Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Personality And Motivation Analyze A Personality

Personality and Motivation - Analyze a Personality I have chosen to write about myself. I am consistently trying to improve myself both personally and professionally. According to the test that we took previously for class on the Keirsey website, I am an INFJ. This stands for introverted, intuitive, feeling, and judging. Keirsey identifies INFJ’s as counselors. We care deeply about others and their feelings. Sometimes we often notice the feeling of others before they themselves were aware. We prefer independent work or very small groups as opposed to team work. This specific combination of amounts is only three percent overall and those around us may consider our personality to be unique. I have always felt unique but would have guessed†¦show more content†¦(Robbins, De Cenzo, Coulter, 2015) According to Furnham, Eracleous, and Chamorro-Premuzic, introverted individuals are motivated to avoid being punished (2009). I am able to relate to this because I am always afraid that I will not be able to meet my financial needs including being able to pay for housing transportation and clothing. One thing that helps me is that on several occasions I have had jobs that might have been a better fit for an extraverted personality. Introverted intuitives learn how to model extroverted behavior in order to succeed. (Nadel, 2008) This has allowed me to have jobs that might have been better performed by an extravert and to be successful. I think I was able to do this because I was motivated to do the job so that I would be able to meet my Physiological and Safety needs. Once I have a solid job, I am comfortable to seek belonging. Borg and Stranahan state that the intuitive and feeling type is, â€Å"on a never-ending search of self. The worst punishment for an NF is to be invisible-just one in a sea of faces in a large lecture class, for example.† (2002). Being introverted it is hard for me to make myself known and to get myself out there. I recently moved into a different department that has two managers, and the department I came from had more than ten. With so many managers it was hard to get any kind of recognition. Nadal states the following: It is essential that an introverted intuitive find a friend or ally withinShow MoreRelatedMgt 300 Module 2 Thinking Assignment1381 Words   |  6 PagesModule 2 CRITICAL THINKING ASSIGNMENT /CSU Personality and Motivation – Analyze a Personality Demonstrate your understanding of personality and motivation and your critical thinking and writing skills by synthesizing theories of personality and motivation as covered in your textbook readings this week. Include any theories you have discovered in your own personality and motivation research efforts. Base your response to this assignment on the personality of somebody with whom you have direct experienceRead MoreComplex Performance Related Tasks Are Ideal Essay1329 Words   |  6 PagesBadura, who recognized that cognitive learning is a key aspect that separates humans from other forms of life. This phenomenological approach analyzes the understanding and changing behavior in people, through observations, motivation, past experiences, and cognition. The following will give a further explanation of the phenomenological theory, and analyze three empirical studies, which focus on proximal and distal goal setting towards weight loss. Lastly, I will use the data from the empirical studiesRead MoreThe Myers Briggs Type Indicator Essay1002 Words   |  5 Pagesinterpersonal, and self-reported assessment instrument based on Jungian theories of personality types. This instrument measures personal differences in the psychological preferences of four domains. These domains include obtaining energy and motivation, processing information, making decisions, and interacting with surrounding people or situations (Aranda, Tilton, 2013). According to the MBTI in Human-metric personality test, my scores were 12% (E) extroverted thinking more than introverted, 57% (N)Read MoreThe Application of the Big Five Model In HR Practice1242 Words   |  5 Pagesand applies it into real business work place. Personality has a big influence on how an employee thinks, feels, and behaves when working. As employers or human resource managers, they can analyze employees’ behaviors and performance to distinguish the personality of them. Keywords: application, performance, recruitment, motivation. Introduction of the big five model. The Big Five model describes and categorizes different personalities into five different traits: Extraversion, NeuroticismRead MorePsychology : The Positive Psychology Movement1269 Words   |  6 Pagesmovement. Based on the text, positive psychology is one of the most important aspects in determining how to enhance the personality by helping individuals recognize their human potential to learn and achieve. In this assignment one will compare the view points of Maslow, Rogers, and the positive psychology movement concerning individual personality. Recent studies have shown that personality theory and assessment plays an important role in the new era of positive psychology. Positive psychology today, emphasizesRead More Maslow Essay1164 Words   |  5 PagesA second step is to set the team organization, in a way that each team member is in the position to deliver its maximum performance. To make this possible, a team leader has to understand the individuals’ and interpersonal dynamics of the team. Personality tests and concepts such as the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are two of the most used tools used by leaders to understand and manage these dynamics. Criteria to use when selecting a team member nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;AnRead MoreScholarly Empirical Articles On Leadership884 Words   |  4 PagesSynthesis Paper The objective of this paper is to analyze three scholarly empirical articles on Leadership. Generally Leadership is the ability to influence peoples toward their achievement of objectives. A number of papers have been written on various aspects of Leadership. The focus of this paper would show a synthesis of three scholarly works on the topic of Leadership. The first article to be analyzed is of â€Å"Impact of Personal Growth Projects on Leadership Identity Development† by Odom, BoydRead MorePersonality Profile Reflection Paper1743 Words   |  7 PagesOrganizational behavior studies human behavior and the impact individual attitudes and actions have on performance in the workplace. To provide a personal perspective of personality characteristics, the International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) assessment was used to measure aspects of my personality and how these traits relate to working with others and life within an organization. Key observations provide specific insi ght into how these are applied to workplace behavior and interactions withRead MoreScience Fiction Disaster Thriller Film, Directed By Michael Bay, Produced By Jerry Bruckheimer1418 Words   |  6 Pagesleadership, individual differences, and performance. In this paper, I will evaluate, analyze and present my own personal opinion over how Armageddon (1998) presented I/O constructs effectively. The first I/O-related construct that the film analyzed was the importance of individual differences. The film demonstrated the dissimilarities among the characters on set and their role that they had to portray, personality, interest, physical ability and cognitive ability affect the outcome. Having the properRead MoreThe Effects Of Faking On Personality Assessments992 Words   |  4 PagesPersonality assessments are a tool used frequently in organizations. However, the phenomena of faking on personality assessments is a relevant concern in the selection process. Research regarding faking on personality assessments have revealing that faking and the distortion of responses does occur. In addition, research has been conducted to determine how to detect when faking occurs on a personality assessment. Furthermore, research has been conducted showing the individual characteristics does

Monday, December 23, 2019

Plato s Republic A Political Leader Is The Greatest Way...

In book one of Plato’s Republic, Socrates states that â€Å"no one, in any position of rule, to the extent that he is a ruler, considers or enjoins what is advantageous for himself, but what is advantageous for his subject - that on which he practices his craft.† According to Plato, treating political rule as a craft with master craftsmen in power is the greatest way have a successful political rule. This idea is pessimistic when viewed in terms of a democratic society, as a true democracy places a value on the ability of everyone to exercise political authority either through voting or being elected into a political office. Socrates believes that democracy is inherently flawed because it gives a political voice to those who lack experience in political craft. Though Plato’s ideas on who should be a political leader are not favorable in democratic society, his argument is rather convincing. Plato compares the craft of politics to the craft of medicine in book on e. When someone is ill, they go to a doctor, not a baker for example. Plato argues that politics is much the same in that someone who is able to successfully run a government must have studied politics and fit the role of a philosopher king. When the ruler or rulers of a society do not meet this requirement, corruption is bound to occur. Plato states that â€Å"excessive action in one direction usually sets up a great reaction in the opposite direction †¦ for extreme freedom probably cannot lead to anything but a change toShow MoreRelatedPopulist Leadership, Modern Tyranny1421 Words   |  6 Pagesa modern tyranny, taking book IX as a reference for the similarity of certain features among a populist leader today, with the tyrant of yesterday described by Plato. According to Socrates the democratic man arose from the oligarchic father when he dared to place in the same rank the necessary and unnecessary desires enjoying them in moderation. In Book IX of the treatise of Plato s Republic, Socrates argues his disciple Adeimantus as the Democratic son of a man becomes a tyrant when he lets himselfRead More Role Model of the West Essay1539 Words   |  7 Pagesyears, Western Civilization has flourished and become very dominate with stable and powerful nations. Reasons why the Western Civilization have become such great nations has been much attributed to the great role model, ancient Greeks for their many contributions, such as architecture, fine arts, education, philosophy, and mostly for their form of democracy and ways of government. The architecture and fine arts in ancient Greece had proved to be beyond its time. The Greeks talent for architectureRead MoreIdi Amin Dada: Authoritarian Leadership2341 Words   |  10 PagesAuthoritarian style governments come in different forms and apply varying amounts of violence when enforcing their rule. People who live in democratic style governments often do not understand why people accept living in an authoritarian state, forgetting that in fact the authoritarian form of government is the oldest form of government on earth. A dictatorship government is one type of authoritarian government that gains world attention most notably by the extreme violence used to control theirRead MoreQuestioning Male s And Female s Reasoning Towards Their Particular Career Choice3153 Words   |  13 PagesChichi Emenike LBST4800 4.23.2015 After analyzing and questioning male s and female s reasoning towards their particular career choice, I realize that there was a certain pattern towards gender and career. Most male pursued what society depict as a masculine occupation such as doctors, architects, or technology based jobs. Meanwhile, most women pursed what society depict as a feminine occupations such as teachers, secretaries, assistance or nursing. The most shocking discovery is when men pursuedRead MoreReligion And Its Role Within Societies 600 B.c11006 Words   |  45 PagesReligion and its role in societies 600 B.C.E. - 600 C.E. Codifications and further developments of existing religious traditions provided a bond among the people and an ethical code to live by. Religion has been a dominant cultural, ethical, and political force throughout human history, both recent and ancient. Religion has been science and asylum for many generations of very many people, uniting them in their common faith. Temples were built for people to pray and perform sacrifice in, giving theRead MoreAre Leaders Made or Born: a Critique of Great Manand Trait Theories4094 Words   |  17 PagesARE LEADERS BORN OR MADE: A critique of Great Man and Trait theories. Assignment prepared by Philip Barry 387169 August 08 Introduction Leadership continues to be one of the most debated and studied topics in management and indeed society as a whole. This can be evidenced by the fact that if you search for leadership on Goggle 175,000,000 worldwide hits are recorded. Success in many arenas, whether it be business, the military, politics or the wider community is often primarilyRead MoreProceedings Of The Second Conference On Human Capital Development9482 Words   |  38 Pagespersons whom I understand have the appropriate credentials and competences in the field of management will take us to a higher level and mold our behavior better than we were before the workshop. In this address, I will attempt to provide brief definitions, look at basic theories, furnish some explanations and proffer recommendations. Definitions and concepts of ‘self’ and ‘self-development: From the time of Plato to present, philosophers, sociologists and psychologists have posited different conceptsRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesfinancial crisis and economic recession have challenged some assumptions about globalization and economic integration, but they have also underscored the interconnected nature of global economies. Most countries and regions around the world are inextricably linked, yet profound differences in institutional and cultural environments persist. The challenges for international management reflect this dynamism and the increasing unpredictability of global economic and political events. Continued growth of theRead MoreTheories of Organizational Behavior10512 Words   |  43 Pagesintimacy, occasions in which compassion comes to fruition? Or are our ideas of organization incapable of being emancipated from the impetuous calls of efficiency and subordination? What place is there today for ‘ultimate values’ like dignity or happiness? Have these all-too-human dreams been made impossible in the disorganization of global capital? When organizations get busy organizing each other, how then are we to think of ‘belonging’? And how can we stop tradition from being the Other of modernizationRead MoreA Pay Model and Defining Internal Alignment9320 Words   |  38 PagesMedtronic’s. AES generates and markets electricity around the world. Its goal is to provide electricity worldwide in a socially responsible way. The notion of social responsibility pervades the company. Fairness is a fundamental objective of pay systems. In Medtronic s objectives, fair-.ness means â€Å"ensure fair treatment and be open and understandable..AES s mission statement acknowledges, Defining what is fair is often difficult, but we believe it is helpful to routinely question the relative

Sunday, December 15, 2019

A book of Prefaces Free Essays

Richard Wright’s novel â€Å"Black boy† is a â€Å"Coming of age† novel recording the childhood of the narrator Richard Wright in 1945. He tells his story about being an African- American, from his early childhood to his being an adult at 29 years old. Richard Wright tells his story in the first person occasionally thinking seriously about how the other people in the novel think or feel, leading to the reader to think that the narrator may be a real historical figure. We will write a custom essay sample on A book of Prefaces or any similar topic only for you Order Now Set in 1912-1937, primarily Jackson, Mississippi; West Helena, Richard Wright demonstrates the individualism, and intelligence he must hide because of his being a black man in the Jim Crow South. Richard Wright struggles as a black boy for acceptance and humane treatment. He graduates public school and enters the workforce where he is beaten up and terrorized by local racist whites. Richard struggles stubbornly to get out and make something of himself outside of the Jim Crow South. Obsessed with writing and reading, he wants to become a writer after reading â€Å"H. L. Mencken’s â€Å"A book of Prefaces. † I find the character dynamic as he demonstrates a kind of great role model for someone who is or was oppressed. He admires Jean-Pierre Sartre, and becomes a existential philosopher believer, believing life is only meaningful when we struggle to make it so. [At the age of twelve, before I had had one full year of formal schooling, I had†¦a conviction that the meaning of living came only when one was struggling to wring a meaning out of meaningless suffering. At the age of twelve I had an attitude toward life that was to†¦. make me skeptical of everything while seeking everything; tolerant of all and yet critical and could only keep alive in me the enthralling sense of wonder and awe in the face of the drama Order#31115029 Black Boy by Richard Wright Pg. 2 of human feeling which is hidden by the external drama of life;† end of chapter 3]. I admire the character of Richard when he leaves the South at nineteen for Chicago to find what he thinks is a much better, dignified life. In this the author exercise’s his ambition as well as his talent as a writer. I believe Richard Wright understood the importance of writing about his experiences we see this when he writes about the hardships of racism as a black youth in the South and when he records his experiences through his writing. He enters the Communist Party and W. P. A. programs to find something more meaningful and comes into contact with his fellow serious writers to to write individual ideals about life he thinks are important as a living in a commune. He judges people from his experience and thinks the fundamental problems of social existence is a lack of â€Å"human unity,† not the need physical food or survival. I believe he wants his fellow African Americans to know their identity and come together as a powerful union to combat prejudice. [My life as a Negro In America had led me to feel†¦. that the problem of human unity was more important than bread, more important than physical living itself, for I felt that without a common bond uniting men†¦. There could be no living worthy of being called a human; beginning of Chapter 18]. Sadly Richard is thrown out from the Communist party after he has a new vision. I understand his thoughts about life is general and is an endless swirl of pain and suffering, believes the exciting experiences in life are the attempts to make order and form from chaos. It is what he thinks about his own writing, ideas, and art. I believe he hoped to accomplish in writing â€Å"Black boy† more than a reorder of his own past to understand himself, but he was also trying to understand his readers as well. [I would make his life more intelligible to others than it was to himself. I would reclaim his disordered days and cast them into form that people could grasp, see, understand, and accept,† Chapt 19]. -Works Cited- Black Boy by Richard Wright (1945): Benet’s Reader’s Encyclopedia Fourth Edition Edited by Bruce Murphy; 1996. Sparknotes: Black boy: Themes, motifs, symbols WWW. Sparknotes. com/lit/ blackboy/themes. html How to cite A book of Prefaces, Papers

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Business Ethics for International Satellite Images -myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theBusiness Ethics for International Satellite Images. Answer: Problem statement and background information The current topic addresses the ethical challenges faced within in the context of meeting up with the actual dates of the product delivery. In this context, USA based International Satellite Images (ISI) has been taken into consideration. The ISI had been building a satellite for producing high definition satellite images of the world at a resolution of one meter. However, the subcontractor had a problem in the development of a thermal stabilizer for the instrument. It was found later that to fix the problem there could be a delay amounting to 18 months. This further resulted in an ethical challenge in front of the organization regrading the launch dates of the satellite to be out into the proposal. However, Jim the vice president was advised by his boss to the maintain the original launch dates in his proposal knowing that they would not be able to conduct the launch on time. This further resulted in the development of an ethical concern for the organization. Concepts and overview of the business process There are a number of overlapping concerns in the business execution of the technology and imagery companies and organizations. In this respect, an organization revising its launch dates would result in stalling or termination of much of international negotiations. As commented by Chell et al. (2016), meeting up with the ethical concerns would mean that the company has less chances of gaining a competitive advantage over other organizations. Additionally, the sponsors were achieved from venture capitalists, which relied upon advance contract acquisition. Therefore, the company losing out on the launch dates of the could be pulled down from the sponsored lists (Hartman, DesJardins, MacDonald, 2016). Application of Theories The present scenario could be evaluated further with the help of the Golemans theory of moral development. As mentioned by Corvol et al. (2016), the different leadership styles present within an organization often result in the development of conflicting situations. Most often the conflict within the commanding, pacesetting leadership styles with the visionary attributed possessed by an employees can hamper the organizational culture and the productivity enhancement (Graf et al. 2007). Conclusion and recommendations In this context, a number of ethical recommendations could be suggested over here such as the balancing of the business ethics by mutual agreement within the organization. The present situation of distress in ISI could have been handled by advance planning and transparent mention of the charters within the proposal. This helps in gaining a competitive advantage by pulling off much of the capital requisites from the venturists. References Chell, E., Spence, L. J., Perrini, F., Harris, J. D. (2016). Social entrepreneurship and business ethics: does social equal ethical?.Journal of Business Ethics,133(4), 619-625. Corvol, A., Moutel, G., Somme, D. (2016). What ethics for case managers? Literature review and discussion. business Ethics, 23(7), 729-742. doi:10.1177/0969733015583182 Graf, C., Wager, E., Bowman, A., Fiack, S., Scott-Lichter, D., Robinson, A. (2007). Best Practice Guidelines on Publication Ethics: a Publishers Perspective.International Journal of Clinical Practice. Supplement,61(Suppl 152), 126. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-1241.2006.01230.x Hartman, L. P., DesJardins, J. R., MacDonald, C. (2014).Business ethics: Decision making for personal integrity and social responsibility. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Friday, November 29, 2019

The God of Small Things Review Essay Example

The God of Small Things Review Paper Essay on The God of Small Things This is a novel about how change is capable to destroy a persons life. About how one tragedy pulls the other. About how one drives the convention even more. This is not a novel about spiritual India, and the cruel, merciless Author honest, the most outspoken. At the center of the family, which takes a high position in society. They boast English roots that in India some time very honorable. But heres the problem the family disgrace, the daughter refuses to behave according to the rules, a disgrace to the family, walking away from her husband, who she does not like, and loving boy from a lower caste, because of what is expelled from the family All. it affects children rebellious, brother and sister, twins, dependents who have to live in the house of their uncle and grandmother, and a lack of family love. Here on behalf of the sisters and the narration is conducted. To learn how to race dominates a person does not allow him to experience maximum happiness, runs down the wrong path. As a man, even as an adult, can not get rid of sad memories, and they overshadow his life, even if hes changed, moved away from home We will write a custom essay sample on The God of Small Things Review specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The God of Small Things Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The God of Small Things Review specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer My brother in childhood experienced childhood abuse Hindu a lower caste, who was jealous of the little boy, the boy has pocket money on soda pop, and he, the adult, is forced to work for peanuts, the most soda sold. In addition, the low desires of the flesh are pushing an invalid. And where is God in this time? Not whether a person is a mistake of God? The boy has since become increasingly withdraw into themselves and stopped talking. And it is worth mother to accompany the boy and everything would be fine. Or do not go to the movies fatal event for the brother and sister began and the death of their cousin, who wanted them to ride on the river, and when the boat capsized, drowning Now when children are quite grown, the family once again converge together. Even the ocean can not break the bond between the twins, who seemed eternally joined with strong thread The novel is very interesting style, modern, elegant, with elements of impressionism. Another interesting form of: if the particles of the puzzle that are mixed and only added to the end of It is heavy work for the soul, but it is easy to read, and very beautifully written.. My mother refused to read, barely reached the sad details, but I like that. Yes, and very useful: you can learn about the life of India from the inside, I had the impression that I live birth in India as the main character. All the subtleties of themselves fit in the head Arundhati Roy -. Now one of my favorite writers. I would love something else to read it, but nothing like it is not output, and very sorry. And with this novel an opportunity to read through Booker prestigious award, which is not infrequently became awarded to nationals of India, I think, deservedly so, and Arundhati Roy is an example. This book is something or a bit like the movie Slumdog Millionaire, although the author has not supplied the novel a happy ending. Tarpaulin microcosm already is gone. White termites on their way to work. white ladybirds on his way home. white beetles burrowing into the ground from the light. white grasshoppers with violins white wood. white sorrowfully th music. As had happened . Cover that in the photo, it is very unfortunate. I have a book with a different cover.

Monday, November 25, 2019

When Ethan Frome lost control of his life, from Edith Whartons novel

When Ethan Frome lost control of his life, from Edith Whartons novel I believe Ethan Frome lost control of his life when his mother died.After his mother's funeral, Ethan did not want to be left alone on the farm,so he asked Zeena to stay with him. At first, Ethan enjoys her company.However, Zeena soon becomes a nuisance to Ethan, and prevents him frombecoming an engineer in a large city. After being married a year, Zeenabecomes sick herself, and the only time she talks to Ethan is to complain orshow her discontent.After Mattie comes to the farm, Ethan does not love Zeena at all. Hethinks the only pleasure she has left is to inflict pain on him. Since Zeenais a burden on Ethan, he naturally wants to improve his life. The reason hedoes not have control of his life is because he is married to Zeena, and heis not brave enough to go away with Mattie.English: Ethan HigbeeThe reason he is married to Zeenais because his mother died. Since Zeena is why Ethan does not have control ofhis life, and Ethan married her because his mother died, the point in timewhen Ethan lost control of his life is when his mother died.I believe Ethan could have changed the direction of his life if he hadgone away from the farm to marry Mattie. The reason he did not have controlof his life was because he was married to Zeena. If he would have marriedMattie and left Zeena, he would not have been in the sled accident, andconsequently, he would have lived a much happier life with Mattie.The second way Ethan could have changed the direction of his life is ifhe would have sold the farm and never have married Zeena. This would havesaved him many years of problems and unhappiness. He would never have metMattie, which means he would never have injured himself in the sled accident.If he would have lived in another town besides Starkfield, he might have beenan engineer and married a woman who would treat him better than Zeena everdid.

Friday, November 22, 2019

CRITICAL THINKINKG Annotated Bibliography Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

CRITICAL THINKINKG - Annotated Bibliography Example From the survey, only 505 boys and 390 girls had the acceptable levels of fat content in their skins. The research measured the fat content in three major skinfolds which were the triceps, abdominal fat and subscapular fat. The research indicates that 14.3% of all boys examined were centrally obese, whereas 18.2% fell in the same criterion. The research which largely centers on BMI of children indicates that childhood obesity is a central cause of adulthood obesity. Rawlins, E, Baker, G, Maynard, M, & Harding, S 2013, Perceptions of healthy eating and physical activity in an ethnically diverse sample of young children and their parents: the DEAL prevention of obesity study, Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics, 26, 2, pp. 132-144 This research focuses on obesity among children between the ages of 8 and 13 years. The research assesses the dietary intakes of 70 children, 31 male and 39 female. The research equally compared the results from the survey to the interviews of 43 parents, 34 of whom were mothers and the remaining 9 were single or divorced fathers. Rawlins et al (2013), show that the lack of education on healthy living in the school curriculum, in the UK and the rest of the world, is the core cause of morbid and central obesity among students. However, the research also focused on ethic and cultural education or dietary preference and the linkage between ethnicity and obesity among students in the United Kingdom. In addition to ethnicity, social-economic backgrounds were a variable used in the research. The paper concludes that diversity in most cultural frameworks shaped the lifestyle of children in various schools due to the peer influence. In the UK, as Penn and Kerr (2014) present, 30% of all children aged 2-25 years are obese. The paper further indicated that obesity in early childhood translated in increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer later in life.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Obtaining a future career as a Veterinary Technician can open so many Research Paper

Obtaining a future career as a Veterinary Technician can open so many opportunities - Research Paper Example Although many specialize in either small or big animal care, some can work in a mixed environment where they care for small pets and for bigger nondomestic animals (Deobrah, (n.d)). Although this work can be demanding both physically and emotionally, and although working with animals is sometimes dangerous, the future of the Veterinary Technician career is promising. People who love animals happen to derive a great deal of satisfaction from this job. Owing to the fact that the tendency to love and keep pets is generally increasing in the world, employment in Veterinary Technician career is expected to grow at a much higher rate than the average (NAVTA, 2002). With the increase in establishment of Zoos and Aquariums, job opportunities are expected to increase and the demand for Veterinary Technician is expected to rise. All this notwithstanding, engagement in Veterinary Technician career, is set to open so many opportunities in the future. With the growth in technology related to all facets of life, research work has become more and more relevant in the modern society. In the future, Veterinary Technician career is going to venture more and more into research work, working in research facilities, where the technicians prepare samples for laboratory tests, offers medications to animals and record histories of the animals, regarding their health, weight, diet, genealogy and clinical medication history (Veterinary Technician, 2006). Most significant is the role of the Veterinary Technician in contributing not only to animal heath but also to human health. Veterinary Technician works closely with other medical experts in the research fields, to come up with new inventions that can help improve not only the medical conditions of animals but even that of humans (Veterinary Technician, 2006). While working under laboratory test such as

Monday, November 18, 2019

Land Law - Dimensions of land Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Land Law - Dimensions of land - Essay Example The corporeal and noncorporeal components are known as realty to distinguish it from personalty. The latter being personal or movable property (Gray & Gray 2007). Thus in the eyes of law land is a multidimensional asset as discussed below. The first two dimensions of land: it is a two dimensional piece of earth with defining contours, features and limits of jurisdiction. Which is recognised by the registrars, conveyancers, surveyors and ramblers. However this definition too does not takes into account the low water mark area in the coastline. The three mile territorial area including water constitute land. However , even outside this three mile limit the channel tunnel subsoil upto the middle of English channel is called land (Channel tunnel act 1987). Thus land includes land covered with water as well (Gray & Gray 2007). 4-5The third dimension of land: A Latin maxim says that the one who owns land owns the heaven above it and the earth deep down to the centre. It certainly indicated three-dimensional nature of land but lacks practical wisdom. The indefinite extension of territory of land would mean an airplane passing over it causes trespass. Still some three-dimensional characteristics is to be accepted for land in statutory definition. A land can be held above surface and may be divided horizontally. Thus different owners can hold the titles of the land each holding a stratum of cubic surface above or below the surface layer of the earth (Gray & Gray 2007). The components of these three dimensions are (Wilkie 2006; Gray & Gray 2007; Dixon 2005): The word 'hereditament' in law means nature of right involved in ownership of land. land law is all about-not just the land (the soil, the grass, the trees, the buildings), but the rights that people may have in land. Thus, land is to be reclassified as including corporeal and incorporeal hereditaments. Ownership of land may equally include ownership of a house and ownership of a right of way over someone else's house (an incorporeal hereditament). The land law may be viewed from corporeal and incorporeal rights or by distinction between fixtures and chattels. The fee simple owner's right of air space: The owner's rights extend to such a height as is reasonably necessary for the ordinary use and enjoyment of the land. In Baron Bernstein of Leigh v Skyviews and General Ltd [1978] QB 479, Griffith J stated that it was necessary to balance the rights of an owner to enjoy the land against the rights of the general public to take advantage of all that 'science now offers in the use of airspace'. Where there is an interference with the legitimate rights of the fee simple

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Changes in Holography

Changes in Holography 001 Looking Back, Moving Forward How was 2004 for you? For the industry as a whole, reviewing the developments that we covered last year in Holography News, we can conclude that it was a good year for most, with many positive developments that set the scene for 2005 and beyond, but with sufficient clouds on the horizon to prevent any complacency. In terms of markets, in the high security arena the growth of holograms on banknotes continues apace (see page 3) and this will continue to be key market notwithstanding the recent news that the new $100 and other denominations will not, in all likelihood, include a holographic feature. In other high security markets, passports took something of a back seat, for holograms at least not because of technology concerns but because of the current pre-occupation with biometrics. But elsewhere in document protection, AAMVAs specification of holograms on all US driving licences was a significant boost for the industry, while the tax stamp market continues provide significant high volume opportunities for suppliers. There were few major developments in brand protection although the use of holograms as the prime authentication feature on a new labelling program for pharmaceutical products in Malaysia, and the Olympics 2004 merchandising program demonstrated the continuing success of hologram s in these areas. On the downside, the FDAs controversial decision to adopt RFID-based track and trace as the solution to product safety and supply chain management for pharmaceuticals in the US could have unwelcome consequences for the industry should drug regulatory authorities elsewhere in the world follow its example. In packaging, meanwhile, as the Stock watch article in this issue (see page 6) points out, it is barely possible to go out nowadays without seeing holography embellishing shop shelves on all manner of goods from luxury high end to everyday items. Innovation and Development On the technology front, holography continued to demonstrate its inherent capacity for innovation and development. The integration of holograms with other technologies for enhanced security and functionality continued apace examples including Schreiners KeySecure technology, Securiketts Authentikett labels, combined hologram/DNA/RFID labels from ADNAS and Holomex and enhancements to teas scribos Holospot system (see page 8) to name but a few. In the banknote market, De La Rue, Louisenthal and Kurz all launched new security features during 2004 based on combinations of substrate, thread and foil technology. In terms of production, Newmec and Gidue both entered the market with foil applications systems, General Vacuum launched its new compact metalliser while Spatial Imagings new Lightspeed digital hologram printer marked the beginning of new era in large format hologram origination. Aside from the developments in the ‘conventional market for authentication and decorative devices, holography is also beginning to demonstrate its potential for use as a tool as well as a feature. Examples of this potential include Smart Holograms development of reflection holograms as medical diagnostic devices and holographic data storage systems from Optware. Publicly-listed companies were covered in detail in the December issue of Holography News. But there was news from many other qua rters as well, including the expansion plans announced by ABNH, ITW Covid, AFC and Holoshape, and AET Films move into wide embossing on the packaging front. Louisenthal, a major player in the banknote industry, revealed that it now offers full-scale hologram production, including origination, while its former strategic partner in foils, Hueck Folien, joined the ranks of banknote suppliers with its first order for stripes for the Thai currency, signalling a potentially significant new entrant to the market. Its arrival was partially offset by AOTs decision to abandon banknote foils, while the bankruptcy of another high security supplier, Mantegazza, was staved off by its acquisition by Italian security papermaker Fabriano. Outside of the traditional industry centres of Western Europe and North America, the Far East, India and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries continue to play an increasingly important role not just as markets for western companies but as major centres of developm ent in their own right. Russia, a hotbed of scientific innovation, held its first regional conference this year; the commitment amongst Indian companies to quality and industry standards is an inspiration to us all, while all eyes are currently on China, the location for the 2005 Holo-pack†¢Holo-print which will provide the first opportunity for many western hologram companies to witness the strength and scope of this massive market. 2004s Downside So much for the positive. On the downside, RFID continues to position itself, and be viewed in some quarters, as the ‘silver bullet antidote to counterfeiting and diversion, new technologies such as Nanoventions claim their superiority over diffractive features and high quality counterfeit holograms have been discovered on currency notably the euro. The latter, in particular, is leading to a perceptible sense of disenchantment with holograms in terms of their claimed security benefits, technology proliferation and lax standard s amongst suppliers. This topic has been covered exhaustively in recent issues of Holography News and was one of the main topics for discussion at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague, a positive outcome of which was the openness of debate and willingness amongst industry participants to work collectively to address the real issues that are causing concern and counter the misperceptions behind them. All in all, not a bad year for the industry. Provided the concerns leading to disenchantment in some sectors continues to be recognised and addressed with appropriate measures, and provided hologram companies continue to invest in the new products and techniques that form the lifeblood and future of this industry, 2005 could be even better. 002 A Watershed Year for the IHMA In his Chairmans report to the Annual General Meeting of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association, Hugues Souparis identified the launch of the Secure Hologram Producer Certification Scheme as a watershed for the Association (se HN Vol 18 No 3). This Scheme, run in co-operation with Intergraf, should make a significant contribution to improving procedures in the secure hologram field, and help to raise customer awareness of the need to source secure holograms from a qualified secure producer. Souparis company, Hologram Industries, was the first to be certified, but several others have now applied. Another important development during the year had been the negotiations with the Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI), aimed at building a strong relationship between the two associations and serving as a model for the IHMAs relationship with other regional or national hologram associations. An important part of the planned relationship was that the IHMAs Hologram Image Register and HoMAIs Hologram Registry would be linked so that all searches for a hologram match on either database would cover both databases, improving the likelihood of identifying matches which resulted from attempts to source illicit copies of a hologram already in use. He reported that Despite the news that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing is casting its net wider for security features (see page 1), banknotes continue to be a good market for the holography industry. A number of new banknotes have been introduced during 2004, including two major currencies the new Canadian dollar series which features a stripe and the two higher denominations of the newly-designed Japanese yen, each with a patch. Kurz was the supplier for both, the latter understood to be the largest single hologram order for banknotes in the industry. Other currencies that have introduced holograms to all or most of their the Board was in discussion with the China AntiCounterfeiting Technology As sociation (CATA) with a view to CATA establishing a hologram section, and that the IHMA was also in preliminary discussions with Russian producers interested in an industry organisation there. Souparis also reminded members of IHMAs links with Interpol and other international and national police organisations, saying that he hoped to build on these contacts in the coming year. New Board Members In the elections at the AGM, Souparis was re-elected Chairman a post he can hold for another two years. Wilfried Schipper (Hologram Company Rako) was elected as the European representative on the Board, with Alkis Lembessis (Cavomit and Taurus) as his deputy; Umendra Gupta (Holostik India) was re-elected as Asian representative, with Khalid Khanani (Metatex) as deputy. Randy James (Pacific Holographics) was elected as deputy North American representative and since the AGM the Board has co-opted John Halotek (ITW Covid) as the North American representative, there being no accepted nomination at the meeting. Alex Goncharsky (Computer Holography Centre, Moscow) and Ken Traub (ABNH) remain on the board for a second and fourth year respectively. Spreading the Word In addition to the objectives above, a key task for the IHMA in 2005 and thereafter will be to promote the positive benefits of holograms, particularly as authentication devices, as a counter to disenchantment with the technology in certain quarters, notably some parts of the high security sector. A proactive PR campaign, a greater presence at industry conferences, an improved website as a communications tool both for members and users, and a drive to increase the membership and the visibility of the IHMA are all currently underway. The hologram industry is one of the few in the authentication sector to have its own association and the IHMA is committed to building on this position and the strengths that a collective voice can provide for hologram companies. Contact: www.IHMA.org. 003 General Vacuums New Compact Metalliser (Pg # 5) General Vacuum, manufacturer of vacuum metallising equipment, unveiled further details of its new compact Holosecâ„ ¢ metalliser (see HN Vol 18 No 2) at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague. Vacuum metallisers have until now been supplied with production widths of 800-3000m, limiting their use both financially and for production purposes among small and narrow-web hologram producers and forcing these to buy in their film and foil pre-metallised from wide web suppliers. The Holosec was designed to fill this niche and enable narrow-web producers to bring metallising in-house, thereby increasing their security of production and enabling them to take advantage of the specialised treatments the system offers. The Holosec combines the vacuum chamber, unwind and rewind units, plasma pre-treatment, demetallization and evaporation source within one compact unit with a footprint of 2m x 3m. In addition to the conventional aluminium used for holographic films and foils, it can coat silicon oxide, chrome, silver and copper and zinc sulphide for high refractive index films. It also offers pattern demetallisation with in-line registration and plasma pre-treatment that enhances the sur face energy of the films to improve adhesion and hence quality. The run rate varies from 10m to a maximum of 200m per minute. General Vacuum, formerly Valmet and now part of the Bobst Group, declined to give prices for the Holosec, stating that these depend on specification. But it can assumed that they will be considerably lower than the prices for wide web systems. When questioned at Holopack.†¢ Holo-print about the risks of spreading low-cost secure hologram production technology in the market, Dr Nadir Ahmed, who gave the presentation on behalf of his former company, commented that the company would check the legitimacy of customers before supply. To date, two machines have been sold with other orders in the pipeline for early 2005. Contact: Andy Jack, General Vacuum Equipment. Tel: +44 1706 622442; [emailprotected] 004 Menzel Vision System for Web Guiding Menzel, a German company specialising in machinery for finishing and inspection machines for textiles, expanded into similar equipment for the plastic films industry in the late 1960s, and at Holopack†¢ Holo-print exhibited a machine vision system for control of web handling machines for holographic films. The system keeps web lines in register to improve the accuracy and quality of slitting, winding/re-winding, stamping and other hologram finishing processes. Based on the companys experience building textile and film web guiding systems, the hologram guiding system can be set to read the edge of the hologram film or a specific part of the pattern in the hologram the camera scans across the width of the film to record the edge position, the registration mark position or the position of a specified image element. Once programmed, it feeds the image data to a sensor and a controller, which in turn adjusts the web guides to maintain the position of the web. The Menzel vision system for holographic film costs around â‚ ¬17- 20,000, depending on the configuration required. Contact: www.menzel.net. 005 Optical Document Security The third edition of the reference book Optical Document Security is now available from publishers Artech House. Written by Rudolf van Renesse, an expert in the field and editor and co-author of the two previous editions (published in 1994 and 1998 respectively), the book provides a comprehensive and cohesive treatment of all aspects of optical document security, according to its publishers. The books contents have been substantially updated and revised from the previous edition, and expanded to include coverage of additional security features and evaluation. The introduction on the theory of colours is followed by chapters on light interference and diffraction, substrate-based security, printing inks and printing techniques, printed security patterns (including screen decoded images and digital watermarks), diffractive- and interference-based security features, security design and evaluation and an introduction to biometrics. The emphasis is on both the physics of security features and their value in resisting counterfeiting, while the chapter evaluating security design looks at the human factors of first line document inspection. The books 350 pages contain over 270 black and white illustrations, including live security documents, and an appendix with samples of important security features. In addition, a CD-ROM is included which contains all illustrations of the book in full-colour. Author Rudolf van Renesse was senior research engineer in the Optics Department of TNO Institute of Applied Physics in The Netherlands and is now an independent consultant on document security for government departments and banking and financial institutions. He has extensive experience in the areas of holography, optical inspection techniques, and the theory of colors and document security, and is the author of more than 80 publications in these areas, as well as a contributor to Holography News and its sister publications Authentication News and Currency News. Optical Document Security is available at the discounted price  £72/$118 from Artech House www.artech-house.com 006 Display Holography on the Rise Photopolymer is making progress winning projects that perhaps embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply We feel for Nick Hardy and Valerie Love of OpGraphics, the British company that has listed its DuPont photopolymer hologram production equipment for sale on eBay. Op has been producing display holograms for the gift and promotional trade since 1983, originally on Agfa silver halide films, then in the 1990s Nick Hardy started working with DuPonts holographic photopolymer, partly because Agfa ceased production of its holographic films, partly because the photopolymer reflection holograms had lower noise and were more light efficient. Unfortunately, when DuPont Authentication Systems was established as a joint venture with Label Systems Inc, the company decided to restrict the distribution of its unexposed photopolymer film to authorised security hologram producers. Op were among the hologram producers which were given notice of a cessation of supply. They tried to fight this under competition law in the UK, but despite their significant investment in DuPonts production equipment and the time to perfect their processes, this was to no avail. The result: holographic production kit being offered on eBay. The Year of Photopolymer? The timing could not be more poignant as there appears to be an upsurge of interest in photopolymer holograms could 2005 be the year of photopolymer? The year has started well for DAS with NASCARs announcement of its licensed product authentication label, a numbered photopolymer reflection hologram (see page 4). To date, the North American sports licensing authentication projects have been dominated by embossed holograms. NASCAR (the most popular motor sport organisation in North America) may not rival the big national sporting leagues in popularity, but big race meetings such as Daytona and Indianapolis attract large crowds of eager souvenir hunters. Last year, DAS released its izonâ„ ¢ advanced photopolymer holograms, offering instant holo portraits on the film, making it particularly suitable for ID documents. And across the Pacific, Dai Nippon and Nippon Paint Co announced that Teikoku Piston Ring Co had become the first major customer for authentication holograms on Secure I mageâ„ ¢ hot-stampable photopolymer. So photopolymer is making progress in the brand protection market, perhaps winning projects that embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply. Two announcements do not make a fully-fledged market, but do represent progress. Coming Full Circle And now, coming full circle, Liti Holographics has announced that it is shipping a new instant holographic film suitable for reflection holograms for the home and hobby market (see page 3). Meanwhile, silver halide display holograms remain a force in the marketplace. Slavich continues to find a market in Russia and beyond for its silver halide plates and films, and Colour Holographics, which took over the production and supply of HRT holographic plates, finds a steady if not spectacular market. The company is finding a ready market for its own large format co lour holograms, while other silver halide display hologram producers remain in steady production. The availability of compact LED lights which illuminate holograms at a very high quality, and the improved recognition by holographers that they have to deliver a complete, lit and framed installation, is boosting the readiness of display artists and interior designers to consider display holograms as a medium. As one who first got involved in holography because of the excitement of such 3D images, it is reassuring and somewhat surprising to see the continuing interest in full parallax holograms, complementing and supplementing the large volume market of embossed holograms. 007 Litis New Reflection Film Liti Holographics, which offers low cost portrait hologram kits selling for $99 (see HN Vol 18, No 9), has launched a new hologram film. According to the company, this film has all the ‘instant hologram qualities of its previous film but is now capable of making reflection as well as transmission holograms. The new film is red-sensitive, making it compatible with both the Litiholo and other hologram kits, as well as red laser diodes and even helium neon lasers. Contact: www.litiholo.com 008 Nigerias New Pharma Certificate NAFDAC, the Nigerian Food Drugs Agency, has introduced a new certificate to be issued to authorised imported and domestically produced pharmaceuticals. The new certificate is being produced by a security printer in the UK and includes a hologram among its security features. This follows participation by Dr Dora Akunyili, Director of NAFDAC in the first Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting, where she made contact with possible suppliers among the exhibitors. 009 Pharmaceuticals: a Hologram Market Expanding or Threatened? At the time of writing, the 2nd Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting has just finished in Paris, organised by Holography News publisher, Reconnaissance International. One of the themes to emerge during the course of the 21/2 day meeting was the importance of authentication of genuine products as part of the system to combat counterfeit medicines, heard from speakers from national drug regulatory agencies and from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Several of the speakers implied, but Dr Thomas Zimmer of Boehringer Ingelheim explicitly stated, that the ideal authentication device for pharmaceuticals is not yet available. As Dr Zimmer was speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Group of the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), his observations must be taken seriously by suppliers or aspiring suppliers of authentication products to the pharmaceutical sector. To date holograms have been the leading device used for overt authentication on pharmaceuticals, so the claim that the ideal device is not yet available can only be interpreted as a challenge to hologram suppliers. Either holograms have failed to deliver what the pharma sector requires or hologram manufacturers have not succeeded in persuading their customers to use all the levels of security that a hologram can offer; that is first, second and third levels overt, covert and machine read. To implement covert and machine read requires additional investment by customers in training, reading tools and for machine read infrastructure. Ideal Sector The pharmaceutical sector is ideal for the introduction of such an infrastructure. Another call at the Global Forum was for increased harmonisation of authentication and inspection systems. In a sector which is as regulated and as controlled as this one, where all medicines (at least, the legitimate ones) are distributed through a controlled system in a willing partnership between manufacturers, distributors, retailers and governments, training and equipping those who handle the goods to examine the authentication device should be feasible. As should the introduction of a machine-read infrastructure, assuming that there is commonality of what is to be read. The call for greater harmonisation results from the heterogeneity in the sector at present, which makes inpsection and examination a harder task for all involved. At present each hologram supplier offers its own proprietary method of encoding and reading hidden data. It is impractical for a warehouse or pharmacist to be equipped with numerous hologram reading systems, each one required to read the differently encoded information on the holograms from each of the many manufacturers whose medicines they provide. Equally, government inspectors are not able to carry around numerous handheld devices. But as the well-established precedent of credit cards and bar-codes shows, distributors and retailers will equip themselves to read standardised codes if the equipment footprint, cost and training required is minimal and the compatibility is maximal. Can the hologram industry achieve this for the pharmaceutical sector? That is to say, will the hologram industry recognise that here is a cause where collaboration on the adoption of a common approach to encoding and decoding could offer the industry the opportunity to capture that market for many years to come? Because once established, any competing technique has not just to prove itself superior, but must also overcome the inevitable reluctance of a whole sector to change the way it does things. Huge Advantage The hologram industry starts with a huge advantage because holograms have an established customer base in the Pharma sector. And holograms are perceived by the public as a mark of authentication the public may not know how to examine a hologram but its presence gives a level of comfort. Yet if the industry takes no coherent action to work together, it will squander this advantage. The Pharma sector (manufacturers, regulators, even patients groups) is making a case for the ideal authentication device, without perhaps realising that what is actually needed is an authentication system. That system could be built around holograms but it could alternatively be built around other types of device. There are many alternatives all seeking to usurp holograms from their number one spot. Recently, RFID has made the running, in lobbying and PR terms at least, but other technologies taggants, magnetics, complex bar-codes and others are all looking for their ‘killer application and see th e pharma sector as ripe for their efforts. The pharma sector is giving mixed signals about the use of holograms. On one side, Pfizer, in its current generation of product authentication, is currently using colour shift inks instead of holograms as the basis for its solution; on the positive side, Malaysias Meditag uses a three-level hologram (overt, covert and machine-read) at the heart of a system of registration and inspection. Can the hologram industry not individual suppliers, but the industry working together persuade the whole pharmaceutical sector that Malaysias is the way forward, not Pfizers? The RFID industry successfully lobbied the US Food Drugs Administration anticounterfeit task force so that it has identified RFID as the best way forward, although it has left the door open for other technologies by not mandating the use of RFID. This is the example the hologram industry needs to follow, because it has to persuade governments, distributors and manufacturers that the pharma sector can continue to use or even, needs to use holograms at the heart of an integrated system of authentication. The prize is immense, because other market sectors would follow the pharmaceuticals sector. There is no consolation prize, because surrendering this market sector to an alternative technology would give an unavoidable signal to other market sectors. 010 HoloTouch Progress HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, a development company based in Darien, Connecticut working in association with Atlantex Corp, has launched the BeamOne HoloTouch evaluation unit, a working demonstration of its noncontact control technique. HoloTouch was founded by R Douglas McPheters to exploit its patented process for projecting a real holographic image of a keypad or similar finger-tip control board such that passing a real item, such as a finger, through the image, activates the control (US Patent 6377238 see H N Vol 17 No 6). Atlantex specialises in helping bring new products to market, especially in the field of electronic controls and computer accessories . The BeamOne is a four-button box to issue instructions to a PC, to which it is connected by a USB cable. The holographic image of the buttons float about 4 (10 cm) above the BeamOne box and can be programmed to instruct the computer to perform the required functions. It is fully functional, priced at US$1995, but is characterised by Atlantex and HoloTouch as an evaluation device. Nonetheless, it has been chosen by readers of Control Engineering as ‘the most innovative human-machine interface featured in Control Engineering during the past year. McPheters identifies HoloTouch as suiting applications where non-contact is important, such as in a sterile environment, or where switches or buttons cannot be made rugged enough for the environment. The hologram image can also be larger than the keypad it mimics, making it suitable where the device is small or vision may require assistance, such as for sight impaired people or while driving a vehicle, where a quick glance at a small but ton can be dangerous. The hologram is also, of course, intrinsically illuminated, so it is useful for night time or dark environments. HoloTouch and Atlantex are looking for applications partners who will adapt the HoloTouch technique into their own control devices. www.HoloTouch.com HoloTouch Selected for FastTrack HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, the company that has developed a holographic interface for contactless control devices, has been selected for Connecticut Technology Councils FastTrack scheme for promising high-technology start-ups. FastTrack is an advisory and matching programme that helps start-ups with innovative ideas and rapid growth potential to gain seed-stage capital and business planning input through the mobilisation of a network of investors, advisors, professional service providers and industry contacts. Commenting on the scheme, HoloTouch founder and president R Douglas McPheters said: ‘FastTrack offers potentially valuable assistance in connecting us with mentors and advisors and can promote our partnering with companies who see value in our innovative touchless, holographic actuation and control technology. The company has already partnered with Atlantex Corp to launch the BeamOne HoloTouch unit. This enables operators of control boards such as keypads to enter commands simply by passing a finger through holographic images that represent these commands and float in front of the device (see HN Vol 19, No 3) and is suited for applications where non-contact is important for operability of hygiene, including consumer electronics, kiosks, ATMs and medical equipment. HoloTouch and Atlantex have also announced that the BeamOne is now available with relay output, extending the technologys reach to electronic equipment controlled by programmable logic controllers (PLCs). BeamOne already offers communication with PCs through USB, serial and other ports. According to McPheters, this latest development means that the technology can now be used in a numerous industrial applications as well, such as factory floor equipment. McPheters will be presenting a paper on the HoloTouch technology at Holopack†¢ Holo-print 2005. Contact: www.holotouch.com 011 Holotek Doubles Sales and Profits Holotek Technologies Ltd, of Sanzao Zhuhai in China, has doubled its sales and profits in 2004 and is aiming to achieve at least 50% growth in 2005. Its 2003 audited sales of RMB103m ( ±US$12.5m) rose to RMB210M ( ±$25.5m) in 2004, with net profit climbing from RMB58m ( ±$7m) to RMB123.5m ( ±$15.2m), but note that the 2004 figures are not yet audited. Although the company was not liable to tax in its first years of operation (as a start-up in the Zhuhai Economic Zone), these margins of almost 60% make Holotek probably the most profitable holographic producer in the world, both by margin and in its dollar figure. 98% of these sales are for packaging, mainly for transfer metallising of cigarette liners and cartons; 85% is on OPP with the reminder on PET. Holotek has been through ownership changes since we first reported on the company (see HN Vol 17 No 6). It was set up by Fong Teng Technology of Taiwan, but government regulations limit the investment that can be put into a mai nland Chinese company from Taiwan. FT has accordingly sold its interest to four private shareholders, including the CEO Mark Chiang (as a minority owner), and Holotek operates as a subsidiary of Aimrich which is registered in Samoa. The company has also divested its former 49% holding in Yong Feng Tian Technology, a Shenzhen company that produces cigarette packaging materials. All these changes mean Holotek has also postponed its plans to float on the Hong Kong stock exchange. It had originally stated its aim was to float this year with a market capitalisation of US$150m, but it is now aiming for floatation in 2008 with a Changes in Holography Changes in Holography 001 Looking Back, Moving Forward How was 2004 for you? For the industry as a whole, reviewing the developments that we covered last year in Holography News, we can conclude that it was a good year for most, with many positive developments that set the scene for 2005 and beyond, but with sufficient clouds on the horizon to prevent any complacency. In terms of markets, in the high security arena the growth of holograms on banknotes continues apace (see page 3) and this will continue to be key market notwithstanding the recent news that the new $100 and other denominations will not, in all likelihood, include a holographic feature. In other high security markets, passports took something of a back seat, for holograms at least not because of technology concerns but because of the current pre-occupation with biometrics. But elsewhere in document protection, AAMVAs specification of holograms on all US driving licences was a significant boost for the industry, while the tax stamp market continues provide significant high volume opportunities for suppliers. There were few major developments in brand protection although the use of holograms as the prime authentication feature on a new labelling program for pharmaceutical products in Malaysia, and the Olympics 2004 merchandising program demonstrated the continuing success of hologram s in these areas. On the downside, the FDAs controversial decision to adopt RFID-based track and trace as the solution to product safety and supply chain management for pharmaceuticals in the US could have unwelcome consequences for the industry should drug regulatory authorities elsewhere in the world follow its example. In packaging, meanwhile, as the Stock watch article in this issue (see page 6) points out, it is barely possible to go out nowadays without seeing holography embellishing shop shelves on all manner of goods from luxury high end to everyday items. Innovation and Development On the technology front, holography continued to demonstrate its inherent capacity for innovation and development. The integration of holograms with other technologies for enhanced security and functionality continued apace examples including Schreiners KeySecure technology, Securiketts Authentikett labels, combined hologram/DNA/RFID labels from ADNAS and Holomex and enhancements to teas scribos Holospot system (see page 8) to name but a few. In the banknote market, De La Rue, Louisenthal and Kurz all launched new security features during 2004 based on combinations of substrate, thread and foil technology. In terms of production, Newmec and Gidue both entered the market with foil applications systems, General Vacuum launched its new compact metalliser while Spatial Imagings new Lightspeed digital hologram printer marked the beginning of new era in large format hologram origination. Aside from the developments in the ‘conventional market for authentication and decorative devices, holography is also beginning to demonstrate its potential for use as a tool as well as a feature. Examples of this potential include Smart Holograms development of reflection holograms as medical diagnostic devices and holographic data storage systems from Optware. Publicly-listed companies were covered in detail in the December issue of Holography News. But there was news from many other qua rters as well, including the expansion plans announced by ABNH, ITW Covid, AFC and Holoshape, and AET Films move into wide embossing on the packaging front. Louisenthal, a major player in the banknote industry, revealed that it now offers full-scale hologram production, including origination, while its former strategic partner in foils, Hueck Folien, joined the ranks of banknote suppliers with its first order for stripes for the Thai currency, signalling a potentially significant new entrant to the market. Its arrival was partially offset by AOTs decision to abandon banknote foils, while the bankruptcy of another high security supplier, Mantegazza, was staved off by its acquisition by Italian security papermaker Fabriano. Outside of the traditional industry centres of Western Europe and North America, the Far East, India and Eastern Europe and the CIS countries continue to play an increasingly important role not just as markets for western companies but as major centres of developm ent in their own right. Russia, a hotbed of scientific innovation, held its first regional conference this year; the commitment amongst Indian companies to quality and industry standards is an inspiration to us all, while all eyes are currently on China, the location for the 2005 Holo-pack†¢Holo-print which will provide the first opportunity for many western hologram companies to witness the strength and scope of this massive market. 2004s Downside So much for the positive. On the downside, RFID continues to position itself, and be viewed in some quarters, as the ‘silver bullet antidote to counterfeiting and diversion, new technologies such as Nanoventions claim their superiority over diffractive features and high quality counterfeit holograms have been discovered on currency notably the euro. The latter, in particular, is leading to a perceptible sense of disenchantment with holograms in terms of their claimed security benefits, technology proliferation and lax standard s amongst suppliers. This topic has been covered exhaustively in recent issues of Holography News and was one of the main topics for discussion at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague, a positive outcome of which was the openness of debate and willingness amongst industry participants to work collectively to address the real issues that are causing concern and counter the misperceptions behind them. All in all, not a bad year for the industry. Provided the concerns leading to disenchantment in some sectors continues to be recognised and addressed with appropriate measures, and provided hologram companies continue to invest in the new products and techniques that form the lifeblood and future of this industry, 2005 could be even better. 002 A Watershed Year for the IHMA In his Chairmans report to the Annual General Meeting of the International Hologram Manufacturers Association, Hugues Souparis identified the launch of the Secure Hologram Producer Certification Scheme as a watershed for the Association (se HN Vol 18 No 3). This Scheme, run in co-operation with Intergraf, should make a significant contribution to improving procedures in the secure hologram field, and help to raise customer awareness of the need to source secure holograms from a qualified secure producer. Souparis company, Hologram Industries, was the first to be certified, but several others have now applied. Another important development during the year had been the negotiations with the Hologram Manufacturers Association of India (HoMAI), aimed at building a strong relationship between the two associations and serving as a model for the IHMAs relationship with other regional or national hologram associations. An important part of the planned relationship was that the IHMAs Hologram Image Register and HoMAIs Hologram Registry would be linked so that all searches for a hologram match on either database would cover both databases, improving the likelihood of identifying matches which resulted from attempts to source illicit copies of a hologram already in use. He reported that Despite the news that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing is casting its net wider for security features (see page 1), banknotes continue to be a good market for the holography industry. A number of new banknotes have been introduced during 2004, including two major currencies the new Canadian dollar series which features a stripe and the two higher denominations of the newly-designed Japanese yen, each with a patch. Kurz was the supplier for both, the latter understood to be the largest single hologram order for banknotes in the industry. Other currencies that have introduced holograms to all or most of their the Board was in discussion with the China AntiCounterfeiting Technology As sociation (CATA) with a view to CATA establishing a hologram section, and that the IHMA was also in preliminary discussions with Russian producers interested in an industry organisation there. Souparis also reminded members of IHMAs links with Interpol and other international and national police organisations, saying that he hoped to build on these contacts in the coming year. New Board Members In the elections at the AGM, Souparis was re-elected Chairman a post he can hold for another two years. Wilfried Schipper (Hologram Company Rako) was elected as the European representative on the Board, with Alkis Lembessis (Cavomit and Taurus) as his deputy; Umendra Gupta (Holostik India) was re-elected as Asian representative, with Khalid Khanani (Metatex) as deputy. Randy James (Pacific Holographics) was elected as deputy North American representative and since the AGM the Board has co-opted John Halotek (ITW Covid) as the North American representative, there being no accepted nomination at the meeting. Alex Goncharsky (Computer Holography Centre, Moscow) and Ken Traub (ABNH) remain on the board for a second and fourth year respectively. Spreading the Word In addition to the objectives above, a key task for the IHMA in 2005 and thereafter will be to promote the positive benefits of holograms, particularly as authentication devices, as a counter to disenchantment with the technology in certain quarters, notably some parts of the high security sector. A proactive PR campaign, a greater presence at industry conferences, an improved website as a communications tool both for members and users, and a drive to increase the membership and the visibility of the IHMA are all currently underway. The hologram industry is one of the few in the authentication sector to have its own association and the IHMA is committed to building on this position and the strengths that a collective voice can provide for hologram companies. Contact: www.IHMA.org. 003 General Vacuums New Compact Metalliser (Pg # 5) General Vacuum, manufacturer of vacuum metallising equipment, unveiled further details of its new compact Holosecâ„ ¢ metalliser (see HN Vol 18 No 2) at the recent Holo-pack†¢Holo-print conference in Prague. Vacuum metallisers have until now been supplied with production widths of 800-3000m, limiting their use both financially and for production purposes among small and narrow-web hologram producers and forcing these to buy in their film and foil pre-metallised from wide web suppliers. The Holosec was designed to fill this niche and enable narrow-web producers to bring metallising in-house, thereby increasing their security of production and enabling them to take advantage of the specialised treatments the system offers. The Holosec combines the vacuum chamber, unwind and rewind units, plasma pre-treatment, demetallization and evaporation source within one compact unit with a footprint of 2m x 3m. In addition to the conventional aluminium used for holographic films and foils, it can coat silicon oxide, chrome, silver and copper and zinc sulphide for high refractive index films. It also offers pattern demetallisation with in-line registration and plasma pre-treatment that enhances the sur face energy of the films to improve adhesion and hence quality. The run rate varies from 10m to a maximum of 200m per minute. General Vacuum, formerly Valmet and now part of the Bobst Group, declined to give prices for the Holosec, stating that these depend on specification. But it can assumed that they will be considerably lower than the prices for wide web systems. When questioned at Holopack.†¢ Holo-print about the risks of spreading low-cost secure hologram production technology in the market, Dr Nadir Ahmed, who gave the presentation on behalf of his former company, commented that the company would check the legitimacy of customers before supply. To date, two machines have been sold with other orders in the pipeline for early 2005. Contact: Andy Jack, General Vacuum Equipment. Tel: +44 1706 622442; [emailprotected] 004 Menzel Vision System for Web Guiding Menzel, a German company specialising in machinery for finishing and inspection machines for textiles, expanded into similar equipment for the plastic films industry in the late 1960s, and at Holopack†¢ Holo-print exhibited a machine vision system for control of web handling machines for holographic films. The system keeps web lines in register to improve the accuracy and quality of slitting, winding/re-winding, stamping and other hologram finishing processes. Based on the companys experience building textile and film web guiding systems, the hologram guiding system can be set to read the edge of the hologram film or a specific part of the pattern in the hologram the camera scans across the width of the film to record the edge position, the registration mark position or the position of a specified image element. Once programmed, it feeds the image data to a sensor and a controller, which in turn adjusts the web guides to maintain the position of the web. The Menzel vision system for holographic film costs around â‚ ¬17- 20,000, depending on the configuration required. Contact: www.menzel.net. 005 Optical Document Security The third edition of the reference book Optical Document Security is now available from publishers Artech House. Written by Rudolf van Renesse, an expert in the field and editor and co-author of the two previous editions (published in 1994 and 1998 respectively), the book provides a comprehensive and cohesive treatment of all aspects of optical document security, according to its publishers. The books contents have been substantially updated and revised from the previous edition, and expanded to include coverage of additional security features and evaluation. The introduction on the theory of colours is followed by chapters on light interference and diffraction, substrate-based security, printing inks and printing techniques, printed security patterns (including screen decoded images and digital watermarks), diffractive- and interference-based security features, security design and evaluation and an introduction to biometrics. The emphasis is on both the physics of security features and their value in resisting counterfeiting, while the chapter evaluating security design looks at the human factors of first line document inspection. The books 350 pages contain over 270 black and white illustrations, including live security documents, and an appendix with samples of important security features. In addition, a CD-ROM is included which contains all illustrations of the book in full-colour. Author Rudolf van Renesse was senior research engineer in the Optics Department of TNO Institute of Applied Physics in The Netherlands and is now an independent consultant on document security for government departments and banking and financial institutions. He has extensive experience in the areas of holography, optical inspection techniques, and the theory of colors and document security, and is the author of more than 80 publications in these areas, as well as a contributor to Holography News and its sister publications Authentication News and Currency News. Optical Document Security is available at the discounted price  £72/$118 from Artech House www.artech-house.com 006 Display Holography on the Rise Photopolymer is making progress winning projects that perhaps embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply We feel for Nick Hardy and Valerie Love of OpGraphics, the British company that has listed its DuPont photopolymer hologram production equipment for sale on eBay. Op has been producing display holograms for the gift and promotional trade since 1983, originally on Agfa silver halide films, then in the 1990s Nick Hardy started working with DuPonts holographic photopolymer, partly because Agfa ceased production of its holographic films, partly because the photopolymer reflection holograms had lower noise and were more light efficient. Unfortunately, when DuPont Authentication Systems was established as a joint venture with Label Systems Inc, the company decided to restrict the distribution of its unexposed photopolymer film to authorised security hologram producers. Op were among the hologram producers which were given notice of a cessation of supply. They tried to fight this under competition law in the UK, but despite their significant investment in DuPonts production equipment and the time to perfect their processes, this was to no avail. The result: holographic production kit being offered on eBay. The Year of Photopolymer? The timing could not be more poignant as there appears to be an upsurge of interest in photopolymer holograms could 2005 be the year of photopolymer? The year has started well for DAS with NASCARs announcement of its licensed product authentication label, a numbered photopolymer reflection hologram (see page 4). To date, the North American sports licensing authentication projects have been dominated by embossed holograms. NASCAR (the most popular motor sport organisation in North America) may not rival the big national sporting leagues in popularity, but big race meetings such as Daytona and Indianapolis attract large crowds of eager souvenir hunters. Last year, DAS released its izonâ„ ¢ advanced photopolymer holograms, offering instant holo portraits on the film, making it particularly suitable for ID documents. And across the Pacific, Dai Nippon and Nippon Paint Co announced that Teikoku Piston Ring Co had become the first major customer for authentication holograms on Secure I mageâ„ ¢ hot-stampable photopolymer. So photopolymer is making progress in the brand protection market, perhaps winning projects that embossed hologram producers might have expected to supply. Two announcements do not make a fully-fledged market, but do represent progress. Coming Full Circle And now, coming full circle, Liti Holographics has announced that it is shipping a new instant holographic film suitable for reflection holograms for the home and hobby market (see page 3). Meanwhile, silver halide display holograms remain a force in the marketplace. Slavich continues to find a market in Russia and beyond for its silver halide plates and films, and Colour Holographics, which took over the production and supply of HRT holographic plates, finds a steady if not spectacular market. The company is finding a ready market for its own large format co lour holograms, while other silver halide display hologram producers remain in steady production. The availability of compact LED lights which illuminate holograms at a very high quality, and the improved recognition by holographers that they have to deliver a complete, lit and framed installation, is boosting the readiness of display artists and interior designers to consider display holograms as a medium. As one who first got involved in holography because of the excitement of such 3D images, it is reassuring and somewhat surprising to see the continuing interest in full parallax holograms, complementing and supplementing the large volume market of embossed holograms. 007 Litis New Reflection Film Liti Holographics, which offers low cost portrait hologram kits selling for $99 (see HN Vol 18, No 9), has launched a new hologram film. According to the company, this film has all the ‘instant hologram qualities of its previous film but is now capable of making reflection as well as transmission holograms. The new film is red-sensitive, making it compatible with both the Litiholo and other hologram kits, as well as red laser diodes and even helium neon lasers. Contact: www.litiholo.com 008 Nigerias New Pharma Certificate NAFDAC, the Nigerian Food Drugs Agency, has introduced a new certificate to be issued to authorised imported and domestically produced pharmaceuticals. The new certificate is being produced by a security printer in the UK and includes a hologram among its security features. This follows participation by Dr Dora Akunyili, Director of NAFDAC in the first Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting, where she made contact with possible suppliers among the exhibitors. 009 Pharmaceuticals: a Hologram Market Expanding or Threatened? At the time of writing, the 2nd Global Forum on Pharmaceutical AntiCounterfeiting has just finished in Paris, organised by Holography News publisher, Reconnaissance International. One of the themes to emerge during the course of the 21/2 day meeting was the importance of authentication of genuine products as part of the system to combat counterfeit medicines, heard from speakers from national drug regulatory agencies and from pharmaceutical manufacturers. Several of the speakers implied, but Dr Thomas Zimmer of Boehringer Ingelheim explicitly stated, that the ideal authentication device for pharmaceuticals is not yet available. As Dr Zimmer was speaking in his capacity as Chairman of the Anti-Counterfeit Group of the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), his observations must be taken seriously by suppliers or aspiring suppliers of authentication products to the pharmaceutical sector. To date holograms have been the leading device used for overt authentication on pharmaceuticals, so the claim that the ideal device is not yet available can only be interpreted as a challenge to hologram suppliers. Either holograms have failed to deliver what the pharma sector requires or hologram manufacturers have not succeeded in persuading their customers to use all the levels of security that a hologram can offer; that is first, second and third levels overt, covert and machine read. To implement covert and machine read requires additional investment by customers in training, reading tools and for machine read infrastructure. Ideal Sector The pharmaceutical sector is ideal for the introduction of such an infrastructure. Another call at the Global Forum was for increased harmonisation of authentication and inspection systems. In a sector which is as regulated and as controlled as this one, where all medicines (at least, the legitimate ones) are distributed through a controlled system in a willing partnership between manufacturers, distributors, retailers and governments, training and equipping those who handle the goods to examine the authentication device should be feasible. As should the introduction of a machine-read infrastructure, assuming that there is commonality of what is to be read. The call for greater harmonisation results from the heterogeneity in the sector at present, which makes inpsection and examination a harder task for all involved. At present each hologram supplier offers its own proprietary method of encoding and reading hidden data. It is impractical for a warehouse or pharmacist to be equipped with numerous hologram reading systems, each one required to read the differently encoded information on the holograms from each of the many manufacturers whose medicines they provide. Equally, government inspectors are not able to carry around numerous handheld devices. But as the well-established precedent of credit cards and bar-codes shows, distributors and retailers will equip themselves to read standardised codes if the equipment footprint, cost and training required is minimal and the compatibility is maximal. Can the hologram industry achieve this for the pharmaceutical sector? That is to say, will the hologram industry recognise that here is a cause where collaboration on the adoption of a common approach to encoding and decoding could offer the industry the opportunity to capture that market for many years to come? Because once established, any competing technique has not just to prove itself superior, but must also overcome the inevitable reluctance of a whole sector to change the way it does things. Huge Advantage The hologram industry starts with a huge advantage because holograms have an established customer base in the Pharma sector. And holograms are perceived by the public as a mark of authentication the public may not know how to examine a hologram but its presence gives a level of comfort. Yet if the industry takes no coherent action to work together, it will squander this advantage. The Pharma sector (manufacturers, regulators, even patients groups) is making a case for the ideal authentication device, without perhaps realising that what is actually needed is an authentication system. That system could be built around holograms but it could alternatively be built around other types of device. There are many alternatives all seeking to usurp holograms from their number one spot. Recently, RFID has made the running, in lobbying and PR terms at least, but other technologies taggants, magnetics, complex bar-codes and others are all looking for their ‘killer application and see th e pharma sector as ripe for their efforts. The pharma sector is giving mixed signals about the use of holograms. On one side, Pfizer, in its current generation of product authentication, is currently using colour shift inks instead of holograms as the basis for its solution; on the positive side, Malaysias Meditag uses a three-level hologram (overt, covert and machine-read) at the heart of a system of registration and inspection. Can the hologram industry not individual suppliers, but the industry working together persuade the whole pharmaceutical sector that Malaysias is the way forward, not Pfizers? The RFID industry successfully lobbied the US Food Drugs Administration anticounterfeit task force so that it has identified RFID as the best way forward, although it has left the door open for other technologies by not mandating the use of RFID. This is the example the hologram industry needs to follow, because it has to persuade governments, distributors and manufacturers that the pharma sector can continue to use or even, needs to use holograms at the heart of an integrated system of authentication. The prize is immense, because other market sectors would follow the pharmaceuticals sector. There is no consolation prize, because surrendering this market sector to an alternative technology would give an unavoidable signal to other market sectors. 010 HoloTouch Progress HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, a development company based in Darien, Connecticut working in association with Atlantex Corp, has launched the BeamOne HoloTouch evaluation unit, a working demonstration of its noncontact control technique. HoloTouch was founded by R Douglas McPheters to exploit its patented process for projecting a real holographic image of a keypad or similar finger-tip control board such that passing a real item, such as a finger, through the image, activates the control (US Patent 6377238 see H N Vol 17 No 6). Atlantex specialises in helping bring new products to market, especially in the field of electronic controls and computer accessories . The BeamOne is a four-button box to issue instructions to a PC, to which it is connected by a USB cable. The holographic image of the buttons float about 4 (10 cm) above the BeamOne box and can be programmed to instruct the computer to perform the required functions. It is fully functional, priced at US$1995, but is characterised by Atlantex and HoloTouch as an evaluation device. Nonetheless, it has been chosen by readers of Control Engineering as ‘the most innovative human-machine interface featured in Control Engineering during the past year. McPheters identifies HoloTouch as suiting applications where non-contact is important, such as in a sterile environment, or where switches or buttons cannot be made rugged enough for the environment. The hologram image can also be larger than the keypad it mimics, making it suitable where the device is small or vision may require assistance, such as for sight impaired people or while driving a vehicle, where a quick glance at a small but ton can be dangerous. The hologram is also, of course, intrinsically illuminated, so it is useful for night time or dark environments. HoloTouch and Atlantex are looking for applications partners who will adapt the HoloTouch technique into their own control devices. www.HoloTouch.com HoloTouch Selected for FastTrack HoloTouchâ„ ¢ Inc, the company that has developed a holographic interface for contactless control devices, has been selected for Connecticut Technology Councils FastTrack scheme for promising high-technology start-ups. FastTrack is an advisory and matching programme that helps start-ups with innovative ideas and rapid growth potential to gain seed-stage capital and business planning input through the mobilisation of a network of investors, advisors, professional service providers and industry contacts. Commenting on the scheme, HoloTouch founder and president R Douglas McPheters said: ‘FastTrack offers potentially valuable assistance in connecting us with mentors and advisors and can promote our partnering with companies who see value in our innovative touchless, holographic actuation and control technology. The company has already partnered with Atlantex Corp to launch the BeamOne HoloTouch unit. This enables operators of control boards such as keypads to enter commands simply by passing a finger through holographic images that represent these commands and float in front of the device (see HN Vol 19, No 3) and is suited for applications where non-contact is important for operability of hygiene, including consumer electronics, kiosks, ATMs and medical equipment. HoloTouch and Atlantex have also announced that the BeamOne is now available with relay output, extending the technologys reach to electronic equipment controlled by programmable logic controllers (PLCs). BeamOne already offers communication with PCs through USB, serial and other ports. According to McPheters, this latest development means that the technology can now be used in a numerous industrial applications as well, such as factory floor equipment. McPheters will be presenting a paper on the HoloTouch technology at Holopack†¢ Holo-print 2005. Contact: www.holotouch.com 011 Holotek Doubles Sales and Profits Holotek Technologies Ltd, of Sanzao Zhuhai in China, has doubled its sales and profits in 2004 and is aiming to achieve at least 50% growth in 2005. Its 2003 audited sales of RMB103m ( ±US$12.5m) rose to RMB210M ( ±$25.5m) in 2004, with net profit climbing from RMB58m ( ±$7m) to RMB123.5m ( ±$15.2m), but note that the 2004 figures are not yet audited. Although the company was not liable to tax in its first years of operation (as a start-up in the Zhuhai Economic Zone), these margins of almost 60% make Holotek probably the most profitable holographic producer in the world, both by margin and in its dollar figure. 98% of these sales are for packaging, mainly for transfer metallising of cigarette liners and cartons; 85% is on OPP with the reminder on PET. Holotek has been through ownership changes since we first reported on the company (see HN Vol 17 No 6). It was set up by Fong Teng Technology of Taiwan, but government regulations limit the investment that can be put into a mai nland Chinese company from Taiwan. FT has accordingly sold its interest to four private shareholders, including the CEO Mark Chiang (as a minority owner), and Holotek operates as a subsidiary of Aimrich which is registered in Samoa. The company has also divested its former 49% holding in Yong Feng Tian Technology, a Shenzhen company that produces cigarette packaging materials. All these changes mean Holotek has also postponed its plans to float on the Hong Kong stock exchange. It had originally stated its aim was to float this year with a market capitalisation of US$150m, but it is now aiming for floatation in 2008 with a