Unified Modeling Language (UML)

Introduction Modeling means designing of software before coding. It is not easy to visualize software before developing it. Therefore, a visual model such as UML makes it simple to understand, by visualizing it from multiple dimensions. This paper discusses the various functions of UML, and why it was developed. It will conclude by discussing its impact on modeling.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Unified Modeling Language (UML) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Functions of UML UML is a third generation object oriented programming language created, and managed by the Object Management Group from 1997 (Erickson, 2008) It produces standard visual models for software applications and system architectures. UML was used to analyze future application requirements with solutions that met them, using customized diagrams. It shaped models that provided design solutions that were to be delivered by software system s (Deitel Deitel, 2008). To ensure that the system went through technical analysis process for satisfactory development, a model had to be formulated. Properly modeled systems helped in minimizing loss of information and misinterpretation in communicating the decisions taken during development. Team members developing a system would have a better understanding on how to go about the implementation process if an appropriate and, user definable model was created for that system. Why UML was developed Different companies initially defined their requirements in languages that were totally unfamiliar to software vendors hence the need to produce a unified language that would simplify modeling and make it understandable by all vendors. UML is a communication tool which gets key information of what the code should do. It is an architectural tool which makes obstacles to be seen from high levels. Software that are poorly documented or not documented at all can make a company lose command o f what the software operates, thus making modeling a vital tool in software development. UML was created to be used in modeling of software intensive systems by use of diagrammatic models making it easy to introduce more objects to an existing project. Its visual models provided the ability to convey large amounts of complex information in ways that were easy to understand (Mammar,   Laleau, 2006). Requirement gathering stage also required this kind of language where used case diagrams show users what to do as well as what the system needs to do for them. They were also suited as basis for testing applications and forming user guides.Advertising Looking for research paper on communications media? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Impact of UML on modeling It led to more accurate systems with better performance than older systems. Being object oriented, it led to web development which wasn’t previously on the minds of p rogrammers. Systems that were developed without modeling mostly deviated from their requirements. Increasing model coverage would help reduce incorrect implementation of systems. UML went further to reduce the defect density in software systems compared to those developed without modeling. The right decisions can now be made earlier in the development process and re-usable code identified therefore producing a system with the highest efficiency, and low development costs. Re-work in development lifecycle has been eliminated since that whole system can be viewed before implementation starts (Booch, Rumbaugh, Jacobson, 2005). New members can find it very easy to integrate into the development team through the visual assistance offered by the easy to understand UML diagrams. The efficient documentation of the system also makes it easy for internal and external stakeholders to share. In the case where incremental software development model is employed, UMLs allow the developer to first fulfill areas that are urgently required for the project to work while still developing other additional extensions hence maximizing reusability. Different parts of the same complex model can be independently implemented by different groups if the UML models are user-definable. Conclusion For system requirements to be easily understood by implementation groups, it’s important to employ UMLs since they simplify the system, and make reusability and maintainability simpler. References Booch, G., Rumbaugh, J., Jacobson, I. (2005). The unified modeling language user guide (2nd ed.). MA: Addison-Wesley. Deitel, P.J., Deitel, H.M. (2008). C++ how to program (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall. Erickson, J. (2008). A decade and more of UML: An overview of UML semantic and structural issues and UML field use. Journal of Database Management Vol. 19(3), p. I-VII. Retrieved from ProQuest Database.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Uni fied Modeling Language (UML) specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Mammar,  A., Laleau, R. (2006). UB2SQL:  A  tool for building  database  applications using  UML  and B formal method.  Journal of Database Management, Vol. 17(4), 70-89. This research paper on Unified Modeling Language (UML) was written and submitted by user Ge0rg1a to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Film review Freaky Friday Essays

Film review Freaky Friday Essays Film review Freaky Friday Paper Film review Freaky Friday Paper Freaky Friday (also known as Fortune Cookie in Japan) is a 2003 comedy based on the novel of the same name by Mary Rodgers. It stars Lindsay Lohan as Anna Coleman and Jamie Lee Curtis as her mother Tess Coleman. The wide generation gap between mother and her teenage daughter is more than evident. They simply cannot understand each others preferences. On a Thursday night they have a big argument in a Chinese restaurant. Both receive a fortune cookie each from the restaurant owners mother which causes them to switch bodies next day. As they adjust with their new personalities, they begin to understand each other more and eventually its the mutual self-respect that sorts the things out. It also stars actors Mark Harmon and Chad Michael Murray.This is the third time this film has been made by Disney, and the second in ten years. The original film was made in 1976 and starred Barbara Harris as the mother and Jodie Foster as the daughter. A 1995 television remake was produced for ABC. A sl eeper success in the United States since its summer release, the modestly-budgeted film cost just $25m to make and has gone on to gross over $100m. Film has won 5 different awards ( for ex. female acting) and also it was nominated for Golden Globe and 10 other nominations. Film was directed by Mark Waters . Produced by Andrew Gunn, Mario Iscovich, Ann Marie Sanderlin.It seems that there will always be a market for a wholesome family film in which a younger girl battles with an older female figure and the success of Freaky Friday resembles the similar box office achievement of last years Princess Diaries. Hollywood execs will no doubt be looking at this genre carefully and trying to put their own projects into development for the next holiday season.The film couldnt be more of a contrast however to the recent mother/daughter feud pic Thirteen. There girls took drugs, had piercings, drank and had sex. Theres none of that in Freaky Friday, where the turbulent teenagers mood swings and her hyper-organised mothers lives really reflect good wholesome American values: success through hard work, keeping a family unit together, and understanding each others needs through regular communication.Curtis plays the mother, a successful psychologist (she has a collection of comedy value wacky patients), writer and widower about to remarry the perfect Mark Harmon. However, her daughter Annabell (Lindsey Lohan) gets Fs in English, never wants to get up for school and has only her pop band on her mind. Things come to a head when Annabells band have a major audition on the night of Tess wedding rehearsal, and a strange incident involving Chinese fortune cookies transplants both characters into each others bodies.Comic capers inevitably ensue, with the daughter unable to cope with her mothers hectic lifestyle and Curtis coming over all coy in the wake of the admiring glances she gets from her daughters classmates. Theres plenty of confusion and slapstick humour which both Curtis a nd Lohan jump into energetically, although Harmon touted as a rising star back in the 80s when he made The Presidio does suffer from having the most one-dimensional character to play.This is gentle, unchallenging stuff whose gushy ending can be seen a mile off. Its curiously old-fashioned in its morals, although there is nothing wrong with the occasional slice of wholesome family entertainment. There can be little doubt that a sequel must already be in the offing.

Consumers Perspectives of Mental Health Care Essay

Consumers Perspectives of Mental Health Care - Essay Example This is known as consumer participation and simply refers to participation of consumers (mental illness patients) in the formal or informal development of plans, models of delivery, implementation and appraisal of the entire realm of activities that form mental health care. What really are the benefits and limitations of consumer participation in provision of mental health care? This study seeks to provide the answers to this question and the approach undertaken will be a review of literature focusing on the perspectives of researchers, policy makers, nursing text and relevant consumer accounts. This will be followed by a summary of the findings which will inform the conclusion of the essay. Benefits and Disadvantages of Consumer participation in Mental Healthcare The best way to study this is to establish the perspectives of the various stakeholders in mental healthcare i.e. consumers, carers, researchers, policy makers and health professionals. Timimi (2011, p. 4) weighs the import ance of the psychotherapeutic model adopted by healthcare professionals in terms of positive outcomes and indicates that the outcome is not significantly related to the psychotherapeutic technique selected instead stating that a strong therapeutic alliance with the patient is of primary importance. This is evidence-based as opposed to traditional expertise that places primary importance on mental healthcare under the paradigms of making a diagnosis and implementing treatment. Of particular note is that both biomedical and psychological aspects (for instance use of antidepressants and cognitive behaviour therapy respectively) have been studied and found to bear similar improvements on patients and no significant differences in terms of outcomes regardless of the technique used. One such study involved groups of depression patients treated with CBT, Interpersonal Therapy, antidepressants and placebos and the results indicated significant improvements in all the cases and no significan t differences between the first three versus the placebo group. The underlining factor evidenced by this study was the quality of the relationship between the therapist and the patient as perceived by the patient in the early phases of treatment. The conclusions from such studies and meta-analyses is that the treatment is important in placing the consumer in a given psychological state that is important for their healing especially as evidenced by the fact that such treatments are efficacious across several conditions regardless of diagnosis. The important cross-cutting factor during treatment instead lies in the therapeutic alliance between the patient and the therapist. Hence a good relationship with the prescribing doctor is far more important for a positive response to the treatment implemented than just merely offering the drug (Timimi 2011, p. 5). This study importantly points us to the role of the patient in treatment and thus participation. Griffith and Jenkins (2004, pp. 41 -50) conducted a study to find out the perceived advantages and disadvantages of consumer participation in mental healthcare research and inferred a number of pros and cons based on the views of the various stakeholders. The general view across all groups was an agreement that consumer participation led to improved health outcomes and improved services to the patients. Involving consumers was found to result in consumer empowerment through acknowledgement of their expertise,