The Negative Impact of Electronic Waste Disposal Methods in Africa Research Paper

The Negative Impact of Electronic Waste Disposal Methods in Africa - Research Paper Example In the countries within the continent of Africa, the total amount of electronic waste produced in 2014 was 1.9 Megatons. The only countries that have put in frameworks in terms of national policies and legislative pieces of guidelines are Nigeria and Cameroon. There are nations that are in the process of enacting fundamental legislative frameworks regarding the disposal of electronic waste materials such as Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ghana. According to Bwalya and Zulu (314), the country Kenya do not have a proper framework for handling electronic wastes. This is because Kenya continues to integrate information communication technology (ICT) in its economy. Among the highest generators of electronic waste materials in Africa are Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt with a total of 0.22, 0.35 and 0.37 Megatons respectively in absolute quantities. On the other hand, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Equatorial Guinea are the major electronic waste generators in relative quantities of 9.3 kg per inch, 10 .9 kg per inch and 10.8kg per inch respectively. The entire continent of Africa produces 1.7 kg per inch as an annual amount of electronic waste. This figure reflects only the amount of waste generated domestically and does not include the amount generated through imports of used electronic equipment (Baldà © 38).The challenge that affects the continent is major lack of comprehensive reforms by the governments concerning the electronic waste generation and management.

The New Technology of War Essay Example for Free

The New Technology of War Essay Tanks: Tanks were massive killing machines, which could hold many goods and many men. This was an advantage because before tanks were invented, the soldiers had to walk to and from different battlefields under the risk of shellfire. The tanks were obviously bullet proof and protective and could move through the battlefield. They could go through wire entanglements and cross enemy trenches. This was useful to make a space for friendly soldiers to attack and could push back the enemy frontline a few miles. The tanks were strong enough to carry massive guns capable of blowing down enemy trench walls from a 100 metres away. Ties meant that the enemy would be open so the friendly soldiers could shoot in. Because the tanks were so massive, they tear up mud by their caterpillar tracks, which make it a disadvantage for friendly troops to run and walk over. Many of the German trenches were too wide so the tanks front fell into the trenches instead of going over. Consequently if the machine gunners were close to the tank, they could put sticky bombs on the side of it. The tanks were sometimes unreliable and most broke down at the start. This meant that lots of them would be a waste of money. There were still many mechanical problems with tanks, but they proved themselves to be a weapon of the future. In the event, the full potential of the tank was not to be realised until it had been from its infantry support role. Once it appeared, backed by air power, the age of battlefield domination was over. Wars of movement were once possible. With machine guns the tanks were killing machines that were lethal. Machine guns: It provided rapid and sustained fire so you wouldnt waste valuable time reloading the weapon. This also meant that the enemy could be mowed down easily so that it could hold the frontline and was a very valuable defensive item. They were useful in planes because it was very hard to hit enemy planes so machine guns could fire randomly and fast so there would be a definite hit. The machine guns were very expensive and when in a time of war, countries were strapped for cash so they were very rare. They also used a lot of ammunition. Around 120 bullets were fired per minute so it would cost lots and lots of money to fuel it. The machine guns could not be used to attack because they were too heavy. Also if their own troops were going across, then the machine gunners would have to stop because they would kill their own men. The machine guns were a great invention and provided a fresh new start for some future technology. It proved useful in many battles. These machines mainly won some of these battles. Gas: The gas method was deadly and had never been seen before. It could spread through walls and trenches and went as far as it could until it diffused. This meant that you didnt always have to hit the right spot while releasing the gas. The gas could also kill people fast and could cloud the vision of many people so they would wander out, linking it to the tanks and so the tanks could move across without being seen or heard if the soldiers had gas masks on until the tanks came close. Usually to attack you would need to lose a few men at least but this new method meant that no friendly soldier would be hurt in the process. Although gas could kill quickly, it took a long time to get to its destination just like a zeppelin. Lots of gas was really needed to kill the enemy soldiers because the gas needed to be dense. This meant that it was expensive to use the gas and it wasnt always effective because most of the soldiers had gas masks after a few months. This meant that gas could be totally ineffective and so it would be such a waste of money on the gas. Gas, of course, could accidentally come back to your own trenches from wind coming your way. Gas was highly feared by many humans throughout Europe because many rumours had gone around that it was the work of the devil and could kill anything so when gasmasks were introduced it meant that many people were rushing around for them like they were a saviour. Planes and Zeppelins: Planes and zeppelins were very useful because there was warfare everywhere. On land, under ground and on water but now in the air. It was useful because no guns were able to fire up at 180à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½ so planes were very unlikely to get shot down. They could drop bombs straight down on the enemy. This meant they could be accurate. Planes are linked with machineguns because of the use of them in planes so you didnt have to be accurate to shoot fighter planes. Zeppelins could be massive transport carriers of weapons and other goods. These sorts of machines would take a lot of time to make and be expensive which makes them like tanks. They were not always in the air and so had hangers and such where lots of bombers could easily blow them up before they could get into the air. Like most of technology, both sides would always find out the secret of the new machine so battles in the sky would always take place and would normally be a long battle or a stalemate. Planes were lightweight because they could not fly if they werent so this meant they had no armour so were unreliable. Planes and zeppelins were not used until the Second World War because earlier planes were unsuccessful and zeppelins hadnt been invented yet. But planes were found to be useful and they evolved around the war. The zeppelins were massive airplanes like air tanks ready to drop massive bombs. Modern Technology These modern methods were more effective, accurate and much more reliable. The older methods included horses, which were fast, but as animals they needed feeding, looking after and they needed rest so that meant they would have to wait prolonged periods for the chance to attack. It would cost money to feed the horse. They needed medicine to look after the horse as well. Dogs and pigeons were also used in the war for communication. Pigeons could fly distances of up to 60 miles and 80% of messages got through. But radio messages and telegraph wires were much more useful and would have direct contact with HQ and all messages would get through. So the older methods were fine for the time. Most battles did not take place and were stalemates so the newer technology was needed to break the stalemate and reach a quicker end of a battle, meaning a quicker war. But machine guns were meant to defend trenches and so were effective that they caused most of the stalemates. Many people had good ideas but tanks were the best and this pushed back enemy lines because enemy machine guns could not shoot them and waves of soldiers followed behind them. But tanks were for blowing up artillery not soldiers. So the army needed a weapon for killing masses of soldiers. The answer was gas. At first gas was used to knockout enemy soldiers but gradually more lethal gases were introduced. To kill, blind, maim and blister the enemy. Gas broke stalemates easily 178,500 British were hurt and 7,500 killed by gas. The Germans had 101,650 hurt and 5,350 killed. But then gas masks were invented and gas became so useless that some other machine was needed. Planes were used in earlier wars but were not effective but now new types were available so armies tried them and they seemed unstoppable by guns because they were so fast and there were battles in the air but as per usual there were guns to shoot down planes. So many new inventions were made and were, as you can see from my evidence, much more effective then old fashioned methods but there was always something to stop the new technology. The best defensive weapon is apparent to be the machinegun out of the new and old technology. This is because of the way it mowed down the enemy soldiers coming towards the trench. They could also be far apart because the gun could rotate up to 360à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½. Even though it is a defensive weapon, it was most useful in attacking machines such as planes because of its quick fire. The best technology for attack was the planes because of their ability to pass over anything and have no boundaries unlike tanks, which cant pass over some trenches. They were able to break the stalemate by bombing front trenches and pushing the enemy back. New Technology and inventions were vital in breaking the stalemate in the war on the western front and completely replaced older fashioned methods. To discuss this we need to look at different parts of the sentence. To start off with New technology and inventions were vital to break the stalemate in the war can be discussed easily. It says that they were vital but they were not only used to break the stalemate they were used also to keep the stalemate (machine guns). Some were not vital to the breaking of the stalemate but some were just used to destroy the trenches but not actually cause enough damage to break the stalemate and push the enemy back. The second part of the sentence is and completely replaced older fashioned methods. The word completely should not be used because if all the modern technology failed then the soldiers would have to rely on the older methods. So the word completely should be changed to parts. The fact is that nothing is ever totally replaced or exterminated. For example small pox is still around in the world today but not in Europe and that is why it is like the new technology. It may have replaced the older fashioned methods in Europe but it still did not replace it in the whole world. For example in China at that time, many horses were still used at the time. This sentence only complies with the positive side of the effect of modern technology. It uses two main facts to present the idea that the modern technology was only good. Coming into the new century was a big time for the old 19th century people. They were a new generation of invention lovers who were not afraid of the new technology unlike the generation before them. So they welcomed the new machines not fearing what damage they could do because they had only experienced mostly good things from new machines. Conclusion: The whole point of the essay was not to find out both sides of the modern weapon findings. As I went over the project I found different ideas and views on how technology was good and needed and how European Warfare would have been better off without it. I found out which machines were useful and which caused more hassle than good. I found why people views were what they were and whether they were good enough or not. At first before I came into this project fully, my views were that all technology was for the best but some were not and some were vital for peace. Weapons can be used for peace but they are mostly used for war. I found that tanks, if not invented, would surely effect the damage felt on Britain. Most probably increasing it because of the way the British used it so much. I had also found that if the German machine gun had not been invented, that the Germans may have lost the war much quicker because of the way they fiercely mowed down enemy soldiers heading towards the trenches. I found that many people had to put their trust in the machines and use them because of the inevitable increase in use of them. Many people I have read about have pushed for an technological advance in weapon warfare where others have the sure belief that it will all end up wrong.

Analysis Of The Characteristics Of Online Fashion Shoppers Marketing Essay

Analysis Of The Characteristics Of Online Fashion Shoppers Marketing Essay Online fashion shopping is a segment of e-commerce that has both a large consumer marketbase and an ever-progressing curve of technology information development. The elements that go into market research for shopping online involve two main aspects: the consumer and technology, as discrete yet related elements. There has been much research conducted which explores both facets, and research which has attempted to view the impact of one area on the other. Consumer behavior in the online marketplace has typically been reported as influenced mainly by the factor of convenience. If it is convenient, then the consumer will favor online shopping. Technology has been most often cited to influence consumer shopping behavior if it is easy to use. Both the consumer and the technology element have undergone an evolution that is not yet finished in terms of defining market elements. As technology develops, so too that influence consumer behavior, which in turn influences technology, and so on. Va rious consumer models have evolved to explain online shopping behavior, and for the purposes of the following research thesis, both the utilitarian and hedonistic motivation models are referenced and applied. Additionally, various technology acceptance models have been posited as antecedents in defining consumer behavior for online shopping. A description of some commonly utilized models is provided in this thesis, though no one model is utilized here. However, elements of the technology acceptance models that are fairly ubiquitous across the models are utilized, those chiefly being the perceived ease of use (of technology) and the perceived benefit to the consumer of utilizing the technology (here, online fashion shopping). This research thesis looks at personal characteristics as they influence various behaviours and attitudes toward online fashion shopping. A survey questionnaire is used as the data gathering instrument. Responses are reported as frequencies and cross-tabulations . A discussion on the findings is offered in both the section on the analysis and in the conclusion of this thesis. CHAPTER 1: Introduction: Concepts, Issues, and Definitions Statement of Purpose The purpose of this research paper is to examine the attitudes and characteristics of people who use the internet to engage in online-shopping to determine if there are personal or demographic factors that influence online fashion shopping. Various technology acceptance models are examined and utilized to elucidate those factors of the consumer that drive their online fashion shopping behavior (Zhou, Dai, Zhang, 2007). The importance of this issue has its foundations in the growing prevalence in web-based consumerism. Research into online consumer shopping behavior tends to focus on either the technology aspect or the consumer aspect. These two approaches are but mirrors of each other, with data from each aspect used to tweak marketing and technology elements. While a great deal of online shopping research concerns the web interface and how it is perceived by users and how that influence their buying behavior, there is also a great deal of research on consumer behavior, including demographics. The relevance of this particular research project approaches the topic from the consumer end, through examining their actual personal attributes and characteristics, with influencing factors as found in the technology aspect. Consumers, in this case online fashion shoppers, have choices in their shopping preferences, which is of primary interest to retailers and marketers. The factors which influence their buying decisions from front-end identification of a need or desire to back-end fulfillment through market selection and procurement can be elucidated through examining the attributes and characteristics of these consumers (Cho Fiorito, 2008). This data may inform not only the identification of trends in consumerism, but also practical applications for web-based marketing applications. The first decade of the 21st century shows a domination of internet activity in many aspects of modernized cultures, where business to consumer marketing has proliferated (Dennis, Harris, Sandju, 2002). As knowledge increases regarding the factors that influence online fashion consumers, business can incorporate both the consumer characteristics and the technology aspects required to meet those consumer characteristic-driven choices (Kim Forsythe, Factors Affecting Adoption of Product Virtualization Technology for Online Consumer Electronics Shopping, 2009). The outcome is an optimal online fashion shopping environment that recognizes and adjusts to the influencing elements of its customer base. This research paper will explore those characteristics of the online fashion shopper, in order to better inform both business and technology requirements in this market segment. A comprehensive literature review on the topic is offered to illuminate the topic. A research strategy for examining the topic is given, with relevant design elements in the data-gathering instrument chosen for data acquisition. A conclusion is provided to highlight the main points of this research paper and to synthesize the topics. Research Question The research question for this thesis project is posed thusly: What are the attributes and characteristics of online fashion shoppers that influence their utilization of online shopping sites? 1.3 Objectives of Research The objectives of the research focus on the following areas: To examine the characteristic of online clothing customer. To explore the attitude of people toward online clothing purchasing.   To identify the factors for the use of online fashion shopping of computer-skilled people. To suggest areas of future research for online shopping that are informed by factors of technology acceptance models. The first two objectives of this research focus on consumer attributes. The third objective will be elucidated through exploring technology acceptance models. The final objective synthesizes the information gained from this research project. 1.4 Statement of General Topic Area: Online Fashion Shoppers, Defined Online shoppers are those consumers which have the following general characteristics which can inform the conceptualization of the particular consumer: They are computer-saavy (Dennis, Harris, Sandju, 2002). They have access to utilize a spending account that works with internal payment portals, such as a credit card, bank account, or paypal (Goldsmith Goldsmith, 2002). They seek expanded choice (Jayawardhena, Wright, Dennis, 2007). They seek convenience (Dixon Marsden, 2005). Psychologically, they seek immediate gratification (Zhou, Dai, Zhang, 2007). They shop for fashion items on the internet as a major shopping venue (Kim Kim, 2004). These generalities can be informed through further analysis in any one characteristic area. However, for conceptual purposes of this research paper, the online fashion shopper is a consumer of the modern age, encompassing the areas of technology in the internet age (Jayawardhena, Wright, Dennis, 2007). *BLANK PAGE BETWEEN CHAPTERS* CHAPTER 2: Literature Review 2.1 Fashion is a Gendered Practice Psychological antecedents exist in the research literature for online consumer behavior, yet fundamentally there is the issue of how fashion is perceived as a concept and how that conceptualisation affects cultural and societal perceptions. This is important to understand for its influences upon consumer behavior and the identification of consumer attributes. Fashion: An Overview In the modernized world of first world countries, asking the typical person on the street what is meant by fashion may likely get a response that has something to do with the way people dress. Others may see fashion as a trend in an of itself, as things pass in and out fashion. Yet commonly held ideas about fashion do indeed refer to the individual outward trappings that humans utilize to communicate their presence in the social sphere. These may be clothing, accessories like jewelry, or even items like tattoos or other types of body art. In essence, the making of a modern identity for the individual involves blending fashion with current social mores and attitudes (Entwhistle, 2000). Mears (2008) describes the concept of fashion in terms of how society chooses to communicate popular ideas of fashion through the use of fashion models on the catwalk. Here, posits Mears, the fashion model is constructed based on the floating norms of society, which are subject to the instability in gender ideations of society, and the whims of the cultural production markets. The instability between the rigid structures of the marketplace and an impossible idealized femininity are displayed in modern culture through the idea of the fashion model (Mears, 2008). Fashion, then, is not separate from the body. The body (self) and the items that dress the body are one; they are a reflection of the idea of gender in society (which is variable) and the product of cultural variances in the marketplace. Fashion, in essence, is the product of cultural ideas and practices about gender, place, social norms, and institutions. Concept of Gender Gender does not merely refer to the male/female dyad, in which stereotyped ways of acting are considered to be socially acceptable at any given point in social time. It is not only role ideals, though that is part of it the concept. Gender also encompasses issues of race, sexuality, geographic and spatial time and place, and social class as well (Healey, 2006). Gender also refers to sexual orientation, which may differ from ones biological reality. Buss (2010) reports that gender refers to mate selection, encompassing ideas of physical attractiveness, parental investment, reproductive capacity, and asymmetries between the maternal and paternal role. Those characteristics that were valued more by males had to do with reproductive capacity, while those characteristics valued by women dealt with resource acquisition. The cross cultural references can illuminate the ways in which the gender phenomena causes people to behave; the role of fashion, as one aspect of gender relations demonstrates the various cultural ways in which people may behave in order to choose suitable mates (Buss, 2010). Gender, as recognized as encompassing social ideas about male/female relationships and roles, as well as referring to the individual selection of mates based on male/female desirable characteristics, can inform the manner in which fashion, as a modern notion, is influenced by role stereotypes and evolutionary reproductive tendencies. Consider the role of the female model on the catwalk. Based on a construction of floating norms of society and marketplace vagaries, this idea of the female is highly sexualized, appealing to the male value of reproductive capacity in mate selection. The female idealization of the model is a communication not only to men, but also of women, stating that the ideal mate of the woman is one that can provide resources. It, the model of the catwalk fashion model, encompasses the evolutionary, social, and cultural communication desired by males, and recognized as such by females, through the manipulation of the fashion construct as a media tool of communication between the sexes (Entwhistle, 2000). Fashion, therefore, is essentially a gendered practice. Indeed, this is the practice of communication; the communication of ideas, values, desires, social ideas, and cultural norms is offered through the gender-infused evolutionary and anthropological elements of roles, mates, reproduction, and species survival (Buss, 2010). The example of the fashion model is one easy way to see the transfer of gender ideas. Male-valued ideas and female-valued conceptualizations are quickly viewed through sampling the fashion of a culture. Mate selection (sexuality, reproduction) as one aspect of the gender phenomenon, is provided through the media of fashion communication, which differs depending on time, place, and cultural influences. 2.2 Online Consumers Attributes Sorce, Perotti and Widrick (2005) studied age differences in online buying behavior. They studies 300 college students and staff from a United States university and looked for trends in attitudes based on age differences toward online shopping. Their results indicate that older and younger shoppers buy equally, though younger shoppers and especially first time online shoppers tend to be more varied in the products they buy, while older shoppers tend toward specificity in their buying behavior. Additionally, age differences in buying behavior can help retailers predict age-related product purchase variance, with older shoppers tending to purchase family-related items such as toys and sporting goods at a greater rate than younger shoppers, while younger shoppers tended to purchase items like music, technology, and health-related services as a greater rate than older shoppers. This age difference in product segmentation reflects a broader trend in generational internet use. Jones and Fo x (2009) report that the 18-32 year old age group are more tech-savvy digital natives engaging in a wide range of internet activities, while age groups above 32 years tend to use the internet for banking, shopping, and research (Jones Fox, 2009). Gender differences have also been researched as indicators of online shopping preferences (Kim Forsythe, Factors Affecting Adoption of Product Virtualization Technology for Online Consumer Electronics Shopping, 2009). The use of internet related activities has traditionally been apportioned to a male-dominated sphere (Jayawardhena, Wright, Dennis, 2007). Women perceive a higher level of risk in online shopping than men (Garbarino Strahilevitz, 2004). The trend from a male-dominated, pro-risk approach to internet use is changing, and women are fast closing the perceived gender gap in online utilization (Kim Forsythe, 2009). The male/female difference may be different depending on culture and sexual orientation. Weiser (2000) studied the factors that influence the use of the internet by women. A large survey sample of males and females was used to assess user preferences for internet use. Men preferred to use the internet for education and leisure, while women preferred to use it for communication and assistance with academics (Weiser, 2000). Wolf (2004) suggests that women tend to use emotion in their utilization of the internet, reflecting a stance that gender-based market psychology may inform retailers on how to construct their online portals. Rodgers and Harris (2003) report that three areas affect both men and womens use of e-commerce, those being emotion, trust, and convenience. Men report satisfaction with using the internet in these three area, while women report dissatisfaction in these same areas (Rodgers Harris, 2003). Income level is also positively correlated with online shopping utilization, regardless of gender or age differences (Zhou, Dai, Zhang, 2007). Forsythe and Shi (2003) posit that high internet users tend to have high incomes. They note that perceptions of risk in internet shopping tend to decrease as income level increases. Internet users tend to have more disposable income, which is a reflection on the fact that they use the internet at all. Bucy (2003) reports that internet use is lowest among single mothers, those in lower socioeconomic groups, and older low-income groups. Education has been reported to have an effect on online activity, though these reports have been mixed, ranging from no effect to increased effect of education on online activity (Zhou, Dai, Zhang, 2007). Oftentimes college users simply have greater access to internet resources than other groups, suggesting that simple access as a fundamental resource may impact the utilization of online e-commerce (Seock Norton, 2007). Mahmood, Bagchi, and Ford (2004), however, suggest that education is not an influencing factor in internet use, while the factors of trust and economic conditions are. Convenience is often cited in existing studies as a factor involved in online shopping (Demangeot Broderick, 2007). Park and Kim (2003) discuss the depersonalization of the shopping experience by the utilization of e-commerce. They note that users report a high utility in ease of gathering information and finding good quality through well-designed retail web interfaces, suggesting an overall satisfaction with the e-commerce as found in the factor of convenience. This view is disputed by Jayawardhena, Wright, and Dennis (2007), who find that convenience is not a principally motivating factor for online shopping; indeed, they report that the chief factors that influence online shopping are prior purchase and gender. Trust is another factor involved in online shopping behaviour and speaks to the attributes of the consumer. Women tend to be less trusting of internet shopping than men, and younger people tend to be more trusting of utilizing the internet than older people (Dennis, Harris, Sandju, 2002). Connolly and Bannister (2008) state that the consumers trust in online shopping relates to the perceived integrity of the retailer, and the perceived competence of the retailer. Integrity is based upon a social perception while competence is based upon a technological perception. Internet retailers who seek to engender trust in their customers must incorporate the e-commerce store front with the latest information technology combined with the latest consumer marketing research. How people choose to embrace technology is also an important consideration in internet marketing to online shoppers (Forsythe Shi, 2003). This element can be explained through the examination of various technology acceptance theories. 2.3 Technology Acceptance Theories Technology acceptance theories attempt to explain how and why people come to adopt and use new technology. While there are several models that exist to explain this phenomenon, this paper will report on four theories to place online fashion shoppers attributes within, to help illuminate the factors involved in explaining the utilization of online shopping. The factors of technology that influence online shoppers in how they utilize the internet will be analyzed through the survey instrument of this research project. Online Shopping Acceptance Model Zhou, Dai, and Zhang (2007) constructed an Online Shopping Acceptance Model, illustrating elements of the internet (technology) and attributes of the consumer, to show a flow process model incorporating the elements of motivation, innovation, perception, shopping orientation, normative beliefs, attitude, online experience, shopping intention, and satisfaction, resulting in the event of online shopping. This is an inclusive model, and draws together the salient marketing elements regarding online shopping. In the Zhou et al. (2007) study, the resulting construction of the OSAM offer future researchers a holistic way to approach the area of online shopping. Theory of Reasoned Action The theory of reasoned actions (TRA) was presented by Fishbein and Ajzen in 1980. The origins of the theory stem from the study of social psychology. This field attempts to explain why attitude may affect behavior. TRA seeks to explain and even forecast behaviour based on the beliefs, attitudes and intentions of people. An individuals behavior is a result of these three factors, according to the theory of reasoned actions model. According to Fishbein and Ajzen (1980), behaviour is driven by behavioural intention. A persons intentions stem from the attitude toward the behavior. Moreover, the behavior in addition to the subjective norms, are also affected. During ones lifetime, various beliefs can impact attitudes. Descriptive beliefs can be formed by personal experience, or gained by obtaining outside information. More generally, the more likable an object/concept is, the better the feeling regarding it, and the more unlikeable an object is, the more negative the feeling is regarding it. As a consequence, an individual makes an assessment about the outcomes of various behaviors. Indeed, the person will evaluate the desirability of these outcomes and associate either a positive or negative association with it. The TRA model. This model reports behavior as a consequence of intention to behave, which is prompted by the attitude toward the subjective norm. (adapted from Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980). Technology Acceptance Model The theory of reasoned action  was modified  and adapted into a new model, called the technology acceptance model (TAM). Whereas the TRA model uses  behaviour  and subjective norm, the TAM uses measures of technology acceptance. These measures are how people perceive the ease of use of the technology, and how useful they  perceive  it to be. These two acceptance measures are meant to inform on the intention of people to actually use the new technology.   Ease of use refers to the amount of  effort  the  person  perceives must be spent in using the technology, and usefulness refers to the perception of the person that the technology will  benefit  them in some way (Vijayasarathy, 2004). The following diagram illustrates the TAM: http://www8.org/w8-papers/1b-multimedia/integrated/im_03.gifSource: Sodergard et al. (1999). Diffusion of Innovations Model Diffusion of Innovations theory is the process by which new ideas and technology spread throughout society. DOI tells us how fast and why new ideas spread in the manner in which they do (Rogers, 1962; 2003, pp. 5-7). The communication process through which a new idea or technology is accepted by consumers is the diffusion rubric.   The rate of diffusion is the speed by which that innovation spreads from one consumer to another.   Consumers, by definition, become so through learning about new products, trying them out, and either accepting them or not.   Previous methods of getting market knowledge to consumers was through utilizing the tools of mass marketing, which is essentially a catch-all process, and is both time-intensive and expensive.   Following mass marketing came the use of market strategies that identified and targeted heavy users of a product (Bass, 2004).   This has since evolved into consumer-specific, early adopter model of consumer behavior marketing. The D iffusion of Innovations theory tells us how this happens (Im, Mason, Houston, 2007, pp. 63-66). The following diagram provides a snapshot of DOI theory: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Diffusionofideas.PNG/330px-Diffusionofideas.PNG As the diagram shows, an innovation has adopter categories. These categories are based upon a consumers innovativeness, or likelihood to use the innovation, which can be plotted on an S-curve (Rogers E. , 1962; 2003). Early adopters have more innovativeness than laggards or late adopters. As more consumers adopt the technology (shown in blue), the market share (shown in yellow) will reach market saturation; diffusion of innovation in consumer behaviors thus tells us that once an innovation spreads to a certain point in the consumer base, the market becomes saturated (Rogers, 1962; 2003) (Wikipedia, 2010). Four Key Elements of Diffusion of Innovations Theory DOI theory harnesses the concepts of innovation, communication, time, and social system (the target arena), to explain how and at what rate new ideas move through society and from person to person (or more appropriately, consumer to consumer) (Rogers, 1962; 2003). One can imagine the spread of information about a new idea; one person learns of it, tells another person, that person tells another person, and so on until the innovation idea is spread throughout society. In marketing, this concept works on consumer behavior at a micro-level; someone tries out a new product, tells another person about it, that person tries it and tells another person about it, and so on. Often we here about these ideas, as found in common phrases such as word of mouth is the best advertising, or put your money where your mouth is, and one good turn deserves another; these types market-related processes where the consumer is the biggest advertiser is one example of product/idea diffusion as found in DOI th eory (Solomon, 2004, p. 174). To reiterate, the key elements of Diffusion of Innovations Theory are: Innovation: the change, the idea, the product that is being launched. Communication: the methods through which the information about the idea are being disseminated. Time: the process by which a person (consumer) makes a decision about the innovation, and the speed by which the innovation is adopted by others. Social System: the cohesive arena of people engaged in seeking a common goal. (Rogers, 1962; 2003, pp. 17-24). Decision Making in Diffusion of Innovation Theory A consumer (this report is focusing on consumer behavior) is exposed to an innovation, whether it be a new product or service, and must make a decision about it; will they use it, like it, reject it? The process of decision making in innovations follows a three step model: Optional Innovation Decision: the decision about the innovation is made by a consumer who is somehow different from other consumers in the same social system. Collective Innovation Decision: the decision about the innovation is made by all the consumers within the particular social system. Authority-Innovation Decision: the decision about the innovation is made by one consumer, a leader, an authority figure or figures who are in a position of power. (Rogers, 1962; 2003, p. 372). Some types of decisions are dependent upon decisions made about other innovations. For example, a housewife will not be able to trial a new cleaning product until her local store makes the decision to stock the product. That is called a contingent decision innovation (Persichitte, Tharpe, Caffarella, 1999). Adoption Process in Innovation Decision Making Within DOI theory, there is a decision making process as generally outlined above, as well as a finer decision making process consisting of five stages, known as the Adoption process. The following model details the Adoption process: http://www.fidis.net/typo3temp/tx_rlmpofficelib_8cb7cf257e.png (Royer, 2010). Knowledge: the consumer does not have enough information to make a decision, and may not yet be inspired to seek the information. Persuasion: the consumer is actively engaged in seeking information about an innovation. Decision: the consumer is weighing the pros and cons of the innovation, and may have trouble making a decision. Implementation: the consumer is trialing the innovation, and determining its usefulness. Confirmation: the consumer is finalizing their decision about the innovation. (Rogers, 1962; 2003, p. 83). This is a highly dynamic process, and while the consumer is moved through the stages, this process may rely as much on psychological inputs and variances as it does on hard empirical facts (Kleijnena, Leeb, Wetzels, 2009). Factors Affecting Adoption of Innovations The speed at which an innovation is accepted/adopted depends upon the category of the adopter. A consumer can be a respected person and thus with a vast social network to draw upon, the adopter(s) can be a group of consumers who will heavily use the innovation, or the adopter can be one of the early variety who is influenced by positive messages about the innovation. Through influencing the adoption process, consumer behavior can be directed toward moving the innovations acceptance toward a place on the DOI curve known as critical mass, where the innovations use and adoption are self-sustaining (Rogers E. , 2004). Innovations have inherent characteristics that act upon a consumers choice of adoption or rejection.   First the innovation has some type of relative advantage over its predecessors; second is that the innovation has the quality of compatibility to be utilized in the consumers life; the innovation must be sufficiently complex but not too complex for the consumer to use; the innovation must be able to be trialed with relative ease; and finally the innovation that has high visibility to others is more likely to be adopted by peer consumers (Tornatsky Klein, 1982, pp. 28-30).   Applicable to online fashion shopping, one can meet the conceptual requirements of innovations, in that online shopping is more convenient than visiting brick and mortar stores, online fashion shopping for those that prefer to do their fashion shopping over the internet is highly compatible with the consumers preferences, online shopping for the skilled computer user is very ease to use, and the prevalence a nd spread of e-commerce makes online fashion shopping an attractive venue for the savvy fashion shopping population who use computers. Consequences of Decisions When a consumer makes a decision, there will be some type of consequence or outcome (Burt, 1987). Three categories characterize the nature of these consequences: Desirable vs. Undesirable Direct vs. Indirect Anticipated vs. Unanticipated (Hubner, 1996) (Rogers E. , 1962; 2003). A consumers choice to use one product over another may have undesirable, indirect, and unanticipated consequences, such as the choice to buy fashion apparel online rather than at the locally based brick and mortar store. Where the brick and mortar store supports the local economy in which it exists, providing jobs and taxes, the internet based retailer may be not locally based, thus taking away monies from the local shops that may suffer economically. 2.4 Summary of the Literature The literature thus presented has focused on the concepts of fashion and gender, attributes of online consumers, and technology acceptance models. While e-commerce is a product of the internet age, the field of research regarding online fashion shopping behavior and attributes of online fashion shoppers clearly leaves room for discovery. At best, the antecedents in the research literature offer a way to forward in the research through exploring the new face of consumerism in the age of technology. The idea that is emerging in research into online shopping is that new models are coming to the forefront which offers a holistic picture of the factors that influence the final outcome of product/service purchase. On one hand there is the consumer, and on the other hand there is technology. In between the two facets are many influencing factors, which through the survey questionnaire designed for this research, some of those issues will be examined. CHAPTER 3: Research Strategy Conceptualization of the Issue The purpose of this chapter is to define the methodology used to evaluate issues associated with online fashion shoppers. Given the growing prevalence of e-commerce and the spread of available internet to populations across the world, the nature of the consumer as a field of study is of high relevance. The attributes and characteristics of the consumer may change with time, place, and influencing social climates. While various technology acceptance models exist to explain how people come to adopt/accept the use of technology, the particular factors within th

Essay --

1. Context of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality community. Cape Breton Regional Municipality is "a community of communities" which put the county, city and towns together since 1995 because the local government of NS wants to reduce the number of incorporated towns and cities in the province. Therefore, the CBRM was created include the Municipality of the County of Cape Breton, the City of Sydney, the Towns of Glace Bay, Sydney Mines, New Waterford, North Sydney, Dominion and Louisbourg. The CBRM is the second largest municipality in the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Located on the eastern side of Cape Breton Island, it covers a total area of 2,470 square kilometers and currently has a population of 97,398. From the statistic Canada, the population in CBRM shows decreasing since 2006. By the resident information, it is divided into three sections to explain: demography; education level and labour market characteristic. (1). In the population sector, it includes age, sex and housing. In the age part, there were 28,090 people, which was 2 7.6% of the total number of CBRM, were 35-54 years in 2011. The people age between 20-64 years, which is labour force age, were 60,575 (60%). Over 65Â  year, old people in CBRM were 19,655 (20.0%) and 21,385 people which were 20.1% of the total number of the population was a youth under 19 year old. The median age people were 47.5% in CBRM, male and female were 46.4% and 48.3, respectively. In the sex part, the male in the CBRM were 46,075 in 2011, and female were 51,325. The age between 15-64 which was adults has the ability to work were 64,575, the male and female were 30,945 and 33,630, respectively. In the housing part, the total number of families were 28,805, 64.1 percent have been ma... ...ta-Cascante, D., & Trejos, B. (2013). Community Resilience in Resource-Dependent Communities: A Comparative Case Study. Environment And Planning A, 45(6), 1387-1402. Social economy; communities, economies and solidarity in Atlantic Canada.(Brief article)(Book review). (2012). Reference & Research Book News. Patterson, P., & Biagi, S. (2003). The loom of change : weaving a new economy on Cape Breton / Paul Patterson and Susan Biagi. Sydney, NS : University College of Cape Breton Press, c2003. Loxley, J., Silver, J., & Sexsmith, K. (2007). Doing community economic development / edited by John Loxley, Jim Silver and Kathleen Sexsmith. Halifax, N.S. : Fernwood Pub., c2007. Haughton G. Community Economic Development / Edited By Graham Haughton [e-book]. London : Stationery Office, 1999.; 1999. Available from: CBU Library Catalogue, Ipswich, MA. Accessed November 17, 2013.

Credible Sources a Key to College Success

Credible sources a key to college success College life can be pretty stressful and complicate it at times. There are several things that can help college life become easier and more manageable. One of the main things and if not the most important it will be the ability to identify and separate credible online sources from non-credible ones. It is very true that technology has help make college life easier, with search engines such as Google or Bing at just one click away of distance.The only problem is that with so many choices to pick from how to tell if a source is even worth to look at without having to expend a great amount of time looking at each one through. Even though non-credible sources are easier to find, credible sources are more reliable because they are usually written by experts and have more substantial information in them.If we take a credible source like â€Å"Rising prevalence of cohabitation in United States may have partially offset decline in marriage ratesâ₠¬  from the Family Planning Perspectives and compared against a non-credible sources like â€Å"Cohabitation in the United States† from Wikipedia, we can see that the article from the credible source has the components that help sort out a credible source from a non-credible. The article â€Å"Rising prevalence of cohabitation in United States may have partially offset decline in marriage rates† from the Family Planning Perspectives has the main things that you should look in a credible source.First of all I found the article in the CINAHL with Full Text database from the library most popular database list. I made sure I used the Boolean word Cohabitation in USA and I limit the results to only show full text and peer-review articles. The article is written in a very professional manner, also even though the article was written 1990; it has fairly recent review date of 2009. The information that the author explains is supported by numbers and statistics that help suppo rt her information.Some subgroups, such as cohabiting couples, single-parent families, stepfamilies, newlyweds, blacks and Hispanics, were oversampled. Interview questions emphasized cohabitation and the links between cohabitation and marriage. The final sample consisted of 6,881 married couples and 682 cohabiting couples; of these, 5,648 spouses and 519 cohabiting partners completed questionnaires (Vol. 22, Issue 2). In general most articles found in the library database re reliable, the only thing that is good to look for is if there is any biases in the article or reasons why the author may become bias, in the case of the author of this article Rebecca Turner is graduated it from the Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Essex, UK, which in this case helps to her credibility as an author. On the other hand the article that I found in Wikipedia â€Å"Cohabitation in the United States† is not considered a reliable source.The main reason for this is because is a Wiki and also because I found the article in Google’s search engine. Wiki’s in general can be a good way to start a research but they should not be used as a primary source to support an essay, wikis are open source which means that anyone can attempt to make changes or alter the information that is portrayed there, which mean one article can contain information from many different people that have never met each other. Also some of the information does not sound very professional and lack citations.It should be noted this model cites antecedent apprehension concerning commitment as the cause of increased break-ups and cohabitation only as an indicator of such apprehension. Another explanation is that those who choose not to cohabit prior to marriage are often more conservative in their religious views and may hold more traditional views on gender roles, a mindset that might prevent them from divorcing for religious reasons or confronting crisis in relationships despit e experiencing marital problems no less severe than those encountered by former cohabitants. citation needed] The fact that a citation is needed in that paragraph should be enough evidence to prove that wiki’s in general are not credible sources of information. In order for college life to be successful, a student should learn how to tell the differences between a reliable source of online information and a non-reliable one.Even though the articles in the library databases are more reliable than the ones found in Google, a student should always be on the look out and get as much information about the article and the author as possible, this would help the essay become a success. Work Cited Cohabitation in the United States. Wikipedia, 17 Sept. 2012. Web. 1 Oct. 2012. Turner, R. â€Å"Rising Prevalence of Cohabitation In United States May have Partially Offset Decline in Marriage Rates. † Family Planning Perspectives 22. 2 (1990): 90-91. CINAHL with Full Text. Web. 1 Oc t. 2012

Burns

The skin, an important organ that acts as a natural cover and holds our many underlying components together, important in multiple functions, yet it can be so easily marred. Burns, one of the reasons for skin damage, are the destruction of the different layers within the skin by exposure to excessive heat; heat that is greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or by friction, electricity or chemical substances. The heat from the exposure cannot be distributed fast enough in the rest of the body, resulting in a breakdown of tissues exposed to heat.Unlike other tissue damages, burns can cover a wider range of surface area. The causes may come from a variety of events such as boiling liquid, exposure to harmful chemicals, or electrical shock. Signs that indicate a burn may be swelling, redness of the area of damage, and pain. Burns are categorized by degree based on the duration, size and severity of injury; the least severe being first degree burns, second degree burns and the worst, third degree burns. Not only are there the regular, common burns that would first come to mind, but there are also chemical burns and electrical burns.Chemical burns occur when the skin is exposed to a corrosive substance that consists of either a strong base or acid. Electrical burns are cause by contact with electric conducting objects that are live. Types of treatment are determined by the severity and also determine the place to which the person should receive the treatment. Regeneration of the damaged tissue will differ accordingly to the type of burn. First degree burn, it refers to the superficial damage to the skin and causes only local inflammation.The inflammation consists of pain, a small amount of swelling, dryness and redness. Peeling, of the area affected, may be seen. This type of burn will only have an effect on the epidermis. Examples of first degree burns include sunburns, flash burns or any other burn that derives from a brief exposure to severe heat. Treatment for this type of burn depends on the location, cause, extent of the burn and may include cold compresses, skin soothing ointments or pain relieving aspirin. The skin usually heals within a time span of a few days without permanent tissue damage.Second degree burns affect the epidermis and the superficial dermis layer of the skin. The burn is often characterized by moist blisters, skin lesions, and bits of shredded epidermis. Also, the injury is often displayed as white. The area of damage is prone to high risks of infection and victim experiences intense pain around the area. In a lot of cases, second degree burns are the consequences of exposure to flames, scald inducing events and contact with chemicals, electricity or hot objects.The treatments for second degree burns depend of the same characteristic of first degree burns. Second degree burns include the addition of extra care to prevent infections. The skin heals within about 3 weeks and 6 weeks if the wound is superficial or deep, as the skin re-epithelializes. At the end of healing, there is minimal scarring to no scarring at all although discoloration of the area may be present. A third degree burn, also referred to as a full thickness burn, destroys the epidermis, the entire dermis beneath it, injures the subcutaneous tissue, and may spread to the muscles.Accessory structures are destroyed. The area of the wound may appear white and leathery due to the damages done to the blood vessels and nerves. The affected skin may also appear black, yellow, or even brown and is painless due to the impairment of vessels and nerves. The skin loses its elasticity, becomes dry and produces the appearance of being charred. Some of the causes of third degree burns may include scalding liquids, flames, chemical substances, over-exposure to excess heat or even electricity.If not taken into serious account with medical attention, the damaged skin will heal poorly and slowly. Since the epidermis and hair follicles are eliminated, new skin will not form. Treatments for these burns consist of procedures such as attentive care and cleaning, skin grafting, anti-biotic mediation and as such. The smaller areas will take fewer months to heal than the larger areas since those require grafting, which is the replacement of the previous damaged skin with transplant skin through surgery. ttp://www. webmd. com/skin-problems-and-treatments/third-degree-burn-full-thickness-burn http://www. medicinenet. com/burns/page2. htm http://faculty. stcc. edu/AandP/AP/AP1pages/Units1to4/skin/repairof. htm http://www. urmc. rochester. edu/encyclopedia/content. aspx? ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01760 http://www. chw. org/display/PPF/DocID/21911/router. asp http://www. metrohealth. org/body. cfm? id=1014&oTopID=1007 http://www. rayur. com/skin-burn-anatomy-definition-causes-symptoms-and-treatment. html Burns The skin, an important organ that acts as a natural cover and holds our many underlying components together, important in multiple functions, yet it can be so easily marred. Burns, one of the reasons for skin damage, are the destruction of the different layers within the skin by exposure to excessive heat; heat that is greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, or by friction, electricity or chemical substances. The heat from the exposure cannot be distributed fast enough in the rest of the body, resulting in a breakdown of tissues exposed to heat.Unlike other tissue damages, burns can cover a wider range of surface area. The causes may come from a variety of events such as boiling liquid, exposure to harmful chemicals, or electrical shock. Signs that indicate a burn may be swelling, redness of the area of damage, and pain. Burns are categorized by degree based on the duration, size and severity of injury; the least severe being first degree burns, second degree burns and the worst, third degree burns. Not only are there the regular, common burns that would first come to mind, but there are also chemical burns and electrical burns.Chemical burns occur when the skin is exposed to a corrosive substance that consists of either a strong base or acid. Electrical burns are cause by contact with electric conducting objects that are live. Types of treatment are determined by the severity and also determine the place to which the person should receive the treatment. Regeneration of the damaged tissue will differ accordingly to the type of burn. First degree burn, it refers to the superficial damage to the skin and causes only local inflammation.The inflammation consists of pain, a small amount of swelling, dryness and redness. Peeling, of the area affected, may be seen. This type of burn will only have an effect on the epidermis. Examples of first degree burns include sunburns, flash burns or any other burn that derives from a brief exposure to severe heat. Treatment for this type of burn depends on the location, cause, extent of the burn and may include cold compresses, skin soothing ointments or pain relieving aspirin. The skin usually heals within a time span of a few days without permanent tissue damage.Second degree burns affect the epidermis and the superficial dermis layer of the skin. The burn is often characterized by moist blisters, skin lesions, and bits of shredded epidermis. Also, the injury is often displayed as white. The area of damage is prone to high risks of infection and victim experiences intense pain around the area. In a lot of cases, second degree burns are the consequences of exposure to flames, scald inducing events and contact with chemicals, electricity or hot objects.The treatments for second degree burns depend of the same characteristic of first degree burns. Second degree burns include the addition of extra care to prevent infections. The skin heals within about 3 weeks and 6 weeks if the wound is superficial or deep, as the skin re-epithelializes. At the end of healing, there is minimal scarring to no scarring at all although discoloration of the area may be present. A third degree burn, also referred to as a full thickness burn, destroys the epidermis, the entire dermis beneath it, injures the subcutaneous tissue, and may spread to the muscles.Accessory structures are destroyed. The area of the wound may appear white and leathery due to the damages done to the blood vessels and nerves. The affected skin may also appear black, yellow, or even brown and is painless due to the impairment of vessels and nerves. The skin loses its elasticity, becomes dry and produces the appearance of being charred. Some of the causes of third degree burns may include scalding liquids, flames, chemical substances, over-exposure to excess heat or even electricity.If not taken into serious account with medical attention, the damaged skin will heal poorly and slowly. Since the epidermis and hair follicles are eliminated, new skin will not form. Treatments for these burns consist of procedures such as attentive care and cleaning, skin grafting, anti-biotic mediation and as such. The smaller areas will take fewer months to heal than the larger areas since those require grafting, which is the replacement of the previous damaged skin with transplant skin through surgery. ttp://www. webmd. com/skin-problems-and-treatments/third-degree-burn-full-thickness-burn http://www. medicinenet. com/burns/page2. htm http://faculty. stcc. edu/AandP/AP/AP1pages/Units1to4/skin/repairof. htm http://www. urmc. rochester. edu/encyclopedia/content. aspx? ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P01760 http://www. chw. org/display/PPF/DocID/21911/router. asp http://www. metrohealth. org/body. cfm? id=1014&oTopID=1007 http://www. rayur. com/skin-burn-anatomy-definition-causes-symptoms-and-treatment. html