A Gift of Fire

Unwrapping the Gift

The Ubiquity of Computers and the Rapid Pace of Change Examining the Gift: An Introduction to Some Issues and Themes Appreciating the Benefits

The Ubiquity of Computers and the Rapid Pace of Change

Have you used a computer today?
You have if you used
an ATM, a CD-player, a cell phone, a modern appliance, or an electronic device.

A Gift of Fire, 2ed

Chapter 1: Unwrapping the Gift

A Gift of Fire, 2ed

Chapter 1: Unwrapping the Gift

Examining the Gift: An Introduction to Some Issues and Themes

Issues
Some Negative Impacts of New Technology:
Unemployment. Alienation. Poor Customer Service. Crime. Loss of Privacy. Errors.

Examining the Gift: An Introduction to Some Issues and Themes

Issues
Some Positive Impacts of New Technology:
Convenience. New types of jobs. More options for transactions. Improvements in crime-fighting. Small error rate.

Q: Which negative aspects of new technology have you experienced?

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Q: Which positive aspects of new technology have you experienced?

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Examining the Gift: An Introduction to Some Issues and Themes

Issues
Sources for Solutions to Problems:
Technology. Management. Law. Education. The market.

Examining the Gift: An Introduction to Some Issues and Themes

Themes
Old Problems in a New Context
Look for solutions learned in older technologies.

Adapting to New Technology

New activities may require a new set of rules to follow.

The Global Reach of the Net

Social behavior and laws vary from country to country.

Trade-offs and Controversy

Consider both sides of an argument.

Q: Describe how one of the above provides a solution to a problem created by new technology.
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Examining the Gift: An Introduction to Some Issues and Themes

Themes (contd)
Differences Between Personal Choices, Business Policies, and Law
Arguments for personal choice or organizational policy are not sufficient for enforcing decisions [laws] against others.

Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits of Computer Applications
Development of better peripheral devices. Time-saving. Cost-saving. Less effort than older technologies. Development of better sound quality. Creation of computer-generated art and special effects. Improved accuracy. Improved customer service/satisfaction. Entertainment/fun.

Negative Rights
Liberties; rights to act without interference.

Positive Rights
Claim-rights; rights that impose obligation on others to provide certain things.

Q: How have these benefits aided your peers?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to Communication
Non-invasive; read at recipients convenience. Time-saving. Access to vast amounts of information. Text, graphics, and sound can be combined. Much information on WWW is free. Public forums not limited to geographic boundaries. More independence. More options for communicating. Remote access available. Traditional boundaries are no obstacle.

Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to Transportation
Navigation. Diagnostics. Safety. Hybrid engines. Efficiency of fuel-burning. Traffic pattern studies.

Q: How have these benefits aided small business?

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Q: How have these benefits aided your community?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to Education and Training
Language acquisition. Spelling. Literacy. Distance learning. Modeling. Simulations. Speech recognition. Speech synthesis.

Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits of Computers in Fighting Crime
Improved crime reporting. Faster search of arrest records and fingerprint files. Remote access to records and reports, e.g. from patrol cars. Enhancement of records (fingerprints and photos). Access to numerous databases. Improved sensoring, monitoring, and surveillance equipment.

Q: How have these benefits aided local schools?

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Q: How are computers used to fight crime in your community?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to Medicine
Sophisticated imaging. Reduced surgery time. Patient monitoring. Early ambulation. Improved treatments. Fewer errors.

Appreciating the Benefits

Patient Records
More legible. Better organized. Accessible by many sites, simultaneously. Available immediately. Improved statistical research.

Q: How does your doctor make use of computers?

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Q: How does your medical clinic use computers?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Medical Diagnosing
Streamlined diagnosis. Improved accuracy. Reduced need for biopsy. Improved screening and predictions.

Appreciating the Benefits

Telemedicine
Broad access to medical help. Less expensive. Expands consultations beyond rural/remote sites.

Q: How might the chronically ill benefit from computer-aided diagnosing?

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Q: How might the military use telemedicine?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to the Disabled
Disability-specific computer applications (e.g., a braille printer). Control of household and workplace appliances. Mobility. Control of artificial limbs. Improved vision. Access to adaptive educational equipment. Improved communication. Opportunity to return to work.

Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to Automation
Organize and access large inventories. Improved customer satisfaction. Cost-saving. Time-saving. Tedious, monotonous work done by machine. Improved workplace safety.

Q: How are computers benefiting the disabled in your school or workplace?

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Q: What task would you like replaced by an automated system?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits Computers Bring to Identification
Time-saving. Accuracy. Ease-of-use. Cost-saving. More secure. Customizable. Reliable.

Appreciating the Benefits

Computers Monitor Environment and Materials
Temperature. Acceleration. Stress in materials. Emissions. Dangerous substances in the air. Moisture. Acidity.

Q: How are computers used to identify you at school or work?

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Q: How might tree farmers use computers to monitor their crops?

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Appreciating the Benefits

Applications of Computers in Tracking
Rare plants and animals. Migration habits. Stolen goods. Lost pets or people.

Appreciating the Benefits

Benefits of Computers in Reducing Paper Use and Trash
Send/receive digital documents instead of hardcopy. Read, write, and edit online. Cost-saving; smaller storage needed. Creation of toxic wastes at paper mills reduced.

Q: How might scientists track Antarctic ice floes?

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Q: Have computers reduced paper use in your school or workplace?

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