Childrens Comprehension of Television Messages Essay -- Children Tele

Children's Comprehension of Television Messages The literature surveyed so far regarding children's attention to television has relied on observation of visual attention by the child viewers. Measures of visual attention alone do not provide an indication of what aspects of the message children are extracting from the television screen. In order to acquire indications of this, researchers have relied on post-viewing measures of children's recognition and recall of information from the program. This research will be considered in this section on children's understanding of television messages. Here the concern is not with what children are looking at and listening to, but what they remember from the TV and what meaning the TV content has for them. Much of the research which has adopted a cognitive developmental perspective on studies of children and television has examined children's comprehension of television messages. The underlying assumption of these studies is that children bring different cognitive abilities and social experiences to the TV-viewing situation and that these influence how children made sense of the messages. Younger children with more limited inference-making ability are more likely to focus on the consequences of actions rather than the motivations of the actors, and often are shown to construe the television plot line quite differently from children and adults. The way in which children construe meaning from television cannot be directly inferred from cognitive development theory. Cognitive development theory may aid us in describing how children make sense of television, but we should examine children's understanding of television directly. How, then, has cognitive development the... ...hat appropriate learning materials will be developed to teach children about the medium of television, both its programming and advertising content. Such materials should help children overcome their misunderstandings of television messages. By improving the skills children bring to the viewing situation we may be able to moderate the impact television has on the child. NOTES The argument advanced here does not mean to imply, however, that children are as active when watching television as they are when engaged in athletics or doing other sorts of activities. Activity here is relative. Multidimensional scaling is a statistical technique that looks at how subject's ratings of a variety of variables group together; that is, it seeks to determine underlying dimensions which describe the relationship among a set of variables for a given group of subjects.

Energy Drinks: Liquid Meth? Essay

Over the last decade, drinks containing high amounts of caffeine, sugar, and other ingredients that increase energy have been rapidly growing in popularity. Clearly these beverages are known as energy drinks. Energy drinks have gotten so popular that it is extremely rare to find a convenience store that doesn’t sell a variety of them. Students use energy drinks to cram the night before a test, athletes use them to exercise, party animals mix them with alcohol to drink more than humanly possible, and some people just drink them to stay awake at work after a sleepless night. Red Bull, one of the most popular energy drinks in the market, claim to enhance productivity, concentration, energy and help handle stressful situations. It seemed these beverages were a godsend to overworked employees and sleep-deprived college students. But after a few deaths were linked to the drink, controversy arose. Apparently Red Bull gives you wings, but what other side-effects can these sugary, over-caffeinated drinks cause? Many people have been asking this question lately, wondering how harmful drinking them really is. Despite that consuming a large amount of the drink may be dangerous, as long as people drink energy drinks responsibly they are relatively safe. Energy drinks have a lot in common with other popular drinks. All these drinks contain high amounts of sugar and caffeine. These drinks are consumed daily by millions of people, despite the caffeine and sugar content in the drinks. Many Americans have made a habit of getting together with friends or old acquaintances to drink coffee and catch up. The increasing number coffee shops prove that most Americans don’t have a problem with the distribution of coffee. In addition, sodas which also contain high amounts of sugar and caffeine are widely accepted. Some would even consider a person who throws a party without coke just cruel. Despite the similarities between energy drinks and these other beverages (coffee, soda) they are put two different categories. According to the people who oppose energy drinks the most dangerous ingredient in them is the high amount of caffeine. A 16-ounce cup of Starbucks coffee contains about 330 milligrams of caffeine, the same size can of Coca-Cola has 45. 3 mg, and a 16oz Red Bull has 154mg (Meier). According to the Food and Drug Administration or F. D. A. a person can safely consume 400 mg of caffeine a day, even though some experts argue that 600 mg of caffeine won’t cause any adverse side effects (Meier). Either way all these drinks are safe as long as they aren’t abused. Basically, people drinking coffee in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Most warning labels on energy drinks recommend that children, pregnant or nursing women, and persons sensitive to caffeine stay away from the drink. For obvious reasons certain groups of people should stay away from overly-caffeinated beverages but what kind of negative effects can they have on normal adults? From 2007 to 2010 visits to emergency rooms of people who drank high amounts of energy drinks have doubled from 10,000 to 20,700 (Anderson). Some of the negative side-effects people in the E. R. reported experiencing are insomnia, anxiety, irritability, headaches, irregular heart rhythms, and muscle twitching (Liberatore). In addition, people with a heart condition could face more severe consequences like a heart attack. Since it’s hard to prove that energy drink were the exact cause of the heart attack, there aren’t that many documented cases of people dying from heart attacks solely because of energy drinks. However, common sense dictates that any substance that stresses the heart can lead to health problems. Strangely enough, most deaths related to energy drinks aren’t from heart attacks but of alcohol poisoning. Because energy drinks cause alertness many alcohol consumers mistake being alert and awake for being sober. This causes the user to continue drinking past safe limits. The FDA informed Americans how dangerous the mixture of the two was while they banned Four Loko (mixture of alcohol with an energy drink) and Joose (Benac). Despite all the controversy, most people can agree how useful a jolt of extra energy can be some days. Energy drinks can help a doctor be more alert during surgery during a graveyard-shift, help college students get that â€Å"A† they have been working towards all semester, or keep police officers vigilant and energized on the job. There’s no way of knowing exactly how many college students that graduated owe their diploma to caffeine, but it sure didn’t hurt to be able to pull all-nighters while being alert. People that enjoy exercise can lift-weights or do cardio way more effectively by drinking one before the work-out. Energy drinks are not only safe but they are making people more effective workers, students, or athletes. Besides the obvious and immediate effects of drinks containing high amounts of caffeine there are a few long-term benefits worth mentioning. Depression is a horrible condition that slowly eats away at a person until there is nothing left of them. Coffee has been shown to fight depression (â€Å"Does Caffeine Reduce the Risk of Depression? ). By drinking a few cups of coffee or one can of an energy drink chances of depression decrease (â€Å"Does Caffeine Reduce the Risk of Depression? â€Å"). Caffeine also helps prevent various diseases. People suffering from Parkinson’s disease can better control their motor-skills by taking caffeine (â€Å"Caffeine may ease Parkinson’s symptoms†). Energy drinks can be extremely harmful if abused or they could be a great source of energy. Like most things in life it can be destructive if done in excess. Most of the negative side-effects can be avoided if by taking the recommended doses. The companies that create these drinks should put warning labels on cans to prevent uninformed consumers from getting hurt. In addition, more research is needed to find out about the long-term effects of these drinks. Aside from that, energy drinks are safe in moderation. The benefits of them far outweigh the potential harmful effects. It is surprising how little evidence there is suggesting energy drinks are not safe. The reputation of these drinks was most likely was tarnished by lazy reporters, mob mentality and a few great people that just didn’t want the party to end. Work Cited Benac, Nancy. â€Å"United States Food and Drug Administration signals crackdown on caffeinated alcohol drinks. † CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal 11 Jan. 2011: E47+. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. â€Å"Caffeine may ease Parkinson’s symptoms. † Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week 18 Aug. 2012: 158. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. â€Å"Does Caffeine Reduce the Risk of Depression? † OB/GYN Clinical Alert 1 Jan. 2013. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. Liberatore, Stephanie. â€Å"Q: With the increasing popularity of energy drinks, I wonder-are these drinks safe? How do they affect teens? † The Science Teacher 76. 2 (2009): 64. Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Apr. 2013. Meier, Barry. â€Å"Doctors Urge F. D. A. to Restrict Caffeine in Energy Drinks. † New York Times 20 Mar. 2013: NA(L). Academic OneFile. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.

Using Agile at Blue Cloud Free Essay Example, 750 words

In my opinion, before continuing or discontinuing the use of Agile in the company, overall assessments are done collectively within the company must be made first before coming to a decision. First, there must be a comparison of the previous company outputs and results prior to the use of Agile and after implementing Agile, then check which method has more cons than pros. Also, employee feedback must be welcomed as well, since they are mostly the ones that would be using the methods and programs hands-on. Lastly, if clarifications with the objectives of the Agile method are needed to be disseminated or reviewed for the employees that did not understand it fully, then it must be done as well. After weighing the cons and pros, only then would the continuation or discontinuation of Agile can be decided. It is expected that some changes may not take effect fully within a year after implementing new strategies within an organization (Paton McCalman, 2008). Also, the statistics of using the system for 30 months as compared to previous statistics of the company output before implementing Agile would speak better of the need to either keep using the method or sourcing another method for the improvement of the work program in Blue Cloud, since this is a timeframe which is inclusive of the learning curve and the adjustment period for all company employees. We will write a custom essay sample on Using Agile at Blue Cloud or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now Thus, I would personally recommend continuing the use of Agile for the next 18 months, as well as strengthening the importance of its use within the company. Following up with the suggestion of using Agile for the next 18 months, in order to fully harness the full potential of implementing the program, feedback and reviews of the previous year in using Agile would be initiated. After assimilating the feedback and reviews as well as evaluating the circumstances that led to these opinions, changes that needed to be implemented would be done and monthly assessments on whether certain changes did improve productivity and output within the company or not (Spector, 2012).

Body Image Breaking The Stereotypes And Standards

Body Image: Breaking the Stereotypes and Standards There is a certain point in life that we become aware of our bodies and how others view them. The way we view our bodies, as individuals, can either help or hurt our self-esteem. Body image can be a very hard battle for anyone to fight; there is a tremendous amount of pressure put on mostly young women to match the â€Å"ideal† body type. What I want to know is, how can we overcome the stereotypes and standards set by the society we live in today? It is known that all throughout history there has been a set of standards regarding the way we should look. It is true that the standards have changed over the decades, but one thing remains and that is the pressure put upon us to fit the standards. Women especially feel this pressure, and this pressure can come from anywhere. Fitting in and not being made fun of or â€Å"body shamed† seem to be the most prominent reasons for succumbing to this type of peer-pressure. The effects of trying to achieve the ideal body type can be detrimental to ones self-esteem and health. Negative body image can cause severe medical conditions such as eating disorders. Amanda J. Holmstrom claims, â€Å"One prominent theory is that the media’s constant depiction of extremely thin women leads women to believe they should try to meet this ideal† (The Effects of the Media on Body Image: A Meta-Analysis 196). Some eating disorders include anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa and even constant dieting or fad dieting andShow MoreRelatedGender Stereotypes And Objectification Of Women888 Words   |  4 Pagesdiscussing overarching themes, in particular, gender stereotypes and objectification of women. Then I will analyze the photos from an intersectionality perspective and its importance. In addition, I will self-reflect about how gender, sex, and sexuality influence my life and how my beliefs have been challenged over the semester. Finally, I will conclude my paper with ways, in which, we can make social change, so we can reduce gender stereotypes. Themes There were two major overarching themes thatRead MoreSlim Fast Offers False Hope to Young Girls674 Words   |  3 Pagesmay feel the need to compare how they look against the message being convened and perceive themselves as not measuring up to the standards. Thus, confirming some adolescents measure their self-esteem based on outer beauty not on inner beauty; how smart, nice, friendly or funny they are. As adolescents use the computers on a daily basis they are increasingly aware of body imagine trends and being bombarded by internet advertisement will have a direct effect on their decisions. Having said this, inexperiencedRead MoreEssay about Importance Of A Woman578 Words   |  3 Pagesthat emphasis women have instinctively been taught to measure their self-worth in terms of the image they present, even more so than their intelligence. They have been given rigid and challenging standards to live up to, standards that are usually unrealistic, unattainable, and disheartening. Ma ny women spend a large majority of their lives suffering trying to meet these standards. The ideal body image in this country today seems to be the long-haired 5’7†, 95 lb female found in every fashion magazineRead MoreBreaking Free of Stereotypes1152 Words   |  5 PagesIf you say you’ve never heard a stereotype about someone else or yourself, you’re either a liar or very oblivious. Stereotypes are simplified conceptions of a group, and they are literally everywhere. People often tend to assume that all Asians are geniuses, black people like watermelon and listen to rap, white girls crave Starbucks 24/7 and are always wearing leggings or yoga pants, the elderly don’t understand technology, and homosexual men are flamboyant and love fashion. No matter what race,Read MoreEssay on Breaking Down the Barriers to Feminist Art Work1630 Words   |  7 PagesBreaking Down the Barriers to Feminist Art Work Every time a girl reads a womanless history she learns she is worth less. While studying art history in Pre-Industrial Visual Cultures this semester, one theme has become painfully obvious. There are few if any women artists included in the study of art history. If you dig deep into the books you can find mention of many unknown, unrecognized and often times very talented women artists from the past. Women in history are simply notRead MoreChoreography, Dance, Ballet, And Calling Essay1631 Words   |  7 Pagesinjuries result in not warming one s body up. Warming up a person s body is important because it can promote him/her to move freely. Other injuries derive from falling or inexperience with a dance move. To try and prevent an accident practice countless times before trying to perform this technique. An example of why warming up one s body and stretching is important because of breaking. Breaking is a dance move that makes the illusion of Breaking one s body through isolation and bending. WarmingRead MoreMedia, Youth And Culture : Application Of Theory1664 Words   |  7 Pagesaffiliated gender stereotype; which are created by social interactions – what a person sees and interprets in their world is what they believe and act accordingly to. The media has a very powerful effect on culture. Media has the ability to shape societal structures and operations. Dominant media forms (such as television and social media – the mediums) have assisted in the construction of gender roles and generalised norms. (Udel.edu) Advertising and media forms create stereotypes associated withRead MoreMedia Portrayal of Women and Its Effects1187 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout the century, the ideal image of a woman has changed drastically, which can be directly attributed to the powerful persuasion of media. This ideal image has transformed from a voluptuous, size 14, 1950’s Marilyn Monroe to a 5’9, 100 pound, 1990’s Kate Moss. The most shocking aspect is specifically what young girls are now doing to achieve this â€Å"Kate Moss† image. Through the utilization of advertisements and stars on the big screen, this female portrayal directly targets the physical andRead MoreA Doll s House By Henrik Ibsen1444 Wo rds   |  6 Pagesmessage of the play by displaying personality traits outside the stereotypes. Torvald defines his life by what is acceptable and respectable within the constraints of society. He is more concerned about the attractive physical appearance of his wife and home than he is about his wife s happiness. He objectifies most aspects of his life. Even after he has rejected Nora, he wants her to retain her role in his household to preserve the image of a respectable marriage. This further emphasises Ibsen’s presentationRead MoreBlack Bodies And Its Effects On African American s Position As A Subordinate Class900 Words   |  4 PagesThis passage within Citizen is showing the reinforcing of deviance and racist ideals. Black bodies are described throughout beginning â€Å"My Brothers are notorious†. Revealing an unconscious notion that depicting blackness having a criminal reputation and immoral qualities. For instance, Rankine is presenting a metaphor showing how easily we have distinguished black bodies from other bodies: â€Å"On the tip of a tongue, on e note following another is another, another dawn where the pink sky is the bloodshot

The Adoption Of Knowledge Management Systems Essay

Adoption of Knowledge management systems as an IS /IT business strategy by SME’s in Kenya. Abstract In shaky, uncertain economies, small and medium enterprises often take the biggest blow in periods of slow or no business. When there are minimalistic orders, the impact is immediate as most of these firms don’t have a wide array of products compared to big firms. As a small organization, it’s always important to have a proper Information technology portfolio to help them carry out proper analysis and establish ways of retaining their clientele throughout their business periods. SME’s need a clearly laid out plan to how it plans to adopt and use technologies such as knowledge management systems throughout its existence if they are to compete with the large organizations as small organizations are known to operate without structures and have adopted informal business processes to manage knowledge. In Kenya, SME’s are vital as they employ more than 87% of the labor force that contribute 18.4% of the National Gross Domestic product (GDP). (GOK, 2009).However, their existence in the Kenyan economy has not been without fair challenges that inhibit their growth, potential and offer them an average lifespan of five or less years in existence. The purpose of this document to provide a review on this topic with the aim of finding out how small enterprises stand to benefit from Knowledge Management systems such as C.R.M systems having been well designed and carried on toShow MoreRelatedReasons for Management Control Systems Adoption1286 Words   |  6 PagesReasons for Management Control Systems Adoption 1 Reasons for Management Control Systems Adoption Insights from Product Development Systems Choice by Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Companies Claudia Fernandez Management Control Systems FE2510, Autumn - Period 1 Professor Eva Wittbom Blekinge Tekniska Hà ¶gskola September 26th, 2010 Reasons for Management Control Systems Adoption INTRODUCTION 2 Through the past few years, and due to different theoretical and empirical studies performedRead MoreOrganizational And Process Change Management1063 Words   |  5 PagesOrganizational and Process Change Change management is a primary concern of many organizations involved in ERP project implementation. Alpha Enterprises must identify change management, in terms of adopting an ERP system, as activities, processes, and methodologies that support employee understanding and organizational shifts during the implementation of the new ERP system and reengineering initiatives. Change management is a process that helps the management for the implementation of appropriate plannedRead MoreInformation Security In Zanziabar Public Sector1465 Words   |  6 Pagespublic sector† (Shaaban, et al., 2012). Most of these challenges are partly attributed to lack of proper budgeting for ICT infrastructures, cultural gap awareness, political instability, trust, business continuity plan, and inadequate human resource management to effectively manage this technology (Dada, 2006). The application of e-government in corporate governance to improve efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector agencies and delivery of services to the users has increased extensively,Read MoreStrategic Information Management807 Words   |  4 Pagesimpact of management information on decision making; LO2: Be able to understand the importance of information sharing within the organisation; LO3: Be able use information to inform and support strategic decision making; and LO4: Be able to monitor and review management information. In order to achieve these learning objectives, the writer has drawn upon from his practical work experience as a practicing facility manager, research through various sources in the field of information management and technologyRead MoreAutomation Of Health Care : The Heart Of The Hippocratic Oath1420 Words   |  6 Pagesbeen slow to embrace electronic systems which are capable of improving patient outcomes and lowering the cost of conducting business . Automation of information includes computerized physician prescription, computerized physician order entry, electronic medical records, electronic alerts, automated decision support, and electronic capture of clinical data that enables service quality improvement. With automation comes a new level of challenges surrounding adoption, security, training and integrationRead MoreRole Of Procurement And Supply Chain Management Essay1646 Words   |  7 PagesRole of Standards in Procurement and Supply Chain Management Procurement and supply chain are two critical aspects of organizational performance. Stiff competition in the market has called for the need for companies to strive towards streamlining their operations to meet the unique demands of their clients. One important path that has been pursued by a number of companies is the adoption of acceptable standards of operations in their procurement and supply chain. The mechanics of purchasing and allRead MoreInformation Technology And Its Impact On The Workplace1206 Words   |  5 PagesFirms can harness the information generated from these sources by instituting knowledge management platforms. To leverage this technology, firms have to make sure that their employees fully adopt a knowledge sharing culture. When instituting these systems, information technology officers follow a general deployment structure customized to their firm’s needs. The Knowledge Management Solution Without knowledge management, firm staff members exhaust their energy solving the same problems for differentRead MoreImportance Of Small And Medium Enterprises Essay1442 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Æ' I. Introduction The globally increasing demand of IT and its adoptions proves its high impact on our life be it economical, social, professional or even if personal. Because IT offers innumerous number of benefits, it is very important to adapt IT in every fields specially Small and Medium Business(SMB). Small Business and mid-size business plays vital role in the progress of country. These small and Medium Enterprises (SME) gives significant contribution to economical growth and sound supportRead MoreExecutive Summary of High Performance Working Essay1020 Words   |  5 PagesHigh Performance Working Executive Summary HPW systems are crucial to success, yet organizations often struggle to understand how to implement them. Although there is a widespread recognition in the academic literature that strategic alignment of bundles of HPW practices is key, what actually happens within organizations does not always reflect this. Case studies are an obvious means to understand in real-life the adoption of HPW, and explore what influences the beliefs and actions of managersRead MoreHardware and Project Considerations When Implementing a New CRM System1638 Words   |  7 PagesConsiderations When Implementing A New CRM System The most effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are deliberately designed to align and enhance the strategic initiatives and programs of a given business or enterprise. They must take into account customer preferences, needs and wants as well, and strive to create a foundation of shared information and insight over time There are a myriad of studies that show how effective CRM systems are in transforming businesses and making them

The Main Causes Of War Essay Research free essay sample

The Main Causes Of War Essay, Research Paper Wars are invariably being fought in the universe. Bloodshed had taken topographic point as top leaders ponder their every move in their game of triumphs and conquerings. Behind each and every war that has taken topographic point, there will ever be a ground for it. The most prevailing causes are greed and lifting aspirations. Greed is congenital and present in the character of every human being. Hence we can see unscrupulous leaders, at the disbursal of the people, go to wars as a consequence of their quest for power and territorial additions. One illustration will be the recent internal discord in Angola, Africa. Foday Sankoh exploited the state # 8217 ; s natural resources # 8212 ; diamonds for his personal wealth, which resulted in the deceases of many guiltless parties. World War II was besides started by Hitler # 8217 ; s lifting demands for territorial additions, suppressing provinces after provinces. We will write a custom essay sample on The Main Causes Of War Essay Research or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Hence wars that were fought for personal additions are the most common. The World Trade Organisation ( WTO ) can step in here. In face of such unscrupulous leaders, the states in the administration can halt trading with them and put an international boycott on such states. For illustration, Iraq was slapped with an international boycott whereby states such as Britian, France and America refused to purchase oil ffom them during the invasion of Kuwait in the 1890ss. Next the battle for basic human rights is besides one of the chief grounds as to why wars were fought. In some states, citizens do non bask equal rights. Widespread favoritism of minority can easy trip wars. Peoples may be denied of basic rights such as lodging, instruction and chances of employment. Hence rebellions may happen. One illustration will be the struggle in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Tigers fight for the rights of the people and purpose for a state whereby each and every citizen is given equal human rights. Peace negotiations could be held to settle the differences. The authorities can besides step in and give equal intervention to the citizens within the state. The people can be educated to handle everyone as their peers. Punishment can be meted out to wrongdoers who discriminate the minority. The following chief ground of wars is cultural differences present within a state. Intolerance towards a peculiar race could ensue in wars, particularly so if one peculiar cultural group is rich while the remainder live in poorness. Jealously breeds rapidly in such fortunes. To exemplify this point, cultural differences between the Serbs and Bosnians was one of the grounds why the Bosnian War was started. Cultural cleansing torn the state apart and lives of many were lost. Tolerance will hold to be preached within the state to forestall such cases from go oning once more. The people could be taught about each other # 8217 ; s race and the differences between each cultural group can be closed. Open mindedness and exposure are cardinal factors to control such incidents. Stairss have to be taken by the authorities to alter the people # 8217 ; s mindset that each race is equal. Merely so can the state move towards a common land. For illustration, Singapore was one time plagued by racial public violences. Education of the assorted races populating in the state was introduced. This helped to settle the differences between the assorted community groups and hence kerb racial public violences. One of the chief grounds of wars will be spiritual difference nowadays within a state. In tolerance towards a peculiar faith can trip off wars. More frequently than non, a peculiar spiritual group of people may see themselves to be superior to the remainder. Such haughtiness can be lifelessly. To stress the point above, the recent struggle between Catholics and Protestants will be one illustration. Catholics, being the minority in Northern Ireland, were oppressed and prosecuted. Hence, they were forced to turn to the Irish Republican Army for protection. Hence, besides different political bases, the war between IRA and the British authorities was fought besides due to spiritual differences. Once once more, tolerance towards a peculiar faith has to be practised. Singapore consists of really diverse civilization and spiritual patterns. In the state, one can see different topographic points of worship and in add-on, everyone in Singapore celebrates spiritual vacations. This is one good illustration whereby people of different beliefs systems are able to acquire along with each other in harmoniousness. In decision, wars are fought for many assorted grounds. Equally long as human existences exist, wars will go on to be fought. Controversial issues as mentioned above can non be resolved easy and therefore struggles will still originate as states continue to revolutionize and alter.

The Harpsichord free essay sample

In modern day America, most know what a piano is, regardless of whether or not they can play one. Many people with little interest in music know piano musicians by the names of Ludwig Van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and even Frederic Chopin. Many people also believe Johann Sebastian Bach played piano, but that simply isn’t true. Bach, a composer of the Baroque/Renaissance period, played the father instrument of the piano, the harpsichord. Harpsichords are just as important as pianos because without harpsichords, we wouldn’t have music’s signature instrument to enjoy. Harpsichords made their first appearance in the Renaissance and Baroque periods of music. The earliest known reference to a harpsichord dates from 1397 when, â€Å"A jurist in Padua wrote that a certain Hermann Poll claimed to have invented an instrument called the clavicembalum,’† (â€Å"A Brief History†). Harpsichords are typically considered a string instrument, as the strings are plucked by plectrum, which are small pieces of plastic used to pluck strings on various instruments. We will write a custom essay sample on The Harpsichord or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A pick for a guitar is also a plectrum. Both harpsichords and pianos perform their functions when the keys are pressed. The Harpsichord was a favorite of the famous composer Johann Sebastian Bach, despite the invention of the piano when he was fifteen. He wrote many famous pieces for harpsichord, and is hailed by musicians as a musical genius.Bach has become one of the most famous composers of all time, all by playing brass and harpsichord. Bach even has a famous instrument company dedicated to him after his death(â€Å"J.S.Bach†). Despite being famous, his fame has not carried the harpsichord with him for various reasons. One reason the harpsichord failed to stay in fame was while the harpsichord did have its own advantage of being relatively easy for musicians to understand, it lacked one important thing. Harpsichords were only capable of one single dynamic. â€Å"Dynamics are the levels of sound, loud or soft, in a piece of music† (â€Å"Dynamics†).For an idea of how important dynamics are, think about your favorite song. Say this song has a bassist, a drummer, a guitarist, and a singer. Typically, the focus of these kinds of songs is the singer, and sometimes the guitarist playing a melody or a solo. If you really listen to your music, the main focus is louder than the other parts to the music, say, the bassist and the drummer. If they were all the same dynamic, they would sound boring, and there would be no specific focus. The harpsichord only had one dynamic, so rather than having one part loud and melodic, and one part soft and supportive, the harpsichord could only be played at o ne level of volume. Musicians have a natural affinity for always wanting to find something bigger, better, and prettier. Because of this, the pianoforte was born. As lovely sounding as harpsichords are, the lack of dynamics poses a problem. Eventually, a musician named Bartolomeo Cristofori, found a solution to this issue in 1700. Bartolomeo was a harpsichord repairman who invented the first piano, then called a pianoforte. (â€Å"The Piano†). The piano was called this because of its ability to play both piano, soft, and forte, loud. This occured almost 303 years after the invention of the harpsichord. This brings to question how they were ever different instruments in the first place. The answer is in how the sound is produced by the two. Though they look extremely similar, pianos and harpsichords produce sound differently. Sound is produced by frequencies in vibration, and while both instruments are capable of producing the sound, the piano is both a string and percussive instrument using small hammers hitting the inner strings to play, and dampers to quiet them down when the key is no longer pressed. Because the force of the hit could be controlled by how hard the keys were pushed, this fixed the dynamics and gave musicians more choice on how to present their pieces. Each feature of the piano is based on either a piece of the harpsichord, or made to make up for an aspect the Harpsichord lacked. Something important to think about when comparing harpsichords and pianos is how the changes made by Bartolomeo affected the playing aspect of the instruments. When the keys of the harpsichord are pressed, a musician can feel the pressure of the plectrum on the string. Once the plectrum plucks it, the pressure is released and the key finally goes all the way down. This makes the playing a bit clunky. On a Piano, the hammer/damper mechanism never has any pressure build up to perform its functions, making the keys press easily and creating a much smoother movement as the musician plays. While Bach and his harpsichord pieces were lovely, one amazing man came 60 years later with just as stunning pieces on the piano. Frederic Chopin was a very famous composer focused solely on the piano. â€Å"Considered Polands greatest composer, Frederic Chopin focused his efforts on piano composition and was a strong influence on composers who followed him.† (Frederic Chopin). While Frederic wasn’t as famous as Mozart or good ol’ Beethoven, he widely contributed to making the piano popular. However, He would have never been a famous piano player if the harpsichord had never been invented, and afterwards, the piano. In conclusion, no matter how lovely the piano is, it would have never been around if it wasn’t for the original keyboard creation, the harpsichord. Not only did harpsichords come before pianos, but pianos were structurally based off of the original harpsichords. Next time you hear about a harpsichord, just remember how historically important it is for musicians everywhere. If you get the chance to play it, definitely give it a go, because it’s pretty awesome to touch a piece of history.