SCI 199Y: The Impact of Society Upon Computers
Introduction
September 13, 20, and a bit of 27
I distributed a course info sheet (available here in
PDF)
including a grading scheme;
a list of possible project topics;
and some writing resource information (see the
bottom of the target link).
Introductions.
Discussion of course topics.
History of computing technology
September 27 and October 4
- Some of the computer history material and some of the photographs
are from Michael Williams, A History of Computing Technology.
But much of it is just stuff I've accumulated over the years from a very wide
range of sources.
Photographs can often be found on the web these days, especially via
http://images.google.com.
- There is some interesting historical material comprising chapter 1 of
the book from which I learned the IBM 1130 assembly language,
Elements of IBM 1130 Programming by Wilson Price, Rinehart Press,
1968;
it's in the U of T library system.
Student presentations, October 11
1. Computer Privacy and Safety
Within the past decade, there has been a sudden surge in the number of computer users.
With this increase comes several risks: privacy issues, viruses, spyware,
etc. I will explore such topics as the risks of online banking, a basic
understanding of Spyware, e-mail risks and break-ins, several common break-in
tools, popular viruses and theit capabilites, and the people and forces
behind these issues. I will also show how all of these topics are related
to one another and the consequences each one has. I hope that after this
presentation, people will have a greater understanding of what computers are
capable of, and how society affects them.
2. CCTV Video Surveillance
The people of England have grown up with Closed Circuit Television
Surveillance
-- CCTV -- watching them.
If you walk down many streets in London, you will likely
be followed by the cameras.
Do these cameras fulfill their purpose of
protection
and safety or do they make the people around just feel uncomfortable? How are
these cameras affecting society in how they watch individuals and the entire
society? I will be explaining the roots of CCTV, how it came to be, the
advantages and disadvantages of it, how society is reacting to being watched
whenever they leave their homes, and statistics on crime and deterrence in
England.
Student presentations, October 18
1. Parallels between medieval marine innovation and the creation of
the world-wide web
The shipbuilders, seamen, and navigators of the Middle Ages along with the
clerks and lawyers who recorded the logs, cargo lists, and rules and
regulations of the sea were the social prototypes of the hardware and
software developers of the 20th century. Influenced by a world that craved
trade, but restrained by an economy that could not afford speculative
research, the medieval seamen struggled to modernize their ships and develop
navigational tools that could make them more efficient. Those who benefited
from their work would go on to describe in wonder the world opened up by an
exchange of ideas and goods with people thousands of miles away. This same
wonder is prevalent in the genesis of computer development -- from the early
days when financing was scarce and results comparatively slow -- to the
market-driven successes that have made computers a fully integrated part of
our lives. This presentation will show how the social forces that drove
pioneers in the medieval world to expand their empire were remarkably
similar to the forces and conditions that led to the creation of computers
and the world wide web.
A quick historical perspective will include how the people of the Middle
Ages had to innovate a new social structure in the power vacuum left by the
ruined Roman Empire. Along with a look at the social patterns which evolved,
this presentation will also explore some of the medieval innovations that
laid a foundation for a global economy including: Gutenberg's printing
press; navigational advancements; full-rigged ocean-worthy ships; and
Pacioni's double-entry bookkeeping.
2. Google's Search Engine
Google's search engine was one of the main contributors to the company's
success. The search engine was a breakthrough on the internet because it had
features that many other search engines lacked. The society's demands on
computers also made search engine results to display accurate and satisfying
web sites. Now what will Google do to further improve their search engine?
The society's role in the future of Google is important because they can
influence the company's decisions, and trends in society can make Google
develop new products or change existing products such as the search engine.
The fact that Google now is a corporation that has people owning its stocks
only means that more of the public can now participate in Google's affairs,
and more specifically its search engine capabilities.
Student presentations, October 25
1.
The Internet, Internet-based Communication, and The Effects and Benefits on
Today's Society -- The Internet for Personal Use
The Internet was introduced for personal use more than ten years ago and has
steadily increased in popularity and efficiency ever since. The internet has
many uses in today's society as it can serve for business, academic, and
personal purposes. The internet provides modern society with an effective
means of doing research, communication, business transactions, and much, much
more. The question is, despite popular demand and all of the benefits that the
internet provides, what are the implications of excessive internet use?
The focus of my presentation will be on the development of internet and more
specifically, internet-based communication. How has the internet as a means of
universal communication benefited modern society? How has face-to-face
interaction been affected? I hope to provide explanations to these and many
other questions throughout my presentation.
2. Electronic Cash
My presentation will define e-cash and the different forms of e-cash. It will
also take into consideration the possible effects of electronic money on
society as a whole. Finally who invented e-cash and for what reason.
3. The Printing Press
The printing press changed the history of humanity.
With its invention came a revolution not only in the arts, but also in
the sciences.
Since the printing press was invented, mass publication and circulation
became
greater. It gave access to more ways of education, but it also brought
revolution, rebellion, and new ideas. The printing press gave people the right
of knowledge; not only the church could have books. They were not longer
about
religion. Somehow the Internet can be compared to the printing press. Both
give people a wide selection of information, and both in their own way
changed
the course of the world.
Student presentations, November 1
1. Communication and Cell Phones
I will be talking about the development of the cell phone and its uses in
today's world. As well as being a communication device, the cell phone has
many other uses which are ever expanding in the technological world. I will
also be discussing the positive and negative effects of having a cell phone
and the effects of society on the growing demand for cell phones and some
future developments.
3. The Death of Distance -- The Rise of Speed
The use of the internet is becoming dynamic. It's a high-speed world out
there; don't you want your computer to keep up? There isn't much on the
Internet these days that doesn't require a high-speed connection in order to
fully experience and appreciate what the Web has to offer. The Internet has
become such an integral part of our lives, with such powerful capabilities
that millions of people around the world use the Internet every day -- to
communicate with others, follow the stock market, keep up with the news,
check the weather, make travel plans, conduct business, shop, entertain
themselves, and learn. In my presentation I'll talk about broadband internet,
its benefits in general and at home and its disadvantages, and lightly
touch upon the different kinds of high-speed technologies that the ISPs use.
Student presentations, November 8
1. Computers and the Second World War
I intend to talk about the type of computers that were used in the war, how
they
were used by both sides, why they were used, and how the companies that made
these computers were affected.
2. Electronic Security Systems
Have you ever encountered cases where your car, property at home or even
in the work place has been stolen or invaded? Moreover, regardless of
what you did, it was impossible to detect the burglar. During this
session we will be discussing the features of an electronic security
system as well as the benefits and disadvantages of these devices.
Student presentations, November 15
1. RFID
What is Radio Frequency Identification? Not many people know what it is and
how it is used. In my presentation I will introduce RFID, the history of this
technology, and its usage today in our society. I will talk about the
privacy issues and controversies surrounding this subject and the future of
this technology.
2.
3.
The purpose of this presentation is to inform about and create awareness of the
rapidly changing technology in the medical industry, particularly the
pharmaceutical automated system. In my presentation, I intend to discuss the
purpose of this device, the procedure, the benefits, and the impacts as well
as the challenges that this new technology may present to the medical field.
Cute videos circulating on the net
Instructor presentation about some of the kinds of cute little videos
circulating around the net, some of which are "viral marketing".
Student presentations, November 22
1. Nicolaus Copernicus
In today's technologically-advanced modern world, many people tend to forget
about the influence of the past scientific discoveries, many made during the
Middle Ages and the Renaissance. One of them was Nicolaus Copernicus's theory
of the heliocentric solar system.
In my presentation I will talk about Copernicus's origin, his theory, and
what impact it had not only on science, but also on previously-dominating
religious dogma. My findings are available online at
http://copernicus.atspace.com.
2. The August 2003 blackout
On August 14th, 2003 a massive power outage occurred, affecting about one
third of Canada's population. I will be talking about the causes of the
blackout, which was due to "overgrown trees", and the affected infrastructure.
I will also provide information on when power was restored. Also facts will
be provided about the blackout.
How the internet works
(instructor presentation)
Student presentations, November 29
Time-Keeping History, part 1
Instructor presentation on time-keeping, apparent solar time, mean solar
time, time-zones, etc.
Student presentation, December 6
Spiritualism and artificial agents
January 10
Time-Keeping History, part 2
Instructor presentation on the "longitude problem" and John Harrison's clocks.
An excellent book about all this:
Dava Sobel,
Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the Greatest
Scientific Problem of His Time,
Penguin, 1996.
Student presentation, January 17
January 24
Computer-Mediated Communication (instructor presentation)
"Groupware" is a general term for software meant to be used by more than one
person simultaneously, in a group, with interactions between the simultaneous
users.
This interaction constitutes a specialized communication.
The social psychologist and human-computer-interaction researcher Robert Kraut
(CMU) said circa 1991 that despite the wide interest in "groupware",
e-mail was the only successful groupware application to date.
I believe he was right, at least if you count the various then-existent text
communications fora under the umbrella of "e-mail",
and I think that there are specific reasons that e-mail-like communication
would be adopted much more readily than all of the flashier, more complex
groupware software which never
received wide use.
I also believe that my analysis explains why "instant messaging" subsequently
became a successful groupware application.
I will also report on some
interesting aspects of how
people relate to each other when their communication is mediated by computers,
and discuss further social issues in computer-mediated communication, and
the great impact of the design of computer systems on how their users behave
towards each other.
January 31
Student presentation: Sputnik Made Outer Space History
Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite, was launched in competition
with the United States to see who could get into outer space first. The
purpose was to research the atmosphere and get vital information on
meteoroids. In my presentation I will discuss important issues with Sputnik
such as how it came to be such as who came up with the idea and who developed
it also what society thought, how they felt and the impact of it.
Computer users' rights; data privacy
Instructor presentation
Student presentations, February 7
1. Voting Machines
I will focus my presentation on voting machines. Within the past several
years there has been a lot of controversy on the legitimacy of these
machines. For instance, many believe that these machines were programmed to
give George Bush extra votes in the past election of 2004. Therefore, the
human impact on these machines is vast and I will be focusing on the pros
and cons of voting machines and alternate ways of tallying votes.
2. Microcomputers and their creation
A Microcomputer is a small, low cost computer originally designed for
individual users. Recently, microcomputers have become powerful tools for many
businesses that, when networked together, have replace minicomputers and in
some cases mainframes and information tools.
With the creation of these,
companies have been able to further their trade and it has opened up the
possibilities for people and companies alike, and has expanded both the use of
computers and employees' computer skills in the workplace.
3. Internet Security
Surfing and using the Internet can allow unwanted viruses, spyware and
adware onto your computer. I will explore different security issues related
to the Internet and different types of protection that can be used to
dispose of and/or prevent this malware from getting onto your computer, such
as firewalls, virus protection, and the use of encryption. I will discuss a
little bit on Internet "crackers", internet confidentiality and privacy, and
other ways of protecting your computer such as using remailers, different
passwords, routers, and anti-spyware programs.
Student presentations, February 14
1. The Dot Com Bubble Burst
The Dot com bubble burst was a significant event that showed how
the North American society can change the internet and the software
industry. Firstly, I will be discussing the origins of why where people so
optimistic about the internet and ultimately the creation of the dot com
bubble. Secondly, I will analyze how the dot com bubble burst and its tragic
results for many IT companies and its impact on the internet.
2. Fear of Robots
This presentation will take a quick look at what a robot is and then delve
into the love/hate relationship our modern society has with robots. What
components of fear can be attributed to nature and what components are
nurtured by our society? "Robot Fear" will also be examined in the context
of popular literature and movies. While examining some of the psychological
profiles of "robot fear" a look will also be taken at how other cultures
view robots. Batteries permitting, there will be a demonstration.
Instructor presentation on "The Prevention of Technology"
The material about the Amish was taken primarily from
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.01/amish.html.
(reading week)
Student presentations, February 28
1. Technology services replace costly long-distance phone calls
Many of us have relatives and/or friends who live far away, and one of the
most personal ways of communication we find is the telephone. Thus, we make
long distance phone calls that end up costing a lot of money, especially if we
do not have an appropriate long-distance package with our telephone company.
However, we find other ways (cheaper and personal ways) to
communicate with those overseas.
Many instant messenger providers allow us to have video and voice conferences
over the
Internet, without paying high long distance rates. We only pay the usual
amount for the Internet service. Yet, in order to talk with whom we want to,
it is imperative that the other person is connected to the same provider. But
there are other options such as VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). This
service let us call from a
home phone to another phone, only using an Internet connection, sometimes for
free, and some others just paying a small monthly fee.
In my presentation I will talk about the most common ways people are
communicating nowadays (in a more personal way than chatting) with people from
all around the world, without having to pay too much.
3. The Antikythera Mechanism
In 1901 divers working off the isle of Antikythera (Greece) found remains of a
strange mechanism that turned out to be 2,000 years old. Who created it? What
is it and what was the purpose of it?
Student presentations, March 7
1. Social Engineering
Social Engineering is "the practice of obtaining confidential information by
manipulation of legitimate users". In the presentation on social engineering I
will be talking about the different types of social engineering, how it works,
and what are some of the precautions companies can use in order to prevent it.
2. Wikipedia
Founded on January 10, 2001 by Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia has been growing on an
exponential rate and has gained major popularity today. Wikipedia is a
freely-licensed encyclopedia which is reasonably stable and full of good information.
Free in the sense of GNU and free as in free speech. It is available in many
languages and is written by thousands of volunteers.
Today, English Wikipedia is
larger than Britannica Encyclopedia and Microsoft Encarta combined. But how
reliable is the information found of Wikipedia in comparison to the
Encyclopedia Britannica and other information providing sources? One entry of
Britannica is probably more authoritative than quoting the wikipedia,
nevertheless the results of a study show that they are somewhat similar.
Wikipedia is interesting, not so much technically as socially.
Student presentations, March 14
1. Computer Security
I'll be talking about computer protection, and how do we protect ourself?
What is a hacker and why are we so vulnerable? The Hacker attitude, for
example the way in which a hacker can hack into your computer.
2. All about wikis
Where did the word wiki come from?
What wikis already exist?
What is a wiki?
How are wikis able to function?
What are other applications of wiki engines?
These are the questions I intend to answer.
Student presentations, March 21
2. [re cellphones]
Modern technology has changed communications in a variety of ways. The
world today is referred to as a global village due to the advancement of
technology, particularly, cellular phones. Since the invention of cellular
phones in 1947, researchers looked at basic mobile (car) phones and
realized that by using small cells, the phone would be portable and
convenient to the public. In this presentation I will be discussing the
history of cell phones, what cell phones consist of, how they work, and the
impacts on society.
Student presentations, March 28
1. The Citizen Lab
The students at the University of Toronto along with other students in
North America are some of the many citizens who are concerned about the
growing problems of those in the developing countries. The Citizen Lab
is a laboratory which is instituted at the Munk Centre for International
Studies here at the University of Toronto. During this presentation we
will highlight some of the great accomplishments of the summer internships.
Furthermore, we will discuss the aspects of the Citizen Lab.
2. The Chernobyl Disaster
Chernobyl is an internationally recognized name of a small Ukrainian town
located thirty kilometres from a former nuclear power plant, where on April
26th, 1986, the worst nuclear disaster in history took place. Since then,
Chernobyl has become associated, as Mikhail Gorbachev stated, with human
confrontation "of the real force of nuclear energy, out of control". In my
presentation, I will talk about the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant before the
catastrophe occurred, the disaster and its causes, the decontamination, the
aftermath, and the impact of society after the disaster.
"Non-Technical Infiltration" (instructor, April 4)
"Social Engineering", and other forms of security penetration which are
based on people more than on the technology.
April 11
Closing comments and other discussion
Student presentation on Social Engineering
I will be
discussing the various types of attacks that social engineering can engage
with;aswell, discussing the role of society in which control seems to play a
big role in how social engineering is pursued. In addition, I will also talk
about a man named Kevin Mitnick who by some is considered to be the smartest
hacker ever, and I will deal with some ideas around how one might
"avoid being a victim" to social engineering.
[main course page]