Critique Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Critique - Essay Example In essence, justified theft can be committed in Buddhist tradition, in a specified circumstance. Justified theft in Buddhist tradition is committed with the objective of countering dishonesty. For example, I have witnessed Sakka commit a justified theft by stealing a stolen relic from Brahmin Dona, which would have resulted to a dishonor of Buddha’s relic. Additionally, the article depicts that, in Sri Lanka, there is a belief that a relic would disappear if it were not properly venerated. Essentially, the article demonstrates that a relic has the power to consent its own theft, and this is better understood as a theft not being a theft (Trainor, 1992: p7). 2. What did you find difficult to understand from the article? I found difficulty in understanding why conflict would arise among the eight territorial clans because they all want to own part of the relic. I also do not understand the reason why the clans, would not settle on establishing a single location in which the whol e of the relic would have been put for to ensure easier veneration. Instead, they settled on dividing the relics among themselves, which resulted in some individuals stealing the relic while other clans became unsatisfied. Moreover, I come short of understanding why the followers of Buddhist tradition would resolve to violate the traditions principles just to own the relic of the traditions founder (Trainor, 1992: p12). 3. What did the author do well, either in her argument or in presentation? The author did well, in the article, by providing a presentation that had an introduction of how the Buddhist tradition came to have a number of venerated relics. He also depicted how the concept of â€Å"theft not a theft† is established by providing various examples in Buddhist tradition and texts. Furthermore, his arguments are based on authoritative scriptural warrants, and thus, his article has arguments that are factual in nature. The presentation is chronological in the sense tha t it entails events that preceded the immediate death of Buddha. The article also enjoys a deep understanding of the Buddhist tradition and relics. Evidently, the author satisfactorily discussed how, in Buddhist tradition, a theft that is not a theft is committed. He shows this by discussing that a relic is powerful in that it can only be stolen from a place where it is not properly venerated. Lastly, the author did well by pointing out problematic areas in Buddhist tradition; firstly, the act of stealing is forbidden in Buddhist tradition, but acts of stealing relics exist. Secondly, the act of being attached to a relic is against the Buddhist teaching of being attached to objects, which can be put under human possession and manipulation (Trainor, 1992: p20). 4. What do you think the author could have done better? The author could have done better by giving the discussion on relics a different approach apart from the concept of â€Å"theft not a theft†. The concept could hav e entailed something like â€Å"honoring a dishonored cause†. This would eliminate the negativity that has been associated with a tradition whose founder had attained a high degree of enlightenment. Additionally, the author would have justified the above premise by providing scriptural warrants from Buddhist tradition and text. This would have resulted in a positive depiction of Buddhist tradition and the idea of veneration (Trainor, 1992: p3). 5. What personal reflections came to mind while reading the

History of Communication Essay Example for Free

History of Communication Essay The history of communication dates back to prehistory, with significant changes in communication technologies (media and appropriate inscription tools) evolving in tandem with shifts in political and economic systems, and by extension, systems of power. Communication can range from very subtle processes of exchange, to full conversations and mass communication. Human communication was revolutionized with speech approximately 100,000 years ago. Symbols were developed about 30,000 years ago, and writing in the past few centuries. Petro glyphs The next step in the history of communications is petroglyphs, carvings into a rock surface. It took about 20,000 years for homo sapiens to move from the first cave paintings to the first petroglyphs, which are dated to around 10,000BC. It is possible that the humans of that time used some other forms of communication, often for mnemonic purposes specially arranged stones, symbols carved in wood or earth, quipu-like ropes, tattoos, but little other than the most durable carved stones has survived to modern times and we can only speculate about their existence based on our observation of still existing hunter-gatherer cultures such as those of Africa or Oceania. Pictograms A pictogram (pictograph) is a symbol representing a concept, object, activity, place or event by illustration. Pictography is a form of proto-writing whereby ideas are transmitted through drawing. Pictographs were the next step in the evolution of communication: the most important difference between petroglyphs and pictograms is that petroglyphs are simply showing an event, but pictograms are telling a story about the event, thus they can for example be ordered in chronological order. Pictograms were used by various ancient cultures all over the world since around 9000 BC, when tokens marked with simple pictures began to be used to label basic farm produce, and become increasingly popular around 6000-5000 BC. They were the basis of cuneiform and hieroglyphs, and began to develop into logographic writing systems around 5000 BC. Ideograms Pictograms, in turn, evolved into ideograms, graphical symbols that represent an idea. Their ancestors, the pictograms, could represent only something resembling their form: therefore a pictogram of a circle could represent a sun, but not concepts like heat, light, day or Great God of the Sun. Ideograms, on the other hand, could convey more abstract concepts, so that for example an ideogram of two sticks can mean not only legs but also a verb to walk. Because some ideas are universal, many different cultures developed similar ideograms. For example an eye with a tear means sadness in Native Americanideograms in California, as it does for the Aztecs, the early Chinese and the Egyptians. Ideograms were precursors of logographic writing systems such as Egyptian hieroglyphs and Chinese characters. Examples of ideographical proto-writing systems, thought not to contain language-specific information, include the Vinca script (see also TÄÆ'rtÄÆ'ria tablets) and the early Indus script. In both cases there are claims of decipherment of linguistic content, without wide acceptance.

The Common European Framework For Languages English Language Essay

The Common European Framework For Languages English Language Essay The teaching and learning of languages in Germany in school contexts changed a lot in the last years. The trend in terms of education policy of standardization and competence orientation dominates more and more the German language teaching. The policy supports in an active way this reform. One of the most influential documents of this development is the Common European framework for languages. Its influence is in Germany especially strong since the authors of the German education standards for the first foreign language adopted nearly completely its concept. In this work I will show what the reform of language teaching in Germany mean. I will find answers for the question what competence orientated foreign language teaching is and I will consider how the Common European framework for languages and the German education standards for the first foreign language are related to this trend. Finally I will weight the positive aspects up against the problematic points of this development. 2. Reform of German foreign language teaching development of a competence orientated learning and teaching For quite a while the teaching and learning of languages in Germany in school contexts is influenced from a trend in terms of educational policy, called competence orientated teaching. (Hu 2008: S. 1) But what exactly is this trend, which dominates the discussion of the scientific community of those concerned with foreign language teaching and research? What is the potential of the changes which are accompanied by the competence orientated teaching and which aspects of this trend are controversial? A long time language teaching in German schools aimed to the instruction for four language skills: oral comprehension, written comprehension, speaking and writing. The teaching and learning of foreign languages was therefore clearly geared toward the language system of the respective language. (Hu, Leupold 2008: 52) Changes of the conditions of the external world, such as the progression of the globalisation, an increase of mobility of the people, relating to the evolution of globalisation and the phenomenon of migration lead to a different target of language teaching. The objective of language teaching in German schools was now the training of a so-called competence of communication. Before that time, the language system of the respective language was the focus of language teaching. After the change of the role of foreign languages in the life, the focus of learning and teaching languages was that the learners become able to express whatever it is they want to express. (Hu, Leupold 2008: 53) The Pragmatics, a subfield of linguistic, explained the complexity of the competence of communication by dividing it in several parts: linguistic competence, socio-linguistic competence, competence of discourse, strategically competence, socio-cultural competence, social competence. (Hu, Leupold 2008: 53) All in all, the development of language teaching in Germany is often described by scientific community as a change from orientation towards the input to an orientation towards the output. No longer the contents that the pupil has to learn are considered as the most important question of educational policy. The competences, abilities that the pupils can achieve by learning quite different contents are now the focus of the discussion in terms of educational policy. (Weil 2010: 16) In Germany that restructuring was especially driven forward after the so-called shock of Pisa in 2000. The Kultusministerkonferenz  [1]  (KMK) developed a strategy, a key element of which are the German education standards for the first foreign language (English/French) and the included idea of competence orientated teaching. The plan is to develop medium or long term aims for each subject of the German education system. The targets should be competence orientated and clearly fixed, so that it is possible to peer-review them. This project both challenged and changed the teaching and learning of languages in Germany. The idea of competence orientated language teaching is reflected in different parts of the German school system: in the education standards for the first foreign language, which is based on the Common European framework for languages, in exams comparing the accomplishment of all German pupils at a certain age, in types of exercises, which have to be involved in all language classes of German schools, etc. One of the most important or maybe the most important event of the described reform of learning and teaching languages is the Common European framework of languages in Germany. That is why this document will be the focus of the next part of my work. In the first part of this chapter I will look into what kind of document the CEFR is. In the second part I will show the implementation of the document in the German education system of language teaching. In the third part I will consider the reception of the CEFR and the idea of competence orientated teaching. 3. The Common European framework for languages 3.1 What is the CEFR? The CEFR was published in 2000 as result of many years of work on the European level. One year later a version in German language was published. The primary goal of the document was to create a closer unity between the member states. Therefore the target of the CEFR is first of all politically motivated. (Hu 2008: 4) Other important intentions of the CEFR can be summarized as follows: Intensification of learning and teaching languages, so that the people of the European Union have more mobility and so that a international communication can be more effective support of the concept of a European plurilingualism lifelong language learning to make the recognition of language qualifications easier to create the possibility of comparison of programmes for language learning, for language certificates to create more transparency and to describe realistic goals of language learning (chapter 1 of the CEFR) In the CEFR language is always considered, as we can see in the first chapter of the long document, as kind of a human action. In the concept of the CEFR learning a language serves for communication. The division of the complex ability to have mastered a foreign language in several parts, that can be assessed, has an especially huge influence of language teaching. Here you can see which different competences, considered as important for learning a language, are listed in the CEFR: declarative knowledge (savoir) knowledge about the world socio-cultural knowledge intercultural awareness skills and procedural knowledge (savoir-faire) practical skills intercultural skills competences of personality (savoir-à ªtre) ability to learn (savoir-apprendre) So the traditional targets of language learning are extended in the CEFR by up to other intentions, that where unconsidered until then: Techniques and strategies about how to learn are presented as important aspects of language learning. The cultural dimension of learning foreign languages is represented and the CEFR also pays some attention to the demands of the personality of the learner which are related to the process of language learning. Besides this, the process of learning languages was, in the CEFR, for the first time analysed in an instrumental-functional way by dividing the process of learning in six levels. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 1) The reference levels of the CEFR serve to describe the progresses in the process of learning. It is therefore evident that the underlying concept of language of the CEFR is an instrumental-functional one. Appropriate to his competences a language learner belongs after the concept of the CEFR to one of the three broad divisions, which can be divided into six levels. Here the structuring of learning languages which is developed by the authors of the CEFR: A Basic Speaker A1 Breakthrough or beginner A2 Waystage or elementary B Independent Speaker B1 Threshold or pre-intermediate B2 Vantage or intermediate C Proficient Speaker C1 Effective Operational Proficiency or upper intermediate C2 Mastery or advanced 3.2 The implementation of the CEFR in Germany: the CEFR as underlying concept of the education standards for the first foreign language After I have outlined what kind of document the CEFR is, I will describe his implementation in the German education standards for the first foreign language and with that his enormous influence on language teaching in German schools. In 2000, for the first time the international school study PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment) was performed. This is an international evaluation of the scholastic performance of 15-year-old pupils, which is coordinated by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The relatively bad results of the German pupils (Born 2003) revealed the discrepancy between the targets and the requirements of the educational system and the real results. Because of the PISA results of 2000, the German educational policy was under big political pressure for action. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 1) In this conditions, the Kultusministerkonferenz passed education standards for the first foreign language (English/French) in 2003. These standards give information about the required standard of a pupil after having been at school for ten years, after the lower secondary school. These actions in term of educational policy should, at least at medium-term, improve the scholastic performance of German pupils and give Germany the chance to get a better ranking in the future. (Klieme, Leutner 2006: 876) The standardization of learning languages was a special case because a system of levels already existed from the CEFR. So the existing work form the Council of Europe was taken up. The B1 level was used as the basis for the level, which was expected at the end of lower secondary school. The educational standards describe consequently as well as the CEFR the expected normal level and not a minimal level. (Kunze 2007: 236) Since the educational standards practically adopted the skills of the CEFR, two more or less simultaneous developments in educational policy with original different intentions, coincided: the possibility to compare language competences in Europe and the goal in term of educational policy to describe accurately which competences are expected from the pupils at a certain grade, so that the scholastic performance can be assessed in a well founded way. (Hu 2008: 5) In spite of the different intentions the education standards for the first foreign language are clearly based on the CEFR. Also the division of the very complex competence to have mastered a language follows the example of the CEFR. Merely the terms and the presentation are different. The concept is nearly the same: skills of communication oral comprehension written comprehension speaking writing translating handling of the language system (grammar and vocabulary) vocabulary grammar pronunciation and intonation orthography intercultural competences socio-cultural knowledge comprehensive way to handle cultural differences coping with intercultural situations in practice competences of methods reception of texts (oral and written comprehension) ability to interact with texts production of texts (speaking and writing) strategies of learning presentation; to handle with mediums being conscious about the process of learning By the implementation of the CEFR in the German education standards, the European Councils document of learning and teaching of languages has a large influence on the language teaching in German schools. That is the reason why the CEFR is conspicuously often discussed by the German scientific community of those concerned with foreign language teaching and research. 3.3 Reception of the Common European framework for languages in Germany In this last part of my work I will consider the controversial discussion about the CEFR, its positive aspects and its weak spots. First I will speak about the positive points of the CEFR. Later I will present aspects which are criticised and at last I will give a short personal view on the CEFR and the underlying concept of language learning. 3.3.1 Positive aspects of the CEFR The CEFR led to a fundamental discussion of the teaching and learning of languages and it brought up the question about what the global targets of learning foreign languages are. The function of the CEFR as a stimulus to think about the being of language teaching is clearly profitable for future teaching and learning of languages. The process of rethinking traditions which was activated this way has shown for example one more time that the grammar focussed language teaching can not be justified by the actual point of view. (Neuner 2003) Many see the standardization of language learning positively, especially in Germany. Since the sixteen federal states of the Federal Republic of Germany have developed their own targets up to that time, the demands in the various parts of Germany were often quite different. Therefore a standardization of the global intention and the expected competences from the pupil, was necessary to support the pupils in achieving mobility and to create more justice for the pupils in Germany. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 9) A great step forward for language teaching, which is related to the CEFR, is the change of perspective on the process of learning. Before that, the judgements of the pupils performance was usually made deficit orientated. Faults and aspects of the language at which the pupils arent good were the focus of traditional language teaching. The CEFR lead however to a perspective in which the already acquired competences are focused. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 9-10) Like this change of perspective, the division of the global language-competence in several parts, as well as the organization in six levels influence the motivation of learner and teacher in a positive way. The process of learning a language is getting more structured and can be better organized. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 10) 3.3.2 Criticised aspects of the CEFR and his implementation in the German education system After the presentation of all this positive aspects I will show some examples of important points that are criticised. Problematic in the reform of the German education system by the implementation of the described standards is, that the teachers arent sufficiently involved. There are only very little workshops for introducing the teacher to the new way. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 11) Besides the underlying concept of language is often considered as one-sided: only the instrumental-functional aspect of language is taken into consideration. Aesthetic, creative and cultural dimensions of language are for example neglected. (Caspari, Grà ¼newald etc. 2008: 12) Another paradox problem related to the concept of competence orientated teaching is, that competences like intercultural competences, that are hard to assess, will be probably neglected in this reform, even if it is listed in the CEFR and the German education standards. Under the pressure of proving, that certain targets are reached, it is not surprising, that at first those goals which are hard to assess will be neglected. (Hu 2008: 6) All in all the emotional aspect of learning a language is not sufficiently taken into consideration. The importance to consider the needs and interests of learners are not really appreciated. (Kà ¶nigs 2003: 115) 4. Conclusion The precedent considerations about the development in educational policy show that a reform of language teaching in Germany was necessary. The results of the Pisa-studies 2000 made this necessity obvious. Nevertheless the changes are discussed in a controversial way and there are many aspects which have to be criticised. Especially the concept of language which underlie the idea of competence orientated language teaching is in several aspects problematic. It is one-sided instrumental-functional and overlook the creative, aesthetic and cultural dimension of languages. In my personal experience this aspects of foreign languages were always very important in the process of learning a language a way which is sometimes hard to go. That is why the needs and interest of language learners are extremely important aspects in the language-learning-process and why they it is important to involve them more in the actual development.

Phenomenology and Architecture Essay -- Environmental and Architectural

Introduction Phenomenology can be deemed to be both an unambiguous academic research field and a theoretical design current within contemporary architecture and is usually founded on one’s experience of the materials used in construction inclusive of their sensory characteristics. In this regard, architecture is the impetus towards transformation and inspiration of an individual’s daily existence. Unlike other forms of art, architecture employs the immediacy of an individual’s sensory perception. The complete architectural experience is dependent on many factors such as details, materials, texture, color phenomena, transparency and shadows, time passage, etc. There is the huge phenomenon that phenomenology does not exist in architecture but rather the problems associated with it. This theory is very debatable and this paper will aim at expounding on some of the aspects associated with phenomenology. Acoustical Intimacy Science The ear, which is the organ that the body uses to achieve acoustical intimacy, is capable of defining a space and the resultant effect is a sculptural image encrypted in the deep parts of the mind. Acoustic science dictates that sound can be softened or refracted by the surfaces of copious entities of personal life. All spaces and buildings posses individual characteristic sounds of monumentality or intimacy, hostility or hospitality and invitation or rejection. The ability to hear generates a sense of solidarity and connection contrary to the ability to see which creates a feeling of solitude. The sound of a friend approaching you behind your back definitely has a charge filled with emotion as th... ...nds: TU Delft Department of Industrial Design, 2006. Holl, Steven, Juhani Pallasma, and Alberto Perez- Gomez. Questions of Perception. Tokyo: a+u Publishing Co., 1994. Le Corbusier. Towards a new architecture. London: Architectural press, 1959. Levin, D.M. The Opening of Vision – Nihilism and the Postmodern Situation. New York and London: Routledge, 1988. Pallasmaa, Juhani. An Architecture of the Seven Senses, Questions of Perception. Tokyo: a+u Publishing Co., 1994. Pallasmaa, Juhani. The eyes of the skin – Architecture and the Senses. Great Britain: Academy Editions, 1994. Yusufzai, Zinat. â€Å"The Lucidity of Place.† Thesis of Master of Architecture in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2001): 10-20. http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-11302001-161439/unrestricted/thesis-low-res.pdf (accessed February 19, 2014).

Social Implications: Access to Technology Essay -- Essays Papers

Social Implications: Access to Technology Has the Internet and the computerization of work, education, and life itself lead to inequalities in the access to technology and information among people with respect to differences in race, economic classes, education, and gender? With the end of the Cold War, a newly emerging global marketplace economy aided by advancing computer and information processing technologies have rapidly changed the way people live and work. I recognize the necessity to have access to technology, and the changing need for technology over the course of a person's life. "Technological changes have outpaced ethical developments, bringing about unanticipated problems that have caused a "policy vacuum" filled by Computer Ethics, which has initially surfaced from practical concerns arising in the information society: rational decisions have to be taken, technical, educational and ethical problems must be solved, legislation needs to be adopted, and a combination of empirical evidence and logical arguments seems to provide the most obvious and promising means to achieve such pressing goals." (http://www.wolfson.ox.ac.uk/~floridi/ie.htm#1) By researching this values question, I believe that I will gain new insight and knowledge about the importance of parity in access to technology. This web site will examine if there are inequalities in the access to technology and if so how they impact our society, and discuss ways to provide solutions for equal access for people of color, underprivledged classes, educational and career purposes, and both sexes. Computer technology affects society in many ways. One needs to recognize the concerns for social responsibility in which computing technology is used. Advanc... ...righttoknow/) (03 March 2000) Ursery, Danney. Normative Ethical Principles and Theories: Utilitarian Theory Online. Internet Available (http://www.stedwards.edu/ursery/norm.htm#utility) (24 March 2000) Ursery, Danney. Normative Ethical Principles and Theories: Social Contract Theory Online. Internet Available (http://www.stedwards.edu/ursery/norm.htm#social) (24 March 2000) Ursery, Danney. Exploring Values: Moral Rules, Moral Principles and Value Statements: Online. Internet Available (http://www.stedwards.edu/ursery/values.htm) (24 March 2000) Equal Access to Software and Information. Online. Internet Available (http://www.rit.edu/~easi/) Lacey, Marc. Clinton Uses High-Tech Show to Push Plan for Internet Parity. (New York Times 19 April 2000) Harmon, Amy. Racial Divide Found on Information Highway. (New York Times 17 April 1998)

Muslim views on medical and sexual questions Essay

Transsexuals are people who believe that their mind is trapped within the body of someone who is of the opposite sex. Many of them who are unable to have the necessary sex organ change operation end up committing suicide. However in the terms of shariah law, it is not allowed for men and women to change their gender to the opposite sex. If one goes against the Shariah law, then he/she will be violating the commandments of the Qur’an and Hadith. The Shariah has also gone to the extent where women are not allowed to dress as men, and men are not allowed to dress as women. It is noted in an Hadith that Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) cursed those men who imitated women and those men who imitated women. If one was to undergo a sex change, then he/she will be altering the natural features and organs that Allah had blessed them with. Many patients have problems with their sex lives, so they seek the help of a doctor or in such cases, they are recommended to go to sex counselling sessions. However it is not allowed for Muslim physicians to engage such conversations. If a husband and wife had problems in their sexual lives, then they would consult a doctor of their own sex. They should then give a broad outline of their problem and not go into such detail. The Muslim doctor would not be allowed to find out such explicit details or show the patient videos that demonstrate such sexual acts. However during sexual therapy lessons, explicit video films which demonstrate such explicit acts may be shown to the patient. It is totally against the Shariah Law for the patient to watch such explicit acts. Some people take advantage of mentally retarded people by having sex with them. So in order to reduce the chance of them falling pregnant, they can be sterilized. This is cause due to their mental state, they would be unable to care for the child. Methods of contraception such as the use of pills can be used instead of using the method of sterilisation as it would mean that all chances of a future hope of pregnancy will be lost. It is not allowed for the mental patient to be castrated but medicine can be administrated which would suppress their sexual urges. Recent studies show that homosexuality is genetically inclined. In Islam, homosexuality is forbidden so it is merely a plot from Shaytaan who’s aim is to make homosexuality more acceptable in our society. The main duty of a Muslim psychiatrist is dissuade his/her patient from indulging in such haram acts. The act of homosexuality has been condemned in the Qur’an and Hadith. Brain-stem death is accepted in the field of medicine as doctors have been entrusted in confirming that a person is dead. In Islam, a person is only considered dead when his soul has left its body. The body then becomes cold and stiff. If left for a long period of time, then the body begins to decompose. If these signs are visible, then the person is considered to be dead in terms of the Shariah. If these signs are not visible, then the person is not considered to be dead. In this case, whether a brain-stem dead person is dead or not is not relevant. In either case, the persons organs are not allowed to be removed from the body. The organs and limbs of a deceased person belongs to Allah, so the person has no right in deciding as to whom his organs are donated to. If a fellow human is dying and the only option of survival is of eating another humans limb and another human gladly offers the too, it will not be allowed.

Health and Health Care Essay

The book â€Å"Health and Health Care 2010: The Forecast, The Challenge† by Roy Amara et al. provides detailed analysis of trends that will affect health care policies and practices by 2010. In particular, the authors have made an excellent effort to forecast stability and volatility of health care in the USA. The authors cover the following topics: health care forecast, demographic trends, health care demands, health insurance, children’s health, medical and information technologies, diversity and the workforce. Managers and staff members will find the chapters about information and medical technologies of particular interest. Nevertheless, the issue of ablation is paid too little attention. The authors argue that the primary purpose of the book is to make readers aware of critical factors that affect health care system in the beginning of the 21st century. When speaking about demographic trends and burden of disease, they claim that American population will be more ethnically diverse and older. Thus, such situation will be very likely to result in increased number of chronic diseases. One more important problem is that health care costs have increased meaning that less people can afford highly-qualified medical support. The authors predict growth of Medicare and Medicaid by 2010 due to changes in health care insurance systems. They say that â€Å"during the 1990’s, the managed care became the dominant health care insurance and delivery system, covering more than 60 percent of publicly and privately insured lives†. (p. XX) Managed care plays is argued to play important role in controlling national expenditures on health care, and people are provided with coordinated health care. Nevertheless, managed care is highly criticized by physicians, the media and consumers, but the government decided to make managed care an effective mechanism of controlling costs and delivering health care. The way the health care system is organized is swiftly changing, and surplus of hospital beds will contribute to consumer’s market. However, intermediaries will be entailed with a new role. The authors mention that the negative moment is that little changes were provided in the way the physicians practice medicine. Even the invention of the telephone, the computer and Internet didn’t significantly change medical practices. Of course, exceptions are present. It is physicians who are the central figures in health care, but surplus of doctors and new roles of health care providers are very likely to shift that paradigm over the next decades. New medical and information technologies are of particular interest for managers and staff members, and they are claimed to be the key driving force in organization of the health care system in the beginning of the 21st century. The problem is that health care industry is the last in implementing information technologies that would increase quality and effectiveness of health care delivery. The authors write that â€Å"beginning in the19th century, medicine has made great strides in verifying the germ theory, creating aseptic surgical techniques, discovering antibiotics, developing anesthesia, and imaging the inside of the body†. (p. 111) Of course, the impact of such innovations is undeniable and huge as physicians gained an excellent opportunity to improve public health, to extend the life span, and to improve the quality of life. Moreover, the quality of health care delivering was heightened as well. Nine medical technologies are argued to significantly affect the outcomes of patient care and health care delivering: rational drug design, advances in imaging, minimally invasive surgery, genetic mapping, genetic testing, gene therapy, artificial blood, effective vaccines, implementation of stem cells and xenotransplantation. Stem cells â€Å"can generate all other types of cells in the body and therefore hold great promise for replacing or repairing tissues and organs damaged by disease†. (p. 131) Researches of stem cells are nowadays one of the most interesting, the most promising and contradictive area of discussions and medical researches. Many researchers agree that development of the new method would open new doors before medicine. Some scientists say that creating of new human embryo must be prohibited, because it s morally unacceptable and religiously unethical. The authors continue that medical management is implemented sporadically nowadays. In particular, medical management is defined as an active management of the care of the population. Today, medical management fully depends on information systems that are used for monitoring and tracking medical processes and outcomes. Disease management programs positively impact medical practices and patient management. When speaking about public health, the authors admit that â€Å"over the past 30 years the public health system has operated under pressures of resource scarcity, limits in leadership, and organizational fragmentation†. (p. 9) Public health system is safety-net medical provider, and economic problems make its performance hardly bearable. Over the next decades global forces will the context in which public health systems will be very likely to operate. The authors conclude that global economies increase health risks and, therefore, public health system should be embedded in the context of global threats and opportunities. Cost-effective technologies should be developed for enhancing surveillance, screening and environmental health. Finally, public health strategies should aim at employing ecological strategies as ecology is human and structural determinant of health behavior. Managed care will remain dominant in health care insurance. References Amara, R. et al. (2003). Health and Health Care 2010: The Forecast, The Challenge (2nd ed. ). Princeton, NJ: Jossey-Bass.