Multimedia & design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Multimedia & design - Essay Example As programs have integrated with computers, they also need to integrate with human beings (Norman, 2004). Programs need to have a user-friendly graphical interface in order to enhance convenience in their application. If the interface is not user friendly this affects the emotions of the human user negatively, whereby the user finds it frustrating when the program or application is too complex to operate and understand. I strongly agree with Don Norman as he says computers with emotions are necessary in order to facilitate effective operation by human beings. At least computers should have appropriate emotional manifestations. A computer with emotions is able to detect human emotions, which can be used as security features to the computer. In organizations such as banks and security agencies where information is sensitive, computer emotions are highly recommended to be very effective. Features such as facial, voice and fingerprint detection are key security features in the modern soc iety technology. A computer with emotions is able to do most activities, which can be done by human beings (Norman, 2004). It may be costly to purchase a few computers with emotional programs but in the end, it will sum up to being cost effective. Nevertheless, there is a challenge when using computers with emotions in cases whereby the human user lacks the emotions, which the computer has. For instance, human being who does not have fingers or is dump finds it hectic to use the computer. If the password to the computer requires voice or fingerprint recognition, then the human user with disability will not be able to operate the computer. Question 2 Philosophers have in the past come up with various philosophical concepts that people may use to analyze various popular culture. These concepts are what many philosophers consider tools that a philosopher needs to solve various philosophical problems. For each particular category of popular culture, there are specific philosophical tool s that one can use to analyze the culture. If faced with a problem, I would be able to collect various philosophical tools that are displayed in the book to form a philosophical tool kit that will help me in analyzing the problems and dealing with the same problems. The tools are very critical especially in solving day-to-day problems. For a computer scientist, these philosophical tools are vital in making good interfaces. When designing an interface, the developer should ensure that all cultural as well as social factors are considered (Wittkower, 2008). For this small project, I was trying to come up with a tool kit to enable developers to consider some social and cultural aspects of users when designing interfaces. These philosophical tools would provide the developer with a base in which to view model use needs. One of the philosophical tools that I identified to be very critical in designing interfaces is logic. Logic is very essential for the developer to analyze what the user needs. Like when building the iPod interface, the developer needs logic to understand what the user needs (Wittkower, 2008). The other philosophical tool that I identified is Utilitarianism. Developers should use Utilitarianism to come up with the best course of action to take. This is one of the tools that are needed in my kit to ensure that developers consider the best cause of action

Antigone Essay Example for Free

Antigone Essay Remember those people who always thought they were right, and they always ended up in trouble for it? I Sophocles’ play Antigone, the main characters Antigone and Creon show how being so hubris can be tragic to your life. Set back in ancient Greece an epic battle takes place and brothers end up killing each other. One was allowed a proper burial, yet Polyinesis was not. Antigone felt disappointed by this and decided to bury them yet Creon the newly appointed king did not appreciate the rule breaking. Due to the fact that Antigone and creon exhibited excessive pride, their lives were ruined. Antigone’s arrogance and brashness ultimately led to her death. For example, on Creon’s first day as king he made a decree that no one should bury Polyneisis body. When Antigone heard this, she went to Ismene and asked for her help; yet Ismene refused and called her a criminal. Antigone still disagreed, â€Å"But I will bury him; and if I must die, I say that this crime is holy; I shall lie down with him in death†(673,55-57) This proved that Antigone was cocky and she was sort of stating that all her wrong doings are â€Å"holy†; she is referring to herself as always being right. This affected her though distorting her view on life. In addition to her argument with Ismene, Antigone then was caught in the act of burying Polyniesis and was brought in and questioned by Creon. â€Å"And you Antigone, with your head hanging – do you confess this thing†(679, 53) When Antigone didn’t deny her crime and boasted to the king and the elders, It proves how narcissistic that she is. If she would have not been so boastful I doubt that Croen would have been so harsh to Antigone. Furthermore, Creon then calls in Ismene to protest against her crime as well. Creon started o believe that she helped Antigone to plot against him. Ismene then lied and said she did help to Antigone’s surprise. Antigone become outraged and denied her hand in the deed. Ismene is displeased in antigone’s punishment, â€Å"Do you refuse me, Antigone? I want to die with you; I too have a duty that I must discharge to the dead†(681, 138). Antigone was then enraged further and rebelled against Ismene, â€Å"You shall not lessen my death by sharing it†(681, 139) Antigone is showing self centered and concided she was. She believed that she was so important because she did the right thing by the gods that no one should die except her because she was special. However, Antigone was not the only major character with this flaw. This proves how arrogance can really damage anyone’s life just like it did to Antigone and Creons’. Pride and the excess of it played a big role in this play, being the tragic flaw of both main characters; arrogance is not only a big part of this play but also our history, there will always be people who can never be wrong. Many people are just like Creon and Antigone, Always thinking they are right. Is your life headed for a fate just like Antigone’s plot?

Articles of confederation Essay -- essays research papers

Articles of Confederation vs. Constitution   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution, although vastly different in their philosophies of governing the nation, both played a big role in setting the stage for America’s economy in the upcoming nineteenth century. A few years after the Articles of Confederation were drafted many politicians and economists, such as Alexander Hamilton, began to see problems with the decentralized form of government that was created by this document. These advocates of a more centralized government were referred to as federalists, and although they were not in favor of a dictatorship, like that of England’s, they saw the need for a central governing system to reside over the individual states.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In the Federalists’ opinion some of the detrimental consequences of the confederate system were the lack of an organized treasury, military or government system. Furthermore, the nation suffered from poor commerce; a result of insecure financial transactions, non-regulated interstate trade, and poorly enforced tax laws. They believed that instead of ridding the country of oppression by a superior government, the Articles of Confederation creates conflict between the states and hinders economic prosperity. The emergence of these difficulties early in the life of our nation indicated, to those in favor of the constitution, the fundamental imperfections and the dire need for reform. Hamilton a...

Cultural Background Summary Essay

My family comes from different cultural background which has been molded by assimilation, climate of pluralism and acculturation. I am a Filipino and I grew up in Oahu in Hawaii, whereby people in Hawaii have modest-economic status, low income and little education hence less satisfaction to their needs. I never had enormous understanding of cultural diversity and my culture as Filipino as I grew up because I had a combination of native Austronesia civilization which influenced the Hispanics and American cultures (Ciria-Cruz, 1994, p. 16). This affected my cultural background a lot. As argued by Gramann and Sandra, 1998 people of my culture have differences in their language, traditions and mode of dressing which contributes towards cultural diversity. There is difference in moral and religious conceptualization among the people and differences on how each person interacts with the environment within the community (Gramann and Sandra, 1998, p. 57). My cultural identity is characterized by my race mainly skin color and other physical characteristics according to social class and ethnicity. Ethnicity is classified according to behavior, cultural knowledge and my cultural identity. Cultural backgrounds come out as a result of different reasons. My cultural identity have been shaped by my cultural backgrounds which have influenced how I interpret the world around me, perceive myself and relate with other people. The information I have concerning my cultural background has increased my cultural knowledge and gave me an overview of cultural issues and characteristics. I usually identify my needs and preferences and always remember that I cannot reduce to set cultural norms. My cultural backgrounds vary with that of other people due to migration and time of arrival at that particular destination, socio-economic background, and period of settlement, education level, cultural and religious background, rural and urban residence, different life experiences with migration experience (Feagin and Feagin, 1993, p. 42). According to Feagin and Feagin, 1993 my identity has been molded by assimilation, acculturation and climate of pluralism. My cultural identity faces racial discrimination with. Ciria-Cruz, 1994 argued that, different books have racial composition, culture and demographic information of Filipino people. As argued by Feagin and Feagin, 1993 my cultural identity face substantial prejudice, discrimination and stereotype and people of my cultural background mainly struggle to maintain and preserve their culture and identity. Even speaking their own language result to severe sanction such as, losing their jobs and being made fun of by other communities. This cultural diversity within the communities has a significant challenge to multiculturalism and it threatens the survival of my community. Race influence relates to my community and interaction of people within my community has been racialized negatively and positively. Pluralism can help in solving this by enriching experiences for my cultural background (Feagin and Feagin, 1993, p. 54). Diversity in my cultural background is due to ignorance of cultural background language which is extensive. Lack of basic cultural background hinders people from comprehending language. Religious culture has assimilated me on various behaviors of human beings. Regional culture has been shaped by geographical environment and natural conditions. Acculturation has impacted on my cultural background in which people has anticipated on changing their behavior through influence on different aspect such as age, gender occupation recency of arrival, socioeconomic status, and education (Ciria-Cruz, 1994, p. 18). Cultural characteristics suggest the influence of acculturation across generations. Through assimilation people avoid interacting with dominant cultures with the degree in which people maintain and relinquish attributes of their native cultures. Through assimilation people desires meets with dominant cultures which is not necessary in maintaining an identity of their native culture. Some people don’t like being assimilated but the degrees to which people may agree to be assimilated vary as a result of cultural diversity (Gramann and Sandra, 1998, p. 61). Assimilation has molded my cultural background through economic, social and political integration. This has been possible since my ethnic group changed to that of the host society. Cultural assimilation has given rise to different economic development patterns reducing cultural diversity by standardizing socio-cultural traits like ethics, beliefs, norms and codes of conducts. The climate of pluralism identifies what people in my culture share in common. This helps in maintaining ethnic identity and cultural identity. Acceptance of pluralism affects people’s feelings of cultural identity with effect of interaction being posited between ethnic and cultural identity. The diverse attitudes towards my cultural background can be viewed as positive forces with compatibility on learning second language. Language is the key to identification and if I want to change my cultural identity I have to change my linguistic identification. Conclusion My cultural background marks my cultural identity in which various factors have contributed to cultural diversity. Factors like assimilation, pluralism and acculturation. My cultural backgrounds vary because of migration and time of arrival at that particular destination, socio-economic background, and period of settlement, education level, cultural and religious background, rural and urban residence, different life experiences with migration experience. Diversity in my cultural background is due to ignorance of cultural background language. List of References Ciria-Cruz, R. (1994), â€Å"How far have we come,† Filipinas, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 16-18 Feagin, J. & Feagin C. (1993), Cultural Diversity, 4th Ed. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall Gramann, H. , & Sandra, L, (1998), â€Å"The effect of cultural assimilation on the importance of family-related and nature-related recreation among Hispanic Americans,† Journal of leisure research, Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 57-68

A Journey through War

The 3rd of September has brought many changes to my life that will shape the course of my future for years to come. I have signed up to Join the United States Army and will soon be leaving to fght in the war against Great Britain. The war was officially declared on the 18th of June after President Madison was finally persuaded by the War Hawks to battle the British. Madison stated that â€Å"war with the British was inevitable† and then asked Congress to go to war a few months later.After the president's declaration, I thought about Joining the war effort and was reminded of ll the cruel and outrageous actions that the British had performed against the United States. For many years now, The British have been violating our neutral rights and blocking off the French coast from American trading ships. In addition, the British have also been supporting and giving arms to Indian tribes that raid American cities along the Northwest Territory and block expansion into the west.Lastly and most importantly, the British scum have been practicing the horrid act of impressment on American ships and have been kidnapping thousands of American ailors in the search for Navvy deserters. After reflecting over all of these things, I couldn't help but become overcome with rage and anger. At that very moment, I swore to fght for the army and vowed to claim revenge for Britain's actions. I also promised to avenge all of those who had been impressed by the British Navvy and killed in Indian raids. The British have offended and taken advantage of our nation for long enough.It is time to act and show the Brits that we will no longer tolerate their behavior. August 15, 1812 The war has gotten off to a bad start. A few days after I was accepted into the US army and placed under the command of General William Henry Harrison, Congress had ordered for an attack on the British colony of Canada. Thus, we set out from our fort in Detroit and began marching towards Canada. This was going to be my very first battle and I was very anxious to get my first taste of war. I was confident in my fellow soldiers and believed that victory would be unproblematic and straightforward.However, as we marched to our destination, we were met by the British and a group of Native American warriors who were led by Tecumseh. Our general feared the Indian's vicious war tactics and knew that we would certainly face heavy losses if we engaged the British force. That day we were forced to shamefully surrender Fort Detroit and retreat. After our humiliating defeat, morale among my fellow soldiers was drastically low and we soon began developing doubts about victory. A few weeks later, we yet again attempted to invade Canada, but were once again defeated.After our two defeats, morale was at an all-time low and the only thing that even vaguely cheered us up, was the mention of the USS Constitution. The hip had managed to defeat the British vessel, Guerriere and was nicknamed â€Å"Old Ironsid es† when a shot bounced off its hull during battle. It was one the few victories that was heard about in a sea of losses. P. S. I shall not see war for a very long time control over Lake Erie. October 16, 1813 Today is a glorious day and my fellow soldiers and I are relishing a satisfying victory against the British and their Native American allies.It all started on September 10th, 1813, when Oliver Hazard Perry assembled a fleet of military ships and engaged the British naw in Lake Erie. After a long and bloody battle, the American fleet prevailed and Oliver Perry, watching the battle from Put-in-Bay, Ohio sent General Harrison the message, â€Å"We have met the enemy and they are ours. † With Lake Erie under American control, the British frantically evacuated Fort Detroit and hastily headed back for safety in Canada, but in the end, we were able to intercept their troops and force them to wage war.On October 5th, 1813, we fought the British and their Native American a llies in the Battle of Thames. At the end of the bloody battle, we had defeated the enemy force and had managed to kill Tecumseh, he Native American leader who had aided the British in the war. Our luck did not end here, however. A few days after our victory in the Battle of Thames, we attacked the Canadian town of York and set fire to the parliament buildings. After these victories, morale among my fellow soldiers was higher than ever before and we soon grew confident in victory over the British.August 25, 1814 Yesterday was a sad, sad day in American history that I will never forget for as long as I live. Just a couple of months ago, my fellow soldiers and I had enjoyed a heightened sense of confidence in our chance of victory. We believed that as long as the British were still at war with the French, they would not be able to send the majority of their troops to America and would thus, not be able to pose a large threat. However, several months later, we got news that Britain had managed to defeat the French and their brilliant military leader, Napoleon Bonaparte.With the French out of the way, the British were able to concentrate their military efforts on the war with America and were ready launch an attack. On August 24, 1814, British ships sailed into Chesapeake Bay and unloaded 5,000 troops (led by Major General Robert Ross) hat were headed directly for the nation's heart, Washington, DC. As the British marched towards the capitol, President Madison hastily ordered for the concentration of all nearby troops and the safekeeping of American documents such as the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and George Washington's Correspondence.In the Battle of Bladensburg, the recently assembled American defenders tried to hold off the large British attack force, but they were quickly overpowered by the well-trained enemy soldiers. As the British continued to advance towards the capitol, Dolley Madison, the first lady (which I am quite fond of) mazingl y risked her life in order to selflessly save President Washington's painting. She was among the last to evacuate the White House. Moments after Dolleys daring act, the British scoundrels barbarically raided and burned important government buildings such as the Capitol and Library of Congress.The British scum also burned down President Madison's home, the White House, a structure that has long been a symbol of freedom and independence for the American people. There seemed to be nothing we could do to protect the city, but fortunately, as if by the will of god, a iolent hurricane and tornado extinguished the fires and drove the British soldiers back to Benedict. After hearing this shocking story, my dislike for the British turned British again and will try to defend the city of Baltimore which is believed to be the next target for the British troops.September 21, 1814 The month of September has brought two glorious victories to the American people and has provided us with revenge for the burning of Washington. The first victory took place in the city of Baltimore. In the city of Baltimore, American troops were strengthening Fort McHenry for the upcoming British siege while my squad and I were helping fortify the city for the impending land based attack. While doing my work, I recall seeing a large and magnificent American flag hanging over the fort.I later learned that the majestic â€Å"Star Spangled Banner Flag† had been sewed by Mary Young Pickersgill on General George Armistead's orders. The British were advancing towards the city quickly and we needed more time to reinforce our defenses. Thus, it was decided that a group of soldiers led by General John Stricker would be sent out to buy time for the Americans. On September 12, 1814, John Stricker's and Robert Ross's forces fought each other in the Battle of North Point. Although they lost the battle, they had bought us time and had even managed to kill Major General Robert Ross.When the British land force arrived, we were ready for them and were able to hold them back easily. Meanwhile, in Fort McHenry, American soldiers were desperately trying to hold off the British naw and keep the fort alive. If this fort fell to the British, the city might have been destroyed and the war might have fallen into their hands. The American defenders however held firm and after 25 hours of bombardment from the British avy, the Brits finally gave up their assault and retreated. After the long, tiresome fght, we celebrated our amazing victory and shouted into the air.During this period of celebration, Francis Scott Key who had seen the whole battle from his ship and was deeply moved by it wrote the poem â€Å"Defense of Fort McHenry'. The poem was set to the tune of a popular British drinking song and was distributed throughout Baltimore on hand bills. While we celebrated our victory in Baltimore, General Sir George Prevost and his 10,000 British troops departed from Canada and attacked New York in the hopes of apturing the seaside city of Plattsburgh. The attack was easily thwarted when a group of American warships on Lake Champlain defeated the British flotilla.The British realized that control over the lake gave the Americans an advantage over their force and they were required to retreat back to Canada. January 15, 1815 The year of 181 5 has brought the American people another outstanding military victory and the end of a long and tiring war. After being defeated in the Battle of Lake Chaplain, the British realized that war with the USA was detrimental and was simply not worth the effort. On December 24, 1814, Britain and America signed a peace treaty in Ghent, Belgium which officially ended the war between the two nations.However, news of the treaty traveled too slowly and troops were not informed of the war's end quickly enough. Thus, on January 8, 181 5, the British and Americans engaged in one last gruesome battle at New Orleans. In the battle, Andrew Jackson's 4,0 00 American ragtag defenders were heavily outnumbered by the 10,000 British troops. However, the British forgot to bring scaling ladders and by simply staying behind earthen defenses and shooting from behind bales of cotton, Jackson Orleans was saved and Jackson became a national hero.After the ending of the war and the victory at New Orleans, people throughout the nation were feeling proud and honored to be an American. In addition, many Americans started to feel an improved sense of patriotism and nationalism. I myself felt proud to be a part of such a great nation. In a matter of a few years, our young country had grown strong enough to defeat the British army and had even gained the respect of other, much older nations. I believe that this war will define the American people for many years to come.

Can we know something that has not yet been proven true Essay Example

Can we know something that has not yet been proven true Essay Example Can we know something that has not yet been proven true Essay Can we know something that has not yet been proven true Essay Essay Topic: Religion In order to answer this question, we must first define how we can prove that something is true and it actually exists. Some think that seeing is believing and therefore if they see something with their own eyes, that precise object must exist. Others feel that if there is not a logical explanation to a certain event or to a belief, then that thing does not exist. Some might say that scientific proof is the only way to state that a certain thing is true. What happens when scientific proof is showed to someone who only believes in the seeing is believing principle, or what if a plain and simple picture is shown to a scientist? Will they believe that that object or theses exist or not? For us to know something, we must believe that the method used to prove this fact, is the most suitable and the most accurate. For example, not many people will believe that UFOs exist just because they have been showed a picture with a presumed flying spacecraft on it. This also goes for everything we are taught in life. If it comes from what we think is a reliable source (parents or teachers), then there is more of a chance that we will use this knowledge later on our lives. For scientists and mathematicians, the only medium through which the truth is separated from the imaginary world, is scientific facts and numbers. These facts and numbers, are later set up into an experiment or a certain method through which a predicted or less predicted outcome will be formed, and new facts and numbers released, formulating experimental results, which are the bases for scientific conclusions. These conclusions state what is true and what is not. We can also take into consideration, the fact that some people believe that seeing is believing. In general we can relate this also to our other four senses (hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching), therefore resulting in a method that uses our human senses to prove whether things are true or not. I have personally come across a discussion relating the seeing is believing theory, and this happened in religion class, where the students were asked to debate on the available evidence of Gods existence. One of the students asked the obvious question: has anyone ever seen God, has anyone touched him, has anyone talked to him? Another student replied with another quite similar question: has anyone ever seen your brain, has anyone ever touched it, has anyone ever talked to it? Obviously no one had, and realising the obvious, the class went quiet. Within the borders and the limits of the classroom, we knew something that we were not able to prove true. Arguments like these happen every day all around the world. Arguments, whos main point of discussion or of debate, is a certain fact, which is obviously true, but at that time no one would have the ability to produce some clear evidence that would be accepted by everyone as reliable and accurate. Religion is probably the most complicated and sensible subject dealing with what is real and what is not. How can so many people in the world follow a religion, which does not have some clear and recent proof? We do have eyewitness accounts, and holy books, but how can we explain all the miracles and the extraordinary events that characterise the life of a prophet. I am not here to criticise mine or other religious beliefs, but I am here to define the difference between knowledge and faith. Faith is another form of knowing something that has not yet been proven true, but it consists of something beyond science and beyond any sort of facts and figures. We can say that faith is a derivative of the seeing is believing principle. The only difference between the two is that, the religious belief is based on eyewitness accounts from over a millennium ago and not from your own observation. Faith could be interpreted as another method of knowing something that has not yet been proven true, if we do not consider how much time has passed since someone had the capabilities to prove that our beliefs and everyone elses, are true. All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident. 1 Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 1860) If we think about mans discoveries throughout history, we will see that most, if not all of them have followed the path suggested by the quote. Discoveries such as the roundness of the earth and the ability to overtake the speed of sound, perfectly match this sort of definition and so do other discoveries and theories, thought of by humans. Then what can be said about the existence of extraterrestrial beings, or about the life after death? Could the theories and the witness accounts be true? How can we tell the difference between someone who is lying and someone who is telling us what he really saw, felt, or heard? The only way we can resolve these mysteries, is to let time do the job for us. With the gaining of new and more advanced technologies, man will be able to reach limits never imagined before. In a couple of decades we could be all spending our winter holidays skiing on the, over twenty kilometre high, Olympus Mons, on Mars! Sometime in the future we will have the possibility to prove whether what we think of today as absolutely impossible and absurd, will be proven to be true, with the help of technology and other close encounters. The cause for this mass scepticism, is that some people might recognise certain witness accounts as absolute nonsense, but that is simply because they do not consider this as a reliable source of evidence for such an event. Therefore they conclude that this certain thing never happened, and therefore if has not been proven true. Therefore that witness knows something that has not yet been proven true. What a human being knows, is only a minute fraction, of the available knowledge of today. One must be able to preserve his or her knowledge, and pass it to later generations. This knowledge could be useless as it could be the key to our survival. It is obvious that in order to know something, one must first make sure it is true, and to do that, one must follow the best possible method, he or she regards as the most reliable. This is the very foundation of our knowledge. The proof of something being true, plays a vital role in the knowing or not knowing concept. What really matters is that, one must be able to prove to himself that his knowledge is correct, and in order to do so, one must follow the method chosen. There are more than one points of view concerning method used, and there will be some people who will think that the method u chose is the wrong one and rather inaccurate. But from your point of view, you would know that a certain thing is true, and according to your method, you have proven it true. But for those who do not believe the method you chose is the best one, they will bring up the argument that you have did not prove that that thing exists, even though they might believe it does. Therefore you would know something that has not yet been proven true.

How Dragonflies Males Find and Mate with Females

How Dragonflies Males Find and Mate with Females Dragonfly sex is a rough-and-tumble affair. If youve ever seen a pair of mating dragonflies in the act, you know that their sexual coupling requires the flexibility and acrobatic skill of a Cirque de Soleil performer. Females get bitten, males get scratched, and sperm winds up everywhere. These strange mating habits have survived millions of years of evolution, so the dragonflies must know what theyre doing, right? Lets take a closer look at how dragonflies mate. How Dragonfly Males Find Receptive  Females Dragonflies dont engage in elaborate courtship rituals. In a few dragonfly families, the male might display his colors or fly over his territory to show a potential mate what a good oviposition site hes chosen for their offspring, but thats about it. Since dragonflies have extraordinarily good vision, the males rely mostly on their eyesight to find appropriate female partners. A typical pond or lake habitat will support many species of dragonflies and damselflies. To succeed in passing on his DNA, a male dragonfly must be able to distinguish females of his own species from all the other Odonates flying around. He can recognize a conspecific female by observing her flight style, her colors and patterns, and her size. How Dragonflies Mate (and the Wheel Formation) As with many insects, male dragonflies make the first move to initiate sex. When a male spots a female of his own species, he must first subdue her. Hell approach her from behind, usually while they are both in flight, and hold onto her thorax with his legs. He might bite her, too. If he hopes to mate successfully, he must get a firm  grip on her quickly. He pulls his abdomen forward and uses his anal appendages, a pair of cerci, to clasp her by the neck (her prothorax). After he has her tightly by the neck, he extends his body and continues to fly with her, in tandem. This position is known as tandem linkage. Now that hes got a hold of a mate, the male dragonfly prepares for sex. Dragonflies have secondary sex organs, meaning they dont store sperm near the copulatory organ. He must transfer some sperm from a gonopore, on his ninth abdominal segment, to his penis, which is located under his second abdominal segment. After hes charged his seminal vesicle with sperm, hes ready to go. Now for the acrobatics. Somewhat inconveniently, the females genital opening is near her thorax, while the males penis is closer to the tip of his abdominal segments (on the underside of his second segment). She has to bend her abdomen forward, sometimes with coaxing from the male, to bring her genitalia into contact with his penis. This position during copulation is known as a wheel formation because the couple forms a closed circle with their joined bodies; it is unique to the order Odonata. In dragonflies, the sex organs lock together briefly (not so for damselflies). Some dragonflies will mate in flight, while others will retire to a nearby perch to consummate their relationship. Competition Among Male Dragonflies If given the opportunity, a female dragonfly might mate with multiple partners, but the sperm from her final sexual partner will fertilize her eggs, in most cases. Male dragonflies, therefore, have an incentive to make sure their sperm is the last to be deposited in her. A male dragonfly can increase his chances of fatherhood by destroying the sperm of his competitors, and hes well equipped to do so when he mates. Some dragonflies have backward-facing hooks or barbs on their penises, which they can use to scoop out any sperm they find inside their partner before depositing their own. Other dragonflies use their penises to tamp down or move the offending sperm, pushing it aside before he places his own in the ideal location for fertilization. Still, other dragonfly males will dilute any existing sperm they find. In all cases, his goal is to ensure that his sperm supersedes that of any prior partners she has had. Just to provide an added measure of security for his sperm, the male dragonfly will often guard the female until she oviposits her eggs. He tries to prevent her from mating with any other males, so his sperm is assured the last in position that will make him a father. Male damselflies will often continue to grasp their partners with their cerci, refusing to let go until she oviposits. Hell even endure a dunking in the pond if she submerges to place her eggs. Many dragonflies prefer to guard their partners by simply chasing off any approaching males, even engaging in wing-to-wing combat if necessary. Sources Paulson, Dennis. Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press, 2009.Resh, Vincent H., and Ring T. Carde, eds. Encyclopedia of Insects, 2nd ed., Academic Press, 2009.