Module 13

When I first started reading the book “The world is flat” by Thomas L. Friedman I was thoroughly confused. Why would someone write a book about the world being flat when it is so obviously round? What does Friedman mean by flat? But as soon as I had read the pages for the first assignment I began to understand what Friedman was writing about. He began with globalization 1.0, globalization 2.0 and globalization 3.0 which explained what he meant by a flat world.

I really enjoyed the discussion on free trade and the “new middler”. I think that free trade is one of the largest flatteners that Friedman discusses. The ability to trade without tariffs or taxes between countries has created opportunities for so many people throughout the world. Free trade gives those born into impoverished countries the chance to rise to any level by working hard. The “new middler” was interesting because all my life I have been told by my elders that they had it so much harder back in the day than I have it now. Friedman disagrees with this by saying that the effort it used to take to get to the top now only takes you to the middle. This doesn’t always refer to physical effort but instead to new skills such as adaptability and the ability to collaborate.

Another subject I thought was interesting was the discussion about Walmart and their supply chains. The supply chain provides Walmart with the ability to keep prices low and produce many products. Walmart also uses their customers to their advantage by giving them the option of shopping online therefore cutting out the store workers entirely. This saves Walmart money while at the same time giving customers the feeling of control.

Overall I really enjoyed this class. Not only were there no tests or quizzes but the subject matter was very interesting. The book chosen for the class was perfect. I learned so much and had a fun time thinking about ideas that had never occurred to me before. I wouldn’t change anything about this class.

Module 12

This week we were asked to read an article by Bill Joy called “Why the future doesn’t need us”. The article goes into some pretty scientific thoughts and theories but Joy does a good job of breaking it down for those of us with less scientific minds. The main idea of this article is that one day the combination of genetics, nanotechnology and robotics will cause the destruction of the world.

The field of robotics has been advancing exponentially for the last twenty years and Joy believes that soon someone will create a robot that can think for itself. A robot that can think for itself could be a very useful tool. If this type of robot were to become a major part of everyday life it could change the way humans live. This sounds wonderful but if it were to somehow go wrong it could be catastrophic.

Genetic engineering is helping the world in many ways already. Genetic engineering has provided things such as better food, cures to many diseases and all types of things that improve our quality of life. With advancements in genetic engineering the average lifetime could be elongated by many years. The ability to manipulate genes could help mankind greatly but it could also be very harmful. If someone were to create a self-replicating gene that negatively affected the human body the entire world could be affected.

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on the molecular scale. Joy fears nanotechnology more than either robotics or genetic engineering. Joy compares nanotechnology to the nuclear bomb because it is easier to find destructive uses than helpful ones. The scariest part of nanotechnology is that unlike nuclear technology you don’t need a large space or rare raw materials to create it. With knowledge of nanotechnology creating incredibly powerful and small weapons is possible for anyone.

Before reading this article if you had asked me if I thought that genetic engineering, nanotechnology and robotics were going to cause large scale problems for humanity I would have told you to stop watching so many movies. After reading the article by Joy though I have changed my mind. The threat of these things has become very real over the past few years.

 

Module 11

For this week’s assignment we were asked to watch a computer related movie and discuss how computers and networks are used in the film. The movie I chose to watch was minority report. There are many advanced computer themes in this movie. There are computers that read the minds of three mutated humans (called pre-cogs) who can see future crimes before they happen. In the movie there are also scanners that scan people’s eyes for everything from entering buildings to providing personalized advertisements as they walk down the street.

The computers that read the minds of the pre-cogs has many incredible features. The first feature of this computer is the transferring of the visions seen by the pre-cogs from their minds to the screen. If this were possible it would be a huge advancement in science and psychology. If a psychologist could directly see your dreams they would be able to better diagnose patients. Another function of this computer is the control given to the viewer. The person viewing the vision can change the viewpoint, the angle and rotate the view to better see the crime scene.

            The scanners in the movie are less futuristic because eye scanners are available to anybody now for the right price. The eye scanners in the movie are more advanced than real eye scanners because they can detect who a person is from a farther distance away.

            The last computer theme I want to discuss is the network that all the computers in the movie are connected to. When the main character is accused of a crime by the pre-cog he has to have eye surgery to change his eyes so that none of the scanners know that it is him. That implies that every scanner in the city (Washington D.C.) is connected and while they are all doing individual tasks they are also searching for criminals. It is incredible to consider how many people at any given time are walking on the streets and each scanner is picking out each individual to advertise to. That would take a massive network to control all the information going through it.

Module 10

“A logic named Joe” is a short story written by Murray Leinster in 1946. For this module we were asked to read this short story and discuss some of the prophetic ideas in it. The story is about a “logic” (Like a computer) with a slight alteration from all of the other logics that allows it to change the programming of all other logics to provide any information anybody wanted. In the story this causes many problems such as children being able to see things about the birds and the bees that should be censored, angry husbands finding information on how to kill their wives, and providing plans on how to rob banks to anybody who asks for them.

            The main character of the short story is a man nicknamed “Ducky”. The story is told from his point of view and his problems are told to the reader. An ex-girlfriend (Laurine) uses a logic to track him down and when she finds him and finds out he is married she tells him she will talk to his wife and separate them so that they can get married. Not wanting Laurine to do this, Ducky finds a way to shut down the machine that is causing all the problems by using information that the machine itself gives him, and saves himself and everybody else.

            The “logic” in this story seems to be prophetic of our modern day computers connected to the internet. One of the differences between the “logic” and the internet is that the logic gave one response to each question while the internet gives many responses to each question. The “logic” in the story seems to be able to do the things that everyone is currently trying to do. Every company that produces anything that uses the internet is trying to find a way to have their devices come up with the best answers for each individual. For example IPhone can now give you advice on what music you will like based on what you have listened to in the past.

            The problems in this story are very real problems that we deal with all the time in real life. Keeping control of the ever expanding information on the internet is nearly impossible. With all this information available to nearly everyone on the planet there are going to be people who use it as a way to hurt others or take advantage but without it the world would regress greatly.

Module 9

The building of a Dell laptop is really a collaboration of many people from many different companies working together to create a computer. The source materials come from many different mines all over the world. The processers come from Intel, the hard drives are made by WD and the outer casing is made by Dell. When an order is sent to Dell for a new laptop all of these companies bring these parts together to a Dell facility and create a working computer. Then Dell takes the computer and installs the operating system and all the software needed. Dell is a great example of a supply chain. The part of Dells supply chain that I find most interesting is the fact that they have many different companies that can provide each individual part of their computers. By having many companies providing parts they keep everyone working to have the best parts possible and keep the prices competitive.

Even though supply chains are generally considered as good things, they can just as easily be used for evil. Al-Qaeda must have a very secure supply chain in place to help them create weapons as well as provide the basic necessities for living to those who are hiding. When Al-Qaeda wants to create weapons I don’t think they can just walk into the store and buy all the things it takes to make a homemade bomb. They have to get the different parts from different places and then put them all together in a secure location.

Oil is a substance that is used by nearly everybody in the world on a daily basis. It is used in many ways from cars to cooking oil. The curse of oil is that there is a limited amount on the planet and it will one day run out and when it does life will change drastically for 99% of people. Because of the necessity for oil those who want it are willing to pay greatly for it without worrying about what the people selling them the oil will do with the money. This creates a very corrupt system that is very valuable. The world needs to start figuring out ways to reduce our reliance on oil.

Module 8

For this module we were asked to discuss how computers have been used in our personal education. The first and most obvious way they have influenced my education has been through online classes at Weber State University. Another way computers have been used in my education is through the availability of information from the internet. Computers have also made grades, assignments and other class information available anytime and anywhere.

            When I decided to go back to school after getting married and having children I knew it was going to be difficult. Having a family and job to work my schedule around leaves little time for classes and the time it does leave is usually pretty late at night. Online classes have given me the opportunity to continue my education while supporting my family.

            When I was young and my teachers gave me an assignment that involved research my mother would send me to the library to look through as many books as I needed to find the information. Now when I’m asked to research something I can type whatever it is into a search engine and it will come back with more information than I could possibly read. It also organizes it into the most relevant information for my search cutting my research time in half. When I’m asked to take a position on a subject I can find all the information I need to make an informed decision.

            Keeping organized is a vital part of my education, and computers have made it much easier to stay organized. I can keep track of upcoming assignments, readings, lectures and due dates all on my computer. I can look up my grades to see if I need to spend more time on a certain subject. The internet also allows me to communicate with my teachers if I ever have questions or comments about classes.

Module 7

When asking the question of why some countries or regions are better at doing some things than others, there are many things to consider. Friedman focuses on the cultural and economic reasons for this. Some cultures emphasize different things such as education or work ethic. The compensation expected from certain cultures is different which can change how cheaply products can be made. Outsourcing is a possibility in large part because of the expected compensation of the people in other countries. Some other reasons that certain countries are better at doing things could be geographical. Some things only grow in certain countries giving those countries a monopoly on products made from those crops.

Self-directed consumers are consumers who do some of the work for the company they are buying from. When I think about a self-directed consumer I think of online shopping. When a person shops at Walmart.com they do part of the work that is usually done by Walmart employees. Instead of a manager going online to order things for the store the consumer directly sends their order to Walmart which can then be shipped right to their door. The best part of this for a big company is that they can then give control to a customer while at the same time having to pay employees less. Another positive to having customers order directly is that they can provide many more products than can fit in their stores. If a customer goes into a store looking for a pair of shoes there is only so many shoes that will fit in the shoe section. This is not a problem online where you can display all of your shoes in every color and style and the customer can choose the shoes that best fit their tastes. I am definitely a self-directed consumer because I am extremely lazy and would rather shop online than go to a store.

The question of whether or not globalization means Americanization is a complex one. Globalization according to Friedman is the spread of communication, the advancement in travel and international shipping, and the widespread use of the internet. These things helped globalize the world and even the playing field for everybody everywhere. Americanization on the other hand is the influence America has had on the rest of the world. I think people think about Globalization and Americanization as the same thing because up to this time America has used Globalization the best. American companies have used Globalization to set themselves up around the world which in turn influences those places.

Module 6

Free trade is trade between countries without restrictions such as tariffs or taxes. Free trade helps provide lower prices and better quality goods and services. Free trade allows individuals to specialize in areas of interest even if there is little need for their specialty in the country they live. This breeds competition amongst those who work in the same field and helps motivate a creative atmosphere. Free trade is generally thought of as a positive thing in theory. The negatives associated with free trade have come from those who believe “American jobs” are being shipped overseas when they should remain here in the states. I think free trade is important because the world is not a fair place and free trade helps to even out the imbalance. People born in countries with little or no education should not be forced to be manual laborers. The person who can do a job best should be able to do that job without regard to where they live.

The term “New Middler” refers to what a person needs to do now to be mediocre compared to what people in the past had to do. Some of the skills  Friedman talks about to become a new middler are: adaptability, the ability to collaborate, the ability to explain complex ideas and people skills. These skills in the past may have taken someone to the top of their field but with the advancement the world has seen recently these skills are necessary to stay competitive.

Friedman discusses the formula CQ + PQ > IQ. CQ stands for “Curiosity Quotient”. PQ stands for “Passion Quotient”. Basically Friedman believes that a person who is passionately curious will do a better job than someone who may be smarter but has little passion for the job. A person who is passionately curious, even if they are not quite as smart , will work harder and be more invested than someone who is merely doing a job because they are smart enough to do it. An example that comes to my mind of CQ +PQ > IQ is not so much about separate people but about one person and different subjects. My son is in eighth grade and hates homework. Most things he needs to complete his homework are available on the internet and all he needs to do is search for them yet he spends hours sitting staring at his homework complaining that he can’t do it. Then about a week ago he was invited to a party but was never given the address. He spent fifteen minutes calling, texting and messaging everyone he knew until he had the address. Then when the address wouldn’t come up on his phones GPS he googled a map of the area on my computer and found the address and printed it off. With his homework he has the IQ but no passion while with the party he had the passion and worked hard to overcome his lack of information.

Module 5

Triple convergence refers to the three types of convergence Thomas L. Friedman presents in his book. The first type of convergence is the creation of a global platform. This convergence created an even playing field for everyone regardless of time or geographic boundaries. This came about using the ten world flatteners written about in the book. The second type of convergence Friedman labeled as “Horizontalisation”. This type of convergence changed the chain of command from vertical to horizontal. This allowed different groups inside and outside of companies to work together. The final type of convergence created a world in which individuals could compete from anywhere for work. This convergence allows people all over the globe to access information needed to complete a job.

Friedman next discusses exploitation using a story about India and Indiana. In it Indiana was seeking a contract to upgrade computers and systems that process state unemployment claims. Indiana received several offers from companies however an American branch of an Indian firm won through a steal of a deal with $8.1 million less than any other bids, this allowed for the state to cut tax costs, help those Indiana department workers with future work, and provide Indian workers present labor. The state originally signed the contract but shortly canceled it providing money for what work they had already done. The conflict was that by outsourcing the work to help unemployment they were giving away jobs that could have helped unemployment. As to who was exploited and who was exploiting I am not sure. I think Indiana should have taken more time thinking about the problems they would cause by outsourcing the work.

Intellectual property is defined as “a work or invention that is the result of creativity, such as a manuscript or a design, to which one has rights and for which one may apply for a patent, copyright, trademark, etc.” (Google). Intellectual property is important because a persons creativity should be protected from being stolen.

Module 4

This week instead of discussing the assigned reading we were given the task of researching a job connected with computers as well as interviewing someone who does that job. Because I work at a high school I had the opportunity to interview someone who teaches young men and women the skills they will need to advance in careers involving computers. I interviewed Ryan James, the digital media teacher at Roy high school.

Before the interview I researched what was needed to be a digital media teacher in the state of Utah. Experience teaching film and video production, editing, cinematography techniques, photography, editing, graphic design and visual communication strategies. Proficient with both MAC and PC platforms. Software knowledge required: IMovie, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premiere, Adobe After Effects and Photoshop. Must have experience with web based content management systems, video optimization and archival techniques. The job also requires a teaching license as well as a CTE certificate for industrial and emerging technologies.

The biggest takeaways from my interview with Mr. James were continued education on the subject of technology and computer programming. He says that every summer he travels to workshops around the country to keep up with developments in technology. During the school year he continues to work with computers as a web designer.

I am currently working towards a degree in education and although I don’t think I will ever teach digital media I do think this is a very important part of a child’s education. The world is moving more and more into a digital age and learning the skills to stay ahead of the curve is a valuable asset.

Module 3

 

Offshoring is taking a large part of what a company does and sending it somewhere else (generally to another country). The company usually sets up a factory in a different country where production can be done cheaper and faster with higher quality work. Companies that can utilize offshoring well can save time and money. Offshoring and outsourcing are different in a few different ways. While outsourcing is usually a small part of a project that lasts for a short time, offshoring is done for a long period of time with a factory being built to produce goods. Another difference is that offshoring is done by expanding the company while outsourcing is going outside of the company to get work done.

A supply train is when one company controls all of the raw materials needed to construct something, as well as the means to pack, transport and sell the finished product. The best example of a supply train is Walmart. Walmart owns companies that manufacture so many things that they rarely need to buy from other companies. When Walmart wants to sell a TV stand they have a division of Walmart that supplies the wood and another to supply the nails and another to provide any metal needed. By controlling all these resources Walmart saves a lot of money and time. 

Google has changed business in many ways. Before google if a company wanted to know the prices other companies were charging for their goods and services they had to send someone to find those prices. If a company wanted Intel on their competitors they had to go out and buy the product and test it for themselves. Now they just need to google the product and a list of customer reviews can be seen. Google has helped small businesses by allowing customers to look for the best prices from home. If a small business can compete with the large corporations in price they don’t need much advertisement because they can be found on google.

Module 2

 

1) What is workflow software?

Workflow software is software that allows computers to work more efficiently. Workflow software creates a way for all of the computers in an office to communicate regardless of the program that the computer is running. Workflow software also combines many of the operations a computer does and creates a protocol for them.  An example of workflow software could be the software used to run the machines that place lids on milk jugs. Before the machines and the software were created a person would need to stand and twist on lids all day. The software streamlined the process so the machine could do the same job in a much faster way.

2) What is open source software (also called community developed software) and why is it important?

            Open source software (or community developed software) is software that is made available for anybody to make changes to as long as they give credit to the creator of the software. There are many advantages of open source software. Because this software can be edited by so many people there are many more ideas that can be tried out than if you had only a small group working on it. This often creates a competitive environment to see who can create the most useful software. Also because this type of software is created by the “community” the people creating it know what the software needs to be able to do so they can use it.

3) What is outsourcing and why it is important?

            Outsourcing is sending some of the work your company needs done to another company or individuals. Outsourcing helps streamline work so that much of it can be completed at the same time rather than waiting for one person to do it all by themselves. This saves time and money. Outsourcing also gives people the opportunity to work on what they are best at while sending other parts of a job to someone else with different strengths.