Converting Files into Different Formats

Converting Files into Different Formats Jay Kybert       Converting files to different formats is useful for several applications. One of the most common reasons for converting a file is to compress it, whether an image, audio track, etc. Compression is a useful computer tool that reduces the space these files takes up, the easiest way to convert a file for the average user is to simply enter the new file extension. Users can activate an option that allows them to see the file extension (.txt, .JPG, etc.). By navigating to File Explorer Options, users can untick the option marked red in the image below, this allows the extension to be shown on known file types, and therefore manually altered if wanted. The results of compression entirely depend on the type of file being converted and what its being converted to. For example, converting a .PNG file (Lossless Compression) to a .JPEG (Lossy Compression) will save space by decreasing the file size of the image, but it will also decrease the overall image quality due to the different methods of compression. File sizes vary dramatically, saving in one format may make the image look more crisp, but at the expense of a lot of disk space. Although it could be the complete opposite, with poor quality but little disk space. Bitmaps, a type of image that uses arrays of different coloured pixels, are the most common and efficient type of image. Vector images use lines and equations to create simpler and less-detailed images. Because of this, they are typically smaller in file size, but lack detail. Once a bitmap image has been created and is about to be saved, the user needs to know what the purpose of the image is, whether to have a high quality, large image, or the opposite. Bitmap images do allow for users to control the amount of compression the file will undergo, typically in the form of a variety of file formats or advanced compression options. The JPEG file format is widely used due to its several layers of compression. The image can be slightly compressed, if the space is needed, all th e way to 10% of the original file size (at the expense of the images quality). The table below details some of the common bitmap file formats, and some information regarding them. The JPEG is one of the most common file formats used in storing images. It has a variety of compression options that use a specific algorithm to reduce the quality to whatever the user wants. Its compression algorithm is lossy, meaning that the compression does degrade the overall quality of the image by decreasing the number of colours, making certain shades the same colour, etc. These methods reduce the number of bits required to store the file. As mentioned previously, JPEG is a useful file format since the user decides how compressed the image is going to be. Therefore, depending on the users preference, the file can be a slightly larger than normal JPEG but it will provide a crisp image. A PNG file uses lossless compression to provide a clear image with some element of compression. It is very similar to GIF (Graphics Interchange Format), however it does not support animations. When using the screenshot feature on a computer, many operating systems choose to compress the image automatically, saving more space. However, the Macintosh OS and some versions of Linux save a .PNG which is almost the raw, uncompressed image, providing a clearer picture. Opposite to lossy compression, lossless compression doesnt affect the original quality of the image and still decreases file size; however, it doesnt save as much space as lossy does. It works by reading the data of the bitmap and rearranging it in a more efficient way. Once the file is reopened there is no change in quality, only the file size has changed. To show the difference in compression and file size, I downloaded a royalty-free image from a website. I chose to save it as a .PNG, the image on the left proves this. I then saved the same image as a .JPEG. The image on the right shows this. The PNG file is almost five times larger than the JPEG, this clearly shows the relationship between file size and image quality. The organisation of a computer system is completely pointless if the files arent named appropriately. Younger computer users may simply write a keyword that has relevance, for instance a string of lyrics for an .mp3 song. This relevance in naming allows users to easily find the file later. However, naming a file random numbers or letters if in a hurry makes it harder to search for in the future, especially if there are lots of files on the same system. The image below shows two of my files and how they are organised on the system. For similar reasons to naming files, folder structure is very important to many people who use computers regularly and store a variety of data. Folders give a structure to the disk that is storing the information. Many operating systems have folders even before the user creates their own, they are designed for organisation. The best example of this is Windows Downloads, Documents, Music, Pictures, and Videos. Even though there are no restrictions on allowing a user to place a document in the Video folder, it would be counter-intuitive to do so. With businesses, where lots of information is stored, a vast amount folders are needed to cater to the variety of information; otherwise it would be difficult finding a specific file amongst thousands of other files. Creating subfolders is useful for this. Below is an example of my personal folder structure for this course. Lossless compression, as mentioned previously, is a method of reducing file size without affecting the overall quality of the image. It rearranges the data for the image in a more efficient way, which reduces the file size slightly, but preserves all the original bitmap. Therefore, the image looks as good as the original picture and takes up a smaller amount of disk space. If wanted, the compressed image can be changed back into a raw format, with no decrease in quality but an increase in file size. Lossy compression works by removing less-important parts of the bitmap, this reduces the number of bits required to display the bitmap and therefore the file becomes smaller. The less-important parts of the image are usually similarly-looking shades of colour, or colours altogether. By using less-colours or removing certain parts of the bitmap, the image still looks like the original but with less detail, depending on the amount of lossy compression depends on the compressed quality. Thus, files that use lossy compression have a much smaller size, but also poorer quality. Video files, audio files, etc. can also be affected by lossy compression. Sources http://www.mediacollege.com/microsoft/windows/extension-change.html http://balunywa.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/jpeg-gif-or-png-images.html#.WLRhyDuLSUk http://www.picswalls.com/pic/beautiful-nature-wallpapers/ http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/lossless-and-lossy-compression

Essay on Informal and Formal Griencance Essay

This essay will explore the difference between formal and informal Grievance process, how it can be prevented and a sample of the authors own work of grievance investigation and conclusion As a shift Manager and part of my responsibilities to ensure that we have a harmonious working relationship between staff and management. For the purpose of this essay, I will cover the Grievance process, how it can be prevented and a sample of grievance proceedings that I handled. A grievance is generally any complaint that has been presented by an employee to a management representative about an aspect of the employee work, working conditions or relationships. They are usually set out to the employer, either verbally or in writing. However, it is important to note that grievance can be presented in many forms and it should always be dealt with to minimise the risk of employment tribunal claims and awards. As part of our company policy and in our contract of employment, the company has adopted a ‘Positive Work Environment, which states that the company is committed to create a harmonious working environment, which is free from harassment and bullying and in which every employee is treated with respect and dignity.’ We have three forms of communicating to all our employees the company’s stance on grievance related issues, which covers staff understanding of what is grievance, the consequences if a grievance case against fellow employee is proven and the reporting procedures. Firstly, we will discuss grievance to all employees through the employee induction process, in their written contract of employment, which is normally issued to the employee after successful three months probation. And finally through the company hand book, which every employee is issued a copy, signed for and advised to read and follow the company’s policies therein. In addition and under the employment act 2002 (Dispute resolution) Regulation 2004, it is the duty of the employer to detect whether a complaint from an employee amount to an informal grievance, and if it is, such complaint should be dealt with through the organisation or that company’s grievance process. The following are common issues that can easily lead to grievance: †¢ Bullying and Harassment  Ã¢â‚¬ ¢ Discrimination †¢ Poor Management Practice †¢ Inadequate training †¢ Poor communication †¢ Unfair treatment †¢ Unclear job roles †¢ Failure in providing equal opportunities †¢ Personalities, Values, Workload and Expectations †¢ Changes to accepted customs and practices Once the Management understands that the above possible causes can lead to employee grievance complaints, the initial method to prevent it from happening is to adopt it into the company continuous improvement programme, which must form part of the management daily working activities, since issues of grievance can come from all sectors of employees working activities. The secondary prevention measures are how noticeable grievance cases are dealt with appropriately and quickly. As a rule of thumb, the initial approach to deal with grievance is to try and resolve it informally if possible. As it is always the case, leaving or ignoring grievance to develop can often lead to an escalation of the problem, which can lead to Managers having to spend time on endless investigation, lose of good employee and expensive Employment Tribunal proceedings. There are also multiple symptoms that an employee with perceived grievance can exhibit, which in many cases can affect the productivity of the company. For example, an employee may take more time off or sick off from work, or not performed his or her work duties to the optimum, which in many cases is a result of stress or anxiety from work. An experienced Manager or Supervisor should be able to detect some of these signs, talk to the employee concerned and informally resolved the issue as soon as possible. In a situation whereby a Manager could not detect a grievance through the behaviour of one of his employees, but it is established that an employee complaint is a grievance, that Manager should tell that employee that his complaint is a grievance, and must also explained to him his right under the company’s grievance provision to raise or report that matter (instilling confidence). The employee should be assured that the matter will be investigated and dealt with and there will not be any retribution from the company for reporting that issue. As per the grievance procedure contained in the company handbook and under the employment act 2002 (Dispute resolution) Regulation 2004, the employee must put his case in writing, but if for some reason the employee is unable to do this, the Manager should make full notes of the grievance and ask him/her to sign it as being a true representation. Once the written notification or the signed grievance note is given to the employer, an immediate and formal investigation should ensued. The employer should invite the employee in writing to a meeting to discuss the issue. This is an investigatory meeting to review the complaint, and not to give value judgements or comments, and certainly not any form of decision. The investigative officer should have an open mind, as all the facts may not be available to him. He should not pre-empt the decisions that will later be made. The aim at this stage is to identify the grievance, and be clear about the matter so that the company can resolve the grievance.

Citizenship: How Big a Problem Is the Use of Child Labour Today Essay

Child labour is often seen only to occur in third world countries but this is not the case. Child labour occurs all over the world and the brutality and cruelty of this work varies. Although child labour is seen as a bad thing, for the children and families living in their poor conditions, child labour is seen as necessary for the family to live as it is an essential income. UNICEF estimates that around 150 million children aged 5-14 in developing countries, about 16 per cent of all children in this age group, are involved in child labour. Therefore child labour is still a big problem in our world today especially as some children are forced to work in dangerous, unhygienic, life threatening conditions. Not only does is it harmful to their physical body it also effects their education as some children drop out of education to work. Even though many organisations and charities attempt to stop child labour or at least make the conditions suitable for children, child labour is still seen as a big problem in the 20th century. The more children are forced to work, the fewer opportunities there are for adults to earn a living. By driving down adult wages and depriving children of education, child labour ensures that poverty will be passed down from generation to generation. If children are used as the only income for a family an employer can take advantage of this vulnerability and use it to make work as cheap as possible because the child will work for anything as long as he is providing some sort of income. Child labour is a problem because children work long hours, often exposed to hazardous chemicals and made to use dangerous tools and machinery that are inappropriate to their mental and physical development. In agriculture they use acid, dangerous pesticides without skin protection, so this chemical are able to touch the skin causing damage and severe health problems. An example of when employers use child labour because it is cheap is with Vinod’s story. Vinod is an Indian 10 year old boy who lived in the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh. Manufactures employed him because he was cheap and had small hands and nimble fingers which were perfect for the job of weaving carpets, which was where he worked for 2 years without receiving a single rupee for a year’s work. Vinod worked long hours and was exploited to working conditions which were unacceptable. By working these long hours he was made ill and being squashed and sat in uncomfortable positions he could have suffered from malformed bone structure. He did not attend school, so the chances of him gaining a better job in later life were highly unlikely. If Vinod made mistakes he was punished starkly. He had to use dangerous tools such as a sharp knife to turn the carpet knots but when cuts or wounds were made he was not medically treated from them. Instead the employer filled the wound with matchstick powder and burnt it. This cauterised the wound and stopped infections. Vinod’s right were violated and almost mocked by the employer. Children should be allowed to work in conditions which damage the mental and physical state, children should be allowed to live their childhood to the maximum not worrying about whether they will get beat or whether their families will suffer from their mistakes.

Pacific University GPA, SAT Scores and ACT Scores