HW 9

1.    Scientific proof is not attainable due to the unpredictable nature of the world we live in. To say that without a doubt something is scientifically proven is impossible. Essentially the closer you observe something the more you know about it. However, one can never know everything about something due to the observation effect. I think this is an excellent way to bring together religion and science, in hopes to fully understanding the world one day.

2.     See Chris’s Blog

3.    a. The impact of computing on an individual’s privacy is quite scary. Since nearly every person in today’s society is connected to the Internet his or her information is readily available. Especially considering most people are ill informed on how to protect them. Using facebook as an example a novice user might include their cell phone number or their street address in their profile information allowing one with mal-intent to steal the users credit card info or even their social security number.

b.  The impact of computing on an individual’s security is definitely a good impact. With the right knowledge and know how any user can secure their network or computer fairly easily due to the increase of technology.  Firewalls, IP blockers, and anti virus programs all work together to allow a user to securely surf the net.

c.  The impact of computing on the quality of information is rather hard to determine. Seeing as how any Joe Schmoe can create a website and claim it to be credible. This is a double-edged sword. At one edge it allows for useful and relevant information to constantly be updated, on the other hand there is that information that is clearly incorrect and misleading. 

HW 8

1. Being the cynic that I am the first round of predictions for Earth 2100 is pretty much how I see the United states specifically turning out. Of course that is taking into affect that we dont majorly change our way of life as a country.  Due to massive population increases (baby boomers) we are reaping the negative affects from exhausting this worlds resources. Soon enough the west coast will be barren, and most people will migrate towards metropolitan areas. Thus allowing for deadly diseases (black plague) to spread rapidly and reduce the over population. It seems to be a natural way of life. More or less a protection the world has built in to keep it running for billions and billions of years. Instead of mere thousands.

I believe that most imperative change needed to be made to our country is to not continue towards urbanization. We need to embrace our rural roots, and live more off the land than off the fast/easy way of life. For instance in the times before fast food chains became as big as they are I believe the avg family at 3/4s less meat than we do today. Why is that? well because a town had to rely on a farmer to raise its stock then take it to the butcher to prepare. The fast food industry has streamlined this process by mass producing farm stock, and crops. Allowing them to sell food at competitive prices.

If we as a society start to rely less on urbanization, and start living off the land more I think there can be hope to survive for thousands of years as a country rather than a few hundred more.

2. See Chris' blog.

HW 7

1. The spoil sport of prediction that bugs me the most is the 'Butterfly Effect'.  In essence this spoiler says, that "The most unimportant, minuscule motion causes a motion of effects that one day can cause say  a hurricane to occur." In the movie 'Butterfly Effect' the main character was granted the ability to go back in time and change what he did. Alas with every change made a bigger consequence grew. By the time he ended up back in present time his whole life had become a wreck due to all the things he changed from the past.

When predicting things it becomes easier to control certain variables or make it seem as though they are controlled. In essence all you are doing is discounting certain facts that in turns makes your prediction false.

2. See Chris' blog.

3. Our presentation is on Monday December 6.

HW 6

See Chris Biedenbenders blog for this assignment

Homework 5 Assignment 2

Regarding the future of Natural Language processors I managed to find this site:  
http://www.journal.au.edu/ijcim/2004/jan04/jicimvol12n1_article1.pdf

This article covers the current and futures of of NLPs. Going in depth about which companies use this type of software and why they use it. I tend to agree with this articles' take on the direction of NLPs. The use of this system to save money, and allow companies to have tech. support 24 hours a day definitely makes this a useful system.  After reading this article I'm curious about the potential of SLPs.

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Future of Aircraft:
http://www.esquire.com/features/unmanned-aircraft-1109-2
This article talks about how unmanned aircraft has evolved. Interestingly enough it talks about the change in the military's approach. There has been an unmanned dogfight, and soon enough pilot aces will sit in chairs back home with a remote control in hand instead of a jet. I'm not completely sure that I agree with this assessment though. I'm am curious to know if unmanned aircraft of indeed more effective than manned aircraft.

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Future of Birth control:
http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC276/333/22002/369039.html?d=dmtICNNews

For this article I took a different approach. I found an older article that talked about a certain product that is promised 'reduce the number of periods per year to just 4'. Then I searched for the product today to see that it actually delivers on what it promised in 2003.

Homework 5 Assignment 1 b)

I would like to do my project on the future of virtual and online education.

I am about 75% sure of doing this as my topic; however, if a more interesting topic arises i'm likely to switch :D

Homework 5 Assignment 1 a)

From the 'Last Lecture' the thing that stuck out the most about this guy,  and his last lecture was his ability to take real specific and nearly impossible dreams, and regardless of the outcome (whether he achieves said dream or not) he always had a positive experience from the challenge of trying to achieve that dream. I know for myself that seems to be the biggest struggle I face from day to day. Taking positive experiences from negative outcomes. This movie really helped me understand the importance of this, because all-in-all when I able to realize my death I want to handle it exactly like he does.