Emerging Scholars Program - Week 15

A Challenge From Last Time:

Computers and Society

Today we're going to talk about some of the effects of computers in our society. Split up into groups and tackle these questions. Then you will get up in front of the class and we'll discuss the issues.

  1. How would your life change if all computers were shut down right now?
  2. What software do you use that saves you a lot of time? (Word, Web browser, IM, Facebook....)
  3. How do blogs work?
  4. What are the positives and negatives of email? What should we do about spam?
  5. What are the positives and negatives of IM?
  6. What are the positives and negatives of Facebook, mySpace?
  7. How do YOU use ecommerce? What are the advantages and disadvantages?
  8. What is "data mining"?
  9. What computer system bugs have affected your life? Why are these so insidious?
  10. How do computers both add to as well as help with "information overload"?
  11. Why is the Web an unreliable information source? Does that mean it is worthless?
  12. Do you feel secure when you send personal information over the Web? Why should you ... or shouldn't you?
  13. What is "malware" (spyware, worms, virus, trojans, adware)? What is "phishing"?
  14. What is "privacy"? How are you protecting your own privacy? What security measures do you take?
  15. How does encryption work?
  16. What is the "Digital Divide"?