3rd Assignment; Laura Westphal

Assignment # 3 Birth Rate and Ideology

I chose 6 nations, 3 with a high % of Catholics in the population and 3 with a low % of Catholics in the population that come from geographically different areas of the globe. I picked variables that I felt would have an affect over the use of contraception other than the catholic ideology of prohibition of birth control.

On the assumption that nations with large Catholic populations would have large birth rates, just by comparing the data below we can observe that this assumption is not true.

In Class Examples of High % of Catholic Countries

Mexico 82.7%

Birth rates: 18.61/1000 births

Infant mortality: 16.26/1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 76.86 years

School life expectancy:  14 years

Education expenders: 5.3% of GDP

*Urban Population: 78% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate: 70.9%

Ireland 87.4%

Birth rates: 15.5/1000 births

Infant mortality: 3.78//1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 80.44 years

School life expectancy: 19 years

Education expenders: 6.5% of GDP

*Urban Population: 62% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate: 64.8%

Italy 80%

Birth rates: 8.94 /1000 births

Infant mortality: 3.33/1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 81.95 years

School life expectancy: 16 years

Education expenders: 4.7% of GDP

*Urban Population: 68% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate: 62.7%

My Pick of High % of Catholic Countries

Puerto Rico 85%

Birth rates: 11.28/1000 births

Infant mortality: 8/1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 79.07 years

School life expectancy: n/a

Education expenders: n/a

*Urban Population: 99% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate:84.1%

Philippians 82%

Birth rates: 24.62/1000 births

Infant mortality: 18.19/1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 72.21 years

School life expectancy: 11 years

Education expenders: 2.7% of GDP

*Urban Population: 48.8% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate:48.9%

Poland 89%

Birth rates: 9.88/1000 births

Infant mortality: 6.3/1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 76.45 years

School life expectancy: 15 years

Education expenders: 5.1% of GDP

*Urban Population: 60.9% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate:72.7%

Low % Catholic Countries

Japan 2%

Birth rates: 8.23 births

Infant mortality: 2.17/1000 deaths

Average lifespan: 84.19 years

School life expectancy: 15 years

Education expenders: 3.8% of GDP

*Urban Population: 91.3% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.3%

South Africa 7.1%

Birth rates: 19.14/1000 births

Infant mortality 42.15 deaths

Average lifespan 49.48 years

School life expectancy: 13 years

Education expenders: 6% of GDP

*Urban population: 62% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate: 59.9%

Iceland 2.5%

Birth rates 13.15/1000 births

Infant mortality: 3.17

Average lifespan: 81.11 years

School life expectancy: 18 years

Education expenders: 7.8% of GDP

*Urban Population: 93% of total population

** Contraceptive prevalence rate: 64.8%

            In comparing the correlation between birth rates and higher % of catholic countries we can see that countries like Italy and the Philippines who have close to the same % of Catholics in their populations (80-82%) but have birth rates with large disparities, Italy with 8.94 /1000 births and the Philippines with 24.62/1000 births.  The birth rates fluctuate between the low % of catholic countries as well, with South Africa 19.14/1000 births compared to Japan at 8.23/1000 births and Iceland 13.15/1000 births. Italy was the only country with a high catholic population and lower birthrate than other countries, but on average it seems that the Catholic Ideology has little to no influence on the outcome of births in most countries.

           Another variable that caught my interest was the contraceptive prevalence rate, which indicates the percentage of women (15-49) who are using a type of birth control who are married or a union.  This does not include men or single women; it is interesting to note that in all the countries show the contraceptive prevalence rate over 50%, regardless of the % of Catholics.  

             I had initial predicted that countries with lower education, or those who contributed less money to their education system would have higher birth rates, this proved not to be the case.  Maybe their education sectors have a curriculum on sexual education and pregnancy prevention, (we barely have it here in the U.S.) but who’s to say if they did it would really have any influence over behaviors. With the exception of the Philippines (that information was not available) the amount spent on education was all above average (which is typically 4%) and did not fluctuate with the birth rate totals. Maybe just being educated in general would have a weight against irrational, ideological thresholds.

 Neither did the amount of years spent in the school system; school life expectancy, with the exception of the Philippines which happened to have the lowest school life expectancy at 11 years and the highest rate of births 24.62/1000 births or any difference in the funding public resources seem to manipulate birthrate.

           One other disappointing variable was the urban population %.  My thoughts were that the greater the population density, the more subjected one was to resources like clinics, hospitals and non-profits would have a more dramatic influence on birth rates over those who lived in rural areas with less access. Unfortunately that variable did not prove to be any more significant than the others, with the exception again with the Philippines who had the lowest urban population of just less than half 48.8% the population and the highest birth rate.

If we look at geographical placement, upper or lower hemisphere we can compare Iceland (upper) and South Africa (lower) and see that there fairly noticeable difference, like infant mortality or mortality in general is much higher than in Iceland. They could also be divided by weather they are a developing country or not. Mexico, Puerto Rico, Philippines, South Africa and Poland are still developing while Ireland, Italy, Japan and Iceland but lastly these variable seem to not have a concurrent effect.  

            In the end I feel that I was looking at the wrong variables or needed different countries to prove a better correlation, but I feel that according to my data this definitely disproves that religious ideology effects the major outcome of social behavior.

Footnotes:

*This field describes the percentage of the total population living in urban areas, as defined by the country.

**This field gives the percent of women of reproductive age (15-49) who are married or in union and are using, or whose sexual partner is using, a method of contraception according to the date of the most recent available data. The contraceptive prevalence rate is an indicator of health services, development, and women’s empowerment. It is also useful in understanding, past, present, and future fertility trends, especially in developing countries. –CIA World Factbook

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2206.html#pl

Also looked at these web sources:

Pew Report

http://www.pewforum.org/2013/02/13/the-global-catholic-population/

OECD Better Life Index

http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/iceland/

To explain what factors may effect birth rate, I collect 7 kinds of data to form a list and calculate if there is any correlation in 9 countries which are Italy, Belgium, France, Mexico, Bolivia, Philippines, Greece, Japan, Kazakhstan and the last 3 countries are out group:

1.       Birth date: This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000      persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate.

2.       Percentage of Catholic: It shows how many people are Catholic in overall citizens in a country.

3.       Infant mortality rate: This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year.

4.       GDP per capita (PPP): This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.

5.       Distribution of family income Gini index: This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country.

6.       Education expenditures of GDP: This entry provides the public expenditure on education as a percent of GDP.

7.       Unemployment rate: This entry gives the percent of the total labor force ages 15-24 unemployed during a specified year.

But statistics can’t speak for themselves so we need to analyze the correlation between these numbers. I use Pearson function to determine what factors effect birth rate and try to explain why.

As we can see, 0.208 shows that this is little correlation between Catholic rate and birth rate which means more people in the countries believing Catholicism doesn’t cause high birth rate. The prohibition on birth control doesn’t work.

From infant mortality rate we can make it clear that how is health care in this countries. And 0.816 tells us that there is strong connection between infant mortality rate and birth rate which argues that the less infants die, the less born.

GDP per capita and distribution of family income are also related to birth rate. The rich people in the countries and the more equal family income are, the low birth rate is. The number shows that there are strong connections between them which implies economic context is important to explain the birth rate.

We can find that so little influence on birth rate by the education expenditure that even Catholic rate matters more than it. No matter how much governments spend on education, it seems that birth rate isn’t effected.

There is a little influence on birth rate by unemployment rate. 0.44 means that maybe unemployment rate is a factor influence birth rate. But the connection is weak.

In conclusion, there are weak connections between Catholic rate, education expenditures and birth rate while infant mortality rate, GDP per capita and distribution of family income are proved more possible influencing birthrate. Unemployment rate may influence birth rate too but the correlation is not as strong as former variables.

3rd Assignment: Birth Rate and Ideology, by Andreas Kustaas

Nations with a notable Catholic population

1. Bolivia

Catholic percent rate: 95%

Birth rate: 23.77 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 68.22 years

Infant mortality rate: 39.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 2.87 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 91.2%

GDP per capita: $5,200

2. Argentina 

Catholic percent rate: 92%

Birth rate: 17.12-births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 77.32 years

Infant mortality rate: 10.24 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 97.7%

GDP per capita: $18,400

3. Mexico 

Catholicism percentage: 82.7%

Birth rate: 18.61 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 76.86 years

Infant mortality rate: 16.26 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 2.25 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 93.5%

GDP per capita: $15,600

4. France

Catholic percent rate: 83-88%

Birth rate: 12.60 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 81.56 years

Infant mortality rate: 3.34 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 2.08 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 99%

GDP per capita: $36,100

5. Ireland

Catholic percent rate: 87.4%

Birth rate: 15.50 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 80.44 years

Infant mortality rate: 3.78 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 2.01 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 99%

GDP per capita: $42,600

6. Chile 

Catholic percent rate: 70%

Birth rate: 14.12 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 78.27 years

Infant mortality rate: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 98.6%

GDP per capita: $18,700

Nations without a notable Catholic population

1. Sweden

Catholic percent rate: 1.62%

Birth rate: 10.33 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 81.28 years

Infant mortality rate: 2.73 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 1.67 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 99%

GDP per capita: $41,900

2.  Cyprus

Catholic percent rate: 1.28%

Birth rate: 11.45 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 78.17 years

Infant mortality rate: 8.82 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 1.46 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 98.7%

GDP per capita: $27,500

3. Bulgaria

Catholic percent rate: 3.8%

Birth rate: 9.07 births/1,000 population

Life expectancy: 74.08 years

Infant mortality rate: 15.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Total fertility rate: 1.43 children born/woman

Literacy rate: 98.4%

GDP per capita: $14,500

Discussion

According to these facts there might be a slight correlation between a high percentage of Catholicism and some of the things I have been looking at. If we look at the birth rates of women that live in countries that have notable catholic population we see that birth rates vary from 12. 60 births per 1000 population in France and 14.12 in Chile all the way up to 18.65 in Argentina and 23.77 in Bolivia. When we look at nations without a notable catholic population we see they vary from 9.07 births per 1000 population in Bulgaria to 11.45 in Cyprus. We can see that the birth rates a lower in nations without a notable catholic population, but because Luxembourg and Cyprus has birth rates that are about the same, we will need more facts to support the statement of possible correlation between percentage of Catholicism and the facts about the nations. We can find this by looking at total fertility rates of women. Fertility rates of women from nations with a high percentage of Catholicism, we see how Chile is the only nation with a fertility rate below two children born per woman. All the other nations have more than two children born per woman, with Bolivia on top with 2.87 children born, compared to Sweden’s 1.67, Cyprus’ 1.46 and Bulgaria’s 1.43 children born per woman. These numbers really support the original statement.

Looking at education (in form of literacy rate), however, there does not seem to be a correlation between this and the percentage of Catholicism. Countries with both high and low percentage of Catholicism have a high literacy rate.

Another thing we can see is how some of these categories may have a stronger correlation with the GDP per capita, rather than a high correlation with a high percentage of Catholicism. Life expectancy is similar throughout all the nations, the only nation standing out is Bolivia, but this is more likely to have a correlation with GDP per capita, it being as low as $5,200. To support this we can also see that the country with second lowest GPA per capita, Bulgaria, also have the second lowest life expectancy, supporting the possibility of correlation. We can also look at the infant mortality rate. We can see that both countries with a high percentage (France, Ireland and Chile) and a low percentage (Sweden, Cyprus and Bulgaria) of Catholicism have a low infant mortality rate. This shows that it is more likely that there is a correlation between the infant mortality rate and the GDP per capita, for example seeing Bolivia’s 39.76 deaths per 1000 live births and GDP per capita being $5200 compared to Ireland’s 3.78 infant mortality rate and a GDP per capita being $42,600, both countries with a high percentage of Catholicism.

It is important to point out that these limited facts make it difficult to generalize a theory from what we find here, but they can point us in the right direction. However, my conclusions from these facts are that catholic prohibition may actually have an influence on the birth rate and fertility rate of women, but there is a possibility that GDP per capita has more correlation with the categories life expectancy and infant mortality rate than the high percentage of Catholicism. On the question of whether technologically conservative prohibition against birth control among Catholic populations actually works or not, these facts may show us that they might work, even if the differences between the countries are small. It is also important to point out that GDP per capita may also be an important factor affecting some of the categories in addition to the percentage of Catholicism.

3rd Assignment by Jinghui Sun

[Conclusion] 

Q: Does Catholic prohibition really have an influence on birth control use (reflected in a high birth rate) 

A: Based on the birth rate of 9 nations, the Catholic prohibition does not really have an influence or correlation with birth control. The highest birth rate of the 3 nations which do not have a notable Catholic population is Pakistan: 23.76 births/1,000 population. In the six nations which have high percentage of Catholic citizens, only one nation's birth rate(philippines: 24.62 births/1,000population) is higher than that. The lowest birth rate of the 3 nations which do not have a notable Catholic population is Russia: 12.11 births/1,000 population; in the 6 nations which have high percentage of Catholic citizens, 3 nations birth rates are even lower than that.  

Therefore, though there is a technologically conservative prohibition against birth control among Catholic populations, I don't really believe this prohibition really exist in behavior.

Q: Do other factors appear to play a greater role in birth rate (poverty, education, infant mortality rate, short average lifespan, etc.)? 

A: Infant mortality rate, poverty, education, short average lifespan appear to correlate more closely with birth rates than religious belief.

In the total 9 nations, the nations have higher infant mortality rate appear to have higher birth rate . For example, Philippine birth rate is 24.62 births/1,000population; in contrast, its infant mortality rate is 18.19 deaths/1,000 lives births ( which is higher than the most infant mortality rate of 9 nations) Italy, where the birth rate is 8.9 births/1,000 population, has the lowest  infant mortality rate.

Nations which have higher percentages of population below poverty line also appear to have higher birth rate. For instance, Mexico has 51.3% population that below poverty line, and its birth rate is 18.61 births/1,000 population.

Education level also appear to play a greater role in birth rate: nations which have higher school life expectancy and literacy also have lower birth rate. Italy have the highest literacy percentage and second highest school life expectancy, but it has the lowest birth rate. 

Nations which have longer average lifespan appear to have lower birth rate. The average lifespan for people in Spain is 81.37 years; the birth rate is only 10.14births/1,000 population.

3rd Assignment by Huipu Wang

Catholic Country

1. Mexico

Roman Catholic: 82.7%

Birth rate: 18.61 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.4% (male 16,268,424/female 15,587,324)

15-24 years: 18.1% (male 10,566,890/female 10,421,798)

25-54 years: 40.7% (male 22,647,828/female 24,677,965)

55-64 years: 6.9% (male 3,703,316/female 4,337,956)

65 years and over: 6.9% (male 3,574,207/female 4,435,239) 

Literacy rate: 93.5%

Urban population:  78% of total population

Health expenditures: 6.4% of GDP 

GDP - per capita (PPP): $15,600

2.Spain

Roman Catholic: 94%

Birth rate: 10.14 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.4% (male 3,747,028/female 3,531,247)

15-24 years: 9.7% (male 2,377,992/female 2,215,742)

25-54 years: 46.2% (male 11,141,726/female 10,749,877)

55-64 years: 11.3% (male 2,600,682/female 2,738,559)

65 years and over: 17.5% (male 3,514,051/female 4,753,638) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate: 97.7%

urban population: 77% of total population 

Health expenditures:9.6% of GDP

GDP-per capita: $31,100 

3. Italy

Christian: 80%

Birth rate: 8.94 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 4,335,746/female 4,148,249)

15-24 years: 9.9% (male 3,059,140/female 3,035,991)

25-54 years: 43.2% (male 13,133,733/female 13,416,626)

55-64 years: 12.3% (male 3,675,324/female 3,913,918)

65 years and over: 20.8% (male 5,454,283/female 7,309,287) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate: 99%

urban population: 68% of total population

Health expenditures:9.5% of GDP

GDP per capita: $30,600

4. Andorran

Roman Catholic :predominant

Birth rate: 8.88 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 6,779/female 6,471)

15-24 years: 9.1% (male 4,021/female 3,702)

25-54 years: 49.5% (male 21,744/female 20,492)

55-64 years: 12.1% (male 5,566/female 4,755)

65 years and over: 13.8% (male 5,918/female 5,845) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate:100%

urban population: 88% of total population

Health expenditures:7.2% of GDP

GDP per capita :$37,200

5. Paraguayan

Roman Catholic: 89.6%

Birth rate:16.95 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.8% (male 903,578/female 873,079)

15-24 years: 20.8% (male 692,006/female 684,297)

25-54 years: 39% (male 1,294,037/female 1,290,376)

55-64 years: 6.9% (male 234,803/female 224,862)

65 years and over: 6.4% (male 198,529/female 227,685)

Literacy rate: 93.9%

urban population: 61% of total population

Health expenditures:9.7% of GDP

GDP  per capita :$6,200

6. Argentine

Roman Catholic 92%

Birth rate: 17.12 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.1% (male 5,468,773/female 5,217,256)

15-24 years: 15.8% (male 3,436,816/female 3,296,788)

25-54 years: 38.8% (male 8,238,184/female 8,290,649)

55-64 years: 9.1% (male 1,871,644/female 1,990,790)

65 years and over: 11.3% (male 1,987,344/female 2,812,737) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate: 97.9%

Urban population: 92% of total population

Health expenditures:8.1% of GDP

GDP per capita :$18,400

Not Catholic

1.Russia

Christian: 2%

12.11 births/1,000 population

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16% (male 11,740,877/female 11,119,318)

15-24 years: 11.5% (male 8,401,971/female 8,045,363)

25-54 years: 45.9% (male 31,945,797/female 33,417,073)

55-64 years: 13.5% (male 8,177,300/female 11,009,712)

65 years and over: 13.1% (male 5,687,515/female 12,955,556) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate: 99.7%

Urban population: 73.8% of total population

Health expenditures:6.2% of GDP

GDP per capita :$18,000

2.Greenland

Evangelical Lutheran, traditional Inuit spiritual beliefs

Birth rate:14.57 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.6% (male 6,336/female 6,147)

15-24 years: 16.8% (male 4,919/female 4,774)

25-54 years: 42.8% (male 13,083/female 11,617)

55-64 years: 10.7% (male 3,517/female 2,649)

65 years and over: 8.1% (male 2,469/female 2,203) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate: 100%

Urban population: 84% of total population

GDP per capita : $37,400

3. Ethiopian

Ethiopian Orthodox 43.5%, Muslim 33.9%, Protestant 18.6%, traditional 2.6%, Catholic 0.7%, other 0.7% (2007 Census)

Birth rate:38.07 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.4% (male 20,858,061/female 20,813,460)

15-24 years: 19.9% (male 9,258,868/female 9,382,338)

25-54 years: 29.1% (male 13,576,787/female 13,704,595)

55-64 years: 3.9% (male 1,772,448/female 1,859,364)

65 years and over: 2.8% (male 1,197,519/female 1,453,585) (2013 est.)

Literacy rate: 39%

Urban population:17% of total population

Health expenditures:4.7% of GDP

GDP per capita :$1,200

Conclusion:

Does Catholic prohibition really have an influence on birth control use (reflected in a high birth rate) or do other factors appear to play a greater role in birth rate (poverty, education, infant mortality rate, short average lifespan, etc.)? Though there is a technologically conservative prohibition against birth control among Catholic populations, does this prohibition really exist in behavior?

In the assignment, we’re asked to figure out the potential relationship between Catholicism and the birth rate. Materials of 9 countries ranging from both catholic and non-catholic showed that there is no concrete correlation between belief and birthrate. Country with high Catholicism rate like Argentine may have the same high birth rate compared to lower Catholicism country like Mexico. Birth rate of these two country are over 15 birth/ 1,000 population. Meanwhile, using contrastive analysis, it could easily found much more critical factors including age structure, education, health care and economy. From the statistic mentioned before, It’s obvious the age structures have remarkable impacts on birth rate. Countries with highest rates in young age section like Ethiopian and Mexico have the highest birth rate. On the contrary, Italy has the biggest proportion of people over 40 year old, and thus its birth rate is only 8.94 birth/1000 population. Moreover, literacy rate also reflects the status of a country’s education. Countries with low education could have higher birth rate, whereas there is no clear correlation between education and birth rate when literacy rate is higher than 80%. Ethiopian has the lowest literacy rate (39%), and correspondingly it has the highest birth rate of 38%. Furthermore, health expenditure, to some extent, reflects the development of a country’s welfare system. Parents are likely to have more kids in poor welfare system because they face more risks of losing their child and jobs. From the statistics, it’s clear that countries with low health expenditure like Ethiopian (4.7 of GDP )and Mexico (6.4 of GDP) have the highest birth rate, while other countries have relatively low birthrate. But there is no logical correlation existing when health expenditure comes to a reasonable level. Finally, economy is closely related to birth rate that birth rate approximately increases as GDP per capital decreases. Ethiopian has the lowest level of GDP per capital, and thus has the highest birth rate. To the contrast, Andorran has the highest level of 37,000 GDP per capital while it enjoys the lowest level of birth rate-8.88 birth/ 1000 population.

The amount of catholics in Russia, Greenland and Ethiopian are less than 5% of the population (here isn’t any significant prohibition against birth control), but the birth rate of both Russia and Greenland is lower than Argentine and Mexico when their GDP and other attributes are similar. All the facts lead to the conclusion that prohibition brings little impacts on birth rate. Overall, countries with the aging of population, bad medical care, poor education and low GDP per capital have more possibility of higher birth rate. As all the statistics and analysis indicates, there were roughly no existing behaviors showing the influence of technologically conservative prohibition against birth control among Catholic populations. 

3rd ASSIGNMENT: Birth Rate and Ideology by LIU, CHUNCHENG

Assignment #2 will it be adopted ? by Joshua Patrick Wells

Assignment No. 2: Will it be adopted ?Joshua Patrick Wells SID# 21559475

The Solar Bikini

1.  Description

The Solar Bikini looks and functions pretty much as it sounds. It is a bikini made out of several small solar panels, each measuring about 1'' x 1''. It has a few USB ports so that one can connect and charge several gadgets such as iPhones, iPads, laptops, reading devices such as the Nook and the like. On it's web page it is described as this ....

“Spend the entire day at the beach without worrying about your iPod battery dying. The swim wear has got photo voltaic film panels and and USB connection - and yes, it runs on solar-power. The male version is coming soon.” New York designer Andrew Schneider is currently taking very limited orders for his Solar Bikini - beachwear that can also power portable"

2. Site Info
    andrewjs.com/solarbikini.html‎
   
   
   
   
   www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxKE6P0LYC8‎
   
   
   
   
   
3. Adoption

Relative Advantages: It has relative advantages over existing

electronic chargers. The existing one needs plugs and outlets.

That means you cannot charge outside. When there is an

emergency out there and the battery is running out, nothing

can do with existing one. In this sense, this new charger is

relatively advantageous.

Relative Disadvantages: I am assuming it is rather uncomfortable and not very fashionable.

Complexity: Nothing with complexity. You just put the device on and make sure you're out in the sun.

Trialability: It's valuable to try. Just by using the device, you

can participate reducing your carbon footprint, which is very trendy and environmentally sustainable. This device

harnesses energy from the sun.

Compatibility: It is not compatible with any conditions. You can not wear it indoors and it obviously won't work in cloudy or rainy weather conditions. However for that bright sunny day at the beach, or in the park, or on your apartment roof top, where there are no power outlets or USB connectors, it is compatible. It isn't racist nor does it offend any cultures or religions, except perhaps the Amish, but maybe not ?

However...I am thinking that it is non-compatible with swimming and sand. And one could be mistaken for having a bomb attached to their waist.

Adaptability: It is fairly adaptable to other already existing devices and one is already familiar with the USB ports and how it works, however a much better design would simply be a portable solar panel that you don't have to wear.

4. Speed of Adaptability

I do not believer this item / idea will catch on in it's current form, For one thing the price is 120 pounds , that's about $200.00.  However variations of it may and I could very easily see small, transportable solar panels everywhere.

2nd Assignment by Wang, Huipu

Url:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2226731/Now-baby-help-housework-hilarious-floor-mop-babygro-goes-sale.html

The entrepreneur has combined the traditional 'onesie' babygro with specially designed mop heads fixed to the arms and legs which enable babies to polish the floor as they learn to crawl. It’s creating a new way for child to be involved into housework; meanwhile, it helps children avoid of getting their clothes dirty.

I think this product will be adopted because of its convenience and humor. Relative advantage is a notion not limited to economic value, but also includes convenience, satisfaction and etc. This product supersedes other onesie with its extreme convenience for baby indoor activities and its humor. It provide super benefits for parents since they don’t need to worry children rolling on the ground, thus able to take a rest while child are playing themselves. However, it’s not that compatible with normal beliefs. Wearing clothes with mob heads fixed to the surface is kind of strange; Moreover, mop itself is easily to be associated with dirt, therefore it will not widely accepted in its primarily stage. As for complexity, it’s not complex at all since the method of using it is exactly the same as we wear everyday clothes. Even child themselves could use it independently without new knowledge. The observability of this product is very flexible. You could make it remarkable star when you take baby out, wearing clothe like this; or you let child wear it only indoors in case of misunderstanding. The design of this product is completely different from any other clothes, so people could immediately note it once you and your baby go out. Last, the adaptability of this product is low. It’s specified for child to avoid of getting themselves dirty. Besides, it belongs to the category of clothes. Therefore, it’s such a small of market segment that only highly-specified usage could be applied.

2nd Assignment by Laura Westphal

The Mogo Stand

                       

The Mogo stand is as it advertises a human kickstand with a seat. It’s designed for leaning and elevating the leaner from supporting the full brunt of their own body mass. It can to support up to 200 lbs, anodized aluminum/fiberglass-reinforced nylon,  has a rotating rubber stopper at it’s base for traction allowing it to rest on most surfaces. Fully extended it’s 38” long but collapses down to a convenient light weight (2lbs) compact size for travel. The cost is $80-100.

Totally Adoptable!!! Just for the how-to-knowledge and convenience alone makes this a possible trendy product.

Relative Advantage: It’s adding in allowing a body to rest by transferring most of your body weight but not fully.  I does not require you to go all the way to the ground which could be dirty or if too fatigued hard to get back up.  It’s easy to operate efficient, it takes away the clumsy use of collapsible bulky lawn chairs. The cost could be an issue for some but with the cost of materials and easiness maybe not so much.

Compatibility:  It fits with the lack luster on the go lifestyle. With today’s aging baby boomers that still attend stand up concerts it defiantly has a niche, people with physical disabilities that require them not to stand for long periods of time, pregnant women, and campers/hikers, this could be the next go to REI product.  A disadvantage is it’s weight capacity but at the same time it gives an air of “I’m still kinda trying not to just sit on my ass” so it’s not for the obese.

Adaptability: I could be used as a self defense weapon, a walking stick, if made more stylish for urban settings like waiting for the Bart when all the seats are taken, a stand support for something leaning in your house (stacks of news papers).

Observably: I can fore see it being a fairly slow process of adoption because even with wide spread marketing it seems like a product that sells more by of word of mouth. 

http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/standing-support