The Matrix Essays (1349 words) - The Matrix, Fictional Cyborgs

The Matrix It is easy to confuse the concepts of virtual reality and a computerized model of reality (simulation). The former is a self-contained Universe, replete with its laws of physics and logic. It can bear resemblance to the real world or not. It can be consistent or not. It can interact with the real world or not. In short, it is an arbitrary environment. In contrast, a model of reality must have a direct and strong relationship to the world. It must obey the rules of physics and of logic. The absence of such a relationship renders it meaningless. A flight simulator is not much good in a world without aeroplanes or if it ignores the laws of nature. A technical analysis program is useless without a stock exchange or if its mathematically erroneous. Yet, the two concepts are often confused because they are both mediated by and reside on computers. The computer is a self-contained (though not closed) Universe. It incorporates the hardware, the data and the instructions for the manipulation of the data (software). It is, therefore, by definition, a virtual reality. It is versatile and can correlate its reality with the world outside. But it can also refrain from doing so. This is the ominous what if in artificial intelligence (AI). What if a computer were to refuse to correlate its internal (virtual) reality with the reality of its makers? What if it were to impose its own reality on us and make it the privileged one? In the visually tantalizing movie, The Matrix, a breed of AI computers takes over the world. It harvests human embryos in laboratories called fields. It then feeds them through grim looking tubes and keeps them immersed in gelatinous liquid in cocoons. This new machine species derives its energy needs from the electricity produced by the billions of human bodies thus preserved. A sophisticated, all-pervasive, computer program called The Matrix generates a world inhabited by the consciousness of the unfortunate human batteries. Ensconced in their shells, they see themselves walking, talking, working and making love. This is a tangible and olfactory phantasm masterfully created by the Matrix. Its computing power is mind boggling. It generates the minutest details and reams of data in a spectacularly successful effort to maintain the illusion. A group of human miscreants succeeds to learn the secret of the Matrix. They form an underground and live aboard a ship, loosely communicating with a halcyon city called Zion, the last bastion of resistance. In one of the scenes, Cypher, one of the rebels defects. Over a glass of (illusory) rubicund wine and (spectral) juicy steak, he poses the main dilemma of the movie. Is it better to live happily in a perfectly detailed delusion - or to survive unhappily but free of its hold? The Matrix controls the minds of all the humans in the world. It is a bridge between them, they inter-connected through it. It makes them share the same sights, smells and textures. They remember. They compete. They make decisions. The Matrix is sufficiently complex to allow for this apparent lack of determinism and ubiquity of free will. The root question is: is there any difference between making decisions and feeling certain of making them (not having made them)? If one is unaware of the existence of the Matrix, the answer is no. From the inside, as a part of the Matrix, making decisions and appearing to be making them are identical states. Only an outside observer - one who in possession of full information regarding both the Matrix and the humans - can tell the difference. Moreover, if the Matrix were a computer program of infinite complexity, no observer (finite or infinite) would have been able to say with any certainty whose a decision was - the Matrix's or the human's. And because the Matrix, for all intents and purposes, is infinite compared to the mind of any single, tube-nourished, individual - it is safe to say that the states of making a decision and appearing to be making a decision are subjectively indistinguishable. No individual within the Matrix would be able to tell the difference. His or her life would seem to him or

psych final paper

psych final paper psych final paper- schizophrenia Schizophrenia Alyssa Storey Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Schizophrenia is one of the most widely known psychological disorders. Because it is so well-known, it is surrounded by many stereotypes. The amount of people that understand schizophrenia is much smaller than the amount that thinks they do. Schizophrenia consists of three groups of symptoms. There are three main perspectives with theories on this disorder, and two main treatments options. There were a few minor changes in the DSM-V regarding schizophrenia, and there have been a few recent experiments involving it. When discussing schizophrenia and its symptoms, one will focus on three kinds of symptoms. These symptoms are positive, negative, and psychomotor. Positive symptoms are symptoms that are added to a person’s average behavior. These symptoms are abnormal and affect the person’s daily functioning. The most frequent positive symptoms of schizophrenia are disorganize thinking and speech, inappropriate affect, delusions, and heightened perceptions and hallucination s (Comer 2014). Many people suffering from schizophrenia have difficulty conversing with the people around them, and often cannot convey what they are thinking. They are very frequently confused by their thoughts and surroundings, but their confusion does not make sense to people without this abnormality. People with schizophrenia are unable to attain rational thoughts, which causes them to communicate in ways that are hard for the people around them to understand. They will usually derail during their conversations. Instead of sticking to the subject of the conversation, they will quickly change in between random subjects that have no connection with the original conversation (Comer 2014). While the other person in the conversation becomes confused, the person suffering from schizophrenia will believe that they are making perfect sense and carrying on a typical conversation. Others may use words that they have created in their head, called neologisms. Neologisms appear to be normal words to the person with schizophrenia, but the person they are speaking to not only have no idea what they are saying, but has also never heard the word (Comer 2014). Another positive symptom of schizophrenia is delusion. Delusions vary depending on each case of schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia may develop delusions of reference, delusions of perseverance, delusions of control, delusions of grandeur, or more than one of these delusions. Each kind of delusion creates different problems for them, and affect their lives in different ways. Delusions of reference occur when a person gives random objects or people a new and unusual meaning. Delusions of perception, which are the most common type of delusion among people with schizophrenia, occur when people believe they are being watched by someone or something with no relevance is out to get them. This is the type of delusion that is most stereotypical and often portrayed in movies. A type of delusion that is somewhat similar to delusions of perception is delusions of control. When a person is convinced that their lives, including their thoughts and actions, are being controlled by another person, they are experiencing delusions of control (Comer 2014) The final form of delusions is delusions of grandeur which is when someone believes that they are a kind of person they are not, such as a savior of a specific people, a genius, or possibly a profound philosopher. While the people experiencing any of these delusions fully believes that they are true, they are actually only in this person’s head. Unfortunately, a person with schizophrenic delusions will not be able to be convinced that they are not seeing reality. Hallucinations are another positive symptom that often occur when dealing with schizophrenia. The most common type of hallucinations for people with schizophrenia are auditory hallucinations, which cause the person to hear sounds or

Slipping into Newspeak

Slipping into Newspeak Slipping into Newspeak Slipping into Newspeak By Maeve Maddox One of the scariest things Ive read lately is this comment in a language forum: America is based on the tradition of divergent thinking There was a time when nuances were important; larger vocabularies were needed.   These vocabularies will soon be superfluous as we move into an age where communications are devised and sent in the most efficient manner available.  (Emphasis added.) Anyone who has read George Orwells 1984 will hear in this comment an echo of the character Symes conversation with Winston about the shrinking size of the Newspeak dictionary: Were getting the language into its final shape Were destroying words scores of them, hundreds of them, every day. Were cutting the language down to the bone. The Eleventh Edition [of the Newspeak dictionary] wont contain a single word that will become obsolete before the year 2050. Rules of grammar that contribute to precision of thought are already breaking down. Nuances that used to be observed in newspaper writing are disappearing, for example, such pairs as smell/fragrance, peal/toll, famous/notorious: Wedding Bells are Tolling Less in Milwaukee Stories about historys most famous murders at the Crime Library Such a Tiny Flower But What a Beautiful Smell The character Symes explains to Winston that paring English to the bare bones of communication is in the public interest: Dont you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it. Every concept that can ever be needed, will be expressed by exactly one word, with its meaning rigidly defined and all its subsidiary meanings rubbed out and forgotten. In Orwells novel, the emasculation of the language is undertaken by the government as a means of controlling and extinguishing dissident thought. In reality, thanks to the neglect of language instruction in the public schools, over-simplified writing in the media, and the popular attitude that standard English is elitist and undemocratic, government intervention has not been necessary. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:20 Types and Forms of Humor5 Lessons for Mixing Past and Present TenseCharles's Pen and Jesus' Name

Rehabilitation Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rehabilitation - Assignment Example After the patient leaves the hospital, care continues to be provided at home. Rehabilitation care is also provided to people who do not require hospitalization and cannot be able to move to the outpatient rehabilitation facility. Rehabilitation requires the expertise of various professionals working in concert. Both multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams are the hallmarks of rehabilitation. The physician is considered to be the team leader assisted by other professionals. The multidisciplinary team conducts patients’ evaluation in their specific disciplines. However, the commonly used approach is the one that involves the interdisciplinary teams. Interdisciplinary members work together to solve specific problems for the patient (Peden, 2010). The team members include physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation nurses, psychologists and speech pathologists, in addition to social workers. Other members may include recreational therapists, vocational rehabilitation counselors, music therapists, audiologist, and kinesiotherapists. According to Peden (2010), some of the major categories of disabling conditions include disorders and injuries in pediatric, neurology, orthopedic, acute and chronic pain, medical, and sensory impairment. The World Health Organization (WHO) has various definitions that are commonly used to discuss the rehabilitation population. According to Peden (2010), WHO has established an international standard of definitions for discussing individuals with functional limitations outlined above The definitions are: Durable medical equipment that are commonly used in rehabilitation fall into five categories namely: prosthetics, orthotics, wheelchairs, ambulation aids, and high-tech devices, for example, computers. Illustrations of orthotics involves neck, spine, or back braces; prosthetics includes equipment such as artificial organs and mechanical organs;

Data-Collection Method Comparison-Sheila Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Data-Collection Method Comparison-Sheila - Essay Example The data is collected directly from the field that enables the research to draw accurate and reliable conclusions. Both of them are usually constructed into culture of a given society and provide information from the ancient times to the current periods and must be interpreted by the researcher for a good conclusion to be arrived at. However, artifacts are more honest than the stories. This is because; in artifacts the researcher views for her/himself and can identify the hidden meaning (Goertz, & Mahone, 2012). On the other hand, stories can sometimes be made up that suits the researchers and at times the participant may lie. This provides false data that compromises the research. Both the criteria try to seek information from a particular source to a particular problem. They are methods of inquiry into a particular study regarding a research problem. The data must be then analyzed for interpretation. Never the less, primary data uses firsthand information from the field and can be used for comprehensive analysis. They are done to acquire new solutions to a particular problem and interact with the participant directly (Tracy, 2013). However, secondary data secondary data uses already stored data to improve on the existing analysis, or for references purposes and do not meet with the participant. Both methods involve direct actions of the researcher and the responded hence obtains first hand information. This ensures actions such biasness; lies and inaccurate information’s are minimized hence ensuring an honest data. Furthermore, both the interview and observations must notify the responded of their presence, intentions and how they would involve them in the study if they are to succeed in the study (Tracy, 2013). Interviews are usually well structured that provides an easier way to collect data from the field. The questions are made simple and clear.

How does Criminology help our understanding of crime and criminals

How does Criminology help our understanding of crime and criminals Over the years many criminologists have been carried out research to find out how much Criminology has helped societys understanding of crime and criminals. Crime has been existent from the early days well before generations; however the punishments given to individuals and the way in which they are dealt with have changed over time. More greatly the definition of crime has changed and is continuing to change as new laws are constantly being brought into power . Criminology has been defined in a numerous of ways, some say criminology is the study of crime from a social and individual perspective. Looking at it from an educational approach Criminology has been defined as a social science, not only is it concerned with the causes and preventions of crime but the social impacts and reactions to it. As well as criminals themselves, others say that criminology is the study of the criminal justice and penal systems. Sutherland argued that the objective of Criminology is the development of a body of general and verified principles and of other types of knowledge regarding the process if law, crime and treatment of prevention ( T. Newburn (2007 ). Other social sciences such as sociology, psychology, law, anthropology and many others has also helped and influenced criminology which has helped to gain a deeper understanding of the subject. More importantly many criminologists have had their own personal definitions of criminology. For instance, Edwin Sutherland defined criminology as the study of composing laws, breaking laws, and societys reaction to these particular laws being broken. T. Newburn (2007). Criminology attempts to explain why certain situations or events are considered a crime in certain societies compared to others. This can be weighed down to the differences in definitions between cultures and societies. In some cases, crimes considered in some countries may be legal in others. E.g. homosexuality relationships is legally accepted in the United Kingdom compared to countries such as Uganda and many other countries in Africa and Asia where extreme punishments such as death sentences are applicable for such relationships. Crime happens on a day to day basis with different crimes ranging from petty crimes such as not paying for a train ticket to extreme crimes such as murder and rape. Criminology has helped our understanding of crime and criminals by firstly helping us define moments in criminal justice that have changed the system all together. Major events in the criminal system have helped us to reinforce what the system is all about. Events such as the Damilola Taylor, Jamie Bulger and Stephen Lawrence murder are just a few of the law changing events that have taken place in the UK within the last 20 years. Not only were these cases so extreme but they made immediate changes to the criminal justice system that has helped us to gain a deeper understanding of crime and the way in which the police have choosing to deal with this. By allowing society to have an opinion on these events and allowing them to follow the case through via the media. New laws and legislations were enforced. Aspects of crime such as stop and search also increased dramatically as police tried to hunt down more and more youths. According to the British Journal of Criminology In 1999, the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry heavily criticized ethnic disparities in stop and search (disproportionality), triggering a national reform effort to make the tactic fairer and more effective. Analyses of searches under core powers using up to 12 years of annual data from 38 police force areas in Eng land indicate that aggregate disparities showed no improvement following the reforms. (Miller. J 2010) Criminology includes the study of a number of different theories to suggest why crimes are committed. Some of the most popular are: classical, positivist, and individual trait. In addition to these major theories, there are many more other theories widely discussed and debated by criminologists. The classical theory of criminology suggests that people commit crimes when they perceive the benefits outweigh the possible costs. Under this theory, the logical way to prevent crimes is to provide harsher punishments for crimes. If the punishments are harsher, then criminals will not perceive the benefits to outweigh the possible consequences. This helps us to understand why some offenders commit the crimes that they do . The positivist theory of criminology suggests that crime is created by both internal and external factors outside of an individuals control. These may include biological factors or social factors. Social factors leading to criminal behaviour include such things as poverty and education. In some ways, opening up educational opportunities and employment opportunities could prevent crime, according to this theory. On the other hand the individual trait theory explains that criminals differ from non criminals on a number of biological and psychological traits. These traits cause crime in interaction with the social environment. The understanding of sociology has helped us to understand criminology and how it helps our understanding of criminals. The functionalists approach of sociology states that society is like biological organism which has sub systems that are interrelated. They all have individual purposes of being existent and believe that society is based on a value consensus. The functionalists approach states that the values are learned through the family by primary socialisation which is where the parents teach the children what is expected and tolerated by society. The breakdown of this process is the lack of family socialisation meaning the children then grow up to be unusual members of society and go against what is expected from everyone. This helps us to understand why some people result to crime as the sociological approach stated that they were not socialised accordingly. The sociological approach also helps us to understand why crime and criminals are existent and how vital it to have so th at society is able to function. Cohen, a sociologist stated that in order for society to function accordingly crime most be present as it helps to prevent further crime and also ensure that the society is running normally without crime it will be clearly aware that there is a problem. Criminal psychology also helps us to understand to crime and criminals as it is a branch of the field of psychology which focuses on criminals. Different approaches try to help us understand crime , especially criminals and why it is they partake in the crime that they do. The biological approach in psychology states that it is chemicals, genetics, intelligence and psychic functions that leads them to commit crime. For example , the study of genetics and individual differences was of interest to psychologists, as seen in the first empirical studies of intelligence (e.g. Spearman 1972) . The approach also states that the individual was born as a criminal. Other explanations such as the social explanation sates the persons social status is what is causing them to commit crime they may have been isolated. A psychologist Freud, also used his psychodynamic approach to try and explain criminal behaviour. He stated that all humans have natural drives and urges repressed in the unconscious. Furthermore, all humans have criminal tendencies. Through the process of socialization, however, these tendencies are curbed by the development of inner controls that are learned through childhood experience. Freud hypothesized that the most common element that contributed to criminal behaviour was faulty identification by a child with her or his parents. This could be said to be linked to how sociology helps us understand criminals .The improperly socialized child may develop a personality disturbance that causes her or him to direct antisocial impulses inward or outward. The child who directs them outward becomes a criminal, and the child that directs them inward becomes a neurotic. The Cognitive Development Theory also helps us to understand crime and criminals. According to this approach, criminal behaviour results from the way in which people organise their thoughts about morality and the law. In 1958, Lawrence Kohlberg, a developmental psychologist, formulated a theory concerning the development of moral reasoning. He claimed that there were three levels of moral reasoning, each consisting of two stages. During middle childhood, children are at the first level of moral development. At this level, the pre conventional level, moral reasoning is based on obedience and avoiding punishment. The second level, the conventional level of moral development, is reached at the end of middle childhood. The moral reasoning of individuals at this level is based on the expectations that their family and significant others have for them. Kohlberg found that the transition to the third level, the post conventional level of moral development, usually occurs during early adulthood. At this level, individuals are able to go beyond social conventions. They value the laws of the social system; however, they are open to acting as agents of change to improve the existing law and order. People who do not progress through the stages may become arrested in their moral development, and consequently become delinquents and start to commit crimes . The approaches to criminology, help us to understand crime and criminals more deeply. The Classicists Approach believe that every human has the ability to make decisions and is responsible for their individual actions. Therefore, if he or she decides to take part on behaviour that breaks the law, he or she by default is to be punished. Punishment succeeds crime is what they say. They move on to say that having penalties in the criminal justice system will help keep a control on the number of crimes, such that people due to the fear of punishment will avoid committing crimes. Classicists believe that Crime occurs when the benefits outweigh the costs. When people pursue self-interest in the absence of effective punishments. Crime is a free-willed choice. This helps us to understand criminals and the realities of crime and why they do what they do. It also equips us with practical measures to enable us to contribute and make a difference in such areas of life. It gives society the broad er picture of crime happening. Another approach to criminology is the positivists approach which tries to explain crime and criminals. According to positivists, humans react the way they do because of certain internal and external influences. These influences sometimes cause the person to lose control and take extreme decisions he or she normally would not have taken. The states that Crime is caused or determined. Lombroso placed more emphasis on biological deficiencies, whereas later scholars would emphasize psychological and sociological factors. Through the use of Victimology and victims it is possible to understand crime and criminals. The 1985 United Nations Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power Offers a definition of victims: They state that victims refers to persons who, individually or collectively have suffered hurt of any shape or form this could be from physical harm, mental injury, emotional suffering, economic loss or substantial of their fundamental rights . (Newburn T , 2007, p.342). Their second definition is that a person may be considered a victim, under this Declaration , regardless of whether the perpetrator is identified, apprehended , prosecuted or convicted.'(Newburn T. (2007). An alternative approach developed by a criminologist Nils Christie (1986) put together characteristics in which he believed idealised a typical image of victims and offenders he named a few characteristics in which he believed that victims may have these consists of being weak these c h aracteristic are generally seen in females or the very old the sick or very young. The victim is blameless for what is happening and cannot control what is happening this helps us to understand criminals and why they choose the victims that they do. Overall crime is a socially constructed behaviour. It is what others in society see as deviating from the social norm which is then labelled as crime. This is mainly because they see this behaviour as not being acceptable by society and breaks the social norm which must therefore mean what the individual is doing is illegal. From researching and trying to find explanations it is clear that there are many ways in which criminology helps to explain crime and criminals. The different approaches and theories gives specific as well as biological and sociological explanations. It helps us to give explanations of why some criminals do what they do. as we move on in the criminal justice system there will be more and more aspects that let us know why crime and criminals exist. Criminology tries to explain why there are differences and why there are some crimes are nearly universal.

Gillette Fusion Essay

Recommendation In order to increase total sales and put Gillette Fusion on track to be a $1 billion business in the next few years, Gillette Fusion should launch a new advertising campaign and reduce cartridge package prices by 20% with the introduction of a onetime coupon. Explanation The media’s reaction to the â€Å"blockbuster† advertisement campaign highlights many of the campaign’s flaws. The campaign focused on the product features rather than its benefits. Due to the ad’s product focus, Gillette failed to communicate why the additional blades and elastomer handle coating improved the quality of consumer’s shave. The proposed advertising campaign would address these flaws and focus on the customer experience. In order to educate consumers, Gillette should employ a mass media campaign similar to Pepsi’s â€Å"Pepsi Challenge.† This campaign will include blindfolded individuals testing and comparing the Gillette Fusion with several other razors, and will be hosted by a celebrity who shares similar brand qualities as the Fusion. The celebrity will be young, sleek and innovative, like Ashton Kutcher or Dwayne Wade. †¢TV Advertisement: The television advertisements will include a short introduction by the celebrity and clips of customers who have taken the challenge describing why the Gillette Fusion is superior to its competitors. It should be featured during male-focused programing, like sporting events and adult comedies. †¢Print Advertisement: The print advertisement will feature a picture of the celebrity next to the razor and several quotes from individuals who have taken the challenge. It should be featured in men’s style magazines (GQ), music magazines (Rolling Stone) and sports magazines (ESPN, Sports Illustrated). †¢Radio Advertisement: The radio advertisement will begin with an introduction by the celebrity describing why he prefers the Gillette Fusion and then transition to reviews by those who have taken the challenge ( i.e. â€Å"The Gillette Fusion is incredible because †¦ If you don’t believe me, hear what people who have taken the challenge have to say for themselves †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ). It should be featured during adult talk shows (Howard Stern Show) and sports programming. In order to encourage users to purchase the product, Gillette should offer a 20% discount on cartridges with the introduction of a one time coupon. Because 64% of men look at the price of the cartridge before  purchasing the corresponding razor, introducing a 20% discount with a onetime coupon will encourage those consumers weary of the high cartridge prices to purchase the razor. Once purchasing and using the razor, it is likely that the consumer will notice a significant difference in the quality of shave, and be willing to pay a higher price for the superior product. This is supported by the fact that of the 9,000 men who tested the new razor, Fusion was preferred 2 to 1 over the competition. For the few who would usually not be willing to pay the higher price for the cartridges, they will likely continue to purchase the cartridges because of the switching costs associated with purchasing a new razor. The coupon should be displayed at points of purchase and in direct mail outs. The former can be achieved by providing collaborators with display allowance. Alternative Strategies Unlike the proposed strategy, each of the alternative strategies fails to simultaneously communicate the effectiveness of the product and encourage customers weary of the price to purchase the product. †¢Lowering the retail price of the razor – This will not encourage customers to purchase the product because (a) 64% of consumers look at the cartridge price before purchasing a razor and (b) a razor is a one-time cost to consumers, with a less elasticity of demand than cartridges. Also, without a new advertising campaign, they also will continue not to understand why the product is superior, and more expensive, than its competitors. †¢Reducing cartridge package prices by changing cartridge package size. Reducing the current four cartridge package with three cartridge packages is only effective if consumers fail to register the difference in package size because the price per cartridge will actually increase. Moreover, this strategy fails to educate consumers on why the product is superior, and more expensive, than its competitors.