Can built form influence social problems?

The concept of social problems is linked to a wide spectrum of contrasting definitions. Jerome G Monis defines it as â€Å"these social conditions identified by scientific enquiry and values as detrimental to human well-being†. On the other hand Malcom Spector and Jon I Kitsuse defined them as â€Å"the activities of individuals or groups making assertion of grievance and claims with respect to some putative conditions†. (http://syg2010-01.fa04.fsu.edu/Week_1.htm) Taking into consideration the different approaches to this debate the point that the main reason for people's behaviour is physical form can be argued. Urban form can be seen as one of the reason for social behaviour but to deny the influence of social, economical and political factors is to simplify the complexity of society and the different relationships within it. In any case both arguments will always be episodes in the long saga of traditional controversy. Social problems have been divided into 3 groups by Kenneth C Land (www.soc.duke.edu): Deviant behaviour, including drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, crime and violence. Social inequality and conflict including aging, the ederly, racial and ethnics relations, the sexes and gender inequality, poverty and economic inequality and homelessness. Finally, human groups and social change which include the changes in the economy and workplace. The social problems that can be correlated directly to urban form are seen as the one under the social inequality category and antisocial behaviour. The line of thought that establishes that the built form influences directly to social problems has been named architectural determinism and assume that the layout and form of physical environment would shape, even determine the quality of social life. During the period following the Second World War the architects of the Bauhaus and architects such as Le Corbusier thought that they were in a position to alter society for the better through the medium of physical design. By design we understand the design of a whole town as well as the design of relatively small scale units. Maurice Broady described this as â€Å"the architects who builds a house or design a site plan who decides where the roads will and will not go and who decides which directions the houses will face and how close together they will be, also is, to a large extent, deciding the pattern of social life among the people who will live in these houses. It asserts that architectural design has a direct and determinate effect on the way people behave† ( Maurice Broady 1968 cited in Taylor, N, 1998). The case of the Business Academy located on Bexley and designed by Norman Foster can be an example of how a radical project has changed students behaviour towards education. Very different to the 1960's building where students use to attend lessons, the Academy is an open-plan where lessons are carried out in alcoves and where no division of spaces have been created. The Business Academy has been seen as a success where â€Å"the proportion of children at school achieving five good grades at GCSE has leapt from just 6% to 36%† (www.channel4.com/culture/microsites/b/building/shortlist.htm). The results of this achievement could change the life style of the generation of students attending lessons in the building. The improvement of the education can bring a change for better work opportunities for the students and at the same time will have an impact on the perception of one of London's most deprived areas. A building can also change the perception of the character of a city. Frank Gehry's Guggenheim Museum transformed Bilbao from an industrial Spanish Basque region to an international tourist destination. But is this, just the building form, which has made the difference? To resume the success of some enterprises or the failure of others in physical terms is to simplify the complexity of society. We can attribute the achievement of the Norman Fosters' project to the conjunction of a different kind of built environment, when compared with more traditional educative centres, and the introduction of new and innovative educational techniques. On the other hand the fact that such an important architect has designed a revolutionary building to be used as a school can have changed people's perception about education. It has built a sense of identity among the pupils and indirectly has lead them to improve their performance. On the other hand Guggenheim Museum has demonstrated the importance of power and identity. It has been part of the political strategy from an elite in order to change the image of one of the most problematic niches of nationalism in Spain, that is Bilbao. It does not only offer an optimistic view of the city but it also can be seen as the attempt of internationalisation of the Spanish culture after the cultural archaism of Francoism. It involves a tourist campaign which had the objective of promoting the city and radical regeneration projects which have improved the services and have transformed the vision of the city. Consequently, built form is only a minor reason for the development of social problems. Social problems find causes in social conditions. Giddens argues that â€Å"everyday lives are, of course, influenced, reproduced and changed by structures of social, economical and political power† (Giddens cited in Dickens 1990, pg 3) and it is extremely difficult to generalise about these affects. Physical space is socially constructed by people's perceptions. What Giddens calls Locales are spaces which â€Å"are indeed usually socially specified for some kinds of activities. Locales carry social meanings and symbols which are widely accepted and which considerably affect social relations† (Giddens cited in Dickens 1990, pg5). They affect how people interpret their own and people's circumstances. Physical space is socially constructed. There is a socially constructed perception in Britain about areas characterised by high, concrete, block of flats. This kind of housing has always been associated with high levels of graffiti, vandalism and litter. Alice Coleman argues â€Å"that vandalism take place in zones where residents are unable to keep a watch over who is entering or leaving their estates† (A. Coleman, 1985, pg158). They are seen as impersonal, stratified dwellings and undesiderable places to live. Crime, antisocial behaviour, unemployment, poverty and inequality are seen as distinctive features of these places. But factors such as poor services, no good transport links, authority government tenure and the meeting of several marginalised groups suffering from what Durkheim called anomya â€Å"condition or malaise in individuals, characterized by an absence or diminution of standards or values, and an associated feeling of alienation and purposeneless† (www.free-definition.com/Anomie.html) are ve ry relevant when considering the main reasons for this kind of problem. People who are not satisfied with society, who have not got the same access to commodities than the major part of the population and that experience from the indifference of institutions, which are characterised by low skill occupations, family disorganisation, poverty, illiteracy and racism suffers are grouped in this kind of residential development which are cheap to build and can accommodate a large number of people in minimal space. These people are the product of â€Å"exacerbation of a logic of economic and racist exclusion† (Savage, Warden & Ward, 2003, pg76). Again we can argue here whether the physical environment is the reason for these problems and again a new example contradicts the simplicity of the architectural determinism discourse. Spain, as almost all European cities is flat based. Almost 80% of the population in Spain live in flats. People in Spain have been brought up living in high density block of flats. The perception of people about living in this kind of housing is completely different to the British one. Being the common norm between the population it does not lead to any of the social problems described above. They are not associated to vandalism and poor quality accommodation. They are the standard residential housing where people live. The areas where vulnerable groups live are characterised by poor links of transport, no easy access to schools, located on the outskirts of the city and who residents are immigrants or part of a minor ethnic group. They are tenure tenants that lack sense of identity with the place where they live, lack of resources and are victims of some conditions that are made difficult to improve their situation. The areas where they live are characterised by the use of cheap materials and an even higher density than in other areas. Families live in small flats where they have to share rooms. The combination of all this features, together with the difficulties to establish zones of autonomy and self management is what, in Spain, generate major social problems and no the fact that people live in this type of housing. Even the new theories which aim to explain social change and society within the context of postmodernity claim that the city will evolve as mean of facilitating interpersonal communication â€Å"Although individuals live in a particular place and participate in community life in and around that place, it is interaction and not place that is the essence of life† (Clark, 2003, pg 139). Once again the importance of predominant social conditions over physical form are highlighted in order to understand the future of the cities or urban form and consequently its social costs. The global village is the sociological destination of the city. The power of media will spread urban values. Information, and no physical design, is being the basis for an explanation of the present and future society and of people way of living and behaviours. Information is the leviathan that will lead future changes and policies. Practically speaking in planning grounds, the future of the city is called â€Å"compact city† and will be the fruit of an urban renaissance supported by governments and elite groups. In its July 12 Spending Review the government announced â€Å"a 50% increase in new social house building†¦an extra 10,000 homes a year†¦and further plans to increase housing supply and improved affordability by funding the Sustainable Communities Plan to deliver 200,000 additional homes in the Thames Gateway and other growth areas† (http://global.factiva.com/en/arch/print-results.asp). The government has named this project urban renaissance and it involves the better use of buildings within developed land to accommodate about 3.8 million new households between 1996 and 2021 and to do this the government â€Å"supports the idea of the ‘compact city', that is a higher density, mixed use development on brownfield land close to public transport nodes† (Burton, 2002, pg 537). This encouraged urban renaissance will imply the adoption of high density constructions in order to satisfy the demand for new housing at minimal environmental costs and this means a high proportion of apartments and terrace houses. The benefits will be â€Å"the conservation of the countryside, less need to travel by car, thus reduced fuel emissions, support for public transport and walking and cycling, better access to services and facilities, more efficient utility and infrastructure provision and revitalisation and regeneration of inner urban areas† (Burton, 2002, pg 538). But which will be the social problems attributed to this new concept of housing form? According to Elisabeth Burton, nine social problems have been seen by population as are related to compactness (Burton, 2002, pg 547-548): * access to superstores * access to green open space * public transport use * extent of walking and cycling * amount of domestic living space * death rate from mental illness * crime * social segregation * death rate for respiratory disease. Again we can argue that although some of the social problems can be seen as a product of this kind of development they are not directly correlated to built form. The invocation of the high-rise horrors of post war urban Britain and the congested squalor of Victorian Britain is where Bowers see the root of this apprehension (Bowers cited in Jenks, Burton and Williams, 1996). For example the difficult access to services may find is cause in the increase in number of users within an area but may also be seen as lack of appropriate infrastructure and therefore a failure in developer and government's attempt of offering the necessary infrastructure for a new development. On the other hand, why does it promote crime and social segregation or how can it be associated to mental illness? When people live in close proximity they are more aware of the existence of neighbours and there are more opportunities to informally interact with your neighbours. The relationship between people living within flats is less gregarious. It also provides casual surveillance and respect for property. For designers and housing providers seeking to promote social equity, and according to the research developed by Elisabeth Burton, higher-density housing such apartments and terraces are the best form of housing, â€Å"especially if they are developed on derelict land in areas where there are plenty of locally-provided services and facilities† (Burton, 2002, pg 558). The extent to which built form influences social problems has therefore been seen as very limited. The confluence of several economic, social, political and environmental reasons results in the creation of social problems. In addition, the weight of the importance of the built form, when taking into consideration the different social problems, tend to change from one country to another depending on the perception of the different kind of built form by the population. This perception will always be shaped according to the culture and socialization the individual has experienced. What in some countries is seen as undesiderable form of housing in others is the common norm. In Britain â€Å"compact city† has been proved to be the best option for future urban development if sustainable reasons are taking into account. The promotion of places that make efficient use of available space and environmental resources will lead to the adoption of high-density development. This residential housing has been seen through history as a reason for the emergence of social problems and people associate this type of built environment to vandalism, crime and social inequality. The introduction of this new model into planning practice will need to be seen together with changes in the population mentality and will meet several difficulties when confronting well rooted ways of thinking. People will have to be educated to accept the change. It will not create additional social problems if it incorporates features that improve people's quality of life like high standard local services and an easy reach of a range of facilities. This new concept of built form will generate debates and modification in people's constructed reality before being able to be generally accepted, a shift in people's attitudes towards the new form of housing. It needs to be an attractive option and it will involve action and investment from government and agencies in order to disassociate false presumptions about this kind of built form.

GENSTAT Linear Statistical Modelling Math Problem

GENSTAT Linear Statistical Modelling - Math Problem Example The histogram for the folate levels appears also to satisfy the assumption of normality. However, the variances for the three groups do not satisfy the assumption of homogeneity. The variance of Group I is very large compared to the variances of Group II and III. (c) Regardless of what you concluded about the assumptions for analysis of variance, use the GENSTAT analysis of variance commands to test the hypothesis that ventilation treatment has no effect on mean red cell folate level. Include appropriate GENSTAT printout to support your conclusions. ***** Analysis of variance ***** Variate: folate Source of variation d.f. s.s. m.s. v.r. F pr. ventil 2 15516. 7758. 3.71 0.044 Residual 19 39716. 2090. Total 21 55232. ***** Tables of means ***** Variate: folate Grand mean 283.2 ventil I II III 316.6 256.4 278.0 rep. 8 9 5 *** Standard errors of differences of means *** Table ventil rep. unequal d.f. 19 s.e.d. 28.92X min.rep 25.50 max-min 21.55X max.rep (No comparisons in categories where s.e.d. marked with an X) The results of ANOVA test show that there is a significant difference between the three groups. Ventilation has an effect on mean red cell folate levels. Furthermore, the probability of F was 0.044, which is less than the alpha level, 0.05. (d) (e) Produce appropriate residual plots to check further the appropriateness of the analysis of variance model. Comment, in the light of these plots, on the adequacy of the model. ANSWER: The histogram...The measures were independent of the researcher's judgment. The histogram for the folate levels appears also to satisfy the assumption of normality. However, the variances for the three groups do not satisfy the assumption of homogeneity. The variance of Group I is very large compared to the variances of Group II and III. (c) Regardless of what you concluded about the assumptions for analysis of variance, use the GENSTAT analysis of variance commands to test the hypothesis that ventilation treatment has no effect on mean red cell folate level. Include appropriate GENSTAT printout to support your conclusions. The results of ANOVA test show that there is a significant difference between the three groups. Ventilation has an effect on mean red cell folate levels. Furthermore, the probability of F was 0.044, which is less than the alpha level, 0.05. The histogram shows that the residuals are not normally distributed. Also, the normal plot shows that the residuals do not fit a straight line. In the light of these observations, it can be said the model is not adequate. The assumptions for the use ANOVA are violated. The model included only 4 of the original 9 variables. It discarded the other 5 explanatory variables. With these 4 variables, the equation can account for the observed data. This is shown by the fact that the mean of the residuals for the model is 0.

History Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 74

History - Essay Example The treasury was dedicated to protecting the member cities of the League from attack by Persia and Pericles used his persuasion to ensure that Athens benefits the most from the treasury. Pericles could be labeled as tyrannical because he was also arrogant. For example, Thucydides recounts that Pericles spoke with pride, saying that there was no living Athenian who ever put on mourning because of him (Thucydides 180). Pericles acted tyrannically as can be seen when he influence the Dalian League to send troops to engage the Peloponnese. Even though the League lost in the end, Pericles led the fight against the Peloponnesian war and this brought it many victories between 410 and 406. Finally, Pericles’ tyranny is best seen in his ability to manipulate his opponents’ arguments to his favor. For example, when confronted by some members of the Assembly about a fault they had noted in one of the policies they had passed under his influence, Pericles was candid. He countered that he could not change easily. He blatantly told them that they were the ones who changed but they initially took his advice gladly thinking that all would work out but only regretted later when it did not (Thucydides

English Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 34

English - Essay Example It is not possible for one to like something and at the same time dislike it. Within the writings, lot repetitiveness is seen used to emphasize the point. The repeat has been done on the main idea or in the use of words. The theme of grace has been brought out as based on what pleases oneself. This means that one is willing to see grace in what he is pleased in. Therefore, the divine grace of God is beneficial to human beings, which makes them be pleased with the same. The writings emphasize that a man does not do anything, but rather what he feels he can do. Therefore, the willingness to will, and be pleased by something, comes from an individual (Miller et al, 112). There is an emphasis on the Holy Spirit’s intervention in one’s discerning of the grace of God. This is what is referred to as infusion. The influence of the spirit in an individual is done at free will. This means that the spirit can influence human beings decision at will. It helps one see the grace and be pleased by the impact the same is having in his life. Further, both human beings’ spirit (power) and God’s spirit, work together for the benefit of humankind. In addition, the influence of holy spirit’s infusion is depicted in human being’s action. Therefore, the spirit helps a man to have a habit of his behavior in order that he can acquire the same as first as possible. It most cases, it is not possible for a human being to oppose or do against what has already been infused into him. In addition, if one refuses to acquire the habit being infused, then it means the spirit of rejecting the same has as well been infused to him (Miller et al,. 34). The two forces involved include the natural powers of human being, as well as that of the Spirit. The habit the man acquires depends on the strength of these two contrasting powers. The vigor and liveliness with which one does a certain activity is what is referred to as infused grace. It is this

Digital Audio Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Digital Audio - Research Paper Example By 1937, British scientist Alec Reeves invented and patented the Pulse Code Modulation (PCM). The digital revolution has also been pushed forward by the advent of cheap and powerful computational devices. We must also keep in mind the immense contribution of the military in any great leap in technology. The First World War brought in electricity and vacuum tubes. By the Second World War, solid state electronics were invented and this is the first impetus in bringing in the era of miniaturization and power. By 1950s and 1960s, computers were developed and used by the military to build the World Wide Web, which later on in the 1990s were made available to the average consumer. In 1957, Max Matthews of The Bell Laboratory demonstrated how to record sound digitally using computer. The digital recording process consists essentially of an Analogue to Digital conversion. This is achieved by chopping up the signal into small intervals at a rate at least twice the highest perceivable frequenc y. Each part of the sample is then coded using binary numbering system and recorded as pulses. The earlier experiments were done using tape as a storage medium but later discs replaced them. They had a higher density. In chopping up the signal at the rate of 44.1 KHz (in case of ACDs), the amplitude of each part of the waveform sampled is expressed as a binary number containing the equivalent of a combination of 16- zeroes and ones (if 16 Bit quantization is used as in ACDs) or any lower number depending upon the system. This means that the amplitude of this small part of the signal sampled can be expressed in as many as 16 to the power 16 or 65,536 increments. Such a high number of increments to describe a small part of the signal required fast recording density and speed. Therefore video tape recorders were used to record digitally converted audio signal. Discs carrying video frequencies were made to rotate up to 1800 rpm and between 150 and 400 rpm for audio programs. To record a full album digitally, we had to wait until 1976. The first ever 16 bit digital recording was made by Dr. Stockham of Soundstream using a Soundstream Recorder in the U.S. Santa Fe Opera. Sony introduced its flagship D/A converter the PCM 1 in the same year. Now digital recording was in the hands of anyone who can afford the machine and hook it up with an existing VHS VCR to convert it into a digital recorder. In 1979, the first fully digital album was released by Ry Cooder: â€Å"Bop till you Drop†. It was recorded using a 32 track digital multi-track recorder built by 3M. In 1980, Sony and Philips announced the arrival of Audio Compact Disc. The possibility of easy and lossless distribution of high quality digital audio content finally brought in the first waves of the digital boom. In the sphere of studio systems, during 1985, there were only three models of Digital Audio Workstations (DAW) available and only two of them were disk based systems. Audio File from AMS and Dire ct to Disc by NED, were the only two options the third by Denon was the DN 052 ED. But in the years immediately after this, the Digital Audio Workstations were the order of the day for any studios. 3M, Sony, Mitsubishi and Studer introduced their own versions of the DAW. By 1986, the digital consoles started coming in and RDAT was introduced in Japan, making it possible to make digital replicas of recordings easily. If CD was to replace the LP, RDAT was supposed to replace

Architecture - Project Management - Exam Research Paper - 2

Architecture - Project Management - Exam - Research Paper Example Extra materials, damages which have been done, problems with labour and employment and other values can be estimated but the true value isn’t known until the project takes place. - Project Initiation: This consists of setting the vision and definition for a project. The end goal and achievements are set, such as financial changes, expectations and growth within the company. This stage includes both the inception and the feasibility. - Project Planning: This includes goals of how the visions will be used to achieve the end results with detailed planning. Resources that are needed and planning of various stages, milestones and other concepts are used at the planning phase. This includes strategy and pre – construction. - Project Execution: The goals and milestones are presented to employees and workers to build the project and to work through specific steps. The detailed planning is put into action, monitored and controlled so the project can be completed. - Project Closure: If the project didn’t work, it is evaluated for future prospects. If it is closed and completed successfully, then evaluations of what worked and what didn’t are stated. At this point, those working on the project can look at potential and future opportunities as well as growth through the project which has taken place. - Project managers can use the life cycle to monitor and assist employees at each stage. The most important phases for a manager are inclusive of the planning and execution, where goals can be communicated to the employees and monitoring of how the goals are reached can be looked at. This allows the managers to evaluate the end product while looking at future options. Group Collaboration: Organization of the employees and labour options for those working on the project. Vision of what needs to be done, daily maintenance assistance and overviews for organized collaboration. - Collaborative Programming and Scheduling: Engages main

Naming the Minerals Essay Example for Free

Naming the Minerals Essay Name the minerals below. Then, insert a percentage of how certain you are in your identification. Finally, explain your percentage of certainty: What was confusing about this mineral? What other minerals do you think it could be? Remember, the minerals in the virtual lab include seven of the following: borax, calcite, corundum, graphite, gypsum, orthoclase feldspar, pyrite, quartz, talc, and topaz. Identification of Mineral Percent Certain Explanation of Certainty Example: Fluorite 80% certain I am almost certain this mineral is fluorite, but I am not completely sure. Fluorite and gypsum are both white, shiny, have white streaks, cleave, and show no reaction to acid. However, the specific gravity of this mineral is 3.18, which is higher than gypsum, so I am pretty sure it is fluorite. Mineral 1: Pyrite 80% certain I am almost sure that this mineral is pyrite because it is gold and has a black streak. The only thinks that do not match up is the specific gravity and the hardness. Mineral 2: Talc 100% certain I am certain that this mineral is talc because the hardness, specific gravity, color, streak and acid reaction are all the same. I am almost sure that this mineral is pyrite because it is gold and has a black streak. The only thinks that do not match up is the specific gravity and the hardness.. Mineral 3:Calcite 100% certain I am certain that this mineral is calcite because it is the only mineral on the list that is white and had an active bubbling acid affect. Mineral 4: Orthoclase Feldspar 90% certain I am almost certain that this mineral is orthoclase feldspar because everything matches but the hardness. The only other mineral it could be is corundum and the hardness is nine and I feel that that is way too high to be my mineral. My mineral matches best with orthoclase feldspar. Mineral 5:Quartz 100% certain I am almost certain that this mineral is quartz because it completely matches the description. Mineral 6: Gypsum 100% certain I am certain that this mineral is gypsum because the color, specific gravity, hardness, streak, luster and cleavage all match up to gypsum Mineral 7:Graphite 90% certain I am almost certain that this mineral is graphite. The only thing that does not match up is the acid reaction. When I ran the test I did not see any reaction with the acid but graphite does react to acid. I did not see any other options because the mineral is black and the streak is brown. So I am almost positive that the mineral is graphite. Part 3: Summary Write a summary answering the following: What are the four requirements for a material to be classified as a mineral? How do you differentiate between minerals? Briefly summarize the six methods to tell minerals apart. Summarize the major differences between minerals and rocks. For a solid to be classified as a mineral it must meet these four requirements: naturally solid, formed by inorganic processes, have characteristics of crystal structure, and a specific chemical composition. In order to tell minerals apart you can use these six methods: luster or color, streak, specific gravity, cleavage fracture, hardness, and acidity. Luster is the intensity that light reflects off of a mineral. A mineral may be shiny, pearly, or even metallic. Some minerals may be distinguishable by their color. By dragging a mineral across a streak plate its mineral powder will leave a streak with a particular color, but this is not a very reliable way of identifying a mineral. By dividing the weight of a mineral in water by the weight of the water you can get the specific gravity of a mineral. Another method is by determining if the mineral has cleavage or fracture. When broken a rock will either be in rounded chunks, fractured, or it be flat with corners, cleavage. Using the M oh’s Hardness Scale you can determine minerals hardness. Hydrochloric acid placed on a mineral will determine whether a mineral contains calcium carbonate. The difference between minerals and rock is that rocks are aggregates. This means a collection of minerals that intergroup together; sometimes many kinds in one rock.