COMP 006: Computers Make It Possible 30 August 2005

Today’s Plan Introductions Class Logistics Projects Course introduction

Contact Information Diane Pozefsky Sitterson AIM: dianepozefsky

Office Hours Feel free to come see me whenever I’m in my office Call or instant message to see if I’m in My schedule won’t finalize until next week Will post best hours on web site

Introductions Name School An interesting fact about yourself Why you are taking this seminar Your comfort level with computers

Class Logistics Seminars vs. classes Small groups Active participation Not 75 minute lectures Readings before the discussions (online)

Communication Web site Assignments Readings Presentation materials Blackboard Only for handing in assignments

Software All software required is available through CCI Microsoft Office Access PowerPoint Word Browser: Mozilla For home page Onyen AFS Client (downloadable) help.unc.edu/?id=110

Policies Regular attendance expected Late assignments Excused: speak to me when assignment given Emergencies: requires proof Unexcused: reduced credit based on length of assignment (significant penalty) Missed tests Excused: to be taken in advance Emergencies: requires proof Unexcused: no make-up

Alternate Meeting Times Hand in your schedules on Thursday Allows me to schedule activities that won’t fit in regular times Make up classes

What we’ll be doing Assignments Group and individual Papers, presentations, projects Due dates will be posted on the class calendar Will be marked as tentative until assigned Learning about being a student as well as about computers

Meet your neighbor Find something in common with your partner Not your age Not that you are freshman at UNC

What We’ll Cover - Topics Computer influence on society Computer security or privacy Assistive technology E-government Computers and ethics Computers in the arts How a computer works What makes a good web site

What We’ll Cover - Projects Building a web page Building a database How computers can help address a particular problem Computer use in the arts Analysis of news reports A taste of programming

Solving Problem This course is about solving problems To solve a problem Understand the domain Understand the tools available Propose a solution Try it What problems would you like to address?

Current Events Katrina: Computers and weather prediction How does it help? What is beyond technological help?

Computers Make It Possible The good, the bad, and the ugly Computers allow us to do things that we never could have done before The power of computers can be misused Computers don’t always work right

The Eyes Have it NASA program develops a system that tracks eye movements for cursor control NASA is exploring new frontiers in accessibility with a program that could give disabled users line-of-sight control over their computer screens. The space agency has provided funding to create a system that tracks head and eye movements to register cursor movements and clicks. Developers plan to provide the system free to the public. Government Computer News, August 9

CAPPS II: Government Surveillance via Passenger Profiling The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced plans to implement CAPPS II, a controversial passenger profiling and surveillance system that would require you to give your birth date, home phone number, and home address before you can board a U.S. flight. Under CAPPS II, travel authorities would check these and other personal details against the information collected in government and commercial databases, then "tag" you with a color-coded score indicating the level of security risk that you appear to pose.

CAPPS II: Government Surveillance via Passenger Profiling The U.S. Transportation Security Administration announced plans to implement CAPPS II, a controversial passenger profiling and surveillance system that would require you to give your birth date, home phone number, and home address before you can board a U.S. flight. Under CAPPS II, travel authorities would check these and other personal details against the information collected in government and commercial databases, then "tag" you with a color-coded score indicating the level of security risk that you appear to pose. SCRAPPED

November 20, 1985 Bug causes Financial crisis! BoNY: Nation’s largest clearer of Govt securities. Software to track Federal securities transactions wrote new information on top of old. Feds debited the bank for each transaction but bank did not know who owed it how much. 90 minutes => $32 Billion overdraft! With thanks to Mithun Arora

Cost of Bug Bank had to borrow $24 bill from federal reserves. Interest paid ~$5 mill for 1 day. (Annual earnings of bank ~120 mill) BoNY share prices dropped by 25c Federal funds rate dropped from 8.4% to 5.5% System down for 28 hours. Fear of financial crisis caused increase in price of platinum! With thanks to Mithun Arora

On a personal level What is your favorite use of technology (the good)? What is your least favorite (the bad)? What problems do you have with computers (the ugly)?

Computers Portrayed in the Arts Select a book, short story or movie Last year’s included Deception Point (Dan Brown) Matrix, The Italian Job, Swordfish Jurassic Park, WarGames, Office Space The Net

For Thursday Bring your schedules Topic for computers in the arts