An Evaluation of Human Productivity Using Computer and Internet

Both technology and Computers are more than ever present in our daily routines helping us achieve our objectives in a faster, secure and more professional way. The aim of this report is to evaluate whether Computers and Internet make people more productive. According to the information gathered, it turns out that in most cases they do in fact improve the overall productivity of people. It†s amazing how many new communications discoveries have improved the way people work, behave and conduct their lives. The term productive can be explained as â€Å"Yielding favorable or useful results; constructive. Or involved in the creation of goods and services to produce wealthy or value†. 1 Let me start by providing some of the new technological terms that have been changing the lifestyle of many people. Internet, or Information Super Highway, is aimed to improve accesses to information and corporate resources. â€Å"This communication will allow people to move faster, control communications costs, and overcome distance. It can also make your people more productive, empowering them with new tools to help meet business objectives.†2 Thanks to the Internet, people are more than ever able to share their information, thoughts and ideas faster. Another technology being used nowadays is called telecommuting. A simple explanation is that employees can now work from home, without having to go to their offices. According to many surveys, the number of people whom will adopt this working method will reach 45 millions people in the United States by the Year 2000. â€Å"Telecommuting provides me with a lot of flexibility†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"And it allows me to balance my work load with my personal life. I feel that I’m definitely more productive.†3 This can only be accomplished by the lower price of hardware and software available in the market today. In addition, with lower-cost high-tech home office equipment available, the approach saves employers money on office space and overhead. This is only the tip of the iceberg, compared to the endless ways of how the use of Computers integrated with an Internet connection can make people more productive. Furthermore, lower software prices together with very well designed computer interfaces can also increase the productivity of workers. I can certainly say that well-designed user interface helps me better accomplish my daily tasks at work. Why? One of the major changes in computer technology has been the development of icons instead of command driven interfaces. According to the use of Human-Computer Interaction Studies, â€Å"only 5% to 20% of user interactions typically involve help, but although this reflects a small percentage in terms of data collection it can be very substantial one in terms of effort and frustration!†4 â€Å"GUI (Graphical User Interface) also provides interface options not available in character mode. The chance that they’re all irrelevant is slight; some will let you make people more productive.†5 An image is easier to be recognized by humans; thus well-designed software facilitates the tasks included in performing your job. This method yields constructive results, which is one of the definitions for productivity. In addition to that, many changes have been made in the way in which people connect themselves. The terminology LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) are the methods used for people to connect in an office, within their houses or with friends around the world. Network Structure is related to the people working under the same building but not in the same area. The connections between different floors within a company can be achieved by using LANs. By means of LANs and WANs, people can contact their co-workers within the same building or the other side of the world by only sending them an e-mail message. Not only does this kind of information technology give people the ability to do their jobs more effectively, but also allows them to respond faster, yielding more productivity. â€Å"So, for instance, if your company has internal web sites in London, Singapore, Seattle, and New York, someone with a web browser could retrieve information from any of those sites with equal ease.†6 Again, this technique produces, in my opinion, favorable results not only for the user but also for the company. The aim is to make people more productive, to reduce cost and provide the best quality possible. To achieve this stage, such tools are necessary today. Not only e-mail messages make things simpler but also improve the speed in which people received/send their answers. A valid example where a user needs faster help is when a computer problem arises or you need to find out the next flight to â€Å"Spain†. Instead of calling the Telephone Company and asking for the telephone number of the carrier, one can just check the Internet for a fast, reliable information. Another example is when you need to fix your computer. You need that information as fast as you can get it. Nowadays, the use of on-line help has been proven a true value. Problems with printers, files and computers bugs can arise at any time. On-line help can easily provide that information for you or your company faster than spending time finding the number to call to customer service for help. Less time to fix the problem means more time to be productive. This example explains the ability to generate services, another explanation of productivity. Much has been said about the Internet and computers. But can computers without the Internet increase people†s productivity? I strongly believe that computers have increased the speed in which we accomplish our activities. According to many studies, my assumption is not always correct. A report states that †¦ â€Å"Information processing continues to be the principal task undertaken by America’s work force. Over half the labor force is employed in information-handling activities. Overall productivity growth appears to have slowed significantly since the early 1970s and measured productivity growth has fallen especially sharply in the service sectors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 7 But it also states that computers helped people to be more confident and therefore to feel more comfortable making decisions on their own. Computers are able to provide people with resources and material to facilitate their decision-making. They are becoming user-friendly enough for all to be able to use. This is one of the main reasons why the hi-tech companies today are facing such a state of grace, with outrageous revenues and endless room for new development of products. Many others believe that what is happening now is just the beginning and that we are entering in a new era as described by Peter Schwartz. He states that†¦ We are watching the beginnings of a global economic boom on a scale never experienced before. We have entered a period of sustained growth that could eventually double the world’s economy every dozen years and bring increasing prosperity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 8 With all this new technology emerging is not difficult to agree that much more is yet to come. If all the new technology will make tasks easier, improve quality and increase productivity, let this technology be part of the world and accessible by people. As stated before, computers are becoming a very important piece of equipment in our lives. Much can be done with computers. They are only tools that need to be driven by a smart, intelligent individual to generate the best outputs possible. An Evaluation of Human Productivity Using Computer and Internet Both technology and Computers are more than ever present in our daily routines helping us achieve our objectives in a faster, secure and more professional way. The aim of this report is to evaluate whether Computers and Internet make people more productive. According to the information gathered, it turns out that in most cases they do in fact improve the overall productivity of people. It†s amazing how many new communications discoveries have improved the way people work, behave and conduct their lives. The term productive can be explained as â€Å"Yielding favorable or useful results; constructive. Or involved in the creation of goods and services to produce wealthy or value†. 1 Let me start by providing some of the new technological terms that have been changing the lifestyle of many people. Internet, or Information Super Highway, is aimed to improve accesses to information and corporate resources. â€Å"This communication will allow people to move faster, control communications costs, and overcome distance. It can also make your people more productive, empowering them with new tools to help meet business objectives.†2 Thanks to the Internet, people are more than ever able to share their information, thoughts and ideas faster. Another technology being used nowadays is called telecommuting. A simple explanation is that employees can now work from home, without having to go to their offices. According to many surveys, the number of people whom will adopt this working method will reach 45 millions people in the United States by the Year 2000. â€Å"Telecommuting provides me with a lot of flexibility†Ã¢â‚¬ ¦ â€Å"And it allows me to balance my work load with my personal life. I feel that I’m definitely more productive.†3 This can only be accomplished by the lower price of hardware and software available in the market today. In addition, with lower-cost high-tech home office equipment available, the approach saves employers money on office space and overhead. This is only the tip of the iceberg, compared to the endless ways of how the use of Computers integrated with an Internet connection can make people more productive. Furthermore, lower software prices together with very well designed computer interfaces can also increase the productivity of workers. I can certainly say that well-designed user interface helps me better accomplish my daily tasks at work. Why? One of the major changes in computer technology has been the development of icons instead of command driven interfaces. According to the use of Human-Computer Interaction Studies, â€Å"only 5% to 20% of user interactions typically involve help, but although this reflects a small percentage in terms of data collection it can be very substantial one in terms of effort and frustration!†4 â€Å"GUI (Graphical User Interface) also provides interface options not available in character mode. The chance that they’re all irrelevant is slight; some will let you make people more productive.†5 An image is easier to be recognized by humans; thus well-designed software facilitates the tasks included in performing your job. This method yields constructive results, which is one of the definitions for productivity. In addition to that, many changes have been made in the way in which people connect themselves. The terminology LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network) are the methods used for people to connect in an office, within their houses or with friends around the world. Network Structure is related to the people working under the same building but not in the same area. The connections between different floors within a company can be achieved by using LANs. By means of LANs and WANs, people can contact their co-workers within the same building or the other side of the world by only sending them an e-mail message. Not only does this kind of information technology give people the ability to do their jobs more effectively, but also allows them to respond faster, yielding more productivity. â€Å"So, for instance, if your company has internal web sites in London, Singapore, Seattle, and New York, someone with a web browser could retrieve information from any of those sites with equal ease.†6 Again, this technique produces, in my opinion, favorable results not only for the user but also for the company. The aim is to make people more productive, to reduce cost and provide the best quality possible. To achieve this stage, such tools are necessary today. Not only e-mail messages make things simpler but also improve the speed in which people received/send their answers. A valid example where a user needs faster help is when a computer problem arises or you need to find out the next flight to â€Å"Spain†. Instead of calling the Telephone Company and asking for the telephone number of the carrier, one can just check the Internet for a fast, reliable information. Another example is when you need to fix your computer. You need that information as fast as you can get it. Nowadays, the use of on-line help has been proven a true value. Problems with printers, files and computers bugs can arise at any time. On-line help can easily provide that information for you or your company faster than spending time finding the number to call to customer service for help. Less time to fix the problem means more time to be productive. This example explains the ability to generate services, another explanation of productivity. Much has been said about the Internet and computers. But can computers without the Internet increase people†s productivity? I strongly believe that computers have increased the speed in which we accomplish our activities. According to many studies, my assumption is not always correct. A report states that †¦ â€Å"Information processing continues to be the principal task undertaken by America’s work force. Over half the labor force is employed in information-handling activities. Overall productivity growth appears to have slowed significantly since the early 1970s and measured productivity growth has fallen especially sharply in the service sectors†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 7 But it also states that computers helped people to be more confident and therefore to feel more comfortable making decisions on their own. Computers are able to provide people with resources and material to facilitate their decision-making. They are becoming user-friendly enough for all to be able to use. This is one of the main reasons why the hi-tech companies today are facing such a state of grace, with outrageous revenues and endless room for new development of products. Many others believe that what is happening now is just the beginning and that we are entering in a new era as described by Peter Schwartz. He states that†¦ We are watching the beginnings of a global economic boom on a scale never experienced before. We have entered a period of sustained growth that could eventually double the world’s economy every dozen years and bring increasing prosperity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ 8 With all this new technology emerging is not difficult to agree that much more is yet to come. If all the new technology will make tasks easier, improve quality and increase productivity, let this technology be part of the world and accessible by people. As stated before, computers are becoming a very important piece of equipment in our lives. Much can be done with computers. They are only tools that need to be driven by a smart, intelligent individual to generate the best outputs possible.

Gender Roles and its Effect Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Gender Roles and its Effect - Essay Example The gender roles as defined by society therefore fail to pay attention to such groups who identify themselves as intersexual and transgender. Intersexual are individuals having male/female anatomical characteristics that deviate from the normal while transgender are those that identify with or express their gender identity through a gender that does not correspond to the sex at birth. In a society where a lot focus is placed on this gender binary, these individuals with characteristics that do not neatly fit the clear-cut male/female dichotomy face similar problems as socially constructed gender roles fail to accommodate them. Perceptions and judgments people hold about others are generally informed by social norms, which consequently leads to them gravitating to individuals that are least hostile to a society’s norms. To perceive and understand reality, people rely on senses, intellect and generally, held social constructs which makes them able to label certain objects and co ncepts. For example, a man is differentiated from a woman according to gender roles and behaviors that have been assigned to genders and are expected of them. Individuals who posses’ characteristics and behaviors regarded as ‘masculine’ by the society are identified as man, and vice versa. There is a complexity when individuals who do not identify themselves within the constraints of this gender binary fail to fit into the male/female duality. In her article, Judith Butler explains that through intelligibility, humans are able to recognize other humans based on â€Å"normal† human social and physical characteristics that are defined by the society. ... at a definable gender is necessary for understanding someone to be human, people hold dominant gender perceptions, which dictate that intersexed persons must conform to either male or female gender roles. Butler rather subverts gender roles, as she asserts that â€Å"justice is not only or exclusively a matter of how persons are treated or how societies are constituted. It also concerns consequential decisions about what a person is, and what social norms must be honored and expressed for ‘personhood’ to become allocated† (Butler, 58). She goes out of the norm to define justice not in terms of law but as the capacity to overlook the social norms that define an individual’s self-worth. According to her, justice is defined by the decisions held by a particular society in defining what it considers ‘human’. These include the accepted appearance, characteristics and behaviors of an individual. Individuals who portray characteristics and behaviors t hat deviate from what the society considers as the ‘normal’, their identity is questioned. A quandary arises since perceptions held by a society are not flexible to change for accommodation of such individuals, rather it is expected of the individuals to readjust and conform to the predefined gender roles. Gender roles are acquired through socialization whereby a society trains individuals to conform and practice certain values and behaviors. Judith Lorber states that, â€Å"gender construction start with assignment to a sex category on the basis of what the genitalia look like at birth†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..a sex category becomes a gender status through naming dress and the use of other gender markers† when a child is born as sex is assigned to the child depending on the anatomical characteristics in particular the sex organs. As

Distinct varieties of masculinity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Distinct varieties of masculinity - Essay Example ne, by concurring or differing with different scholars; the conclusion, entailing a summery outline of the main points discussed and a stand on the things discussed and how masculinity manifest. In gender studies, feminist theories concern the discrimination of women by men because of womanhood feminists opine that men suit themselves by controlling sex; women get denied personal choice and exploited on labor issues. The feminists believe that the discrimination curtails women rights and seek to see the situation changed. (Piper 2009) Masculinity refers to masculine which denote something related to a male who include men and boys. (Piper 2011) defines masculinity as an expression to serve and not to be served expressing a sacrifice for the woman, which requires giving direction and having a final say. While looking at the distinct values of masculinity arises from the comparison of feminist and masculinity where feminist seek for equality between men and women, but some things constitute for womanhood and others manhood. The essay below discusses the comparison of the two in regard to distinct variety of masculinity. Distinct varieties of masculinity To begin with thoughts and experiences of men, they help in understanding gender in terms of the masculine variables, as opposed to feminist. (Rotundo, p. 106) argues that women beauty lured men from their known pleasure and secure culture to following women. Therefore, opining that gender gets socially construed with masculine thoughts and behaviors arising from social and cultural processes. The scholar opines that the new complex culture, give rise to the conception of self made manhood. (Rotundo, p. 80 ) Explains the boy’s culture, which prepared boys, for rough and competitive world of politics and business, also the youth culture characterized by debating clubs, where they learned new skills and how to compete in socially acceptable ways. Similarly, (Rotundo, p 86) expresses the idea of masculinity by

anthropology Essay -- essays research papers

Anthropology proves to be satisfying and intellectually fulfilling to many in the field. However, there are also many challenges and bumps in the road along the way. Napolean A. Chagnon and Claire Sterk faced many of these challenges themselves. During his fieldwork with the Yanomamo, Chagnon faced many challenges interacting with the natives. Chagnon could not practically communicate with the people until about six months after he arrived. He notes ? the hardest thing to live with was the incessant, passioned, and often aggressive demands they would make.? An example of this is the natives threatening with a shout such as; ?If you don?t take me with you on your next boat trip to Widokalyateri, I?ll chop a hole in your canoe!? While trying to collect genealogies, Chagnon found it very frustrating and commented ? I could not have deliberately picked a more difficult people to work with in this regard.? This was because he first tried to use the names they called each other, not knowing that the names they called each other were completely ambiguous and didn?t mean anything. He then later found out , after collecting all the genealogical information, that only the living members were accurate and the deceased listed were mostly fake. He had to start all over. ( Chagnon 5) Sterk did a different type of study on prostitution and how it went on during a time when AIDS was a major problem. This type of fieldwork is ethnographic fieldwork. Sterk had to get established in rough neig...

Biggie Smalls Is the Illest

Authenticity defines what is ‘real’ and what is not. Having ones own genuine, homegrown swagger and to then continue to maintain that strut as ones career (or life in general) carries on. The most prominent aspect to being authentic is having the courage to design entirely new, different and altered concepts and bring them into the mainstream, or at the very least attempt to do so. Turn the page to 19990’s hip-hop. The Rock N’ Roll era was over and it was time for a new genre to takeover. The 90’s contained so much diversity in it’s sound to the point where it started a phenomenon; the rap game.Within this frenzy of shootings, gang pride, and territorial disputes came one of the greatest hip hop artists to ever live. His sound had a Jamaican ring to it, thanks to his mother who was a Jamaican native. His deep ‘uh-n’s in his tracks were so organic that it was good enough to get his name out throughout Jamaica Queens, NY and then ev entually to the desk of P. Diddy. Diddy is often recognized as the ‘founding father’ of the Notorious B. I. G. When the 90’s reached their midpoint, Biggie Smalls and Diddy had created an empire which they called Bad Boy records.As both their business senses grew keener, so did the killer instinct of the west coast rap artists. Unfortunately, so much hype was surfaced in the media pertaining to the differences between East Coast style and West Coast style, so much that the murder rates were skyrocketing in major cities†¦and nobody saw an end in sight. The media brought the two most prominent figures into question; Christopher Wallace and Tupac Shakur. Now, there is a theory of a ‘beef’ between these two rappers that happened one night but it will take much too long to explain.In the end, Christopher Wallace was shot while visiting California, doing a tour on the West Coast. From there it’s all history. Christopher â€Å"Biggie Smallsâ₠¬  Wallace left his ginormous Timberland boot-print on hip hop forever. His audacity lead him to create a whole new sound in hip hop, a sound that made people bump and dance to in the NY clubs. No body wanted to listen to Ice Cube or Dr. Dre bellow about crack rocks and cutting people. Sure, Biggie has drug and weapon references, but that’s hip hop.That is how it has always been, and Biggie changed the face of rap by his unique talents and finding his own authentic sound. Brooklyn stand up. â€Å"To protect my position, my corner, my layer While we out here, say the hustlas prayer If the game shakes me or breaks me I hope it makes me a better man Take a better stand Put money in my moms hand Get my daughter this college plan, so she don't need no man Stay far from timid Only make moves when ya heart's-in-it And live the phrase Sky's The Limit† The Notorious B. I. G. â€Å"Sky’s The Limit† featuring 112 Life After Death (Disc 2) (1997)

Pride and Prejudice Essay - 3860 Words

Pride and Prejudice The novel Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen was originally to be called First Impressions. Hence the ultimate aim of this essay is to identify how successful this novel is in giving ‘First Impressions’ of the characters. The focus of this essay is on the opening chapters of the novel as this is where we are first introduced to the characters. ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.’ This is one of Austen’s famous quotes and sums up the main theme of the novel; that in the time this novel was written all men with a good wage are eligible bachelors in finding a woman to marry. I would consider this idea to be put under†¦show more content†¦Due to Lydia’s wrong doings the Bennett’s have descended in the hierarchy. The only way the Bennett sisters can redeem their reputation, status in society and moreover be able to get married to someone in their own class is if Lydia Bennett marries Mr. Wickham. Today such a situation wouldn’t be frowned upon; however in Austen’s day there would be harsh consequences. Ultimately, this indicates the difference in social historical background. Jane Austen began writing the novel during the turn of the century in 1796, as she was writing the novel she wished to call it First Impressions. However, after much re-drafting the novel was published under the title Pride and Prejudice in 1813. Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire on 10th December 1775. She was the daughter of a clergyman and one of 8 children. Many thought that Jane wrote her novels on the basis of her social knowledge as this is all she knew about and believed she was unaware of major world events. Strictly speaking this is incorrect. Her brothers, to whom she was very close, were involved in political and military matters and she was informed by them any major events that had taken place in the world. It was her own choice to write about social issues and possibly may have chosen to write in this style as she could have personally experienced the events that she based the novel on, showing authenticity. Why is this novel still popular today? Jane Austen’sShow MoreRelated Essay on Prejudice and Pride in Pride and Prejudice1535 Words   |  7 PagesPrejudice and Pride in Pride and Prejudice      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In any literary work the title and introduction make at least some allusion to the important events of the novel. With Pride and Prejudice, Austen takes this convention to the extreme, designing all of the first and some of the second half of the novel after the title and the first sentence. The concepts of pride, prejudice, and universally acknowledged truth (51), as well as the interpretation of those concepts, are the central focus ofRead MorePride And Prejudice By Pride Essay990 Words   |  4 PagesThe Effects of Pride Pride is the feeling of satisfaction when someone achieve something, someone close to you achieves something, or something somebody owns or has is admired by others. Being proud of yourself or someone else is not always bad. However, some believe pride is negative and can change how a person thinks and feels about certain things. It can be taken either way depending on who, why, and when it is. Many people have written articles and have done research to determine whether itRead More The roles of pride and prejudice in Pride and Prejudice1404 Words   |  6 PagesBecoming an immediate success in the contemporary novel public in early nineteenth century, Pride and Prejudice has proved to be the most popular of Jane Austens novels and remains a classic masterpiece two centuries later. The title itself describes the underlying theme of the book. Pride and prejudice, intimately related in the novel, serve as challenges to the cherished love story of Darcy and Elizabeth. It is interesti ng to see how these two nice people were blinded before realizing that theyRead MorePride and Prejudice1472 Words   |  6 PagesElizabeth#8217;s Pride and Darcy#8217;s Prejudice? Jane Austen#8217;s Pride and Prejudice is a timeless social comedy which is both satirical and full of sentiment. The title refers to the personalities of the two main characters and cues the reader to Austen#8217;s broader thematic purpose: to satirize nineteenth century manners and morals, especially as they relate to courtship and manners. Although both characters contain both these traits, it is mainly Mr. Darcy who exemplifies #8216;pride#8217;Read More Pride and the Prejudice 1543 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"The power of doing anything with quickness is always prized much by the possessor, and often without any attention to the imperfection of the performance.† (1) Said Mr Darcy. This is one of the worlds most popular novels, Jane Austens Pride and Prejudice has charmed readers since its publication of the story of the amusing Elizabeth Bennet and her relationship with the aristocrat Fitzwilliam Darcy. During this essay it will explore the construction of characters , in particular it will be ElizabethRead MorePride and Prejudice2105 Words   |  9 Pagesrelationship, although back then divorce was never thought of either, where as today it is not rare at all. In these marriages, money was the only consideration. Love was left out, with the thought that it would develop as the years went by. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen comments that marriage in her time is a financial contract, where love is strictly a matter of chance. This is clearly evident from the very first line of the novel. Charlotte Lucas states that happiness in marriage is entirelyRead MorePride and Prejudice1236 Words   |  5 PagesThe path to marriage initiates in the very first paragraph of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. This courtship novel begins with the premise that â€Å"a single man in possession of a fortune must be in want of a wife† (pg. 5) Throughout the competition for the single men, characters are naturally divided by the norms of their social standing. However, the use of social conventions and civility further divides them. The characters in need of the most moral reform remain unchanged, leaving a path forRead MorePride and Prejudice1906 Words   |  8 PagesPride and Prejudice tells a story of a young girl in the midst of a very materialistic society. Jane Austen uses the setting to dramatize the restraints women had to endure in society. As the novel develops, we see how women have to act in a way according to their gender, social class, and family lineage. Elizabeth Bennet’s sisters represent the proper societal lady while Lizzy is the rebel. Through her characters Austen shows how a women’s happiness came second to the comfort of wealth. As the plotRead MoreIrony in Pride and Prejudice995 Words   |  4 PagesIrony in Pride and Prejudice Irony forms the alma mater of Jane Austen’s novels. Likewise, â€Å"Pride and Prejudice† is steeped in irony of theme, situation, character, and narration. Austen uses it to establish the contrast between appearance and reality. As one examines â€Å"Pride and Prejudice†, one discovers the ironic significance of how pride leads to prejudice and prejudice invites pride. Importantly, the novel elucidates how both â€Å"Pride† and â€Å"Prejudice† have their corresponding virtues bound upRead More Essay on the Irony of Pride in Pride and Prejudice1262 Words   |  6 Pagesof Pride in Pride and Prejudice      Ã‚  Ã‚   Jane Austen uses the elements of both pride and prejudice to develop the satire in her novel. Austen presents pride as both a vice and a virtue. Austen first introduces pride as a vice of arrogance and prejudice, but as the characters in the novel develop so does the concept of pride. Towards the end of the novel pride becomes the vehicle for many of the noble actions taken by the main characters. Austen skillfully interweaves the two parts of pride, the

Using the Spanish Verb Ganar

Ganar is a common Spanish verb that has as its basic sense the idea of accomplishment. As such, it can be translated to English in a variety of ways, depending on the context: to earn, to win, to reach, to defeat, to improve. Ganar is a cousin of the English gain and sometimes has that meaning as well. Ganar Meaning ‘To Earn’ In one of its most common usages, ganar is used to refer to how much money a person or business earns:  ¡Gana 80.00 dà ³lares solo por suscribirte a nuestro programa! (Earn $80 just for subscribing to our program!)Cada profesional ganarà ¡ 18.450 pesos uruguayos por mes. (Each professional will earn 18,450 Uruguayan pesos per month.)La compaà ±Ãƒ ­a ganaba muy poco dinero. (The company earned very little money.) Ganar Meaning ‘To Win’ Ganar can mean win in various senses: Adams ganà ³ la loterà ­a dos veces, en 1985 y 1986. (Adams won the lottery twice, in 1985 and 1986.)La empresa ganaba muchas veces en licitaciones internacionales. (The company won often in international bidding.)Carter ganà ³ el voto popular por un 50,1% contra 48,0% de Ford. (Carter won the popular vote with 50.1 percent against Fords 48.0 percent.)Entre 1936 y 1951 fue la estrella de los Yankees de Nueva York, equipo con el que ganà ³ nueve Series Mundiales. (Between 1936 and 1951 he was the star of the New York Yankees, the team that won nine World Series.)Ganaron los Cavaliers. (The Cavaliers won.)No ganamos la guerra contra las drogas. (We arent winning the war against drugs.) Ganar as a Verb of Achieving Ganar often conveys the sense of achievement. Translations to English can vary substantially: Ganà ³ mucho à ©xito escribiendo sobre los problemas de su ciudad. (He was very successful writing about his citys problems.)El Congreso ganà ³ su objetivo principal. (The Congress achieved its main goal.)Al menos 73 escaladores ganaron la cima el lunes. (At least 73 climbers reached the summit on Monday.)Las voces de los soldados ganaron intensidad cuando llegaron a la orilla. (The voices of the soldiers rose in intensity when they arrived at the shore.)Bolivia ganà ³ un escalà ³n, ubicà ¡ndose en el sitio 10 del ranking. (Bolivia reached a milestone, planting itself in 10th place.)   Using the Verbal Phrase Ganar En Ganar en can mean to improve or to gain in. Perdà ­ mi libertad, pero ganà © en felicidad. (I lost my freedom, but I became happier. Literally, I lost my freedom, but I gained in happiness.)Pablo y Marà ­a ganaron en fortaleza. (Pablo y Marà ­a became stronger. Literally, Pablo y Marà ­a gained in strength.) Ganarse The reflexive form ganarse usually means to deserve or otherwise suggests extraordinary effort. It also is frequently used to refer to those who win a lottery or drawing. Los atletas colombianas se ganaron la medalla de oro. (The Colombian athletes deserved the gold medal.)La compaà ±ia se ha ganado la reputacià ³n de là ­der innovador. (The company has deservedly earned its reputation as an innovative leader.)La felicidad invadià ³ a los 20 empleados, quienes se ganaron millones de dà ³lares. (Happiness overwhelmed the 20 employees, who won millions of dollars.)Al fin me ganà © la confianza y el respeto de su familia. (Finally I obtained the trust and respect of her family.) Using the Noun Form Gana Although you might expect that the noun form gana would refer to earnings or gains, it instead refers to the desire or appetite for something. It usually is used in the plural form.  ¿Que le dirà ­as a alguien que no tiene ganas de vivir? (What would you say to someone who doesnt have the desire to live?)Mis ganas de entender la vida y el mundo me llevaron a estudiar filosofà ­a en la universidad. (My desire to understand life and the world led me to study philosophy at the university.)Quiero ganas de hacer algo que no haya hecho nunca. (I want the desire to do something that has never been done before.) Etymology of Ganar Unlike most other Spanish verbs, ganar probably isnt of Latin origin. According to the Royal Spanish Academys dictionary, ganar possibly came from a Gothic word ganan, which meant to covet, along with Germanic and Nordic influences from words related to hunting, harvesting, and envy. Ganar and the English gain may be related to an ancient Proto-Indo-European root referring to striving. Key Takeaways Ganar often means to win or to earn and usually refers to having an accomplishment.The noun form is often used in the plural, ganas, and usually refers to a desire.The reflexive form ganarse often carries the idea of having an achievement due to a strong effort.