Chapter 7: Evaluating and Controlling Technology

CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Chapter 7: Evaluating and Controlling Technology

See Dilbert cartoons about evaluating and controlling technology:

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/2007-05-02/

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1997-09-10/

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Reminders

• Today’s reading quiz covers Ch. 7.3 - 7.5• Video scene due on Thursday– Post it to Youtube as “unlisted”– Include link in .txt document you upload to OSBLE

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 1

According to the book, the most recent focus of discussion about the “digital divide” has been onA. the differences in computer and Internet access

between developed and poor countries.B. providing access to the Internet for poor people and

people in rural areas within developed countries.C. how to ensure equal access to the Internet for animals

as well as people.D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 1 Answer

A.

First paragraph of Section 7.3, p. 372.

What is “the digital divide?” Have we bridged it yet?

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 2The term “Luddite” refers toA. people who are generally in favor of

technological progress.B. people who generally oppose technological

progress.C. people who try to equally weigh all arguments

before drawing conclusions regarding the benefits of technology.

D. None of the above 5

CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 2 Answer

B.

See p. 377, middle of page.

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Group Exercise (5 minutes)

• Examine the list of Luddite critiques of technology on p. 378.

• Discuss each critique. Is it fair? • Where do you stand on the “Luddite-

Technologist” spectrum? How did you arrive at your position? Discuss.

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Clicker Poll(Participation credit only)

Which of the following best characterizes your stance toward technological progress?A. Technological progress is inevitable and shouldn’t ever be

controlled.B. I generally favor technological progress, but I think controls

are okay in certain cases.C. I think we need to carefully consider the implications of

technological progress; controls are okay in many cases.D. I am generally against technological progress; controls are

okay almost all of the time. E. I don’t care/other

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 3

As noted in the text, in response to the observation that computers improve access to information, Neil Postman has argued thatA. inadequate information is not the cause of most social

problems. B. improved access to information is bad for society because

it causes increased distraction.C. improved access to information is bad for society because

it makes it easier for the “wrong” people to get a hold of it. D. None of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Question 3 AnswerA.See second bullet point on p. 378:“If families break up, children are mistreated, crime terrorizes a city, education is impotent, it does not happen because of inadequate information.”

Is this a fair critique of technology, according to the textbook author?

Is this a fair critique of technology, according to you? (Discuss with your group.)

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 4

According to the textbook author, the fundamental difference between the world views of supporters and opponents of technology can be characterized asA. seeing the glass “half empty” versus “half full.” B. seeing the glass being filled by technology vs. seeing

the glass being drained by technology (it was already full)

C. wanting the glass vs. not wanting the glass in the first place.

D. None of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 4 Answer

B.(See top paragraph of p. 379.)

How do you see it?A. Technology fills my glass (love it!)B. Technology drains my glass (hate it!)C. Technology is somewhere in between

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 5According to the textbook author, the argument that computers have an “insidiously corrupting” effect on their usersA. acknowledges the real negative impacts that computers can

have on people.B. assumes that life without computers would be better than

life with computers.C. assumes that people are weak and incapable of making

their own choices.D. All of the aboveE. None of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 5 Answer

C. See first paragraph of p. 381: “[The argument] displays a low view of the judgment and autonomy of ordinary people.”

What do you think? Do computers have an “insidiously corrupting” effect on their users? Why or why not?

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 6

According to the textbook author, the conflict between humans and nature that is commonly used to frame debates about the environmentA. is an excellent characterization of reality.B. is often underplayed, since humans are capable of making

conscious choices, whereas the environment is not.C. is an inaccurate characterization, since conflicts about the

environment are actually conflicts between people with different views about how to meet human needs.

D. None of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 6 Answer

C.See next-to-last paragraph of p. 381.

In your view, what is the primary standard of moral value?A. NatureB. HumanityC. A divine powerD. Other/none of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 7

According to economist Julian Simon, hard economic data collected over the past 100 years indicates that A. nearly every quality of life measure has declined.B. a few quality of life measures have declined.C. a few quality of life measures have shown

improvement.D. nearly every quality of life measure has shown

improvement.

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 7 Answer

D. See top paragraph of p. 383: “Just about every single measure of the quality of life shows improvement rather than the deterioration that the doomsayers claim has occurred.”

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 8

While Luddite Neil Postman believes that the main beneficiaries of computers are , he also concedes that computers benefit .A. the poor, the rich.B. The rich, the poor.C. The government and big business, ordinary

citizens.D. ordinary citizens, the disabled.E. The government and big business, the disabled.

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 8 Answer

E.See p. 384, third paragraph.

For group discussion: Whom do you think computers benefit the most? The least?

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 9

Computer scientist Joseph Weizenbaum made predictions regarding .

A. inaccurate, electricityB. inaccurate, personal computersC. accurate, the InternetD. inaccurate, speech recognition systemsE. accurate, mass storage devices

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 9 Answer

D.

• What were Weizenbaum’s inaccurate predictions?

• What other far-fetched predictions mentioned in the book (or that you have come across elswhere) stand out to you?

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 10

The point at which artificial intelligence or combined human/machine intelligence advances so far that we cannot comprehend the outcome is known asA. the point of no returnB. artificial intelligence netherlandC. technological singularityD. supreme artificial lifeE. None of the above

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Quiz Question 10 Answer

C. Technological Singularity

• What evidence indicates that we will reach such a point?

• What evidence speaks against it?• Do you think we will ever reach such a point?A. YesB. NoC. Don’t know

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Discussion Exercise: Arithmetic in the Head vs. Using Computers (Clicker)

7.12, p. 394: Some people lament that young sales clerks cannot add up bills, compute sales tax, or calculate change when sales terminals aren’t working. To what extent have calculators and computers destroyed our ability to do arithmetic ourselves? Should we no longer teach arithmetic, and instead just teach calculators?A: Don’t teach arithmetic anymore, only calculatorsB: Teach some arithmetic, but more calculator useC: Teach mostly arithmetic, but some calculator useD: Tech only arithmetic, and no calculator use

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Discussion Exercise: Online Degree Programs

7.17, p. 395: A large number of college students are enrolled in online degree programs. Discuss some advantages and disadvantages (to the students and to society in general) of students getting degrees online instead of at (co-present) traditional colleges.

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Discussion Exercise: Cell Phones

7.25, p. 396: Analyze the following argument about the necessity of cell phones. Is it convincing?

Some people do not want to own a cell phone because, among other reasons, cell phones are intrusive, difficult to use, and expensive. Technology advocates say if you don’t want one, you don’t have to buy one. This this is not true. We have to have one, because coin-operated telephones are no longer widely available.

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Discussion Exercise Assignments• 7.41: Error 404, Discotech, Tier III• 7.42: Breakfast Club, CAAK, Skynet• 7.43:

– Pro: FAM, Pangea– Con: CADD, Thizzle

• 7.44:– Pro: Brandon, Rock-It– Con: Sponge Bob, SPAMD

• 7.45: Batman Symbol, Skillz that Killz, Hide ‘Yo Kids• 7.46: Emoticons, Error 403 Forbidden• 7:47:

– Zeus: Pac4, Prestige Worldwide– Luddite: SkyBlue, iTeam

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CptS 401, Spring 2011 4/5/11

Reminders

• Video scene due on Thursday– Post it to Youtube as “unlisted”– Include link in .txt document you upload to OSBLE

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