Section 1.2.2: Facebook users
Between 2006 and 2010, the number of Facebook users grew from below
10 million to more than 400 million.
Section 1.2.2: A consequence of connections
Software on our computers and other electronic devices communicates
with businesses and organizations regularly, without our direct command, to
check for updates of software, news, and our friends' activities.
What are some unexpected consequences? Book-seller Amazon discovered that
it had sold an ebook to Kindle users that it did not have the legal right
to sell in the United States. Amazon deleted the book from its customers'
Kindles (and refunded the cost). The action angered customers, and Amazon
said it would not remove books in similar circumstances again. The incident
A reminder that increased convenience and access can reduce the
control we had with old-fashioned hard copy. (July 2009)
Section 1.2.2: Joys and sorrows of cell phones
Cuban people, newly allowed to purchase cell phones, flocked to buy the phones,
even though they are expensive relative to income.
The phones improve contact with family members and
access to news. On the other hand, an Austrian city
requires that commuters riding public transportation
keep their cell phones silent to avoid annoying everyone else. (June 15, 2008)
Section 1.2.2 (and 3.2.4)
An example of the empowerment brought about by the Web: Several companies
help people arrange person-to-person loans on the Web at rates lower than
credit cards and higher than lenders would get in a bank.
One report estimated that hundreds of millions of dollars in such loans would
be issued in the next few years. (Dec. 29, 2007)
Section 1.2.3: Collaboration example: Fan-managed soccer team
Thousands of soccer fans chipped in via their Web site to buy a British
soccer team. They will make management decisions by voting on the Web.
(MyFootBallClub.co.uk, Jan. 25, 2008)
Section 1.2.7: Smart sensors
Tiny microprocessors with sensors and radio transmitters (sometimes called
smart dust, though they are still larger than dust particles)
are finding all sorts of applications. Some are already in use; some are
in development and will be widely used soon. We mention a few examples.
These examples have many obvious benefits. It might be interesting to see what
students identify as potential problems with them.
Oil refineries and fuel storage systems uses thousands of sensors to detect leaks and other malfunctions. Sandia National Laboratory developed a "chemical lab on a chip" that can detect emissions from automobiles, chemical leaks, dangerous gases in fires (reducing risk for fire fighters), and many other hazards. Such chips might also be valuable in systems that detect chemical warfare agents.
Sensors detect temperature, acceleration, and stress in materials (such as airplane parts). Sensors distributed throughout buildings and bridges can detect structural problems, report on damage from earthquakes, and so on. These applications can increase safety while reducing maintenance costs.
Sensors in agricultural fields report on moisture, acidity, and so on, helping farmers to avoid waste and to use no more chemical fertilizer than needed. Sensors could detect molds or insects that might destroy crops. Sensors implanted in chickens monitor the birds' body temperature. A computer automatically reduces the temperature in the chicken coop if the birds get too hot. This reduces disease and death from overheating. Sensors in food products could monitor temperature, humidity, and other factors, to detect potential helath problems, while the food is in transit to stores.
Trainers of athletes plan to use sensors in special clothing to better train athletes.
Section 1.2: 3D printers
3D "printers" create a three-dimensional structure, layer by layer, using glues and resins---and color---under direction of a computer file. (An alternate technology uses an ultraviolet or laser beam to harden thin layers of resin to build up the desired shape.) Doctors use the devices to create 3D models of body parts from MRIs. Architects make architectural models. Scientists model proteins and the topography of Mars. Designers make prototypes of new shoes, flat-panel displays for cockpits of new aircraft, and parts for machines and appliances. High school and college shop classes use the machines. Some busineses offer 3D printing of maps. Several sell custom figures fromonline games and virtual worlds. A new business provides software for children to design their own action figures. The children can submit their design to a Web site to be "printed" and mailed to them. As this application indicates, the designer and the printer do not have to be at the same location. E-mailing designs, to be "printed" locally, eliminates the cost, energy, and time for shipping a physical prototype to a factory.
One version of 3D printers uses metal powder rather than plastic to make stronger objects. Potentially, it could make spare parts for damaged equipment and many new products.
3D printers might soon be used to make actual, not prototype, small devices and appliances. The printer would make the plastic parts and a consumer (or small business) would assemble them, adding the necessary metal parts, computer chips, and other parts that might be needed. The design and nonplastic parts could come as a kit.
(Sources: William M. Bulkeley, "3D printers reshape world of copying," Wall Street Journal, Aug. 3, 2006, p. B1; Stacey Smith Lang, "Skeleton Key," Wired, Nov. 2001, p. 49. See www.dimensionprinting.com, www.zcorp.com, www.landprint.com, and www.figureprints.com, among many others, for more about the machines and some products.)
Section 1.3.2 (and Sec. 3.2.4):
The need for care when updating laws.
A Texas law passed in 2007 requires that people who repair or
service computers get a private investigator's license.
Unlicensed repairers and the customers who hire them are
subject to big fines. The law requires the license of
anyone who obtains information by reviewing or analyzing
data on a computer that is not available to the public.
The wording of the law was
provided by a private investigator industry group.
The legislator who submitted the law didn't realize
that someone servicing
a computer (removing viruses or repairing damage caused
by a virus, for example) would have to read data
on the computer.
The state
said it would enforce the law against computer repairers.
A computer repairer, who would have to spend three years
as an apprentice to a licensed investigator to get his own
license, sued to halt enforcement of the law.
The American Bar Association issued a statement criticizing
the law. (July, 2008)
Exercise 1.18
Target Corp. and the National Federation for the Blind
(NFB) settled the suit mentioned in this exercise. Target
and NFB agreed to work on improving accessibilty of
Target's Web site for blind people. Target agreed to
pay $6 million to plaintiffs who were unable to use its
site. (Aug. 28, 2008)
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