Article: White House Outlines Online Privacy Guidelines

1. Synopsis - summarize the article in 3-4 sentences
This article is about how the White House has created a new outline for protecting users' privacy online. Online privacy is a major issue because currently many companies do not follow their stated privacy programs. It is reported that 90 percent of online behavioral advertisement companies have agreed to comply when users choose to control online tracking. 


2. What is the benefit to online companies collecting user data?
The benefit is that online companies know which users to target with certain advertisements. For example, if they know that a user is a 7-year-old girl who loves pets, they would show advertisements for stuffed animals. When companies know about their users' data, they are able to better target them. 

3. Discuss whether or not you believe these guidelines are necessary.
I think that these guidelines are necessary because users do not give their consent before companies take their personal information. I believe that this needs to be fixed so users give their consent before the information is recorded. Although this may be detrimental for advertising companies because they do not know valuable information about users, it protects the privacy of the user. 

4. Describe what you think may be the best solution for all parties.
I think the best solution for this situation is to create a government controlled list of users who do not want their information recorded. This list would be like the national do not call list where people can report their phone numbers so they don't get called by telemarketers. 

Technology in Education and Training

Distance Learning (Voice Over IP)

1. Distance learning uses voice over IP to let teachers and students communicate over video conferencing. The teacher and students log into an internet video conferencing program and the teacher teaches a lesson in front of a video camera. Her video is played real-time on a screen in front of the students. There are also video cameras in each classroom so the teacher is able to see the students. Using voice over IP technology, the videos play real-time over the internet so the teacher and students are able to communicate.

2. Advantages - (1) school systems are able to save money because they only have to hire one teacher to teach at multiple schools; (2) schools can offer courses to a small group of students; and (3) students can learn from teachers or experts from anywhere in the world because there are no constraints on location.

3. Disadvantages - (1) participants may feel that the classes are impersonal; (2) the classes may be boring because there is very little interaction; and (3) the videos may lag due to slow internet connections.

4. Social and Ethical Issues - (1) globalization - Distance learning allows students from any place in the world to connect with each other to learn; (2) people and machines - Users may find the lack of personal connection a hindrance to learning. A solution is that teachers could meet face-to-face for one class a month and have the rest of the classes over video so there is some personal connection; and (3) reliability - If the internet is down for either the students or the teacher, the class is not able to meet. A solution for this is to be aware of this fact and have the teacher make room in their lesson schedule for any days without connection.

MITx Article

What is MITx?

1. Synopsis of the article - This article is about MIT's new online education program, MITx. The goal of MITx is to offer quality education to those who do not have access to it. MITx will also be used by MIT students as a supplement to the education they get in school. The program itself is free but a fee is needed to obtain a credential.
2. Identify the stakeholders (people who have a vested interest in the scenario) - The stakeholders in this scenario are people who do not have access to quality education, the college education system, and students at MIT. 
3. Identify AND describe the social and ethical issues related to the article - The social and ethical issues are equality of access and globalization and cultural diversity. This scenario is related to equality of access because many of the people who will use MITx do not have access to quality education. An issue with MITx is that a computer is needed to access it, so some people will not be able to use it. This scenario relates to globalization and cultural diversity because everybody can use MITx, not just the students admitted.
4. Identify the area of impact (look at the front board on the left) - The area of impact related to this situation is education and training. 
5. Describe the advantages/benefits in your example? One benefit of MITx is that many people can have access to quality education. It also serves as a reinforcement of what MIT students learn in class. 
6. Describe the disadvantages/costs in your example? A disadvantage of MITx is that people without computers cannot access it. Another disadvantage is that while the education is free, learners will have to pay a fee to obtain a credential.
7. What is your opinion of the issue? I think that MITx is a very good idea that can potentially help to educate many people. High school and college students can use it as a supplement to their education, much like they use Khan Academy currently. 
8. Would you take advantage of MITx? Do you think other people will take advantage of it? Explain. - I would take advantage of MITx. Although I find online courses difficult because there is no direct contact with a teacher, I believe that MITx could be a supplement to my education. I think that other people will take advantage of the program depending on the level of difficulty the classes offer. If the classes do not offer a beginner's level, many people will not have enough background knowledge to successfully pass the class. 

Podcast on the Vault150 Security Module

Podcast

Screencast

Screencast Assignment: Create a mixed CD

Technology Article

Inside Secure announces NFC chips to help distinguish knockoffs from the real thing

1. Synopsis of the article - This article is about the French company Inside Secure, who has created the Vault150 security module, a chip that can be placed in a product and be read by a smartphone. The company hopes that it will be used to halt the problem of counterfeiting by having companies place the chips in their products, such as bags, shoes, or a bottle wine, so buyers can be aware of authentic products. 

1. Identify the stakeholders (people who have a vested interest in the scenario) - The stakeholders in this situation are the companies who produce valuable products, the retailers who sell the products, and the buyers. 
2. Identify AND describe the social and ethical issues related to the article - The social and ethical issues related to this article are intellectual property and people and machines. Designers create valuable products and counterfeiters steal their designs and create look-alike products. The situation is related to people and machines because buyers can be aware of whether the product they are buying is authentic or counterfeit.
3. Identify the area of impact (look at the front board on the left) - The area of impact related to this situation is Arts, Home, and Leisure because people buy valuable products for their leisure and they often want to buy real products instead of counterfeit. This situation is also related to business because consumers want to buy authentic products which support the original designer or company. 
4. Describe the advantages/benefits in your example? The advantages of this product is that buyers can be aware of whether a product is authentic or counterfeit. Selling counterfeit goods is a major problem and this chip provides a solution to unknowingly buying a counterfeit good. 
5. Describe the disadvantages/costs in your example? - A disadvantage of this product is that street vendors who sell counterfeit goods may not get as much business because buyers will realize that their products are counterfeit. Also, there is no guarantee that the chip will be able to tell whether every product is authentic or counterfeit. 
6. What is your opinion of the issue? i.e. How does it affect you? How do you feel about that? - I am happy that this chip has been created because I believe that it helps the designer who originally created the product. The designer will earn more money from buyers purchasing their authentic goods. Also, it will end the confusion of determining whether a product is counterfeit or authentic when there is no way to tell. 
7. Present one or more solutions to the issue(s) at hand. - One solution to the issue of counterfeit goods is for the police to use this product in order to crack down on counterfeiting, which is a major problem in many countries. 

Technology in Schools Article

• A Silicon Valley School That Doesn’t Compute
• 1. Synopsis of the article - This article is about the Waldorf School, a private school in California's Silicon Valley that does not use any technology in the classroom. Instead of learning with tools such as iPads and SmartBoards, the students learn the old-fashioned way, with pens and paper. The school believes that people can teach children better than computers can, so technology is banned in the school. Only when students reach the eighth grade can they start learning with technology.  Many of the parents of the students work with technology and they agree with this style of education. 
  2. Identify the stakeholders (people who have a vested interest in the scenario) - The stakeholders in this situation are the students, the parents of the students and the education system. 
  3. Identify AND describe the social and ethical issues related to the article - One social and ethical issue related to this article is people and machines because the Waldorf School believes that children can learn better from people than computers. They agree with limiting computer use.
  4. Identify the area of impact (look at the front board on the left) - The related area of impact is education and training because the situation is about whether technology is good or not for young students.  
  5. What is your opinion of the issue? i.e. How does it affect you? How do you feel about that? I believe that technology is beneficial for education because it is a growing field and students will need to use it in college and in the workforce. This issue relates to me because I am able to type quickly because I took a mandatory multimedia class in 6th grade where I had to learn how to type. Knowing how to type is essential for a job because it means that you can get more work done in less time. Because I started typing early, I have an advantage over somebody who does not know how to type. 
  6. Do you agree with the Waldorf School? I agree with the Waldorf School to an extent. I believe that people do get sucked into technology so children should limit their usage and learn how to interact with their peers. At the same time, though, I believe that technology is essential and children should learn how to use it at a young age so they can have an advantage over their peers. I am also interested in seeing the effects of this style of education as the children grow older and enter the workforce. The results would affect my support of technology in elementary schools. 
  7. What positive and negative impacts have resulted with the introduction of technology into elementary education? Some positive impacts of the introduction of technology in elementary education are increased typing skills and faster work. One major negative impact is decreased social skills. Instead of playing and interacting with their friends, children are instead playing with their phones or other gadgets.