Weber A The Protestant Ethic Sociology Essay

Weber A The Protestant Ethic Sociology Essay Marx Weber in his writing entitled The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, has had an enduring impact on the field of economic history. Weber presents the argument that religion in certain forms and ways had a critical influence modern capitalist economy and society. He believes that Puritan ethics and ideas influenced the development of capitalism. He supports his argument by examining the relationship between the ethnics of ascetic Protestantism and the beginnings of modern capitalism. Weber presents the problem of linking religion to the spirit of capitalism. He explains different religions and how they play into his study. Weber begins by comparing the differences between Catholics and Protestants. Although Weber admits that through history some of the richer areas tended to covert to Protestantism and that Protestants generally had a greater inherited wealth, this does not entirely explain the greater participation in capitalism shown by the Protestants. He believes that environment has a great effect on determining choice of occupation, but that Protestants have also shown a strong tendency to develop economic rationalism more so than Catholics. One explanation Weber provides for this is that Catholics tend to be more otherworldly than Protestants and therefore do not put as much importance on material gains. Weber mention s Catholics show a stronger propensity to remain in their crafts that is they more often become master craftsmen, whereas the Protestants are attracted to a larger extent into the factories in order to fill the upper ranks of skilled labour and administrative position (Weber, 3).Catholics answer with the accusation that materialism results from the secularization of all ideals through Protestantism (Weber, 4). Even though Catholic gets involved in economic activities, Protestants have stronger tendency to develop economic rationalism and Catholic criticizes Protestants materialism. He bases his argument on his observations in Germany and elsewhere, and this is why he focuses his argument on the Protestants. Weber also explains about the spirit of capitalism. There are conceptualizing the spirit of capitalism. Weber presents excerpt from the wirings of Benjamin Franklin. Franklin writes that time is money, credit is money, and the good paymaster is lord of another mans purse. Frankli ns moral beliefs are useful to promote profit for individuals. Weber mentions It is, namely, by no means exceptional, but rather the rule, for him to have a sort of modesty which is essentially more honest than the reserve which Franklin so shrewdly recommends (Weber, 19). In addition, Weber mentions about the importance of accepting capitalistic system to make money. He says the capitalistic system so needs this devotion to the calling of making money it is an attitude toward material goods which is so well sited to that system, so intimately bound up with the conditions of survival in the economic struggle for existence( Weber, 19).Weber also makes a point about calling and reformation. Weber does not think that calling explain the spirit of capitalism. Weber mentions that Luther developed the conception and activity as a reformer. However, Weber says that Martin Luther was a traditionalist and so believed in obedience to Gods will and acceptances of the way things are, that Luth eranism did not have great significance in the development of the capitalistic spirit. Weber argues that there is no relationship between the spirit of capitalism and reformation and tries to see how religion has impact on material cultures development. Weber says we have no intention whatever of maintain such a foolish and doctrinaire thesis, as that the spirit of capitalism could only have arisen as the result of certain effects of the Reformation, or even that capitalism as an economic system is creation of the Reformation (Weber, 28). Weber also mentions four principal forms of ascetic Protestantism which are Calvinism, Pietism, Methodism, and Baptist movement. He continues by explaining some of the values involved with these other sects although its clear that Calvinism will be the most important to his argument. Weber assumes that Calvinism influences in Western Europe in the seventeenth century. He notices that western Europe had followed Calvinist Protestantism. Calvinists saw their work as a calling from God and it was a moral duty. God does not exist for men, but men for the sake of God. All creation, including of course the fact, as it undoubtedly was for Calvin, that only a small proportion of men are chose for eternal grace, can have any meaning only as means to the glory and majesty of God( Weber, 33). They believed in the elect. They are chosen and predestined by God. However, Lutheran Protestantism was different. It believed that people could earn a place in Heaven through good works on earth.It seems capitalist ideology, but Lutheran Protestantism encouraged people to earn no more than they needed to survive. The problem with Calvinist Protestantism was that they did not know they would go to hell or heaven. Weber mentions on the one hand it is held to be an absolute duty to consider oneself chosen, and to combat all doubts are temptations of the devil(Weber, 37). Their uncertainty led them to work hard and that was for Gods favor. So their hard work led to the development of capitalism. They denied comfort and pleasure to themselves and despised laziness and hedonism. They made money for its own sake. Weber emphasizes that the spirit of capitalism is the values and attitude behind making money. Weber concludes that religion could cause economic change. Pietism is closely connected with Calvinism and gets influences by Lutheran Protestantism. However according to Weber it has an uncertain basis for asceticism and is therefore less consistent than Calvinism. Methodism has a simi lar uncertain foundation similar to Pietism and is also has some key differences from Calvinisms doctrinal basis. And finally the Baptist sects had quite a different foundation than Calvinism. Finally, Weber wants to figure out the relationships between ascetic Protestantism and the spirit of capitalism. Overall, Webers intent was to prove the positive correlation between capitalist spirit and Protestant religion. B. Choose one article from the list at the end of this exam In the article, Ethnic Differences in Endorsement of the Protestant Work Ethic: The Role of Ethnic Identity and Perceptions of Social Class by Kevin Cokley, Komarraju, Pickett, Shen, Patel, Belur, and Rosales, examined ethnic differences in endorsement of the Protestant work ethic (PWE) among Black and White college students and differences in ethnic identity and perceptions of social class mediated the relationship between ethnicity and the endorsement of PWE values. The Protestant Work Ethic (PWE) is an important aspect of U.S and authors mentions the traditional American values which have been associated with White culture, includes individualism, competition, orientation, and the PWE. Authors mention the PWE is a value system that stresses the moral value of work, self-discipline, and individual responsibility in forming a way to improve ones economic well-being (Cokley et al 2007: 76). They found that the PWE is related to attributions of greater personal obligation. However, Niles stated that there seems to be a stronger commitment to a Protestant work ethic among non-Protestant cultures. They found that the PWE is now more a reflection of culture than of religious values or nationality. Authors examined multi cultural differences in the PWE within the United States and their goal was to find which ethnicity might affect endorsement of the PWE. According to Cokley et al, differences in the importance of ethnic identity arise among ethnic minorities and Whites and ethnic identity caries in importance and strength among ethnic group members. They say we believed that cultural values like the PWE that promote individual responsibility while minimizing the impact of societal oppression on ethnic minorities such as Blacks would be negatively related to ethnic identity they also found that well- educated individuals are less likely to endorse PWE values due to the fact that well- educated individuals are more likely to be aware of systems of oppression, such as racism, sexism, homophobia. In addition, the PWE is also related to social class. They figure out Blacks face more negative perceptions about their work ethic from employers than do Whites and that employer see inner-city poor Blacks as especially problematic (Cokley et al 2007:79). Authors used three measures which are Protestant Ethic Scale (PES), Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (NEIM), and Demographic sheet. After they examined, they found that Black students the PWE was not significantly correlated with ethnic identity. Blacks were higher in ethnic identity than were Whites, but the relationship between ethnic identity and PWE was not significant. However, they found that ethnic identity and perceptions of social class can count for ethnic differences in endorsement of the PWE. Black students had a significantly lower PWE compared with White students. This indicates that they were less likely to believe that works hard will succeed. They mention the Black students or their close friends and family members may have had experiences that led them to believe that an individuals life outcomes are influences by much more than simply hard work because there ae other external, uncontrollable social forces( racism, sexism, discrimination) that can influence outcomes more than does ones own individual effort. On the other hand, whites are opposite. They tend to believe a strong positive relationship between working hard and achieving success. It indicates that White students were more likely to endorse PWE beliefs than were Black students. They mention the most significant result of this study was the emergence of perceptions of social class as the only significant mediator (Cokley et al 2007: 85). It shows that upper middle class and upper class had a significantly stronger PWE than working class or middle class among Whites, but not Blacks. They argue that social class in an important because they believe that social class might influence the cultural psychology of different ethnic groups. They mention the Blacks in the present study, regardless of perceived social class, were less likely to endorse the PWE, perhaps because they may have experienced first hand that the application of the PWE does not always result in meritocratic economic outcomes (Cokley et al 2007: 87). 2. A. Basic elements of bureaucracy that Weber describes. In the article, Bureaucracy, Weber believes that bureaucracy is a particular type of administrative structure developed through authority. Weber attributes the development of bureaucracy to the increase in rationalization in modern societies. Weber says Bureaucracy, thus understood, is fully developed in political and ecclesiastical communities only in the modern state, and, in the private economy, only in the most advanced institutions of capitalism (Weber 1946:196). Weber argues that bureaucracies have existed in places such as Egypt, the Roman Catholic Church, and China. Weber mentions a certain measure of a developed money economy is the normal precondition for the unchanged and continued existence, if not for the establishment, of pure bureaucratic administrations (Weber 1946:205). Bureaucracy is organized as a hierarchical system of offices that are governed by rules. For Weber the term bureaucracy are inseparable from the term rationality. According to Weber, there are ways of developing bureaucracies rational which are functional specialization, clear lines of hierarchical authority, expert training of managers, and decision making based on rules. Weber argues that such specialization is essential to a rational bureaucracy. His idea of functional specialization applies to persons within an organization and to relations between larger units or divisions of the organization. For example, work was broken down into many special tasks and employees were assigned few such tasks. Divisions of large organizations require clear lines of authority organized in a hierarchy. And division of labour is more fundamental that the others because it initiates and orders other divisions of labour. In addition, hierarchical authority is required in bureaucracies so that highly trained experts can he properly used as managers. He argues that managers at all levels have to be trained for their specific jobs. He mentions the demand for administration by trained experts is considerable, and the party followings have to recognize an intellectually developed, educated, and freely moving public opinion, the use of unqualified officials falls back upon the party in power at the next election(Weber 1946:201). Development is greatly furthered by the social prestige of the educational certificates acquired through such specialized examinations. This is all the more the case at the educational patent is turned to economic advantage (Weber 1946:241). Weber mentions the importance of education which can develop economic. Lastly, Weber makes a point that rational bureaucracies must be managed in accordance with carefully developed rules and principles that can be learned and applied and that transactions and decisions must be recorded so that rules can be reviewed. He mentions the management of the office follows general rules, which are more or less stable, more or less exhaustive, and which can be learned (Weber, 1946:198). Weber sees bureaucracy as one of the most important causes of the development of capitalism specifically. B. The strengths and dangers of bureaucracy that Weber describes. According to Max Weber, that bureaucracy are the most efficient form of administration and inevitable in the modern society. Weber offers a positive of bureaucracy through his ideal description of the administrative system as a rational and efficient type of organization. Bureaucracy is an administrative structure through hierarchical relations and pre-established spheres of competence. the large corporation as a type of bureaucratic organization that rivaled the state bureaucracy in achieving rational efficiency and calculated results (Rubenstein 1978:55). One of the strengths of bureaucracy is conduct of official business in strict accordance with the duty of every member, chosen through impersonal criteria to perform designated tasks subject to strict rules of practice. He mentions Precision, speed, unambiguity, knowledge of the files, continuity, discretion, unity, strict, subordination, reduction of friction and of material and personal costs, these are raised to the optimum points in the strictly bureaucratic administration. (Weber1946: 214). Also, Weber says that the organizations structuring into a vertical hierarchy to be governed by the rights to supervision and appeal. The military is an example of bureaucratic organization. Weber says Specifically, military discipline and technical training can be normally and fully developed, at least to its modern high level, only in the bureaucratic army (Weber 1946:222). Its specific nature, which is welcomed by capitalism, develops the more perfectly the more the bureaucracy is dehumani zed, the more completely it succeeded, in eliminating form official business love, hatred, and all purely personal, irrational, and emotional elements which escape calculation( Weber 1946:216). However, Weber also fears that people would become too controlled by people who are superior and too much rules and regulations deprive of peoples freedom. Weber argues about the consequences of bureaucracies in modern societies. He feels they represented a grave threat to individual liberty. Also, bureaucracy provides structure of domination. Governance in a class-based society resulted to abuse of power of the tope leadership resulting to corruption, and political infighting. A bureaucracy is organized as a hierarchical system of offices that are governed by rules. Each office has a sphere of tasks, and the offices operate and interact according to an explicit se of procedures. Power resides in offices. Office holders merely act out the responsibilities of their offices. furthermore, He notes No machinery in the world functions so precisely as this apparatus of men and, moreover, so cheaplyà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦rational calculation, reduces every worker to a cog in this bureaucratic mach ine and, seeing himself in this light, he will merely ask how to transform himself into a somewhat bigger cog..The passion for bureaucratization drives us to despair (Weber). Power is exercise by bureaucrats whose interest is in regulation rather than principles. Individual are lost in the vast machinery of the bureaucratic organization. These bureaucracies become structures of domination. They govern social action on a regular basis, and they establish and sustain patterns of inequality. Weber mentions the bureaucratic tendency has chiefly been influenced by needs arising from the creation of standing armies as determined by power politics and by the development of public finance connected with the military establishment (Weber 1946:212). Weber implies that the decisive reason for the advance of bureaucratic organization has always been its purely technical superiority over any other form of organization (Weber 1946:214). the fully developed bureaucratic mechanism he was aware of the fact that actual bureaucracies seldom achieve the level of efficiency of the ideal type he had constructed( Rubenstein 1978:23). Webers writings on bureaucracy are part of a larger attempt to understand the social and political structure and the values of modern Western civilization (Rubenstein 1978:27). 3. According to Marx, the class struggle under capitalism is between those who own the means of production, the ruling class or bourgeoisie and those who labor for a wage, the working class or proletariat. the history of all hitherto existing society is the history of call struggles( Marx, Engels 1848,3). The worker is as part of the machinery. a class of laborers, who live only so long as they find work, and who find work only so long as their labor increases capital( Marx, Engels 1848,8). Weber also describes that the ruling class makes the rules that structure society. Marx made a set of demands which are 10points programs. He believes that the implementation of those policies would lead to a classless and stateless society. A. The Cunning of History by Rubenstein mentions as uprooted men and women were forced to move from the countryside to the cities, they had little choice but to accept the subsistence wages offered to them in the mills and factories. The alternative was starvation. There was an abundant labor supply and its cost was kept at a minimum (Rubenstein 1978:55). Even though there are criticisms, bureaucracy remains an important administrative system. Weber recognizes the ideal benefits of bureaucracy. http://www.dailyfinance.com/article/gates-says-urgent-need-to-cut-defense/1052189/ http://www.paperarticles.com/2009/06/singapore-at-50-managing-change.html According to the newspaper, Singapore at 50: Managing change gives a good example of efficient bureaucracy which helps to increase economic. http://www.uow.edu.au/~bmartin/pubs/90uw/uw08.html it provides the possibility for government to function effectively and efficiently, leading the larger and larger societies, with increasingly complex and diverse ways of life for its citizens. Beyond government, numerous other social organizations, both in the public and private sectors have developed bureaucratic forms of leadership, which have succeeded in advancing the goals of their organizations. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Bureaucracy( good thing, bad thing)

The Laws Of Technical Systems Evolution Information Technology Essay

The Laws Of Technical Systems Evolution Information Technology Essay Altshullers laws of system evolution reveal noteworthy, predictable, and repeatable interactions between elements of systems and between the systems and their environment (Fey Rivin, 1999). The repeatable trends that have emerged through the observation of system evolution enable problem solving based on these patterns. TRIZ theory and its laws of system evolution are predicated on the notion that systems have a predictable life cycle with identifiable stages. Systems progress from birth to growth and pass through maturity onto decline. As a result of extensive research into the patterns of technical systems evolution, Genrich Altshuller in the early 1970s subdivided all laws of technical systems evolution into three categories; statics, kinematics and dynamics. Static laws describe the criteria of feasibility of newly created technical systems during their inception. Static laws include the laws of completeness, the law of energy conductivity of the system and the law of harmonization of the rhythm of the systems parts. Kinematic laws define how technical systems evolve regardless of conditions during the systems growth phase. These laws include the law of increasing ideality, the law of non-uniform development of system components, the law of transition to higher level systems and the law of increasing dynamism. Dynamic laws hope to define how technical systems evolve under specified conditions near the conclusion of the systems development. Dynamics include the law of transition from macro to micro level systems and the law of increasing substance field interactions (Kraev, 2005). Law of increasing degree of ideality The law of increasing degree of ideality holds that systems evolve toward an increasing state of benefit to cost ratio. The ideality of a system is a qualitative ratio expressed as the desirable functionality of the system over the sum of the systems costs and problems. The capabilities of various products are endlessly increasing while the prices of these products to consumers fall (Fey Rivin, 2005). Some common trends in product development in relation to increasing system ideality include the reduction in size, weight and cost while simultaneously adding functionality. For example, adding a more powerful camera to a cell phone. Law of increasing the degree of ideality of the system is a natural progression in innovation of any design or invention. This is accomplished by increasing benefits and decreasing harmful effects, undesirable states and reducing costs. The ideal final result would be to have all the benefits of the system with a cost of zero. Whether this is attainable or not, it should be striven for in the process of innovation. This law is predicated on the observation that successive versions of a technical design usually increase ideality over time. According to Ivanov (1994) the fundamental ways to boost the degree of ideality in systems are expressed to increase the number of functions performed by a single element. This shift includes the movement from bi to poly level systems and homogenous to heterogeneous elements. Ivanov goes on to suggest that ideality can be promoted by minimizing technical contradictions simultaneously in all parts of the system. Other methods of Idealization include reducing some parts of a system or a process, increasing the number of delivered functions, using advanced equipment, materials, processes and by using disposable objects. To further idealize a system and eliminate undesirable effects, managers and systems engineers can use block structured design, use expensive materials only where necessary and look to other resources to improve the systems ideality (Petrov, 2001). By improving the degree of ideality, the system will be first lead to the increased complexity of the system elements. Next the process will move to simplify the system, but complicate the subsystems. Finally, improving the degree of ideality in the system will lead to substantial simplification of subsystem elements (Ivanov, 1994). In recent years, the Apple iPod has embodied the law of increasing ideality. When the iPod first hit the market, they were expensive and only functioned as a music playing device. After several iterations of the initial design, the system has yielded outcomes congruent with an improving cost to benefit ratio. The iPod is now relatively inexpensive (to the point where it is often a prize of gift) and it has increased functionality. The iPod Touch now plays movies, supports games and applications and has Wi-Fi and email capability. Law of non-uniform evolution of subsystems The law of Non-Uniform Evolution of Subsystems holds that various parts of a system evolve at different non-uniform rates. The uneven development of various parts of a technical system encompassing different parts will evolve differently, leading to system conflicts and consequently new technical and physical contradictions in the system. According to Ivanov (1994) uniformity is mutually exclusive to systemic behaviour. Various system elements respond differently to external stimuli, this stimuli has the potential to disrupt previously stable system element relationships (Ivanov, 1994). The law states that the improvement of one element of a system design is usually at the expense of another part of the system. These system conflicts are not ideal and usually result in a compromise. Improving the system often starts with a focus on improving a specific subsystem. It is important to recognize that subsystems have different life cycle curves. Therefore when attempting to improve a system, it is essential to focus on the correct sub system (TRIZ Experts, 1996). Advancement in wind farm technology in recent years provides an example of non-uniform subsystem evolution. The turbine systems have evolved to the point where they can create surplus power on some grids. Transmission and storage capacity of some areas of the grid have not evolved at a rate sufficient to keep up with the increased capacity generated by enhancement to turbines. Law of transition to a higher level system System genesis usually manifests in a mono system form designed to perform one specific task. Over the lifecycle of the system there is a trend to develop from a mono system to a bi or poly system to accomplish a wider scope of tasks. Eventually the poly system evolves into a new more complex but efficient system. At this point in the system lifecycle, multiple poly systems may merge to become a super system designed to perform a more complex task (Fey Rivin, 2005). Also known as the law of transition to a super-system, the rule postulates that when a system attains a level where the likelihood of further substantial enhancement becomes nominal, the system has become an element of a super-system. Some bi and poly system are the result of duplicating the component of the mono system and using the duplication to extrapolate the desired result. According to Fey Riven, by combining multiple mono systems into such a homogeneous bi or poly system can improve functionality of each sub system element such that the whole is greater than the summation of its components. Some more complex heterogeneous bi and poly systems are the result of an addition of a new element such as a clock to a radio to have a clock radio. In addition to the emergence of heterogeneous and homogenous bi and poly systems, this law further helps to identify inverse bi and poly systems which combine elements with contradictory or opposite functions; i.e. a pencil and an eraser (Fey Rivin, 1999). One example cited by Ladewig (2003) of system evolution progressing from a mono to a bi to a poly system is found in the disposable razors market. Razors initially had one blade and have advanced to two then three and currently up to four blades. A further example is found in observing screw drivers, initially this tool had one head and had advanced to include Robertson, Phillips and flathead heads, this system has now advanced to contain fittings for dozens of heads and bit styles all contained within the unit handle itself (Ladewig, 2003). Another example may be noted in the evolution of a bicycle to a bicycle with training wheels (4 wheels). Law of increasing dynamism Systems are developed and tailored to specific operating tasks and environments, as those environments change, the system needs to be flexible to adapt. The pressure exerted on rigid structures is a constant force external to the system. There is a demand on the system to evolve into more flexible and adaptive parameters that stems from end user demand. The evolving needs and demands of consumers and other users stimulate change in the system environment which translates to pressure on the system. It is important that the core competencies and values of the system entity are not corrupted in this process. In the transition between a rigid system and a flexible system, a system passes through multiple stages. The line of increasing flexibility as outlined by Fey Rivin (1999) illustrates that system begin with one state, become a system with many discrete states and ultimately exist as a continuously variable system. An example of the law of flexibility being exerted on a system is through the emergence of e-books which evolved from traditional paper books. The transcendence of hand held technology in recent years has changed the landscape of the book industry by creating new opportunities for consumers. The end user created demand for a system that would meet the needs of portability, increased capacity and decrease cost. This was a natural evolution for the paper book in terms of flexibility of use. Law of transition from macro to micro level systems The law of transition from macro to micro level systems states that systems evolve as far as possible to an ever increasing fragmentation of their components. Altshuller moved that in the context of evolving systems, what is initially one unit eventually evolves into many separate components. Through a careful observation of the physical effects of system evolution, it is evident that this law is especially emphasized in modern technical systems. The transition from macro to micro level systems is a result of the need for increased control, measurement and understanding of individual elements of a system. This narrowing of scope on system levels provides increased precision and a deeper understanding of the system as a whole. An instance of a transition from a macro to micro level system can be found in agriculture. Traditional fertilizing techniques observed that manure was beneficial to the soil to increase the productiveness of the land. The composition of the manure was not a concern as it was more beneficial than not having using it. The evolution of this system has yielded a focus on understanding the exact composition of the fertilizer down to its individual atoms. The correct mix or phosphates and nitrates are combined to provide a precise result for a specific product need. A different mix for grains than would be used for fruit trees. This transition came about as a there was a demand for increased control and efficiency. Law of completeness The law of the completeness of the parts of the system is an identification of the fact that any working system must be comprised of four essential components. The required elements of a complete system are: the engine, the transmission, the working means and the control component. The engine is the primary source of the systems required energy; the transmission component is responsible for directing the required energy to the system organ. The control function of the system ensures that the functionality can be made adaptable and flexible for the user. According to Miller and Domb (2007), when viewed in terms of the functionality of the system, completion is defined by the following actions. The existence of a tool acting on an object, the energy used by the tool to affect the object, the transmission of that energy, and the control to guide functionality (Miller Domb, 2007). The law of completeness identifies the trend towards decreased human involvement with the system. In the system lifecycle, early stage systems have more human involvement than late stage systems. The reduction of human involvement makes systems more efficient by mitigating the likelihood of operator error from human interaction with the system. The reduction of human involvement also increases system efficiency by eliminating the dependency of skilled or unskilled human inputs into the system. This reduction of human effort makes systems more adaptable to varying uses and environments. One example of a system that once relied on human interaction was an elevator. Elevators used to have dedicated operators to facilitate the opening and closing of the door and the vertical movement of the elevator car. This need for human involvement has been reduced to a simple input by the end user who merely selects a button with the desired corresponding floor. Law of shortening of energy path flows The law of shortening of energy path flows describes that systems evolve to a shortening of the distance between energy sources and their working means. The law of energy conductivity of the system is predicated on the understanding that all systems require the transfer of energy. Ideally, system energy should transfer freely and by the most direct and therefore efficient path through the components of the system. Energy cannot be created nor destroyed and systems are always moving towards increased efficiency. With these foundations, it can be postulated that more direct energy flows are more efficient. According to Ivanov (1994), the laws of conservation of matter and energy will always dictate to choose the path flow that leads to a decrease in energy expenditure rather than to its increase (Ivanov, 1994). One case of shortening of energy path flows can be observed in rear windshield in automobiles. In environments that get cold in the wintertime, it is necessary to defrost windshields on vehicles before they can be operated. A defrost system has been developed in automobiles to meet this need. Previously hot air was directed and blown at the glass areas that needed defrosting first. This system is inefficient because much of the heat required to defrost the surface was lost as the hot air dissipated and cooled over the relatively large distance before it accomplished its task. The solution to this was to embed the rear glass with heating coils so that the rear windshield could defrost through conduction. This shortened energy path flow increased the efficiency of the system. Due to the issues that would arise from visibility, this solution cannot be applied to front windshields. In the context of the front windshield, this could be considered a system conflict. It is also interesting to note that a similar principle has been applied to heated seats. Law of increasing subfield interactions The law of increasing subfield interaction is also known as the law of increasing controllability. As systems evolve, the level of control interactions improves among each of the system elements. The dispersion of substances in the S-Fields increases as the connection among fields increases which results in the responsiveness of the whole system tending to increase. According to Vladimir Petrov, veteran TRIZ practioner and educator, the increase in the degree of control over a system is the direct result from transition from a noncontrollable system to the control over deviances and variables. This progression to a controllable system, also involves developing the system to have a feedback mechanism and to be adaptive and self reproducing. The increasing degree of control over the system variables coincides with the process of automation (Petrov, 2001). A non technical example of this law in action can be found in airport security measures. There are several different stages and processes of airport security. This system has evolved from having no security at all to having customs, passport checks at check in, security, customs and before boarding. This level at control throughout all levels and elements of the system is an example of increased interaction and control. Law of harmonization of rhythm The law of harmonization of rhythm expresses that the necessary coordination for the existence of an effective system is the coordination of the periodicity of actions and its components. The law of harmonizing the rhythms of parts of the system refers to the frequency of vibrations of parts and movements of the system. These movements should ideally be in full synchronization other parts of the system. Chaos and high harmony are the two opposite ends of this spectrum. System evolution should move from chaos towards harmony. System harmonization occurs when contradictions are minimized by allowing components to be reorganized. Regrouping system elements into new configurations begets new qualities, and therefore develops new relationships among elements (Ivanov, 1994). Through reorganization, Petrov (2001) maintains that system harmonization can come in the form of functional, structural and function-structural coordination. Minor levels of coordination can be achieved at the structural and functional planes of the system which translate to increased harmonization. An obvious instance of necessary harmonization of rhythm and coordination of system elements is observed in an orchestra. An orchestra can be viewed as a system designed to produce beautiful music with all the various instruments as individual system components. When all the components are assembled for the first time the result is likely chaotic but as the symphony rehearses together over time the move toward high harmony. To improve functional coordination the conductor would insist that the individual members practice their instruments to improve on them in skill. To further the structural harmony of the orchestra as a whole, the conductor may instruct the symphony to practice together. Ideal final result According to Fey Rivin, the ideal final result is a concept based on the notion of an ideal technical system. The ideal technical system would be one that achieves the required function for which it is designed and required while producing no adverse effects. The ideal technological system would be absent of any physical entity. The lack of physical entity would be advantageous in mitigating physical system malfunctions and the cost of physical system components. The concept of ideal final result should be the goal of every system and the destination for all systems as they follow the laws of technical system evolution. The physical manifestation of the IFR may be inhibited due to physical restrictions. However, the notion of the IFR is not intended to necessarily be achievable, but nonetheless should be actively pursued in the interest of making the system better.

Using Big Data to Defend Against Cyber Threats

Using Big Data to Defend Against Cyber Threats Abstract In todays world, there are petabytes of data being moved by the minute, that data is analyzed and algorithms are developed so companies can critique and improve their services, ultimately increasing their profit, this is called BIG DATA. Majority of the being moved holds critical information such as social security numbers, health information, locations, passwords and more. When data is compromised BILLIONS of dollars are at risk, affecting the companys integrity and the people who data is stolen livelihood, the security of big data is vital to a companys present and future success. Big data is the large volume data which is difficult in processing through traditional method. Security and privacy for big data as well as Big Data management and analytics are important for cyber security. As the field of Cyber Security is increasingly becoming more and more in demand every day, big data is being pushed to the forefront rapidly for big businesses. Big datas main role is to mine and analyze large sets of data to find behavioral trends and common patterns. From a cyber security perspective, I feel as though big data has ushered in a new wave of possibilities in regards to analytics and provided security solutions to prevent and protect data from future cyber-attacks. I have cyphered through large amounts text in regards to big datas effectiveness. It is important to understand its effectiveness to better help companies both utilize and protect its data from cyber criminals. The break-out participants pointed out that Big Data analysis for cyber security is for malici ous adversary that can launch attacks to avoid being detected. The Privacy preserving biometric authentication must be secured and biometrics represent sensitive information that needs to be strongly protected. Big Data analysis for Preventing cyber-attacks is vital important in security and data management. Enforcing access control policies in big data stores is very important approach to secure the big data. Keywords: Network Protection, Analytics, and Analysis Introduction Big data is key to the evolution of technology, it is used to improve the services companies provide by developing algorithms through analyzation of each users data. An example of big data would be the popular social media application Instagram. Every user has access to an explore page, that explore page is based off the pictures each user likes, comments on or may have in common with a follower. This small action, improves the experience of the user and increases the time the user uses that application, ultimately bringing in more money. Big data is continuing to be used on bigger platforms including financial services, health services, weather, politics, sports, science and research, automobiles, real estate, and now cyber security. An important way to monitor your network is to set up a big data analysis program. Big data analysis is the process of examining large data sets to uncover hidden patterns, unknown correlations, market trends, customer preferences and other useful busin ess information. So with our topic being how big data analytics can prevent cyber-attack, its a pretty simple answer that knowing what data is traveling on your network can help prevent a cyber-attack by helping you to track everything that comes onto the network where you can decide if it make be harmful or not. This research will show just how simple it is to recognize unfamiliar data in your network and track where each piece of data goes. Big data is high-volume, high-velocity and high-variety information assets. Big data are collected through social networking, cell phones, interacting web application. Billions of bytes of data are collected through various medium every minutes. Big data demands cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making. There is always issue on the storage and processing these large data set. Storage, management and analysis of large quantities of data also result in security and privacy violations. Privacy and security have compromised while storing, managing and analyzing the large quantities of large data. When dealing with big data, it is necessary to maintain the well balance approach towards regulations and analytics. (http://ceur-ws.org/Vol-1097/STIDS2013_P1_JanssenGrady.pdf) Data management and analytical techniques can be used to solve security problems. The massive amounts of data are being collected and this data has to be analyzed to defend cyber-attacks. There are issues on security and privacy for big data, data management and analytics to secure the data. Big Data is major in database management. There are many data communities that they are developing large data and its solutions for efficiently managing and analyzing large sets of data. Big Data research and development need to do in academic, industrial and government research labs to protect it. Cloud data management include malware detection, insider threat detection, intrusion detection, and spam filtering. There needs more attention in security and privacy considerations for Big Data including systems, data and networks. Big organization or government agency who are the big data collector need to come together to develop solutions for Big Data security and privacy. The big data privacy, integrity and trust policies need to examine inside the context of Big Data security. The collection and mining data concerning user activities and travel can be used to find out across geographical areas like knowing the originated of the any disease that outbreak. The collection on the social media, posting videos and photos and status can help to recognize to any criminal or terrorist activities. There are many other domains and data technologies play the major role in strengthening security. The break-out participants pointed out that Big Data analysis for cyber security needs to deal with adaptive, malicious adversary that can potentially launch attacks to avoid being detected. The denial of information attacks is one of the attack that has to be considered as big threat for data privacy. Big data analysis for cyber security need to operate in high volume like data coming from multiple intrusion detection systems and sensors and high noise environments, changing normal system usage data is mixed with stealth advanced persistent threat related data. Big data analytical tools that can integrate data from host, network, social networks, bug reports, mobile devices, and internet of things sensors to detect attacks. The biometric authentication must be secured. The authentication requires recording biometrics of users and used for matching with templates provided by users at authentication time. Templates of user biometrics represent sensitive information that needs to be strongly protected. In the different environments in which users have to interact with many different service providers have to interact by applying hashing security technique. Today, cyber threat is increasing because existing security measure systems are not capable of detecting them. Previously, attacks had simpleton aim to attack or destroy the system. However, the destination of Holocene epoch hacking onrush has changed from leaking selective information and demolition of services to attacking large-scale systems such as critical substructure and state authority. Existing defense reaction applied science to detect these tone-beginning are based on pattern matching method acting which are very limited. To defend against these stranger attacks. Researchers can propose a new simulation based on big data analysis technique that can extract information to detect future attacks. This author state Within the last few 4 sentiency of twelvemonth, Network Behavior Analysis (NBA) has been one of these emerging technologies that have been sell as a security direction tool to improve the current network surety status. The briny focusing of NBA is to proctor inbound and outbound dealings associated with the network to ensure that nothing is getting into the host, package, and application political program systems which helps enhance the overall security measuring section of the network at all story ( Anand, T). It is stated that approximately 25 % of large endeavor systems will be using NBA by 2011. First, the model has little proactive capableness posture toward preventing any security incident because the architecture is material body with technologies that discover most security events in progression while it misses opportunities to detect and firmness other small menace before it become problems job for the network. Enforcing access control policies in big data stores is to secure the data storage. Some of the recent Big Data systems allow its users to submit arbitrary jobs using programming languages. This creates challenges to enforce fine grained access control efficiently for different users. To control such challenge there need to apply how to efficiently enforce such policies in recently developed Big Data stores. Big Data analysis for Preventing Cyber Attacks is vital important in security and data management. Big Data analysis systems that can easily track sensitive data using the capture provenance information can potentially detect sensitive information goes in the hackers hand. Building the provenance aware Big data analysis systems is needed for cyberattack prevention. The big data tool is for cyber security can potentially mine useful attacker motivations, technical capabilities, and modus to prevent future attacks. At the point when managing security issues in the present civil argument encompassing enormous information investigation, the feeling that one may frequently accumulate is that we are within the sight of a contention between positions which cant without much of a stretch be accommodated. It is as though protection were an obstacle to development spoke to by the open doors offered by big data, a weight originating from the past. Then again as though big data will bring the end of protection, an inescapable infringement of the private circle for mechanical advancement. We tend to be skeptical on this thought of a contention and, rather, we feel this is just history rehashing itself, like each time an innovation move happens, particularly at its initial stage. Toward the end, it is every one of an innocent encounter between the individuals who just observe the rankles and the individuals who just see the advantages. The story however is considerably more perplexing and, over the time, t hese prerequisites cant fit in clichà © plans. To state it in an unexpected way: big data investigation is digging in for the long haul, and additionally security. The objective of this part is to blueprint how the innovative capacity to remove esteem from information for cutting edge society and the control over it, which is exemplified by security standards, can succeed together. Understanding Infrastructure The more data security experts must analyze, the better they can understand the infrastructure of a complex network. The big network attacks of recent memory are analyzed on a big data scale This shows analyst, how to improve the design of the networks infrastructure and implement security tools to negate cyber-attacks. The more secure and sound the foundation of a network is the less likely data would be compromised. Understanding Hackers Big data is also being used to pinpoint which hacker is guilty of committing the cyber-attack. Security experts can analyze attacks and connect the hackers habits or routines when they attack a network. Cyber experts can react quickly and perform efficiently when theyre familiar with a hackers routine, possibly tracking the hackers actions and possibly finding the location of the hacker. In addition, by using big data, security experts are also able to find hackers through different social media platforms such as, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and many other forums that may be a site where other hackers may reside. Hacking has leaked personal selective information or were done for just fame, but recent hacking targets fellowship, administration agencies. This variety of attempt is commonly called APT (Advanced Persistent Threat). APT attack is a special kind of onslaught that use mixer engineering, zero-Day picture and other techniques to penetrate the target scheme and persistently collect valuable entropy. It can give massive impairment to national agencies or initiative. Another author states An advanced persistent threat (APT) uses multiple forms to break into a network, avoid detection, and harvest valuable information over the long full term. This info-graphic particular s the attack phases, methods, and need that differentiate APTs from other targeted approach (Siegel, J. E.). Security system of pattern for spotting and security measure system of rules against cyber-onrush are firewalls, trespass detection arrangement, encroachment bar system, anti -viruses answer , data base encryption, DRM solutions etc. Moreover, integrated monitoring technologies for managing system log are used. These security department solutions are developed based on signature. Per various reports, trespass detection systems and intrusion bar systems are not capable of defending against APT onset because there are no signature tune. Therefore, to overcome this issue, security expert is offset to apply data minelaying technologies to detect previously targeted attacks. We propose a new exemplar based on big data analysis technology to prevent and detect previously unknown APT attacks. APT attack is usually done in four steps: intrusion, searching, collection and attack. Figure one describes the attack procedure in detail. Development of Security Tools Hackers can develop complex tools that can find vulnerabilities in a network. By way of big data, cyber experts can develop tools to counter the hacker, aiding security experts in compliance reporting, monitoring, alerting and overall management of complex systems. A big data analytical tool a lot of companies are becoming familiar with is Lumify. Lumify Lumify is an open source tool that creates a visualization platform for analysis of big data, including 2D and 3D graph visualizations, full-text search, complex histograms, interactive geographic maps, and collaborative workspaces. Search Results The user can upload their own personal data or begin with a search with a built-in search engine. The search engine can find artifacts such as documents, images, and videos or entities, which are individual terms pulled out of the artifacts by an analyst during the data extraction process. The data can also be edited to fit a specific search by using Lumifys built in filters, decreasing the amount of data that is unusable for this specific search (pictured below). After the search results are found the user can use the graphic visualization tool. Graphic Visualization Analysis of big data can be complex, terabytes of data is combed through, in attempts to connect a common interest. Lumify makes the process of analyzation easier through graphic visualization. After the search is complete (shown above), the user can place the results on the graph through drag and drop. The user then can click on the results and load all related items or related items of a certain type, creating a relationship between the entities. The relationship between the entities can be created or Lumify can find a common interest. Map Integration When loading data/entity in Lumify the data/entity can be connected to a geographical location, any entity/data that has a location, the location symbol will be seen next to the entity (pictured below). In the top left-hand corner of the (pictured below) the user can click the location menu and the global map will appear with the locations associated with the entities that were previously loaded. The user than can load data within a radius of the entity location and click to see results that relate to the location of your entity. The map and visual are fully compatible with each other, meaning whatever you do in one area of the database, the other tool is updated with the latest data. Lumify can be the leading BIG DATA analytical tool on the market because of its ability to display BIG DATA visually. Conclusion The chances of cyber-attacks increase daily because of a dependency on the internet to achieve daily task, per Susan OBrien of Datameer, 99 percent of computers are vulnerable to attacks, nearly 1 million malware threats are released daily, and the estimated cost of cyber-crimes average a BILLION dollars!! Big data has already produced positive results in its efforts to dwarf cyber threats, per security website HELPNETSECURITY federal agencies that effectively use big data analytics see improvements in cybersecurity. In fact, 84 percent of big data users say their agency has successfully used big data analytics to thwart a cybersecurity attack and 90 percent have seen a decline in security breaches malware (50 percent), insider threats (47 percent), and social engineering (46 percent) because of using big data analytics. Evolving cyber threats demand a new generation of cyber tactics, big data is leading the way in making the internet and the world a safer place. We now live in the era of Big Data. Whether we like it or not, companies are regularly collecting reams of information about us as we go about our daily lives. They are tracking us as we visit web sites. They also tracking while we are walking around stores, and as we purchasing products. While some of the information may be mundane, some of it can be highly sensitive, including very specific details about our finances and our health status. To protect the data of our life there always challenging for big organization and government agency. Big data is high-volume, high-velocity and high-variety information assets and demands cost-effective, innovative forms of information processing for enhanced insight and decision making. Variability is in the data flows velocity, which has cost-effectiveness and that leads to the producing of additional processors in cloud systems to handle the load which increases. The log data that are from devices flows into systems, the change and analysis can be done before the curation of data into persistent storage. Volume is the characteristic of the data set and identification of the big data. The cyber must also deal with a richer set of attributes for the resources which adds in a variety of other contextual datasets into the analysis. Variety is the Big Data attribute. This attribute enables most sophisticated cyber analytics. The mechanism is required to bring multiple and highly diverse datasets in scalable way. The security can be obtained through a controlled metadata. We now live in the era of Big Data, whether we like it or not, companies are regularly collecting reams of information about us as we go about our daily lives, details about our finances and our health status. Ontologies for metadata helps to find out that is already existed, encompassing resources and attack event ontologies. Ontology for metadata is for browsing and querying metadata. The ontology representations of the facts are full confidence in the data being described. While this metadata could be browsed manually, the real value comes if it can be actionable; such that selections over the metadata ontology would automatically construct queries to the Big Data Machine learning technique the best to technique to protect big data. Government also has to take serious action about how the big data have to handle to protect the personal information. So any big data collector or government agency have to take further step to protect the privacy of citizen. References OBrien, S. (2016, May 05). Challenges to Cyber Security How Big Data Analytics Can Help. Retrieved October 27, 2016, from https://datameer-wp-production-origin.datameer.com/company/datameer-blog/challenges-to-cyber-security-and-how-big-data-analytics-can-help/ Big Data to Fight Crime. (2015, June 10). Retrieved October 27, 2016, from https://www.promptcloud.com/big-data-to-fight-cyber-crime/ (2016, August 30). Retrieved October 27, 2016, from https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2016/08/30/feds-big-data-analytics-cybersecurity/ Lumify Documentation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2016, from http://lumify.io/docs/ Siegel, J. E. (2016). Data proxies, the cognitive layer, and application locality: enablers of cloud- connected vehicles and next-generation internet of things (Doctoral dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology). http://csi.utdallas.edu/events/NSF/NSF-workhop-Big-Data-SP-Feb9-2015_FINAL.pdf http://www.blackhat.com/docs/us-15/materials/us-15-Gaddam-Securing-Your-Big-Data-Environment-wp.pdf ceur-ws.org/Vol-1097/STIDS2013_P1_JanssenGrady.pdf

the car :: essays research papers

Title ] Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec FAQ/Strategy Guideâ„ ¢ [ Platform ] PlayStation 2â„ ¢ [ Version ] v1.01 [ Authors ] Brett "Nemesis" Franklin / OrochiJin - Tim Garza [ E-Mail ] nemesis@flipmode.com / ExScanner@yahoo.com [ Plug ] http://nemmysresource.cjb.net [ Updated ] August 26th, 2001 The-chart-that-shows-what's-in-this-FAQ: i. Legal Stuff ii. Updates/Revision History 01. Driving Techniques †¢ Car Information †¢ Ultimate Car Setup Guide †¢ Car Upgrading Tips †¢ How to earn fast cash 02. General Strategies 03. Simulation Mode †¢ Getting Started †¢ License Test Guide †¢ Quick Prize Guide †¢ Race / Prize List †¢ Tuning Information 04. Arcade Mode †¢ Tracks 05. FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) 06. Gameshark Codes =============================================================================== i. Legal Stuff =============================================================================== This FAQ can only appear on the following sites (w/out having to ask me): †¢ GameFAQS <www.gamefaqs.com> †¢ CoreMagazine <www.coremagazine.com> †¢ GameSages <www.gamesages.com> †¢ Vgstrategies.com <http://vgstrategies.about.com> †¢ GameShark.com <www.gameshark.com> †¢ FAQ Domain <http://nemmysresource.cjb.net> †¢ Happy Puppy <http://www.happypuppy.com> †¢ ZDNet/Videogames.com <http://www.videogames.com> ___________________________NOT WWW.FRESHBAKEDGAMES.COM_________________________ If anyone finds it on any other site or MegaGames.com, please inform me ASAP. E-Mail Address: nemesis@flipmode.com, ExScanner@yahoo.com Copyright:  © Copyright 2000-2001 Brett "Nemesis" Franklin and Tim Garza. This FAQ and everything included within this file cannot be reproduced in any way, shape or form (physical, electronical, or otherwise) aside from being placed on a freely-accessible, non-commercial web page in it's original, unedited and unaltered format. This FAQ cannot be used for profitable purposes (even if no money would be made from selling it) or promotional purposes. It cannot be used in any sort of commercial transaction. It cannot be given away as some sort of bonus, gift, etc., with a purchase as this creates incentive to buy and is therefore prohibited. =============================================================================== ii. Updates/Revision History =============================================================================== Version 1.01 (08/26/01) ------------------------- †¢ Added the Quick Prize List from Jeff Evans, which just lists each race and the car(s) you win from it. Very easy to use, thanks Jeff! Version 1.00 (08/19/01) ------------------------- †¢ Fully completed the "Race/Prize Guide", finally. Everything is now complete in the guide, save for a few things in the Arcade Mode section of the FAQ. I might add this stuff later, but it's doubtful. Version 0.57 (08/08/01) ------------------------- †¢ Added the Car List Sorted by Price Version 0.55 (07/28/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the Race/Prize List through Amatuer Mode Version 0.50 (07/23/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" and updated the Race/Prize List Version 0.49 (07/20/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" and updated the Race/Prize List, as well as the Arcade Mode section. Version 0.47 (07/18/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" Version 0.46 (07/17/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" and updated the Race/Prize List Version 0.45 (07/17/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "Ultimate Car Setups Guide" with 4 new car setups, and added the Rally License Test guide Version 0.40 (07/17/01) ------------------------- †¢ Updated the "How To Win Fast Cash" section and the Race/Prize List

A Prayer for Owen Meany Essay -- English Literature Essays

A Prayer for Owen Meany Not the least of my problems is that I can hardly even imagine what kind of an experience a genuine, self-authenticating religious experience would be. Without somehow destroying me in the process, how could God reveal himself in a way that would leave no room for doubt? If there were no room for doubt, there would be no room for me.- Frederick Buechner In the novel, A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving, Owen Meany’s belief of predestination makes a significant impact on John Wheelwright’s emotional stability as an adult. John Wheelwright is unhealthily bitter and angry about his past experiences because he clings to a past that never lets him choose. This bitterness fuels his repugnance towards the United States and the Reagan administration, because he understands that everything is in fact predestined just as Owen Meany had believed and he feels helpless because there is nothing he can do to change the course of events in life. The death and responsibility of John’s mother’s death fell into the hands of Owen Meany and John can never accept that it was Owen’s fate to kill John’s mother. The Vietnam War was completely out of John’s hands to control being a young adult and all, and the fact that eventually the war indirectly took the life of his best friend, for this he feels helpl essly responsible and angry. Into adulthood, John becomes bitter towards the United States and its catastrophic news because he knows it is all destined to happen, and like everything else in his life, he has no control or power to change anything. The death of John’s mother, Tabitha Wheelwright, was out of John’s control and the job is predestined to be executed by Owen. Her death falls into Owen’s hands because as he believes one night after an atrocious fever, that he had interrupted the Angel of Death. Because of this, the task was then placed on him so that he would be the one to kill Tabitha Wheelwright. In Owen’s opinion, he had INTERUPTED AN ANGEL, he had DISTURBED AN ANGEL AT WORK, he had UPSET THE SCHEME OF THINGS.- The Angel, pg. 102 Owen convinced himself that the reason he was used to kill John’s mom is because he is an â€Å"instrument of God† and that God had taken away Owen’s hands because he is helplessly under the control of destiny. Tabitha Wheelwright died for a reason, and through God, it was predestined to happen by Ow... ... poem †¦ I know: you believe in God, but I believe in ‘Crass Casualty’—in chance, in luck. That’s what I mean. You see? What good does it do to make whatever decision you’re talking about? What good does courage do—when what happens next is up for grabs?- The Finger, pg. 504 John’s confusion in destiny stems from the fact that he believes that anything is possible in life and that it is not one big blueprint of the world. Owen Meany never gave John the chance to decide for himself in what he believed in because Owen disproved John’s belief by confirming to John that life is destiny. John Wheelwright in A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving is a depressed and bitter man who leads a solitary life in the confinements of his past because he has been so traumatized by catastrophic events in his life that he cannot bring himself to move forward. He is bitter about the future because he accepts that everything in life is predestined and he feels angry because he has no control of what the future brings. As destiny has it, he has no control over the death of his mother, the indirect death of his best friend caused by the Vietnam War, and the current to future issues facing the world.