The History of Semantics Essay Example

The History of Semantics Essay semantics  [Gr. ,=significant] in general, the study of the relationship between words and meanings. The empirical study of word meanings and sentence meanings in existing languages is a branch of linguistics; the abstract study of meaning in relation to language or symbolic logic systems is a branch of philosophy. Both are called semantics. The field of semantics has three basic concerns: the relations of words to the objects denoted by them, the relations of words to the interpreters of them, and, in symbolic logic, the formal relations of signs to one another (syntax). In linguistics, semantics has its beginnings in France and Germany in the 1820s when the meanings of words as significant features in the growth of language was recognized. Among the foremost linguistic semanticists of the 20th cent. are Gustaf Stern, Jost Trier, B. L. Whorf, Uriel Weinreich, Stephen Ullmann, Thomas Sebeok, Noam  Chomsky, Jerrold Katz, and Charles Osgood. In the linguistics of recent years an offshoot of transformational  grammar  theory has reemphasized the role of meaning in linguistic analysis. This new theory, developed largely by George Lakoff and James McCawley, is termed generative semantics. In anthropology a new theoretical orientation related to linguistic semantics has been developed. Its leading proponents include W. H. Goodenough, F. G. Lounsbury, and Claude  Levi-Strauss. In philosophy, semantics has generally followed the lead of symbolic logic, and many philosophers do not make a distinction between logic and semantics. In this context, semantics is concerned with such issues as meaning and truth, meaning and thought, and the relation between signs and what they mean. We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Semantics specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Semantics specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The History of Semantics specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The leading practitioners have been Gottlob  Frege, Lady Welby, Bertrand  Russell, Otto Neurath, RudolfCarnap, Alonzo Church, Alfred Tarski, C. I. Lewis, Ludwig  Wittgenstein, J. L. Austin, W. V. Quine, P. F. Strawson, Steven Schiffer, John Searle, H. P. Grice, Saul Kripke, Donald Davidson, and Gilbert Harman. Since the publication of the influential  The Meaning of Meaning  (1925) by C. K. Ogden and I. A. Richards, semantics has also become important to literary criticism and stylistics, in which the way that metaphors evoke feelings is investigated and differences between ordinary and literary language are studied. A related discipline, general semantics (so called to distinguish it from semantics in linguistics or philosophy), studies the ways in which meanings of words influence human behavior. General semantics was developed by Alfred  Korzybski. The key term in Korzybskis system is evaluation, the mental act that is performed by the hearer when a word is spoken. Among the most prominent followers of Korzybski are Stuart Chase, S. I. Hayakawa, and H. L. Weinberg. Bibliography A useful introduction to general semantics is H. L. Weinberg,  Levels of Knowing and Existence  (1959) and F. R. Palmer,  Semantics  (1981). For semantics in linguistics, see S. Ullman,  Semantics  (1962) and  The Principles of Semantics  (1957, repr. 1967); N. Chomsky,  Studies on Semantics in Generative Grammar  (1972); G. Leach,  Semantics  (1974); and J. Lyons,  Language, Meaning, and Context  (1981). For semantics in philosophy, see R. Carnap,  Meaning and Necessity  (2d ed. 1956); K. and A. Lehrer,  The Theory of Meaning  (1970); J. F. Rosenberg and C. Travis, ed. ,  Readings in the Philosophy of Language  (1971); and D. Davidson and G. Harman, ed. ,  Semantics of Natural Language  (2d ed. 1973). For semantics in literary criticism, see K. Burke,  A Rhetoric of Motives  (1950) and  A Grammar of Motives  (1955) and the works of W. Empson and P. Wheelwright. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia ® Copyright  © 2013, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www. cc. columbia. edu/cu/cup/ Ads by Google Have You Written a Book? Talk to a Publishing Advisor. Get published now. Get our Free Guide! AuthorHouse. co. uk [pic] semantics Study of meaning, one of the major areas of linguistic study (see  linguistics). Linguists have approached it in a variety of ways. Members of the school of interpretive semantics study the structures of language independent of their conditions of use. In contrast, the advocates of generative semantics insist that the meaning of sentences is a function of their use. Still another group maintains that semantics will not advance until theorists take into account the psychological questions of how people form concepts and how these relate to word meanings. For more information on  semantics, visit Britannica. com. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Copyright  © 1994-2008 Encyclop? dia Britannica, Inc. Ads by Google 3 50 www. sharqacademy. com [pic] semantics The study of the meaning of words. Contrast with  syntax, which governs the structure of a language. See  Semantic Web  and  Systemantics. Computer Desktop Encyclopedia copyright  ©1981-2013 by  The Computer Language Company Inc. All Right reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. Ads by Google High School Online Self-paced online courses help you Finish High School your way. www. aiuhs. org [pic] semantics 1. the study of the relationships between signs and symbols and what they represent 2. Logic a. the study of interpretations of a formal theory b. he study of the relationship between the structure of a theory and its subject matter c. (of a formal theory) the principles that determine the truth or falsehood of sentences within the theory, and the references of its terms Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition  © HarperCollins Publishers 2005 Ads by Google egypt. dubizzle. com [pic] semant ics  [si? man ·tiks] (communications) The branch of semiotics that deals with the relations between symbols and what they stand for, and defines the meaning that is prescribed for a statement by its originator. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright  © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Ads by Google www. englishforarabs. com [pic] |(theory) |semantics   The meaning of a string in some language, as opposed to  syntax  which describes how symbols may be | | | |combined independent of their meaning. | | | | | | | |The semantics of a programming language is a function from programs to answers. A program is a  closed term  and, in | | | |practical languages, an answer is a member of the syntactic category of values. The two main kinds are  denotational | | | |semantics  andoperational semantics. | | This article is provided by FOLDOC Free Online Dictionary of Computing (foldoc. org) Ads by Google StudiesInAustraliaArabic. com [pic] Warning! The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased. Semantics the branch of linguistics that studies the meanings of linguistic units. Semantics can also be defined as an aspect of the study of signs in semiotics or as the meaning of linguistic units. [This article will discuss linguistic semantics, that is, semantics as first defined above. ] The term â€Å"semasiology† is historically a synonym for â€Å"semantics. † In linguistic semantics, the elementary object of study consists of the three elements of the linguistic sign—especially the word—considered in their unity: the signifier, the denotatum, and the signified. The signifier is the external element, the sequence of sounds or graphic signs. It is linked with the denotatum (a signified object or phenomenon of reality) and with the referent (an object or phenomenon signified by a given linguistic unit within an utterance or by an utterance as a whole). It is also linked with the signified, which is the reflection of that object or phenomenon in human consciousness. The signified is the result of the social understanding of reality and is usually identical to a concept or mental representation. The three-way link of signifier-denotatum-signified constitutes the category of meaning and the basic unit of semantics. These tripartite units enter into regular and systemic relationships with one another. One unit may be compared to another on the basis of one of the three elements: the signified (in the case of synonyms), the signifier (in the case of homonyms), and the denotatum and referent (in the case of a special form of synonymy known as transformation or periphrasis). Synonymy, homonymy, periphrasis (transformation), and polysemy form the basis of the systemic quality in semantics. The systemic quality is manifested most clearly in relatively small groups of words that are similar in one respect (in which they are synonyms) and opposed in another (in which they are antonyms). Such groupings, which differ depending on the language, constitute structural oppositions. For example, the Russian words  ekhat  (â€Å"to go [by vehicle]†),  idti  (â€Å"to go [on foot]†)  plyt’  (â€Å"to swim,† â€Å"to go [by boat]†), and  letet’ (â€Å"to fly†) have a common feature of â€Å"human locomotion† but are opposed as regards the feature of â€Å"means of locomotion. Such features within groups are studied and described as components of meaning or semantic factors. Elementary word groups may be combined in a relationship of content, forming thematic groups and semantic and lexical â€Å"fields. † For example, all the means of expressing the concept of joy in a given language constitute the lexica l-semantic field â€Å"joy. † Linguistic semantics seeks to provide a complete description of the semantic system of a given language in the form of a thesaurus. The thesaurus vividly demonstrates that semantics preserves what results from the reflection and comprehension of the objective world in human social practice. For example, the concepts â€Å"to be,† â€Å"to have,† â€Å"time,† â€Å"form,† and â€Å"content,† which were developed in European culture, may be represented differently or not at all in other cultures. In the language of the Hopi Indians, there are no nouns of the type â€Å"spring,† â€Å"winter,† â€Å"present,† and â€Å"future†; corresponding—but not identical—concepts are expressed adverbially (for example, â€Å"when warm†). Rain† is named as an object (substance) in Indo-European languages but as a process (feature) in the American Indian language of the Hupa (literally, â€Å"it comes down†). On the other hand, the opposition of substance (â€Å"object†) and feature (â€Å"process,† â€Å"action,† and so forth) is objective and universal: every language maintains the opposition through its own means and within the framework of its own system as an opposition between noun and verb. Semantics seeks to discover and study these universal semantic categories. The polysemant is a most important object of semantic study and one of the key points in the interrelationships between system and speech (or text). It represents a complex of lexical-semantic variants, related to one another in the system as specific lexical meanings and behaving in speech as the concrete realization of these meanings. In speech or text, words also enter into elementary relationships of another type. The relationships are determined by the ability of words to combine with one another. The combinations permitted by the system of a language determine the distribution of each word relative to others. For example, the distribution will vary for the Russian words  krichat’ (vo vsiu moch’) (â€Å"to shout [with all one’s might]†),  bezhat’(vo vse lopatki) (â€Å"to run [as fast as one  can]†), pozdravliat’ (ot vsego serdtsa) (â€Å"to congratulate [with all one’s heart]†), and  naedat’sia (do otvala) (â€Å"to eat [until one can eat no more]†). The distributive analysis of meanings is a special task of semantics. The word combinations  vo vsiu moch’, vo vse lopatki, ot vsego serdtsa, and  do otvala  have the common meaning of â€Å"to the highest degree,† but the specific form used to express this meaning depends on the combining word; thus,  vo vsiu moch’  is combined with  krichat’, vo vse lopatkiwith  bezhat’, and so forth. The form of expression is therefore a function of the combination. Semantics seeks to discover and study such functions—known as lexical parameters—which allow extensive groups of words, word combinations, and sentences to be represented as systemic periphrases (transformations) of one another. The creation of a thesaurus of functions is a long-range task of semantics. When transformations are studied, the distinction between lexical semantics (the meaning of root morphemes, words, and word combinations) and grammatical semantics (the study of the meanings of grammatical forms) recedes into the background, and traditional semasiology becomes simply a part of semantics. On the other hand, the distinction between the denotatum and the referent becomes essential. Thought correspondence to the denotatum is called meaning, and thought correspondence to the referent and the reflection in consciousness of a whole situation is often called sense. Thus, the content of the term â€Å"semantics† expands and semantics acquires a new task: to study the system of such â€Å"senses. † The study is known as syntactic semantics. Semantics also studies characteristic changes in meaning that occur in the history of a language and seeks to discover semantic laws. The conceptual fund of a language is divided into that which is the common property of all members of a given society and that which is the property of science. The former includes the everyday, â€Å"naive,† or linguistic, concepts (the â€Å"immediate† meanings of words), whereas the latter includes scientific concepts and terms (the â€Å"more distant† meanings of words). An example of the difference is seen in the colloquial use of the Russian word  kapital  to mean a large sum of money and the specialized use of the term in political economy to mean capital. One general semantic law is that everyday words having features in common with scientific concepts constantly strive to merge their parameters of content with those of the scientific terms. Key cultural terms, which differ for each era, occupy a special place between everyday and scientific concepts. Such key terms include â€Å"civilization,† â€Å"revolution,† â€Å"democracy,† â€Å"science,† â€Å"technology,† â€Å"individual,† â€Å"love,† and â€Å"machine. † The meanings of a language’s everyday words and the dominant ideas of society are combined in the semantic content of these terms. In studying the development of key cultural terms and concepts of different types, the tasks of semantics coincide with those of cultural history and semiotics. Semantics emerged in the late 19th century, simultaneously in Russia (M. M. Pokrovskii) and France (M. Breal), as a historical discipline studying semantic laws. According to the aspect of the semantics of language that is taken as the basis for the discipline, various directions are distinguished. These directions include analysis of lexical-semantic variation (V. V. Vinogradov, A. I. Smirnitskii, N. N. Amosova, A. A. Ufimtseva, and D. N. Shmelev of the USSR); oppositive (componential) analysis, or semantic factoring (L. Hjelmslev of Denmark, A. Kroeber and W. Goodenough of the USA, and O. N. Seliverstova of the USSR); and the method of fields and thesauri (R. Hailing and W. Wartburg of the Federal Republic of Germany and Iu. N. Karaulov of the USSR). Among other directions are distributive analysis (R. Langacker of the USA and V. A. Zvegintsev and Iu. D. Apresian of the USSR); logical-transformational analysis based on the category of lexical parameter, or function (I. A. Mel’chuk and Iu. D. Apresian of the USSR and A. Wierzbicka of Poland); and analysis of key cultural terms (G. Matore and E. Benveniste of France and Iu. S. Sorokin and R. A. Budagov of the USSR).

Boorstin Critique Essay

Boorstin Critique Essay Boorstin Critique Essay William Smith Modern American History Boorstin Critique 29JAN09 American History has been presented in many forms. Students today often receive it in a textbook format or something of that sort. The writing style and format is usually based on giving facts is succession, thus leaving the reader disconnected from history learning. These textbooks are based on a broad fact timeline; they ignore the smaller revolutions that do not occur on battlefields. The Americans: The Democratic Experience by Daniel Boorstin does something different. It brings the reader into American History and allows him to understand the little things that shaped American life. Boorstin has written an interesting book that allows the reader look at American History in an atypical way. The book’s strengths and weaknesses engaged me in a unique way, compared to the styles presented to me in my previous experience. Boorstin begins the book with a fascinating thesis that ultimately explains his presiding theme. I found this thesis to be interesting because of its unordin ary take on an ordinary theme of history. Many history textbooks simply base their content on each major revolution that occurred in the time period they wish to analyze. Common history books provide a chronology of events that often ignore individuals and community feeling, while focusing on government or majority leaders. Boorstin’s thesis states that he will not be doing this. He takes the ordinary theme of revolution and surprisingly chooses to focus on the smaller, more subtle revolutions that occurred in places that you could find all over America. He argues that the changes that occurred in the country happened in places you would not think to look. This fact provided me with a hook, being that he intended to explain what it felt like to be an American rather than simply providing a timeline. The next step for me was to discover if the evidence was there, and feel history in a different way. Boorstin proves his points in a very persuasive way. He takes a specific idea or theory and gives many examples to prove it or strengthen it. For example, his main theory of American Gos of this include, Rockefeller, G. Stanley Hall, John Dewey,

Term Paper on Personal Success

Term Paper on Personal Success Term Paper on Personal Success Term Paper on Personal SuccessThe term is coming to the end, and you have to make a term paper on personal success. However, no ideas come up to your mind yet. Well, it is not a problem either, as with the help of this article you will create a brilliant term paper on personal success and get an A+. Below, you will find useful tips on how to write a term paper as well as possible ideas to consider in it.The first step you need to take in order to write a good paper is to outline your ideas. What are you going to write about? What will be the focus of your paper? What angle are you going to consider your personal success from? What will you start and complete your paper with? What idea is going to be the first to consider in your college term paper on personal success? Which one should follow? Think over these questions before you start writing. After you organized your thoughts properly, pass to the additional information to include into your term paper on personal success. This m ay be a real life story, a quotation by a famous personality, or a rhetorical question. The most important thing is that you should gather the material that would gain the readers attention and arouse his/her interest. This strategy will help you single out and make your term paper on personal success exclusive.Next we would like to discuss is the structure of your term paper on personal success. Remember, a good term paper is an elaborately organized one. You have probably been given some instructions on how to structure your term paper on personal success. If you are at a loss for lack of ideas to develop in your term paper on personal success, take advantage of the ones suggested below:Is personal success in both life and career possible?Can personal success satisfy our needs in life completely?The importance of life goals in achieving personal success;Is personal success the result of sanity?A plan for personal success: does it always work?Does destiny play an important ro le in personal success achievement?The interrelation between personal success and self improvement.Finally, do not forget to revise and edit your term paper on personal success. We also recommend you take a break before you start checking your paper. A fresh mind will help you find more shortcomings in your writing. If writing an essay is a challenge for you, do not hesitate to try our professional term paper writing services online!

Hospitality Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 3

Hospitality Management - Essay Example Scientific Management is not hard to be noted in the modern workplace. It is founded on four principles. The first of these principles is to replace the â€Å"rule of thumb† or the simple common sense and simple habit, working techniques with methods that are founded on a scientific study of the task. This principle is still relevant in the workplace today. It involves managing by first breaking every job into individual tasks (Carol, 4). This above is to be able to know the steps that are not needed in the end product. For example, where the workers in the industry have to walk a long distance, the layout of the workplace has been redesigned to reduce the walking distance and thus lower the hours of the working day (Mentzer, 3). The second principle states that in the scientific selection of the workers in an organization ought to be: select, train, teach and develop the person who is most suitable for every job scientifically, instead of leaving the workers to train themselves. This principle of Taylor’s Scientific Management is applied in the hospitality industry workplace today. In most organizations, managers take the responsibility of selecting the right individuals for every job and overseeing their training. They also make sure that training is carried out successfully (Mentzer, 3). In most workplaces today, following the job process and workers have been put in place, the managers continue to be involved and supervise every worker to make sure that the work is carried out in a manner that fulfills the goals of the organization. This fulfils the third principle of Taylor’s Scientific Management. According to the last principle of Scientific Management, work ought to be divided between the workers and the managers. The managers in most modern workplaces in the hospitality industry plan and supervise the work, while the workers perform the

In your opinion, and according to your own personal definition of Essay

In your opinion, and according to your own personal definition of feminism, how has feminism helped or hurt our society over the past thirty years - Essay Example last thirty years it has helped society by creating greater equality for women in the workplace, normalized their position in politics, and shifted general stereotypes. One of the most impactful areas in which feminism has benefited society is in the workplace. While by 1980 women had greatly left behind the entirely male dominated culture of the 1950s, one recognizes that there was still great disparity between men and women; much of which still exists today in lesser forms. Today, however, individuals such as Sheryl Sandberg, the Chief Executive Officer of Facebook, have made staggering contributions to the employment world. Additionally, salaries for women have increased progressively. Ultimately these changes benefit society in that more of our best and brightest minds can find equal access to employment and thus make contributions to the greater good. Another prominent area where feminism has contributed to society is in the political arena. Since 1980 there has been also an increase in the amount of women running and holding political office. While a woman still hasn’t been elected President or become Vice President of the United States it seems that feminism has greatly paved the way for this in the near future. One considers that the last Presidential election featured Sarah Palin as a Vice Presidential candidate. Additionally, for a period during the primaries Hillary Clinton was a front-runner for the Democratic nomination. Although it’s clear the country still has a ways to go before females gain complete equality in this arena, it seems that feminism has made significant contributions over the last thirty years. In addition to employment and politics, feminism has also been successful in changing stereotypes surrounding women. Women have received a large amount of criticism for being overly emotional and not implementing logic or rationality to the same extent as men. Such stereotypes have been used to oppress them in the workplace and political

Factors affecting visual acuity

Factors affecting visual acuity Factors affecting Visual Acuity Visual acuity is measured in various different ways and that is dependent on the acuity task used. However factors affecting the visual acuity have to be taken into account. Visual acuity is affected by a number of ways such as diffraction, aberrations and photoreceptor density in the eye. There are a number of other factors too, which will be discussed more in depth in this article. Other factors that affect visual acuity include: Refractive error Size of the pupil Illumination Time exposure of target Area of retina stimulated State of adaptation of the eye Eye movements These factors will be discussed in detail below. Refractive Error Refractive error is one of the important factors that affect visual acuity. Refractive error affects visual acuity depending on the correction, either Hypermetropic or Myopic or an Emmetropic eye. Visual acuity is affected depending if it causes a defocus at the retina, in the case of a Hypermetropic or myopic eye this is the case. Defocus is when fine details, sharp edges and contrast detail is blurred out. In a Hypermetropic eye, the eye is too strong so the image is focused in front of the retina causing a defocus hence affecting visual acuity. The reverse occurs with a myopic eye, as the eye is too weak, the image is focused in front of the retina therefore again causing a defocus hence affecting visual acuity. On the other hand to obtain a perfect image, image should be focused sharply on the retina. This is the case in an emmetropic eye; no defocus hence no visual acuity problem due to refractive error. Having astigmatism also affects visual acuity. A phenomenon called the oblique effect states that oblique lines are seen less accurately, meaning that visual acuity is greater when lines are orientated horizontally or vertically. This is still the case even after a perfect correction of refractive error and astigmatism. Size of Pupil Eye takes time to see things. The nerve signals take a limited amount of time to travel along the optic nerve and instigate visual awareness. Therefore the size of pupil can determine how quickly or slow a signal can be stimulated thus determining how much visual acuity is affected. Large pupils let more light pass through into the eye so stimulating the retina more. However this does have a disadvantage; it affects resolution due to the aberrations that increase in the eye due to an increase in light. Small pupils reduce optical aberrations due to less light passing through into the eye however resolutions are diffraction limited. Therefore for good visual acuity a mid size pupil of approximately 3mm to 5mm is optimal as this is a compromise between the diffraction and aberration limits. Visual acuity also decreases with age due to decrease in pupil size, so a higher level of illumination is needed in older people to improve visual acuity. Illumination For recognition tasks, visual acuity increases with illumination. However at very high illumination levels, acuity may decrease because of loss of contrast between object and its background, or reflections on the surface of the object decreasing the contrast between the background and object. Higher the contrast between the object and the background the greater the acuity is. When contrast is reduced, it becomes more difficult to read it against a darker background therefore the text need to be made larger in order for the illumination levels to be correct for good visual acuity. Illumination levels greatly affect the older generation due to many people having cataracts. The cataract becomes a source of veiling glare within the eye therefore visual acuity decreases. Time Exposure of the Target To detect a small bright spot, detection is greatly dependent on the quantity of light rather than the exposure time. However to detect a line, the acuity is proportional to the exposure time. There is no simple acuity-exposure time relationship for the resolution of the target. Area of the Retina Stimulated Visual acuity is greatest at the centre of fixation, which in this case is at the fovea. Fovea has the greatest visual acuity due to the densely packed cones, so once the image is moved away from the centre of fixation visual acuity is affected. At a distance of 5 minutes of arc from the centre of fixation, there is a loss in visual acuity. At approximately 10 minutes of arc from fixation there is about 25% visual acuity loss. This shows that our vision is most accurate at the fovea and acuity falls rapidly as we move towards the peripheral retina. Therefore in order to achieve best visual acuity we must scan our visual field to place the fovea on the area of interest and to achieve this we must have excellent oculo-motor co-ordination. State of Adaptation of the Eye Highest level of acuity is achieved if the eye is tailored to the equivalent level as the test luminance of 34cd/m2 to 34,000cd/m2. Test luminance less than 34cd/m2 will achieve to some extent, better acuity. Under photopic conditions, the high density of cones at the fovea is accountable for the high levels of acuity. Under scotopic conditions it is a little altered, due to the Aii Amacrine cells appearing to limit resolution. Maximum scotopic acuity occurs at 5-15 degrees eccentricity which is corresponding to the cell density, while peak rod density occurs at about 15-20 degrees. Eye Movements In steady eye fixation, the eyes are in constant motion; therefore moving objects are more difficult to see than stationary objects thus affecting visual acuity. Visual acuity will be greater when point of interest is constant or little movement however visual acuity will be at a great loss when object is in constant movement. Conclusion: Dynamic visual acuity is lower than Static visual acuity. Conclusion Visual acuity is measured in a number of different procedures however it is dependant on many factors. Visual acuity cannot just be taken as a figure without considering all the factors that affect it. Such as the refractive error, size of pupil, illumination, area of retina stimulated, adaptation of the eye, eye movements and time exposure of the target. Therefore without an understanding of this visual acuity cannot be taken accurately. References Atchison D. A., Smith G., and Efron N. (1979) The effect of pupil size on visual acuity in uncorrected and corrected myopia. Am J Optom Physiol Opt. 56:315-32 http://employment.alberta.ca/documents/WHS/WHS-PUBeyeinjl.pdf http://webvision.med.utah.edu/KallSpatial.html W,Karwowski. Encyclopaedia of ergonomics and human factors. Volume 1.

Imported Medicines: A Strategic Shift in Human Thinking Essay

Internet and online businesses gradually change our lives. What used to be impossible two years ago now has turned into a matter of daily performance. With Internet, we are no longer limited in our activities and can broaden the scope of all major operations that have previously been unachievable. Healthcare and medicines are not exceptions, and where Internet works to provide us with additional opportunities for communication, we have finally been given a chance to reconsider the costs of all healthcare services and medical preparations. Online medical markets have produced an irreversible change in the structure of healthcare services and human thinking. With the advent of the new technological age and the growing globalization, customers have become more attentive to what they buy and how much they pay for it. Imported medicines purchased online offer a competitive alternative to brand-name drugs. Simultaneously, imported drugs are not always licensed and may create serious health risks. In this situation, the state should actively work to impose severe price restrictions on the major brand-name drugs and to develop effective monitoring systems with regard to the imported drugs that are sold online, to guarantee that customers are given a viable choice and are not limited in their access to quality healthcare services and medical preparations. True, the growing customer commitment to imported medicines is the result of the national pharmaceutical markets’ being largely non-regulated. Americans typically pay the highest prices for brand-name drugs because, unlike Canada and many other countries, the United States does not impose price controls on pharmaceutical companies† (Colliver). The growing number of online pharmacies reflects the misbalanced nature of the price strategies, to which present day pharmaceutical companies adhere. Despite the fact that brand-name drugs are sold with significant discounts, the majority of healthcare insurance plans does not cover them and does not make them affordable for consumers. The current economic crisis makes Americans more attentive toward their expenditures, and online pharmaceuticals offer an excellent opportunity to obtain the needed list of medical preparations for a much lower price. â€Å"If the government doesn’t get its act together, and with 47 million who are uninsured, there is a marketplace for alternative supply of some of these drugs† (Colliver). It appears that in the current system of healthcare services customers are not given any relevant choice. With the absence of price restrictions, pharmaceutical companies feel free to establish prices as high as they deem necessary, making customers seek effective alternatives elsewhere. That is why imported drugs as such, and online imported drugs in particular have caused a strategic shift in human thinking, giving people a chance to resolve their health issues at a lower cost. With the growing number of Internet users and given the cost-effectiveness of imported drugs, customers are no longer willing to stick to traditional purchasing practices and choose a technological way of resolving their health issues. More and more people realize the benefits of online pharmaceutical marketing. Many of them enjoy the freedom of choice and convenience they are offered by online pharmaceuticals. â€Å"More Americans appear willing to take a calculated risk in the absence of prescription drug coverage† (Colliver). In other words, when health and life are at stake, customer will not think twice before ordering an affordable imported medical preparation from online suppliers. For many of them, imported medicals offer the most attractive and acceptable option; that is why online companies gradually grow to cover larger shares of online markets even without any specific advertising. Unfortunately, ordering imported drugs online is not always safe. Despite the fact that technology has forever changed the direction of human thinking and has made the process of purchasing imported drugs fast and convenient, imported drugs are associated with substantial risks. Customers cannot always be confident that they buy an authentic drug from an authentic foreign manufacturer. Some Web sites hawk controlled substances without a prescription or falsely purport to get drugs from a Canadian pharmacy or other more trustworthy source. While operators try to separate themselves from such operations, it’s tough to tell the difference† (Colliver). Even if the government imposes strict limitations on pharmaceutical prices, the shift that has already occurred in customer attitudes will require time to be reversed. The problem is not in imported drugs; given the growing globalization trends, imported drugs will keep conquering larger shares of pharmaceutical markets. The problem is that for customers to purchase imported products is a matter of â€Å"no other choice†. Many of them are no longer willing to return to conventional medical practices. As a result, and taking into account that online businesses will further work to conquer the minds and spirits of the American customers, the state should develop effective monitoring systems that will impose price restrictions and will control imported drugs sold online, to provide customers with a reasonable choice and to give them another chance for recovery. Conclusion Imported drugs and Internet have produced an irreversible change in customer attitudes toward healthcare. Beyond broader access to imported medical products, customers are given an opportunity to reduce their costs and to purchase medical products in fast and convenient manner. Given the threats which imported non-licensed products may produce on human health, and taking into account the growing customer commitment to purchasing imported medicines online, it is the state’s responsibility to develop effective regulatory and monitoring strategies that will not limit customer choice but will guarantee safety of all imported medical products.