Module 13: Wrap up

     I really enjoyed this class on The Wired Society. I feel like I learned a lot about things that I knew were going on in the world, just never had a clear understanding of it. The book was very informative, and is something that I hopefully would've read at some point in my life. It was an easy read that was full of lots of great experiences and interviews from Friedman. I liked that many of the experiences were from International travels that he had. The people that he met with were perfect for the book, that continued to prove his point that the world is in fact flat.
     The weekly reading assignment were easy enough to accomplish. I wasn't a fan of the two articles that were tasked to read, but neither were really in my area of expertise, or interest. Many other classmates seemed to really enjoy them, so I'm sure it's not something that would be a problem with the majority. I do wish that we could've gotten a little more feedback on the papers, rather than just a score, if that's possible. It was fun to be able to read what others were saying about the same stuff that you were discussing. I had some good comments on my blog, and tried to get involved in the discussions on other blogs. The interactive side of the class was very enjoyable this way.
     The big thing that interested me in the book was about all of the outsourcing information. I've had some firsthand experiences with outsourcing web development work to international organizations. I can't say that my experience was very good, but the idea that they are people out there that can help lighten your load is great. I've heard many successful experiences out there that prove that it is a great way to save some money while providing the same level of service. I'm excited to see the outsourcing continue, but hope that America can still keep many services in the states.
     By far my favorite assignment was the task to watch a technology related film and write a review about it. I picked WarGames, and was glued from start to finish. I loved the story, and the non-stop thrill! I'm not sure I would've ever seen this video either, had I not taken this class...so that I'm grateful for. The technology used in those days was very basic, yet still powerful. The film proves the idea of computers running our country as a risky idea. Computers have come a long ways since then, and continue to show potential as a great tool for our future.
   All in all it was a great class for me this semester. I had a lot of extra time to read the material, and was even able to dive deeper with the audio version of it while commuting. I often times was left in a deep thought as I would come home and talk my wife's ear off about each chapter. The chapter about Walmart and supply chaining definitely left me in some deep thought for several weeks. It was interesting to learn more about things that I never would've learned about had I not taken this class. I will definitely be recommending this class to other classmates. Everyone needs to know that "The World is Flat!"

Module 12: The Future

     I wasn't a huge fan of this week's writing assignment, but gave it my best. I had a hard time finally getting through the whole thing given that a lot of it seemed way over my head. A big part of it may've been that I didn't really understand, or follow, a lot of what Bill Joy was talking about the first time around. Aside from that after finally finishing up I have to say that the future has always worried me, but it worries me even more now. Humans obviously play a big part of our future, but there are many discoveries that are making it even less so.
     The basis of this article is about GNR technologies. GNR stands for genetics, nanotechnology and robotics. Each area has an obvious place in our future. Also, each can be used to do great things or very destructive things. Let's start with genetics. Genetic engineering has been around for thousands of years, but just since the 1970s has been practiced on humans. This is the modifications of genes in our bodies to reengineer us. A lot of the discussion in Joy's article refers to the modification of food or plants, which make many people nervous. Any time that you are modifying so important to our existence scares me to death. The discovery of cloning also seems like it could come back to bite us in one way or another if it gets into the wrong hands.
     Nanotechnology was a new one that I've never heard about. Since reading this article I have enjoyed reading about the advantages that there could be if this technology can be polished and perfected. The health side of having a nano-sized robot performing surgical work on us leaves some hope for us. The big concern would be that if there's a "bug" in the system it could take the life of the person. I get that doctors also have that same power, but with software these days the bugs could become widespread. The spreading a doctors messing up surgeries would be much less likely, in my opinion. The possibilities for nanotechnology are endless, and they could most definitely be the answer for the removal of cancer without radiation therapy.
     Robotics are things that we see in our everyday lives today. Maybe not out in the open, but robotic machines continue to make our lives easier. Just recently I read about a warehouse that used floor-level robots to move boxes from one end of the warehouse to another. The commands were coming from their shipping system, and all orders were sent with all of the robots in mind. This process replaced several employees, and prevented a lot of injuries from occurring. Robots will continue to replace us as the decision technology becomes smarter. Currently robots can make decisions, but our brains are much more powerful at adapting in tough situations.
     As I look at these GNR technologies it really is our future. Each one has had it's time to develop and grow into a great tool for the future of our civilization. While they are all exciting, there is definitely something to be said for keeping any research in the right hands. All of these technologies could be a weapon of mass destruction if it got into the wrong hands. With the use of the Internet the information is out there, and will continue to be that way.
     I do see how these technologies will impact our future. For good or bad we will see these technologies grow and develop. They will affect our everyday lives, and hopefully will allow us to be more productive rather than making us lazy, or destroying us. With robotics I can see how it could replace manual labor jobs that could be beneficial to some dealing with weight problems. I don't think we will see a direct impact like that quickly, but most definitely overtime. My hope is that as these technologies develop we, as humans, find our way to keep perfecting them and making them that much better.

Module 11: Wargames Review

     Wargames, an old 1983 film about a young computer hacker/genius of the old generation that almost launches a full-scale nuclear attack on America. Let me just say that I really loved this film, even with it being so old. I normally don't like old movies, but this was some great stuff.
     The movie starts out with a killer opening scene in a missile silo for the Air Force. The two men are given instructions to launch a nuclear missile and they don't go through with it. This begins the investigation by the military on replacing the humans with a computer. This computer is supposed to eliminate the human intervention on tasks like this that could be difficult for a human to make. The computer that is positioned to perform these tasks is the WOPR (War Operation Plan Response).
     The way the WOPR gets introduced is as a "game" system that is programmed to use real evidence to plan different scenarios of war. When they originally show the machine they say that it has already played through the scenario of World War III. This machines gets placed into the military defense system with expectations that it will speed up the process  of launch different defense mechanisms for the military.
     After this system gets installed this young boy hacks into it while searching for a gaming server. It appears that it is accessed via old modem/phone frequencies that I am not familiar with (would love to learn more about it). He connects and, once he cracks the password, begins to play what he thinks is a game. The computers asks what game he wants to play and he chooses the worldwide biochemical war game. He initiates an attack from the Soviet Union on several cities in the United States still thinking that it was just a simulator.
     When he initiates this simulation the military gets warnings of the attack and all hell breaks loose! They eventually track him down and try to figure out how he got in. Using his experience with computers and signals he is able to break out of the room that they secure him in so that he can find a way to turn the game off.
     First off, the way that he is connecting to the servers in the beginning of the movie is very real. I have never actually seen it done myself, but I know that what he is doing is possible. I read the Steve Jobs Biography a while back and it talks a lot about what Steve and his early colleague would do with telephones. They can be hacked, and you can make free calls and do things like what the young kid is doing to connect. If you ask me, it's genius, especially for an older movie.
     As far as ridiculous parts, there is a part in the middle of the movie where it shows someone at the military base using a touch sensitive screen. It's unclear as to what they are doing but it appears that they are marking some sort of location of submarines. The computer has no visual indication of the touch, just an audio indication. It obvious that this technology is possible given what we have today with touchscreen tablets and phones, but back in '83, I don't think so!
     The only social or cultural issues that I think this film might have caused would be related to the trust of computers as replacements. Clearly it's been a questionable change for some time, and will always be one. Can we trust computers? Are they reliable enough to replace us? All great questions that many have asked and will continue to ask. This movie definitely will question our trust! Great flick!

Module 9: Dell Laptop, al-Qaeda and The Curse of Oil

     This part of the book really threw around some numbers that I was unaware of regarding Dell's laptop sales of 150,000 per day. How is that kind of a production even possible? Supply chaining. As I read the process of Dell's supply chain I was really blown away by the process that takes place when someone simply places an order on their website. Dell shops around enough to find the best deals for good quality parts and integrates them into their supply chain. The simple "assembly line" concept is one that I've always understood, but the supply chaining has never been one I've thought about.
     With dell laptops (and computers, in general) being so complex with 30 different customizable parts to each one -- it is impressive that Dell has it so mastered. It's seems like the exact definition of a "well-oiled machine!" If I can go onto one website and build a computer with my custom specifications and have it in-hand within a week, that is impressive. Last week I was able to order a Dell Laptop for work and the experience was very simple. As I was filling it out I thought of what I read in this book remembering all of the different parties involved to make my order happen. I haven't received the order yet, but fully plan on being blown away by what it took for them to acquire and build the laptop that I ordered.
     While Dell uses a supply chain to effectively build computers, al-Qaeda uses a supply chain to product individuals of mass destruction. The program is called the Virtual Caliphate. In essence, they use this system to produce the suicide bombers for al-Qaeda to take care of specific missions where an individual of that caliber is required. This supply chain system allows them to quickly find replacements when one goes dark, or as one "graduates" from the program. This system is clearly not as fine-tuned as Dell's laptop supply chain, but it is the same concept.
     The demand for oil continues. The supply is there, and if the cost increases we have to cover it and increase the individual cost that we pay. What about the countries that are pulling in all of the money, what is there situation like? Imagine this, you hold the key to oil for anyone in the world to purchase. The demand continues to increase due to the continued popularity of the gas-powered engine. With enough money in this country, why do you (as a country) need to grow? The money is there, and it's going to continue to come through as long as the oil keeps flowing. This is what they call the "curse of oil." It is a curse because the cultural society shuts down, and has no intention of improving as long as money keeps flowing in.
     With oil it is going to be interesting to see how it evolves. The electric car is definitely changing vehicle travel as we know it. Sales are increasing, and awareness is also. As people get more aware of this new alternative to oil they will realize that it's not an absolute necessity even more. I wonder how this curse will change when that happens, because it will most likely effect the countries with the most oiled. Maybe in the long run, it will help this "curse" sink!

Module 8: Computers in my education

Write a two page personal essay on how computers have been used in your education in some personally relevant way.

     Being a Computer Science major this is a very easy question to answer. I have been in school for long enough to know that without computers in my education things would be very unorganized for me. I use my computer, phone or tablet to record and access everything. With these devices I can keep track of important dates, perform research and collaborate with my professors and other students.
     I've always thought of myself as an organized person throughout my education. I've always tried to make a conscious effort to keep a calendar and an assignment tracker for each of my classes. Some semesters are better than others, and I always seem to have better grades when I keep them up to date. Google Calendar is the ultimate tool for keeping track of important dates. I've also started to track due assignments in my calendar events as well. That way, during class, I can pull up next weeks class on my calendar and in the description write down what is due. This makes it so much easier to remember what is due on that date.
     Assignment trackers are also helpful because you can track more specific information about your assignments, and attach them to a class. One that I like to use for iOS is called iStudiez Pro. It allows me to track my school schedule along with assignment and exam due dates. It is customizable and even has alerts. Since it's on my phone and tablet I am sure to not forget about assignments and their due dates. With my calendar and assignments things are much more organized and I can get an idea of how to plan my study schedule effectively.
     Research is another thing that I do a lot on my computer for school. Even with my Calculus class! I find myself searching YouTube for videos to remind me how to solve equations. Videos have transformed how we use the Internet, especially in education. A video can help you learn so much quicker than, say, reading an  explanation of something. Wikipedia continues to grow by the second and contain the largest amount of information in one place. As students we have to be weary of it's content due to the "open-edit" model that it uses. Without the help of Google and all of the great resources out there we would still be in encyclopedia's searching for out-of-date information. That's a lot to think about.
     Without my computer I'm not sure how I would create my papers that I have to turn in for my English class. With keyboard input we have all become dependent on it and hardly write anymore. Now we have tablets with smaller keyboards, or on-screen ones, that allow us to take notes in crowded meetings without having to worry about a pen or pencil. I know that education would be different without the ability to type out papers, but the thought of having to write everything by hand is a little much to take in.
     Collaboration over the Internet has also played a big role in my education that, without computers, would be impossible. With email and things like Google Docs collaboration on group projects would be ever-so difficult to accomplish. E-mails to teachers can be sent and received much quicker than a letter or even a phone call. The convenience of it is impossible to compare. Without it all communication would need to be done using other means that would make all things more difficult and frustrating.
     As I sat and wrote this I can't help but wonder how it was possible to get an education without computers. Education has evolved with computers, and will continue to do so. Sometimes I wish it would evolve quicker, but each move takes time. Over time our dependence on computers will increase, until a lot of education will be online. Certain subjects may move a little slower, but I do think that eventually a lot of it will be done via webcams and mobile devices. I think it's clear that I couldn't do a whole lot in my education without it. The impact it has made will stick with me in the future as I continue to develop my career in the computer science field.

Module 7: Comparative Advantage, Self-directed consumers and Americanization

     It's obvious that geographically we live differently in the U.S. than outside countries. Our terrain is different, for example, but many other things economically are different as well. Starting a different is completely different in many different countries because a different type of system was setup, mostly from scratch that could operate completely different. In economics it acts the same way, some countries will have a better way to produce something at a lower cost, that other countries just won't be able to compete with. While it may seem unfair, it's exactly what a comparative advantage means, which is "the ability of a person or a country to produce a particular good or service at a lower marginal and opportunity cost" (Wikipedia, Comparative Advantage).
     This advantage that has developed over time will continue to change as we continue to find new and better ways of doing things. Computers have changed are lives in ways that we never knew they would, and as a result it has changed the way we trade and do business. Some countries will always be able to provide a better good, or service, better than another. China is well known for a lot of things, one of which is their factory workers and their discipline. Apple Inc. has recently been exposed for the work conditions that have been placed for the hard-worked employees. This has directed some negative publicity to Apple, and has even caused them to be investigated. What will come of this will be likely just Apple increasing investing in better factory conditions as well as more rules/laws for the factory managers. This advantage that China has is due to their focus on discipline and hard work, which are both great reputations to have in a culture.
     Self-directed consumers are what lead businesses on the path to business-improvement. I am, and always will be, a self-directed consumer. A self-directed consumer, in Friedman's terms, are ones that are not afraid to speak up to a business about their products or services. In a flat world, keeping unhappy consumers is becoming a challenging feat. With the advancement of Twitter and Facebook people can openly confess their love, or hate, for a business and have it spread like wildfire. With Twitter especially, this has became a central pace for people to publicly draw negative attention to a business. The wonderful thing is that businesses are starting to respond publicly as well, to try and turn the negativity into a positive experience for the consumer. I have definitely become more vocal about how I feel about the products and services of a business, and have received free pizza on occasion because of a slow, or incorrect, delivery that was made.
     Does globalization mean Americanization? Fortunately as I have spoken with visitors to the U.S. I have noticed quite the opposite. While many people love America, many feel like they still love the culture that they were born into and America can stay in America. It's obvious that American culture is spreading but I don't see the cultures becoming a part of that spreading. I think that other cultures see American culture and actually become even stronger in their own culture. This is a good thing. I don't feel like this will benefit the future leaders of the world. Cultural differences are what set us apart and make us such a strong mass of people across the globe. We were all born with different skills, and different resources that allow us to be resourceful in our own ways. I'm excited for the future of the globe!

Module 6: Free trade, middlers and CQ + PQ > IQ!

     Free trade is where the act of trading any type of goods or services between countries for 'free.' This opens up many doors for different countries to make some good money on the goods that they offer without getting hit too hard with taxes, or what's called, trade barriers. This levels out the playing field for different countries wanting to sell theirs good or services and to be competitive in the markets. Free trade in the United States is vital to our economy. We need to be able to freely import/export goods to keep cash flow coming through. I also think that it creates more competition, which means that there will be others that come in the future to try and make what you made better. Any competition like that will results in better products, and better pricing. Great for any country!
     New middlers, Friedman also calls "The Great Synthesizers", are the energy behind companies. These individuals keep things moving in companies. They must be hard workers, and heavy thinkers. This is required so that new ideas get generated on a regular basis. The ability to actually take an idea and execute it is also a character trait for the "new middlers." If we were looking at a basketball team the new middler would be the point guard. Always making things happen, and when things don't happen they change it up. They make something out of nothing!
     Curiosity + Passion > IQ! I agree with this whole-heartedly. I have known many people in my career and the ones that really stick out are the ones with passion, and a little bit of risk behind them. They're ready for a challenge, but also eager to try something new. Curiosity can spark new ideas that can be game-changing. Curiosity is the initiation and the passion is the driver behind this new force. That's not to say that IQ isn't import, but it's clear that the others outweigh in importance is most business situations.