Chapter 7: Evaluating and Controlling Technology Ryan Lord Collin Molnar

Roadmap Introduction Computer models The “Digital Divide” Neo-Luddite views Making decisions about technology Case studies Conclusion

The Need for Responsible Judgment There is massive amounts of information on the internet Much of this is wrong Distorted history Errors Outdated information Bad financial advice Forged Videos We must be able to realize when we are being manipulated

Common Sources of Incorrect Information Yahoo Answers Allows users to ask questions about almost anything and get responses from other users Medical Sites Websites that rate hospitals and doctors Websites that offer diagnoses and treatments Wikipedia

“Wisdom of the Crowd” “Written by fools for the reading of imbeciles” -Joseph Conrad

“Wisdom of the Crowd” False results People can answer questions however they chose and it doesn’t matter whether the answer is correct or not Manipulated data Review Websites Photos and Videos

Vulnerable Viewers The main reason that these are issues is due to the vulnerability of the viewers Children have not yet learned what to believe and what not to believe on the internet Critics believe that somebody should regulate This is unreasonable due to the size of the internet Freedom of speech

Narrowing the Information Stream The internet is full of useful information But studies have shown that internet narrows peoples fields of research Fewer citations More recent citations Narrower sets Facebook

Abdicating Responsibility Where people place too much trust into certain technologies Spell Check GPS Calculation software Many times these programs can not replace an experienced professional

Evaluating Computer Models Mathematical models Mathematical formulas used in order to generate predictions Based off of time and not physical size Population Growth When a big earthquake is likely to occur Physical models Based off of physical size and not time Model planes Molecule model Architecture programs

Evaluating Computer Models (cont) How well do the modelers understand the underlying science or theory of the systems that they are studying? How well understood are the relevant properties of the materials involved? How accurate and complete are the date? What are the assumptions and simplifications in the model? How closely do the results or predictions of the model correspond with results from physical experiment or real experience?

The “Digital Divide” Refers to the idea of the haves and the have-nots Haves: Enjoy access to and regularly use the various forms of modern information technology Have-Nots: Do not use the various forms of modern information technology This started out as access to computers and internet vs. no access But is now focused on broadband vs. no broadband

Trends in Computer Access Before the invention of computers and the internet Afterwards, gaps became very prevalent As of 1997 there were two major gaps present Racial Urban vs. Rural

The Global Divide Rapid growth over the past decade The majority of the world still is not online There are non profit organizations out there that are attempting to keep the use of the internet spreading This presents a few issues but in the long run should have a huge positive effect on the economy of the world due to increased productivity

Neo-Luddite View of Technology Term comes from opposition against Industrial Revolution. Now they criticize computers and the internet. Common Criticisms Loss of Jobs. Weaken face to face communication. Destroy the environment. Benefit big business and big government.

Neo-Luddites Believes technology Increases unemployment Profit for capitalists Leads to a poorer life for workers Believe technology is only used to solve the problems other technology causes. “If there had been no railway to conquer distances, my child would have never left his native town and I should need to telephone to hear his voice” - Sigmund Freud

Neo-Luddites Believe there is no need for technology. “Do we need to do homework in the backyard or listen to music on an iPod”. People are manipulated into thinking that they do need technology. Technology does not improve the lives of people. Argue that people only believe their lives are better because of virtues instilled in them.

Accomplishments of Technology Price of food prices are lower. Salaries are increasing in all parts of the world. Prices of natural resources are declining. Food supplies are growing. Diseases that were common in the past are now gone.. Life expectancy has doubled around the world since 1900.

Who benefits from Technology? Neo-Luddites believe that small business are hurting because of technology. Technology can help small businesses. Advertising. Shipping products globally. Technology helps boost international commerce. Disabled people also benefit from technology.

Predicting the Consequences of Technology Computers were first designed for military use. No one thought phones would be used to set off bombs. Even experts are not able to predict trends in technology. “Computer in the future many only weigh 1.5 tons.” –Popular Mechanics, 1949 “The U.S. will have 220,00 computers by the year 2000.” –RCA Corporation Should we choose to not develop technologies because they could be used to cause harm?

Artificial Intelligence Bad Good

Technological Singularity Occurs when AI advances so far we can’t comprehend it. Advances in genetics can help create super intelligent humans. Moore’s law predicts hardware will be as powerful as human brains by Technology could lead to some of the catastrophic events we see in movies. Relinquishment - Some limits will need to be placed on development of technologies. Where to draw the line?

Wikipedia Free online encyclopedia that allows anybody to write or create articles Almost 4 million articles, 10 times larger than the Encyclopedia Britannica One of the most-used reference sites Impossible to make sure that all of the information is valid

Stakeholders Wikipedia Negative Rights: The right to protect themselves from being blamed for false information Positive Rights: Authors Negative rights: The right to contribute or not to the website Positive rights: Readers Negative rights: The right to read the information and use it knowing that it may be false Positive rights:

Possible Solutions Wikipedia could monitor all of the information that is posted to the web site and check all of the facts to make sure all of the information is valid Wikipedia could change their website so that only certain members with valid credentials are able to post information Wikipedia could keep their website as is and just warn people that the information posted on the site may or may not be true and that they are not responsible for false postings

Best Solution I believe that the best solution for this scenario is to just leave Wikipedia as is It has obviously been working They are protected under their agreements The information online currently is valid enough for it to be a reasonably valid website for simple research, just not academia

Relevant ACM Codes 1..1 Contribute to society and human well-being. 1.3 Be honest and trustworthy. 1.8 Honor confidentiality. 2.4 Accept and provide appropriate professional review

Conclusion How to control false information on the internet. Types of computer models. The digital divide. Neo-Luddite View of Technology Artificial Intelligence Technological Singularity

Sources A Gift of Fire – Chapter 7