User:Nikia

= Individual Project for CIS 2 =

1. Introductions
- (BEST) Learning Literacies - Find It

https://neilpatel.com/blog/alternative-search-engines/|https://neilpatel.com/blog/alternative-search-engines

This article provided some really great and different ways to search the internet. I think it's worth giving some of these a try and great for a class that focuses on computer and the internet. It made me realize how many different options for search engines were out there - 70% of which I had not heard of or tried. For example, a really cool search engine is Ecosia, which uses Bing and it's own searching algorithm to look up stuff. What sets it apart, however, is that Ecosia donates its surplus income to plant trees via an organization.

- Online Community Service

https://dosomething.org/us

It is great that this class introduced a new way to do community service, as it is often thought of as something one has to physically leave the home to do. It just goes to show that with the internet age, virtually anything can be done from home (although I would recommend doing community service in person if you can - it's way more fun!). The link I provided, DoSomething.org, encourages young people to join a campaign of their choosing and make a real-world impact, as well as offers scholarship opportunities for those who partake in campaigns.

2. Privacy and Freedom of Speech
- Privacy and Freedom of Speech Keywords

Due to the fact that tech is integrated into everyday life, it is important to know some of the basic terms that surround it. I choose the two words below as it sparked my interest and made me learn something new.

censorship  https://www.aclu.org/other/what-censorship

This website provides an easy to understand definition of censorship. It also contains some examples of why something could be censored, such as violence, sexual speech, indecent scenes, etc. It's important to understand censorship as it pertains to our First Amendment right to express oneself freely, although it's hard to say what should and should not be censored, as we all have different morals and values.

net neutrality  https://bgr.com/2018/07/07/california-net-neutrality-bill-progress-news/

In this article, Chris Mills briefly goes over how since the FCC undid net neutrality last year, California set out to work on a new net neutrality law, that could potentially bring legal battles coming from internet service providers. I think this article is important because it pertains to our state and the new legislation can have an impact on the way we use the internet.

- (BEST) Learning Literacies - Protect It

https://digitalguardian.com/blog/101-data-protection-tips-how-keep-your-passwords-financial-personal-information-safe

In this day and age, it is just as important to protect one's digital assets and information as it is to protect one's tangible property, and perhaps even more so. This article gives the reader 101 different ways to protect their online information. It sheds some light on the many different things you can be doing to take responsibility and protect yourself online. For convenience, the article is divided into different sections: devices and networks, mobile devices,  identity,  credit, social networks, online data, and how to protect your data after a data breach.

3. Intellectual Property
- (BEST) Art and Computers

http://www.pewinternet.org/2004/12/05/artists-musicians-and-the-internet/&#x20;http://www.pewinternet.org/2004/12/05/artists-musicians-and-the-internet

This article goes over a survey in which artists were questioned about how the internet has affected them. The internet has allowed artists to better market and sell their creations, as wells as build a fan base. In a lot of cases, artists have also gone on the internet to look for inspiration. While there is the concern of piracy, most artists feel that the benefits outweigh the cost because the internet has made it much easier for them to make money than if they were to be out in the real world, on the streets, trying to sell their art. In fact, according to the survey, many artists do not feel that internet piracy is a big threat (which really surprised me).

- Learning Literacies - Use it

https://alltogether.swe.org/2018/05/5-lessons-to-succeed-beyond-an-engineering-classroom/

This article caught my eye because it's on the SWE website and I am a proud SWE member myself -  to be vice president of my collegiate section this upcoming year. I loved reading the tips on how to succeed from a fellow woman in tech. While all of the advice is really great, out of the five tips Mina Dezz shared, the two I felt applied the most to me are: "Harmony between work and personal life will make sure you don't burn out" and "You'll be surprised how much you can get done once you're organized." These tips are closely tied in with three of the other articles on time efficiency and time management in  Use it, all of which I took to heart. Someone in this class said they follow the mentality of working ahead before falling behind, which I was inspired by and want to try to do. Being more organized and efficient with my time will make for a much less stressful and balanced life.

4. Crime
- Risks Forum

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2018/06/cyber-researchers-dont-think-feds-or-congress-can-protect-against-cyberattacks/149289

Joseph Marks' article, "Cyber Researchers Don’t Think Feds or Congress Can Protect Against Cyberattacks", discussed some fascinating survey responses from "information security professionals" (Marks) in association with the Black Hat Conference - a cybersecurity conference. Interesting results included that "69 percent believe that a successful cyberattack on U.S critical infrastructure will occur in the next two years," and that cybersecurity researchers believe that "the federal government doesn’t understand cybersecurity and won’t be able to respond to a digital disaster such as a destructive hack aimed at the energy or financial sector," (Marks) both of which are worrisome statements in today's day and age. I agree with the general message from the article that we are wildly unprepared for a cyber attack and I would love to learn more about this topic.

- Computers and Crime

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/13/opinion/how-computers-are-harming-criminal-justice.html

As new technological advancements are made, many aspects of society become more tech-infused, such as the criminal justice system. There exists "risk assessment instruments [which] help to determine who is incarcerated and for how long," (Wexler) whose software is privately owned.

Usually tech advancements are a good thing, except that it makes the criminal justice system unjust because defense attorneys do not get to see the source code of the program (as it is judged intellectual property irrelevant to the case), and  thus the attorney can't explain to a jury why the defendant got the score that they got and they cannot make a case against it. Judges have sided with the tech companies who made the software and protected their intellectual property, even after attorneys have offered protective orders that would legally keep the code safe. Should defense attorneys be able to look at the code for risk assessment programs that suggest the penalty of a crime, or are the judges right in protecting the intellectual property of the companies since it could cause "irreparable harm" if the code were to get out?

- (BEST) Hacked - now what?

https://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/family-finance/articles/2018-06-22/10-things-to-do-immediately-after-your-identity-is-stolen\

This article has advice on what to do immediately after you find out that your identity has been stolen, which I think is a very important thing to know. We probably all know someone, or someone who knows someone, who has gotten their identity stolen. Unfortunately, it's becoming easier to steal other people's identity because of technology, but you can be empowered by protecting your information ahead of time, and if this does happen to you...well, information is a powerful weapon.

5. Employment, Education and Entertainment
- Assistive Technology

https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/16/how-tech-firms-are-increasing-accessibility-for-disabled-users/

I believe this is an important topic and I'm glad this class is bringing some light onto it. This article goes over how tech companies are increasing accessibility. Hopefully, more and more companies continue to make their products more accessible because the inclusion of everyone will lead to more diversity and different points of views.

- K-8 Engineering

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-03-18/op-ed-engineering-is-fundamental-for-our-kids

This article talks more about why teaching kids engineering skills are so important. It lists several resources to bring more engineering into the lives of young kids, such as Engineering is Elementary and 100kin10. It is important to start kids young because not only is it a 21st-century skillset in demand, but they will become better at science and math, develop crucial problem-solving skills, and become more innovative thinkers.

- (BEST) Business and Social Media

https://www.lyfemarketing.com/blog/importance-social-media-business/

This article discusses why social media is important for business. Today, more and more people are using social media, with "the number of social media-using adults [rising] from 7% in 2005 to 69% just ten years later" (Smith). Therefore, by marketing on social media your business can reach a vast amount of people for a lower ad price, and you can even target your audience. Another benefit of using social media is being able to directly connect with your customers to provide a better customer experience.

I personally agree that using social media nowadays is vital for a business. There are many brands and products I would have never heard of if it weren't for social media, and when trying new products, often times I like to see what other people who have tried it have to say.

6. Midterm - Grand Challenges
Disaster Prediction (Earthquakes and Hurricanes)

There is work being done by several companies to improve earthquake predictions, such as GeoCosmo, QuakeFinder, and Terra Seismic. The use of satellites, as well as big data, are useful tools in the prediction of an earthquake. In particular, Terra Seismic claims it is already able to predict earthquakes with 90% accuracy, however they do not know how to relay the information fast enough to enough people. A company called Quakey Victoria agrees that people are not receiving adequate information to help prevent a disaster from happening, as most people have general knowledge of what to do if an earthquake happens, “but not much [info] that targets what the impact could be on them “ (Ben Kerr - founder of Quakey Victoria).

How can we better join efforts to both improve earthquake predicting technologies and relay forecasting information to a those who will be impacted by the earthquake?

https://futurism.com/satellites-will-soon-predict-earthquakes-and-volcanic-eruptions-from-space/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2015/04/21/big-data-saving-13000-lives-a-year-by-predicting-earthquakes/#be321f55d8da

https://www.viatec.ca/articles/software-maps-earthquake-risks-in-greater-victoria

7. Evaluating and Controlling Technology
- Internet of Things

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/06/what-is-the-internet-of-things-google

In this online article, "What Is the Internet of Things," the author Nicole Kobie explains that the Internet of Things (IoT) is about connecting devices over the internet. A popular example is a smart fridge: "what if your fridge could tell you it was out of milk, texting you if its internal cameras saw there was none left, or that the carton was past its use-by date?" It mentions that as of now, IoT is relatively safe to use because there is not much financial gain from hacking into it, however "as soon as there’s a financial benefit to hacking smart homes, there will be a cybercriminal working away at it."

My question is: If we can't keep IoT safe from hackers, does the convenience outweigh the cost of potentially being hacked or vice versa?

- Computers and Society Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4kyRyKyOpo

This is TedTalk's Youtube channel. In this specific video, Jeremy Howard in his TedTalk "The Wonderful and Terrifying Implications of Computers That Can Learn," goes over machine learning. It is unbelievable that the machine learning goes back to 1956, where Arthur Samuel was able to get his computer to beat him at checkers.

This video was published in 2014 and we have made  huge  advancements in machine learning in four short years.

- Great Technologies

(BEST) https://github.com/cassidoo/getting-a-gig 

If you're a tech major (or even if you're not), this GitHub "article" has super great tips on "getting a gig." It is extremely informational and wildly encouraging. She cites some great resources (a lot of which are free) to try out for practicing a mock interview, polishing up your skills, programming sets, along with various helpful textbooks and links to fellowships you can apply for. I  highly recommend  this.

https://standardresume.co/?ref=resumefooter

This is another great resource to create a sleek and simple resume. I think it's pretty cool and according to them, "thousands of employees at some of the best companies around the world" use it (such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, etc.)

8. Risks, Failures and Responsibilities
- Medicine and Computers

https://www.healthline.com/health-news/tech-innovations-healthcare-2018#2

The article "6 Tech Innovations That Will Shape Healthcare in 2018" talks about new technologies that will change the medical world. The six items include the following: Smart Inhalers, Blood Flow Restriction Training, Teletherapy, Precision Meds for Cancer Treatment, Artificial Pancreas, and Precision Meds for Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Of course advances in medicine are great. However, when I read about these groundbreaking technologies and medical advancement, my thoughts always go to who will be the people that actually get to use it? For example, smart inhalers would be a great benefit for those who suffer from asthma. Regular Inhalers work great "when they’re used correctly, but up to 94 percent of people who use them don’t do so in the proper manner" (Holland), yet it is probable that those with a basic insurance plan (especially for those who can't afford more) would not be able to get access to smart inhalers unless they pay out of pocket.

Will socioeconomic status act as a barrier to newer medical technologies?

Interactive information discovery search

- Learn to Code

I don't believe that learning to code is exactly necessary, but having solid and fluid understanding of how to use technology is. The reason that I don't think all kids should have to code is that not all kids are made the same, and many careers do not require the knowledge of coding. Yet, because technology is so interwoven into society, everyone should know how to efficiently use a computer and get some training in it. I also think it's important that kids are exposed to coding and that it is made accessible, so that they can see what it's like and pursue it if they choose to.

https://scratch.mit.edu/

For young children or beginner coders, Scratch is a great resource because the "commands" are already written for you in English, versus it being written in code, and it is easy to follow the logic of coding.

(BEST) https://www.codecademy.com/ 

For those who are looking to go beyond that and are more advanced, CodeAcademy is a great resource. It is still great for beginners but perhaps not as kid-friendly (depending on the age) as Scratch is. Once you're past that beginner level, CodeAcademy continues to offer other classes for intermediate and even advanced coders.

9. Anytime, Anywhere
- Smartphones

https://www.businessinsider.com/the-best-apps-for-healthy-food-exercise-sleep-and-good-habits-2016-7

There are many apps available to keep one healthy and we should take advantage of these. These apps can help you to be more active and track nutrition (such as Fitbit, Nike Run, Runkeeper, MyFitnessPal), to maintain mental health through meditation apps (such as Calm, or Headspace), or to maintain good habits (such as HabitBull).

- Technology and Elections

https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/08/technology/blockchain-voting-elections-votem/index.html

When it comes to voting, I believe that pen and paper may be the best way to do it since you can't hack it (although of course, there are ways it can still be corrupted). However, this article pointed out that there is a certain part of the population that would greatly benefit from being able to vote electronically. Personally, I don't count the people that are too busy because one can  make  the time, but people who cannot physically get to a voting poll should have a way to vote. These include people that are in nursing homes, those who are sick or taking care of the sick, those that are traveling, etc. If it's safe, which the article declares that with the use of blockchain technology it would be, then I am all for making voting more accessible. There are some potential negative factors of voting online, such as being influenced by friends or family, or possible hacking of the system, but these are kinks to be worked out once the technology is implemented.

- Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-advantages-moocs-benefits-from-them-siyana-sokolova/

This article discusses the advantages of MOOCs and presents some of the biggest MOOC platforms. One of the greatest benefits is that they keep you competitive, meaning that it is easy for users to "keep up with the latest...trends and be on top of their professional field." Additionally, they are highly accessible to speakers of different languages and not constrained by your physical location.

I wonder how MOOCs will impact higher education and employment. For example, will college application rates fall in preference of MOOCs? Will employers look at applicants who have a degree from one of the MOOC platform the same as applicants who have a traditional college degree?

- (BEST) Virtual Lectures

https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_lamott_12_truths_i_learned_from_life_and_writing

I have loved TedTalks since I discovered it in high school 6 years ago. There are a variety of topic on the site, so everyone can find something they like. Moreover, they offer many different perspectives on the different topics from all over the world.

Anne Lammot is an author who gave a TedTalk called "12 truths I learned from life and writing." I found it to be funny, down to earth, and full of great life advice. As described by the TedTalk description, she discusses the "nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional world, offering her characteristic life-affirming wisdom and humor." One of the many "truths" she offers (and one of my favorites of the twelve) is that "almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes...including you."

10. Technology Advances, Social Trends
- Future of Computers

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d3kgkk/google-duplex-assistant-voice-call-dystopia

Like the TechCrunch article, this MotherBoard article, "Google Duplex Puts AI Into a Social Uncanny Valley" by S.A. Applin, talks about the new features that Google's AI team is rolling out. However, it offers quite a different view than most, as it (perhaps constructively) criticizes the new system.

The article mentions that while the new Google assistant is an interesting new feature, it might not be such a good thing for several reasons. One is that it might cause a "strange user experience." The new Google assistant will not be able to resolve all problems and when it cannot, it will notify the user, in which case the user will step in. This will cause a break in the conversation and the voice will change to a completely new person, which could be strange for some. Another point Applin makes is that while the assistant encourages politeness via the "Pretty please" feature, it itself is not very polite. It has the mentality of "I want..." instead of "May I....".

Another reason it might not be so great is that we will lose sociability, or in other terms, that special human connection. I didn't think this was too much of a big deal since it will save some time for the users. However, I changed my mind when the article pointed out that from the small business perspective, which Google used as an example in their I/O conference, it would be devastating. They would not only lose out on making a connection with the customer, which is vital for small businesses, but also have to spend time training the Google Assistant (since the algorithms will not be perfect and misunderstandings might happen). This would cause a loss of time, which for many small businesses it is a limited resource costing them greatly.

- (BEST) What's New and Important

https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/5/16966530/intel-vaunt-smart-glasses-announced-ar-video

This introduces Intel's new "Vaunt" smart eyeglasses. Smart eyewear is not a new thing, but Intel's modern design is sleek, stylish, and the glasses themselves are non-intrusive. They really almost look like regular glasses, but to the user, it is very different. They are able to see a screen that "looks like a screen — but it’s actually being projected onto your retina" (Bohn) that is just 15 degrees below your regular eyesight. You will be able to see the screen in your peripheral vision and choose to look at it or ignore it. The screen disappears when you're not directly looking at it. Some potential uses, that are currently implemented in the demo, are directions, call notifications, etc. I believe this product has huge potential. Another classmate posted on the benefits for disabled people of wearable tech, and in particular, the Google Glass had a caption function that would help those that are vision-impaired. I could see these doing the same and even more. However, I wonder how society would change. What will human interactions be like when somebody can be on their smartglasses and no one would know any better (since the "screen" is only visible to the user)?