User:Chen808/finalProject

1. Introductions
What impact have computers and the internet had on society in general? Is this good or bad? Who has been affected? Where are computers now?

Links:

http://www.lynda.com

lynda.com has helped me out a lot. It's a quick and easy site to access, videos are bite sized and professionally made. It covers everything computer. Whether you wnat to learn microsoft word to programming in c++, lynda.com offers valuable instructions from industry professional.

http://freerice.com/#/english-vocabulary/1461

This was a website I found for module 1. Basically you play a game each time you get it right they donate 10 grams of rice to help world hunger.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/caitlyn-becker/confessions-of-a-phone-addict_b_3997732.html

This was a interesting quick read article that sheds light one how dependent we have become to our phone. The author admits she won't change her phone addiction but admits being tech-free was "liberating, illuminating and a sort of sad (in the pathetic sense) experience."

Best: I very much liked the free rice website. It shows how we can help the world with real issues and make it a collaborative experience.

2. Privacy and Freedom of Speech
An important area of society that is being impacted by computers. Your personal information may be at risk. Controlling online publication has an important new meaning in cyberspace.

Links:

http://calnewport.com

This is one of my favorite blogs to read. Cal Newport offers valuable information on how to be a better college student. His posts are insightful and genuine. I highly recommend his book "How to win at college". It sounds like a cheesy cookie cutter book but it is filled with tips you can use on your path to becoming a better college student.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2031908/the-5-biggest-online-privacy-threats-of-2013.html

This article by Mellisa Riofrio explores online threats we should be aware of. One of the alarming facts she wrote about stood out: "Marketers say that they keep user data private by viewing it only in aggregate, but the sheer volume of data a cookie can collect about any one person can enable the cookie’s owner to infer a surprising amount about the individuals being tracked." This is alarming because third parties can now build up a profile of you based on your browsing history. NOTE: Some people might find host John Oliver offensive https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEVlyP4_11M

In this video, host John Oliver interviews Edward Snowden who leaked classified information from the NSA which revealed countless global surveillance programs. Snowden explains how the government can easily collect data from any American while claiming it is for gathering intel on terrorist purposes. This clearly infringes upon our right to privacy and is certainly a cause for concern that many Americans appear to have ignored.

Best: The article by PC world. I was aware of how marketeers kept track of our history but to read how they can now build up a profile around your browsing history is a bit concerning.

3. Intellectual Property
Because of the ease of access to information and the ability to duplicate and store vast amounts of data, people have concerns about their rights to it.

http://www.esecurityplanet.com/trends/article.php/3722291/Is-Open-Source-the-Answer-to-Software-Piracy.htm

This article tackles the issue between open source and piracy. It examines why many users feel the need to stick with close sourced software, perhaps leading to piracy. The author believes that with "proper education about open source alternatives to piracy" it could lead to "noticeable positive shift in the piracy wars."

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/oct/11/david-byrne-internet-content-world

In this article by David Byrne, he examines how music services such as Spotify has hurt artists financially. However, he did acknowledge that the same services has provided a good platform for new musicians to expose their music. Byrne presents some alarming numbers regarding what artists receive (or lack of) from streaming, considering the popularity and how many times their single is being streamed.

http://opensourcebridge.org/proposals/475

This article by Peter Eckersley attempts to examine the ethical issue of piracy and sharing. Eckersley concludes that this situation is complex at best. Some form of piracy is "justified as a form of civil disobedience" while "many file shares go too far with their actions."

Best: I really enjoyed the article by David Byrne as it illuminates the issue between piracy and artists.

4. Crime
There are many new ways to commit crimes, and to detect and prevent crime, as well.

https://kinja.com

Kinja.com is a network that contains many other sites that are specifically catered. Gawker reports news on entertainment, Deadspin reports on sporting news, and Gizmodo deals with news on gadget and digital culture.

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/07/08/tax-fraudster-who-hacked-accounting-firms-pleads-guilty-in-us-court/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nakedsecurity+(Naked+Security+-+Sophos)

This article by John Zorabedian of the “Naked Security” site reports a Bulgarian hacker who was involved in a tax fraud scheme by hacking his way into the IRS system. The hacker managed to break into 4 accounting firms and retrieved “2011 tax forms of 1000 of the firms’ clients.”  This raises a serious issue as he was able to obtain highly private information that could be used to cause multiple fraud scenarios.

http://www.infoworld.com/article/2940565/ipad/tap-your-ipad-to-order-restaurant-automation-nobody-needs.html

This article focuses on the author’s experience with self-checkout machines at an airport food court. It would seem from the article that automation still has a long way to go until it can reliably replace humans. It appears that most of the author’s discontent with automation can easily be fixed. I also loved the author claiming devices “can act as pacifiers for adults.”

Best: The article by John Zorabedian as he reports a story about a hacker and how vulnerable we really are in cyberspace.

5. Employment, Education and Entertainment
Thousands of people are working in jobs that did not exist ten years ago. Other jobs have changed. School isn't what it used to be. What we do for fun has also dramatically different.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHfjvYzr-3g

This is a video on productivity and the science behind it which I watch often. It helps to remind myself to take one tasks at a time rather than multitasking. I believe this video will help my fellow college students and anyone who needs a little refresher on productivity.

http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/the-migrant-trail/

The migrant trail is a game that puts you in the shoes of individuals who are trying to cross the border. The game seems to borrow concepts from Oregon trail where you have to prep for your journey. Buying essentials like water and canned beans will be crucial for your journey across your border. While this game has a cartoon like appearance, it presents a very serious situation that is happening right now and that is how many individuals have met their fate attempting to cross the border.

https://engineering.osu.edu/news/2013/11/engineering-new-middle-school-experience

In this article, engineering students from Ohio State University of Engineering take part in a course called Translating Engineering Research to K-8 (TEK8). They have the job to make engineering accessible and fun to middle school students in hope of drawing interest. They do they by sharing what they have learn through their research and then presenting mini design challenges.

Best: The youTube video on productivity as it not only explores that topic but the psychology behind it as well.

6. Mid Term project
Midterm - Millennium Development Goals

http://www.theverge.com/2014/6/2/5771322/google-reportedly-launching-180-satellites-for-worldwide-internet

Perhaps one of the most exciting news pertaining to universal primary education is Google’s effort to launch satellites in order to provide internet to areas that currently have no access. Should this project succeed it would open the door to third world countries to receive education through the internet. No longer will kids be afraid to walk to school when they can learn math from the safety of their home.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9568850/Khan-Academy-The-man-who-wants-to-teach-the-world.html

If Google is able to provide the gateway to the internet, non-profit online school Khan Academy will be able to provide an education to those who are less fortunate. Khan sums it up perfectly when he expresses his aim to create ‘the world’s first free, world-class virtual school where anyone can learn anything’. Khan Academy has already impacted many in the US with over 3 million users a month.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/lifestyle/article/2000084770/6-000-schools-picked-for-free-laptop-launch

This article explains how Kenya is taking the steps to provide laptops to primary schools. Majority of the article tackles the issue of geography. Schools are near the main power grid will get the laptops while schools away from the grid offers some issues. However bleak the article sounds, the Kenyan government are making strides by planning to install solar panels to the schools that are far away. Financial restrictions aside, I believe solar will play a huge role in providing online education to developing countries. My idea would be for communities to invest in solar panels and share that energy to neighboring communities.

Best: The standardmedia article is a favorite of mine. I like reading stories about how technology is being developed for those who are not fortunate as I am. It makes me hopeful for the future and believe we will all be in a better society if everyone has a chance to be educated.

7. Evaluating and Controlling Technology
What are the broader implications for a global society?

http://www.cleveland.com/open/index.ssf/2015/07/drones_are_coming_to_your_neig.html

This article deals with the issue of drones and how it can effectively cut the costs to certain business such as real estate photography, farm crop inspections, and highway constructions. However much cost cutting drones can be, it still raises certain ethical issues not to mention the experience of the person flying the drones. For hobbyists it may not be an issue but for companies like Amazon using drones to deliver packages may cause some safety issues. Drones will inevitably raise concerns on privacy. While it’s great that government can use drones to evaluate the infrastructure of our highway, can they also invade our privacy at the same time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erCAp_Bd0AQ

In this TED talk, Keren Elazari, a hacker, illuminates us on who and what hackers really are. She compares them to our immune system. Hackers exposes the flaws in systems and demands change. Keren goes on to give examples on how hackers have done civic duties to the people who need it. She concludes that hackers are necessary and that they force change or demand something better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QswunfBC8U

The video demonstrates a 3d printed electricity harvesting tree with leaves containing separate power convertors that generates electricity through winds and fluctuation in temperature.

Best: The Ted talk by Keren Elazari was interesting because she attempts to compare hackers to our immune system. Thats a interesting way of looking at it. She does raise interesting points about how hackers exposes the weakness in systems and demands change or at the very least attention.

8. Risks, Failures and Responsibilities
What happens when there are conflicts within the rules or data and something goes wrong?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb79-_hGLkc

The host brings up a very interesting question: if you are seriously injured, would you trust the best surgeon in the world today, or the most advanced robot surgeon from the future? While it’s hypothetical of course, it does make us think about how far technology has advanced that we are able to ask if robots can perform surgery. While robots would be programmed to perform with precision, it doesn’t mean that will be safe. Anything can happen during surgery, can a robot rival human instinct?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STRPsW6IY8k

This youtube video show a series of clips on programmers who stresses the importance to coding. Coding is the next essential language we need to know. Much like learning different language is essential if you want to talk in the native tongue, coding is a way to communicate with the computers. Technology is prevalent in our society so in that regard we have to learn how to "talk" to them. Having said all that, coding isn't for everyone. I feel it is slowly replacing the stigma of how kids should become doctors and lawyers to now become a programmer.

http://www.technologyreview.com/view/526401/laws-and-ethics-cant-keep-pace-with-technology/

This article reports on the ethics of privacy laws (or lack of) with our online presence. Our privacy has increasingly become quite the opposite. As the article mention, our smartphones are able to “track our movements and habits. Our Web searches reveal our thoughts.”  Employers can now check your background by perusing your facebook account and base their decision on social account. This is highly unethical and irresponsible, not to mention lack of professionalism. Employers can’t judge your hireability based on your gender, race, or religious beliefs, yet they can have all that information just be viewing your Facebook account. But despite that, we have to take more responsibility to what we post on the web, we have to be held accountable and aware of what we do on the web will have consequences.

Best: The youtube video on robotics and AI. This video made me wonder if robots can ever achieve or be program to mimic human instincts. Can we ever trust them to operate on us? We seem to trust technology with everything but when it becomes personable, we tend to pay extra attention.

9. Anytime, Anywhere
Mobile, wifi, in restaurants, on buses and airplanes, even in parks and open spaces. It is possible to be connected everywhere, whether we like it or not.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O96fE1E-rf8&index=1&list=WL

Barbara Oakley talks about something we don’t really think much of and that is how we learn. She offers some fascinating research she has done to really show us that we can all learn anything, it’s just knowing how to learn that is important. She talks about being in the focus mode and how imperative it is to get into the diffuse mode. She teaches us that while in the diffuse mode, your mind is still working on that difficult problem that frustrated you in the focus mode. Most students can relate as we have gone through stages where we could not solve a math problem. We have had moments where we are working on something completely different and then have an “aha” moment.

http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2013/03/dark-side-mooc-do-challenges-outweigh-advantages

As this title of this article suggests, MOOC offers a dark side many do not consider. It suggests that MOOC does not offer the intimacy that a real class offers. You don’t have the one-on-one with professor who can help you. They also point out that MOOC isn’t ideal for procrastinators as there is no penalty (accept payment to certain MOOCs).

https://blog.todoist.com/2014/10/07/7-easy-hacks-that-turn-your-smartphone-into-the-ultimate-productivity-tool/

This articles explores the many ways your phone can improve your productivity. From taking pictures of where you parked your car so you can locate it later to converting your voicemails to email/texts messages so you can read it later (via Google Voice), your phone offers unlimited amount of resources to improve productivity.

Best: The blog todoit explores how your phone can improve your productivity. I am always on a lookout for anything that improves and makes life easier.

10. Technology Advances, Social Trends
Advances in technology open up opportunities for new applications, businesses and services

http://www.popsci.com/heres-look-facebooks-internet-drone

Facebook is building a internet drone that be “able to send data at 10 gigabits per second at a distance of more than 10 miles.”  This is huge as it will provide internet to those who can’t get internet access. This will expand our connection and communication around the world.

http://thetechawards.thetech.org/laureates/worldreader

I strongly believe it’s imperative to educate every kid around the world. They are the future of this planet, they are the ones that will shape this world when we are gone. They will be the ones to come up with the next great technology. Watching and reading about Worldreader makes me very hopeful and excited. I’m excited that kids who are not as privileged as us are able to have the opportunity to read. Reading is the most fundamental skill everyone needs. Reading opens up a whole new world and provides a place where we can imagine the possibilities.

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/the-state-of-women-in-technology-15-data-points-you-should-know/

This article presents data and statistics regarding women in technology. While it starts off with data that didn’t look promising, it ended with a much rather encouraging future for women in technology. For instance in 2013, women made up 26% of the computing workforce. Then they broke that down even further reporting 3% were black women, 5% were asian, and 2% were hispanic. Those are really alarming numbers in a world where technology is advancing at a rapid pace and we need programmers. The article ends on an encouraging note. Thanks for code.org and their “Hour of Code” campaign, young girls are now more intersted in the field of computer science. More than half of the participants were girls. I liked how the article started off with a rather uninspired data and ended it with data that gives the future where females will close the gap in the technology field.

Best: The Popular Science article was particularly interesting to me because we are now seeing the potential of world wide online connection. While this may raise issues, I look at it as a way for countries that are not fortunate like us to have internet access.

What was your favorite topic?

Module 6 Millennium Development Goals was my favorite by far. I notice as the class progressed I was drawn to topics that were related to education. I honestly believe if we can get internet access to countries that aren't on the grid, it would open up a lot of possibilities, particularly online education.

What was one resource that taught you most about computer and society?

Basically the links in module 6 taught me a lot about the possibilities and potentials of our future and for the upcoming generation. Google and Facebook are putting forth efforts to create technology so that villages can access the internet. Solar power has become another technology that we need to put more emphasis on. The article I read about the 3d printed leaves and how it has mini solar power micro chips embedded in it is very fascinating. Creations like this will benefit our society and keep us prospering with renewing energy sources.