Thursday, March 19, 2020

Definition and Examples of Syntactic Ambiguity

Definition and Examples of Syntactic Ambiguity In English  grammar, syntactic ambiguity is  the presence of two or more possible meanings within a single sentence or sequence of words. Also called structural ambiguity or  grammatical ambiguity. Compare with lexical ambiguity  (the presence of two or more possible meanings within a single word). The intended meaning of a syntactically ambiguous sentence can often (but not always) be determined by context. Examples and Observations The professor said on Monday he would give an exam.The chicken is ready to eat.The burglar threatened the student with the knife.Visiting relatives can be boring.This morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I dont know.(Groucho MarxA lady with a clipboard stopped me in the street the other day. She said, Can you spare a few minutes for cancer research? I said, All right, but were not going to get much done.(English comedian Jimmy CarrPlanes can go around the world, iPhones can do a zillion things, but humans have not invented a machine that can debone a cow or a chicken as efficiently as a human being, says Alan Alanis, a JPMorgan Chase (JPM) analyst.(Bryan Gruley and Lucia Kassai, Brazilian Meatpacker JBS Wrangles the U.S. Beef Industry. Bloomberg Businessweek, September 19, 2013) Types of Ambiguity We can crudely classify the sorts  of ambiguity found in sentences as follows: 1. Pure syntactic ambiguity:old men and womenFrench silk underwear2. Quasi-syntactic ambiguity:The astronaut entered the atmosphere again.a red pencil3. Lexico-syntactic ambiguity:We saw her duck.I saw the door open.4. Pure lexical ambiguity:He reached the bank.What is his position? The statement pure syntactic ambiguity is meant ambiguity in which the variant readings of a sentence involve identical lexical units; the ambiguity is thus necessarily a matter merely of the way the elements are grouped together.(D. A. Cruse, Lexical Semantics. Cambridge University Press, 1986 Using Speech Cues to Decipher Syntactic AmbiguitySome sentences are syntactically ambiguous at the global level, in which case the whole sentence has two or more possible interpretations. For example, They are cooking apples is ambiguous because it may or may not mean that apples are being cooked. . . .One of the ways in which listeners work out the syntactic or grammatical structure of spoken sentences is by using prosodic cues in the form of stress, intonation, and so on. For example, in the ambiguous sentence The old men and women sat on the bench, the women may or may not be old. If the women are not old, then the spoken duration of word men will be relatively long and the stressed syllable in women will have a steep rise in speech contour. Neither of these prosodic features will be present if the sentence means the women are old.(M. Eysenck and M. Keane, Cognitive Psychology. Taylor Francis, 2005 Ambiguous StructuresSyntactic ambiguity occurs when a sequence of words can be structured in alternative ways that are consistent with the syntax of the language. For instance, . . . [this word group] is ambiguous: (1) a. John told the woman that Bill was dating. . . . In 1a, that Bill was dating could either be a relative clause (as in John told the woman that Bill was dating a lie) or a sentence complement (as in John told the woman that Bill was dating a liar).(Patrizia Tabossi et al., Semantic Effects on Syntactic Ambiguity Resolution in Attention and Performance XV, ed. by C. Umilt. MIT Press, 1994)

Monday, March 2, 2020

Definition and Examples of Autobiography

Definition and Examples of Autobiography An autobiography is an account of a persons life written or otherwise recorded by that person. Adjective: autobiographical. Many scholars regard the Confessions (c. 398) by Augustine of Hippo (354–430) as the first autobiography. The term fictional autobiography (or pseudoautobiography) refers to novels that employ first-person narrators who recount the events of their lives as if they actually happened. Well-known examples include David Copperfield (1850) by Charles Dickens and Salingers  The Catcher in the Rye (1951). Some critics believe that all autobiographies are in some ways fictional. Patricia Meyer Spacks has observed that people do make themselves up. . . . To read  an autobiography is  to encounter a self as an imaginative being ( The Female Imagination, 1975). For the distinction between a memoir and an autobiographical composition, see memoir  as well as the examples and observations below.   Etymology From the Greek, self life write Examples of Autobiographical Prose Imitating the Style of the Spectator, by Benjamin FranklinLangston Hughes on HarlemOn the Street, by Emma GoldmanRitual in Maya Angelous Caged BirdThe Turbid Ebb and Flow of Misery, by Margaret SangerTwo Ways of Seeing a River, by Mark Twain Examples and Observations of Autobiographical Compositions An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last installment missing.(Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant, 1968)Putting a life into words rescues it from confusion even when the words declare the omnipresence of confusion, since the art of declaring implies dominance.(Patricia Meyer Spacks, Imagining a Self: Autobiography and Novel in Eighteenth-Century England. Harvard University Press, 1976)The Opening Lines of Zora Neale Hurstons Autobiography- Like the dead-seeming, cold rocks, I have memories within that came out of the material that went to make me. Time and place have had their say.So you will have to know something about the time and place where I came from, in order that you may interpret the incidents and directions of my life.I was born in a Negro town. I do not mean by that the black back-side of an average town. Eatonville, Florida, is, and was at the time of my birth, a pure Negro towncharter, mayor, council, town marshal and all. It was not the first Neg ro community in America, but it was the first to be incorporated, the first attempt at organized self-government on the part of Negroes in America.Eatonville is what you might call hitting a straight lick with a crooked stick. The town was not in the original plan. It is a by-product of something else. . . .(Zora Neale Hurston, Dust Tracks on a Road. J.B. Lippincott, 1942)- There is a saying in the Black community that advises: If a person asks you where youre going, you tell him where youve been. That way you neither lie nor reveal your secrets. Hurston had called herself the Queen of the Niggerati. She also said, I like myself when Im laughing. Dust Tracks on a Road is written with royal humor and an imperious creativity. But then all creativity is imperious, and Zora Neale Hurston was certainly creative.(Maya Angelou, Foreword to Dust Tracks on a Road, rpt. HarperCollins, 1996) Autobiography and TruthAll autobiographies are lies. I do not mean unconscious, unintentional lies; I mean deliberate lies. No man is bad enough to tell the truth about himself during his lifetime, involving, as it must, the truth about his family and friends and colleagues. And no man is good enough to tell the truth in a document which he suppresses until there is nobody left alive to contradict him.(George Bernard Shaw, Sixteen Self Sketches, 1898)Autobiography is an unrivaled vehicle for telling the truth about other people.(attributed to Thomas Carlyle, Philip Guedalla, and others)Autobiography and Memoir- An autobiography is the story of a life: the name implies that the writer will somehow attempt to capture all the essential elements of that life. A writers autobiography, for example, is not expected to deal merely with the authors growth and career as a writer but also with the facts and emotions connected to family life, education, relationships, sexuality, travels, and inn er struggles of all kinds. An autobiography is sometimes limited by dates (as in Under My Skin: Volume One of My Autobiography to 1949 by Doris Lessing), but not obviously by theme.Memoir, on the other hand, is a story from a life. It makes no pretense of replicating a whole life.(Judith Barrington, Writing the Memoir: From Truth to Art. Eighth Mountain Press, 2002)- Unlike autobiography, which moves in a dutiful line from birth to fame, memoir narrows the lens, focusing on a time in the writers life that was unusually vivid, such as childhood or adolescence, or that was framed by war or travel or public service or some other special circumstance.(William Zinsser, Introduction, Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir. Mariner Books, 1998) An Epidemical Rage for Auto-Biography[I]f the populace of writers become thus querulous after fame (to which they have no pretensions) we shall expect to see an epidemical rage for auto-biography break out, more wide in its influence and more pernicious in its tendency than the strange madness of the Abderites, so accurately described by Lucian. London, like Abdera, will be peopled solely by men of genius; and as the frosty season, the grand specific for such evils, is over, we tremble for the consequences. Symptoms of this dreadful malady (though somewhat less violent) have appeared amongst us before . . ..(Isaac DIsraeli, Review of The Memoirs of Percival Stockdale, 1809)|The Lighter Side of Autobiography- The Confessions of St. Augustine are the first autobiography, and they have this to distinguish them from all other autobiographies, that they are addressed directly to God.(Arthur Symons, Figures of Several Centuries, 1916)- I write fiction and Im told its autobiography, I write autobiography and Im told its fiction, so since Im so dim and theyre so smart, let them decide what it is or isnt.(Philip Roth, Deception, 1990)- Im writing an unauthorized autobiography.(Steven Wright) Pronunciation: o-toe-bi-OG-ra-fee

Saturday, February 15, 2020

Victor Moritz Goldschmidt Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Victor Moritz Goldschmidt - Essay Example The family had a history of scientists and philosophers from Victor's fathers and mother's side. In 1914, he became the Professor and Director at Mineralogical Institute of Oslo, when he was offered this position. He worked in this position till 1929. After this he moved to Gttingen. The first important contribution made by him was in the field of geology and mineralogy. Goldschmidt went into geochemistry after the death of raw material in World War 1. The general studies that he carried out marked the beginning of modern geochemistry. His work, Geochemical Laws of the Distribution of the Elements, volume 8 in 1923-38, laid the foundation of inorganic crystal chemistry. (Biography.com) According to Goldschmidt, "The primary purpose of geochemistry is on the one hand to determine quantitatively the composition of the earth and its parts, and on the other to discover the laws which control the distribution of the individual elements."(Bob Weintraub) His doctorate thesis, 'Die hpontaktmetamorphose im Kristianiagebiet' and 'Geologisch-petro-graphische Studien im Hochgebirge des siidlichen Norwegens,' are known as his first two major works. The first publications for geochemistry were 'Geo-chemische Verteilungsgesetze der Elemente.' These were a series of publications under this title. In 1921, he was able to show an electrical balance between the positive and negative ions using an X-ray crystallography. These ions are the most important factor in crystal structure. Goldschmidt's work on the cosmic abundance of the elements and the links between isotopic stability and abundance was led by the analysis of geochemistry, astrophysics and nuclear physics. In 1935, Goldschmidt moved to Norway because of the rise of Nazism. When World War II started Goldschmidt had to move again. He went to Sweden first and then Britain. In Britain he worked in the field of soil science and once the war ended he returned back to Norway. At the time of the war, Goldschmidt always carried a cyanide capsule with him just in case he was caught. According to Goldschmidt cyanide was for chemists, while rope was for mechanical engineers. (Msn Encarta) Goldschmidt got a doctoral fellowship at the age of 21 from the University and a Norwegian doctor's degree when he was 23 years old. There have not been many people who have done this. He did not even have to take the usual exams or degrees to achieve these levels. The Norwegian doctor's degree is usually received after the age of 30 and some people have received it after the age of 50. Thus, it was a big achievement. Goldschmidt won the noblest scientific award 'Fridtjof Nansens belonning,' in 1912, for his work 'Die Kontaktmetamorphose im Kristiania-gebiet.' When he applied for a Professorship in Stockholm, the University was able to give him the same position. This was a special case because the Norwegian University does not offer a position until two years have passed since the appointment. Goldschmidt identified the main difference between geochemical elements of geological evolution. He out them into four groups: 'siderophile, chalcophile, lithophile, and atmophile'. He also identified the fact that the earth and the meteorites have a common origin. He developed the Mineralogical Phase Rule;

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Is the War on Drugs Effective Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1

Is the War on Drugs Effective - Research Paper Example In the mid-eighties the social and economic costs of drug abuse became a major social welfare issue and precipitated an anti-drug social welfare policy (Mosher and Atkins 2007, p. 202). Acknowledging that there is a substantial link between drug abuse and deviant/criminal conduct and that drug rehabilitation services were not satisfactorily reducing drug abuse, the US government developed a policy characterized as a â€Å"war on drugs† in the 1980s (Ax and Fagan 2007, p. 338). The war of drugs is centered around a prohibitive policy which is reminiscent of previous anti-war policies but with increased emphasis on the interdiction of drugs at or destined for US borders. The US anti-drug policy targets production, consumption and distribution of illicit drugs with the aim of increasing the cost of drug production and use. The costs for both users and producers are economic and abstract in that the criminal justice system in involved (Harris, Tamas and Lind 2008, p. 118). Since the most implementation of the social welfare policy initiatives encapsulated under the declaration of war on drugs in the mid-eighties, the criminal justice system has played an increasingly significant role. Drug related arrests, sentencing and imprisonment have increased â€Å"substantially† (Mosher and Atkins 2007, p. 202). Despite â€Å"hundreds of billions of dollars† spent in the criminal justice system pursuant to these policies, there are serious doubts as to whether or not the policies falling under the war on drugs are effective. Mendoza (2010) reporting for the Associated Press notes that the war on drugs has cost the US â€Å"US$1 trillion and hundreds of thousands of live† and yet, â€Å"drug use is rampant and violence even more brutal and widespread†.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

America Is in the Heart: A Personal History :: Carlos Bulosan

America Is in the Heart: A Personal History (Journal) Part One:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Allos was a young boy from a little province of Binalonan located on the central part of the island of Luzon in the Philippines. He lived with his dad, who farms on their own land, which is the primary source of their living. His mom, living in the town, selling goods in the market. They were among the peasants who worked very hard for the rich landlords just to feed their family. When his brother Leon came back form a war in Europe, he met a girl from another town who he liked. They got engaged and married. There was a tradition during those days that if the girl wasn’t a virgin, the man would have to return her to their village. And when the people found out that the girl deceived Leon, they tied them on a tree and started beating them. Allos’ dad stopped them and when it was over, Leon left the town with his bride and started a new life. Amado, the youngest of his four brothers, who was attending grade school in town living with his mother and the ir baby sister. His father brought him to the village to help them on their farming. His other brother, Luciano was on camp serving the United States. They all worked so hard for his brother Macario, who was attending high school at the province capital. They needed money for Macario’s education so his father sold a hectare of their four-hectare land. When they needed more, they sold more land. They gave up almost everything they owned just to make their son Macario go to school. One day when his father and his brother Amado were farming, Amado started beating up the carabao. His father stopped him and Amado told his father that he couldn’t live like this anymore. So he ran away from home, leaving Allos as his father’s only helper on the farm. When his brother Macario went home to visit, Allos was speechless. He’s not used to see an educated man. He dressed formal, talked and acted like a real gentleman. When they all gathered on house, Macario said that he needed more money to finish three more months of school. But the money wasn’t enough for three months. So their father decided that they will sell the remaining hectare of their land telling his son not to worry at all.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Computers – Invention of the Century

The History of Computers only once in a lifetime will a new invention come about to touch every aspect of our lives. Such devices changed the way we manage, work, and live. A machine that has done all this and more now exists in nearly every business in the United States. This incredible invention is the computer. The electronic computer has been around for over a half-century, but its ancestors have been around for 2000 years. However, only in the last 40 years has the computer changed American management to its greatest extent. From the first wooden abacus to the latest high-speed microprocessor, the computer has changed nearly every aspect of management, and our lives for the better. The very earliest existence of the modern day computer's ancestor is the abacus. These date back to almost 2000 years ago (Dolotta, 1985). It is simply a wooden rack holding parallel wires on which beads are strung. When these beads are moved along the wire according to programming rules that the user must memorize. All ordinary arithmetic operations can be performed on the abacus. This was one of the first management tools used. The next innovation in computers took place in 1694 when Blaise Pascal invented the first digital calculating machine. It could only add numbers and they had to be entered by turning dials. It was designed to help Pascal's father, who was a tax collector, manage the town's taxes (Beer, 1966). In the early 1800s, a mathematics professor named Charles Babbage designed an automatic calculation machine (Dolotta, 1985). It was steam powered and could store up to 1000 50-digit numbers. Built in to his machine were operations that included everything a modern general-purpose computer would need. It was programmed by and stored data on cards with holes punched in them, appropriately called punch cards. This machine was extremely useful to managers that delt with large volumes of good. With Babbage's machine, managers could more easily calculate the large numbers accumulated by inventories. The only problem was that there was only one of these machines built, thus making it difficult for all managers to use (Beer, 1966). After Babbage, people began to lose interest in computers. However, between 1850 and 1900 there were great advances in mathematics and physics that began to rekindle the interest. Many of these new advances involved complex calculations and formulas that were very time consuming for human calculation. The first major use for a computer in the U. S. was during the 1890 census. Two men, Herman Hollerith and James Powers, developed a new punched-card system that could automatically read information on cards without human (Dolotta, 1985). Since the population of the U. S. was increasing so fast, the computer was an essential tool for managers in tabulating the totals (Hazewindus,1988). These advantages were noted by commercial industries and soon led to the development of improved punch-card business-machine systems by International Business Machines, Remington-Rand, Burroughs, and other corporations (Chposky, 1988). By modern standards the punched-card machines were slow, typically processing from 50 to 250 cards per minute, with each card holding up to 80 digits. At the time, however, punched cards were an enormous step forward; they provided a means of input, output, and memory storage on a massive scale. For more than 50 years following their first use, punched-card machines did the bulk of the world's business computing (Jacobs, 1975). By the late 1930s punched-card machine techniques had become so well established and reliable that Howard Hathaway Aiken, in collaboration with engineers at IBM, undertook construction of a large automatic digital computer based on standard IBM electromechanical parts (Chposky, 1988). Aiken's machine, called the Harvard Mark I, handled 23-digit numbers and could perform all four arithmetic operations (Dolotta, 1985). Also, it had special built-in programs to handled logarithms and trigonometric functions. The Mark I was controlled from prepunched paper tape. Output was by card punch and electric typewriter. It was slow, requiring 3 to 5 seconds for a multiplication, but it was fully automatic and could complete long computations without human intervention. The outbreak of World War II produced a desperate need for computing capability, especially for the military (Dolotta, 1985). New weapons systems were produced which needed trajectory tables and other essential data. In 1942, John P. Eckert, John W. Mauchley, and their associates at the University of Pennsylvania decided to build a high-speed electronic computer to do the job. This machine became known as ENIAC, for Electrical Numerical Integrator And Calculator (Chposky, 1988). It could multiply two numbers at the rate of 300 products per second, by finding the value of each product from a multiplication table stored in its memory. ENIAC was thus about 1,000 times faster than the previous generation of computers. ENIAC used 18,000 standard vacuum tubes, occupied 1800 square feet of floor space, and used about 180,000 watts of electricity. It used punched-card input and output. The ENIAC was very difficult to program because one had to essentially re-wire it to perform whatever task he wanted the computer to do. It was efficient in handling the particular programs for which it had been designed. ENIAC is generally accepted as the first successful high-speed electronic digital computer and was used in many applications from 1946 to 1955. However, the ENIAC was not accessible to managers of businesses (Beer, 1966). Mathematician John Von Neumann was very interested in the ENIAC. In 1945 he undertook a theoretical study of computation that demonstrated that a computer could have a very simple and yet be able to execute any kind of computation effectively by means of proper programmed control without the need for any changes in hardware. Von Neumann came up with incredible ideas for methods of building and organizing practical, fast computers. These ideas, which came to be referred to as the stored-program technique, became fundamental for future generations of high-speed digital computers and were universally adopted (Dolotta, 1985). The first wave of modern programmed electronic computers to take advantage of these improvements appeared in 1947. This group included computers using random access memory, RAM, which is a memory designed to give almost constant access to any particular piece of information (Dolotta, 1985). These machines had punched-card or punched-tape input and output devices and RAMs of 1000-word capacity. Physically, they were much more compact than ENIAC: some were about the size of a grand piano and required 2500 small electron tubes. This was quite an improvement over the earlier machines. The first-generation stored-program computers required considerable maintenance, usually attained 70% to 80% reliable operation, and were used for 8 to 12 years (Hazewindus,1988). Typically, they were programmed directly in machine language, although by the mid-1950s progress had been made in several aspects of advanced programming. This group of machines included EDVAC and UNIVAC, the first commercially available computers. With this invention, managers had even more power to perform calculations for such things as statistical demographic data (Beer, 1966). Before this time, it was very rare for a manager of a larger business to have the means to process large numbers in so little time. The UNIVAC was developed by John W. Mauchley and John Eckert, Jr. in the 1950s. Together they had formed the Mauchley-Eckert Computer Corporation, America's first computer company in the 1940s. During the development of the UNIVAC, they began to run short on funds and sold their company to the larger Remington-Rand Corporation. Eventually they built a working UNIVAC computer. It was delivered to the U. S. Census Bureau in 1951 where it was used to help tabulate the U. S. population (Hazewindus,1988). Early in the 1950s two important engineering discoveries changed the electronic computer field. The first computers were made with vacuum tubes, but by the late 1950s computers were being made out of transistors, which were smaller, less expensive, more reliable, and more efficient (Dolotta, 1985). In 1959, Robert Noyce, a physicist at the Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, invented the integrated circuit, a tiny chip of silicon that contained an entire electronic circuit. Gone was the bulky, unreliable, but fast machine; now computers began to become more compact, more reliable and have more capacity. These new technical discoveries rapidly found their way into new models of digital computers. Memory storage capacities increased 800% in commercially available machines by the early 1960s and speeds increased by an equally large margin (Jacobs, 1975). These machines were very expensive to purchase or to rent and were especially expensive to operate because of the cost of hiring programmers to perform the complex operations the computers ran. Such computers were typically found in large computer centers operated by industry, government, and private laboratories staffed with many programmers and support personnel. By 1956, 76 of IBM's large computer mainframes were in use, compared with only 46 UNIVAC's (Chposky, 1988). In the 1960s efforts to design and develop the fastest possible computers with the greatest capacity reached a turning point with the completion of the LARC machine for Livermore Radiation Laboratories by the Sperry-Rand Corporation, and the Stretch computer by IBM. The LARC had a core memory of 98,000 words and multiplied in 10 microseconds. Stretch was provided with several ranks of memory having slower access for the ranks of greater capacity, the fastest access time being less than 1 microseconds and the total capacity in the vicinity of 100 million words. During this time the major computer manufacturers began to offer a range of computer capabilities, as well as various computer-related equipment (Jacobs, 1975). These included input means such as consoles and card feeders; output means such as page printers, cathode-ray-tube displays, and graphing devices; and optional magnetic-tape and magnetic-disk file storage. These found wide use in management for such applications as accounting, payroll, inventory control, ordering supplies, and billing. Central processing units for such purposes did not need to be very fast arithmetically and were primarily used to access large amounts of records on file. The greatest number of computer systems were delivered for the larger applications, such as in hospitals for keeping track of patient records, medications, and treatments given. They were also used in automated library systems and in database systems such as the Chemical Abstracts system, where computer records now on file cover nearly all known chemical compounds (Dolotta, 1985). The trend during the 1970s was, to some extent, away from extremely powerful, centralized computational centers and toward a broader range of applications for less-costly computer systems (Jacobs, 1975). Most continuous-process manufacturing, such as petroleum refining and electrical-power distribution systems, began using computers of relatively modest capability for controlling and regulating their activities. In the 1960s the programming of applications problems was an obstacle to the self-sufficiency of moderate-sized on-site computer installations, but great advances in applications programming languages removed these obstacles. Applications languages became available for controlling a great range of manufacturing processes, for computer operation of machine tools, and for many other tasks. In 1971 Marcian E. Hoff, Jr. , an engineer at the Intel Corporation, invented the microprocessor and another stage in the development of the computer began. A new revolution in computer hardware was now well under way, involving miniaturization of computer-logic circuitry and of component manufacture by what are called large-scale integration techniques. In the 1950s it was realized that scaling down the size of electronic digital computer circuits and parts would increase speed and efficiency and improve performance. However, at that time the manufacturing methods were not good enough to accomplish such a task. About 1960, photoprinting of conductive circuit boards to eliminate wiring became highly developed. Then it became possible to build resistors and capacitors into the circuitry by photographic means. In the 1970s entire assemblies, such as adders, shifting registers, and counters, became available on tiny chips of silicon. In the 1980s very large scale integration, VLSI, in which hundreds of thousands of transistors are placed on a single chip, became increasingly common. Many companies, some new to the computer field, introduced in the 1970s programmable minicomputers supplied with software packages. The size-reduction trend continued with the introduction of personal computers, which are programmable machines small enough and inexpensive enough to be purchased and used by individuals. One of the first of such machines was introduced in January 1975. Popular Electronics magazine provided plans that would allow any electronics wizard to build his own small, programmable computer for about $380. The computer was called the Altair 8800. Its programming involved pushing buttons and flipping switches on the front of the box. It didn't include a monitor or keyboard, and its applications were very limited. Even though, many orders came in for it and several famous owners of computer and software manufacturing companies got their start in computing through the Altair. For example, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, founders of Apple Computer, built a much cheaper, yet more productive version of the Altair and turned their hobby into a business. After the introduction of the Altair 8800, the personal computer industry became a fierce battleground of competition. IBM had been the computer industry standard for well over a half-century. They held their position as the standard when they introduced their first personal computer, the IBM Model 60 in 1975. However, the newly formed Apple Computer company was releasing its own personal computer, the Apple II. The Apple I was the first computer designed by Jobs and Wozniak in Wozniak's garage, which was not produced on a wide scale. Software was needed to run the computers as well. Microsoft developed a Disk Operating System, MS-DOS, for the IBM computer while Apple developed its own software. Because Microsoft had now set the software standard for IBMs, every software manufacturer had to make their software compatible with Microsoft's. This would lead to huge profits for Microsoft. The main goal of the computer manufacturers was to make the computer as affordable as possible while increasing speed, reliability, and capacity. Nearly every computer manufacturer accomplished this and computers popped up everywhere. Computers were in businesses keeping track of even more inventories for managers. Computers were in colleges aiding students in research. Computers were in laboratories making complex calculations at high speeds for scientists and physicists. The computer had made its mark everywhere in management and built up a huge industry. The future is promising for the computer industry and its technology. The speed of processors is expected to double every year and a half in the coming years. As manufacturing techniques are further perfected the prices of computer systems are expected to steadily fall. However, since the microprocessor technology will be increasing, it's higher costs will offset the drop in price of older processors. In other words, the price of a new computer will stay about the same from year to year, but technology will steadily increase. Since the end of World War II, the computer industry has grown from a standing start into one of the biggest and most profitable industries in the United States. It now comprises thousands of companies, making everything from multi-million dollar high-speed supercomputers to printout paper and floppy disks. It employs millions of people and generates tens of billions of dollars in sales each year. Surely, the computer has impacted every aspect of people's lives. It has affected the way people work and play. It has made everyone's life easier by doing difficult work for people. The computer truly is one of the most incredible inventions in history to ever influence management, and life.

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Hell And Back Dante s Journey Through Hell - 1362 Words

To Hell And Back Dante’s Journey Through Hell The Inferno is a classic novel that tells of Dante’s journey through hell and his rise to purgatory. The book was written by Dante Alighieri as the first part of his Divine Comedy. This trilogy consists of The Inferno, Purgatory, and Paradise (heaven). Dante Alighieri’s The Inferno was a literary inspiration that depicts the beliefs of Christianity and the flaws of human nature through the use of Homer’s, Virgil s, Milton’s, and Shakespeare’s writing styles. In order to understand this book one must first understand Dante Alighieri’s background and time period. Dante Alghieri, one of the most famous poets of all times, was born as Durange Alghieri in Florence, Italy in†¦show more content†¦He continued to write about her through his love poems which were later published. As a young man, Alighieri had an interest in many things that boys his age weren’t interested in at all. These subjects includes Tuscan Poetry, pain ting, and music. During his lifetime, Dante met many famous poets like Guid Cavaicarti, Lapo Gianni, Cina da Pistola and many others(Academy of American Poets, 2013).† Dante did everything he wanted to do in his lifetime. After studying Tuscan poetry, painting, and music, Dante turned his focus to philosophy(Academy of American Poets, 2013).† Later in his life he became a doctor that had the right to prepare and dispense medicine, also known as a pharmacist. In his twenties and thirties, he took an active part in local public affairs(Academy of American Poets, 2013). Dante, along with many others were affected by the Guelph - Ghibellines conflict, a political division of royalty between the Holy Roman Empire and the Papacy(Academy of American Poets, 2013). Due to the fact that Dante fought on the side of the Guelphs, he was ousted from Florence. An outcast, Dante wandered Italy for several years, beginning to outline La Commedia, his greatest work(Academy of American Poe ts, 2013). While exiled, Dante also finished The Divine Comedy which he started in 1305 and finished in 1320. Dante died a year later in September of 1321 in Ravenna, Italy, most likely to malarial fever(Academy of American Poets,