Customer Power, Strategic Investment, and the Failure of Leading Firms

A History of Synthetic Grass

A History of Synthetic Grass AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf or synthetic grass. James Faria and Robert Wright of Monsanto Industries co-invented Astroturf. A patent for astroturf was filed for on December 25, 1965, and issued by the USPTO on July 25, 1967. The Evolution of Astroturf During the 50s and 60s, the Ford Foundation was studying ways to improve the physical fitness of young people. At the same time, the Chemstrand Company, a subsidiary of Monsanto Industries, were developing new synthetic fibers for use as tough carpeting. Chemstrand was encouraged to try to make the perfect urban sports surface for schools by the Ford Foundation. From 1962 to 1966, Chemstrand worked on creating new sports surfaces. The surfaces were tested for foot traction and cushioning, weather drainage, flammability and wear resistance. Chemgrass In 1964, the Creative Products Group installed a synthetic turf called Chemgrass at the Moses Brown School in Providence Rhode Island. This was the first large-scale installation of synthetic turf. In 1965, Judge Roy Hofheinz built the AstroDome in Houston, Texas. Hofheinz consulted with Monsanto about replacing the natural grass with a new synthetic playing surface. The First Astroturf In 1966, the Houston Astros baseball season begins on a Chemgrass surface now renamed Astroturf at the AstroDome. Supposedly it was renamed AstroTurf by one John A. Wortmann. The same year, the Houston Oilers AFL football season began on more than 125,000 square feet of removable Astroturf at the AstroDome. The next year, Indiana State University Stadium, in Terre Haute, Indiana became the first outdoor stadium installed with Astroturf. Astroturf Patented In 1967, Astroturf was patented (U.S. patent #3332828 see photos right). The patent for a monofilament ribbon file product was issued to inventors Wright and Faria, of Monsanto Industries. In 1986, Astroturf Industries, Inc. was formed and sold in 1994 to Southwest Recreational Industries. Former Astroturf Competitors All are no longer available. The name astroturf is a registered trademark, however, it is sometimes used incorrectly as a generic description for all artificial turf. Below are the names of a few astroturf competitors, all are no longer in business. Tartan Turf, PolyTurf, SuperTurf, WycoTurf, DurraTurf, Gras, Lectron, PoliGras, All-Pro, Cam Turf, Instant Turf, Stadia Tur, Omniturf, Toray, Unitika, Kureha, KonyGreen, Grass Sport, ClubTurf, Desso, MasterTurf, DLW

Finding Darwin's God Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Finding Darwin's God - Assignment Example Miller holds the point that thought scientist might explain their understanding of the Universe in terms of the quantum physics theories; however, every theory has its influence from the supreme creator called God.   Quantum theory of physics observes the Universe as a combination of smallest or discreet parts such as atoms, nuclei, and subnuclear parts. Miller observes that these discreet particles, when combined in a random fashion, might have chances to result in unpredictable happenings in the world. In other words, the microscopic particles identified by quantum physics would combine to end up in macroscopic events; this unpredictability, Miller calls as the central property of matter. On the other hand, God, who created innumerable things in the same way as the combination of discreet particles influence the world with unpredictable events. Miller’s argument tries to build strong logical compatibility between the quantum theory, the evolution made by God, in terms of u npredictability, Miller seems to have maintained an acceptable logical statement that science and religion have unpredictable things in common. This could be understood in with the help of many events, which has happened in the course of years. If the scientists could consider the first report of Tsunami, Katherina and various tremors occurrences as unpredictable, then the same could also be argued in terms of some supernatural influence holding the earth. In this sense, Miller wins his argument.  Miller observes that creationists have the belief that natural science ends up with supernatural conclusions, but he differentiates religion and natural science clearly. There exists meaning for everything made by God and hence his creation holds his identity, so there is nothing-logical present in evolution and thus they believe that there is God argues creationists whereas evolutionists argue that there is logical reasoning for everything in the world.