In the past few decades there has been a revolution in computing and communications, and all indications are that technological progress and use of information technology will continue at a rapid pace. Accompanying and supporting the dramatic increases in the power and use of new information technologies has been the declining cost of communications as a result of both technological improvements and increased competition. According to Moore’s law the processing power of microchips is doubling every 18 months. These advances present many significant opportunities but also pose major challenges. Today, innovations in information technology are having wide-ranging effects across numerous domains of society, and policy makers are acting on issues involving economic productivity, intellectual property rights, privacy protection, and affordability of and access to information. Choices made now will have long lasting consequences, and attention must be paid to their social and economic impacts.

One of the most significant outcomes of the progress of information technology is probably electronic commerce over the Internet, a new way of conducting business. Though only a few years old, it may radically alter economic activities and the social environment. Already, it affects such large sectors as communications, finance and retail trade and might expand to areas such as education and health services. It implies the seamless application of information and communication technology along the entire value chain of a business that is conducted electronically.

The impacts of information technology and electronic commerce on business models, commerce, market structure, workplace, labour market, education, private life and society as a whole.

1. Business Models, Commerce and Market Structure

One important way in which information technology is affecting work is by reducing the importance of distance. In many industries, the geographic distribution of work is changing significantly. For instance, some software firms have found that they can overcome the tight local market for software engineers by sending projects to India or other nations where the wages are much lower. Furthermore, such arrangements can take advantage of the time differences so that critical projects can be worked on nearly around the clock. Firms can outsource their manufacturing to other nations and rely on telecommunications to keep marketing, R&D, and distribution teams in close contact with the manufacturing groups. Thus the technology can enable a finer division of labour among countries, which in turn affects the relative demand for various skills in each nation. The technology enables various types of work and employment to be decoupled from one another. Firms have greater freedom to locate their economic activities, creating greater competition among regions in infrastructure, labour, capital, and other resource markets. It also opens the door for regulatory arbitrage: firms can increasingly choose which tax authority and other regulations apply.

Computers and communication technologies also promote more market-like forms of production and distribution. An infrastructure of computing and communication technology, providing 24-hour access at low cost to almost any kind of price and product information desired by buyers, will reduce the informational barriers to efficient market operation. This infrastructure might also provide the means for effecting real-time transactions and make intermediaries such as sales clerks, stock brokers and travel agents, whose function is to provide an essential information link between buyers and sellers, redundant. Removal of intermediaries would reduce the costs in the production and distribution value chain. The information technologies have facilitated the evolution of enhanced mail order retailing, in which goods can be ordered quickly by using telephones or computer networks and then dispatched by suppliers through integrated transport companies that rely extensively on computers and communication technologies to control their operations. Nonphysical goods, such as software, can be shipped electronically, eliminating the entire transport channel. Payments can be done in new ways. The result is disintermediation throughout the distribution channel, with cost reduction, lower end-consumer prices, and higher profit margins.

The impact of information technology on the firms’ cost structure can be best illustrated on the electronic commerce example. The key areas of cost reduction when carrying out a sale via electronic commerce rather than in a traditional store involve physical establishment, order placement and execution, customer support, strong, inventory carrying, and distribution. Although setting up and maintaining an e-commerce web site might be expensive, it is certainly less expensive to maintain such a storefront than a physical one because it is always open, can be accessed by millions around the globe, and has few variable costs, so that it can scale up to meet the demand. By maintaining one ‘store’ instead of several, duplicate inventory costs are eliminated. In addition, e-commerce is very effective at reducing the costs of attracting new customers, because advertising is typically cheaper than for other media and more targeted. Moreover, the electronic interface allows e-commerce merchants to check that an order is internally consistent and that the order, receipt, and invoice match. Through e-commerce, firms are able to move much of their customer support on line so that customers can access databases or manuals directly. This significantly cuts costs while generally improving the quality of service. E-commerce shops require far fewer, but high-skilled, employees. E-commerce also permits savings in inventory carrying costs. The faster the input can be ordered and delivered, the less the need for a large inventory. The impact on costs associated with decreased inventories is most pronounced in industries where the product has a limited shelf life (e.g. bananas), is subject to fast technological obsolescence or price declines (e.g. computers), or where there is a rapid flow of new products (e.g. books, music). Although shipping costs can increase the cost of many products purchased via electronic commerce and add substantially to the final price, distribution costs are significantly reduced for digital products such as financial services, software, and travel, which are important e-commerce segments.

Although electronic commerce causes the disintermediation of some intermediaries, it creates greater dependency on others and also some entirely new intermediary functions. Among the intermediary services that could add costs to e-commerce transactions are advertising, secure online payment, and delivery. The relative ease of becoming an e-commerce merchant and setting up stores results in such a huge number of offerings that consumers can easily be overwhelmed. This increases the importance of using advertising to establish a brand name and thus generate consumer familiarity and trust. For new e-commerce start-ups, this process can be expensive and represents a significant transaction cost. The openness, global reach, and lack of physical clues that are inherent characteristics of e-commerce also make it vulnerable to fraud and thus increase certain costs for e-commerce merchants as compared to traditional stores. New techniques are being developed to protect the use of credit cards in e-commerce transactions, but the need for greater security and user verification leads to increased costs. A key feature of e-commerce is the convenience of having purchases delivered directly. In the case of tangibles, such as books, this incurs delivery costs, which cause prices to rise in most cases, thereby negating many of the savings associated with e-commerce and substantially adding to transaction costs.

With the Internet, e-commerce is rapidly expanding into a fast-moving, open global market with an ever-increasing number of participants. The open and global nature of e-commerce is likely to increase market size and change market structure, both in terms of the number and size of players and the way in which players compete on international markets. Digitized products can cross the border in real time, consumers can shop 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and firms are increasingly faced with international online competition. The Internet is helping to enlarge existing markets by cutting through many of the distribution and marketing barriers that can prevent firms from gaining access to foreign markets. E-commerce lowers information and transaction costs for operating on overseas markets and provides a cheap and efficient way to strengthen customer-supplier relations. It also encourages companies to develop innovative ways of advertising, delivering and supporting their product and services. While e-commerce on the Internet offers the potential for global markets, certain factors, such as language, transport costs, local reputation, as well as differences in the cost and ease of access to networks, attenuate this potential to a greater or lesser extent.

2. Workplace and Labour Market

Computers and communication technologies allow individuals to communicate with one another in ways complementary to traditional face-to-face, telephonic, and written modes. They enable collaborative work involving distributed communities of actors who seldom, if ever, meet physically. These technologies utilize communication infrastructures that are both global and always up, thus enabling 24-hour activity and asynchronous as well as synchronous interactions among individuals, groups, and organizations. Social interaction in organizations will be affected by use of computers and communication technologies. Peer-to-peer relations across department lines will be enhanced through sharing of information and coordination of activities. Interaction between superiors and subordinates will become more tense because of social control issues raised by the use of computerized monitoring systems, but on the other hand, the use of e-mail will lower the barriers to communications across different status levels, resulting in more uninhibited communications between supervisor and subordinates.

That the importance of distance will be reduced by computers and communication technology also favours telecommuting, and thus, has implications for the residence patterns of the citizens. As workers find that they can do most of their work at home rather than in a centralized workplace, the demand for homes in climatically and physically attractive regions would increase. The consequences of such a shift in employment from the suburbs to more remote areas would be profound. Property values would rise in the favoured destinations and fall in the suburbs. Rural, historical, or charming aspects of life and the environment in the newly attractive areas would be threatened. Since most telecommuters would be among the better educated and higher paid, the demand in these areas for high-income and high-status services like gourmet restaurants and clothing boutiques would increase. Also would there be an expansion of services of all types, creating and expanding job opportunities for the local population.

By reducing the fixed cost of employment, widespread telecommuting should make it easier for individuals to work on flexible schedules, to work part time, to share jobs, or to hold two or more jobs simultaneously. Since changing employers would not necessarily require changing one’s place of residence, telecommuting should increase job mobility and speed career advancement. This increased flexibility might also reduce job stress and increase job satisfaction. Since job stress is a major factor governing health there may be additional benefits in the form of reduced health costs and mortality rates. On the other hand one might also argue that technologies, by expanding the number of different tasks that are expected of workers and the array of skills needed to perform these tasks, might speed up work and increase the level of stress and time pressure on workers.

A question that is more difficult to be answered is about the impacts that computers and communications might have on employment. The ability of computers and communications to perform routine tasks such as bookkeeping more rapidly than humans leads to concern that people will be replaced by computers and communications. The response to this argument is that even if computers and communications lead to the elimination of some workers, other jobs will be created, particularly for computer professionals, and that growth in output will increase overall employment. It is more likely that computers and communications will lead to changes in the types of workers needed for different occupations rather than to changes in total employment.

A number of industries are affected by electronic commerce. The distribution sector is directly affected, as e-commerce is a way of supplying and delivering goods and services. Other industries, indirectly affected, are those related to information and communication technology (the infrastructure that enables e-commerce), content-related industries (entertainment, software), transactions-related industries (financial sector, advertising, travel, transport). eCommerce might also create new markets or extend market reach beyond traditional borders. Enlarging the market will have a positive effect on jobs. Another important issue relates to inter linkages among activities affected by e-commerce. Expenditure for e-commerce-related intermediate goods and services will create jobs indirectly, on the basis of the volume of electronic transactions and their effect on prices, costs and productivity. The convergence of media, telecommunication and computing technologies is creating a new integrated supply chain for the production and delivery of multimedia and information content. Most of the employment related to e-commerce around the content industries and communication infrastructure such as the Internet.

Jobs are both created and destroyed by technology, trade, and organizational change. These processes also underlie changes in the skill composition of employment. Beyond the net employment gains or losses brought about by these factors, it is apparent that workers with different skill levels will be affected differently. E-commerce is certainly driving the demand for IT professionals but it also requires IT expertise to be coupled with strong business application skills, thereby generating demand for a flexible, multi-skilled work force. There is a growing need for increased integration of Internet front-end applications with enterprise operations, applications and back-end databases. Many of the IT skill requirements needed for Internet support can be met by low-paid IT workers who can deal with the organizational services needed for basic web page programming. However, wide area networks, competitive web sites, and complex network applications require much more skill than a platform-specific IT job. Since the skills required for e-commerce are rare and in high demand, e-commerce might accelerate the up skilling trend in many countries by requiring high-skilled computer scientists to replace low-skilled information clerks, cashiers and market salespersons.

3. Education

Advances in information technology will affect the craft of teaching by complementing rather than eliminating traditional classroom instruction. Indeed the effective instructor acts in a mixture of roles. In one role the instructor is a supplier of services to the students, who might be regarded as its customers. But the effective instructor occupies another role as well, as a supervisor of students, and plays a role in motivating, encouraging, evaluating, and developing students. For any topic there will always be a small percentage of students with the necessary background, motivation, and self-discipline to learn from self-paced workbooks or computer assisted instruction. For the majority of students, however, the presence of a live instructor will continue to be far more effective than a computer assisted counterpart in facilitating positive educational outcomes. The greatest potential for new information technology lies in improving the productivity of time spent outside the classroom. Making solutions to problem sets and assigned reading materials available on the Internet offers a lot of convenience. E-mail vastly simplifies communication between students and faculty and among students who may be engaged in group projects. Advances in information technology will affect the craft of teaching by complementing rather than eliminating traditional classroom instruction. Indeed the effective instructor acts in a mixture of roles. In one role the instructor is a supplier of services to the students, who might be regarded as its customers. But the effective instructor occupies another role as well, as a supervisor of students, and plays a role in motivating, encouraging, evaluating, and developing students. For any topic there will always be a small percentage of students with the necessary background, motivation, and self-discipline to learn from self-paced workbooks or computer assisted instruction. For the majority of students, however, the presence of a live instructor will continue to be far more effective than a computer assisted counterpart in facilitating positive educational outcomes. The greatest potential for new information technology lies in improving the productivity of time spent outside the classroom. Making solutions to problem sets and assigned reading materials available on the Internet offers a lot of convenience. E-mail vastly simplifies communication between students and faculty and among students who may be engaged in group projects.

Although distance learning has existed for some time, the Internet makes possible a large expansion in coverage and better delivery of instruction. Text can be combined with audio/ video, and students can interact in real time via e-mail and discussion groups. Such technical improvements coincide with a general demand for retraining by those who, due to work and family demands, cannot attend traditional courses. Distance learning via the Internet is likely to complement existing schools for children and university students, but it could have more of a substitution effect for continuing education programmes. For some degree programmes, high-prestige institutions could use their reputation to attract students who would otherwise attend a local facility. Owing to the Internet’s ease of access and convenience for distance learning, overall demand for such programmes will probably expand, leading to growth in this segment of e-commerce.

As shown in the previous section, high level skills are vital in a technology-based and knowledge intensive economy. Changes associated with rapid technological advances in industry have made continual upgrading of professional skills an economic necessity. The goal of lifelong learning can only be accomplished by reinforcing and adapting existing systems of learning, both in public and private sectors. The demand for education and training concerns the full range of modern technology. Information technologies are uniquely capable of providing ways to meet this demand. Online training via the Internet ranges from accessing self-study courses to complete electronic classrooms. These computer-based training programmes provide flexibility in skills acquisition and are more affordable and relevant than more traditional seminars and courses.

4. Private Life and Society

Increasing representation of a wide variety of content in digital form results in easier and cheaper duplication and distribution of information. This has a mixed effect on the provision of content. On the one hand, content can be distributed at a lower unit cost. On the other hand, distribution of content outside of channels that respect intellectual property rights can reduce the incentives of creators and distributors to produce and make content available in the first place. Information technology raises a host of questions about intellectual property protection and new tools and regulations have to be developed in order to solve this problem.

Many issues also surround free speech and regulation of content on the Internet, and there continue to be calls for mechanisms to control objectionable content. However it is very difficult to find a sensible solution. Dealing with indecent material involves understanding not only the views on such topics but also their evolution over time. Furthermore, the same technology that allows for content altering with respect to decency can be used to filter political speech and to restrict access to political material. Thus, if censorship does not appear to be an option, a possible solution might be labelling. The idea is that consumers will be better informed in their decisions to avoid objectionable content.

The rapid increase in computing and communications power has raised considerable concern about privacy both in the public and private sector. Decreases in the cost of data storage and information processing make it likely that it will become practicable for both government and private data-mining enterprises to collect detailed dossiers on all citizens. Nobody knows who currently collects data about individuals, how this data is used and shared or how this data might be misused. These concerns lower the consumers’ trust in online institutions and communication and, thus, inhibit the development of electronic commerce. A technological approach to protecting privacy might by cryptography although it might be claimed that cryptography presents a serious barrier to criminal investigations.

It is popular wisdom that people today suffer information overload. A lot of the information available on the Internet is incomplete and even incorrect. People spend more and more of their time absorbing irrelevant information just because it is available and they think they should know about it. Therefore, it must be studied how people assign credibility to the information they collect in order to invent and develop new credibility systems to help consumers to manage the information overload.

Technological progress inevitably creates dependence on technology. Indeed the creation of vital infrastructure ensures dependence on that infrastructure. As surely as the world is now dependent on its transport, telephone, and other infrastructures, it will be dependent on the emerging information infrastructure. Dependence on technology can bring risks. Failures in the technological infrastructure can cause the collapse of economic and social functionality. Blackouts of long-distance telephone service, credit data systems, and electronic funds transfer systems, and other such vital communications and information processing services would undoubtedly cause widespread economic disruption. However, it is probably impossible to avoid technological dependence. Therefore, what must be considered is the exposure brought from dependence on technologies with a recognizable probability of failure, no workable substitute at hand, and high costs as a result of failure.

The ongoing computing and communications revolution has numerous economic and social impacts on modern society and requires serious social science investigation in order to manage its risks and dangers. Such work would be valuable for both social policy and technology design. Decisions have to be taken carefully. Many choices being made now will be costly or difficult to modify in the future.

Sudoku is the latest puzzle craze to sweep the nation. If you search through various blogs and Sudoku game information sites, you will find that many people refer to this challenging game as the new Rubix Cube. If you grew up in the 80’s it would be difficult to forget the six-sided and six colored square, but Sudoku is doing just that.

If you think that Sudoku is a new game you would be incorrect. In fact, it was created in 1979 and published in an American puzzle magazine. The game was created by Howard Garns, a former architect. The craze hit Japan in 1986 but did not take the center stage until 2005 when websites, puzzle books and even significant media coverage made Sudoku game a worldwide sensation.

If you conduct a web search for Sudoku game you will find it has a massive following. The Internet has become a perfect haven for those logically inspired sleuths dedicated to filling in the boxes and solving puzzles. There are tons of websites dedicated to the game. There are also contests where contestants can actually win money or prizes. Contests, however, usually have to be done in person because there are computer programs available that can solve Sudoku game puzzles in a snap.

Sudoku is actually an abbreviation of the Japanese phrase suuji wa dokushin ni kagiru. Translated, it means the digits remain single. Normally, an ordinary Sudoku game puzzle is a 9 x 9 grid divided into nine 3×3 subgroups. Some of the cells have numbers and clues in them. Others are empty. The goal of the game is to pencil in the missing numbers in a logical fashion, but remember, each number one through nine can be used only once.

The difficulty levels of Sudoku game are varied. Puzzles can be crafted to fit highly experienced players or pure novices. Even the very young can get in on playing Sudoku game. If you found yourself a fan of the Rubix Cube back in the 1980s there is a good chance the Sudoku game craze would be right up your analytical alley. Give it a try and who knows, you might get hooked!

Finding useful and relevant bipolar information can be challenging, but as a person who suffers from the illness or as a relative or loved one, it is important to be able to understand the illness and its early warning signs.

With this information about bipolar and understanding the triggers and warning signs an action plan can be developed which in turn can help to reduce the length and severity of an episode of the illness.

Some Basic Bipolar Facts

Bipolar disorder, is also known as manic depression or manic depressive disorder. It is an ongoing illness affecting 2-3% of the population and involves extreme mood swings. There are two main classifications of bipolar- bipolar I and bipolar II.

Bipolar I- involves the extreme mood elevation known as 'mania' or manic behavior.

Bipolar II- involves the lesser mood elevation which is known as 'hypomania' and also includes bouts of depression. Bipolar I may or may not include episodes of depression, but bipolar II always does.

The changes in mood experienced by people with bipolar disorder are unlike the day-to-day changes in mood experienced by those who do not suffer from the illness. The mood changes are much more extreme and can last from a few days to weeks. They are not specifically caused by an external event, such as getting a good exam result – however stresses such as lack of sleep can become triggers of an episode of illness.

The MoodSwings website contains helpful articles on all aspects of the illness, written by health professionals. It also provides an online self-help program with small bipolar disorder support groups as well as assistance and strategies to aid the long term management of bipolar disorder.

Being responsible for a family can include a plethora of tasks and can take up much time to organize all the insurance policies and papers to ensure that every family member has access to medical, dental, and vision care when it is needed. Finding a good family insurance agency is important to the family as a reputable insurance company will help the family to have protection over assets, property, life insurance, and quality health insurance.

Many people assume that dental and vision insurance fall under a good health insurance plan. In some cases, this is true; but this is not always the case. Speaking with your insurance agency will help you to be more informed on exactly which plans are offered and which ones you are currently covered on. Just because a person has medical insurance does not mean that he or she also has dental and vision insurance. A person can also have dental and vision insurance without having medical insurance.

Some people will have access to vision insurance through their employer. Each health plan offered by varying companies differs in one way or another. One health plan may offer the option of the employee selecting medical insurance without having the option of dental or vision insurance. Another health plan through a place of employment may include medical, dental, and vision all in one package. And yet another health plan may offer three separate choices of medical, dental, and vision and allow the employee to pick and choose which ones he wants for himself and his family.

Taking the time to speak to your private insurance company and asking your human resources department at work about the available vision plans can help you to decide which type of vision plan will meet the needs of your family on the budget that you have to work with. There are basic and advanced vision plans that many insurance companies offer. Basic plans will typically include eye exams, contacts, and one set of glasses per year. Advanced vision plans can cover more serious treatments such as treating glaucoma and laser surgery.

A family vision insurance plan can be beneficial for everyone in the family, even if no one in the family currently wears glasses or has eye problems. Long term care on a consistent basis and regular eye check-ups can help to ensure that the members of your family are being well cared for in their vision area. Many times, issues will arise unexpectedly that will require a person to begin needing glasses or extensive eye exams. Vision insurance only costs a few dollars a month per person under most insurance plans and a vision policy, whether through a private insurance agency or through your work insurance, can help to protect and care for your family's eye needs. This will be extremely beneficial on a long term basis and preventative check-ups can help to prevent more serious eye problems from occurring in the near or far future.

The Red Food tortoise has become a popular pet in recent years. If you are considering purchasing one as a pet, you will need to get as much information as possible about these animals before you buy one. Where you keep them and how you feed them will determine how long they live.

The Red Food tortoise thrives in a warm, moist environment. If you don’t live in a climate where it stays pretty moist and around 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (23 to 26 degrees Celsius), you should probably try to find a different type of tortoise that is more suited to your climate. Because there are so many types of tortoise to choose from, this shouldn’t be a problem at all.

These tortoises will reach 12 to 14 inches (30 to 35 centimeters) as adults and will therefore need a large outdoor enclosure once they reach about 2 years of age. Be sure that there is nothing in their enclosure that can hurt him, including various chemicals, animals, and unsafe plants. It is important that he has access to a shallow water bowl which he can soak in, and plenty of places to hide. You will also need to provide a tortoise house which can be completely enclosed for nights and rainfalls.

Some of the plants that the Red Foot tortoise eats in the wild which you should try to plant in your pet’s enclosure are flowering maples, yarrow, aloe, cow parsley, tall oat grass, bell peppers, thistle, cucumber, Bermuda grass, orchard grass, wild carrot, hibiscus, hollyhock, prickly pear, dandelion, and clover. It’s important for your tortoise to have a wide variety of plants available, just as he would in the wild.

Although there are many commercial tortoise pellets available, it is best to feed them a natural diet because pellets are made to cover all tortoise diets, so there will be deficiencies for the Red Foot tortoise. In addition to plants, the Red Food tortoise will also feed on insects when they come across them, so don’t be alarmed if you see your pet catching bugs.

Personality-wise, these tortoises are friendly and curious, and tend to be easygoing. So long as they are comfortable with you and feel safe in their environment, they will be stress free and could easily live for 50 years, or more. The Red Foot tortoise is fairly easy to care for, and will make a great pet for the prepared beginner or the experienced owner.

About Spinal Cord Surgery

The primary purpose of neck or back surgery (spine surgery) is to correct an anatomical lesion in individuals who fail to show enhancement with conservative, that is, non – surgical treatment. Surgery isn't an option for those patients whose anatomical lesion accounting for their pain cannot be identified.

Surgery is useful only if there is a need to change the patients' anatomy. For example, to remove disc herniation. There is no particular reason to consider an exploratory surgery to look for a source of pain. An unsuccessful conservative treatment is itself a sign for surgery. A noticeable anatomic lesion is also necessary.

Evolution in Spinal Cords Surgery

Present – day spinal surgery has made significant developments in both spinal implants and technique over the past couple of decades. But even until today the most remarkable progress in spine operation has been better pre – effective imaging techniques, which have been significantly improved the ability of the surgeons to spot accurately and correct an anatomic lesion as a source of pain.

MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) has transformed back surgery. It is the most frequent and the best test to recognise an anatomical lesion responsible for the patient's problem. The most vital factor in the resolution of the success in spine operation is proper pre – adequate diagnosis. Without an appropriate pre – correct diagnosis, even the most technically successful operations have little chance for a successful result.

Though this surgery is done by either neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons, it is more and more becoming a field unto itself. Many surgeons are doing extra specialized training in the field after their residency training. Given the precision needed for these more demanding surgical techniques, many neurosurgeons or orthopaedic surgeons with fellowship training are choosing to concentrate more of their practice on spine surgery. Some trust that the increased level of specialized training and concentration on the spine have donated to enhancements in surgical techniques, which in turn have led to overall better success rates and minimized morbidity with many types of spine surgeries. For example, the reduced post – operative discomfort.

Objective of Spinal Cords Surgery

This surgery is an elective undertaking, which means that it is observed as a possible approach to increase a patient's ability to function and reduce pain. Anyhow, just because spine surgery is elective doesn't mean that insurance does not cover it. Elective surgery may be medically necessary. 'Elective' means that the surgery of spine is seldom an absolute necessity. Only in exceptional instances, like for patients who have a progressive neurological loss of function or sudden start of bladder or bowel incontinence, is spinal surgery actually mandatory on an emergency basis.

Operation of Spine can achieve three tasks:

1. Decompress the spinal cord or the nerve root.

2. Stabilise a painful or an unstable segment with spinal fusion surgery.

3. Reduce a distortion (for eg scoliosis surgery in the thoracic spine).

Spine surgery isn't done for exploration. The source of a patient's pain isn't readily apparent with exploring and opening the spine. The preoperative evaluation and imaging results are what identifies the problem and guide the diagram of the procedure.

This growing awareness of the disorder has led to an increase in information and support available to parents. So what are the latest autism statistics?

Who is Affected

Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) has prepared a summary of the latest statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and reports that approximately 1 million people in the US have autism. About 1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism. Because boys are diagnosed more often than girls, that translates to 1 in 94 males.
Every 20 minutes, a new case of autism is diagnosed; about 24,000 new cases are diagnosed annually. In the state of California, about 7 out of 10 children diagnosed with autism are under 14 years old.

Economic Impact and Funding

The economic impact of autism is estimated at more than $ 90 billion and is expected to more than double over the next decade. It is the fastest-growing developmental disability in America.

How does the rate of diagnosis affect funding? In the late 1990s, the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) allocated just $ 5 million in autism research. Today, the NIH funding for autism, which affects 1 in 150, is $ 15 million. By comparison, leukemia, which occurs in 1 in 25, 000 children, receives $ 300 million in research funds. Muscular dystrophy, which affects 1 in 20,000, receives $ 160 million; cystic fibrosis, which affects 1 in 5,000, receives $ 75 million; and juvenile diabetes, which affects 1 in 500, receives $ 140 million.

Increasing Diagnoses

According to David Kirby, author of Evidence of Harm, in the 1980's, 1 to 2 per 10,000 children in the US was diagnosed with autism. This number increased to 20 per 10,000 in the late 1990's. In 2000, the number increased to 40 in 10,000, and in 2004, increased again to 60 in 10,000.

Cause of Increase is Subject of Debate

Researchers are unclear about whether this increase is due to an actual increase in cases or to better diagnosis. An argument against the increasing accuracy of diagnosis is that Down syndrome, cystic fibrosis, and mental retardation diagnosis rates have remained the same.
Regardless of the reason for the increase in numbers, cases of autism in the US are on the rise, and funding for research appears not to have kept up with this increase. CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding notes that "" Our estimates are becoming better and more consistent, though we can't yet tell if there is a true increase in [autism spectrum disorders] or if the changes are the result of our better studies. We do know, however, that these disorders are affecting too many children. "

Although all communication is subject to misunderstandings, business communication is particularly difficult. The material is often complex and controversial. Moreover, both the sender and the receiver may face distractions that divert their attention. Further, the opportunities for feedback are often limited, making it difficult to correct misunderstandings. The following communication barriers in organizations and ways to overcome them will be the main topic of this article.

1. Information Overload. Too much information is as bad as too little because it reduces the audiences ability to concentrate effectively on the most important messages. People facing information overload sometimes try to cope by ignoring some of the messages, by delaying responses to messages they deem unimportant, by answering only parts of some messages, by responding inaccurately to certain messages, by taking less time with each message, or by reacting only superficially to all messages.

To overcome information overload, realize that some information is not necessary, and make necessary information easily available. Give information meaning rather than just passing it on, and set priorities for dealing with the information flow. Some information isn’t necessary.

2. Message Complexity. When formulating business messages, you communicate both as an individual and as representative of an organization. Thus you must adjust your own ideas and style so that they are acceptable to your employer. In fact, you may be asked occasionally to write or say something that you disagree with personally. Suppose you work as a recruiter for your firm. You’ve interviewed a job candidate you believe would make an excellent employee, but others in the firm have rejected this applicant. Now you have to write a letter turning down the candidate: You must communicate your firms message, regardless of your personal feelings, a task some communicators find difficult.

To overcome the barriers of complex messages, keep them clear and easy to understand. Use strong organization, guide readers by telling them what to expect, use concrete and specific language, and stick to the point. Be sure to ask for feedback so that you can clarify and improve your message.

3. Message Competition. Communicators are often faced with messages that compete for attention. If you’re talking on the phone while scanning a report, both messages are apt to get short shrift. Even your own messages may have to compete with a variety of interruptions: The phone rings every five minutes, people intrude, meetings are called, and crises arise. In short, your messages rarely have the benefit on the receivers undivided attention.

To overcome competition barriers, avoid making demands on a receiver who doesn’t have the time to pay careful attention to your message. Make written messages visually appealing and easy to understand, and try to deliver them when your receiver has time to read them. Oral messages are most effective when you can speak directly to your receiver (rather than to intermediaries or answering machines). Also, be sure to set aside enough time for important messages that you receive. Business messages rarely have the benefit of the audiences full and undivided attention.

4. Differing Status. Employees of low status may be overly cautious when sending messages to managers and may talk only about subjects they think the manager is interested in. Similarly, higher-status people may distort messages by refusing to discuss anything that would tend to undermine their authority in the organization. Moreover, belonging to a particular department or being responsible for a particular task can narrow your point of view so that it differs from the attitudes, values, and expectations of people who belong to other departments or who are responsible for other tasks.

To overcome status barriers, keep managers and colleagues well informed. Encourage lower-status employees to keep you informed by being fair-minded and respectful of their opinions. When you have information that you’re afraid you boss might not like, be brave and convey it anyway. Status barriers can be overcome by a willingness to give and receive bad news.

5. Lack of Trust, Building trust is a difficult problem. Other organization members don’t know whether you’ll respond in a supportive or responsible way, so trusting can be risky. Without trust, however, free and open communication is effectively blocked, threatening the organization’s stability. Just being clear in your communication is not enough.

To overcome trust barriers, be visible and accessible. Don’t insulate yourself behind assistants or secretaries. Share key information with colleagues and employees, communicate honestly, and include employees in decision making. For communication to be successful, organizations must create an atmosphere of fairness and trust.

6. Inadequate Communication Structures. Organizational communication is effected by formal restrictions on who may communicate with whom and who is authorized to make decisions. Designing too few formal channels blocks effective communication. Strongly centralized organizations, especially those with a high degree of formalization, reduce communication capacity, and they decrease the tendency to communicate horizontally thus limiting the ability to coordinate activities and decisions. Tall organizations tend to provide too many vertical communication links, so messages become distorted as they move through the organization’s levels.

To overcome structural barriers, offer opportunities for communicating upward, downward, and horizontally (using such techniques as employee surveys, open-door policies, newsletters, memo, and task groups). Try to reduce hierarchical levels, increase coordination between departments, and encourage two-way communication.

7. Incorrect Choice of Medium. If you choose an inappropriate communication medium, your message can be distorted so that the intended meaning is blocked. You can select the most appropriate medium by matching your choice with the nature of the message and of the group or the individual who will receive it. Face-to-face communication is the richest medium because it is personal, it provides immediate feedback, it transmits information from both verbal and nonverbal cues, and it conveys the emotion behind the message. Telephones and other interactive electronic media aren’t as rich; although they allow immediate feedback, they don’t provide visual nonverbal cues such as facial expressions, eye contact and body movements. Written media can be personalized through addressed memos, letters, and reports, but they lack the immediate feedback and the visual and vocal nonverbal cues that contribute to the meaning of the message. The leanest media are generally impersonal written messages such as bulletins, fliers, and standard reports. Not only do they lack the ability to transmit nonverbal cues and to give feedback, they also eliminate any personal focus.

To overcome media barriers, choose the richest media for no routine, complex message. Use rich media to extend and to humanize your presence throughout the organization, to communicate caring and personal interest to employees, and to gain employee commitment to organizational goals. Use leaner media to communicate simple, routine messages. You can send information such as statistics, facts, figures and conclusions through a note, memo or written report

8. Closed communication climate. Communication climate is influenced by management style, and a directive, authoritarian style blocks the free and open exchange of information that characterizes good communication.

To overcome climate barriers, spend more time listening than issuing orders.

9. Unethical Communication. An organization cannot create illegal or unethical messages and still be credible or successful in the long run. Relationships within and outside the organization depend or trust and fairness.

To overcome ethics barriers, make sure your messages include all the information that ought to be there. Make sure that information is adequate and relevant to the situation. And make sure your message is completely truthful, not deceptive in any way.

10. Inefficient Communication. Producing worthless messages wastes time and resources, and it contributes to the information overload already mentioned.

Reduce the number of messages by thinking twice before sending one. Then speed up the process, first, by preparing messages correctly the first time around and, second, by standardizing format and material when appropriate. Be clear about the writing assignments you accept as well as the ones you assign.

11. Physical distractions. Communication barriers are often physical: bad connections, poor acoustics, illegible copy. Although noise or this sort seems trivial, it can completely block an otherwise effective message. Your receiver might also be distracted by an uncomfortable chair, poor lighting, or some other irritating condition. In some cases, the barrier may be related to the receiver’s health. Hearing or visual impairment or even a headache can interfere with reception of a message. These annoyances don’t generally block communication entirely, but they may reduce the receiver’s concentration.

To overcome physical distractions, try to prepare well written documents which are clear, concise, and comprehensive. When preparing oral presentations try to find a setting which permits audience to see and hear the speaker clearly.

Putting up a business that creates and sells information products is not easy. You will need to consider all the aspects of your product from data collection to sales and management.

This article will serve as your guide as you walk you through all the essential processes of creating and selling these products. It will be helpful for you especially if you are doing things from scratch.

Classifying Your Information Product

The first decision that you have to make is to determine the type of product that you want to produce. There are various types of information products. Here is a list of the most popular information products available today. Just select one that would best suit your style or preference. You should also consider your funds and resources when deciding.

1. E-books
2. Video Trainings
3. Audio Trainings
4. Membership Sites
5. Live Trainings
6. CD and DVD Packages
7. Software

Increasing the Value of Your Information Product

The most essential aspect of your information product is its value to your clients or prospective customers. Your information product should meet the needs, requirements and desires of your target market. It should also be relevant and timely so that you can ensure long-term profits.

Here are ways on how you can increase the value of your information product. In your research, ask questions on how people would feel about your product. You can also inquire about the likely price they would pay for the product and the possible expectations that customers would draw upon purchase.

1. Forum Research – Forums are niche-oriented. This means that you will likely obtain information and opinions from people belonging to your target niche.
2. Social Media Research – Using social media, your research results would be diverse. However, you can use it especially if your target market is into social networking and online media.
3. Market Research – Doing this research would be the most effective for you. It is focused on your specific target market and it is asks detailed questions related to your product.
4. Survey Lists – Doing surveys works similar to market research. Online businesses today prefer to use this service since the information is easier to obtain with the help of a third-party surveyor.

Selecting Methods and Resources

Developing information products can be taxing especially if you do not have a systematic technique or method when organizing and collecting your information. Here are some of the common ways that you may want to use if you still do not have one in mind.

1. Organize information using the Brain Dump Technique. – This way works well especially if you already have knowledge on the topic. To make the process easier, you may have to rely on mind-mapping applications like Mindmanager or Freemind.
2. Hire or interview an expert or authority on the topic discussed. – Sometimes, the best resource is an expert or authority on the topic. Set up an interview with them to collect reliable information.
3. Discuss own knowledge on the subject matter. – This is the easiest method is you are an expert or an authority on the topic yourself.
4. Hire a ghostwriter who will write for you. – Most ghostwriters would do their own research. This will lessen your tasks on information gathering.

Do you think with the skill set you have and the digital tools that are available to you, you can rather work from home other than going to office, working 9-5? How about there being a balance between the two? Can working from home gradually become the norm?

In my opinion if you are an IT person, there should be some flexibility in working 9-5 regularly at the office. The authorities involved should seriously give it a thought. Almost everybody nowadays owns a laptop and having internet availability and digital tools in hand, they can work anytime in the comfort of their home rather than following a strict 9-5 schedule.

Although working from home is the modern approach, many IT firms still make it a point to work regularly in the office. So I think there can be some balance between the two options. For instance, working from home thrice a week and going to office twice a week would be a good schedule for work. I think productivity is more this way because the individual gets a lot of rest, sleep and home cooked food which gives them the ability to work efficiently with renewed vigor and energy.

The less the work pressure in the morning about getting dressed, setting for office by car through the traffic jam to be on time, the better the individual is going to feel. He gets more freedom, enjoys quality family time and also works comfortably from home this way.

The person can also, in a relaxed way, sign up for online courses and amplify his expertise if he does not have to spend all five days at the office. That way he achieves greater skill set which will be good for his company because the person is now in a better position to tackle harder and longer projects, beating all the odds.

A company does need skilled and competent employees. If by staying and working from home, employees can be of greater service, the company has nothing to lose but rather to gain a lot. There can be deadlines for projects in the usual way – the only difference is that the employees get their work done by spending more time at home, gotcha?

There can be meetings and presentations on the two office days that I have suggested earlier. So the employees are on track; they know how many milestones they have already covered and how many more they have to carry on.

There can be seminars, birthday celebrations, festive dinners and other get-together parties in the office in the usual way. None of these social networking has to stop. The only point I am making here is that the employees are happier and more comfortable in their shoes by getting some liberty, working more time from the luxury of their sweet homes.