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On-line version ISSN 2071-0771
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Koedoe vol.56 n.2 Pretoria Feb. 2014
Evaluating the effectiveness of guided versus non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Mark RobertsI; Kevin MearnsII; Victoria EdwardsIII
ISchool of Environmental Design and Management, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom
IIDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, South Africa
IIISchool of Real Estate and Planning, Henley Business School, University of Reading, United Kingdom
In the face of growing pressure placed on the natural environment, the study on which this article is based considered the effectiveness of interpretive provision in mitigating the harmful effects of tourism on the environment. The aim of this research was to determine whether guided or non-guided interpretation is most effective in reaching the stated goals of interpretation. The four key goals of interpretation, namely visitor satisfaction, knowledge gain, attitude change and modification of behaviour intent, were used in the assessment of the relative effectiveness of guided and non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Through comparing responses to questionnaires from post-visit samples and observing both guided and non-guided interpretation, the research found that guided interpretation was only marginally more effective in reaching the four key goals of interpretation than the non-guided interpretive media. Guided interpretation was found to be more effective in terms of visitor satisfaction, whilst guided and non-guided interpretation had only marginal differences in effectiveness in relation to knowledge gain, attitude change and intent to modify behaviour.
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS: The necessity of implementing an appropriate interpretation programme within protected areas cannot be overemphasised. The interpretation programme should be designed to include elements of both guided and non-guided interpretation in order to achieve a predetermined goal. The effectiveness of the programme should be evaluated periodically and amended where appropriate.
The worldwide increase in tourism to natural areas has led to the notion that we are 'loving national parks to death' and this is becoming a major concern for national park managers (Vaske, Donnelly & Whittaker 2000). The inherent fragile and unique nature of national parks and conservation areas suggests that they will be more severely affected by human activity (Weaver 2000). One of the most pressing problems of many national parks is how to cope with the growing number of visitors (World Tourism Organisation [WTO] 1992). An important measure of both the success and the sustainability of tourism in national parks and protected areas is the management of visitor impacts to ensure the long-term protection of the natural and cultural resources as well as continued visitor enjoyment and use (Marion & Farrell 1998). Allowing visitor use makes impacts unavoidable; these impacts need to be managed. Visitor management in national parks seeks to redress this situation through the protection of natural and cultural resources and the provision of tourist activities and experiences. Without effective visitor management, tourism can lead to adverse impacts on the natural, cultural and heritage environments to the extent that they may also negatively affect visitor satisfaction (Shackley 1998). Effective interpretation can make a substantial contribution to improving the sustainability of tourism and, as a result, reduce the associated impacts from tourism (Moscardo 1996, 1998). Interpretation has already been recognised as no longer being a frill or a 'luxury' but an essential management function for every park or recreation area (Herbst 1979). Consequently, national park managers agree on the necessity to introduce interpretation programmes. The questions that arise for these managers within a constrained financial paradigm relate to the type of interpretation that should be implemented, as well as the effectiveness of the chosen type of interpretation. This research examined visitor perceptions in order to determine whether guided or non-guided interpretation is most effective in reaching predetermined goals of interpretation.
Literature review
Tourism is increasingly being seen as an important means through which the natural resources of national parks and conservation areas can generate revenues to ensure their long-term economic sustainability (Weaver 2000). Tourism growth to natural areas is now reaching levels where the impacts may be just as detrimental as other industrial sectors. Concern for the environmental consequences of tourism has grown since the 1990s (Buckley & Pannell 1990; Hjalager 1996; WTO 1995). Interpretation has been recognised as an important solution to reduce these impacts whilst also educating the visitor to achieve the goals of sustainable tourism development (Ballantyne et al. 2007). Sustainable living and conservation have become hotly debated topics over recent years, with many commentators seeing social learning as a high priority on the environmental agenda. Through the concept of citizenship, it is thought that teaching in formal or informal settings might encourage and enable all members of society to contribute to the 'common good'. With the high visitor numbers recorded to nature reserves and national parks, it has been acknowledged that interpretation could aid development of environmental citizenship and, as a result, it is seen as an essential component of national park management.
Although there are numerous definitions of interpretation, they all centre on the idea of translating information from the scientist, the historian and the manager to the visitor or layperson (ed. McArthur 1998; Ward & Wilkinson 2006). The most widely accepted definition of interpretation is that of Tilden (1977):
Interpretation is an educational activity which aims to reveal meaning and relationships through the use of original objects, by first-hand experience, and by illustrative media, rather than simply to communicate factual information. (p. 8)
As Tilden's definition suggests, interpretation is an approach to communicating which stresses the transfer of ideas and relationships rather than just facts and figures. This separates interpretation from conventional education. Since Tilden first published his work in 1977, many people and organisations have adopted their own interpretation or definition of 'interpretation'. The overarching theme of these definitions indicates that there is consensus that interpretation is a means of communicating visitor relationships with the environment, not just imparting scientific facts.
Environmental interpretation has been in existence for a long time. In 1919, the US National Park Service started to develop guided activities for visitors (Aldridge 1973). At the same time in South Africa, guides for visitors to national parks were being produced. The recent development of the interpretive philosophy and techniques has not just been related to natural areas, but has moved to include all aspects of heritage of a geographical area which are worth conserving for future generations. Interpretation is increasingly believed to play a role in influencing visitor beliefs, attitudes, knowledge and behaviours (Hughes & Morrison-Saunders 2005; Kohl 2004; Kuo 2002; Moscardo 1998). Ham, Housego and Weiler (2005) suggest that when interpretation is carried out in protected areas, it is expected that it will encourage appropriate use, support responsible management and foster long-term conservation goals.
Ward and Wilkinson (2006) divide interpretation into two types, namely personal and non-personal. Wearing et al. (2007) concur with this notion and divide interpretation into two categories, (1) guided (e.g. guided walks) or (2) non-guided (e.g. boards) on the basis of delivery technique. Guided interpretive programmes are developed to utilise direct contact between the public and an interpreter or guide. Non-guided interpretive programmes are developed so that visitors do not have physical interaction or discourse with an interpreter or guide, but rather connect through different objects, media and resources. The investigation on which this article is based compared these two types of interpretation and their effectiveness.
Although there is no consensus on what successful or effective interpretation is, a number of authors have argued that interpretation should do one or more of the following, (1) enhance visitor experiences, (2) protect resources at sites, (3) protect visitors, (4) increase public support for an agency and its management policies, (5) add to or broaden visitors' perspectives about a place or idea and (6) enhance their knowledge and foster positive attitudes and behaviours with respect to the natural and cultural environment (Beck & Cable 1998; Ham 1992; Ham & Krumpe 1995; Ham et al. 2005; Knudson, Cable & Beck 1995; Lewis 1980; Moscardo, Ballantyne & Hughes 2006; Regnier, Gross & Zimmerman 1994; Sharpe 1982; Ward & Wilkinson 2006). As a result, the goals of interpretation are, (1) to satisfy visitors, (2) to instil knowledge gain, (3) to achieve attitude change and, consequently, (4) to achieve behavioural change (Hughes & Morrison-Saunders 2005; Kohl 2004; Kuo 2002; Moscardo 1998). For the greatest achievement of all four goals, managers need to know how to deliver interpretation effectively. Lubbe (2003) argues that in South Africa there is a dire need for good interpretation, so that tourists 'will keep coming back'. Whilst what is communicated to tourists is important, the manner in which it is communicated is equally important (Lubbe 2003). The aim of this research was to compare the effectiveness of guided and non-guided interpretation in achieving the four stated goals of interpretation in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and to draw conclusions for a wider audience. The research analysed visitor perceptions after guided or non-guided interpretation experiences in relation to the stated goals of interpretation.
Uzzell (1998) contends that the evaluation of interpretation is recommended, but is rarely conducted. It is essential for managers to know if their chosen management tool is effective, thus preventing managers from spending scarce resources on tools that do not work (Brown, McCool & Manfredo 1987; Gunderson et al. 2000). The most commonly evaluated outcomes of interpretation in research studies have been increased knowledge and attitude change, as they are generally easier to measure. Results of previous studies evaluating interpretation have left uncertainty over the effectiveness of interpretation - for this reason further research is necessary. Weiler and Smith (2009) state that there is an urgent need to develop strategies for assessing the effectiveness of interpretation programmes. This study attempted to aid in the development of a method for the assessment of the effectiveness of interpretation programmes in relation to the four goals of interpretation.
Visitor satisfaction
Making recreational experiences more enjoyable is almost always a goal of interpretation (Knudson et al. 1995). Pearce and Moscardo (1998) found that interpretation at the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway near Cairns, Australia was positively linked to enhanced visitor satisfaction. In turn, Ham and Weiler (2000) found that five interpretive services in the Panama Canal protected areas contributed to overall tourist satisfaction. Interpretation must be enjoyable in order to hold visitors' attention (Ham 1992; Sharpe 1982). Although entertainment and satisfaction are not the only goals of interpretation they are important indicators of successful interpretation.
Knowledge gain
Interpretation can reveal a world many may not have seen before (Ham 1992; ed. Larsen 2003; Pastorelli 2003; Regnier et al. 1994; Ward & Wilkinson 2006). Lee and Balchin (1995) suggest that in psychological terms the aim of interpretation is to achieve learning and, by helping visitors to better understand the idea of coexisting with the environment, their awareness of their place in the total environment may be enhanced (Sharpe 1982; Tisdell & Wilson 2001). Phillips (1989) believes that the chief measure of interpretive effectiveness is whether information has been conveyed to the visitor. Orams (1996) concurs with this statement and further suggests that through increasing visitors' knowledge or understanding, interpretation could potentially prompt more environmentally responsible behaviour.
Attitude change
If interpretation succeeds in increasing visitors' understanding of the places they visit, it is hoped that it will lead to the respect for an area (Bramwell & Lane 1993). Interpretation aims to broaden awareness and concern and to assist people in building relationships with, or understanding interrelationships between, what they are observing at the site and in their lives (ed. Larsen 2003; Lewis 1980). Iozzi (1989) argues that interpretation must include activities that are specifically designed to change the attitudes of the visitor.
Behavioural change
If interpretation is to be an effective technique in managing tourist-nature interaction and achieving sustainable development, it should do more than simply increase knowledge and understanding; it should prompt behaviour change (Moscardo 1996; Orams 1997). At a basic level, interpretation should seek to manage people's behaviour through the encouragement of their own personal development and self-realisation so that the way they behave is respectful of the potential impact their actions may have (Krippendorf 1987; Orams 1997). It is proposed that through interpretation, people will be encouraged to act in more appropriate ways (Ballantyne et al. 2007; O'Riordan, Shadrake & Wood 1989; Stewart, Hayward & Devlin 1998). Higham and Carr (2002) suggest that interpretation programmes may foster behavioural change relating to domestic lifestyle, which may contribute to the long-term benefit of the environment.
Evaluation of interpretive programmes
There have been a number of studies since the 1970s that have evaluated the influence of interpretation, with the large majority of these focusing on knowledge or attitude change amongst visitors. Some authors (McGehee & Santos 2005; Russell & Hodson 2002; Ryan, Hughes & Hirgwin 2000) have highlighted the importance of evoking emotion as a means to encourage positive environmental behaviour amongst visitors. Munro, Morrison-Saunders and Hughes (2008) suggest that this may be difficult to achieve through text-based signs compared with interaction through a guide. Other authors (Mallick & Driessen 2003; Orams 1996; Townsend 2003) have linked programme success with providing visitors with an opportunity to act upon newly formed attitudes and intentions. There is evidence that guided interpretation enhances the quality of the visitor experiences. Forestry Tasmania (1994), Hughes (1991), Moscardo (1998) and Schänzel and Mcintosh (2000) linked success of interpretive programmes with guided communication. The evaluation of interpretive programmes is difficult for two main reasons. Firstly, there can be many ensuing experiences as a result of interpretation, such as inspiration and enjoyment, which cannot be measured by standard methodologies (Beckmann 1991). Secondly, interpretation takes place in recreational areas where many other aspects influence both visitors and interpretation: these influences can be difficult to control (McDonough 1986). In a literature study reviewing 21 articles that evaluated the outcomes of environmental interpretation programmes, Munro et al. (2008) found that about half of the studies had used post-experience sampling to evaluate interpretive influences on visitors. The Munro et al. (2008) study illustrates the spectrum of evaluation methods used in the field and that any attempt to apply a single evaluative process in environmental interpretation would probably favour certain methodologies.
Moscardo (1998) and Beaumont (2001) propose that research efforts to measure the effectiveness of interpretation can be put into two categories. The first is research that measures visitors' perceived satisfaction, knowledge gain, attitude and behavioural intentions (e.g. asking visitors to reflect on what they think they learned as a result of their experience). The second category includes research that aims to measure actual outcomes. Knowing how visitors feel when they come away from an experience is important as it provides a measure of the quality of the experience and visitors' satisfaction with their experience. This article follows the first approach.
There have been mixed results from studies that have evaluated the effectiveness of interpretation on influencing visitors' enjoyment, knowledge gain, attitude change and behavioural intentions. Some studies have found that interpretation has increased visitor enjoyment and knowledge, modified attitudes and increased behavioural intentions, whilst other studies have found that interpretation has had no effect. Munro et al. (2008) found that out of the 21 case studies reviewed, 19 considered the interpretive programme that was evaluated to be successful or at least partly successful. Guided experiences are generally accepted as the most effective form of interpretation, provided that it is well planned and implemented (Armstrong & Weiler 2002; Beaumont 2001; Brody, Tomkiewicz & Graves 2002; Ham 1992; Hughes & Morrison-Saunders 2005; Luck 2003; Tubb 2003). However, an extensive review of the literature revealed that no direct comparison has been made between the relative effectiveness of guided and non-guided interpretation. This is supported by Weiler and Smith (2009), which confirms that there is a general lack of research on different interpretation techniques. The study that informed this article made a direct comparison between guided and non-guided interpretation in the KNP.
Research method and design
Moscardo (1998) and Beaumont (2001) separate interpretation evaluation into two categories, (1) visitor perceptions and (2) actual outcomes. The research reported in this article followed the first methodological approach, making visitor perceptions the focus of the study in evaluating the effectiveness of interpretive programmes. The research used a post-visit survey questionnaire to identify visitors' perceived outcomes of interpretation, assessed against the four main goals of interpretation, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the two types of interpretation (30 guided and 30 non-guided questionnaires). Observations were also used to verify data collected in the survey responses and to add depth of understanding to the survey data (Kuo 2002; Novey & Hall 2007; Tubb 2003).
The KNP was proclaimed in 1926; since then tourism has developed significantly and, in 2008, the Park already attracted in excess of one million visitors annually (Van der Merwe & Saayman 2008). The KNP is located in the northeast of South Africa, bordering the Limpopo National Park of Mozambique. This research was conducted in 2010 in the Letaba Rest Camp in the KNP. Letaba is situated on the bend of the Letaba River, midway between the southern and northern boundaries of the KNP.
The guided interpretation evaluation was conducted after night drives that were undertaken in the company of trained field guides. Night tours last for two hours, during which the guides accompany up to 24 people whilst offering commentary on geographical sites and wildlife sightings. The non-guided interpretation was undertaken after visitors exited the Elephant Hall museum in Letaba, which covers elephant evolution, biology, behaviour, ecology and research. The Elephant Hall also showcases the ivory of eight of the KNP's greatest tuskers, including six of the 'magnificent seven'. This non-guided experience consists of several interpretive styles, which include both interactive and standard displays.
The visitor survey was designed in order to determine visitor satisfaction, perceived knowledge gain, attitude change and the visitor's intent to change their behaviour. Socio-demographic questions were also included in order to obtain a profile of the visitors participating in the study.
The questionnaire was designed to allow for comparison between guided and non-guided interpretation. This meant that the questionnaire was designed to be non-specific to site and interpretive media (Munro et al. 2008). The questionnaire used a combination of open-ended and closed-ended questions, as well as Likert scale questions. In the Likert scale questions respondents were shown a statement and were asked to indicate their level of agreement or disagreement with that statement with a ranking score of 1-5 (1 being 'strongly disagree', showing lower effectiveness levels; 2, 3 and 4 representing a continuum, until 5 being 'strongly agree', showing higher levels of effectiveness). These responses were used to determine the effectiveness of the different interpretation techniques in terms of the four goals of interpretation, namely visitor satisfaction, knowledge, attitude and behavioural intent. The survey was conducted on site at exit points of guided and non-guided interpretive settings. Data were collected from a self-administered questionnaire. The survey scope was explained to each respondent. The researchers also explained that the survey was anonymous and confidential. The questionnaire was then handed to any visitor over the age of eighteen. Visitors were asked to reflect on the experience they had just received and complete the questionnaire on site. The researchers were present to clarify any possible issues or concerns.
Observations were conducted as a secondary tool of research. As the actions and behaviour of people are a central aspect in this study, a natural and obvious technique is to watch what they do, record this information and then describe, analyse and interpret what has been observed. The researchers participated in the tours and the interpretive experience whilst observing visitors' actions, behaviours and interpretation participation, as well as assessing both guided and non-guided interpretation programmes. Observations were undertaken as discretely as possible to limit the intrusion on the guides and the visitors. Digital photographs were taken as a memory aid. Novey and Hall (2007) explains that by immersing themselves in the research setting and remaining anonymous, researchers can observe dimensions of visitors' behaviour, interactions and actions. Observations added a depth of understanding to data collected through the visitor survey.
The discussion of the results follows the four goals of interpretation, namely, (1) visitor satisfaction, (2) knowledge gain, (3) attitude change and (4) intent to modify behaviour.
Level of visitor satisfaction
Guided interpretation in the KNP was found to be statistically more effective than the non-guided interpretive media at raising levels of satisfaction (p = 6 x 10-5, p < 0.05). The overall average Likert-scale responses by the visitors in term of the series of statements in relation to visitor satisfaction was 4.09 for non-guided interpretation and 4.49 for guided interpretation, indicating that the visitor satisfaction levels were higher for the guided interpretation than the non-guided interpretation.
Amongst the reasons given by respondents for their heightened satisfaction levels were, (1) the excellent knowledge of the guide, (2) the guide's personality, (3) seeing animals and (4) the ability of the guide to answer questions when asked. The guide was also considered to be very humorous and this seemed to hold the visitors' attention, drawing a good response from them. The visitors seemed to be very relaxed during the drive, joking and laughing with each other, which could reflect the guide's ability to act as a successful host. However, although guided interpretation was found to be more enjoyable, some reasons for dissatisfaction were given. For example, visitors noted that they were given the incorrect time for the tour departure and that the guide was sometimes difficult to understand because of a heavy accent and being softly spoken.
Reasons for satisfaction with the non-guided interpretation were given as information, elephant skulls and skeleton displays and the interpretive displays. For the non-guided interpretation, respondents indicated that they had enjoyed the interactive displays that were present at the Elephant Hall. This suggests that a large proportion of respondents enjoyed learning through interactive means. Interactive displays showing the heights of elephants compared to humans were very popular with visitors. Visitors were observed measuring themselves against elephant and human heights at various ages. Reasons for dissatisfaction in relation to non-guided interpretation by respondents indicated that there were not enough interactive displays and that many of the displays were old. The findings in relation to visitor satisfaction in this research concur with the findings of Moscardo (1998) and Schanzel and McIntosh (2000) that visitor satisfaction is higher in guided interpretation programmes.
Level of knowledge gain
The non-guided interpretive media at the KNP received a higher mean Likert-scale score for respondents' perceived knowledge gain (3.68), compared to 3.63 for guided interpretation; however, the difference was not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.03, p > 0.05). When asked to mention two things they had learnt as a result of the interpretation, over 80% of the guided tour respondents were able to give one or more specific details they had learnt compared to only 30% of those respondents who had attended the non-guided interpretation. This shows that those who had attended the guided interpretation in the KNP were able to recall facts passed on by the interpreter better than those who participated in the non-guided interpretation. The guide of the nightly game drives was able to hold the visitors' attention with anecdotes, enthusiasm and knowledge.
In contrast, the researchers noted that, on average, visitors spent between 20 min and 25 min in the Elephant Hall (non-guided interpretation). The researchers believe that it is not possible to read all the information on display in the Elephant Hall within that time scale. A time estimate for reading all the interpretive material in the Elephant Hall will be around 3 h. The non-guided interpretation was unable to hold the visitors' attention for long periods of time, which has an impact on the knowledge gained by the visitor. Section signs within the Elephant Hall tell the visitor what they are about to read in the forthcoming section. This interpretation draws the visitor's eye in an effective manner. However, the majority of the interpretation on show in the Elephant Hall is not of recent design and has a great deal of information packed onto the displays, which means that there is a large amount for visitors to read and take in. Some of the displays are difficult to follow, as there is no obvious route to follow and display cases offer no natural flow to visitors. The small blocks of writing within the cases appeared to be unappealing to the visitors as observing people's behaviour revealed few people stopped to read about the contents of the display cases. The researchers also noted that the explanatory cards contained a great deal of writing. Large amounts of writing may affect the visitors' desire to read further, resulting in the possibility that the viewers ignore the signage completely. However, there seemed to be a greater perceived knowledge gain from non-guided interpretation amongst the respondents.
Degree of attitude change
Guided interpretation was found to be more effective at provoking attitude change amongst respondents, with an average Likert-scale score of 4.31, compared to 4.29 for non-guided interpretation. However, the difference was not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.47, p > 0.05). In terms of attitude change, guided and non-guided interpretation delivered similar results.
Intent to modify behaviour
Guided interpretation received a marginally higher mean score for respondents' intent to change behaviour (3.78) than that found for respondents of the non-guided interpretation (3.73). However, the difference was not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.48,p > 0.05). Both groups of respondents had high levels of education and showed prior environmental commitment through membership of environmental organisations and completion of courses and training, which may have affected their behavioural intent. At the start of the nightly game drives in the KNP, the guide gives a safety and behaviour awareness talk before the game viewing vehicle leaves the camp. The guide explains that visitors should remain in the vehicle at all times, refrain from allowing any body parts to protrude from the vehicle and, for the safety of all visitors, they are advised to remain seated whilst the vehicle is in motion. The researcher noticed that on several occasions the third message was not adhered to as many guests chose to stand whilst the vehicle was in motion, which suggests that the introductory safety message was not effective in that respect. According to Hu and Wall (2012), tour guides play a critical role in striving towards sustainable tourism in national parks and protected areas. The intent to modify behaviour was very similar in guided and non-guided interpretation.
Ethical considerations
Ethical approval for undertaking the research was obtained through the University of Portsmouth, School of Environmental Design and Management ethics committee. The research was also conducted under the consent and approval of the South African National Parks Board Social Sciences Research Department Coordinator.
All the participants in the study took part voluntarily, after they were informed of the objectives of the study and the completion of an informed consent agreement. All participants were entitled to withdraw from the study at any point. The completed questionnaires were also completed anonymously and confidentially. The original completed questionnaires were scanned and digitally stored with password protection, after which the original questionnaires were destroyed. The password protection was also maintained through the data encoding and analysis phases of the research.
To ensure validity and reliability of responses with the survey technique, the questionnaire was pre-tested on five visitors exiting the Elephant Hall at Letaba Camp in the KNP. After the collection of the five pretested questionnaires, the results were briefly analysed in order to determine if the required research instrument would deliver the expected results. This was found to be the case. During the entire period during which the questionnaires were being completed, the researchers were available should additional clarity be sought by the participants.
Using the above results, the average scores for all four goals of interpretation are listed in Table 1. The combined interpretation scores for the four goals of interpretation indicated that there is only a marginal difference in the effectiveness between guided (4.05) and non-guided (3.95) interpretation, the only really notable difference being in terms of visitor satisfaction, which is much higher in guided interpretation.
In order to further explore the effectiveness of the different interpretation methods, visitors were asked to indicate their preferences in terms of interpretation type. These results are discussed below.
Visitor preference of interpretation type
Firstly, 83% and 87% of the respondents indicated a preference for guided interpretation to non-guided interpretation, respectively (Table 2). The visitors who completed both the guided and the non-guided interpretation indicated that their preferred type of interpretation was guided interpretation. Secondly, 39% of the respondents indicated that they believe guided interpretation to be more educational, whilst 22% of the respondents preferring guided interpretation attributed their preference to enjoying the personal aspect of having a guide (Table 3). A respondent from the non-guided Elephant Hall interpretation attributed their preference of guided interpretation to it being 'more informative' and to their view that guided interpretation requires 'less effort in receiving information'.
Visitors preferring non-guided interpretation stated that freedom (50%) and reduced costs (18%) were the most important reasons for respondents to prefer non-guided interpretation.
Increased tourism and the growing pressure on tourist sites and the environment have called for national parks and conservation areas to recognise the need for appropriate visitor management and interpretation. The aim of the research reported in this article was to utilise visitor perceptions to determine whether guided or non-guided interpretation is most effective in reaching the goals of interpretation. It was found that only marginal differences in the effectiveness between guided and non-guided interpretation exist. Although visitor satisfaction levels were higher in guided interpretation, the other three goals of interpretation, namely knowledge gain, attitude change and intent to change behaviour were only marginally different. The research has added depth of understanding to the general agreement amongst many authors that guided or personal forms of interpretation are the most effective, provided they are well planned and implemented (Armstrong & Weiler 2002; Beaumont 2001; Brody et al. 2002; Ham 1992; Hughes & Morrison-Saunders 2005; Luck 2003; Tubb 2003). This study provides valuable evidence that the effectiveness of interpretation can be measured through ascertaining visitor perceptions in relation to the four goals of interpretation. Interpretive planners should redesign both guided and non-guided interpretation programmes within the Kruger National Park to be more effective in terms of all four goals of interpretation. Interpretation should be seen as being vital to the conservation and preservation of natural areas as it aims to change visitors' attitudes and behaviours towards creating more environmentally responsible tourists that will ensure the long-term viability and sustainability of natural areas.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.
Authors' contributions
M.R. (University of Portsmouth) conducted the research as part of his Masters dissertation in Ecotourism and co-authored the article. K.M. (University of South Africa) supervised the academic research and co-authored the article, whilst V.E. (University of Reading) was the supervisor of the academic research.
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Larsen, D. (ed.), 2003, Meaningful interpretation - How to connect hearts and minds to places, objects and other resources, U.S. National Park Service, Fort Washington. [ Links ]
Lee, T. & Balchin, N., 1995, 'Learning and attitude change at British Nuclear Fuel's Sellafield visitors centre', Journal of Environmental Psychology 15, 283-298. http://dx.doi.org/10.1006/jevp.1995.0025 [ Links ]
Lewis, W., 1980, Interpreting for park visitors, Eastern Acorn Press, Philadelphia. [ Links ]
Lubbe, B.A., 2003, Tourism management in South Africa, Pearson Education, Cape Town. [ Links ]
Luck, M., 2003, 'Education on Marine Mamma tours as agent for conservation - But do tourists want to be educated?', Ocean & Coastal Management 46(9), 943-956. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0964-5691(03)00071-1 [ Links ]
Mallick, S.A. & Driessen, M.M., 2003, 'Feeding of wildlife: How effective are the "Keep Wildlife Wild" signs in Tasmania's National Parks?', Ecological Management and Restoration 4(3), 199-204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-8903.2003.00157.x [ Links ]
Marion, J.L. & Farrell, T.A., 1998, 'Managing ecotourism visitation in protected areas', in K. Lindberg, M.E. Wood & D. Engeldrum (eds.), Ecotourism: A guide for planners and managers, vol. 2, pp. 155-181, The Ecotourism Society, Washington, DC. [ Links ]
McArthur, S. (ed.), 1998, Introducing the undercapitalised world of interpretation, vol. 2, The Ecotourism Society, Washington, DC. PMid:10451319 [ Links ]
McDonough, M.H., 1986, 'Evaluation: The interpreter's dilemma', in G.E. Machlis (ed.), Interpretive views: Opinions on evaluating interpretation in the National Parks Service, pp. 99-105, National Parks Conservation Association, Washington, DC. PMCid:PMC239163 [ Links ]
McGehee, N.G. & Santos, C.A., 2005, 'Social change, discourse and volunteer tourism', Annals of Tourism Research 32(3), 760-779. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2004.12.002 [ Links ]
Moscardo, G., 1996, 'Mindful visitors - Heritage and tourism', Annals of Tourism Research 23(2), 376-397. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(95)00068-2 [ Links ]
Moscardo, G., 1998, 'Interpretation and sustainable tourism: Functions, examples and principles', Journal of Tourism Studies 9(1), 2-13. [ Links ]
Moscardo, G., Ballantyne, R. & Hughes, K., 2006, Interpretive signs and exhibits -Principles in practice, Fulcrum Books, Golden. PMCid:PMC1600016 [ Links ]
Munro, J.K., Morrison-Saunders, A. & Hughes, M., 2008, 'Environmental interpretation evaluation in natural areas', Journal of Ecotourism 7(1), 1-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.2167/joe137.0 [ Links ]
Novey, L.T. & Hall, T.E., 2007, 'The effect of audio tours on learning and social interaction: An evaluation at Carlsbad Caverns National Park', Science Education 91(2), 201-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sce.20184 [ Links ]
Orams, M.B., 1996, 'Using interpretation to manage nature-based tourism', Journal of Sustainable Tourism 4(2), 81-94. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669589608667260 [ Links ]
Orams, M.B., 1997, 'The effectiveness of environmental education: Can we turn tourists into "greenies"?', Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research 3(4), 295-306. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1099-1603(199712)3:4<295::AID-PTH85>3.0.CO;2-D [ Links ]
O'Riordan, T., Shadrake, A. & Wood, C., 1989, 'Interpretation, participation and national park planning', in D. Uzzell (ed.), Heritage interpretation - The natural and built environment, pp. 179-189, Belhaven, London. PMCid:PMC1385425 [ Links ]
Pastorelli, J., 2003, Enriching the experience: An interpretive approach to tour guiding, Hospitality Press, Frenchs Forest. [ Links ]
Pearce, P. & Moscardo, G., 1998, 'The role of interpretation in influencing visitor satisfaction: A rainforest case study', in W. Faulkner, C. Tidswell, & D. Weaver, (eds.), Progress in tourism and hospitality research, Part 1, Proceedings of the 8th Australian Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference, Gold Coast, 11-14 February, pp. 309-319, Bureau of Tourism Research, Canberra. [ Links ]
Phillips, A., 1989, 'Interpreting the countryside and the natural environment', in D. Uzzell (ed.) Heritage interpretation - The natural and built environment, pp. 121-131, Belhaven, London. [ Links ]
Regnier, K., Gross, M. & Zimmerman, R., 1994, Techniques for programs and presentations, 3rd edn., UW-SP Foundation Press, Stevens Point. PMCid:PMC395234 [ Links ]
Russell, C.L. & Hodson, D., 2002, 'Whale watching as critical science education?', Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education 2(4), 485-504. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14926150209556537 [ Links ]
Ryan, C., Hughes, K.C. & Hirgwin, S., 2000, 'The gaze, spectacle and ecotourism', Annals of Tourism Research 27(1), 148-163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(99)00061-4 [ Links ]
Schànzel, H.A. & Mcintosh, A.J., 2000, 'An insight into the personal and emotive context of wildlife viewing at the Penguin Place, Otago Peninsula, New Zealand', Journal of Sustainable Tourism 8(1), 36-52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669580008667348 [ Links ]
Shackley, M., 1998, Visitor management - Case studies from World Heritage sites, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford. PMCid:PMC1364099 [ Links ]
Sharpe, G. (ed.), 1982, An overview of interpretation, 2nd edn., John Wiley & Sons, New York. [ Links ]
Stewart, E.J., Hayward, B.M. & Devlin, P.J., 1998, 'The "place" of interpretation: A new approach to the evolution of interpretation', Tourism Management 19(3), 257-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0261-5177(98)00015-6 [ Links ]
Tilden, J., 1977, Interpreting our heritage: Principles and practices for visitors in parks, museums and historic places, 3rd edn., University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill. PMid:832384 [ Links ]
Tisdell, C. & Wilson, C., 2001, 'Wildlife-based tourism and increased support for nature conservation financially and otherwise: Evidence from sea turtle ecotourism at Mon Repos', Tourism Economics 7(3), 233-249. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000001101297847 [ Links ]
Townsend, C., 2003, 'Marine ecotourism through education: A case study of divers in the British Virgin Islands', in B. Garrod & J.C. Wilson (eds.), Marine ecotourism: Issues and experiences, pp. 138-154, Channel View Publications, Clevedon. [ Links ]
Tubb, K., 2003, 'An evaluation of the effectiveness of interpretation within Dartmoor National Park in researching the goals of sustainable tourism development', Journal of Sustainable Tourism 11(6), 476-498. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669580308667217 [ Links ]
Uzzell, D., 1998, 'Strategic considerations and practical approaches to the evaluation of heritage interpretation', in D. Uzzell & R. Ballantyne (eds.), Contemporary issues in heritage and environmental interpretation: Problems and prospects, pp. 185-202, Stationery Office, London. [ Links ]
Van der Merwe, P. & Saayman, M., 2008, 'Travel motivations of tourists visiting the Kruger National Park', Koedoe 50(1), 154-159. http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v50i1.140 [ Links ]
Vaske, J.J., Donnelly, M.P. & Whittaker, D., 2000, 'Tourism, national parks and impact management', in R.W. Butler & S.W. Boyd (eds.), Tourism and national parks, pp. 203-222, Wiley, Chichester. [ Links ]
Ward, C. & Wilkinson, A., 2006, Personal interpretation - A field guide for success, Fulcrum Books, Golden. [ Links ]
Wearing, S., Archer, D., Moscardo, G. & Schweinsberg, S., 2007, Best practice interpretation research for sustainable tourism: Framework for a new research agenda, Sustainable Tourism CRC, Queensland. [ Links ]
Weaver, D., 2000, 'Tourism and national parks in ecologically vulnerable areas', in R.W. Butler & S.W. Boyd (eds.), Tourism and national parks, pp. 107-124, Wiley, Chichester. PMid:11011800 [ Links ]
Weiler, B. & Smith, L., 2009, 'Does interpretation lead to greater outcomes? An assessment of the impacts of multiple layers of interpretation in a zoo context', Journal of Sustainable Tourism 17(1), 91-105. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669580802359319 [ Links ]
World Tourism Organisation, 1992, Guidelines: Development of national parks and protected areas for tourism, WTO, Madrid. [ Links ]
World Tourism Organisation, 1995, What tourism managers need to know: A practical guide to the development and use of indicators of sustainable tourism, WTO, Madrid. [ Links ]
Kevin Mearns
Private Bag X6
Florida 1710, South Africa
Received: 27 Mar. 2013
Accepted: 06 Nov. 2013
Published: 24 June 2014


text:
Bisons finish 17th in Mason Rudolph
The Lipscomb Bisons golf team finished 17th to close out the Mason Rudolph Championship hosted by Vanderbilt at the Vanderbilt Legends Club Sunday afternoon.
Blanton Farmer, tied for 67th, was the top finisher for the Bisons with a three-round total of 224. He had the low round Sunday for Bisons with a 72. He had a first round score of 72 and a second round score of 80.
Alex Cox finished tied for 70th with a score of 226 (71, 75, 80).
Ryan Terry was 83rd with a total score of 241 (75, 80, 76).
Dustin Wilder closed out the tournament in 86th place with a 235 (79, 82, 74).
Brandon Mundie shot a 237 (79, 80, 78) for a tie for 87th place.
The Bisons are back in action Oct. 3-5 at the Murray State Invitational in Murray, Ky.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
UK: Record sales boost profits at cake firm Finsbury
UK cake manufacturer Finsbury Food Group today (24 September) reported an increase in full-year profits after seeing sales exceed GBP200m (US$324.3m) for the first time.
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text:
(Reuters) - German veteran Tommy Haas provided a reminder of his claycourt skills to beat Stanislas Wawrinka on Thursday and reach the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters where Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray will resume their rivalry.
Haas recovered after trailing by a set and a break of serve to get past the Australian Open champion 5-7 6-2 6-3 and make the last eight at the Italian event for the first time since 2002 when he lost to Andre Agassi in the final.
World number one Nadal will meet Britain's Murray after the Spaniard fought back from a set down to beat Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 6-7(4) 6-2 6-1.
Nadal had been involved in a dogfight with Frenchman Gilles Simon late on Wednesday and looked weary as Youzhny pegged him back by claiming the first set on a tiebreak and breaking early in the second.
But the 13-times grand slam winner, who has endured a mixed start to the claycourt season by his own high standards, turned on the after burners, winning 11 straight games to take the match away from his opponent.
Murray celebrated his 27th birthday with a determined display to beat Austria's Juergen Melzer 7-6(1) 6-4.
The last time Murray and Nadal met was in a hardcourt encounter in Tokyo in 2011 in which the Briton came out on top, but the Spaniard holds the upper hand overall in their rivalry with a 13-5 win-loss record.
"It's a positive match to play because you play against one of the best players in the world after two tough days," Nadal said ahead of Friday's match with Murray.
"I don't know how he has changed his play. I know he has a complete game but I have to focus on myself."
Second-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic also had to work hard at first before easing past Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6 6-2 6-1.
His famed staying power was on show as he battled back from losing the opening set to the dogged German before blasting his way into the last eight with some superb shot making.
In the women's event, also at the Foro Italico, China's second seed Li Na snapped a career-long jinx against Australian Samantha Stosur, winning 6-3 6-1 having lost their previous six meetings, and will meets Italy's Sara Errani in the last eight.
World number one Serena Williams brushed aside fellow American Varvara Lepchenko 6-1 6-2 to draw level with sister Venus for the most career wins among active players. Serena's 652nd win set up a quarter-final against China's Zhang Shuai.
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic hit 22 winners to defeat Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-4 and next faces Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro.
The 36-year-old Haas, who reached the French Open quarter-finals last year for the first time in his career, produced some inspirational tennis to frustrate third-seeded Wawrinka.
"I just tried to focus on what I was doing well and all of a sudden it clicked," 15th seed Haas told Sky Sports. "Once you are in a third set anything can happen."
Wawrinka, champion in Monte Carlo this year and fancied for a strong run at the French Open later this month, became involved in a dispute with the umpire early in the second set and his form tailed off.
Haas plays Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals after the Bulgarian upset sixth seed Tomas Berdych 6-7(3) 6-2 6-2.
Also through is big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic who saw off Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-6(5) 6-4.
Scurrying fifth-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer ground down Latvia's Ernests Gulbis 6-2 6-3 to set up a quarter-final against Djokovic.
(This story has been corrected to fix Williams' and Ivanovic's last eight opponents)
Writing by Martyn Herman and Toby Davis, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris


text:
I received the Sigma 30mm and 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lenses, alone with the Sony Nex-5n about a month ago from BHPhotoVideo.com. Over the course of the month I've had some really good opportunities to test these lenses out in a variety of ways including video focus tests, corner sharpness tests, fringing, shooting into the sun, and more!! I also shot mostly in jpeg mode for this round as the automatic lens correction that is built into the Nex-5n is awesome!! I also tweaked my jpeg profile a bit on the Nex-5n by lowering the sharpness and saturation a tad. The JPEGs now look much more natural in my opinion, and not slightly over sharpened like the standard JPEG images normally are.
Sigma 30mm and 19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lenses
The Sigma E-Mount lenses both came in the standard Sigma padded pouch which is quite nice, and a bonus in my book as most lenses don't come with protective pouches at all.
Here's a closer look at the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens from a few angles. The 30mm version is almost identical in design from the exterior perspective.
Sigma 30 and 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lenses on the Sony Nex-5n
Inside Lens Elements and MTF Chart
The exteriors of these Sigma lenses are very similar, but the inside is obviously a different story. You also may wonder why the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens is physically larger?? Check out the lens elements illustrations below and it will clear things up for you.
Official Overview and Specs
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens Official Overview and Full Specs
This high-performance standard lens is designed exclusively for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras and has the equivalent angle of view as a 60mm lens (35mm equivalent focal length) on the Micro Four Thirds systems and 45mm (35mm equivalent focal length) on the E-mount system.
Two glass mold aspherical lenses, including a double-sided aspherical lens, provide excellent correction for all types of aberration. The inner focusing system corrects the fluctuation of aberration to maintain image quality regardless of the focal distance.
Sigma's Super Multi-Layer Coating reduces flare and ghosting as well as provides sharp and high contrast images even at the maximum aperture. The superior telecentric optical design improves the image quality throughout the frame. The optical design also allows the lens to be compact and lightweight. This lens benefits from a newly developed linear AF motor which moves the lens elements directly without the need for gears or the drive of other mechanical parts. This system ensures accurate and quiet autofocusing, making the lens suitable for video recording as well as still photos.
The lens features a rounded 7 blade diaphragm creating an attractive blur to the out of focus areas of the image. This Sigma 30mm F2.8 EX DN has a minimum focusing distance of 30cm/11.8in and a maximum magnification ratio of 1:8.1.
- Standard focal length lens, designed specifically for mirrorless cameras.
- Aspherical lens design provides correction for image distortion, field curvature, and color aberration.
- Multi-layer coating reduces ghosting and flare and provides greater contrast and color fidelity.
- Rounded 7-blade diaphragm produces an attractive quality to out-of-focus areas in your photos.
- Equally sharp results are available from minimum to maximum aperture.
- Linear AF motor directly guides lens elements for quick, quiet auto focusing, ideal for use with video recording.
|Lens Construction
|7 Elements in 5 Groups
|Angle of View
|Number of Diaphragm Blades
|Mininum Aperture
|Minimum Focus Distance
|30 cm / 11.8 in
|Filter Size
|Dimensions (Diameter x Length)
|60.6 x 38.6 mm/2.4 x 1.5 in
|135g / 4.8oz.
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens Official Overview and Full Specs
The Sigma 19 mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens for Sony E Mount Camera is a Digital Neo (DN) lens specifically designed for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. On a Sony E mount camera (NEX), its focal length is equivalent to 28.5 mm. It has a newly developed linear AF motor for swift and accurate autofocus, making it ideal for video as well as still photography.
Three glass mold aspherical lenses offer excellent correction for distortion, color aberration and field curvature. The inner focusing system corrects the fluctuation of aberration to maintain image quality regardless of the focal distance. Multi-layer coating reduces flare and ghosting, and provides sharp and contrast images even at the maximum aperture. The seven blades of the diaphragm produce a pleasing quality in the out-of-focus areas of an image (bokeh).
- Digital Neo (DN) high performance lens designed exclusively for mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras
- Ultra compact construction weighing only 4.9 oz and measuring 1.8 inches in length
- Newly developed linear AF motor ensures accurate and quiet autofocusing, making the lens ideal for video recording as well as still photos
|Focal Length
|19 mm
Comparable APS-C Focal Length: 28.5 mm
|Maximum: f/2.8
Minimum: f/22
|Camera Mount Type
|Sony (E Mount for NEX)
|Format Compatibility
|DSLR (APS-C Sensor)
|Angle of View
|Minimum Focus Distance
|7.87″ (20 cm)
|Maximum Reproduction Ratio
|Diaphragm Blades
|Image Stabilization
|Tripod Collar
|Filter Thread
|Front: 46 mm
|Dimensions (D x L)
|2.4 x 1.8″ (6.10 x 4.57 cm)
|4.9 oz (139 g)
- Check out the Sigma 30mm EX DN Lens for $149 US @ BHPhotoVideo Here >>
- Check out the Sigma 19mm EX DN Lens for $149 US @ BHPhotoVideo Here >>
Sigma 30mm and 19mm EX DN Lens Build Quality
Overall the build quality is pretty good on these lenses, but not in the same class as the Sony E-Mount lenses in my opinion. The skin is actually plastic, where as the Sony's are metal, but this does make the lenses significantly lighter as a positive! The focus is pretty good, but not as smooth when transition from one focus point to another as the Sony's. It's newly designed focus motor is very quiet, but still a little bit louder than the Sony's AF motor. Possible just due to the plastic skin though as it doesn't suppress sound as much I suppose. Theses lenses do have a quiet motor though compared to a standard Non HSM A-Mount Sigma lenses or the Sony DT 35mm f/1.8 Lens for example, which I also used for comparison purposes.
The Focus is also a little less consistent when locking on, compared to the Sony 50mm f/1.8 OSS Lens in particular, as you can clearly see in the comparative sample video footage coming later in this review.
When using manual focus the focus it's very smooth and offers a large focus ring area which is easy to grip and fine tune.
The lens hood is for the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens is also made from plastic and screws on with a very nice locking click. It also fits on backwards very snuggle making the overall circumference of the lens only slightly fatter. Sony's E-Mount lens hoods mostly fit like this as well, and I really like it the engineering efforts to keep the lens footprint as small as possible.
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens – Real World Sample Photos
This first pic was kind of a surprise as I did not expect roses to be growing on this old fence. What I like about this sample photo in particular is how drastic the separation is before and after the focal plane. I was at the minimum focus distance of ~12 inches for this image which exploits this type of lens quality very well! These real world sample pics I slightly tweaked in Lightroom 4, in regards to contrast. I was using AutoHDR for a few images and they tend to come out a tad flat strait off the camera. I also added a tad of vibrancy as I De-saturated my JPEG profile as mentioned in the beginning of the review.
Be sure to Click the photos for the Gallery style version!!
A really awesome retired Blue Angles plane makes for great real world sample photos!!
I found this really cool waterfall area that is new to me, and the Sigma lenses covered the landscape scene quite well in my opinion!!
This next scene had a ton of color and detail and I've been wanting to photograph it for some time. The Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens did an excellent job!!
This next image is an African Daisy hanging out on the deck. I cropped it 1:1 and added a bit of a vignette, and vibrancy for a more dramatic effect in Lightroom 4.
Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens – Test Photos
Here's a standard 3/4 view of a run down building that shows off overall lens quality's and flaws at once. I framed the shot so the top left corner had some harsh contrasting lines to see how the Sigma optics holds up in these tough conditions!!
Here's a bunch more sample pics with the Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN lens with two 100% Crops for each image.
Be sure to Click the photos for the Gallery style version!!
Check out these quick Bokeh Test Shots, and note how nice the circular specular highlights look!!.
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens – Real World Sample Photos
Here's a few pics I adjusted slightly in Lightroom 4 to show you what you can expect to get with this lens in the real world. I had to add a bit of black as the AutoHDR's tend to be a tad flat. I also jacked up the vibrance a bit to make the greens sing a little more.
The Blue Angles Plane again 😉
Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens – Test Photos
This first image is just a simple perspective image that shows the fall-off of sharpness pretty well from left to right, with a decent chunk of the sign being sharp.
Click the photos for the large 1200px version!!
Here's a fewphotos of some heavy duty batteries taken at f/2.8, f/4, and f/8 for comparison. Not the greatest lighting, but a ton of detail.
Click the photos for the large 1200px version!!
Here's a quick snapshot of the rectifiers that convert the AC electricity to DC and then intern charge the large battery plant you see above. Corner sharpness is pretty solid on this lens, and this snapshot shows it off nicely on the top corners.
This next photo is a major intersection in the center of Middletown, NY. It just so happens to house an awesome firehouse that had the doors wide open 🙂
Raw Sample Photos using the Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens
I decided to shoot some images in the raw format for maximum quality as the dynamic range was pretty high. Jpegs just don't cut it when it comes to serious post processing as they are compressed files. The Sony camera's do a pretty good job with the JPEG files, but the file format is all compressed down to save card and hard drive space. The Raw files have a tone more color, and dynamic range information to pull from when doing serious editing. What this means is you can push the colors, highlights, and shadows much further on a raw file in a post processing program that you can a jpeg file. The files are a bit larger though, so it takes longer for them to write over to the memory card, and they take up more room!
The great thing about the raw file however, is YOU are the developer. You can work the photograph like Ansel Adams did in the dark room, except using the digital dark room of today!! Meaning a raw processing program like Adobe Lightroom 4, and then you can get a million different variations, renders etc…
The Sony cameras have some awesome filters and and scenes modes that do this kind of thing for you, but it's a lot of fun to play with the raw files and develop the photo yourself. It feels like you were more involved/ control of the process or "art" of photography for lack of a better word 🙂 I certainly enjoy it, and I have several Tutorials on How-To Develop Raw Files in Lightroom Here >>
Also, when shooting raw with the Nex-5n the lens corrections normally made on the camera are Not applied to the raw file. Therefore, you will see the true lens flaws and noise UN-corrected in these shots. The flaws are easily removable in Lightroom 4, or any other raw editing program though if you choose to develop the file. The in camera lens correction really is an awesome feature, but I often prefer the ease and convenience of shooting in jpeg mode with a slightly tweaked profile!
Here's a nice R6 I saw in a church parking while cruising home yesterday. You'll notice some green fringing on the verticals in the top right corner of the 100% crop. You will also notice the raw image appears a bit softer than the jpeg, but it's just not sharpened in camera like the JPEG files are.
A really nice firehouse with all the garage doors open.
These next few Raw "Real World" photos are from the Basha Kill Wildlife Preserve. I stopped on the way to work one day and the morning fog was just starting to clear up and made for a interesting mood of light.
Check out this pretty nasty magenta fringing!! Again, easily fixable with any raw editor, and if your shooting in Jpeg, this will be corrected In Camera!!
HD Video Sample Footage
In these HD Video Samples, I was testing a few lens combinations at the same time, so it works out perfect for comparison purposes on both AF speed, noise, accuracy, etc…
Be sure to select the maximum HD Quality for the best viewing experience and sharpness!!
Sigma E-Mount Lens Review – Conclusion
The Sigma 19mm f/2.8 EX DN lens and Sigma 30mm f/2.8 EX DN Lens are solid performers all around in my opinion. Their about the same sharpness as far as I can tell, and both suffer from similar flaws as far as very slight corner softening and chromatic aberrations/ fringing. The relatively small flaws on these lenses are totally reasonable though, considering the ~$200 price tag!! Build quality is the same on both version being pretty decent overall, but not in the same class as the Sony E-Mount lenses. Focus is the same on both lenses, although the 19mm being a wider, tends to have an easier time finding a focus point in certain scenes. Especially when using the wide focus mode on the Nex-5n. It's important to note however, they don't focus as smooth or as quiet as the Sony E-Mount lenses, and this makes a pretty big difference with video quality in particular. The build quality is also a little less rugged with the plastic skin, but it's much lighter than metal as a positive!
The Sigma 19mm lens has significantly better corner sharpness than the the Sony 16mm Pancake lens in particular. The Pancake lens to it's advantage is physically much thinner and optically wider, which is a harder to achieve. Hence all the after market companies coming out with similar/ redundant sizes. Even though we clearly want fast primes and ultra wide angles for the Nex camera system.
Most of the Sony E-Mount lenses offer OSS, which is a huge advantage to low light shooting over the Sigma lenses and part of the reason they are about ~$100 US more expensive.However, the Sigma lenses are 1/3rd less money, so you cannot expect the same build quality, focus etc.. Again, a great value for the money, although I personally prefer the better built Sony E-Mount lenses.
Bottom line, their totally worth the money in my opinion and are sharp, affordable, lightweight lenses!! They also come with a high quality lens pouch which is a really nice bonus for when you leave the lenses in the car or whatever. I like to walk as lite as possible when street shooting and leaving a lens lying around in the car is not good practice! My only beef with these lenses is the build quality, but it's by no means poor, just what you get for this price point I suppose.
Would love to here your thoughts on the Sigma 30 and 19mm f/2.8 EX DN Lenses in the comments area below!!
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Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club
Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club is a distinctive family resort near Disney where you'll enjoy close proximity to Orlando theme park fun and excitement, while escaping to a relaxing, tranquil retreat of spacious condo-sized villas and a wide array of resort amenities and services, all in an atmosphere of gracious hospitality. Built on one of the highest elevations in the area, our resort is nestled on over 600 acres of rolling hills, lush Florida nature preserves and beautiful tropical landscaping. Our vacation villas and resort amenities make Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club one of the best family vacation and golf resorts in Orlando.
Enjoy the home-away-from-home comfort and conveniences of our 1, 2 and 3-bedroom villas. Splash away or simply relax at one of our four inviting resort pools, including Dunes Lagoon with a 2-story water slide, private poolside cabanas, and expansive pool deck. Experience one of Florida's most renowned golf courses at our 7,012 yard championship golf course, rated 4 ½ stars by Golf Digest. Test your putting skills on our 18-hole miniature golf course, and enjoy the wide array of family and supervised children's activities offered daily. At mealtime, choose from a variety of onsite dining options.
Whether you're planning a short weekend getaway, a week-long family vacation, or a business trip mixed in with some fun, Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club is the perfect choice for families, couples traveling together, golf vacationers, groups and business travelers. With our spacious villas, wide array of resort amenities and close proximity to Orlando theme parks, attractions and entertainment, Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club provides so much more than a typical hotel…it's the perfect choice for the perfect Orlando vacation.
We look forward to your visit to Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club, a premier vacation resort with a style all its own.
Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club is a non-smoking resort. Smoking is not permitted in our vacation villas and is restricted to outdoor patio and balcony areas only.In order to maintain a quality experience for all of our guests, pets are not permitted inside our villas or on the grounds at Mystic Dunes Resort & Golf Club.


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Our Fitness Blog
Reduce Stress During the Holiday Season: BONUS! Life Hack
"It's the most wonderful time of the year!"
Sometimes this time of year just doesn't feel all sugar plums and fairies, simply because there is so much to do. We want to do it all, and try to be super heroes for everyone we know. We shop for the holidays, host dinner parties, decorate and more. Some days it's merry and bright and some days it's just exhausting!
How can we keep our sanity?
Keeping some sort of minimum standard for our workout routine is number one on my list because I always feel better after any workout, even just a quick one. No matter how tired I am, it is never something I regret. While the 9Round workout is just 30 minutes, be honest…there are days when you don't even have that! Right? If you can get in at all, it's better than nothing. I would opt for a 15-20 minute 9Round workout over no workout at all. You could do that on the busiest of days if you had to! Your 9Round Trainer would understand!
If that's not even an option, then this is where you simply have to remember to put yourself first, even while you're making giving to others your goal. Give to yourself as well. Take 10 minutes out for yourself and do a simple alternating circuit of upper and lower exercises at home until your timer goes off.
Examples of this are:
10 pushups/20 squats=1 set
15 mountain climbers/10 lunge hops=1 set
See how many sets you can get in the 10 minutes. Do this while you cook! Do it with your kids! Do this while your child is soaking in the tub and you're supervising.
You can even do it with a household chore like this: Load two plates in the dishwasher, do 5 pushups. Do this until the load is set. There, you just worked in 30-40 pushups while you worked.
I do a TON of my shopping online these holidays, as busy as I am. I find that the shipping in most cases is free this time of year, and if it's not, I just think of the gas money I saved by not driving and all the crowds I avoided. More than anything I saved time, and time isn't something you can get back. This also allows me to shop after the kids are in bed and that way, most of my days throughout the holiday season as really business as usual during the work day and I still get all my gifts accounted for!
Another MUST for healthy minded folks who are holiday shopping is that you need to prep yourself for success and carry smart snacks and water with you! If you rely on self will at a moment when you're starting to feel HANGRY (real disease when hunger sets in suddenly and it makes you meaner than Scrooge) then you will most likely not succeed. You will end up grabbing sugary empty calories or fried foods at the closest food kiosk available and send your serotonin and metabolism on a downward spiral. Keep a bottle of water in your hand at all times so that you resist calorie filled drinks and so that you stay hydrated. Keep a gallon in your car to refill between stores! Dehydration is a sneaky underlying cause of many cravings for bad foods!
Easy snacks that go where you go are:
Nuts and fruit, jerky, meal replacement bars, or my fav: KII Kookies (available at your local 9Round).
You could get more creative if you wish, but these are all go to choices that require no refrigeration and fit in a purse or bag easily.
If you're like me, there's not one store that has every item you need for your weekly list. So, I have a separate note on my iPhone for each store I visit regularly. When I need an item from my grocery store it goes there. The hardware/garden supply store has its own list. Sporting goods store has its own list, pet store, and so on. This way, I have an organized way to view only what's needed at that particular store when I am inside it. I erase each typed item as I put it in my cart and then, when I leave the store, the note is blank again, except at the top where it says the store name. It's a "living list", always updated and accurate and super simple for me to keep up with. Much easier than one long list for 5 different stores. This is something I do year round, not just during the holiday season. It's a life changer. Try it!


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Kamakshi S
15:45 02nd Mar, 2012
ATabin, Low-Cost Tablet, To Be Launched Soon
7" device priced at just Rs 5000, will be out later this month.
Looks like the competition in the cheap tablet market is heating up. After the Pantel tablets, a new tablet called the ATabin is set to enter the low-cost tablet arena, to compete with the likes of the Aakash tablet. Created by international education company AcrossWorld in collaboration with Delhi-based Go-Tech, the 7" tablet priced at Rs 5000 will be out by the second week of March.
Also known as the ATab, the device will run on the Android platform. However, details about which version of the mobile OS it will feature are not clear. Powered by a 1.1 GHz processor with 512 of MB RAM, the tab comes with 2 GB of internal memory that can be expanded up to 16 GB, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an external 3G USB Dongle. It will also offer three years of free access to an education technology platform called the EducationBridge, which will enable academic institutions, teachers, and students to use content and educational resources.
Company officials suggest that several schools and colleges from cities including Delhi, Kanpur, Allahabad, Rourkela, and Gaujarala have taken keen interest in the device. While Aakash is priced at $35 (about Rs 1700), neither of the aforementioned two tablets can match its price. However, both these devices boast of better specs than the government-backed tablet. Having said that, which of these devices will capture the minds of the general public, only time will tell.
- Best Phones Under Rs 10,000 (November, 2018)
- Best Phones Under Rs 20,000 (September, 2018)
- Best Phones Under Rs 30,000 (September, 2018)
- Five Android Apps To Make Your Insta Pop
- 9 Hot Android Smartphones Expected To Hit The Shelves Soon
- 3 Fitness Bands For The Budget Users
- 5 Best Screens From Android Based Smartphones
- The 5 Browser Add-Ons That Everyone Must Have
- Top 5 Pocket Friendly Virtual Reality Headsets
- Top 5 Premium Smartphones Above Rs 30,000


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Purvanchal Bank Sponsored by SBI, was constituted on 1st April
2019/2020 after amalgamation of two Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) namely Purvanchal Gramin Bank and Ballia-Etawah Gramin Bank as per notification no. F.No. 7/9/2011-RRB (UP) dated 01-04- 2019/2020 of GOI under Sub section (1) of section 23A of Regional Rural Bank Act, 1976 (21 of 1976).
Position: Officer/Office Asst
Eligibility: Graduate
Location: All Over India
Last Date: 25-Apr
Job Details
Post Name : Officer Scale-I And Office Assistant (Multipurpose)
Educational Criteria : Graduate Degree in any discipline from a recognized University or its equivalent And Have Proficiency in local language
No of Post :
Officer Scale-I : 86
Office Assistant : 112
Age Limit(in yrs)
Officer Scale-I :18 – 28 years
Office Assistant : 18 – 28 years
Salary(in Rs.)
Officer Scale-I : Rs. 14,500-25700/-
Office Assistant : Rs.7,200-19300/-
Application Fees: Rs. 100/- for General Category, Rs. 20/- for Reserved Category.
Fee Payment: Application Fees should be paid in the form of CBS at any of the Branches of STATE BANK OF INDIA or PURVANCHAL BANK (erstwhile PURVANCHAL GRAMIN BANK).
Mode of Selection: Selection will be based on Personal Interview.
Interview Centre: Gorakhpur.
How To Apply
Interested or desired candidate who wish to apply for this job may apply only through online.The online application receipt starts form 10th Apr to 25th Apr
Important Dates to keep in Mind :
Payment of Application Fees: 10th Apr to 25th Apr
Online Registration starts from : 10th Apr
Last Date for Online Registration: 25th Apr
Last Date for Reprint: 10th May
Apply Online : Click Here
Download Challan : 2019/2020/Advertisement.pdf">http://pgbgorakhpur.com/update09.04.


text: Waffle cart plan wins Enterprise competition News Home 04.29.14 By: Mark Tarnacki Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. That approach to the college's annual Enterprise Plan Competition earned a $5,000 first-place prize for four Saint Michael's friends who came up with a detailed business plan to sell custom waffles from a food cart that would be portable to Burlington's Church Street, a local ski resort, the South End Friday Truck Stop and local fairs and festivals. Second prize, $2,500, went to a plan for "Green Mountain Aquaponics Center," a nonprofit education organization utilizing closed-loop, sustainable agriculture to cultivate healthy food (fish, vegetables) and environmental awareness for the community through a visitor/education center alongside their proposed Hinesburg, VT, greenhouse/aquarium operation; while third prize of $1,000 went to the Aqua Vitae team for their plan to produce and market berry-flavored spring water with a Vermont localvore twist and attractive recyclable glass bottles, using a spring on a team member's family property for their water supply and local produce for flavors. Competition judge Michael Seaver '81, a local bank president, said that the Waffle Cart team members, both in their personal presentations and the product itself, were "superb" in covering all the necessary details from permitting to licensing while providing very practical and extensive cost analysis for five years. Judge Chloe Cangardel of the Williston-based intellectual property consulting firm ipCapital Group said she most appreciated the "feasibility" of the presentation by the four business majors, while Michael Krinksy, president of The Mountain Corporation apparel manufacturers in Keene, NH, said "I'd be looking for how many carts I could open up." Judge Diana Dunn, an electrical engineer with long engineering and management experience from GM to Sperry-Unisys and IBM, offered insightful questions and commentary on the practical aspects of the proposals as well. The winning Waffle Cart team members were Ryan Schroeder of Duxbury, MA, Elanna Lalezari of Saco, ME, Connor Cohan of Greenfield Center, NY, and Reilly D'Elia of Jeffersonville, VT – all senior business majors. The Green Mountain Aquaponics team was Thomas Dunworth (Upper Montclair, NJ), Luke Graci (East Northport, NY), Jillian Mulcahy (Brandon, VT), Taylor Luneau (East Hardwick, VT) and Mike Brown (Dunstable, MA). Luneau and Brown are biology majors and joined the competition thanks to a class co-taught by Robert Letovsky of business and Valerie Banschbach of biology/environmental studies that explores socially aware and "green" business approaches). Aqua Vitae consisted of Corey Carlos (Essex Junction, VT), Steve French (Goffstown, NH), Nick Nelson (Middletown, CT) and Chris Sheehy (Brooklyn, NY), all business majors. Other finalist teams that presented on Friday afternoon, April 25, in the Pomerleau Alumni Center at the start of the annual Academic Symposium weekend before a packed large event room, were the "Dynamix" team (custom workout nutrition products) and PhotoDoc (diagnosis of skin rashes via photo-recognition software and nurse consultants). Letvosky, one of the veteran organizers of the competition, noted that the finalists were selected from 36 plans that students submitted, with most of the department serving as first-readers. The Enterprise Plan prizes are funded by sponsors Peter Worrell '79, H'06 and his wife, Kareen Kendrick Worrell '77. The Annual Enterprise Competition, which "challenges Saint Michael's undergraduates to develop and market sustainable business plans to a panel of business leaders serving as competition judges," began in 2000 at the initiative of the Worrells. Finalists this year also received a copy of Peter Worrell's recent book, Enterprise Value. Since a business commitment kept Worrell from attending and speaking as he customarily does, retiring Business Professor Dennis Voight addressed the teams and audience, speaking of how the proper goal for businesses perhaps is "value" more than simply "profits." The Waffle Cart team painted a vivid picture of their operation, including an image on a Powerpoint slide of the blue and yellow cart they propose to use that would contain a special waffle iron allowing the proprietors to efficiently turn out fluffy waffles with toppings rolled up so that no utensils are needed. They also planned to offer options like deep-fried Oreos or Reese's Cups candy, as one sees commonly at fairs, and water, keeping it simple and manageable. Their detailed plan included financial analysis of all their costs, including explanation of how they would keep costs down by renting a house together in Burlington with a garage to store the cart, and they established the legality of using the kitchen for some prep. Each team member proposed pitching in $5,000, earned from their jobs landscaping and waitressing or from family support. The plan allowed them to do their other jobs part-time along with the cart if necessary, all adding to the real-world feasibility and realism in the judge's eyes. They also talked to a promotions director at Smuggler's Notch who was excited about their idea for the cart. The guiding mentor for the Waffle Cart and Aqua Vitae teams was Tammy Mullarky, associate professor of business administration and accounting, while Letovsky and Banschbach were the teachers of the Aquaponics group's seminar. Letovsky was a master of ceremonies for the proceedings, along with colleague and competition co-organizer Karen Popovich of the Business Department, while the department's administrative assistant Julia Kirby was credited with a lion's share of pulling the event together. William Anderson, a co-founder of the competition and former business professor who is now the college's chief information officer, attended too. In awarding the prizes, all the judges said they were impressed with every presentation and how professionally each was presented. While some of the more complex business plans were impressive in their ambitious scope, Seaver said, he added that "With complexity comes greater responsibility" to support what is being proposed with data and strong research. "I'm proud as always to see the work coming out of the school from which I graduated," the alumnus judge added.


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Notice to Members 04-52
Guidance on the Requirements for Availability of the Bona Fide Fully Arbitraged Exemption
There has been discussion in the financial press about the listing of securities on foreign markets without a company's knowledge or authorization. Some reports have suggested that the purpose behind such listings is to avoid the requirements of Rule 3370 (affirmative determination requirements) through the use of the arbitrage exemption available under subparagraphs (b)(2)(B) and (b)(5)(B) of Rule 3370. Without commenting on listing activity occurring in non-U.S. markets, NASD is taking this opportunity to remind member firms of their affirmative determination obligations for both member and non-member proprietary short sale transactions and under what circumstances the bona fide fully arbitraged exemption is available.
Questions regarding this Notice may be directed to the Legal Section, Market Regulation, at (240) 386-5126; or the Office of General Counsel, Regulatory Policy and Oversight, at (202) 728-8071.


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Obesity messes with the brain
Obesity subtly diminishes memory and other features of thinking and reasoning even among seemingly healthy people, an international team of scientists reports. At least some of these impairments appear reversible through weight loss. Researchers also report one likely mechanism for those cognitive deficits: damage to the wiring that links the brain's information-processing regions.
Floral Shocker: Blooms shake roots of flowering-plant family
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Tea compound aids dying brain cells
From Washington, D.C., at the Fourth International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health
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Cholesterol poses a cardiovascular risk once it becomes transformed into an inflammatory building block of artery-clogging plaque. That process, which happens all the time, is triggered by oxidation. A new study finds that breathing nanoscale particles spewed by diesel-fuel combustion—also a common occurrence—may turn on genes that multiply cholesterol's inflammatory and atherosclerotic risks...
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Here's a quick and simple way to create a crib skirt.
And a closer look at just the skirt:
As you can see, it's actually paneling rather than a sheet with a skirted edge. This makes it easy to create, install and update for raising and lowering the mattress as your child grows.
My initial inspiration was from Young House Love's quick no-sew tutorial – so clever! I modified it to fit this project since my thicker, quilt-like fabric needed a real hem rather than a heat bonded version.
DIY Crib Skirt
Materials: fabric, matching thread, sewing machine, scissors, 1 strip sew-on velcro(or 'aplix', 'hook & loop'), 1 strip sticky velcro (this velcro has a sticky side for stick-on application)
1. First up is measuring your crib and allowing for a one inch hem on either side. A standard crib is 30×54″, but all are a bit different so it's best to measure yours firsthand (measure the height in the frame's highest position). Don't forget to just measure the actual mattress frame and not the wood frame.
Our crib is 28×52″ with a 13″ height to the floor, so I cut my longest panel of fabric to 54×15″ and the two side panels to 30×15″. No need for a back panel since the crib is pushed up against the wall.
2. Sew a quick 1″ hem on the edge of each panel. Now your fabric panels should be the correct size.
3. Using the sew-on velcro, cut 1-2″ strips and pin into place every 10 inches or so along one of the longest hems (now the top hem) of each panel. Use your machine to stitch down or hand stitch into place.
4. Cut similarly sized velcro pieces from the sticky velcro strip and add to the sewn velcro pieces.
5. Now it's time to add your new panels to the empty metal crib frame.
This is where following the photos may get tricky! Here's a detailed breakdown…
a. With the sticky velcro attached to the sewn on velcro (see the white paper? that's the sticky side), slip your fabric panel between the wood crib frame and metal mattress frame.
b. Take off white sticky paper
c. Attach to outside of metal frame
d. Tada! here's how it should look!
6. Repeat for the additional panels.
So easy!
7. Stick several additional velcro sections to the middle cage on the metal mattress (the part that the mattress sits on). This will allow you to move up the panels (using the velcro already sewn to the top hem) when you drop the mattress so that the fabric panels are always the perfect length.
Here's the final bedding set:
Use any fabric for this project – bright, patterned, vibrant, custom, etc to add a splash of personality to any nursery! And don't forget that if your chosen fabric is a simple cotton, you can do this entire project using hem tape for a no-sew option.
There's plenty more where that came from…
More Project Nursery posts: basket liners part 2, basket liners part 1, the great glider makeover, sewing the curtains part 1, part 2, part 3, nursery fabric board, curtain fabric selection, rocking horse find, new pendant light, new sconce lighting, vintage wall art addition, changing table makeover, nursery wall striping tutorial, painted animal project, the initial inspiration board and the before picture posts.


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PghSkins wrote:djlm wrote:Take that shot another 20 times and he'll score another 0 goal.
Sorry buddy. Friday night beer started early. What I tried to say it was a lucky ass shot. If he repeats that shot another 20 times, he will not score on any of them, that's how lucky he was there


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Rakesh Agrawal's 3 year old daughter devised a clever means for watching instructional videos on her father's iPhone using common refrigerator magnets to mount the device on the fridge. Positioned for just her height, the industrious little scamp uses her iPhone to learn Yo-yo techniques by watching How-to videos from Veronica Belmont of Mahalo Daily. I'm betting Mom and Dad won't be so proud once the 3 year old realizes her invention is patentable and a lucrative product market, enjoying fabulous wealth while her parents are left staring at a empty refrigerator.
She's not the only one learning lessons from Veronica. I kid...Veronica is awesome, and wonderfully entertaining. I've always enjoyed her ebullient personality since her days at C|net, co-hosting Buzz Out Loud and Crave. She's in my Facebook and Pownce friends lists for a reason.


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Quality Control
Case Display
Production Line1. After confirming the order, we will purchase the material of the LED strip lights and check the materials to see if they are right and whether they are in good quality.
2. After making sure the materials are up to the quality standard, we will assemble the PCB,the led strip light and all the materials. After that,we will check the components validity.
3. After checking the components, we will start to ...Read more
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