Alum. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2010, from Pauls Lab: http://www.paulslab.com/crystals/potassium-alum.html POTASSIUM ALUMINIUM SULFATE. (n.d.). Retrieved May 25, 2010, from The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Incorporated: http://www.raci.org.au/sa/ChemEd/XAL/AlumMSDS.pdf Preparation of Alum. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2010, from http://wwwchem.csustan.edu/archive/alum.htm Winter, M. (n.d.). Aluminium. Retrieved May 18, 2010, from Web Elements: http://www.webelements.com/aluminium/

Concept Models for Sports Development

Concept Models for Sports Development Part One Introduction There are many methods which one can rely on in order to undertake policy research. Often we will see policy makers undertaking primary research by way of observations and experimentation, resulting in a first-hand account of the effectiveness of a certain policy in a given context. However, such primary research is not always available or easily accessible, and often persons need to rely on secondary accounts of information to base their decision making processes on. It is this reliance upon secondary information that can lead to problems as to quality and reliability, which may contribute to the lack of effectiveness of a certain implemented policy. The purpose of this essay is to explore the principle of concept models and their effectiveness in relation to the formulation of policy as regards sports development. In doing so, it will attempt to identify what concept models actually are, what sports development is defined as, how the two areas interrelate, and finally the advantages and limitations of relying on concept models as a form of research. It is important to note at the outset that relying on secondary research is arguably fraught with danger in any case, however this essay also recognises the fact that primary sources or material may not always be available, and will consider whether concept models make a valuable alternative form of research. What are ‘Concept Models’? Concept models are a logical form of data collection, which researchers and academics often use to gauge and measure certain aspects of a sample of a population, so as they can form general conclusions based on the results. Often a concept model is the result of laborious analysis and experimentation, which uses scientific data collection methods to formulate and test hypotheses, so as a person studying a particular area can gain knowledge and intuition in a logical manner. Clearly there is a significant difference between the application of a reasoned hypothesis to a particular set of circumstances, as opposed to the application of theoretical principles, and this is perhaps where the conflict arises between these two methods of research in particular areas of study. It is important to understand the fact that there may be times where a concept model is perhaps the most appropriate method of research in a particular matter. However, other situations will require a more theory-based approach. This is the difficult issue that the study of society and culture presents to the academic and researcher: society and social values are often not accountable to rhyme or reason. They cannot be justified by the application of facts and figures, but rather one must attempt to understand the underlying rationale of a social context so as to have an idea as to what conclusions can be drawn about that particularly sample’s behaviour. The purpose of this essay is to highlight the tension which concept models bring to a social issue such as sports development. What is ‘Sports Development’? Sports development cannot be defined by one singular term. It can have a variety of meanings depending upon the context it is used. Perhaps the most succinct definition, but by no means definitive, is the following: Sport development deals with the opportunities available for people to progress to their potential in sport, from taking part for fun and health to competition and also encompasses the provision of opportunities for addressing the social issues of the day through participation in sport.[1] Furthermore, it is important to note that: As a profession sport development needs to justify the claims made for it by politicians and practitioners alike by providing an evidence base for the claims made for its value as a legitimate social service.[2] Therefore, sports development is regarded as having a role in society in general, and is not limited just solely to participation in sport itself. It can relate to health, in the sense that participation in sport and physical activity can lead to a reduction in obesity levels and cases of coronary heart disease and the like. It can link to crime, in the sense that sport can be used as a method of implementing structure and rigidity into a person’s life, with the theory being that a person is less likely to offend as a result. It can even delve as deep as other social issues such as gender equality, in relation to the access to top competition sporting events and activities being geared more towards men than women. All these different concepts are important, and all need to be understood in order to truly grasp the overall concept of sports development. But how does one teach this to others? How does one understand the relationship between these very different entities, in a us er-friendly way? How are Concept Models used in Sports Development? Concept models can be a useful tool in sports development, and in fact have been in discussion and policy research since the 1970s. Since first being coined as a term in the 1960 Wolfenden report,[3] sports development has undergone somewhat of a development in itself. New concepts have arisen, that need to be explained to scholars, researchers and laypeople alike. This is where concept maps may serve a valid purpose. They visually represent how various aspects of areas interrelate and flow on from one another. For example, the area of sports development has traditionally been associated with the ‘pyramid model’,[4] whereby a person begins at the bottom of the pyramid with many others at the foundation level, and gradually moves up the pyramid to the excellence level, which is only reached by much fewer people. This brief pyramid concept basically tells the reader in a visual way the overall principle of sports development, and what its ultimate goal is. However, this do es promote limitations. Firstly, it implies that the only way a participant in sport can move is up, and does not allow for the frequent occurrence of participants having to drop down one ‘level’ and attempt to climb up again. Secondly, it also imposes a quite rigid framework, and does not allow for the individual or unique nature of each and every participant. These issues will be discussed in further detail in due course. Concept models are also useful in the sense that sports development is an area which has been identified as severely lacking in empirical and scientific data to justify any other major form of modelling.[5] Riddoch also goes on to say that, as a result of this lack of ‘hard evidence’, we must rely more so on â€Å"theory, common sense, observation and expert opinion as on hard evidence†.[6] This essentially proves the usefulness of concept models in the context of sports development; however it also signifies the need that we need to begin developing a ‘bank’ of hard evidence so as to support the faith the government shows in this area. Essentially then, concept models are useful as an introductory tool, however one should seek to qualify these concepts with rigid empirical data. What are the Advantages of using Concept Models? The overwhelming benefit that concept models play in relation to the design, planning and delivery of the sports development process is that fact that is essentially simplifies the concepts and the relationships between various aspects of sports development and the wider community. It can essentially explain otherwise complicated topics quite clearly and reasonably, while also guiding the policy development process as a whole, given that it can highlight specific target ideas and values that a policy may wish to address. An excellent example of a concept model for sports development can be found in the PAT 10 report entitled ‘Sport and Social Exclusion’ (1999) at page 10 thereof, which attempts to represent the relationship between sport (or physical activity generally) and the wider economic benefits to the community as a whole.[7] On the basis of this concept model, one can trace the path of consequences that a specific activity or outcome can carry. For example, an in creased time in sprints can lead to an increase in sports injuries, and then an increase in costs to the NHS. However, the same outcome could also result in an increased achievement in sporting activities, then an increase in one’s health, and accordingly a decrease in costs to the NHS. This diagram maps out this particular issue quite well, although it is still quite ambiguous, in the sense that it does not indicate which path is more likely than the other to occur, and implies an even chance of either (or even both) occurring. What are the Disadvantages of using Concept Models? The above discussion in relation to the advantages of concept models also perhaps highlighted what some of the disadvantages are. A person who seeks to rely on a concept model in developing sports policy may be making a decision based on misleading information. This is primarily due to the fact that concept models can imply ambiguity in the data they represent. As mentioned above, the example in relation to the PAT 10’s concept model does not give any indication as to what event is more likely to occur than the other, meaning that the policy makers cannot accurately measure their issues as against the consequences due to the lack of empirical data in support. Therefore, it is important for policy makers to make their own enquiries into the reliability of the information, and they also should seek to support it with some ‘hard’ evidence before drawing a conclusion and formulating policy to guide the sport development process. Also, a pre-existing concept model may not cater for the policy maker’s particular circumstances, and therefore it would be important to have further information available to tailor the concepts to fit the situation. Concept models may also only prescribe one manner of ‘moving’ through the various concepts, which does not cater for all eventualities, and therefore one must exercise caution when relying on them, and perhaps only rely on concept models which might allow a certain amount of flexibility in their guidance. Conclusion On the basis of the above discussion, it would be reasonable to conclude that concept models can be a valuable tool in guiding the design, planning and delivery of sports development policy, however they should be relied upon with caution, and the policy maker should make an effort to familiarise himself with other ‘hard’ evidence so as he can make policy in the best interests of achieving the objectives he has set for the policy. It is the unique objectives of the policy that should come first, and it is the role of the policy maker to design and implement policy which will achieve these goals otherwise it will be of no benefit. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the policy maker to make all reasonable enquiries so as to ensure that they are making their decision based upon reliable and sound evidence. While concept models are valuable resources, they are certainly not definitive, and should not be viewed as such by those who seek to rely on them. Part Two Childhood obesity is becoming an ever increasing problem in todays modern society. So often do we see advertisements for fast food, junk food and other unhealthy habits and lifestyles, such as video games, on the television which are predominantly aimed at a younger audience. This places significant pressure on the sports industry as a whole, as children who become disillusioned with sport may suffer consequences not only to their own health, but the heath of the industry overall. After all, children are the future of our society, and it is in the interests of sport into the future to promote its values to the younger generation. The purpose of this case study is to highlight ways that sport is used at a younger level, such as school age and the like, in order to promote the positive message of health and fitness to children. This is often achieved through the implementation of social policy and activities which promote physical activity and are generally catered to the fitness and s kill levels of younger children. It is difficult to rebut the proposition that obesity in general, let alone childhood obesity, it reaching epidemic proportions around the world, specifically in the United States. The purpose of this brief therefore is to identify the objects of school-based activity programs, and rationale which underpin these programs, the design and implementation of these programs as well as their implications for management. Specifically, given the writers residence in Australia, it will tend to focus more on Australian-based research based on the writers experience in after-school childhood sport programmes. There is substantial evidence and policy in existence which supports the proposition that sport can promote a healthy lifestyle and decrease the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke at a later stage in life. In particular, the PAT 10 report Arts and Sport (Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 1999) includes health as an area in which sport can contribute to neighbourhood renewal. The Value of Sport (Sport England, 1999) suggests that sport can make a contribution to the new policy agenda by assisting in the improvement of fitness and health the reduction of risk of coronary heart disease, obesity and osteoporosis; psychological benefits (eg reduction of depression) and a range of more specific health benefits.[8] Therefore, sports development serves a vast social purpose from a health perspective, in the sense that encourages its participants to increase their physical activity in order to improve their health and not face as many potential health problems down the track. In the Australian context, where the writer is based, there is clear evidence of a policy shift towards enforcing compulsory school-level sport within the curriculum for all primary school age students. In the state of Western Australia, this was recently introduced and, according to Education Minister Mark McGowan, what I dont want to see is us reach the obesity levels of the United States and acknowledged that governments cant take all the responsibility here. Two hours a week in a school curriculum in which were loading up literacy and numeracy as well is a good outcome. What we need is after school and on weekends, parents to play their bit as well.[9] A Western Australian school principal remarked about the policy It is certainly very popular with the students. The teachers like the fact that we can now program it rather than it just being an add-on to the curriculum and it seems a very good way for us to resource the problem that were facing.[10] What this demonstrates is the f act that the government only has a limited role in the decrease of the epidemic of childhood obesity. Its hands are effectively tied, in the sense that much of the encouragement and enforcement needs to come from the parents of the children rather than the government. Essentially, the government only has control of children for about six hours per day, whereas parents are responsible for their children after school and on weekends, so there is a need for this value of childhood health and fitness to spread as a social value, rather than simply becoming an imposition by government. Perhaps most relevant to the after-school programs that the writer was involved in was the key points in relation to health which were made by Coulter in his research report entitled Realising the Value of Cultural Services: the case for sport (2001), and the following seven conclusions on this report can be drawn: Much of the research evidence relates to the health benefits of physical activity, rather than sports per se†¦ There is a need to focus on behaviour change rather than formal activity, promoting facility use and uptake of classes and sessions. Among sports participants, the frequency of activity is often less than that required to achieve and sustain health benefits. Qualitative evidence suggests that the greatest gains from involvement in activity relate to psychological health and increased feelings of well-being. It is important that such experiences are complemented by a recognition of the unique physiological benefits of exercise. Factors underpinning the success of activity provision have included appropriate and convenient local facilities; recognising the importance of participants friendship groups in getting involved and staying involved; providing reassurance that people just like us are able to participate; acknowledging, particularly to older people, that some physical activity will be better than none; and recognising that if the activity has some intrinsic value (good fun, enjoyable, a change of environment etc), it may be more appealing and ensure adherence. There is a widespread absence of robust monitoring information on the health benefits of participation and little long-term monitoring of adherence to activity programmes. This reflects the short-term nature of many initiatives, the lack of funding for such monitoring and the lack of expertise to undertake such work.[11] The above points perhaps best capture the underlying rationale behind after-school sports programs. There is no need for a child to participate in sports per se, but rather in activities which result in an increase in physical activity. While the definition between sports and physical activity can appear clouded on occasions it is clear that, for the purposes of Coulters report, they are two entirely different concepts. One of the key programs that the writer was involved in, in order to be able to comment upon this issue first-hand, is known as the ‘Active After-School Communities’ program, which is operated under funding provided by the Australian federal government. A documented case study has been undertaken in regards to the effectiveness of this program in encouraging younger children to participate in physical activity. Parents acknowledged the concerns in the current social environment in relation to obesity and later health problems, however sought to support the program where they were able to, having regard for barriers such as travel and distance, as well as time constraints in relation to parents being able to pick up and drop off children in line with their work commitments.[12] However, in an attempt to promote maximum attendance and participation, it was important for the deliverer of the program at each venue to follow certain policies in relation to the activities that they organise. First and foremost, it needed to be an activity that the children would enjoy. This meant that it needed to cater to the wants of the children, rather than the deliverer simply imposing a certain program upon the group. The deliverer therefore needed to be flexible in terms of ideas and planning of activities, however needed to remain firm enough to impose a sense of order, control and structure to the activities, in order to ensure that the overall objectives of the program were still being met. Another key feature of the Active After School Communities program is the ‘non-exclusion’ policy behind all of its activities. In essence, this means that no child should be excluded from the activities, and activities which provide for a person being ‘out’ should provide another physical role for that child as part of the activity. For example, in a game of dodge ball, a person who is hit by a ball (in a safe manner) would ordinarily be out, howeve r a good program deliverer could find an alternate role for these participants while they are waiting for a new game to start, such as throwing balls in from the sidelines as part of the game, which still keeps them involved and active. This often meant that the deliverer had to create unique games or activities within ‘their own rules’ in order to implement the policies laid down by the program. This required special training on the part of program deliverers, and thus all deliverers were required to complete accreditation in the delivery of the program before being able to conduct the program unsupervised. Of course, the design and implementation of the program is not without its impact upon the management of the program. It is important for the Federal Government to have regard for the fact that many parents are somewhat unable to pay large amounts for this program, and hence the participants of the focus group expressed a desire for the program to be heavily, if not fully, subsidised by the government.[13] This creates an issue, in the sense that the funding of the program is a significant concern given the associated expenses of program delivery. This is particularly due to the need to pay the deliverers for their services, but also that the program takes place outside of school hours. This means that supervision of the program often falls outside of the scope of a teacher’s ordinary duties, and thus often a casual employee (or a number of them) needs to be engaged in order to fill this role. Magnifying this issue is the need for a large number of sites to exist, especially i n rural areas, in order to maximise participation by minimising the distance and travel factors. Additionally, the case study also highlights the lack of suitably qualified staff to fill these roles in any event.[14] This means that the management need to outlay a substantial amount of funding to initially reach the required training and staffing standards that the policies of the program demand. Therefore, the management need to be mindful of the concerns raised by the parents of the children of the program, as they are reluctant to absorb any major costs associated with the program. As a result, the management need to ensure that the appropriate budgets and costings are obtained so as to meet the objectives of the program, and it is clear that these policies perhaps impose a great deal of pressure and responsibility upon the management. In summary, it would appear that the Active After School Communities program which the writer was associated with serves a valid purpose. It recognises the need for children to become physically active, in a society which promotes generally unhealthy lifestyles and habits. The responsibility for this negative social shift would have to be shared between the government, parents and corporations; however the responsibility to fix the problem ironically sits with the same people. For example, the AASC program relies heavily upon funding from Nike, which provides clothing and equipment so the program can run efficiently. The government needs to put the framework in place, but ultimately it is the role of the parents to encourage their child to attend the program, and to ensure continued participation, so as the child can receive the full benefit of the program. Bibliography Books Houlihan, B., and White, A., The Politics of Sports Development (2002), London: Routledge Hylton, K., Bramham, P., Jackson, D., and Nesti, M., Sports Development: Policy, Process and Practice (2007, 2nd ed), London: Routledge Reports Coulter, F., Realising the Value of Cultural Services: the case for sport (2001) LGA, London PAT 10, ‘Research Report: Sport and Social Exclusion’ (1999) Institute of Sport and Leisure Policy, Loughborough University Riddoch, C., ‘Relationships between physical activity and physical health in young people’ in Young and Active? Young people and health enhancing physical activity – evidence and implications’ (1998) Ruiz, J., ‘A Literature Review Of The Evidence Base For Culture, The Arts And Sport Policy’ (2004), Scottish Executive, Edinburgh The General Council of Physical Recreation, ‘Sport and the Community’ (1960), CCPR, London. Internet Sources ABC News, Compulsory sport to tackle childhood obesity (2007), http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1924710.htm> at 2 August 2008 Colmar Brunton Social Research, ‘Evaluation of AASC Program: Community Case Study – Vasse Community’ (2008), Australian Sports Commission, http://www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0004/200389/Evaluation_of_AASC_program_-_Community_Case_Study_-_Vasse.doc> at 2 August 2008 Sports Development, www.sportsdevelopment.org.uk> at 2 August 2008 [1] Sports Development UK, ‘Sports Development’ (2008) http://www.sportsdevelopment.org.uk> at 2 August 2008. [2] Ibid. [3] See The General Council of Physical Recreation, ‘Sport and the Community’ (1960), CCPR, London. [4] See Casey (1988). [5] Janet Ruiz, ‘A Literature Review of the Evidence Base for Culture, The Arts And Sport Policy’ (2004), Scottish Executive, Edinburgh, 15; see also Chris Riddoch, ‘Relationships between physical activity and physical health in young people’ in Young and Active? Young people and health enhancing physical activity – evidence and implications’ (1998). [6] Ibid. [7] PAT 10, ‘Research Report: Sport and Social Exclusion’ (1999) Institute of Sport and Leisure Policy, Loughborough University, 10. [8] F. Coulter, Realising the Value of Cultural Services: the case for sport (2001) LGA, London, 15. [9] ABC News, Compulsory sport to tackle childhood obesity (2007), http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200705/s1924710.htm> at 2 August 2008. [10] Ibid. [11] These points are drawn from sportdevelopment.org.uk at http://www.sportdevelopment.org.uk/html/rg_health.html> at 2 August 2008. [12] Colmar Brunton Social Research, ‘Evaluation of AASC Program: Community Case Study – Vasse Community’ (2008), Australian Sports Commission, http://www.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/word_doc/0004/200389/Evaluation_of_AASC_program_-_Community_Case_Study_-_Vasse.doc> at 2 August 2008. [13] Ibid. [14] Ibid.

Sustainable Land Management in Latin America Essay -- Environment Envi

Sustainable Land Management in Latin America â€Å"The enthusiastic celebration of indigenous skills can be the basis of alternative strategies of development.† – W.M. Adams Introduction The sustainability of land management practices in developing countries is in question currently as a way to address poverty. Yet, this investigation is often done with the assumption that people in developing countries are acting irresponsibly and their behavior must be corrected by more enlightened conservationists from North America , Europe , and northern Asia . An analysis of the history of different land management practices shows that environmental degradation was often the result of colonial disruption of indigenous peoples. In the 1990 book Green Development by W.M. Adams, sustainable development is defined as practices designed to protect the environment and involve communities in making decisions. Land management practices developed by indigenous communities offer the best chance for sustainable development in Latin America today. Pre-Columbian land management practices in Latin America A diversity of cultures flourished in the Caribbean , Central and South America , before European conquistadors arrived, changing and using the land and resources to feed communities, build cities, raise temples, and govern empires. Land management practices were developed to be specific to their regions over the course of thousands of years in human communities. Prescribed burns were used in the pà ¡ramo of Costa Rica to promote desired kinds of vegetation (Horn, 1998). Raised fields created in the swamps of Mexico, Colombia , and Ecuador yielded large harvests (Atkins, Roberts, and Simmons, 1998) (Yapa, 2003). In the Venezuel... ...ly human fire mastery revealed.† BBC News Online. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3670017.stm Shetler, Jan Bender (2004). â€Å"Sugar and the Industrial Era.†Environmental History Lecture. Goshen College . Sluyter, Andrew (2002). Colonialism and Landscape. Lanham , Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Watts , Sheldon (1999). Epidemic and History: Disease, Power and Imperialism. New Haven , Conn. : Yale University Press. Yapa, Kashyapa A. S. (2003, July 1). â€Å"Floodwater Management, The American Way †: Past and Present.† The Diary of a Polit-Eco Tourist. Retrieved November 7, 2004 , from http://kyapa.tripod.com/agengineering/drainage-lowland/drainage.htm Zimmerer, Karl S. And Kenneth R. Young, eds. (1998). Nature's Geography: New Lessons for Conservation in Developing Countries. Madison , Wis. : The University of Wisconsin Press. Sustainable Land Management in Latin America Essay -- Environment Envi Sustainable Land Management in Latin America â€Å"The enthusiastic celebration of indigenous skills can be the basis of alternative strategies of development.† – W.M. Adams Introduction The sustainability of land management practices in developing countries is in question currently as a way to address poverty. Yet, this investigation is often done with the assumption that people in developing countries are acting irresponsibly and their behavior must be corrected by more enlightened conservationists from North America , Europe , and northern Asia . An analysis of the history of different land management practices shows that environmental degradation was often the result of colonial disruption of indigenous peoples. In the 1990 book Green Development by W.M. Adams, sustainable development is defined as practices designed to protect the environment and involve communities in making decisions. Land management practices developed by indigenous communities offer the best chance for sustainable development in Latin America today. Pre-Columbian land management practices in Latin America A diversity of cultures flourished in the Caribbean , Central and South America , before European conquistadors arrived, changing and using the land and resources to feed communities, build cities, raise temples, and govern empires. Land management practices were developed to be specific to their regions over the course of thousands of years in human communities. Prescribed burns were used in the pà ¡ramo of Costa Rica to promote desired kinds of vegetation (Horn, 1998). Raised fields created in the swamps of Mexico, Colombia , and Ecuador yielded large harvests (Atkins, Roberts, and Simmons, 1998) (Yapa, 2003). In the Venezuel... ...ly human fire mastery revealed.† BBC News Online. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3670017.stm Shetler, Jan Bender (2004). â€Å"Sugar and the Industrial Era.†Environmental History Lecture. Goshen College . Sluyter, Andrew (2002). Colonialism and Landscape. Lanham , Md. : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Watts , Sheldon (1999). Epidemic and History: Disease, Power and Imperialism. New Haven , Conn. : Yale University Press. Yapa, Kashyapa A. S. (2003, July 1). â€Å"Floodwater Management, The American Way †: Past and Present.† The Diary of a Polit-Eco Tourist. Retrieved November 7, 2004 , from http://kyapa.tripod.com/agengineering/drainage-lowland/drainage.htm Zimmerer, Karl S. And Kenneth R. Young, eds. (1998). Nature's Geography: New Lessons for Conservation in Developing Countries. Madison , Wis. : The University of Wisconsin Press.

SIP Security Essay -- Information Technology

Abstract The session initiation protocol (SIP) is emerging as standard protocol for session control in Next generation voice over internet protocol (VoIP) As it is based on IP it is vulnerable to all IP related threats . Among all the attacks, flood-based denial of service DoS attack is one of the main threats to SIP. Several solutions regarding prevention of DoS are discussed. Efficient Security scheme is proposed for batter performance. I. INTRODUCTION Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) [1] is signaling protocol given by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) for IP telephony. Moreover, the 3rd generation partnership program (3GPP) has chosen SIP as a signaling protocol in IP multimedia subsystem (IMS). With more and more multimedia applications and the digital audio/video transport over IP-based networks, SIP is becoming the de-facto signaling protocol. In fact, SIP is a session control protocol that can establish, modify, and terminate multimedia sessions such as Internet telephone calls (VoIP). SIP users are indicated by Uniform Resource Identifiers (URI), consisting of a pair of user name and domain name, e.g. sip:ali@abc.co.uk , which is similar to the email format. SIP signaling between multiple users consists of requests and responses .A call is set up in SIP by the three-way handshake composed of INVITE, 200 OK and ACK messages. The INVITE request asks the cal lee to join or establish a call. If the cal lee’s response indicates that he/she accepts the call by sending the 200 OK response message, the caller confirms that it has received the response by sending the ACK message. When the caller or cal lee wishes to terminate a call, they send a BYE request. ... ... June 2001. [8] T. Peng, C. Leckie, and K. Ramamohanarao, â€Å"Protection from distributed denial of service attacks using history-based IP 108 filtering,† Communications, 2003. ICC'03. IEEE International Conference on, vol. 1, 2003 [9] S. D. D'Souza, and D. Vinokurov, â€Å"Queuing methods for mitigation of packet spoofing†, US Patent App, 2004 [10] M.A. Akbar, M.Farooq, â€Å"Application of Evolutionary Algorithms in Detection of SIP based Flooding Attacks†GECCO’09, July 8–12,2009, Montrà ©al Quà ©bec, Canada.ACM. [11] M.A. Akbar, Z.Tariq and M.Farooq, â€Å"A Comparative Study of Anomaly Detection Algorithms for Detection of SIP Flooding in IMS†, Next Generation Intelligent Networks Research Center (nexGIN RC), 2009.

Dr. King

In 1963, after a protest in Birmingham calling attention to the need for equal rights for African Americans, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote an open letter to the coalition of Christian ministers in the American South.   Dr. King found himself the subject of extreme criticism from his fellow clergymen for his protest, specifically the illegality of the   protest. In his essay, Dr. King attempts to appeal to the ethical, emotional and logical sides of countrymen to show them that the laws that he was breaking were unfair and unjust in and of themselves. This paper will critically examine the appeals that Dr. King made and the effectiveness of those appeals.Dr. King begins his argument in favor of his actions with an appeal to the ethical considerations of his audience. â€Å"Since I feel that you are men of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be patient and reasonable terms,â €  (King 1963).   He begins by telling his audience that he respects their motives and hopes that they will respect his.This is an important part of the ethical argument in that King wants immediately to establish that this was not a rash action and that he is not defending himself lightly. Next, he seeks to establish his own credentials and his right to be in Birmingham. King mentions that people in Birmingham have complained of his coming in as an outsider and he immediately wants to clarify that he was invited in.â€Å"I have the honor of serving as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, an organization operating in every southern state, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. We have some eighty five affiliated organizations across the South, and one of them is the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights. Frequently we share staff, educational and financial resources with our affiliates.Several months ago the affiliate here in Birmingham asked us to be on call to engage in a nonviolent direct action program if such were deemed necessary. We readily consented, and when the hour came we lived up to our promise. So I, along with several members of my staff, am here because I was invited here. I am here because I have organizational ties here† (King 1963)By first establishing that his organization has ties in Birmingham and that he was invited, King dismisses the idea that he is just an outside rebel rouser. After establishing his right to be there, king establishes the authority under which his ethical decisions will be made. â€Å"Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their â€Å"thus saith the Lord† far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Greco Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town,† (King 1963) . King calls to mind the ethical standard by which he wants to be judged: the Bible and his faith. Finally, King argues why his action is ethically justified.â€Å"Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,† (King 1963). With this argument he points out the ethical concern that most directly led to the Birmingham protest, injustice.King also appeals to the emotions of his audience. â€Å"Then, last September, came the opportunity to talk with leaders of Birmingham's economic community. In the course of the negotiations, certain promises were made by the merchants–for example, to remove the stores' humiliating racial signs.† (King 1963). He begins by gently reminding them of the racial humiliation that was an integral part of the South at the time. Next, he moves onto the violence that th e average African American in the South had witness or heard.   And finally, he moves on to the emotional appeal of children, before turning the emotionally-charged words filled with hatred and familiar to all Southern â€Å"Negroes†.â€Å"But when you have seen vicious mobs lynch your mothers and fathers at will and drown your sisters and brothers at whim; when you have seen hate filled policemen curse, kick and even kill your black brothers and sisters†¦when you suddenly find your tongue twisted and your speech stammering as you seek to explain to your six year old daughter why she can't go to the public amusement park that has just been advertised on television, and see tears welling up in her eyes when she is told that Funtown is closed to colored children, and see ominous clouds of inferiority beginning to form in her little mental sky, and see her beginning to distort her personality by developing an unconscious bitterness toward white people; when you have to c oncoct an answer for a five year old son who is asking: â€Å"Daddy, why do white people treat colored people so mean?†; †¦when your first name becomes â€Å"nigger,† your middle name becomes â€Å"boy† (however old you are) and your last name becomes â€Å"John,† and your wife and mother are never given the respected title â€Å"Mrs.†; (King 1963)Throughout the essay, king also appeals to the logic of his audience. First, he points out that Southern blacks had attempted to sue the system, but that the system excluded them from it and therefore they could not change the system from within. Then, King begins to use statistics to back up his arguments, beginning first with the sheer lack of black voters in the South. â€Å"An unjust law is a code that a numerical or power majority group compels a minority group to obey but does not make binding on itself. This is difference made legal. By the same token, a just law is a code that a majority com pels a minority to follow and that it is willing to follow itself. This is sameness made legal. Let me give another explanation.A law is unjust if it is inflicted on a minority that, as a result of being denied the right to vote, had no part in enacting or devising the law. Who can say that the legislature of Alabama which set up that state's segregation laws was democratically elected? Throughout Alabama all sorts of devious methods are used to prevent Negroes from becoming registered voters, and there are some counties in which, even though Negroes constitute a majority of the population, not a single Negro is registered.† (King 1963). King also argues that unjust laws or just laws which are unjustly enforced must be changed and that people should take whatever action is reasonable to change them. By providing specific examples, he makes it hard for any logical person to disagree.Though King’s â€Å"I have a dream† speech is more famous than his â€Å"Letter F rom a Birmingham Jail†, it is in this essay that he sets the tone for the entire civil rights movement. In his use of emotional appeal, he moves beyond sheer anger to the disappointment and pain caused by segregation. His logical arguments are made soundly so that opponents cannot argue that he is simply hot-headed or breaking the law for the sake of personal gain. However, perhaps the most important and effective of his arguments come in his ethical arguments. When King illustrates gently, but with great strength, the unethical behavior that has led to the crisis in the South, he is non-accusatory and simply states how things ought to be. This above all else is what marks the greatness of this essay.

Film History

Have you ever wondered how the movies or videos that you watch first started? Well, you won’t stay with the doubt for long because I am about to tell you how it all began. One of the first inventions was called the zoetrope is a cylinder looking gadget which contains drawings in a strip of paper inside that appears to move according to The Museum of Childhood. This invention came out in 1834 by a great inventor called W. G. Horner. His invention is something that lots of people can enjoy by looking at the sequence.In 1867, the first device that showed movies and animated pictures was called a â€Å"zoopraxiscope† or the â€Å"wheel of life†. This starting invention was patented by a man called William Lincoln. The zoopraxiscope started by the motion of photographs and drawings. Later in 1895, a portable motion picture camera was invented by Louis Lumiere, a Frenchman. His invention became known as Cinematographe. It was a film processing unit and projector. This invention gave motion pictures the popularity. (According to the History of the Motion Picture http://inventors. about. om/library/inventors/ blmotionpictures . htm). After those two great inventions came even a better one. Thomas Edison and William Dickson, his British assistant, constructed a device for recording movement on film and another to view it in the late 1880s. (http://www. filmsite. org/pre20sintro. html). But new inventions didn’t stop here; in 1890 a new invention called Kinetograph was constructed by William Dickenson. This device gave directors a reason for motion pictures. The kinetograph was a â€Å"motor-powered camara that could photograph motion pictures† according to Film History Before 1920.It was designed so you were able to move the film through the camara by an electric motor. I think that the way that the inventions were coming was great because every time a new invention came it had better technology and it was a little bit more practical a nd easier to use than the ones from before. Film creation became greater later on, when one of the five big studios started: Warner Bros. Pictures. This is one of the world’s largest producers of film and entertainment. Warner Bros. Pictures was founded by Polish-Canadian immigrants in 1918. (According to Wikipedia)