Computer is a great technology in our life Essay

Most of the people rely on computer nowadays. It serves us tool to lessen work for providing a specific output. Most of office work has nominal human errors, redundant data and time consuming. Some of manual process is a time consuming and inconsistent data processing and provides redundant output. The computer program is the one that will provide particular answers to these issues. One of the office works is a library that processes borrowing and returning of books. Process has huge manipulation of information in libraries. The library is a manual process for student registration, borrowing and returning of books. The student will first secure library card. He/she will present his certificate of matriculation with 1x1pc picture. If new student, the librarian will process the library card and issue card. If old student, just validate the Library card. In case of lost, re-issue a Library card to the student. In borrowing books, the student/client will register at the statistics book. He/she will present a library card / borrowers card to the personnel. If the purpose of coming is reading, the librarian will recommend library resources. Inform them where they can find or locate the materials and monitor as well as help clients on problems encountered while inside the library room. If the clients finished reading the books, they may return the books or reading materials. If they will borrow books/materials the library assistant/aide shall: a) Finds appropriate library materials b) Check the completeness of the books c) Ask the borrower to fill up the library book card and borrower’s card. d) Check the proper entry in the library book card. e) Counter check the due date f) Clip the library card, identification card, borrower’s card, together with the book card. g) File the card on the tray h) Issue the book/reading material with the date of return together with the borrower’s card. The client will receive the borrowed books, borrower’s card and acknowledge the book with the return date. Learning is discovering and developing ones talents and skills, this is why it is important to learn from books that can deeper ones knowledge found in library. Network Based library system of School is helping to enhance and improve its services. The Library system will help the assigned personnel lessen the workload of the job. The inaccuracy and inefficiency of the manual system hassled to a slow service of the librarian. In order to improve the said method, the researchers decided to shift from a manual system of locating books to a computerized library system. As the manual system turned into a computer based system, it will be included for those from successful ones. PROJECT CONTEXT School (SCHOOL) of legazpi’s library at present time uses the manual Library System in accomplishing and performing its tasks of recording and tracking of books, computing the overdue account, book cataloguing and make inventory of books. The librarian and other library personnel undergoes / undertakes the lengthy process of recording and making an inventory of books by means of writing in the record book and copying all the titles and necessary information of the old and new books. In borrowing books, the librarian will obtain the borrower’s card. This borrower would fill up to be able to borrow the book needed. The same process of returning of books the borrowers shall return borrowed books on the following day as stated on library policies. The said transaction appeared at the statistics logbook, wherein books have been borrowed is recorded including the date borrowed and returned. If failure to return the book acquired, they are obliged to pay the overdue account. The SCHOOL of legazpi has encountered problems with their transactions especially when the library uses a manual system which is the main hitch of the library. They consume so much time and effort in recording / tracking, computation of fines, inventory and locating of books and do have a hard time in managing and protecting records where it may easily get lost. The inaccuracy and insufficiency of the manual system hassled to a slow service of the librarian. In order to improve the manual process on the library they need to convert the manual system to computerize. Purpose and Description To provide a computerized library system for the School (SCHOOL) library that will help and give solution in solving the following problems: (1) Computerization of SCHOOL Library System that will replace the current manual system in the library;(2) Quick searching in borrowing and returning of books for quick process in updating record; (3) Viewing of book information via Local Area Network (LAN) to make records accessible to students, faculty, staff and researchers; and (4) Computations of fines for overdue books. General objective To have / provide a Network-based Library System for School. Specific objectives * To develop a module for book registration and student registration that will print card and library reports. * To develop a module for borrowing and returning of books. * To develop module for viewing of available book/s via Local Area Network. * To develop a module that computes fines for overdue books. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS The study will include the following: Book Registration, this module will allow registration of books. The information of each book (such as accession number, author, category etc. ) will be stored in a database. It will be easy for the librarian, library in charge and borrowers to know the availability of books, the status of each book is stated whether it is borrowed or available. Borrowers Registration, this module will allow registration of borrower directly at the library. Its function is to record the data such as borrower’s no. borrowers name, address, course, year level, email address. The borrower’s information will be utilized for printing of library card and in borrowing. Printing of library card, this module will allow the librarian to print library card. The system will generate borrower’s number. Borrowing and Returning of books, the proposed system will provide the record of available books which can borrow by the researchers. Its function is automatically records borrower’s information (borrower’s name and no. ) and book information (accession no. and title). Searching of book, the system will allow fast searching of book in different criteria such as title, author and subject. Its function is to fasten the time of searching of a particular book. Backup and Restore; this module will includes backup and restore of database in order to prevent data loss. Generation of Reports; the system will generate reports on the inventory of books, borrowed books, and reserved books, list of books, list of borrowers, and list of delinquent borrowers. Maintenance of Record; the system will maintain the following: user maintenance, book information (author, publisher, description, subject etc. ,) course management and offences. The system will not cover the following; Inventory of library materials and equipment such as chairs, tables, and cabinets; Reservation of books; Indexing of journals, periodicals, newspapers, magazines, and other library materials; Monitoring damage books and reporting of purchased books and its expenses and other collection of fines to be paid. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The study would beneficial the following: LIBRARIAN – the computer based library transaction will help her/his workload and give the librarian the better way of storing the records of the library and improve its operations in borrowing and returning of books and speed up the printing of library cards. With the help of the system, the librarian will find the system as a tool to make his/her registration faster response to queries by library researchers such as availability of book and proper computation of fines to borrower. RESEARCHERS OF THE LIBRARY – with the computerization of library transactions, the researchers will then have a more convenient and efficient way of researching in the library. If a student wishes to borrow book in library, the student can now know the availability of the book in the library. Students will have the benefit of the good service of borrowing and returning of books, accurate computation of fines, better book reservation and borrowers registration. In addition, the student will gain more interest in studying and researching because they will be able to retrieve valuable information. SCHOOL LEGAZPI LIBRARY – the computerization of library at School Legazpi will serves as a proof that they can cope with the advancement of technology. It will also serve as a means of giving the students quality education and service through the help of technology. Many students will encourage pursuing their education because of the convenient way of accessing valuable information. PROPONENTS – the study will give the proponents the information and background about the library transactions. This study will help the proponents to have a better understanding about Transaction Processing System (TPS) such as library system transactions in a SCHOOL Legazpi. This study will provide the proponents the knowledge about the different tools and techniques necessary in developing computer systems. Moreover, this study will enable the proponents to acquire skills in system development, project management as well as design and analysis skills as the study progress and the system is developed. FUTURE RESEARCHERS – the proposed system will provide the future researcher information about the library system, and they can come up with effective ideas that will help them in their own studies. This study will give them the right and essential information they will need such as the different transactions involved in the library system. CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURES AND STUDIES This chapter presents the review of related literature and studies that provide a wide idea and in relation to the study. It cites the similarities of the current system from other previous studies. It also intends to provide framework that are related to present study which are the theoretical framework that are related to present study which are the theoretical and conceptual as well as the definition of terms. RELATED LITERATURES The march of electronic technology in the library gives incentive idea that click and drag was replaced brick, mortar, and papers. People have the option of going into computer to search for book and journals and check out materials, however, these options have not replaced human librarians or paperwork According to Michael M. Kajanjian, instructor of Triton College the computer and internet have great promise. This does not mean electronics was or should eliminate library buildings, books and journals. This computer based access is very important to locate the recorded information by using a computer instead of having to always visit the library. Brian Neilsen stated that the classroom adds the dimension to the library buildings. The people attend and interact with librarian and borrowers outside the library. These interactions allow us to update recorded knowledge, where the library resources give us access to record information. FOREIGN STUDIES The Vaxjo University Library of Sweden has a web based system called Diva. Diva stands for digitala vetenskapliga akrivet (Academic Archive online). It enables students and researchers to publish their research work to the University Library. Students and researchers can also search, research done by other researchers. Each year the student publishes their result in conference papers, journal articles, thesis reports, books, etc. These publications should be registered both at the Vaxjo University Library and RICS (Research in Computer Science) web site in a semantic way to avoid any kind of redundancy and errors. To develop a system which follows the principle â€Å"publish once and view everywhere† is the objective of this project. The National University Library system in Turin, Italy provides the National University system community with access to affordable, quality resources and relevant information literacy skills, expediting their integration into the community of lifelong learners. The Library will create an information literate community through a state-of-the art instructional program. The Library will be proactive and creative in reaching out, in order to anticipate and respond to community needs for resources, programs and services. Vision Digital Video Library System at the University of Kansas, USA. The digital libraries of the future will provide electronic access to information in many different forms. Recent technological advances make the storage and transmissions of digital video Library system prototype suitable for storage, indexing, and retrieving video and audio information and providing information across the internet. LOCAL STUDIES Bicol University Polangui Campus Library System was proposed by Arevalo, Rubiano, Rebusi and Romero of STI College Legazpi. The proponents aim to provide an Automated Library System of Bicol University Polangui Campus. The proposed system was to provide a faster tracking of activities in terms of library transactions such as borrowing, returning, and computation of fines and penalties for overdue accounts and generation of reports. Bar code reader was also used for faster transactions specifically in borrowing and returning book. The system proposed by group of Arevalo includes the printing of library card and card catalog, searching of book and borrower as well as generation of library reports. These features will be included in the proponents similar to their study. The system of Bicol University Polangui Campus includes reports for borrowers list, book list, borrowed books and other reports where proponents also integrate on the proposed system. [ANG2000] The University Library of UP Diliman encompasses one Main Library and thirty-five (35) College or Unit Libraries. It envisions global information exchange throughout the UP Library System. It is mandated to be the information resource center of excellence in the social sciences, humanities and basic sciences. It strives for full automation, a world-class collection and a staff of thoroughly modern information professionals. The University Library was officially established by the Board of Regents in 1922, fourteen years after the founding of the University of the Philippines in 1908. The University Library, which was at the same time designated as the Department of Library Science was placed on an equal level with other departments of instruction for the services of all colleges of the university. Between the years 1908 to 1922 University constituents made use of small libraries in the various units and colleges of the university and government libraries in Manila for their research and information needs. The UP Diliman Library Collections have been developed to aid of teaching, research and extension work in the disciplines designated to Diliman. Topping the list of choice collections in UP Diliman is the Filipiniana Collections, which come in print, non-print and digital forms. [ISRAR] Divine Word College of legazpi High School Library. The school decided to computerize the library system because of the problems encountered in the existing manual operation. According to the librarian, Mrs. Mariquit Pedrasa, the inventory, updating and maintenance of the material as well as the records are very tedious on her part. In the year 2004, the library started to implement the computerized library system. According to the librarian, the computerized library system answers the problems regarding time consuming process for lending and borrowing of books. It is easier now to update the status of the books and with the use of the automated card catalogue the user will be helped to find the information about the book. [BAL2006]. Aquinas University of legazpi, implemented the computerized library system, in 2006 by Mr. Atonio Morada. Because of the problems encountered in the existing manual process, the school library decided to computerize the library process. The system provides improvement of monitoring of books by using bar coding and card cataloguing and it also automatically generates reports needed by the librarian. When a book is borrowed, it will automatically show daily report on the transaction. If the book is not returned on a due date, it will display information about the unreturned books. One the book has been returned, the database will be updated. Available and reserved books will be shown in a daily report. The researchers can only reserve on book. For the accuracy in card cataloguing, the system has Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). The researchers can view the information and the status of the book using the internet. [AQU2004] . Gap Bridge of the Study Computerization of the manual process of the service of the School had brought a great help to the personnel assigned. Technology today is very important to achieve it. Through Computerized system service, it had lessened the workload; had an easy access to information and need managed all the transaction. Going over the related literature and studies, the researchers found that other researchers had only focused on the computerization of the recording of books, inventory, sorting and generating reports especially in the Library System. The researchers decided to conduct the study in the SCHOOL library to make the system fully enhanced and developed. Today, the Local Area Network (LAN) represents a new playing  field where all the amount of knowledge that comes from traditional media is molded together. The library plays an important role for the people to gain more knowledge, that’s why it is good to have an easy access to information from the library. To enhance the services of the library, the researchers formulate a study for faster and for efficient access in library transaction, through the Network based Library System. The students can now search and reserve books through local area connection. This system had contributed big help improve the service of the SCHOOL library transactions. NOTES IsrarUlHaq, A web based system for Publishing Publications to both Vaxjo University and RICS†, University of Bovas/ Sweden School of library and Information Science. [ISRAR] KokMengPua, â€Å"Prototyping the Vision Digital Video Library System, â€Å" www. ittc. ku. edu/research/thesis/documents/kokmenpuathesis. pdf www. updiliman. com [BAL2006]Baldres, Jennifer B. , â€Å" Library Services of DWCL of Legazpi and their effectiveness†. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis, University of Nueva Caceres, Naga City 2006 [AQU2004]Baloloy, Merjerere b. Bermas, Maricel L. , Mary JessB. , DaytoEditha A. â€Å"Computer Based Library System of Aquinas University of Legazpi Professional Schools† (Unpublished Masters Thesis, Aquinas University of Legazpi, September 2004 Www. yahoo. com, † Central Library at IIT Madras:. www. ndcp. edu. ph/library/thesislist. php? Kazanjan, Michael M. â€Å"Ethics and Phenomenology†, â€Å"Internet Encyclopedia† Aileen V. Ang and Edelweiss E. Monsalve, AMA Computer learning Center(Albay) Library System (Unpublished Thesis of AMA Computer College Center of Legazppi, December 2001. CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN This chapter shows the discussion of the research and methodology used in the system. The contents of this chapter are the research methods applied in the present study. The System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) was also utilized for the analysis of the determined problem including the diagrams for Data Flow Diagram (DFD), Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD) and Top-Down Structure which helped to illustrate the program designed for the system. It also discusses the sources of data, research instrument used, and Data gathering procedure. Research Method The present study had made used of the descriptive method for further analysis of the problem on the School legazpi’s Library. This method was used in completion of the study which the researchers had gathered information through observation, conduct interview on library personnel in order to gather and accurate data and reliable information to answer sub-problems presented in the study including relevant facts needed in the study. This method was chosen by the researchers for the analysis of the information that can be used for the implementation of the research study. Research Design In the system, the most important relation in the study was the interaction between the library personnel and the students / borrowers. the researchers had conducted a study for an efficient and fast service of the assigned personnel to students /borrowers. In this study, the researchers had used the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for the systematized approach in solving the problem to make a useful system. The researchers have refined the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) into a logical strategy that can be applied to many kinds of problems. This has five phases, the Planning, Analysisand Design, Implementation and the Operation and Support phase. Planning In this phase, the researchers had recognized, diagnosed and defines the problem, by means of gathering information like interview, researches, and providing questionnaires. During this phase, assessments were conducted on the overall scope of the problem and how much money and time would be spent in solving it. The researchers planned and conducted the study to formulate solutions based from the discovered problems in the SCHOOL Library system. Analysis During this phase, normally involve developing a problem definition and taking an initial look at the feasibility of the project. It also involves studying and documenting the current system, interviewing librarian and other users about their needs and recommending solution to the problem. The proponents also analyze the requirements to consider in order interacting with its environment. Design In this phase, the proponents transformed the problem into solution. First, the proponents produced a system specification that tells the librarian what the system will do. After the librarian approves the conceptual design, the proponents plan to design an alternative way of using an object oriented design to enhance the existing system based on the information gathered. Implementation In this phase, the proponents transform the library problems into a solution on a computer based system. The system is installed and tested. Testing is very important to ensure its performing optimally. Bugs in the system are identified and corrected. Maintenance In this phase, the manual system must change into a newly enhanced system for past performance of task. If there are some additional requirements in the system, the researchers should add it in the system programs and develops the software. It is important to maintain the convenience as used by librarian and borrower of the new system. DATA GATHERING TOOLS: The researchers aim to gather all the data and information needed to the study. They used some ways to be able to formulate a solution to the problem of the existing system. One of the ways is looking for related books and references within school and other school for the related topic. Observing in the library and browsing the internet were also factor for gathering important data. however, the most efficient and effective way the proponents does was setting up and conducting an interview with the school librarian and other library personnel, for a reason it provides more detailed and reliable statement to answer the problem in the study. The following are the data gathering procedures that the researchers will implement: 1. Interview It is one of the methods utilized by the proponents for the gathering of data. Although process is time-consuming, it is very useful for the reason that it gathers specific information and raises follow-up question for the sake of clarity and verification of data to the librarian and the borrower. The first step in the process of conducting interview is to construct a letter of request for the client. After granted, the proponents begin to research and ask over several questions with regards the transaction and other related to the study. 2. Research This is the methodical process of collecting and evaluating information to increase proponent’s understanding of the phenomenon under study. These aid proponents as a guide for developing an effective and efficient system. The researcher’s follow a line of investigation from other sources to draw and gather related information. The books that have relation to the topic were compiled and used as reference. The proponents make use of another powerful tool called the internet to look for a data which contributes on the competence of the study. All these and through these materials helps a lot to make the system efficient and effective. 3. Observation This is the moment where the group takes time in observing, examining, monitoring and identifying the routine of the library transaction such as the way how the borrowers have an access to books in the library. What are the policies and penalties? And how books are being arrange in the shelves and how it was categorized. Through to this, it helps the proponents distinguish how they must design the system.

The Importance of Technology

The technology has greatly improved our lives by providing many easy services without the interference of any kind physical activity. It improves levels of education and developing world nations to foster economic development. It has made life easier by providing its best and rapid solution across all the organizations such as school, Bank, place of worship, and even the favorite places to shop. Technology makes lives easier than before; nowadays we can communicate with each other from anywhere in the globe. At the same time technology can have a slightly negative influence because it can make us lazy and take things for granted.Wireless technology and ICT (Information and Communications Technology) infrastructure development is also essential for entrepreneurship and small business development. † Computer technology has leveled the competitive playing field, allowing home-based businesses to look and act as big as their corporate competitors. Broadband Internet connections, sm art phones such as the BlackBerry and the iPhone, and other technologies are so affordable that setting up a business takes a much smaller initial investment than it once did† (Understanding Business, Tenth Edition, P.155) and this part of the article is describes how technology is essential in developing and improving of small businesses.Technology plays an enormous role in my life in many aspects. Firstly, I am going to mention the role of technology in my school which is Devry University. Honestly, I feel so comfortable with using the internet in all my classes whether onsite or online. Instead of doing my assignments, essays, researches, discussion and answering quizzes or exams in class, I could now do all these stuff online and even the books are electronic which is pretty much awesome. So, using technology in my school will save a lot of money for me as I don’t need to buy books like before. Also, it saves time and effort by doing discussion and answering exams o nline.Technology has made a huge progress in banking and accounting fields. Technology has a major impact on the way banking and financial services are delivered. A wide range of alternative delivery mechanism becomes available, Internet, ATM†¦ these Reduces the dependence on the branch network as a core delivery mechanism. Technology helps me a lot every day in paying my bills online without needing to go to bank; Currently, I have an account at bank of America and I got this info. From their official web site â€Å"At your convenience—pay bills and make transfers online from home, the office, wherever you can connect. Transfer money safely and quickly between your own accounts or to your friends and family even if they have accounts at other banks. You can also schedule bills in advance knowing they’ll be paid securely and on time†. So, internet and online banking makes everything clear and easy for me.Technology is always helps me in shopping. Stores hop e to catch customers' attention and improve the buying experience with interactive devices such as holographic store greeters and mirrors that dispense fashion advice. While these technologies may be eye catching, consumers could find them gimmicky. And that’s what exactly happens to me; I found that using the internet is very useful in shopping. I could find any store near me, also I could buy anything online like electronic devices, clothes, watches and even any huge appliance, all these stuff I could pay for it at my home which will save a lot of money, effort and time because it will shipped to me on time.Technology has a very great effect in communicating people with each other all over the world. Many social media websites had been constructed to help in communicating friends and the community in general. Social media as Facebook, Twitter, youtube, My Space and many others do a great favor to the humanity. The world communicates, as defined by Webster as:1. To exchange information 2. To convey feeling or thought 3. To understand one another.And that is in my opinion is how should the communication be? We have to communicate with each other through websites and blogs to exchanges  information and of course it will improve and develop the global marketing by ads that being posted every day on these websites.Technology had helped the small business so far so great. It has freed small businesses from the restrictions of prints ads. It also helped them a lot in the advertising field. Mobile marketing is a relatively new frontier that reaches people through text messaging, E-mails and posting many other things about deals and discounts on their page at any social media websites. Technology has an essential role in manufacturing. Today many manufacturers use intermittent processes. Computers, robots, and flexible manufacturing processes allow firms to turn out custom-made goods almost as fast as mass-produced goods were once produced.(Understanding bus iness, Tenth Edition, P.241). Several major developments have made U.S. companies more competitive: (1) computer-aided design and manufacturing, (2) flexible manufacturing, (3) lean manufacturing, and (4) mass customization.As it known that everything in our live has a positive aspect and a negative aspect as well. In my opinion the positive aspects of technology is pretty much greater than its negativity. As I mentioned before in my paper that technology can have a slightly negative influence because it can make us lazy and take things for granted. And that is 100% true because we will let internet do everything for us and of course it will effect on relationships between the members of family as they cannot find enough time to meet or talk with each other. But, I think if we could overcome these all problems we could be more successful and more effective in our society.

Payroll Department

Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION Background of the Study The manual process of payroll system comes with a step by step procedure, first is to establish a timecard system where employees fill out a timesheet or use a time clock. Use timesheets that contain unfilled slots for regular, vacation, personal or sick time. Create a separate filing system for all timecards submitted. If employer have salaried employees, create a log with the salary amount each employee should be paid each pay-period (Grace, 2012).According to the definition of Roos (2005) a payroll system involves everything that has to do with the payment of employees and the filing of employment taxes. This includes keeping track of hours, calculating  wages, withholding taxes and other  deductions, printing and delivering checks and paying employment taxes to the government. In addition, payroll system enables the employer to process its payroll through a computerized system. As stated by McGraw (2009), payroll is the sum of al l financial records of salaries for an employee, wages, bonuses and deductions.Payroll plays a major role in a company for several reasons. From an ethics in business viewpoint payroll is a critical department as employees are responsive to payroll errors and irregularities: good employee morale requires payroll to be paid timely and accurately. The primary mission of the payroll department is to ensure that all employees are paid accurately and timely with the correct withholdings and deductions, and to ensure the withholdings and deductions are remitted in a timely manner. A payroll system is the method used by payroll professionals to pay employees for their services.Regardless of the type of system used, there are basic functions that must be performed–calculation of hours worked, deductions, personal information and benefits. Payroll system allows the employer to perform the tasks necessary to ensure accurate and timely paychecks. Through the payroll system the employer creates procedures that coordinate the payroll department with these other departments. In addition, it assists human resources with tracking employee's benefit days, such as vacation time, personal time and sick time.Payroll system often has the ability to automatically transport employee punches/swipes from the timekeeping system into the payroll system automatically (Trias, 2011). It is really inescapable fact that having a manual procedure in creating payroll system takes a long time to finish a certain task because of the many steps and processes that should be taken. There is the collection of data such as daily time record, remittances, and individual manual calculation of payroll. Individual data is transferred through sheets, encoding and double checking after calculating.All this process requires labor and effort to complete the task (Quidgara, 2009). A manual payroll system requires that the payroll be processed by hand and is therefore a considerably slower procedure tha n an automated system. The former makes payroll processing simpler, and reduces errors, which are more likely with the manual system (Grace (n. d)). Manual payroll system requires payroll processing to be done completely by hand. Therefore, time card, wages and payroll, tax computations, wage garnishment and voluntary deductions are done manually.Furthermore, paychecks and pay stubs are handwritten or printed on a typewriter. The main disadvantage with this system is its high room for errors. The more manual computations the payroll representative has to make, the more errors she’s prone to make. Furthermore, it’s time-consuming because to ensure the payroll is accurate, she has to triple-check the data before printing checks. Even then, it’s possible to miss errors. Paper filing is required with this system, which can create clutter.Furthermore, if the payroll representative does not understand how to calculate payroll taxes manually, erroneous tax withholding, reporting and payment occur. This can result in penalties from federal and state tax agencies (Grace n. d). According to Schievelbein (n. d)The Department of the Interior, National Business Center’s (NBC) Federal Personnel/Payroll System (FPPS) is a modern, mainframe-based, portable, integrated, on-line, and real-time personnel and payroll system. The system provides personnel and payroll support to numerous agencies.The system is customer-driven, creating and generating the full life cycle of personnel transactions, enabling agencies to maintain records electronically. FPPS handles all current regulations including specialized pay, garnishments, special appointment programs, and more. FPPS was developed by the NBC using state-of-the-art database technology, fourth-generation language, structured development methodology, and computer-aided software engineering tools for robust performance and ease of maintenance.FPPS is a highly sophisticated and comprehensive database manag ement system providing an extensive array of human resources (HR) and payroll automation support within its core, including requirements prescribed by client agencies, the NBC's centralized Payroll Operations Division (POD), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The FPPS application supports Requesting Office, Time and Attendance (T&A input), Servicing Personnel Office, Security, Time &Attendance Maintenance, and Pay Maintenance commands for Federal employees and Emergency Workers (Casuals).All data is defined in a single database which eliminates redundancy and multiple update routines. The single database concept also provides for ease of maintenance and ensures data integrity. Security is controlled by the customer and is sufficiently flexible to support all business processes. The system is table-driven to facilitate real-time data updates and maintenance. Many of these tables are on-line for customer use. FPPS also offers all required electronic interfaces with the U. S . Treasury, OPM, National Finance Center (NFC), and various accounting systems.The system offers extensive data warehousing capabilities. In an Automated  Payroll System, companies offer computer  software  that will assist you in processing payroll. You will need to input information for each employee when he is hired, but after that, the  software  will calculate payroll taxes and other deductions automatically. The advantages of this type of payroll system are numerous: Fewer potential mistakes and less time spent processing payroll. In addition, employees can be trained to run the rogram more easily, so you won't need to depend on just one person to process payroll (Richerd, 2008). A computerized payroll system saves on time and lowers your error ratio. You can enter payroll payment information quicker than with a manual system, and run payroll registers to double-check your information before printing the checks. This allows you to detect errors and adjust them before hand. Additionally, computerized payrolls simplify tax processing by computing the data for you and allowing you to do bulk print runs (Grace, n. d). A study of Marata (2011), St.Peter’s College Employees Payroll System is a system that enables the employees of St. Peter College to view the information on their payroll in a computerized manner. Nowadays all establishments are becoming modernized; they use modern technology to make a transaction fast, easy, and accurate in order to avoid and lessen the time consumed, and having a modern technology in an establishment protects and secures confidential information. It also helps human to solve and understand complex problem and analysis such us the computational need of humans.Especially to business establishment or corporation or even schools in processing enormous data and complex transaction, payroll is an example of complex transaction because it is a critical business operation dealing with numerous accounts, and produces p lenty of confidential files. An automated payroll system will not only provide an accurate calculation and fast process of payroll transaction but it will secure data through security implementation and accordingly arrange files provided by a designed database that will produce a paperless environment and a tool to help a certain user to make everything in an orderly manner.The developers have decided to solve the problems in a way that we will create a system that will lessen the time in manually entering the formulas for every employee of St. Peter College and to organize all the paper works of the Accounting Department of St. Peter College. Now that technology had made great approach in organizations, institution and even private companies, Payroll System for Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant is not an exemption. This company needs this technology.Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant was founded on March 10, 1996, located at Arellano Bani, Dagupan City. It is being man aged by Ms. Theresa C. Neihum. With the use of the system, it can provide an accurate and reliable process of computation of the employee salary. Deduction of SSS, PhilHealth and others is automatically computed after data has been entered. In line with this project, the developers came up with payroll system for Silverios Seafoods and Restaurant which will raise the business standards to be more competitive.Through this integrated system, it will no longer have a burden in doing payroll transactions through the use of payroll system it will easily calculate the employee’s salary, deductions and by automatically generating a pay slip. It will help promote quality of service and avoid waste of time since there are no such longer delays in the computation of employee’s salary. Conceptual Framework In order to provide this study with its groundwork, the developers utilized the concept of Input-Process-Output. Figure 1. 1 shows the paradigm of the study entitled Payroll Sy stem for Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant.The input parts of the research paradigm consist of the current procedure in payroll, hardware and software requirements and features of the proposed system and acceptability of the system. In the process variable, Waterfall model was chosen as the software development methodology which consists of the five phases such as requirement analysis and definition phase, system and software design phase, implementation and unit testing phase, verification and system testing phase and the operations and maintenance phase.The developers output for this project is the Payroll System for Silverio’s Seafoods and Restaurant. After gathering the needed inputs, the developers came up with the output which is the Payroll System for Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant. Figure 1. 1 Schematic research paradigm for Payroll System for Siverio’s Seafoods and Restaurant Payroll System for Siverio’s Seafoods and Restaurant Waterfal l Methodology * Requirement Analysis and Definition Phase * System and Software Design Phase * Implementation and Unit Testing Phase * Verification and System Testing Phase Operations and Maintenance Phase 1. Current process in the payroll System. 2. Hardware and software requirements of the system. 3. The features of the system. Process Output Input Statement of the Objectives This project aimed to design, develop and test a Payroll System for Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant. Specifically, it sought to meet the following objectives: 1. To identify the current procedure in payroll; 2. To identify the hardware and software requirements of the system; 3. To describe the features of the system; and 4.To test the acceptability of the system. Significance of the Study The main purpose of the study was to develop an efficient and reliable system that will be used by the Finance Department of Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant in the generation of payroll of the employees. T he system will improve the manual process and provide accurate information in the company and will benefit the following entities: Silverio’s Seafood and Restaurant. The system can help the company accomplish their goals and objectives, to lessen the hassles in manual computation of employees salary.The computerized payroll system will help the Silverio’s Seafoods and Restaurant to have an integrated and organized process of managing and calculating salaries for the employees. Finance Department. The system reduces the slow process of computation of payroll for each employee. This provides an accurate and reliable process of generating payroll. Treasurer. By using the system, it will minimize the time consumed by the cashier in the computation of employee salaries and has an accurate and fast generation of payroll. Developers.This study will serve as training and experience for the developers. It will also enhance their knowledge on software development. Future Develop ers. For future developers, this project will serve as their references in conducting the same study. Through further reading, future developers can get ideas out of it that will guide them to create and accomplish their projects. Scope and Limitations The study focused on the development of the generation of payroll of employees which is computed based from the rate per day, overtime, gross, net pay, and deductions such as SSS and PhilHealth.An additional feature of the system is a log-in log-out process for security purpose. Other features include file maintenance which can add employee record, edit employee information, and generate pay slip for each employee. Computation of payroll is done every 15th and 30th day of the month. The system will exclude the monitoring of employees absences or tardiness or even daily time record and leaves-of-absences, as well as generation of report of leave of absences of each employee. Definition of TermsTo have better understanding of the terms used in this context. The following terminologies were defined. Calculate. Is a deliberate process for transforming one or more inputs into one or more results, with variable change. Deduction. The act of deducting or subtraction. Gross Pay. Is an  employee's  regular  remuneration  including  allowances,  overtime pay,  commissions, and bonuses, and any other  amounts, before any  deductions  are made. Net Pay. Portion of a  salary  or  wages  that an  employee  actually gets (takes home) after  paying  all  deductions  and taxes. Payroll. Total  amount  required  to  pay  workers  and  employees  during a  week,  month  or other  period. Payroll System. A payroll system involves everything that has to do with the payment of employees and the filing of employment taxes. Salary. Agreed-upon and regular compensation for  employment  that may be paid in any  frequency  but, in  common  practice, is paid on mon thly and not on hourly,  daily, weekly, or piece-work basis. Systems development life cycle.Systems development life cycle (SDLC) is a conceptual model used in  project management  that describes the stages involved in an information system development project, from an initial feasibility study through maintenance of the completed application. System. It is an automated or manual that comprises people machine and/or methods organize to collect, process, and disseminate data that represent userinformation. Waterfall Model. Waterfall model is a SDLC approach that assumes the various phases of a project can be carried out and completed entirely sequentially.

Integrating Internet Resourses Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Integrating Internet Resourses - Essay Example I will also give a quick review about the quality and availability of these resources. I will also make use of the examples and illustrations to analyze how and what different types of internet resources are being used in our teaching and learning processes. I will also try to develop a general understanding about the underutilization or overutilization of these resources. In the end I will also try to identify the type of internet resources which are most needed in my area of field. Integration of military science or history into course The seeds of community college were planted in USA just before the second Civil war in 1862. The intension was that higher education should not just be restricted to the privileged few but it should be available to all. These public universities are supposed to prepare students for careers in engineering, medicine and military services etc. these public institutions prepare the first national work force. These not only helps in meeting community need s but developing critical thinking and help them in choosing a career path for them. (Kent A Phillipe L. G., 2005) E-learning in Higher Education Institutions Recent technological advancements and extensive use of internet has not only (Mapuva, 2009)transformed our businesses but the usage of internet has found inroads into our education system as well. Especially in the higher education there has been unprecedented demand for tertiary education and a no. of students are enrolling for distant learning programs. Internet has become an indispensible and a very important tool of imparting education. Internet has not only transformed the way through which knowledge can be accessed or retained but it has also transformed the basic structure of traditional teaching. It has transformed the ways through which knowledge is disseminated, interaction with the course material and the associated resources. Now every university has to reorganize itself to inculcate e-learning and newer methods of teaching. I as a military instructor although doesn’t approve of distant learning but a strong propagator of integrating other internet resources in the teaching system. Military science and internet resources Internet helps in interacting a large no of educational, research and other related organizations through its extensive academic and research based network linking. Its importance to military science can be understood from the fact that it was first developed as a military network by US department of Defense, originally called APPRANET. In 1989 it was finally decommissioned from military services and was devoted to education and research purposes. (Kumar, 2005) Types of internet resources utilized Internet is the future in research and in planning and facilitating higher education because of ever decreasing funds as well. We can categorize the different internet resources that are available. They are listed below List serves, newsgroup, email discussion groups Federal State and local government Electronic publications Library access catalogues/ literature search Peer comparisons Admissions Fact books, Management information systems, Intranet Policy studies Environmental scanning Professional development Association Higher education Research Online survey All of the above types are generally used in the higher edu

Refrace week 4 dq Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Refrace week 4 dq - Essay Example His actions however were never authorised by the UBS organisation. There was no communication back and forth . Verhezen (2010) discusses the stress on ‘voice’ in an organisation’s culture. The members of such a group must have a voice which others can both hear and understand. If this does not happen it could be because they are avoiding communication , a form of passive evasion. It can also be the result of an unwillingness to conform to the group’s usual rules . If this is seen to be important to an organisation then all its members, at whatever level in the company, must be free to raise questions and to discuss the existing guidelines . If implementing of the current guidelines is found to be unfair or biased in some way, then the fact that they are just accepted isn’t a good thing. If the actions such as those undertaken by this trader are judged to be morally wrong, then he is actually taking action against the norms of the organization . Top management should be the people who keep a company on track and if the actions of those lower down the hierarchy are neither praised of chastised, then this ‘silence’ on the part of the bosses will be interpreted as silently giving support to the action of individuals day by day. When such actions are participated in by large numbers of employees these actions becomes part of the company culture, whatever the official ethos or mission statement. The behaviour therefore becomes considered to be approved of and acceptable until the day comes when disaster strikes, as in this case. Only then do the actions become overt and are labelled as being at the least unethical, and in an extreme case as worthy of a criminal charge The problem is that no one , except their own conscience, polices those at the very top. If top management work only to please the board , without more careful consideration of ethical issues, then control and reputations may well be lost

Screening response Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Screening response - Movie Review Example African men were not regarded good enough to have associations with white women. It is only Lago who degrades Othello and starts gossips about Desmond’s affairs with Cassio. However, even though Lago was the only white man to complain about this, he represented a vast majority of the white population. Lago, signifying all other white people, had no trouble portraying Othello, who represented a vast majority of African Americans, as a lustful person (Berardinelli 1). Another case of racism is where Brabantio is persuaded that Othello must have used magic to entice Desdemona as there was no other way that a white girl would settle at marrying an African American. Finally, the most significant or saddest aspect of racism, in the film, is that of Othello himself (Berardinelli 1). What Lago does is cunningly take advantage of Othello’s insecurities (Berardinelli 1). Othello might believe Lago’s stories since deep down his heart Othello doubts Desdemona’s loyalty and love. Such a film is extremely educational, and its further view is

Morden dance final Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Morden dance final - Assignment Example Alvin and his mother, Elizabeth, shifted to Navasota, Texas when he was only six years old. As for his education, he attended a school for the whites, where he felt so much discriminated and undermined, as there was so much of racism. He attended a church for the blacks named as Black Baptism Church. Here, only people of a specific race were accommodated. This also happened in theatres and anything that surrounded the place. In their childhood therefore, Ailey and his generation mates grew feeling singled out from the society. Ailey and his mother moved from Navasota to Los Angeles in the year 1942 (Gitenstein 12-14). The ensuing part of his childhood seemed better as his mother got a better job with an aircraft factory and Ailey joined high school as a result. In high school, Ailey decided to join football players in the school’s gymnastics team. This was due to his great passion for athletics in those times. Though Ailey never believed in himself when it came to dancing skills, he always admired the dancers as he watched them perfect their dancing skills at school. He also loved the music that he used to hear at the local dancehalls. His favorite dancers were Gene Kelly, who were in the industry for over fifty years, from 1912 to 1996, and Fred Astaire, from 1899 to 1987 (Gitenstein 16-19). He made up his mind to take part in the dancing lessons that were going on at a neighbor’s home. Ailey’s strong passion for dancing was created after visiting a modern dance school, which was operated by Lester Horton. He was persuaded to make the visit by his good friend called Carmen. There he realized that the dance company was the first and only institution to acknowledge members from any race. To him, it was much pleasing to be in a place where racism is not an issue of concern. Ailey decided to train there as a dancer for a whole month. What inspired him even more was the performa nce of Ballet Carlo and

The first temple period Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

The first temple period - Essay Example Later, the rise and the invasions of the Babylonian empire, which eventually led to the destruction of the First Temple in the 6th century BCE, had brought about even more social changes and climaxed into a complete crisis of faith for the Israelites' religion, which was unprecedented. At the start of the First Temple Period, when Jerusalem was ruled by King David and Solomon, people tended to be faithful to one and only one God, the God who had blessed Abraham and his descendents. Alongside Jerusalem was also an independent regional power. However, invasions from foreign empires completely demolished Jerusalem's importance in the area and deeply affected almost all aspect of the people's lifestyles, especially social structures and their religious outlook. To understand the effects of foreign invasions on Jerusalem and on the ancient Israelites living there, one needs to go through the history of the Israelites in Jerusalem. The Israelites were associated with Jerusalem ever since the historical conquest of this place in 1000 BCE by King David as described in the second book of Samuel (NRSV, 2 Samuel 5:6-10). It is mentioned in the book that King David acquired control of the city of Zion. In addition, the accounts in the first book of Chronicles tell us that it was Joab, a kinsman of David, who led the war against Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 2: 4-8). Thus the conquest of Jerusalem helped unite the northern Israelite tribe with the southern Israelite tribe because Jerusalem, which was inhabited by the alien Jebusites, was the only physical barrier separating the two tribes (Kenyon 1967: 54). The unification of the two tribes strengthened the power of the Israelites and allowed for their expansions. Known for his ability to wage war, King David defeated a lot of neighboring cities and extended his control far beyond the limits of Jerusalem, and made thus conquered neighboring cities to pay tribute to him (Burke 2007: 1/12). He sent his forces east across Jordan as far as Damascus and Zobah, and subdued the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, and Amalekites. During King David's reign, the Israelites were in control of territories running from Kadesh in Syria to Ezion-geber at the head of the Gulf of Aqabah (Orlinsky 1964: 61). Even the Phoenicians agreed to provide the Israelites with skilled engineers and craftsmen in return for their protection (Orlinsky 1964: 63). King David 's son Solomon, who is famed for his wisdom, kept up the diplomatic relationship with the other cities that were begun by his father. Thus under Solomon's reign, Jerusalem returned to more peace and had strong trading links with its neighbors. Solomon even perfected and extended the administrative organization installed by his father (1 Kings 4), an d was, thus, able to collect more taxes and recruit more labor (Orlinsky 1964: 72). Solomon also built the Temple on the Temple Mount, which later became the center of faith and acted as the axis mundi, connecting the heaven, the earth, and the underworld. The periods ruled by King David and King Solomon are still considered as the golden ages of Jerusalem. It was a great achievement that in mere fifty years, David and Solomon had built the kingdom of Israel from out of a loose tribe, creating an administrative organization, although this kingdom did not last very long (Kenyon 1967: 58). It was during the

Ommunist Party of Great Britain Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Ommunist Party of Great Britain - Assignment Example The working class understands the conflict from a perspective of logical options given two different hourly durations where one case requires more time than the other yet at the same wage amount, a worker would naturally consider being opportune at lesser work hours in order to save time and energy for himself or utilize additional hours with another job to augment his low monetary worth. A capitalist, on the contrary, views the conflict on account not of his superior rank or prominent place in the society but of seeing how his requirement in achieving a targeted goal or profit may not be satisfied due to deficiency with time caused by what he would seem as uncooperative laborers. Clearly, the class struggle is established via the ‘length of the work day’ issue, looming tension between respective desires of the capitalist and the worker. Beyond the mere rigid and hierarchical social system that classifies men into classes, Marx has gone to exhibit the involvement of capi talistic affairs that overlook societal divisions and that are normally bound to a mutual agreement on the same level in a capitalist society. Hence, the problem which the ‘workday duration’ presents is well within the realm of a class struggle that is mainly concerned with the state of the economy which either class obtains out of production means. (2) What does Marx mean by relative surplus value? Explain the different components of relative surplus value. (In other words, what strategies do capitalists follow that lead to relative surplus value)? By ‘relative surplus value’, Marx pertains to that which is sought through an ‘absolute surplus value’ that generates a surplus working-day duration to the extent that the laborer exceeds the yield or output equivalent to the value of his normal labor capacity. This includes means of appropriating surplus-labor by capital and presumes that the working-day is already made of necessary labor and surpl us-labor. Relative surplus-value is claimed to be absolute on providing a driving force to the absolute extension of the working-day beyond the time of work required for the laborer to sustain his existence. To acquire ‘relative surplus value’, the capitalist may adopt the component of moderately curtailing wages so that it leaves the worker no choice but to stay and extend his time to render surplus-labor but not to the point when such reduction goes under the laborer’s capability to afford his cost of living. Shortening of necessary labor makes way for an increase in surplus labor where time to create wage equivalents would be smaller and a worker tends to adjust and compensate through surplus.

The other civil war Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The other civil war - Assignment Example This was especially so during economic crisis such as that of 1837, 1857 and 1873. The government and the courts often acted in favor of merchants, businessmen, speculators and capitalists at the expense of workers especially women and blacks thus they continued suffering. This is evidenced by the failure of Anti-Renter movement in 1839, the Dorr rebellion of 1841 for electoral reforms, and flour riots of 1837. In 1850s, money and profit had taken center stage but all that was reported were slavery issues. During the civil war, national issues took center stage over class issues although it was clear that a social revolution was in the offing due to increased strikes. The Morrill tariff, Homestead Act and contract labor law all served to benefit businessmen with cheap labor and high prices for products. After the war, national federations of unions were formed but concentrated on political issues. Examples were the First International and Workmen’s party urging for a socialist republic. Blacks also formed their own unions. However, the federal troops stopped such efforts by killing and jailing many workers. In the end the working class was unable to overthrow the wealthy and ruling class. The article was very helpful in understanding class struggles in the society before and after the civil war and how such struggles were overtaken by slavery, race issues and the civil war itself. These issues are often given importance over class struggles. A good example of class struggle was that of sheriffs and tenants leading to rent uprisings in 1830s and 1840s. Leaders of such Anti-Rent movements were silenced by life imprisonment. The struggle was between the rich and poor whites hence issues of slavery and race did not materialize yet they are the ones mostly written about in history books. Zinn also attributes racial and religious animosity to class struggles. He explains the hatred for blacks,

Statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Statement - Essay Example This truly is where my heart resides. The Health Care Administration specialization was interesting, but I could see that it was not taking me where I wanted to go professionally. I looked into the specialization for Human Services and feel that this is a better fit for me professionally and personally. The Health Care Administration program required many hours of group preparation and group work. This was not possible for me because I work full time and have other important family responsibilities. I know that I will need to make sacrifices to further my education, but I felt that what I would need to sacrifice in order to obtain a Masters in Health Care Administration was too much. I especially felt this way once I realized I was moving away from my real interest, which is social work. I do not anticipate any academic concerns that were experienced in the Health Care Administration specialization. I have been assured that there is less group work in the Human Services specialization and that it is more conducive to working a full time job and having family obligations. I will also be a more motivated, thoughtful student because the coursework is more applicable to my current employment and interests. The main reason I am so excited about the Human Services Masters degree is I believe it will make me better at my current position. I already possess the values, knowledge and skills necessary to be a good social worker. I feel that increased education will make me even more effective. The most immediate outcome of earning the degree is I will be better at my job. Other reasons I want to get this degree are it will open the possibility of career advancement. I am pleased with the job I currently have. But I recognize that in the future, I would like to take on more responsibility and manage other employees and more difficult cases. So in some ways, I feel that I want to earn this degree because it will help my current situation

To determine the concentration Essay Example for Free

To determine the concentration Essay To determine the concentration of unknown standard sodium hydroxide solution and the enthalpy change of neutralization between different pairs of acid-base used (Thermometric titration) Principle of method: Neutralization is the reaction between an acid and a base, which is an exothermic reaction. In this experiment, two methods are used to determine the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution and the enthalpy change of neutralization. H+(aq) + OH-(aq) H2O(l) Method 1 is to measure the temperature change of the reaction mixture when different definite ratio of acid and base are reacted. There are totally 7 ratios. For each ratio, the initial temperature of acid and base is recorded. When they are mixed, the final temperature of the mixture is recorded so that: Let Va, Vb, Ta, Tb, T be the volume of acid, volume of base, initial temperature of acid, initial temperature of base and final temperature of mixture if they are not reacted (which is actually the initial temperature of mixture before reaction) respectively. Thus, Final temperature of the mixture after reacted T = Temperature change due to reaction. Method 2 is to measure the temperature of the reaction mixture when each small portion of acid are added to a fixed amount of base solution with using titration of acid against base. For both of the method, different pairs of acid and base are used and compared. To find the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution, the volume ratio of acid to base which makes the maximum temperature change(which means the reaction is most complete) should be found out and so: (Since the basicity of both acid and base is 1) By conservation of energy, the enthalpy change of neutralization = heat change of solution The density and specific heat capacity of solution are assumed to be equal to those of water since the differences between them are negligible. Results: Method 1 Using nitric acid: (A graph is attached at page 6) Volume of HNO3(aq) (cThis result was acceptable since it was consistent and close to the actual value. The enthalpy change of neutralization using nitric acid was found to be -47. 65kJ and -51. 48kJ respectively by method 12. The enthalpy change of neutralization using ethanoic acid was found to be -48. 24kJ and -61. 11kJ respectively by method 12. The enthalpy of neutralization found out in this experiment was not reliable because the result was not consistent for method 12 and there were great errors in the experiment. The most significant evidence that shows the result was not reliable was that theoretically, the enthalpy change of neutralization between ethanoic acid and sodium hydroxide should never be higher than that between nitric acid and sodium hydroxide. This is because nitric acid is a strong acid while ethanoic acid is just a weak acid that it only slightly ionized in water. Therefore extra energy was needed to ionize the ethanoic acid molecules so that the enthalpy change of neutralization of ethanoic acid should be less negative than that of nitric acid. However the result of this experiment contradicted with the above statement, so that the results of this experiment were not reliable. The most significant error in this experiment was heat loss to surrounding. Although foam cup was already used in the experiment, the upper surface of solution also produced great heat loss to the atmosphere. Also, there may still be heat loss through the cup. This error was more significant in method 2 since a period of time was used to titrate the solution. During the time of titration, a lot of heat can be transferred to the air and thus the recorded temperature would be decreased. As a result, the calculated enthalpy change of neutralization would be lower than the actual one. To reduce this error, a Styrofoam cup instead of a polystyrene cup can be used since Styrofoam is a better insular of heat than polystyrene. Some cotton wool can be used to wrap the cup in order to further reduce the heat loss to surrounding. Also, a lid can be used to cover the upper mouth of the cup in order to reduce the heat loss to surrounding. However, the lid should allow the thermometer to stir the solution and also allow the burette to add acids into it in method 2. Obviously, the titration in method 2 must be carried out quickly in order to minimize the time for the heat to be lost from surrounding, and thus reduce the above error. The second error was the fluctuation of room temperature. In method 1, the initial temperature measured and the temperature of the solution just before reaction might be different. This was because of the change in room temperature since it would affect the temperature of solution by thermo equilibrium. In method 2, the room temperature before the titration and during the titration might be different. This would lead to an error on the measurement of temperature as the same case in method 1. To reduce this error, a more constant temperature in the laboratory can be constructed by an air-conditioner. This can reduce the error brought from the fluctuation of room temperature. In the experiment, method 1 is more suitable to determine the enthalpy change of neutralization since the temperature was measured just after the reaction in method 1 but the temperature was measured for several times in method 2 and this lead to error in the measure of temperature. However, method 2 is more suitable to determine the concentration of sodium hydroxide solution since the number of times of measuring the temperature of solution was much more than that in method 1. Then the peak of the graph can be found out more accurately. Thus the volume of acid used with the highest temperature change can be more accurate. Based on the results of this experiment, the enthalpy change of neutralization was more negative with weaker acids, having same base. However, this statement was obviously wrong since in weaker acids, some energy was used to ionize the acid molecules. Theoretically, the enthalpy change of neutralization should be more negative with stronger acids. This was not shown on the results in this experiment since the error was too large. Conclusion: The concentration of the sodium hydroxide solution was successively found out and it was acceptable, but the enthalpy of neutralization found out was not reliable since it was not consistent and it contradicted to the theoretical values. On the whole, the results was not acceptable and so the objective of this experiment was not fulfilled. Reference: http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Styrofoam http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/polystyrene.

Literature Review On Foreign Direct Investment

Literature Review On Foreign Direct Investment The theory of the determinants of private investment, irrespective of whether it originates domestically or from abroad, is relevant for an understanding of what drives FDI. This has become increasingly true with the globalisation of world markets, although there remain additional factors which may inhibit or encourage FDI that would not affect domestic investment. Much of the research on the determinants of investment is based on the neoclassical theory of optimal capital accumulation pioneered by Jorgenson (1963, 1971). In this framework, a firms desired capital stock is determined by factor prices and technology, assuming profit maximisation, perfect competition and neoclassical production functions. This theory was a deliberate alternative to views expressed initially by Keynes (1936) and Kalecki (1937), that fixed capital investment Much of the research on the determinants of investment is based on the neoclassical theory of optimal capital accumulation pioneered by Jorgenson (1963, 1971). In this framework, a firms desired capital stock is determined by factor prices and technology, assuming profit maximisation, perfect competition and neoclassical production functions. This theory was a deliberate alternative to views expressed initially by Keynes (1936) and Kalecki (1937), that fixed capital investment depends on firms expectations of demand relative to existing capacity and on their ability to generate investment funds (Fazzari and Athey, 1987:481; Fazzari and Mott, 1986:171). Several studies have challenged the neoclassical assumption that any desired investment project can be financed2. Asymmetric information3 about the quality of a loan could lead to credit rationing, implying that not all borrowers seeking loans at the prevailing cost of capital may be able to obtain financing (e.g, Greenwald, Stiglitz and Weiss, 1984). Consequently, firms tend to rely on internal sources of funds to finance investment, and to prefer debt to equity if external financing is required4. A further theoretical development was the introduction of irreversibility and uncertainty in explaining investment behaviour. This literature demonstrates that the ability to delay an irreversible investment expenditure can profoundly affect the decision to invest (Dixit, 1989; Pindyck, 1991:1110). Firms have an i ncentive to postpone irreversible investment while they wait or new information which makes the future less uncertain (Bernanke, 1983; Cukierman, 1980). The development literature has long been concerned with investment, because of its importance for the rate of growth of per capita output in the economy (Dornbusch and Reynoso, 1989:204; Fei and Ranis, 1963:283; IMF, 1988). Although empirical models of the determinants of investment in developing countries are in broad agreement with results obtained for industrialised countries, there are additional factors which have been found to constrain capital accumulation. Most of these are related to the problem of uncertainty and/or risk, which acts as a disincentive to private investment, because of the irreversible nature of most investment expenditures (Pindyck, 1991). Inflation reduces private investment by increasing risk, reducing average lending maturities, distorting the informational content of relative prices, and indicating macroeconomic instability (Dornbusch and Reynoso, 1989:206-208; Oshikoya, 1994:585,590). Empirical studies show that the variability of inflation has a stronger negative effect on private investment than does the level (Serven and Solimano, 1993:137). Large external debt burdens also have a strong disincentive effect on private investment, especially short-term debt (Faruqee, 1992:52). Debt-service payments reduce the domestic resources available for investment, and poor international creditworthiness reduces access to foreign savings5. For domestic investors, the existence of a large debt overhang reduces the future returns to investment because a high proportion of the forthcoming returns must be used to repay existing debt (Borensztein, 1990:315). A debt overhang is also a major source of uncertainty: the size of future transfers to creditors is uncertain; macroeconomic policy is uncertain; and the exchange rate is uncertain. The combined risks of changes in relative prices, taxation and aggregate demand reduces investment by both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs. Whatever the cause, the irreversibility of real capital expenditures can result in underinvestment if the future is uncertain, even when current conditions are righ t (Tornell, 1990). During macroeconomic adjustment, the credibility of policy changes is an added problem (Rodrik,1989), and the possibility of policy reversal can have serious consequences for real private capital expenditures. Investors prefer to hold financial capital, which is easier to realise if conditions turn out to be adverse, and which retains the option to purchase real capital if optimism continues. For this reason, there are frequently long lags in the investment response to adjustment(Serven and Solimano, 1993:131,137). Several studies report the effects of changes in the real exchange rate6 and the terms of trade7 on investment. These studies generally find that the variability of the real exchange rate is usually Some researchers support the notion that FDI contributes to the productivity and growth of local enterprises. Blomstrom and Sjoholm( 1998) are of the opinion that the productivity and growth of local enterprises could be achieved through spill over effects/externalities from FDI. This is achieved as the Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) either introduce superior technology of through the marketing activities of MNEs that affect the market equilibrium forcing local operators to act in such way that they can retain their original market shares. Graham and Krugman (1995) indicates that competitive enterprises (MNEs) contribute to productivity and growth of the host nation by infusing technology, labour skills, management methods, and training into the host economy. Empirical research shows that FDI affects the economy of a host country in a variety of ways. Firstly, it provides the required capital and state -of -the- art technology that enhances economic growth in the host country (Caves,1996; Dunning, 1993; Blomstrom and Sjoholm, 1998; Smarzynska,2002; Akinkugbe ,2005). Secondly, it augments the skills of the host nations and thus stimulates growth through the infusion of managerial, labour skills and training (de Mello,1999). Thirdly it promotes the technological upgrading, regarding start- up, marketing , and licensing arrangements (de Mello and Sinclair , 1995 ; Markusen and Venables ,1999). FDI is thus seen as a catalyst to the host nations economic growth and development as it enhances technological process and promotes industrial development (Asheghian, 2004). In addition, FDI can be expected to encourage economic growth of the host nation, given the prevailing view that MNEs can complement the local industry and stimulate growth and welfare in the host nations (Grossman and Helpman, 1991; Barro and Sala-i-Martin, 1995). The major determinants of the host countrys economic development and growth is the economic environment portrayed by its rate of economic growth , trade policy, political stability, legislation , domestic market size and balance of payments constraints (Caves, 1996; de Mello, 1999; Dunning, 1993)- the political economy of the nation . These factors may inevitably influence the decision of foreign investors (MNEs ) on the possible choice of a viable investment location (Akinkugbe, 2005). Dunnings (1981, 1988) electric theory provides a flexible and popular framework where it is argued that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is determined by three sets of advantages which direct investment should have over the other institutional mechanisms available for a firm in satisfying the needs of its customers at home and abroad. The first of the advantages is the ownership specific one which includes the advantage that the firm has over its rivals in terms of its brand name, patent or knowledge of technology and marketing. This allows firms to compete with the other firms in the markets it serves regardless of the disadvantages of being foreign. The second is the internationalisation advantage, that is why a bundled FDI approach is preferred to unbundled product licensing, capital lending or technical assistance (Wheeler and Mody, 1992). The location-specific advantages relate to the importance for the firm to operate and invest in the host country and are those advantages that make the chosen foreign country a more attractive site for FDI than the others. For instance firms may invest in production facilities in foreign markets because transportation costs are too high to serve these markets through exports. This could either be directly related to the actual nature of the good, either being a high bulk item or a service that needs to be provided on site, or due to policy factors such as tariff rates, import restrictions, or issues of market access that makes physical investment advantageous over serving the market through exports. Location advantage also embodies other characteristic (economic, institutional and political) such as large domestic markets, availability of natural resources, an educated labor force, low labor cost, good institutions (the clarity of countrys law, efficiency of bureaucracy and the absen ce of corruption), political stability, corporate and other tax rates among others. Bende-Nabende and Slater (1998) investigate both the short-run and long-run locational determinants of FDI under the broad categories of cost-related, investment environment improving and other macroeconomic factors. The short-run dynamics indicate that European investment in the Thai manufacturing sector has been more responsive to the macroeconomic factors. The long-run dynamics on the other hand suggest that European investment has been more responsive to the investment environment improving factors. In particular, there is evidence to suggest that the Thai manufacturing sector is losing its cost-related comparative advantage. Dar, Presley and Malik (2004) studied the causality and long-term relationship between Foreign Dirct Investment (FDI), economic growth and other socio-political determinants. Although a considerable literature gives the evidence of relationship between FDI and economic growth. Their paper considers economic growth, exchange rate and level of interest rates, unemployment, and political stability as determinants of the level of FDI inflows for Pakistan over the period 1970-2002. Almost all variables are found to have the theoretically expected signs with two-way causality relationship. The present study also estimates an error correction model by ordinary least squares, based on cointegrating VAR (2). Nunnenen (2002) argues that there is a startling gap between, allegedly, globalization-induced changes in international competition for foreign direct investment (FDI) and recent empirical evidence on the relative importance of determinants of FDI in developing countries. He shows that surprisingly little has changed since the late 1980s. Traditional market-related determinants are still dominant factors. Among non-traditional FDI determinants, only the availability of local skills has clearly gained importance. As concerns the interface between trade policy and FDI, he finds that the tariff jumping motive for FDI had lost much of its relevance well before globalization became a hotly debated issue. Artige and Nicolini (2005) analyse the determinants of FDI (foreign direct investment) inflows for a group of European regions. The originality of their approach lies in the use of disaggregated regional data. First, they develop a qualitative description of their database and discuss the importance of the macroeconomic determinants in attracting FDI. Then, they provide an econometric exercise to identify the potential determinants of FDI. In spite of choosing regions presenting economic similarities, they show that regional FDI inflows rely on a combination of factors that differs from one region to another. Bà ©nassy-Quà ©rà ©, Coupet and Mayer (2007) re-examine the role of institutions in the host and in the source country by estimating a gravity equation for bilateral FDI stocks that includes governance indicators for the two countries. Second, they tackle multicollinearity and endogeneity bias by implementing a three-stage procedure for instrumentation and orthogonalisation. Third, they look further into the detail of institutions by using a new database constructed by the French Ministry of Finance network in 52 foreign countries. This database is used to point out in some detail the relevant institutional features. Its country coverage, which focuses on developing countries, is very helpful for studying the impact of the institutional environment of the host country. It does not allow, however, going deeply into the impact of the institutional environment in the source country as well as into the impact of institutional distance. Hence they complement our analysis with estimatio ns based on the Fraser database, which provides fewer details on institutions, albeit on a more balanced country coverage between industrial and developing countries. Finally, they study the impact of institutional distance on bilateral FDI. Onyeiwu and Shrestha (2004) argues that despite economic and institutional reform in Africa during the past decade, the flow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the region continues to be disappointing and uneven. In their study they use the fixed and random effects models to explore whether the stylized determinants of FDI affect FDI flows to Africa in conventional ways. Based on a panel dataset for 29 African countries over the period 1975 to 1999, their paper identifies the following factors as significant for FDI flows to Africa: economic growth, inflation, openness of the economy, international reserves, and natural resource availability. Contrary to conventional wisdom, political rights and infrastructures were found to be unimportant for FDI flows to Africa. The significance of a variable for FDI flows to Africa was found to be dependent on whether country- and time-specific effects are fixed or stochastic. Nakamura and Oyama (1998) studied the macroeconomic determinants of FDI from Japan and the United States into East Asian countries, and the linkage between FDI and trade, and other macroeconomic variables. Their analysis focuses on the structural differences among East Asian counties and classifies them based on statistical tests of fixed effects models using panel data. This examination helps to clarify how Japanese and American multinational firms position their production bases in East Asian countries within their world marketing strategies. In order to avoid the problem of simultaneity among variables, they examine simultaneous equation models to confirm the validity of panel regression results. In their study they find that East Asian countries can be classified into four groups depending on FDI from Japan and other elasticities to macroeconomic variables, and this grouping almost coincides with their economic development stages. Moreover, they confirm that FDI from Japan into a ll the groups are strongly affected by changes in real bilateral exchange rates, but this is not always the case for FDI from the United States. Among different country groups, FDI into group 1 (Taiwan and Korea) responds positively to the Japanese capacity utilization, indicating their industries integration with the Japanese economy. Group 3 (Indonesia and the Philippines) shows that Japanese FDI is buoyed up by the yens appreciation against the U.S. dollar. FDI into group 4 (China and Malaysia) and, to a lesser extent, group 2 (Singapore and Thailand) is oriented more toward capturing local markets compared to the other groups. They also find that Japanese FDI has strong trade expansion effects, which is rarely seen for U.S. FDI. With regards to research on the determinants of FDI to Africa there appears to be a dearth of literature. A Search on the Econlit database using Foreign Direct Investment and Africa as keywords yielded the other two reffered journal articles on the Determinants of FDI to Africa. One of the papers, Schoeman et al (2000), analyses how government policy (mainly deficits and taxes) affects FDI. However, their analysis focuses on one country, South Africa. The Second paper , Asiedu (2002) examines whether the factors that drive FDI in developing countries have a different impact on for countries in Sub Sahara Africa (SSA). However, the analysis focuses only on three variables the return on investment, infrastructure availability and openness to trade, and does not take into account the natural resource availability , which is an important determinant of FDI to Africa. Another paper that focuses exclusively on Africa is Morisset (2000). Unlike Asiedu (2002), Morisset (2000) controls for natural resource availability , measured by the sum of primary and secondary sectors , minus manufacturing. However, this measure of natural resources is too broad and does not accurately capture the availability of minerals and oil, the most important types of natural resources relevant for FDI to SSA. In addition none of the studies examine the impact of some of the important variables that feature predominantly in investor surveys, such as corruption and regulatory framework in the host country. This research extends the limited to empirical literature on the determinants of FDI to Africa by examining the extent to which the economic, political, institutional characteristics of a country, as well as the policy environment affect FDI flows. Nunnekamp (2002) sought to assess whether determinants of FDI have changed with globalisation i.e whether traditional determinants are losing importance whilst non traditional ones are increasingly gaining importance. Two approaches were adopted, namely survey data from European Round Table of Industrialists ( ERT 2000) and simple correlation for 28 developing countries. Market size (proxied by host countrys population and level of GDP ) as a traditional determinant of FDI is said to have declined in importance over time. Other factors such as location, cost differences, qualities of infrastructure, ease of doing business and the availability of skills measured by average years of schooling have become increasingly important as non-traditional determinants of FDI (Nunnekamp 2002:16) The survey results were supplemented by World Bank Data on variables that are considered important FDI determinants. Results show that traditional market related determinants still dominate determinants of FDI distribution among the countries considered (Nunnekamp 2002:24). Non traditional determinants such as cost factors, and trade openness , measured by ratio of exports plus imports to GDP, have typically not become more important with globalisation. Of importance is the availability of skills which is proxied by average years of schooling, which has become a relevant pull factor of FDI in the process of globalisation (Nunnekamp 2002:35). An analysis of a developing country by (Tsai 1991) focused on Taiwan by providing demand size determinants of FDI using time series data. Tsai (1991:279) employed OLS method using equations in logarithm form. Two equations were specified, i.e first on the demand size determinants and the second using variables as ratio of GDP to eliminate possible side of influences. A dummy variable was used to assess the impact of government incentive polices on FDI in different periods. Tsai (1991:276) suggests that for Taiwan only labour cost, market size and government incentive policies are important demand size determinants. Although FDI is seen to exploit cheap labour in developing countries, the case of Taiwan seems to show that growth in FDI with rising labour costs indicates the cheap labour may not be as important as expected. No clear evidence was found to support the expectation that government incentive policies were effective in attracting FDI to Taiwan. An interesting finding in Tsai (1991:279) is that Taiwans relatively outstanding economic performance as reflected in the expanding domestic market and ever increasing per capita GDP during 1965-1985 was not particularly attractive to foreign investors. As Tsai argues, this could be attributed to FDI being used supply side determined rather than demand side or perhaps non- economic factors outweigh the investment incentives. It is generally believed that factors determine FDI inflow in developing countries could have a different impact on SSA countries in particular . This is because developing countries outside Africa seem to attract huge FDI inflow while SSA attracts low levels of FDI as discussed by Asiedu (2002). Another study in Africa by Obwona (2001) investigated the FDI-growth linkage for Uganda. Obwona used the investor surveys approach and econometric tests. Using investor surveys, both local and foreign investors were directly questioned regarding their decisions and decision making processes when investing in Uganda (Obwona 2001:55). The focus was on productive investment, as such purely commercial and consulting activities were excluded. For econometric tests , time series data was used for the period 1975-1991to estimate the determinants of FDI and growth. Findings from the survey showed that increased foreign investment was a result of a conducive investment environment provided by government though its policies and institutions (Obwona 2001:56). The author concludes that from the investors surveyed, foreign investors are primarily concerned with fundamental factors, i.e a stable macroeconomic and political situation and credible policy reforms. For Uganda , Obwona considered pull factors such as growth factors , liberalised exchange rate, low inflation and fiscal discipline. The major determinants are availability and cost of natural and human resources, adequacy of infrastructure , market size, trade policies, macro stability, economic growth and political stability (Obwona 2001:62). The importance of each of these variables , however depends on the type of investment and motivations or strategy of investors. Obwona (2001:62) agrees with other researchers, such as Nunnekamp (2002) that given the shifts in the type of investment, the availability of low cost unskilled labour in location decisions has declined over time. This has meant more emphasis on skilled labour or the trainability of workers. Furthermore, two notable studies by Moolman et al (2006) and Fedderke and Romm (2004) have focused on determinants of Inward FDI to South Africa. Moolman et al (2006) sought to examine the macroeconomic link between FDI in South Africa and its resultant impact on output for the period 1970-2003. In so doing, they initially identified supply side determinants of FDI before analysing their impact on output. Their research method follows the supply side macro econometric framework, which does not take into account the demand side determinants that are equally important as well. On Model specification , five variables were explored as explanatory variables for FDI in the empirical estimation, namely, market size measured by real GDP, exchange rate proxied by the rand-dollar exchange rate , infrastructure, openness and a dummy variable for sanctions. The empirical results of Moolman et al (2006:3) indicate that market size, openness, infrastructure and the nominal exchange rate are factors which South African policy makers should focus on when seeking to attract FDI. The FDI output link does not take other factors such as increased employment , improved skills and new management techniques into account (Moolman et al 2006:29). After thorough investigation and studies, it was found out that only market size and openness are common factor determining FDI. The role of exchange rate is an important determinant of foreign investment in most countries. Particularly for South Africa, it should be considered whether it could be an important FDI determinant. Studies from developing countries have also identified other factors that should be considered as in the case of South Africa as those of Loots (2000) and Ahmed et al (2005).

Radio Communication System for a Motorcycle

Radio Communication System for a Motorcycle Part 1: Introduction 1.1 BACKGROUND INVENTION This invention relates to a radio communication system for a motorcycle wherein a radio communication circuits is attached on a helmet and performs radio communication with another radio communication circuits attached on another helmet. This helmet provides a wireless communication between two helmets for intercommunication or entertainment system. It is also included with solar energy system which will recharge the battery so that it will be constantly applicable. That is why we call it â€Å"Smart Helmet†. As we know, there a number of different types of helmets that is use across many different type of industries and environment. However, they all are use in form of protective gear. For example, wearing hard hats is standard practice when working in construction site, as well as when operating heavy industrial equipment, etc. Sports athletes, such as baseball and football players, also wear helmets for protection and it is one of the most critical pieces of equipment for a professional race car driver. Helmets are also used in the military services and one type of helmet that is one of the more commonly seen is a motorcycle rider helmet. Motorcycle riding helmets are very sophisticated and specialized for the activity. In recent years, helmet wearers have encountered a wide array of methods by which audio content can be delivered to and transmitted from a helmet, such as a motorcycle or racing car helmet. Current systems for listening to music while riding a motorcycle generally involve a factory installed or aftermarket radio and speaker system mounted on the motorcycle. This is due to hard communication between each other within a motorcycle because of interruption in wind and engine noise. Thus, we invent a communication system ability to communicate with each other. The speaker system must be powerful enough to overcome the road, engine and wind noise to allow a rider to listen to the music when the motorcycle is at highway speeds. In this system, the rider usually has a wire connecting the helmet to a radio mounted on the helmet and the speakers. These systems may also include a microphone integrated into the helmet to allow riders to communicate each other. 1.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES There are several main objectives for this project: To understands the basic concept of two way communication and solar energy system. To understands Push-to-Talk technology system To understands how solar energy system operates To enhance the ability of the helmet To perform circuit operation To gain knowledge on circuit designing and structure 1.3 PROJECT GOALS The Overall Project Goal was to enhance the quality and effectiveness of LSC grantees services to clients by providing training and technical assistance and serving as an information clearinghouse on technology innovations for the legal services community. There were two specific goals as identified in the Evaluation Framework approved by LSC: Provide training, technical assistance and informational resources that increase the understanding legal services program directors, managers and technology staff have about the ways the use of available technologies can improve services to clients. Publicize, promote and provide resource materials about successful local/national technology projects to foster the replication of technology innovations throughout the legal services community. 1.4 PROJECT SCOPE General Project Scope: The project will include rehabilitation or replacement of SN 050-0088. A bridge condition report (BCR), hydraulic report, type size and location (TSL) study, location drainage study and project report will be required and should follow the applicable Department manuals and guidelines. Intersection geometrics will be studied as needed in accordance with Department policies. Geotechnical testing and analysis will be required for development of type size and location drawings for the structure. The scope of work shall include all items necessary to provide an approved project report, bridge condition report, hydraulic report, location drainage study and type size and location drawings as needed. 1) Data Collection: Review data supplied by the district (old plans, pictures, traffic counts, survey data, crash data, right-of-way information, road-way data, and examples). Field check project, and review data from other sources. 2) Field Survey: A topographical survey will be required. Horizontal and vertical control will be provided by the District for the existing alignment. Survey of the existing structure shall include all necessary detail to meet Department policy and to support the proposed scope of construction. The survey shall extend down side roads and beyond existing right of way in order to accommodate anticipated proposed construction. Roadway survey shall extend at least 50 beyond the existing right of way and include any necessary drainage features. Survey shall extend 600 down intersecting roads and cross sections will be taken every 50 and at all entrances and special features. Bridge and hydraulic surveys will be required under this contract. Hydraulic surveys will follow Department policies. 3) Right of Way: The Department will draft existing right of way (station and offsets) on to the topography including property lines and owner identification. The district will provide names, addresses, and tax parcel I.D. numbers for all nearby property owners. IDOT will also mail the property owner letters regarding easements or proposed right of way. No right of way plats or plans will be included in this contract. The consultant will determine construction limits and proposed right of way and easement needs. The consultant will provide construction limits and all proposed ROW or easements on the plan and profile sheets. 4) Drafting: The consultant will plot existing and proposed plan and profile sheets, proposed drainage sheets, existing and proposed cross sections. Development of typical sections, preliminary staging details, proposed construction limits, proposed right of way and exhibits for included studies and reports will also be necessary along with any other work to complete the phase I study and other reports/studies. The consultant shall send the district one full size copy of the plan sheets for utility mark-ups. The district will make copies and send them to the utility companies. The consultant will then incorporate any utility information onto the plan sheets. 5) Alternate Design Studies: Alternatives will be studied to provide bicycle and pedestrian accommodations as part of structure rehabilitation or replacement. The preferred alternative will be incorporated into the planning and design of the project. 6) Location Drainage Studies: See the IDOT Drainage manual section 2-100 thru 2-500 for required format and analysis. Work includes studying the existing drainage patterns including structures, ditches, outlets, etc., developing drainage areas, determining discharges; developing a required system, comparing existing and proposed, developing alternates, determining impacts, developing recommendations, determination of culvert extensions, preliminary inlet spacing, capacity calculations; in-line storm water detention design; ditch design, minor culvert analysis, sizing storm sewer, and everything else needed to complete a drainage report for the project. The drainage study should address flooding records within the project as appropriate. 7) Hydraulic Report and Bridge Condition Report: Work shall include all items necessary to complete a hydraulic report and bridge condition report (BCR) for the structure. This includes, but is not limited to, hydraulic survey, bridge inspection/load rating, hydraulic analysis, staging feasibility determination and cost comparison. 8) Type Size Location Study: TSL studies will meet the requirements of the District and the Bureau of Bridges and Structures. Geotechnical testing and analysis will be necessary for development of the TSL. A preliminary TSL shall be submitted to the District for review before transmittal to the Bridge Office. 9) Intersection Design Studies: Two intersections are anticipated to be included in the scope of work (Dee Bennet Road and Starved Rock Road). Intersection design studies may be required at these locations. Traffic counts will determine the need for an IDS at each location. Typically 3 submittals are required draft, pre-final and final. IDS work includes signal warrant analysis at all locations, combination lighting, and capacity analysis at all locations, as well as all other requirements set forth in the Bureau of Design and Environment Manual. Traffic data will be provided by the district. 10) Preliminary Report: Work includes written report, calculating quantities, cost estimates, crash analysis, approval forms, structure fact sheet, design exception forms (if needed), roadway design, exhibits, photos, maps, typical sections, plan and profiles, IDS plans, environmental exhibits, existing and proposed vertical and horizontal data, design criteria checklist, tree schedule, culvert rehabilitation diagram, traffic management analysis, preliminary erosion control plan, and any other project related documents to complete the project report. The district will provide the following for insertion into the report if needed: Crash data and exhibits; coordination meeting minutes; hazardous mailbox support surveys; bridge condition report approval; letters to property owners and other local officials; environmental studies, analysis, and reports; and pavement design if needed. 11) Public Meetings (2 planned): Consultant will prepare exhibits and handouts, locate and reserve the meeting room and attend meetings such as the dry run, local official meeting, and the public meeting. Two public meetings (open house format) are anticipated, the first to evaluate alternatives and the second after the EA and all IDSs are completed. The first will be considered an informational meeting and the second a public hearing. Comments from each meeting may need to be incorporated into the project. Exhibits needed for public hearing: Location map, Crash maps, Purpose and Need, Summary of Key Environmental impacts, Full size set of plan and profile drawings including cross sections, approved IDSs , two sets of aerial exhibits / color drawings, board mounted proposed typical sections, draft project report, and a copy of the EA report that is approved by the FHWA for public review. The district will send letters to local officials, prepare minutes for local official meetings, and send response letters to citizens or groups as needed. The EA, after approval by the FHWA for public hearing, will be made available at the public hearing and for a minimum of 15 days in advance of the public hearing. The published hearing notice will announce the availability of the EA and where it may be obtained or reviewed. Public meeting exhibits are similar. The public meeting does not require environmental documents or approved IDSs. The consultant will forward display advertisements for each public meeting/hearing to two different newspapers chosen by the District and pay for these advertisements. This will be a direct cost. Rental of a meeting room will also be a direct cost. 12) Handling Traffic: Stage construction, detours and combinations of the two will be considered for this project. The consultant will identify construction methods and sequences which will minimize motorists inconvenience and incorporate this information into the Traffic Management Analysis for the project. The work will be limited to a conceptual plan only since detailed plans will be done in Phase II. A Queuing and Delay Analysis will be performed since IL 178 is considered to be â€Å"approaching significance† by Safety Policy 3-07. The consultant will provide pertinent data and District 3 will perform the analysis. 13) Progress meetings: The district estimates that 3 progress meetings with IDOT and 12 consultant in-house meeting will be required. Outside of typical administration. 14) Final Report: Compilation of the final report will be based on information from public meetings, comments from District circulation and other input which may impact the project. This also includes hours for revising preliminary report, printing, assembling, and binding the final report. 15) Environment: Anticipated Categorical Exclusion Follow Department policies This work includes examination of Environmental Survey Request (ESR) results to determine impacts and determine appropriate environmental documentation. The consultant will provide excavation depths and quantities for areas identified for special waste and will catalog trees impacts and make recommendations for tree replacement locations. IDOT will develop and submit ESR to Central Office for processing. If it is determined that an Environmental Assessment (EA) is the appropriate form of documentation the extra work will be added by supplemental agreement. Impacts to parks or Historic properties will be included in a supplement (if required). The district will prepare any Wetland Impact Evaluation forms (if required). 16) Administration: Project administration including payroll, billing and filing. This also includes project administration by sub-consultants. 17) Quality Control/Quality Assurance: This is a required line item for both labor hours and billing. This item is to include QC/QA hours of the prime consultant as well as any sub-consultant. 1.5 SYSTEM OPERATION 1.6 PUSH-TO-TALK INTRODUCTION Push-to-talk (PTT), also known as Press-to-Transmit, is a method of conversing on half-duplex communication lines, including two-way radio, using a momentary button to switch from voice reception mode to transmit mode and communication can only travel in one direction at any given moment. However, it is not limited in distance as with normal walkie-talkies, as the conversation is carried across the mobile network. A normal cell phone call is full-duplex, meaning both parties can hear each other at the same time. To control which person can speak and be heard, PTT requires the person speaking to press a button while talking and then release it when they are done. The listener then presses their button to respond. This way the system knows which direction the signal should be traveling in. Most PTT systems allow group calling, meaning one person can speak to everyone in their assigned or current group at once, just by pressing a PTT key. Other key features of the service mean that users immediately recognize it as different from normal voice. †¢ group calls are possible as well as one-to-one calls (but still only one person can talk at a time) †¢ presence information is normally associated with this service, so users can see on their phone screen whether other people are logged on to the PTT service and will therefore be available if called †¢ PTT voice services are typically priced below normal mobile phone calls (but obviously this is a marketing issue) †¢ call hold times are typically much shorter the walkie-talkie style of speech lends itself to the short, snappy transfer of specific information, rather than normal lengthier conversations †¢ the always-on nature of data networks makes for near instant call setup times that make it very easy to use. 1.7 SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM INTRODUCTION In todays climate of growing energy needs and increasing environmental concern, alternatives to the use of non-renewable and polluting fossil fuels have to be investigated. One such alternative is solar energy. Solar energy is quite simply the energy produced directly by the sun and collected elsewhere, normally the Earth. The sun creates its energy through a thermonuclear process that converts about 650,000,000 tons of hydrogen to helium every second. The process creates heat and electromagnetic radiation. The heat remains in the sun and is instrumental in maintaining the thermonuclear reaction. The electromagnetic radiation (including visible light, infra-red light, and ultra-violet radiation) streams out into space in all directions. Only a very small fraction of the total radiation produced reaches the Earth. The radiation that does reach the Earth is the indirect source of nearly every type of energy used today. The exceptions are geothermal energy, and nuclear fission and fusion. Even fossil fuels owe their origins to the sun; they were once living plants and animals whose life was dependent upon the sun. Much of the worlds required energy can be supplied directly by solar power. More still can be provided indirectly. The practicality of doing so will be examined, as well as the benefits and drawbacks. In addition, the uses solar energy is currently applied to will be noted.