Role of marketing in a consumer society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Role of marketing in a consumer society - Essay Example Marketing can be said to have both positive and negative effects on society and hence the study of marketing strategies must include both effects if one were to take an objective and reasoned approach to it.Marketing plays a vital role in mediating between the producers and the consumers of goods and services. Without marketing, the consumers would not be able to get information regarding the products that the producers are producing and hence be bereft of the information needed to make informed purchases. Without marketing, the producers of goods and services would be unable to communicate the benefits of owning products and hence they would not be in a position to relay the necessary information to the consumers. Ever since the advent of the mass produced modes of production and patterns of mass consumption, marketing has been regarded as the indispensable medium through which the â€Å"conversation† between the producers and consumers happens. This is the reason for the hug e marketing budgets that producers have and the way in which the media is used to broadcast images and advertisements is another facet of the consumer society that we live in (Mooij, 1998, 15). This paper addresses the question, â€Å"what is the role of marketing in a consumer society?† by analyzing the case of Apple Inc., which is renowned for its innovative and sophisticated approach to marketing. The readings assigned for the course as well as the textbooks that are prescribed are referred to for this paper as well as external research into the marketing methods of Apple and the way in which it has established a position for itself in the contemporary hi-tech marketplace. Marketing can be said to have both positive and negative effects on society and hence the study of marketing strategies must include both effects if one were to take an objective and reasoned approach to it. As the readings make it clear, the era of mass produced goods and the consumer society we live in has seen marketing as a force for good as well as something that has negative connotations. The focus of this paper is on a critical examination of how marketing is practiced in a consumer society with an emphasis on how Apple has used marketing to further its interests. Segmentation Apple focuses mainly on users who are 30 years or younger and as a study by Rubicon (2008) found out, 50% of the users who use Apple’s products fall into this segment. Hence, it makes sense for Apple to orient its marketing strategies towards this segment and as can be seen from the branding and marketing strategies that Apple employs to target its core customer base. Further, it has been found that Apple has one of the highest return customers or customers who buy another Apple product and hence can be considered as giving repeat business to the company. The typical strategy followed by Apple is not horizontal marketing like making a special type of peanut butter for every customer but in engag ing in vertical marketing where it produces a specific product for each type of use. This can be seen in the way that Apple has produced an IPod for listening, IPad for reading and IPhone for apps. The point here is that Apple does not add features to target individual customers in each segment. Rather, they target specific user experiences and build the product around that user experience accordingly. This approach of Apple towards market segmentation makes for a study by itself. Apple’s approach of targeting a specific market and then producing high quality products for that market segment is novel and something that has been successful for the company. As the following quote about market segmentation shows it is the conventional theories of segmentation that usually dictate the strategies of the companies, â€Å"In the real world of building products and attacking market opportunities, market segmentation is the process of defining and sub-dividing the aggregate, homogene ous market into addressable, targeted needs and aspirations buckets, which are in turn, defined by thresholds according to demographic, psychographic and/or budgetary constraints. Market segmentation strategy enables a company to drive complete, unified product solutions that are harmonious with messaging,

Research Paper About Education Essay Example for Free

Research Paper About Education Essay Etymologically, the word education is derived from the Latin Ä“ducÄ tiÃ…  (â€Å"A breeding, a bringing up, a rearing) from Ä“dÃ… «cÃ…  (â€Å"I educate, I train†) which is related to the homonym Ä“dÃ… «cÃ…  (â€Å"I lead forth, I take out; I raise up, I erect†) from Ä“- (â€Å"from, out of†) and dÃ… «cÃ…  (â€Å"I lead, I conduct†).[2] The role of government A right to education has been created and recognized by some jurisdictions: Since 1952, Article 2 of the first Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights obliges all signatory parties to guarantee the right to education. It does not however guarantee any particular level of education of any particular quality.[3] At the global level, the United Nations International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 guarantees this right under its Article 13.[4] Throughout history various governments have made it illegal to educate children privately or at home. Various totalitarian regimes, for example, have mandated indoctrination through propaganda in the Hitler Youth and propaganda in education under various communist regimes. Systems School children line, in Kerala, India Systems of schooling involve institutionalized teaching and learning in relation to a curriculum, which itself is established according to a predetermined purpose of the schools in the system. Schools systems are sometimes also based on religions, giving them different curricula. Curriculum Main articles: Curriculum, Curriculum theory, and List of academic disciplines School children in Durban, South Africa. In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses and their content offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults. A curriculum is prescriptive, and is based on a more general syllabus which merely specifies what topics must be understood and to what level to achieve a particular grade or standard. An academic discipline is a branch of knowledge which is formally taught, either at the university–or via some other such method. Each discipline usually has several sub-disciplines or branches, and distinguishing lines are often both arbitrary and ambiguous. Examples of broad areas of academic disciplines include the natural sciences, mathematics, computer science, social sciences, humanities and applied sciences.[5] Educational institutions may incorporate fine arts as part of K-12 grade curricula or within majors at coll eges and universities as electives. The various types of fine arts are music, dance, and theater.[6] Preschools Main article: Preschool education The term preschool refers to a school for children who are not old enough to attend kindergarten. It is a nursery school. Preschool education is important because it can give a child the edge in a competitive world and education climate.[citation needed] While children who do not receive the fundamentals during their preschool years will be taught the alphabet, counting, shapes and colors and designs when they begin their formal education they will be behind the children who already possess that knowledge. The true purpose behind kindergarten is â€Å"to provide a child-centered, preschool curriculum for three to seven year old children that aimed at unfolding the child’s physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them.†[7] Primary schools Main article: Primary education Primary school in open air. Teacher (priest) with class from the outskirts of Bucharest, around 1842. Primary (or elementary) education consists of the first 5–7 years of formal, structured education. In general, primary education consists of six or eight years of schooling starting at the age of five or six, although this varies between, and sometimes within, countries. Globally, around 89% of primary-age children are enrolled in primary education, and this proportion is rising.[8] Under the Education For All programs driven by UNESCO, most countries have committed to achieving universal enrollment in primary education by 2015, and in many countries, it is compulsory for children to receive primary education. The division between primary and secondary education is somewhat arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age. Some education systems have separate middle schools, with the transition to the final stage of secondary education taking place at around the age of fourteen. Schools that provide primary education, are mostly referred to as primary schools. Primary schools in these countries are often subdivided into infant schools and junior school. In India, compulsory education spans over twelve years, out of which children receive elementary education for 8 years. Elementary schooling consists of five years of primary schooling and 3 years of upper primary schooling. Various states in the republic of India provide 12 years of compulsory school education based on national curriculum framework designed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training. Secondary schools Main article: Secondary education Students working with a teacher at Albany Senior High School, New Zealand Students in a classroom at Samdach Euv High School, Cambodia In most contemporary educational systems of the world, secondary education comprises the formal education that occurs during adolescence. It is characterized by transition from the typically compulsory, comprehensive primary education for minors, to the optional, selective tertiary, post-secondary, or higher education (e.g. university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period, or a part of it, may be called secondary or high schools, gymnasiums, lyceums, middle schools, colleges, or vocational schools. The exact meaning of any of these terms varies from one system to another. The exact boundary between primary and secondary education also varies from country to country and even within them, but is generally around the seventh to the tenth year of schooling. Secondary education occurs mainly during the teenage years. In the United States, Canada and Australia primary and secondary educa tion together are sometimes referred to as K-12 education, and in New Zealand Year 1–13 is used. The purpose of secondary education can be to give common knowledge, to prepare for higher education or to train directly in a profession. The emergence of secondary education in the United States did not happen until 1910, caused by the rise in big businesses and technological advances in factories (for instance, the emergence of electrification), that required skilled workers. In order to meet this new job demand, high schools were created, with a curriculum focused on practical job skills that would better prepare students for white collar or skilled blue collar work. This proved to be beneficial for both employers and employees, for the improvement in human capital caused employees to become more efficient, which lowered costs for the employer, and skilled employees received a higher wage than employees with just primary educational attainment. In Europe, grammar schools or academies date from as early as the 16th century, in the form of public schools, fee-paying schools, or charitable educational foundations, which themselves have an even longer history. MLC Kx12 in Portland, Oregon Autodidacticism Main article: Autodidacticism Autodidacticism (also autodidactism) is self-directed learning that is related to but different from informal learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is learning on your own or by yourself, and an autodidact is a self-teacher. Autodidacticism is a contemplative, absorbing process. Some autodidacts spend a great deal of time reviewing the resources of libraries and educational websites. One may become an autodidact at nearly any point in ones life. While some may have been informed in a conventional manner in a particular field, they may choose to inform themselves in other, often unrelated areas. Notable autodidacts include Abraham Lincoln (U.S. president), Srinivasa Ramanujan (mathematician), Michael Faraday (chemist and physicist), Charles Darwin (naturalist), Thomas Alva Edison (inventor), Tadao Ando (architect), George Bernard Shaw (playwright), and Leonardo da Vinci (engineer, scientist, mathematician). Vocational Main article: Vocational education Vocational education is a form of education focused on direct and practical training for a specific trade or craft. Vocational education may come in the form of an apprenticeship or internship as well as institutions teaching courses such as carpentry, agriculture, engineering, medicine, architecture and the arts. ]Indigenous Main article: Indigenous education Indigenous education refers to the inclusion of indigenous knowledge, models, methods and content within formal and non-formal educational systems. Often in a post-colonial context, the growing recognition and use of indigenous education methods can be a response to the erosion and loss of indigenous knowledge and language through the processes of colonialism. Furthermore, it can enable indigenous communities to â€Å"reclaim and revalue their languages and cultures, and in so doing, improve the educational success of indigenous students.†[9]

DIY X-Y Plotter Design

DIY X-Y Plotter Design Objective: The design report includes the details about the process involved in building a DIY XY-plotter and programming the device to draw a square or a circle with precise dimensions and scale. The components and the design is made feasible to the budget available i.e.,  £100 GBP. The device is designed and built with accuracy to meet the given task by performing and validating the test required. In the final step of this project, the precision rate and accuracy is taken care to get the necessary output. Introduction: A XY plotter is a two dimensional printing or writing machine with continuous lines in x and y axes. The pen held by the pen control moves in all possible directions such as forward and backwards, as well as sideways and diagonally over a flat surface. Each axis of the plotter is controlled by separate single stepper motor and railings, the pen is controlled by servo. The electricals are controlled and achieved by the controller which is lpc1768 and 12v power supply. In this project, the machine has been designed to draw a square or a circle on a A5 drawing bed given, depending on the configuration selected. This project should meet specific requirements. Some of the constraints to take into account are the material provided, which is acrylic, the controller to be used, which is the mbed lpc1768, and a felt tip pen and the sensor, which is solenoid. Not to mention, the overall budget should limit an amount of  £100GBP. XY movement mechanism: The plotter has two axes control and involves movement of the pen in x and y axis. Each axis of the plotter is controlled by single stepper motor, which is NEMA stepper motor 17. The design involves the A5 bed with the dimension 300mm in length and 180mm in width which moves in the direction forward and backwards using single stepper motor on edge of the sliding bed. The pen is controlled by servo and the conveyer holding the pen is moved in the direction left and right using the stepper motor placed attached to the gears at the back end of the plotter. The design is expected to be plotted on the A5 sheet of dimension 250mm in length and 150mm in width. The pen can also be controlled by solenoid for continuous movement of the pen on the A5 bed, due to the feasibility and availability servo is replaced by solenoid in the project. The basic idea of the plotter design is shown below. 1a. The front view of the design 1b. The position of the stepper motor for A5 bed control. 1c. The position of the stepper motor for conveyer control. 2. The servo to control pen 3. The solenoid LIST OF THE COMPONENTS AND ITS COST Components required Cost per piece(approx.) Mbed lpc1768 controller  £40 NEMA stepper motor 17(2 no)  £8 Stepper motor driver DRV 8825(2 no)  £7 Bread board  £2 Acrylic sheet  £15 Solenoid  £23 Total  £95 Resource usage plan: Week no: 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 Laser CAM software Mechanical platform development(building x-y axes) Mechanical platform development(movement of pen and the railings) Mechanical platform demo Software development(motor movement) Software development(plotting) Software, electrical and mechanical demo Final demo Report preparation Report submission Critical evaluation: The challenges faced in this project are as follows The precision of the output, because the railings are replaced for linear bearing and screws the precision is expected to differ from the other x-y plotters. The positioning of the pen, the solenoid is made capable enough to sense the position of the pen and move to the desired position to start plotting. The movement of the pen for neat and clear plotting without any scribbling on the paper. The stability of the machine to sustain the power supply and railings. Testing plan: The plotter is tested for the positioning of the pen and its control. The sensor is tested for any obstacle on the plotting surface. The evaluation of performance, as well as the precision rate and accuracy, not to forget the timing to plot the given design. References and Bibliography: http://www.instructables.com/id/X-Y-Plotter http://www.planetarduino.org/?cat=501 https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FAlBPFC41FsM%2Fsddefault.jpgimgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.planetarduino.org%2F%3Fcat%3D501docid=4vmP-FZ2mZej4Mtbnid=sDST5jp8d5VvOM%3Avet=1w=640h=480bih=651biw=1366q=electronic%20diagram%20of%20DIY%20Printing%20tiny%20images%20using%20Arduino%20Uno%20ved=0ahUKEwi7qrDOrpDSAhVGHJAKHaGxB0gQMwg6KBUwFQiact=mrcuact=8#h=480imgrc=sDST5jp8d5VvOM:vet=1w=640 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X%E2%80%93Y_plotter https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fs.storage.akamai.coub.com%2Fget%2Fb57%2Fp%2Fcoub%2Fsimple%2Fcw_timeline_pic%2F5e202714dd0%2Fd6c91cf7036cb97f2e46f%2Fbig_1441790454_image.jpgimgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fcoub.com%2Fview%2F82ma7docid=6kkein0mM-O7BMtbnid=e3QH-bglqz1ulM%3Avet=1w=1280h=720bih=651biw=1366q=DIY%20Printing%20tiny%20images%20using%20Arduino%20Uno%20ved=0ahUKEwiY44OQsZDSAhVElJAKHbHzCJIQMwgaKAAwAAiact=mrcuact=8#h=720imgrc=e3QH-bglqz1ulM:vet=1w=1280 https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fhackadaycom.files.wordpress.com%2F2016%2F12%2Fscreenshot-2016-12-06-10-48-52.png%3Fw%3D800imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fhackaday.com%2F2016%2F12%2F12%2Fdiy-mini-printer-is-95-wood-prints-tiny-cute-images%2Fdocid=iDfAJ95GWy7MeMtbnid=IG6-g0DBQKyfgM%3Avet=1w=800h=428bih=651biw=1366q=DIY%20Printing%20tiny%20images%20using%20Arduino%20Uno%20ved=0ahUKEwiY44OQsZDSAhVElJAKHbHzCJIQMwgcKAIwAgiact=mrcuact=8#h=428imgrc=IG6-g0DBQKyfgM:vet=1w=800 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlBPFC41FsM

Art Values Essay -- essays research papers

People from all eras have communicated what they value through art, architecture and style. This statement is obvious. The first example I will discuss is that of the ancient Egyptian society. Their society was one that was based upon death. Everything in their lives revolved around preparing themselves for the afterlife. Included in that is their paintings; they contained the entire figure of the human, making sure their was no limb left unseen, for fear that it would not be their in the after life. Another example of how the ancient Egyptian’s values were expressed through art was the lavish funerary complexes built for their pharaohs. They were monstrous, and intended entirely to help propel the deceased pharaoh into the next life. Ancient Greece was a society of self-perceived beauty. They loved to look at themselves, especially if they were male. They male gender was perceived as perfection in that time period, and as such it should be portrayed in all of its glory, hence the no clothing policy. They sculpted, painted and created in what they believed to be perfection. They created all buildings in perfect rectangles, since they believed that rectangles were the epitome of perfection, the â€Å"golden section† if you will. Greek art was a portrayal of their ideals, which is why most people call this period the idealistic stage in Art history. The Romans were very much like their Greek counter parts. Romans, as a whole, loved Greek art. They enjoyed looking at it and even t...

Jane Austen’s View on Men: The Contrasts of the Gentlemen Essay

What Brabourne has astutely perceived is not only Austen’s ability to tell extraordinary stories about ordinary people, but also her penchant of revealing, through her works, the various aspects of the nature and behaviour of men and women. Jane Austen is regarded as one of the leading novelists of her era. Some of her most notable works include Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. A common element that the reader will find in all these novels is the author’s attempt to explore the many facets of the human temperament. It is widely accepted that Austen’s novels delve into the consciousness of the female mind and the factors that govern their behaviour. Through her complex female characters, she expressed her own views and outlooks and displayed subtle hints of feminism. But what many readers fail to discern is her tendency to analyse the qualities of her male counterparts. The word â€Å"gentleman† has lost some of its profundity in the world as it exists today. But a gentleman in the pre-Victorian era was considered to be a man of principles and values. Not only did he conduct himself in a manner most chivalrous and civil but also possessed a polite and sophisticated demeanour, and more often than not, the luxury of wealth. One might have been a gentleman by birth, which would include a man born in a noble and respectable family, enjoying a higher status in society as compared to the commoners. Therefore, one might say that social position and family were major attributes considered while terming someone a gentleman. Such men seldom indulged in work or manual labour and lived mainly off of the property and wealth that was bequeathed to them. A man could also acquire the title of a gentleman by exhibiting the traits required to be possessed by one. Such men worked their way up the social ladder by attaining wealth and status, mingling with people of noble upbringing and developing a courteous and refined disposition. In order to fully comprehend as well as appreciate the implication and significance of Jane Austen’s works, it is highly imperative to consider her novels in the light of how they reflected upon her views regarding â€Å"gentlemen†, as well as men in general. Without analysing the role that men play in the novels of Jane Austen, it would not be feasible for the reader to recognise the complete magnitude of her works. By inspecting Austen’s point of view regarding men, the reader can gain an insight into the diverse qualities that men exhibit, in addition to the relationships and experiences in Austen’s own life that govern her characters. Further it also allows us to relate to the men in our own lives. The reader will find numerous instances wherein Austen has endeavoured to explicate upon her notions regarding men. She has examined many characters of diverse natures in order to establish the different types of gentlemen that existed in the society of her times. Austen frequently used comparison and contrast as a means of expressing her views lucidly. She brought into the picture two gentlemen of varying natures, and by weighing one against the other, ascertained the distinctive characteristics displayed by them. Jane Austen’s scrutiny of men is limited not only to their physical appearance, but extends to their emotional and mental conditions. She has examined and judged men based on their intelligence, their sense of morality, their aptitude and their financial situation. Conclusion: The society that existed during Jane Austen’s life and times was primarily a patriarchal one. Men wore the pants and controlled all the major affairs. Through her works, Austen has attempted to deconstruct this society and give her readers a glimpse into the circumstances of the time. Her works have also permitted us to identify with her own thoughts and notions regarding society, the role of women and also her views on men. She has employed characters of varying dispositions, in each of her works, to attain the said objective. Her works including Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and Sensibility are all examples of such works. In Pride and Prejudice, the reader will find that the two focal characters that Austen has used to illustrate her approach are Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy and George Wickham. The two men are largely represented through the eyes of Ms. Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist of the novel. While Mr. Darcy is at first portrayed as a prejudiced, condescending and supercilious individual, the latter is depicted as being more congenial and gracious. Both however, had grown up under the same roof. The disparity shown in the two gentlemen’s natures suggests that even though two persons may be brought up to imbibe the same sets of values and traditions, it is quite possible that they may turn out quite different from one another. The rearing of a person often has a less considerable impact upon him than his own innate character. But ultimately, what Elizabeth and the readers discover is that a man cannot be judged simply by his appearance. Wickham, who appears to be polite and quite the gentleman is revealed to be a treacherous and perfidious person on account of his deceitful actions. On the other hand, we realize that Mr. Darcy is the true gentleman, a man of honour, fidelity and sincerity. By contrasting the characters of Darcy and Wickham, time and again, Austen has shrewdly imparted knowledge as to the attributes of an honest man and a true gentleman. Emma is another one of Jane Austen’s works that provides us with an insight into the diverse natures displayed by men. Here the distinguishing factor lies in the way in which a man puts his mental and intellectual qualities to use. Further, it also elucidates the importance that a gentleman would ascribe to his social and moral responsibilities. While George Knightley uses his intellect for the purpose of doing good Frank Churchill uses his mental capabilities for selfish and unethical reasons. The former is driven by his sense of responsibility towards society as well as the cause of morality; the latter is driven by corrupt intentions that would benefit no one but himself. In Sense and Sensibility, Austen employs the characters of Colonel Brandon and John Willoughby to demonstrate the essence of gentlemanly behaviour. The conduct of a man, particularly towards women is a crucial feature in determining his potential for being called a gentleman. Willoughby, although suave, handsome and an epitome of the young, charming men that women covet, is far from being a gentleman. Brandon is the gentleman, having comported himself in that manner. They are both in love with the same woman and yet it is their behaviour towards her that causes to differentiate between them. An element of emotion has been brought into play here by the author, wherein she establishes the disparate nature of the two men by depicting one as kind and thoughtful, and the other as unsympathetic and callous. The above mentioned works reveal different facets of a man’s nature that would endow him with the privilege of being referred to as a gentleman. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen has proved that it is the conduct and behaviour of the men that distinguish them from one another. In Emma, she reveals her belief that it is the aspect of how one uses his mental faculties that brings out the true gentleman. Understanding one’s moral duties and ensuring that one is faithful to them is a sign of an absolute gentleman. And lastly, in Sense and Sensibility, emotional and behavioural traits define a gentleman. Austen here discloses her standpoint about the significance of a man’s conduct and the virtues of being considerate and sympathetic in establishing his being a gentleman. At the end of all three novels, it is the true gentleman that succeeds in winning over his love, confirming that Jane Austen was of the opinion that it is always the noble, well-mannered, kind and moral man that is ultimately victorious.

Haitian Women in History essays

Haitian Women in History essays Women in Haiti have been for a long time silenced. Their heroic acts during slavery and for the independence of Haiti have not been acknowledged. The women of Haiti have been and still are making a huge impact on society and on how their state is constructed. They have long fought for their right and created women's movements. Their bodies were controlled and violated. Rape and torture was use as a way to intimidate the women and also to make them pay for action made by people other than them. My paper will analyse the way women where portrayed and the important role these Haitian women played, especially during and after the Duvalierist regime. I will talk about the way in which they where reduced to inferior in their status and also about the violence that they were subject to, paying a particular attention to the rape of women. I will also take a look at the emergence of the many women's movements in Haiti and the ones started by Haitians in Canada or the United States. Finally I will look at women writers and their role. My attention will be focus on two novels by Edwidge Danticat: Krik? Krak? and Breath, Eyes, Memory. This paper will try to show how women reclaimed their identity and their right to all be different. Women in Haiti have always played an important role in its history. They fiercely fought along side with men to free Haiti and stop slavery. However, even after they had won the battle for independence, women were still seen as inferior and all their efforts, forgotten. President Dessalines' Independence Constitution of 1805 provided in article 9 that "no one I worthy of being a Haitian if he is not a good father, a good son, a good husband, and above all, a good soldier#. Here we see how women were not seen as worthy of being a Haitian. They are from the beginning inferiorised by men. This belief of the inferiority of women remained. Their place was associated whit home and domestic chores. They were seen as ...