Society and Culture free essay sample

Action research is carried out be people who usually recognize a problem or limitation in their workplace situation and, together, devise a plan to counteract the problem, implement the plan, observe what happens, reflect on these outcomes, revise the plan, implement it, reflect, revise and so on. Action research can be though of as a spiral of planning, acting, observing and reflecting, occruing through time until the most desirable outcomes for all participants are achieved. | The Nature of Social and Cultural Continuity and Change| Understanding continuity and change through:| Identifying the nature of social and cultural continuity and change| The concepts of continuity and change are commonly used in our society, but for many of us they are hard to define. These terms share the feature of time being a determining factor. It is the opportunity of time that allows a society to develop and modify itself to change. Likewise when we observe a particular culture or community over a period of time we can oberve clear continuities. We will write a custom essay sample on Society and Culture or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The term social change is a term used within sociology and applies to modifications in social relationships or culture (the term cultural change is the term used within anthropology). Since society and culture are interdependent, sociocultural change is a more accepted term. The study of sociocultural change is the systematic study of variation in social and cultural systems. There are inherent methodological problems of identification and measurement of change, and rarely does one cause produce one effect. All societies are involved in a process of social change, however, this change may be so incremental that the members of the society are hardly aware of it. People living in very traditional societies would be in this category. Societies are characterised by change: the rate of change, the processes of change, and the directions of change. The actions of individuals, organisations and social movements have an impact on society and may become the catalyst for social change. The actions of individuals, however, occur within the context of culture, institutions and power structures inherited from the past, and usually, for these individuals to effect dramatic social change, the society itself is tripe for change. Broad social trends, for example, shifts in population, urbanisation, industrialisation and bureaucratisation, can lead to significant social change. In the past, this has been associated with modernisation, the process whereby a society moves from traditional, less developed modes of production (like small-scale agriculture) to technologically advanced industrial modes of production. Trends like population growth and urbanisation have a significant impact on other aspects of society, like social structure, institutions and culture. Nineteenth and early Twentieth Century social theorists focused fairly extensively on modernisation, but they tended to present on oversimplified grand narrative which resulted from heavily ideological interpretations of the contrast between tradition and modernisation. They also attempted to externalise absolutes, social laws as they saw them, and they argued that these social laws were operative in structurally similar societies. Social continuity cannot simply be defined as the absence of social change, that is, things remaining the same, because social change is a continual process in all societies. Nothing remains the same. However, within societies there are structures which are inherently resistant to change, and in this sense, we can talk about them as being social continuities. Individuals within societies need social continuities to a lesser or greater extent, depending on significant factors like age, gender, education, access to power, wealth, vested interest, etc. Even rock-solid institutions like the family, the law, and religions are subject to change, even though they represent social continuity. There has always been family and it is still the foundational institution for society and the primary agent of socialisation, however the composition of family has changed in recent years, leading to different kinds of families and different socialisation experiences for their members. The same ideas can be applied to law and religion. Social and cultural continuities can be likened to individuals habits comfortable patterns of behaviour that give individuals a sense of security and personal control a haven or a respite in a sea of social and cultural change. There is a high correlation between the rate of social and cultural change and resistance to that change. In times when members of a society feel that change is out of control, it is likely that the desire for continuity becomes more extreme, resulting in backward-looking idealisations of the past. While social change is itself a continuity, certain periods of human history have created great transformations (Polanyi 1973). The Industrial Revolution and the French Revolution created one such Great Transformation. Polanyi saw it as beginning in the 17th and 18th centuries and continuing today, characterised by:| | | †¢ the rise of a capitalist, global economy and growth in production and wealth †¢ a scientific revolution new ways of thinking about causation, moving from religious to secular †¢ a new concept of time population growth, immigration and urbanisation political move to nation, which involved governments expanding their control to social, economic and cultural life, followed by the extension of that control to other, less advanced countries (colonialism/imperialism) either through military conquest or trade conquest and today, perhaps, characterised by conquest through communication (eg. the Americanisation or westernisation of culture). | | | According to Bessant and Watts (1999: 20):A key sign of the magnitude of the changes in that first Great Transformation is found in the ways people continued talking about the experience of loss, the world we have lost. Phrases like the death of God, demise of the family, and the loss of community reflect the long-standing feelings of bereavement and loss that accompanied the modernising experience. Polanyi would argue that similar feelings of loss and bereavement are expressed, in similar terms, today in our post-modern society where rapid, often dramatic change has become almost the norm. Although many individuals, for example, Marx, Toennies, Comte and Spencer developed different versions of what Comte called sociology, the science of society, it wasnt until the late 1 9th century that sociology as established as an academic discipline. Social theories came out of this new discipline, as attempts to explain, or account for, social change. Social theories were, and still are today, products of their times and are characterised to a greater or lesser extent by the prevailing views and ideologies of their eras. When studying social theories, and using one or more of them in an attempt to explain soc ial and cultural change, it is important to recognise this fact about them and to be conscious, if not critical, of the biases, values and assumptions inherent in them. Sociological theory can be roughly divided into periods during which different schools of theoretical thought tended to be dominant:| | | †¢ from the late Nineteenth/early Twentieth Century until the 1 92Os, while Sociology was establishing itself as an academic discipline in Its own right (there was, at the same time, a development of Anthropology) Social Darwinism, early evolutionary theory, which was functionalist in its perspective, was a dominant school of thought †¢ the 1940s -1960s was the era of Structural Functionalism (Parsons, Spencer, Durkheim and Comte) by the mid-1 960s (1 960s 1 980s), Marxism, Weberian sociology, Feminism and Symbolic Interactionism were dominant †¢ most recently, Post-Modernism (also called Post-Structuralism) has tended to dominate sociological thinking. | | | This division isnt absolute in that different schools of sociological thought agreed with, disagreed with, borrowed and rejected aspects of each others premises. Even within th e different schools of thought, there is acceptance and rejection of other proponents ideas. | | * TIME Past| Present| Future| What was it like? Why? | What’s changed? Why? What’s the same? Why? | What will change? Why? What will remain? Why? | | Examining the impact of continuity change upon the lives of people in the micro and macro worlds| Family structures- there is no doubt that the nature of structures within the family unit have also changed over the last few decades. In Australian society post WW2, the culture of the day was changing dramatically. Australians for the first time, in some cases, were being exposed to different patterns of living and cultural values with the arrival of many immigrants from many countries around the world. This tradition of immigration to Australia has continued, often as a reaction to world events. Prior to the second WW the most common family model was known as nuclear, two generations living together. However in the past few deceased it has become more common for families to extend. This has been due to either older relatives needing to live with younger generations, or for cultural reasons. In addition to this, the increase of divorce has resulted in a range of new family structures forming. These new structures can range from single-parents to blended families. There are also indicators that tell us though that there are some aspects of the family unit that are changed over the past few decades- continuity-particularly when we look at its purpose. In modern western societies the responsibility of child raising lies with the immediate family. This is one aspect of the role of the family unit that is still a cultural norm. Parents are still seen to be the primary care givers and with the help of other adults around them take on the responsibility for all aspects of their Childs development. All members of that family have a responsibility to that distinct group. This sense of belonging to a distinct social group complete with mutual rights and obligations is also largely unchanged. In western cultures, it is still the family that has one of the most crucial roles in socialising children. This socialisation enables these children to participate in their given society as an adult. Characteristics of students-Many of the changes that have occurred in the way young people approach their education are reflective of the societal change that all of us experience on a daily basis in our society. It is clear that in a relatively short space of time approaches to learning and communication have changed dramatically. In relation to learning specifically, the Millennials: -favour group activity- are able to multi-task with ease-respond and adapt to new technologies very quickly-are positive in their attitude to learning-use technology such as the internet for work and leisureBy that comparison we need to keep in mind, for many Generation X-ers the computer was not commonly used during their peak years of formal education. Technology has also influenced the manner in which students wish to communicate with other students and their teachers. As young people are now used to being able to message people immediately and have a quick response, the manner in which they want to communicate in their general relationships in their micro world has also changed dramatically by comparison to the students before them. Clearly there has been significant change in the way in which young people approach technology and their learning generally. Continuity- the benefit of using different strategies in learning such as visual, linguistic, audiotry, kinaesthetic in order that learning is well balanced has always been evident. While there has always been different trends in approaches to learning, it has been acknowledged for decades that there are many modes of learning on offer to us as students. The need for students to learn from and communicate to others around them during the learning process has also been seen of value for a long period of time. Distinguishing between personal experience and public knowledge | | Examining the role of power and authority in social and cultural continuity and change| | Introducing theories of social change and evaluating their role in explaining continuities and changes in society| | Explore continuity and change through examination of the following questions:When we discuss change we are referring to cultural and social change. Human society according to Toffler has gone through three specific stages of change:- the agrarian revolution: the change in settlement patterns from nomadic to stable communities. Much technological change with regard to ways of working e. g. use of the plough- The industrial revolution: the era of machine replacing muscle, the advent of the use of steam in factories. Production rates increased dramatically as the factory system developed. The development of the new merchant class and a middle class were the major social changes of the day. The working classes also grew with both agricultural workers and urban workers. -The information revolution- this has been referred to as the era of machine replacing the mind. The development of technologies particularly in relation to communication and information technologies. Suter reminds us that there is a correlation between the agrarian revolution, industrial revolution and information revolution and the concepts of power and authority. Agrarian Revolution=monarchy: feudal system, kings and queens, emperors, pharaohs, maharajas. A rule by hereditary elites. Industrial Revolution=Nation State: Rise of democracy, republics, communism: informed public now choose their government, such as voting for the president or electing a prime minister-Information Revolution=? Is this change yet to be define? Who is really running the world? Corportation? Macro groups like the EU? What is the role of the UN, the World Economic Forum and the World Bank? Al-Qaeda? | Is all change necessarily progress? | | Which groups benefit from change? Which do not? | | Are westernization, modernization and industrialization inevitable? | |

Global Misconceptions in The WHO Video

Global Misconceptions in The WHO Video Introduction The WHO video on chronic illness acts as a revelation, for the reason that it provides the audience with a view of the chronic health conditions in the developing countries. It serves to dispel numerous myths and misconceptions about the suffering of people in the third world countries from what have traditionally been viewed as lifestyle diseases, mostly affecting residents of the developing countries.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Global Misconceptions in The WHO Video specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More People have tended to assume that the third world countries were immune or at least not prone to conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and heart attacks, among others (WHO, 2014). Despite the assumptions, the video dismisses this information by indicating that 80% of the people who die come from low and middle-income nations. In addition, they are likely to affect women and children as they would affect men. The video contains several personal stories of victims from developing countries, most of whom are living in poverty and have been severely affected by chronic diseases. The stories focused on people living with chronic diseases and the underlying risks, given that today millions of people are dying, and many others are becoming disabled because of chronic diseases (WHO, 2014). The stories are aimed at raising the awareness. They demonstrate the very deep and personal impact of the diseases on individuals, their families, and communities. Are individual behaviors to blame? Individuals are not necessarily responsible for getting chronic conditions since, although the causes are known, many people often suffer from them even when they have not been exposed. In addition, some of them are genetic and/or environmental, which limits the extent to which potential victims can take actions. However, in some cases, individuals’ lifestyles significantly contribute to their vulnera bility. For example, someone who consumes excess amounts of junk food or alcohol would have relatively high chances of suffering from diabetes. Similarly, a heavy smoker would also be at a high risk of suffering from cancer because of his or her lifestyle (WHO, 2014). Nonetheless, the idea that nothing can be done is fallacious, since there are numerous measures that an individual can take to protect himself or herself.Advertising Looking for essay on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More These include regular exercises, a healthy diet, and frequent medical checkups. While they might not eliminate the risks of getting a condition, such as cancer or diabetes, risks would be significantly reduced. Developed vs. developing countries While chronic diseases are for the most part preventable, governments and health organizations in many third world countries have found it very difficult to address them due to s everal factors. In developing nations, the education levels are very low, which result in ignorance that complicates efforts to provide citizens with health education. In some societies, people refuse to accept the connection between lifestyle and illness, and blame supernatural powers or witchcraft. In addition, owing to insufficient funds and/or research data in relation to the scope of the problem, efforts to address these problems are often disorganized. Hence, they tend not to be very effective. Conversely, on the West, an educated population takes the issue very seriously, and many studies have been carried out on it, which makes it comparatively easy to address the matter (WHO, 2014). However, in the developed nations, there is a unique challenge because, despite the awareness of the risk factors, people often ignore them. In low-income nations, the main challenge is to get sufficient resources to fight the diseases, while, in the high-income ones, it is to educate people abo ut the risks of chronic diseases. Reference WHO. (Executive producer). (2014). Face to face with chronic disease. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO.

Specification of writing business plans Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5750 words

Specification of writing business plans - Essay Example The paper tells that in the conditions of changeable economics, stability and success of every economic player can be insured only by effective planning of its economic performance. The planning program of business optimization is represented by business plan, which is working instrument used in every sphere of entrepreneurship. This document describes the process of firm’s functioning and shows essential methods that can help supervisors to attain own goals and tasks. Good structured business plan helps enterprise grow, conquer new position on the market, build perspective concepts of launching new goods and services, choose rational methods of their implementation and receive various ways of financing. According to Collins, â€Å"Business plans are like sell sheets on steroids. It details your current financial position and your path to revenue growth†. Creation of business plan is conventional and generally adopted way to define objectives of economic performance and outline initial routes for their achievements. This document can be carried out for start-up as much as for already existed entry on successive stage of its development. Business plan is an objective evaluation of own entrepreneurial performance and extremely important instrument of production according to market needs. Successful co-founder and co-owner of Roaring Lion Energy Drink that is worth millions of dollars, Sean Hackney, stated that writing business plan was absolutely worthwhile, because there were a lot of ideas that needed to be put on paper. (as cited in Henricks, 2008, p. 94). The main purpose of elaborating business plan is to predict economic and financial performance of the company for the nearest perspectives, taking into account needs of target consumers and abilities of getting required resources. Goals of business planning Traditionally business plan is considered to be an efficacious mode that helps to attract finance needed for project’s implementatio n. However, many specialists highlight other not less important tasks, which can be carried out with a help of business plan. They are the following: defining concrete directions of performance and target markets; formulating long-term and short-term goals, strategy and tactics of their attaining; choosing the most appropriate products and appraising production and costs of marketing; revealing correspondence of present staff and conditions of motivation with qualifying standards; outlining marketing measures aimed at marketing research, advertising, sale promotion, pricing; evaluating financial state of the company and availability of financial and maternal resources; predicting obstacles that may hinder practical implementation of the project. According to Smith (2004), planning process provides assistance in delegation of responsibilities, results in better co-ordination of resources and encourages constant forward thinking (p. 3). Elaboration of business plan is time-taking and rather laborious process, but implementation of this complex multi-functional document has several objectives. First of all, business plan encourages attraction of external capital. Financial calculations of mentioned document are able to explain what sum of start-up financial resources is required, how they are going to be returned to potential investors and creditors, what risks can take place and others. Secondly, on the beginning stage of project’s implementation business plan insures communication between entrepreneur and future suppliers, merchandisers and employees. Then it helps to avoid impediments before setting up own business. Also business plan is a reliable way to model system of

To develop a policy to address an issue identified in a practice Research Paper

To develop a policy to address an issue identified in a practice setting in nursing - Research Paper Example This is achievable through the establishment of an effective bedside policy that promotes effective hand off in the health care setting. Reporting in this case refers to the transfer of accountability, responsibility, and authority of a patient and their care from one caregiver to another. Bedside reporting, on the other hand, refers to a concept that involves providing a report to the incoming caregiver in the presence of a patient. This report provides a policy that seeks to maximize the benefits bedside report (Athwal, Fields, and Wagnell, 2009). To maximize the benefits of bedside report in the hospital, nurses will be required to adhere to the following policy initiatives. Firstly, immediately on the day of admission, a bedside nurses or any other hospital staff will be required to explain briefly the process to patients and families, as well as invite patients and families to form part of the bedside shift report. In addition, bedside shift nurses will be required to give patients a brochure on the bedside shift report. Secondly, at each shift, nurses must ensure that the shift report takes place at the patient’s bedside. At the same time, nurses will be required to invite patients and families to take part in the shift report. Anderson and Mangino (2006) observed that, in some instances, patients or families might not be privy to certain information or diagnosis. However, bedside shift report is not the right place to discuss bad news. In this regard, nurses will be required to refrain from divulging any sensitive information or diagnosis during bedside shift. Instead, they will be required to follow the procedure set out by the hospital for discussing such sensitive information. Families also tend to complicate matters during bedside shift report (Griffin, 2010). This sometimes makes it difficult for nurses to know

Advantages Of Using Subnetting

Advantages Of Using Subnetting Subnetting is allowed you to divide one physical network which is whether a class A, B, or C into several smaller logical subnetworks. The main idea of subnetting is borrowing bits from the host IP address and using them to create one or more networks within the network. Furthermore, It permits using two or more local area networks (LANs) technology in the same network such as Ethernet and Toking ring (Cisco 2005; PSI 2000). Advantages of using subnetting: It is useful to control and to reduce the network traffic by limiting number of broadcasts. It is allowed any organization to subnet its network without needed to have a new network IP through an internet service provider (ISP). Subnetting was so helpful to solve the problem of lacking IP addresses on the Internet. Allowing to use two or more LAN technologies together in the same network. Subnets also helpful to minimize the size of the routing tables on the internet since additional network numbers will not being added to the table. When you want to isolate segments for security reasons such as accounting and sales segment. When you want to isolate bad segments such as domination hosts which use most of the LAN bandwidth (PSI 2000). Disadvantage Advantages of using subnetting: Subnetting decreases the total number of IP addresses in the network but may need buying additional hardware such as a router. So, it may cost lots of money(PSI 2000). It cannot correct the lack of efficiency because companies still assign address block regarding to classes (Kozierok 2005). Supernetting It is the opposite of subnetting that is allowed you to divide one physical network into several smaller logical networks. On the other hand, Supernetting is allowed you to combine one or more smaller logical network to making one large network. It is a part of classless inter domain routing (CIDR) (Wright 1998). In addition, it is used in routing tables to merge nearby class C (Blank 2002). It is necessary when you need more hosts on the network. So, the main concept of supernetting is borrowed one or more bits from the current network address and using it to produce a large amount of hosts (Inetdaemon). Private and Public IP addresses Public IP Address It is an IP address which is able to be seen by the public. Public IP Address allows people access your computer form everywhere and know about you such as a web server. Private IP Addresses It is used on a private network and it is not able to route through the public Internet. It is useful for security reasons. All privet IP addresses are fallen within the following IP address ranges (Syndication 2007): Class A 10.0.0.0 through 10.255.255.255 Class B 172.16.0.0 through 172.31.255.255 Class C 192.168.0.0 through 192.168.255.255 2- Subnetting calculate : 192.168.1.40/24 IP class / class C Total usable subnets/networks / 256 Total usable IP addresses in each subnets/networks / 254 The first 5 subnets/networks / 192.168.1.0, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.1.2, 192.168.1.3, 192.168.1.4 10.4.78.21/8 IP class / class A Total usable subnets/ networks / 1677216 Total usable IP addresses in each subnet/network / 1677214 The first 5 subnets/networks / 10.0.0.0, 10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.2, 10.0.0.3, 10.0.0.4 10.0.0.9/24 IP class / class A Total usable subnets/networks / 256 Total usable IP addresses in each subnets/networks / 254 The first 5 subnets/networks- 10.0.0.0, 10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.2, 10.0.0.3, 10.0.0.4 203.51.131.23/27 IP class / class C Total usable subnets/ networks / 32 Total usable IP addresses in each subnets/networks /30 The first 5 subnets/networks-203.51.131.0, 203.51.131.1, 203.51.131.2, 203.51.131.3, 203.51.131.4 198.110.43.112/26 IP class / class C Total usable subnets/ networks / 64 Total usable IP addresses in each subnets/networks / 62 The first 5 subnets/networks / 198.110.43.64, 198.110.43.65, 198.110.43.66, 198.110.43.67,198.110.43.68 3- Static and dynamic routing : Static routing manually is configured into the routing table by configuration file or a network administrator who can access and configure the routers (Inetdaemon2). So, it is called static because it needs someone who can create that routing table physically. In addition, it provides control over routing (Balchunas 2007). Advantages of Static Routing: It reduces the physical hardware overhead. It also minimize the bandwidth overhead (Balchunas 2007). Disadvantages of Static Routing: Static routing is a manual process so it will not work good with a massive number of routing. It also does not fix any connection problem so the router must configured manually to solve any connection down (Inetdaemon2). Difficult to configure large network (Balchunas 2007). Dynamic routing Dynamic routing automatically is configured by a routing protocol that runs on the routers (Balchunas 2007). Dynamic routing protocols are applications that can find a network destination and then record it into the routing table (Inetdaemon2). Advantages of Dynamic Routing: Easy to configure a big networks. Dynamically change to a different route if there is any connection down (Balchunas 2007). Disadvantages of Dynamic Routing: Consuming more bandwidth. It consumes more hardware as well. It chooses the best connection way regarding to the routing protocol not to the routers administrator (Balchunas 2007). Commonly used dynamic routing table RIP (Routing Information Protocol). EIGRP (Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol). OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) (Balchunas 2007). 4- The difference between a layer 2 and a layer 3 network device The difference between them is a layer 2 device works only with MAC addresses to forward network data packets; however a layer 3 device works on IP address. Moreover, layer 2 devices are transfer network packets from physical address to physical address but layer 3 devices looking for the best route to transmit data packets. So, layer 2 networks are faster than a layer 3 network because it just needs to forward data to the right destination without make any decision (Simon 2006). Example of layer 2 device and describing it: Switch. It is used to connect two local area networks (LAN) or more. It works under OSI (Open System Interconnection Reference) model Layer 2. Furthermore, It usually has multiple ports to connect devices together or to connect two or more local area networks (LAN). it receives data and forwards it depending on the destination MAC (Media Access Control) address to only destination that should receive it . Moreover, It only sends data within the same subnet as well (Maufer). Example of layer 3 device and describing it: Router. Router is used to connect two wide area networks (WAN). It works at OSI (Open System Interconnection Reference) model Layer 3. Furthermore, It forwards data depending on the destination network address to only destination that should receive it as well (Maufer).

Linux Networking Capabilities :: Essays Papers

Linux Networking Capabilities Linux is a Unix clone written from scratch by Linus Torvalds with assistance from a loosely-knit team of hackers across the Net. It aims towards POSIX compliance. It has all the features expected in a modern fully-fledged Unix, including true multitasking, virtual memory, shared libraries, demand loading, shared copy-on-write executables, proper memory management and TCP/IP networking. It runs mainly on 386/486/586-based PCs, using the hardware facilities of the 386-processor family to implement these features. Ports to other architectures are underway. Linux is freely available, and no one is required to register their copies with any central authority, so it is difficult to know how many people use Linux. Several businesses are now surviving solely on selling and supporting Linux, and very few Linux users use those businesses, relatively speaking, and the Linux newsgroups are some of the most heavily read on the internet, so the number is likely in the hundreds of thousands, but hard numbers are hard to come by. Linux Features Multitasking. Several programs running at once. Multiuser. Several users on the same machine at once. Two-user licenses are not possible. Multiplatform. Runs on many different CPUs, not just Intel. Multiprocessor. SMP support is available on the Intel and SPARC platforms (with work currently in progress on other platforms), and Linux is used in several loosely-coupled MP applications, including Beowulf systems and the Fujitsu AP1000+ SPARC-based supercomputer. Runs in protected mode on the 386. Memory protection between processes. So that one program can't bring the whole system down. Demand loads executables. Linux only reads from disk those parts of a program that are actually used. Shared copy-on-write pages among executables. This means that multiple process can use the same memory to run in. When one tries to write to that memory, that page (4KB piece of memory) is copied somewhere else. Copy-on-write has two benefits: increasing speed and decreasing memory use. Virtual memory using paging (not swapping whole processes) to disk. To a separate partition or a file in the filesystem, or both, with the possibility of adding more swapping areas during runtime. A total of 16 of these 128 MB swapping areas can be used at once, for a theoretical total of 2 GB of useable swap space. It is simple to increase this if necessary, by changing a few lines of source code. Unified memory pool for user programs and disk cache.

Introduction to Ambisonics

The development of Ambisonic surround sound systems started in the 1970’s. They were based on a mathematical model of directional psychoacoustics, which was developed by Michael Gerzon. The model which he developed, described directional psychoacoustics in a mathematical form, so that it could conveniently be used in calculations relating to surround sound system (Mallham 10) Ambisonics can be defined as a method of recording information about a soundfield and reproducing it over some form of loudspeaker array so as to produce the impression of hearing a true three dimensional sound image.Simply put, Ambisionics is a system of recording and playback of sound fields. The model was developed by Gerzon. It used several previous theories of loaclization, and hence was more directional as compared to other systems, resulting in benefits such as reduced listening fatigue, good inter-loudspeaker imaging with reduced susceptibility to the detent effect – the tendency for appare nt source locations to be pulled towards the closest loudspeaker. This later feature improved image stability (Cotterell ch-1 16)Ambisonics is basically a two-part system of recording and playback, which is built upon strong mathematical foundations and theories of human hearing. The term soundfield, mentioned above, is a word used for describing sounds in the environment. It usually implies 3 dimensions. For recording in Ambisonics, an array of microphone capsules are built into one microphone called a Soundfield microphone. This Soundfield mike recording are then processed and encoded into a special format, called B-format, which may be written on and distributed using many different types of media.In the endy, a decoder is used to process and recover the soundfield, This can be played back in many types of listening setup, giving a unique output for every speaker available (Adams 2) As is seen in above, Ambisonics employs a signal set, known as â€Å"B-format†. This is bas ed on the principle of encoding direction, without reference to the loudspeaker layout used for reproduction. This results in Ambisonic systems being adaptable to multiple loudspeaker layouts. Using an Ambisonic decoder, appropriate loudspeaker feed signals can be derived from the transmitted B-format signals.Generally the number of loudspeakers exceeds the number of B-format signals. This is done to obtain good performance from Ambisonic systems, since in the number loudspeakers usually gives better results (Adams 2) It is observed that the Brain can process Soundfield information in several ways. However, much of this processing is seen to rely on the differences between sounds reaching the ears. As an example, if a sound is played to on the right side, because the right ear is closer, it will first receive the sound than the other ear.This is termed as Interaural Time Delay (ITD). Again, in this case the sound would be quieter in the left ear, not only because it is farther away, but because the body and head will absorb some of the sound. This is termed as Interaural Level Difference (ILD). The brain also pays attention to the timing between and relative loudness of sounds coming directly from the source and sounds reflected off of walls and other surfaces. This means that sources that are farther away tend to have more reflected energy than direct energy reaching the ears.These ear-brain interactions are called psychoacoustics (Adams 2). When a Soundfield recording is done, more efforts are made to gather and record as much information about a very small volume of space, as possible. This information comprises of just – measurements of air pressure and air pressure changes. By just adding an omnidirectional microphone to the pair of figure eight units, it is seen that one can capture all this information, with simple low order microphones. The three hree capsules should be acoustically at exactly the same place in the soundfield i.e. , The capsules are arranged to be truly coincident. This becomes even more difficult when theer is an addition of an up-down oriented figure eight capsule in order to record height information.. This problem has been overcome in the Soundfield microphone which uses four small capsules situated on the surface of a notional sphere to sample the incoming sounds (Mallham 12) Building upon recording techniques for stereo developed by Alan Blumlein in the 1930s, Ambisonics extends this recording of information into the third dimension.The idea is to record not only the pressure at a location, but also the pressure changes in different directions – front-back, left-right, and up-down. With proper decoding of this information using mathematics as well as psychoacoustics, a soundfield can be produced by speakers in the room, which reconstructs what was going on in that small volume at the listener's location (Adams 2). In Ambisonics the horizontal figure eight units are mounted front-back and side- to-side rather than at 45 degrees (Adams 2).Basic Ambisonics Technology The Ambisonic surround sound system can be considered as a two part technological solution to the problems of encoding sound directions, and reproducing them over loudspeaker systems in such a way that the listeners ears are under the impression that the sounds they are gearing are from speakers which are correctly located. Technically speaking, this can take place over a 360 degree horizontal only soundstage i. e. pantophonic systems or over the full sphere i. e. periphonic systems (Mallham 14)Ambisonic offers a hierarchy of encoding schemes from a stereo compatible UHJ format (Sinclair 27) There is no need to consider the actual details of the reproduction system when doing the original recording or synthesis Encoding Equations – The position of a sound within a three dimensional soundfield is encoded in the four signals which make up the B format: X = cosA. cosB (front-back) Y = sinA. cosB (left-right) Z = sinB (up-down) W = 0. 707 (pressure signal) Where, A is the anti-clockwise angle from centre front and B is elevation (Mallham 14)B- Format A number of different signal sets may be used at some stage of an Ambisonic system: A-format signals – The output signals of the microphone capsules making up a soundfield microphone. This signal set is not available to the outside world; it is utilised only within the soundfield microphone itself. C-format signal – The signal set which is conveyed to the listener via a recording or transmission medium, when it differs from B-format, is termed C- format. The â€Å"C† is sometimes said to stand for â€Å"consumer†.The C-format signal sets were proposed as part of the initial development of Ambisonics are together known as the UHJ hierarchy (Cotterell Ap-2 16) With Ambisonics, a sound field is decomposed into spherical harmonic components, termed W, X, Y and Z. These are collectively called B-Format (Leese 7). B-fo rmat is based on the principle of encoding direction, without reference to the loudspeaker layout used for reproduction. As a result of this, ambisonic systems are adaptable to multiple loudspeaker layouts; an ambisonic decoder derives appropriate loudspeaker feed signals from the transmitted B-format signals.To obtain good performance from ambisonic systems, the number of loudspeakers should exceed the number of B-format signals used; a further increase in the number of loudspeakers will usually give improved results (Cotterell ch-1 18) B- format signals can also be expressed in terms of derivatives of sound pressure. The nth-order B-format signal set consists of the signals obtained from coincident microphones having polar patterns corresponding to the (n +1) linearly independent spherical harmonics of all orders up to and including n.A signal set of any order can be extended to a higher order merely by augmenting it with additional signals; it is not necessary to change any of th e existing signals. Thus, an nth order soundfield microphone is distinguished by its ability to provide outputs which are the nth-order B-format signal (Cotterell ch-4 1) B-format signal is the primary signal format for Ambisonic use. Ideally, the B-format signals would be communicated directly to the listener.Unfortunately, this has not always been possible – in particular, the need to distribute recordings via two-channel media, retaining compatibility with existing stereo and mono equipment, led to the need for alternative signal formats to be employed (Cotterell Ap-2 16) Enhanced B-Format; BE-, BF- & BEF-Format Enhanced B-format signal sets have been proposed in connection with B-format decoders, which are optimized specifically for use with HDTV, or more generally for use in support of visual media (Cotterell Ap-2 19)The primary motivation is to produce a frontal sound stage which is more stable with respect to movement by the listener, and specifically to lock centre-fr ont acoustic images in place with respect to a screen. Thus, the motivation is substantially the same as for the use of the centre channel in cinema-oriented surround sound formats. Hence, two extra signals are defined, denoted as E and F, which have directional response patterns. (Cotterell Ap-2 16) Ambisonics and Stereo The B format signals are not at all stereo compatible.However, it is possible to combine the three (X,W,Y) components required for horizontal work in such a way that not only is a good stereo compatible two channel system produced but with a suitable decoder much of the original surround sound image can be recovered. This resulting Soundfield is also not perfect, but carefully designing the encoding equations can make it possible to place the defects in areas where the ear is less susceptible (Mallham 10) This encoding method, called UHJ coding, is used to produce stereo compatible Ambisonic records, tapes and broadcasts.The X,Y and W signals are combined in the fo rm of a two-channel compatible stereo signal (Brice 225). This is done using the following equations Left = (0. 0928 + 0. 255j)X + (0. 4699 – 0. 171j)W + (0. 3277)Y Right= (0. 0928 – 0. 255j)X + (0. 4699 + 0. 171j)W – (0. 3277)Y The above decoding equations are such that a decoder for any of the levels will always extract the correct information from high level inputs – in other words the system is upward compatible (Mallham 10) B+ format Another extension of the B-format, mentioned above, was developed by Dr. Thomas Chen.He calls it as â€Å"B+format†. This gives an optional enhancement to the Ambisonics listening experience. Definition B+ format is the standard 4 channels of B format material known as W, X, Y, and Z plus 2 channels of L/R dry stereo recording. This method of recording separates the dry/direct sound from the ambient/room sound in recording and reproduction. Each serves a distinct purpose and is ideally suited to it. (Chen 1) The à ¢â‚¬Å"+† which is seen in B+ Format denotes the presence of a close-miked standard stereo recording simultaneous with a soundfield recording.This is decoded to the front-half of the rig to give the impression that there is a set of stereo speakers on its surface in front of the listener. The angle between them is around 60 degrees (Adams 2) Chen is the inventor of B+ format. This format extends Ambisonic B format with two additional channels. Going by his definition of the format, one can see that, Chen suggested B+ format by combining the 1st order ambisonic B-format with two additional channels L/R dry channel recording (Trond 2) One way to look at this idea is that the format separates the dry signal and ambience.This means that the dry and ambient signal can be dynamically mixed depending on the space used for playback as well as the preferences of the listener (Trond 3) Why use the B+ format Chen considers that the sound system he ahs created, would provide the following feature:. †¢ Ambient – The system would be ambient. This means that the whole acoustic event could be captured and regenerated, such that it manages to give convincing impression to the listener’s ears, which a conventional stereo sound systems doe not. A soundfield must be present on reproduction.†¢ Accurate – The system would be accurate. This means that the direction of the sounds must be exact, as per the specifications or requirements i. e. front-stage, to the sides, above or below, behind. †¢ Sounds would be free from audible distortions of tone, timbre or position. The system must equally suit all types of singers, without any particular voice sounding good or bad. †¢ Scaleable – The system would support the group listening no matter the size of the group, and the same system could be used by an individual without compromising on the sound quality.The scaling factor would be adjustable †¢ Approachable – The system wo uld be easy use without any complications, physical or otherwise, on the behalf of the listener. For e. g. – No head clamps or enforced body positions or forbidden head directions or microscopic sweet spots or compulsory narrow listening seat. †¢ Practical – The system would be easily tailored to suit the ordinary domestic listening environments, at least as good as what conventional a stereo does.†¢ Compatible – The system would be able to satisfactorily replay the recordings of mono and stereo material; while sound recorded using the technology would replay satisfactorily on conventional stereo systems or would be able to readily convert to match them. For example, FM stereo being broadcast as a mono-compatible Sum and Difference rather than directly as a Left and Right signal. (Chen 2) As mentioned above, B+ Format consists of B format ambient-recorded signal plus two channels of L/R direct recorded signal. It is recorded on 6 channels and when repr oduced it is decoded into as many channels as the listeners wishes. (Chen 3)By using the two channels of L/R direct recorded signal , the directional sound clues from the direct signal as well as the sound of the instrument are present only in the front i. e. – instrument setting experience. There is no vertical height information in this pair, which is added to the frontal speaker array (Chen 3) By enabling the ambient and direct information to be stored separately, the listener can choose the balance of direct and ambient information at the time of reproduction. This will allow for many different sized reproduction spaces. The larger space will need less ambient information while the smaller spaces will need more.In addition the listener can choose the amount of preferred ambience (Chen 3) Time, Location and Spatial Representation The direct sound gives the best directional and instrumental timbre information. Hence, the direct sound should arrive earlier than the ambient s ignal. Also, the direct sound doesn't have any spacious or enveloping qualities (Chen 4) The ambient sound best gives spaciousness, spatial depth and envelopment to the reproduction of sound. B format presentation is known to be inaccurate in presenting location and therefore many scientists are trying to improve the reproduction with higher order of B format decoding.Also, first order of B format is considered to be satisfactory for presenting the ambient sound because it is not well localized (Chen 4). Storage Requirements As mentioned in the section above, B+ Format recordings require 6 channels of storage. This can be obtained with either SACD or DVD-A using MLP compression. Chen says that the advantage of using B+ format disks is that one is not limited to the speaker arrangement that the format will dictate but rather a decoder will determine your listening set up or you can set the decoder for your listening set up (Chen 5) Recording Techniques for B+ FormatDirect Recording S tereo Mics – Recording of the direct channel done by conventional means. Can use stereo microphone techniques: X/Y, M/S or OCT. Stored as L/R or M/S. Direct signal should contain little reverberant information. Recorded using direction microphones. Spot Mics – Spot microphones or flanking microphones to balance recorded sound. Need to add ambience to the spot microphones and to flanking microphones. The ambience added should be in B format and added to the B format channel. Multi Track Techniques – Multi-track techniques used to generate the direct signal and to add ambience in B format.B-Format Recording Room Recording – Room ambient recording done with the Soundfield microphone generating a B format output. The location of the Soundfield microphone is typically at the location in the room where the direct and reverberant sounds are equal. B-Format ambience by convolution –This is a digital technique where a room ambience is measured in B format a nd then is impressed upon another signal. B format ambient information can also be obtained with multiple reverberation devices. At least 3 engines are needed to generate B format reverberance, one for each axis (Chen 5)Techniques for Monitoring B+ Format Ideal decoding with 16 channels Decoding of the B+ format is ideally presented as 16 channels. This is arranged as two rings of 8 speakers with 45 degrees of separation between them. From stereo, it is known that the maximum separation between speakers without a hole in the middle is 60 degrees Thus by using an upper and lower ring of eight speakers vertical/height information can be presented. The listener usually presents the L/R stereo on the front speakers without height information.In this case the listener should be able to adjust the balance of dry versus ambient sound. For this Chen has developed decoders for 16, 12, 10 channels of 3D surround or without height as 8, 6, or 5 channels (Chen 6) Decoding in the present control room The listener can use the present control room to work in B+ format. In this case the decoding is done with 60-degree speaker spacing with two rings of 6 speakers. The front up and down speakers will be combined and the present control room speakers will be used for the sum of the front up and down signals.After this listener can use his present console to obtain the L/R stereo mix and use a pair of auxiliary sends to sent to the B format ambience generator (Chen 6) Software for the B+ format Dr Thomas Chen has developed exciting and powerful software for the Creamware Pulsar system, providing multiple, configurable B-format and B+ format decoding, mixing and signal manipulation subsystems. He intends to make this software available commercially, either through Creamware or direct, in the near future.