Yahoo's to rise fame Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Hurray's to rise popularity - Essay Example The advancement of other Yahoo entrances outside the U.S. which reproduced its plan of action helped the organization to create. The entries could be gotten to by clients in twelve unique dialects. They were additionally altered to the longing of nearby clients. This expanded Yahoo’s number of clients significantly, a significant factor as it was client traffic that created incomes (Jones, 453). The vision by Yahoo to turn into a worldwide correspondence, media and retail organization drove them to go into web based business. This methodology was important in order to differentiate their wellsprings of income. The thought was to transmit internet business and take a little level of income as expenses. In 1998, Yahoo store was built up in accordance with this methodology. Overwhelming promoting through radio and TV made Yahoo well known. These techniques worked enormously as the quantity of enrolled clients rose from 26 million to 50 million before the finish of 1998. Its offer cost additionally rose from $5 to $244 in mid 1999 during the website blast (Jones,456). Another technique to secure clients was created to lessen the development of clients to different entryways. Hurray permitted clients to tweak their pages. Serious extent of customization caused high exchanging expenses and along these lines making it hard for clients to change. Alluring web content, which was free, likewise expanded traffic to its entrance and gave more advert incomes. In any case, during the website bubble burst, advert incomes fell. This brought about a fall in the stock cost. Rivalry from new contestants, for example, MySpace, Monster.com and YouTube further exacerbated the circumstance. Google, another web crawler, was likewise getting well known. Altered gateways, for example, Amazon .com and long range interpersonal communication entries which entered the market were a further disturbed to Yahoo. Its substance driven system came into question as different organizations offered with the expectation of complimentary what Yahoo offered at an expense (Jones, 459). Numerous experts accepted that it was the over dependence on

Customer Service Essay free essay sample

Greatness in client assistance is the target of all associations wishing to be fruitful. Notwithstanding, there is frequently a hole between client desires and the executives impression of client desires. Associations regularly neglect to draw near to their clients and accurately read their desires. Clients expect certain things when they stroll into a business, and those with the most elevated level of administration will realize how to recognize those desires and meet them to the clients fulfillment. Be that as it may, this procedure isn't as simple as it sounds †client desires are a unique element that back and forth movements routinely as per a wide scope of elements. Be that as it may, when desires are not met by the presentation of your client care delegates, client disappointment is the outcome. Client Expectations + Service Performance = Customer Satisfaction The nature of your client care is completely controlled by your capacity to live up to your client desires. You can have the best assistance group, however in the event that your clients see their requirements are not being met, your administration notoriety endures. By a similar token, organizations that don’t invest a lot of energy stressing over client care †however figure out how to meet client desires reliably †are seen as offering great client care. Administration quality is to a great extent dictated by clients recognition, which is the reason meeting client desires is a fundamental piece of the procedure. Recognizing Customer Expectations Because client desires are an ever-advancing procedure, it tends to be trying to know decisively what those desires may be. The best strategy is to take the inquiry legitimately to your client base through an assortment of client support research procedures. Have customer’s complete reviews about your items and administration. Give motivation to them to finish that overview, for example, section into a drawing for a luring prize. Next time you see a client, inquire as to whether his desires for your business are being met. If not, discover why and what you can improve. Normal Expectations to Consider Some of the most widely recognized and fundamental desires clients have for most organizations included: †¢ Fast, effective and precise assistance Great items at a serious cost †¢ Friendly, supportive help staff to give data and answer questions †¢ Prompt reactions to their requests, regardless of whether on the web, by telephone or in person †¢ Sufficient stock to address their issues without considerable delays †¢ A prepared staff that can deal with their inquiries without alluding them on †¢ A spotless office or simple to explore site All of these desires involve the base of what your first class administration ought to resemble. Extra desires may emerge from your client research, which you can address on an individual premise. Advantages of Meeting Expectations At the point when you can precisely recognize and satisfactorily live up to your clients desires, your client support notoriety will naturally be upgraded. A portion of the advantages of living up to your clients desires include: †¢ Customers that change from first-time guests to faithful customers †¢ Increased deals as clients feel progressively good working with you †¢ More referrals from fulfilled clients who acquire extra business by listening in on others' conversations There is no uncertainty that enough gathering client desires is a fundamental piece of a vigorous client assistance office. By precisely recognizing those desires, and meeting or surpassing them reliably, your organization is probably going to appreciate more joyful clients and a more advantageous primary concern. Different purposes behind client care issues include:not tuning in to or gathering data from clients * poor, or no, attention on the real plan of procedures to transform recognized client needs into items and administrations * holes between what the association means to create for its clients and what its frameworks do really deliver * holes between what the framework is planned to convey for clients and what it really conveys * cost imperatives, or inability to set and satisfy practical execution guidelines, which influence what the association can really convey * poor staff perspectives, preparing levels and working materials * holes between what sales reps guarantee and the real assistance or item quality The Voice of the Customer (VOC) is a procedure that guarantees the clients voice is sent all through an items or administrations structure, creation, showcasing, conveyance, and after-deals administration. Tuning in to the Voice of the Customer and fusing the clients input is fundamental to get deep rooted clients. The procedure is best begun by uniting a cross-utilitarian group of directors who go through a few days making a lot of grids connecting what interior administration accepts are clients needs and needs to a lot of item or administration networks which an organization would then be able to gauge, track and control. Because of these gatherings, a rundown of client needs is sorted out and organized. During this stage, the clients necessities, guarantee information, item estimations, and serious contributions are surveyed nearby the companys specialized capacity to meet the prerequisites. The following stage is driven by the item chiefs/building groups. Item ideas are made and particulars drawn with the most significant client needs tended to. So as to sort out and assess the information, basic tree graphs are frequently utilized. The subsequent stage in the process is basic and frequently dismissed: leading one-on-one, top to bottom meetings with the clients. This procedure sends an organized meeting enduring 30 minutes to 60 minutes. The order behind the meeting is to guarantee that all zones in the conversation guide will be tended to without restricting the contribution from the client to foreordained arrangements. Clients will regularly compose and organize their requirements uniquely in contrast to the insiders.  In new item advancement, it is basic to request the Voice of the Customer to address unfortunate capabilities, decide most attractive incentives, and comprehend future uses and utilizations of another item. This likewise offers the client a chance to offer creative item/administration thoughts into the advancement procedure. In addition to the fact that this results in new points of view, it likewise expands consumer loyalty and dependability when their thoughts are actualized. Extra exploration and refinement happens until the item is propelled. Presently the Voice of the Customer is expected to help the organization in guaranteeing it is surpassing client desires. Surpassing desires is amazingly testing as clients constantly update their desires. The inclusion in conveying items and administrations that surpass desires is the obligation of everybody in the organization. In an on-going exertion to progressively quantify client duty and track changes after some time, Voice of the Customer following examination was built up. Phone, mail and web overviews are the run of the mill strategies for gathering information from clients. Every one of these techniques has its focal points and burdens, all of which should be assessed. Speed, secrecy and cost are the essential thing exchange offs in the choice to utilize a particular technique. Questions are created to acquire data on significance and the fulfillment related with every presentation characteristic. A positioning model is then evolved to help set needs. Every client rates a rundown of key factors regarding significance when choosing which of the merchants/providers items to purchase. Second, every client rates their fulfillment with the companys items and administrations just as contenders items and administrations on every one of the key elements. Clients are typically ensured namelessness when reacting to Voice of the Customer contemplates. Care must be taken in the drafting of the archives since a desire for development and improvement can be made and any absence of follow-up will expand disappointment. On the off chance that reaction rates are not sufficient, a few methods can be sent to expand cooperation, including offering the client an impetus for finishing the overview. Some run of the mill inquiries from a maker/specialist organization include: * Why did you pick XXX? This kind of inquiry measures effect and maintenance of fundamental publicizing messages, including purpose of-procurement messages. * Have you had an issue with the XXX that necessary fix or return? Provided that this is true, what was the general idea of the issue? * If a client called for help, What was the idea of your contact with us? * How very much did the experience coordinate your desires? A client who has conversed with others about their experience could be asked, What did you say? This kind of open-finished inquiry can be coded and afterward arranged into gatherings of positive or negative. A diagram graphically delineates the general outcomes from the exploration. Every one of the key fulfillment issues are plotted on the diagram with the more significant issues (as appraised by the clients) being higher on the chart. Thusly, the key qualities and vulnerabilities are graphed. An extra investigation is ordinarily performed which figures out which clients are probably going to stay steadfast and which are in danger. In danger clients are those the organization is probably going to lose in light of the fact that they are profoundly disappointed with the organization. This gives an organization an estimation of what number of clients it might lose to contenders. After some time, a correlation of the outcomes permits an organization to perceive how its circumstance has changed. Input on results, execution of upgrades and zones where extra advancement is as yet wanted ought to be conveyed to all representatives on an intermittent premise. Segment family unit data can likewise be asked and age, salary and geographic locale can be accounted for. Tuning in to the Voice

Lessons for Undercover Bosses Essay

Chiefs are the compelling players in the field of authoritative conduct. They are entrusted with figuring out how people, gatherings, and structure characterize their organization’s culture and how to make a culture that improves the company’s viability and achievement (Robbins and Judge, 10). Powerful chiefs must be superb communicators and extraordinary human asset administrators, which implies they should know their employee’s needs (Robbins and Judge, 8-9). So as to comprehend the organization’s culture, the director (or official) must become acquainted with the structure, gatherings, and people inside their association. At the point when an administrator â€Å"walks around† and meets those inside the association they’re overseeing, they can all the more likely comprehend their requirements and are finding out about issues and worries inside their association firsthand (Rama, Sashith and Subrahmanyam). In the board by strolling around (MBWA), relational contact is made, open thankfulness is created, and supervisors lead by showing affability and compensating execution (Rama, Sashith and Subrahmanyam). Helping representatives balance work-life clashes is a significant difficulty in today’s working world (Robbins and Judge, 21), yet the director can't comprehend the boundaries to the equalization of work and life in the event that they don't speak with the representatives and their everyday occupations. Making a constructive workplace is another vital component in the way of life of the organization (Robbins and Judge, 22); this component can't be comprehended without understanding the individuals and their wants. Commonly, an administrator can become familiar with the â€Å"emotional temperature† of a room and discover employeesâ who are furious, vexed, or just focused on, which are for the most part issues to be tended to and settled (Managing). MBWA gives chiefs an approach to alleviate everyday clashes before they become hierarchical issues. Question #2 While numerous specialists incline toward not to be micromanaged by their administrators, inquire about examinations have demonstrated that normal consideration from managers interfacing with representatives can really improve work profitability. One of the most acclaimed investigations of this wonder revealed the Hawthorne Effect. Harking back to the 1920’s Harvard specialists directed an examination concentrate in the Hawthorne Works plant to decide whether various measures of lighting improved laborer efficiency. They found a relationship between's expanded lighting and specialist profitability. Be that as it may, when they turned down the lighting, laborer profitability additionally oddly expanded. As indicated by an Industrial Management article by Chris Porter (2012) entitled â€Å"The Hawthorne Effect Today,† they revealed that specialist profitability had nothing to do with lighting, yet rather the way that laborers were checked and administered all the time add ed to their expansion in efficiency (p. 11). As the Hawthorne Effect shows, laborers welcome the way that their chiefs consistently invest energy with their groups and the result has been exhibited to bring about expanded efficiency for the firm. As per Porter (2012), â€Å"management can apply mental inspiration strategies to present day procedures to improve efficiency, decrease absconds and build up a culture for consistent improvement (p. 11). By building up a culture with dynamic oversight, everything turns out to be more group arranged and more can be cultivated (p.15).† Workers realizing that their pioneers invest energy cooperating with the group makes more grounded groups. In this manner, realizing that top officials routinely associate with line representatives has been shown to positively affect specialist mentalities toward the association. Question #3 Positively one path for officials and hierarchical pioneers to find out about day by day business activities is the act of the executives by strolling around and to an increasingly extraordinary level would be going â€Å"undercover†. The one trademark from both of these methodologies that stands apart is the relational connections that are created between cutting edge workersâ and the official group. Cultivating positive social connections in the workplace prompts increasingly open channels of correspondence. By making a more non threating workplace, the requirement for somebody to go â€Å"undercover† would be disposed of and would advance the significance of base up correspondence inside the association. Another model for administrators to utilize is plan staff gatherings with the forefront laborers and permitting them to have a discussion to voice the difficulties and openings that they see on an everyday premise. This strategy for the board advances worker commitm ent inside the organization. An increasingly roundabout methodology for officials to utilize is direct worker reviews and additionally use surveys. This methodology permits the representatives to stay unknown and give increasingly genuine criticism on issues and worries that they experience every day. Question #4 Clearly, contrasted with work area bound way to deal with the executives, â€Å"management by strolling around† (MBWA) encourages chiefs to comprehend what base administrators and staffs do each day (Robbins and Judge, 8). This is the sort of solid connection among chiefs and staff which adds to the viability of the entire association, just as getting people, gatherings, the workplace and the organization’s culture. By realizing the abilities required for a vocation, an opportunity to work accessible, and the issues occurring in the cutting edge, chiefs effectively settle on some human asset choices. In any case, there are likewise a few inquiries concerning MBWA. It is risky if supervisors utilize a lot of time finding whether individuals are doing things effectively. Something else, setting aside a more drawn out effort to convey or strolling through staffs’ workplaces will cause a feeling that the director is loafing, and individuals may feel they are being vi ewed. MBWA is tied in with building connections, not smaller scale overseeing individuals. Simply observing isn't useful for adequacy of work. In the event that a director spots something of concern, at that point the individual should address this with the group supervisor independently. It is crucial that representatives don't feel that they have to consistently be behaving as well as possible, or the action will be an exercise in futility (Lop). On the off chance that an administrator meanders round incidentally, it will incite the view that the supervisor is exhausted or has just been told in the activity. To take care of the issue that MBWA leads workers to feel they are being kept an eye on, directors should take a few activities to limit these worries. Initially, don't invest an excess of energy in one individual, which causes him to feel unique in relation to other people. Attempt to spend generally a similar measure of time †not really all around the same time or even that week, however as time goes on †with every individual who reports to you (Lop). Second, request recommendations and perceive smart thoughts. Approach every worker for their musings about how to improve items, procedures, deals, or administration. Last, don't censure; rather, make a note of it and address the issue at some other point and in some other setting (Lop). Works Cited ‘Management by strolling around’: 3 hints. (2014). Overseeing People at Work, 1(8), 1. Hack, P. (2011). The Pros and Cons of Management by Wandering around. http://www.insidebusiness360.com/index.php/the-advantages and disadvantages of-the executives by-meandering around-6174/#sourcesAndCitations Porter, C. (2012). The Hawthorne impact today. Mechanical Management, 54(3), 10-15. Rama Mohan, D.D., Sathish Kumar, S. S., and Subrahmanyam, G.G. (2013). The executives by Walking Around: An Effective Tool for Day-to-Day Operations of Hospital. UIP Journal of Operations Management, 12(1), 58-61. Robbins, S. and Judge, T. (2013). Authoritative Behavior, fifteenth Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Sustainable Policy Superior Customer Service

Question: Talk about the Sustainable Policy for Superior Customer Service. Answer: Presentation: MacVille has consistently been resolved to give predominant client care. So as to direct the business in an increasingly feasible manner another maintainable strategy has been created. The supportability at MacVille will include social, monetary and ecological ramifications. The arrangement will guarantee financial supportability by making an incentive for all partners. The buying practices of the organization will bolster its crucial vision. The espresso choice would be natural giving greatest advantage to the rancher. The approach will prompt social manageability, as the rising pay will help in singular development and self-satisfaction. The approach includes client training on carrying on with a maintainable way of life and its advantages. This part includes marking of the natural and nearby food things for making mindfulness among buyers. The strategy targets natural maintainability through recyclable bundling and low effect developing practices. It targets squander decrease thro ugh fertilizing the soil and reusing. Hence, this arrangement is in arrangement with the companys objective of serving top notch espresso in an agreeable bistro style condition. Meeting plan So as to create and execute the maintainable strategy the staff, neighborhood network, clients, providers, nearby network and different partners of the organization will be counseled. The key partners incorporates the top managerial staff of Macville, the task administrator for the takeover of the current Hurleys caf Mr. Subside Smith, the current staff, clients and the landowner of Hurleys caf. The clients will be counseled through overviews to get their important input on approaches to decrease natural effect. Different partners will be counseled through gatherings and meetings to recognize the progressions required with respect to sourcing of beans, and improvement in foundation to make a feasible business. To lessen vitality utilization the organization will concentrate on worker mindfulness, squander decrease, and practical land the executives and diminish vitality utilization. A portion of the ecological procedures that will be actualized are- The organization will elevate economical cultivating to furnish ranchers with better conditions to live and create more advantageous condition. The espresso cultivating will stay natural, conceal developed and Fair exchange ensured as it is as of now working together with Rainforest Alliance. The espresso beans will be bought from ensured ranches. Beans will be bought from the providers who take care both of the works and nature. Beans will be sourced from various homesteads that are of better return and better quality to such an extent that it tastes superior to the product espresso. The ranchers will be prepared to supplant the characteristic supplements of the land utilizing natural issue and the manures and use treated the soil espresso mash under and between the espresso trees. Espresso mash can lessen upto 20% of the steers feed containing business concentrates. This will build the yield after some time, improve the nature of espresso and limit the contamination Only when the c ultivators produce espresso in a correct manner that the business can be changed decidedly (Kolk 2013). The organization will utilize the way of thinking of decrease, re-utilize and reuse (Lebel et al. 2014). The beverages will be served in the fired mugs. It will help lessen the measure of cutlery, cups and paper squander produced. This will diminish the carbon impressions of some espresso. The organization will present the arrangement of offering ten penny markdown to the clients for bringing their own refillable mugs and permit them to utilize china mugs and plates while eating. This will make natural stewardship. Just cups made from polystyrene would be utilized as it is recyclable (Levy et al. 2015). The lawn of the café will be intended for source partition, reusing and fertilizing the soil. It will evacuate poisonous materials and dangerous substances from nature. Further, a water tank will be introduced in the yard to forestall the break of water and evade the fines forced by the administration for abundance loss of water. The kitchen will contain splash for low water utilization. The pre stream wash will decrease water utilization by 30%. The kitchen will be introduced with most recent glass washer, dishwasher, and clothes washer that devour low water and vitality. The kitchen will be fitted with acceptance hob that works with an electromagnetic field. It spares vitality as the temperature changes are prompt. In this way, it will dispose of the need of maintaing the stove at 2000C consistently and subsequently improve the asset productivity (Joyce and Paquin 2016). The espresso store will be adjusted joining the ecofriendly guideline. Pointless helping will be kept away from in the shop and change the lights to LED bulbs. The refrigerated extra spaces will be secured with strip window ornaments. Web office will be given in the stores to instruct purchasers about diminishing paper utilization. Staff preparing and advancement will be started to urge them to give new thoughts and take more activities. To expand utilization and market advancement moves will be made, for example, opening of more stores in the encompassing strip malls. Further, actualize the current by-law that is to grow the stores pathway eating and put more tables and seats outside the premises (Matzler et al. 2013). Usage plan The association will execute the feasible strategy that incorporates different advances. Right off the bat, it will make system that includes the arrangement of steps and later every one of the means will be executed. The governing body will build up a system containing yearly program of exercises. The substance of the key activity plan will be utilized to draft approaches and make suggestions about the exercises. It incorporates prioritization of supportability practices and improvement of composed strategies and methods manual for the staff commanding its exacting execution. The manual will contain data on right stockpiling strategies and right dealing with and removal methods and right stockpiling procedures. The initial step for, Mr Smith is to start the rebranding of Hurleys bistro where as an associate administrator my responsibility is to get the coffeehouse remodeled in a half year times. The subsequent advance is to get marked providers as fast as CBD Brisbane could and contribute one month for it. Thirdly, it is fundamental to realize the main driver of emerging issues during the execution of the arrangement, for example, overabundance water utilization, ignoring the watering of non-local blooming plants and high power utilization while heating things which will be observed by the venture chief and may take 3 months of time. The venture supervisor Mr. Smith will deliver with respect to how to carry different assets into the condition or what is the degree of progress since the execution. Fourthly, the undertaking chief will direct evaluation of individual consistence with the arrangement is basic. It assists with distinguishing if the staff is adhering to the directions given seeing the ecofreindly practices, for example, dumping of kitchen squander, offering of ten pennies to clients utilizing top off mugs and comparative others. This may expend one month to gather input from the staff and address their interests while taking a gander at different firms for proposals (Matzler et al. 2013). Fifthly, extra two months will be put resources into training, teaching and instructing the staff all through the arrangement. In conclusion, an arrangement of observing and assessment will be built up to evaluate the advancement of the executed arrangement and will proceed for a quarter of a year (Agnew et al. 2014). Execution markers The five execution markers for the practical approach are gatherings of the partners and different bodies for the key objective of arrangements and answers for fortify the association followed by missions and instructions on the yearly exercises of the organization Dispersal of the arrangement records for usage of plan Number of gatherings, meetings and round table sorted out to empower the turn of events and dispersal of information on the business economy. Expanded consciousness of the supportability issues to advance manageability and usage of espresso quality gauges to advance a reasonable espresso business Natural effect pointer and water profitability to catch asset proficiency for a second basic ecological asset (Hirschnitz-Garbers 2017) Asset proficiency technique The asset proficiency targets remember 20% expansion for vitality productivity. The objective is to diminish the utilization of assets while supporting the financial presentation. The objective is to decrease the water utilization by 20%. The other objective is to introduce the vitality the executives framework to enhance the warming and cooling in the kitchen. Further drive vitality sparing in the stores through enhancement of lighting and hardware of detail. Another objective is to lessen vitality use by concentrating on the progressing sustainable power sources through our buying rehearses. The objective is set by executing arrangement that on the off chance that the set gauges are found with resistance, at that point punishment will be forced on the individual capable. It will guarantee accomplishment of set targets (Hirschnitz-Garbers 2017). The techniques to improve the asset effectiveness incorporate catching the ecological contacts with the assistance of natural effect marker. The water profitability by area would be the other marker to catch asset effectiveness. Appraisal of the staff obligations and framework the board are different systems for improving asset productivity. Specific staff duties include the staff to consider that it is a vital piece of the business obligation to deal with nature. There is a need to create cleaner group and choose group pioneer. The natural duties regarding model vitality productivity will be coordinated into position des

Alcohol, Violence and Crime in America :: essays research papers

Liquor is a predominant device that controls the human’s body when it assumes control over its significant frameworks. Furthermore, liquor hugy affects people’s practices with the goal that their practices leave their control and could prompt things rather increasingly genuine. As an outcome of the effect of liquor, crime percentage increments drastically affected by liquor. On reason that bolsters this end is that individuals who are dependent on liquor however can’t manage the cost of purchasing would act forcefully to gain admittance to liquor by unmannered practices that a few times could prompt genuine wrongdoings. All in all, religions comprise the lifestyle people should live regardless of what sort of religion is that, and since the utilization of liquor is either totally precluded or not suggested, liquor ought to be dispensed with from any general public to consent to god’s law’s similarly as individuals regard their government’s laws. Nonetheless, the end of liquor from a general public without a moment's delay is practically unthinkable and could bring about serious episodes that could go outside the ability to control of the specialists. The most ideal approach to get individuals far from liquor is to make it hard enough for individuals to get liquor; cause them to endure to get the liquor they need. A portion of the manners in which a legislature could restrict the utilization of liquor is to build its cost significantly by including extra duties and charges the individuals who sell liquor with the goal that its cost will increment and wont be moderate for the majority of the individuals. The pay of this addition ought to be spent on national mindfulness through media which would spread out the word about liquor to individuals and caution them about the utilization of this abhorrent item. Another limitation would be expanding the lawful period of liquor purchasers from 21 to a higher age at which individuals would be mindful and mull over the utilization of liquor; a sensible age would associate with 25 I accept. Expanding the necessities of giving liquor licenses would constrain the quantity of stores that sell liq uor so individuals will require more of time to get liquor from a far spot. What's more, constraining the amount of liquor offered to one individual would make him burn through loads of time each time he needs to purchase liquor. Disallowance isn't generally the key of wiping out something from a general public, yet training is fairly a superior thought.

The Boston Festival of Indie Games

The Boston Festival of Indie Games Boston Festival of Indie Games! The 2nd annual convention hosted here in Boston to celebrate gaming, and it is completely free to the public. (But actually it was awesome, and much like a baby-PAX â€" a video game conference started in Seattle that now has a Boston branch. I went last year and plan on going this year. It’s freaking awesome.) I woke up at around 10am, got my pass and a guidebook around 10:45, and headed over to 10-250 for the keynote. The lanyard has The Behemoth logo on itâ€"the company that created one of my favorite arcade games, Castle Crashers. The Videri String Quartet, a local group, played music from the games Dear Esther and Journey. Live video game music is one of my favorite things. (Also kind of humorous how the remnants of an 18.02 lecture are on the chalkboard.) The keynote speaker was Robin Hunike, the designer and executive producer of the game Journey. Her talk reminded me how much meaning I derive from video games, and made me question whether I should abandon the biological sciences and devote my time to animation or drawing concept art. Yeah… I guess I get inspired pretty intensely by media. But how can you not with promos like this? She discussed the rise of independent games as a product of wanting to make something you’re proud of and being totally in control of that process. All great games come from a feeling inside a person, something beyond just finding a niche market or putting previously successful ideas together. And she went on to advise how every developer ought to: Concept their idea like crazyâ€"in notebooks, artwork, etc. Test on family and friends and real gamers and accept honest feedback, rather than being insanely protective of the project Throw some stuff away, even though we live in a culture that emphasizes saving things beyond Prototype and repeat the testing/tossing process, all whilst staying true to the original feeling that inspired you After being filled with warm fuzzy creative feels, I met up with my friends Jamal E. ’13 and Dalton H. ’13 and wandered both the digital and tabletop expo floors. Both rooms were a montage of indie gaming goodness, with a mixture of students, independent designers, and small companies exhibiting. The digital expo floor included all console, PC, and android/iPhone games, as well as other independent gaming platforms. I think this may be my favorite transformation of the Johnson ice rink so far.     And now, for a montage of games: Tiny Brains, a co-op puzzle game being released for PS4 and Steam. You play as small mice trying to escape a lab and defeat little mutant chicken enemiesâ€"super fun. Dalton playing with Sifteo Cubes, a new type of touch-screen gaming that allows you to play pattern/memory-based competition games with other people. Dalton and Jamal puzzling through Color Zen, an android/iPhone game where you match colors in a specific order to clear levels. It’s really easy to play one level or twenty, and very low pressure. And then, heres the tabletop expo floor, on the 2nd floor of the student center. This includes board games, card games, and possibly some RPGsâ€"basically anything that doesn’t involve a screen. Ice cubris! It’s like Tetris/reverse-jenga but with ice cubes. Kinda messy, but it looks easy to set up anywhere. Time Keepers, a board game in which you’re trying to restore major events to their proper locations in the timestream. (Side note: I really enjoy the happy expressions of all these people; where learning to play a new game is an incredibly positive experience no matter what your background is. I’m a true proponent of the idea that gaming brings people together. Cheesiness over.) And to finish off my day, I headed back to 10-250 to listen to Ethan Gilsdorf, the author of Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks, and Brian O’Halloran, an actor most prominently known as Dante in the Clerks movies who is also a gamer, talk about how Dungeons and Dragons changed their lives. It was a pretty lighthearted talk, both of them emphasizing the fact that DD helped them find nerdy friends instead of being outcasts in middle/high school, fostered creativity through character development, world building, and story creation, and held such gravitas during their young-adulthood but now has an uncertain future due to the advances in technology. Ethan Gilsdorf showed a Super 8 film that he shot of him and his friends playing DD in 1981. Very cool and kinda surreal for me, because it was actual footage of a scene that my dad had described to me so many timesâ€"of him and his friends just goofing off in a basement and gaming. And one of the most random coincidences was that Brian O’Halloran actually gamed with the current MIT professor Junot Diaz back in high school, and, in fact, played story modules that he wrote. If you even have a mild interest in video games, tabletop, or gaming culture, and are in the Boston area, definitely check this convention out. At the very least to experience an environment where so many people who are passionate about something dorky gather together to just celebrate it and collaborate. And, if you want more information about people playing video games or tabletop, try checking out some of these YouTube channels: HankGames, Tabletop (by Geek and Sundry), Team Hypercube, or TheRunawayGuys.

Impacts of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Coral Reefs - Free Essay Example

For many decades, ecosystems in the world have experienced climate changes. These changes include sea levels rising, the increase of temperature, and widespread coral bleaching. Climate change is the change in temperature of our earth that is caused by human activity. One of these climate change catastrophes is ocean warming and acidification on coral reefs. Coral reefs are Anthozoa invertebrates of the phylum Cnidaria, made up of calcium carbonate skeletons. Coral reefs range from thousands of different species, making them a unique part of the marine world. Corals reef create symbiotic relationships with other organisms by providing shelter, food, and protection for several organisms even though they risk their own life. Corals are found in tropical islands, surrounded by clear waters which are susceptible to strong tropical storms (Hodgson et al. 560). It is best for coral reefs to be near the sand shore to receive sunlight to make photosynthesis. This allows corals to grow, as well as avoid strong water movements (Hodgson et al. 560). Coral reefs are rich with nutrients, which makes them a vital ecosystem. A vital ecosystem is a system that contains benefits to other environments. These benefits include ecological and economic benefits. Some economic benefits are commercial fisheries, tourism, and protection of shorelines. Commercial fisheries examples reside in Hawaii, an island that benefits from coral reefs due to food security, primary and secondary consumers, and cultural practices. Hawaiian fisheries provide the land $10.3 to $16.4 million annually, which is then broken down into commercial sales (Grafeld et al. 2017). An ecological benefit with tourism industries resides in the Maldives. In the Maldives, tourism is highly attracted due to its beautiful beaches which contain coral reefs. At least one million tourists are received in the Maldives, which gives them an increase in gross domestic products annually. With ecological benefits, coral reefs produce final coral sand and protect shorelines from wave energy and erosion. (Reguero et al. 147). The ocean acidification in coral reefs is caused by carbon dioxide that dissolves in water, products of human activity and release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphe re. PH levels are affected, which changes their environment since they require a certain amount of pH for the ecosystem to function. If the pH levels are not met, corals run out of zooxanthellae algae that provide oxygen (Manzello et al. 521). This affects the growth of coral reefs since too much of the pH levels in the water will cause a strong acidity, making the corals vulnerable to growth. Carbon dioxide also causes ocean warming. Ocean warming negatively impacts coral reefs since heat pressure consumed by the coral reefs result in a release of the zooxanthellae algae (Carilli et al. 2012). When the algae is released, the color of the coral reef changes known as coral bleaching. If greenhouse gas effects were not associated with the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the earth’s atmosphere would not accelerate global warming as it is today. Most global warming issues can be avoided if every individual was determined to make a change. Some of the steps that we can contribute to saving our planet are to use LED light bulbs for our home, reduce the excessive amount of food containing meats, maintaining your car tires, and reduce the excessive use of water. These steps help our surrounding maintain healthy, as well as respect nature for what it is. Even though this may be difficult to always think about in our daily routines, small changes in behavior can make a huge difference during our lifetime. As for coral reefs, it is best to recycle and pick up trash during beach vacations so that we do not add more stress to their environment.