CS 2650 Quiz 11

Is Wikipedia a credible source of information?

Wiki articles do not require a certified editor prior to publishing, which could allow for lack of accountability and quality. Staff members of political candidates have scewed the information of opponents, discredited theories pop up, information about legal cases can be made to appear more favorable for one party, etc. HOWEVER, anyone can write a Wiki article, but most people do not; many posters are educated on what they write about; Wiki managers lock down articles about controversial topics/people; etc.

Artificial Intelligence and the technological singularity

"Technological singularity" refers to the point at which a machine intelligence of some sort advances so far we cannot comprehend what lies on the other side. Some are afraid of this, some think it's impossible, some think we're far from it, some think computers will surpass humans. Two supporting estimates: the computing power of the human brain, and the developing rate of microprocessors which suggests they'll be equal to a brain by 2030. Opposing arguments: hardware progress may slow down, might not be able to develop necessary software fast enough, developments in AI have been slower than expected, the estimates of the "hardware" power of the human brain neurons might be too low, and robots programmed with AI software won't likely be able to fully replicate the human brain.

How do the neo-luddites criticize computer technology?

1. Cause massive unemployment and deskilling of jobs. 2. They "manufacture needs" rather than satisfy real needs 3. Cause social inequity. 4. Cause social disintegration, are dehumanizing, and lead to isolation. 5. Separate humans from nature and destroy the environment. 6. Benefit big business and big government most. 7. Thwart development of social skills, human values, and intellectual skills in children when used in schools. 8. Do little or nothing to solve real human problems.

What causes computer models to fail?

1. Lack of understanding about a model's underlying science/theories. 2. Lack of understanding about the materials involved. 3. Lack of data. 4. Use of oversimplified models compared to reality. 5. Large gap in results between a model and real-life study.

Other uses of car crash analysis programs:

1. Predict damage to a hazardous waste container if dropped. 2. Predict damage to an airplace windshield or engine covering if hit by a bird. 3. Determine if beer cans would get dented by a faster assembly line. 4. Simulate a medical procedure called a balloon angioplasty to decrease damage to the arterial wall. 5. Predict the action of airbags and where to properly place sensors that inflate them. 6. Design car interiors to reduce damage to passengers. 7. Design bike and motorcycle helmets to reduce head injuries. 8. Design cameras to reduce damage if dropped. 9. Forecast effects of earthquakes on bridges and buildings.

Global digital divide

Approximately 2 billion people worldwide use the internet, meaning about 5 billion do not. Lack of internet access can cause poverty, isolation, poor economics, and politics. Nonprofits and large companies are running projects to lessen the tech divide, using the phrase "the next billion users." One Laptop per Child distributed very sturdy, low-power laptops to children, and this made us realize that in addition to providing the technology we also need to build electricity supplies, networks, tech support, parental support, better tech attitudes, etc.

How do experts differ from "wisdom of the crowd"?

Crowds generate better answers to certain questions (such as when predicting economic growth and predicting how well a new movie will do), and the majority of answers will be good ones. However, when a questioner receives many answers, they may allow for only desirable answers to be seen, which may remove accuracy. Peer pressure and dominant personalities can reduce the wisdom of the crowd. To allow for more expertise, some sites installed fact-checking and editors. Other sites are based off of most-viewed ratings, which doesn't necessarily prove accuracy but it does prove popularity, which may have some depth. Good reputations also develop, even online, and steps can be taken to validate a website.

Computer models -- diapers

Environmentalists proposed a ban and taxes on disposable diapers. In response, modelers developed programs to study the effects of diapers on the environment, called a life cycle analysis, which attempts to consider the resource use and impacts of a product. Factors that went into models are: - Number of reuses of cloth diapers. - Giving credit for energy recovered from incineration of waste, or not since incineration leads to pollution? - Number of cloth diapers used at a time. - How to count in pesticides used in cotton production.

What is Wikipedia?

It is the largest online encyclopedia. It is a collaborative project in which anybody can edit the information it contains. It is free, participatory, noncommercial, ad-free, and written by volunteers. It is one of the most-used online information sources.

Computer models -- climate

Pages 325 to 329.

The difficulty of prediction.

Pages 344 to 347.

Abdicating responsibility.

Technology, though convenient, encourages mental laziness. A British trucker got stuck on a road after ignoring a sign in favor of his GPS. An FBI database put warrants on innocent people with similar names, causing them to be arrested. Now, when there are errors within some institutions, people will argue they did what the program told them to do, regardless of personal expertise.

Does technology create a need for itself?

The Luddites think computer technology is not a need, but it gets produced because we have the ability to do so. However, some people argue needs are based on goals, and goals are based on the individual; therefore, we shouldn't state as a whole society whether or not computer technology is a need.

What are industrial virtues?

The neo-Luddite Sale says that the benefits of computers are "industrial virtues that may not be virtues in another morality" because they may not enhance integrity, stability, and beauty of nature.

Computer models -- car crashes

These use a technique called the finite-element method, where a grid is superimposed on the frame of a car. The grid is then entered into the program with data describing the specifications of the materials making up each element. This information can then be used to simulate the outcomes of different crashes, by using algorithms about force, acceleration, displacement, stress, strain within an element, etc. Using real crash prototypes can cost several hundred thousand dollars. Complications: - Little is understood about the behaviors of different materials under abrupt acceleration and near breaking point. - The programs make simplifications, such as by using a grid of a car, when a real car is not made up of square pieces. - Crash programs are very good in comparison to physical tests; however, for security purposes, they will not be used as a final determination.

Who are vulnerable viewers?

They are people, such as children, who are uneducated or who are unable to make good judgements about the information they receive.

What is a computer model?

This is a large collection of mathematical models (collections of data and equations describing, or simulating, characteristics or behaviors of the thing studied).

What is the information stream?

This is the stream of all information sources that are available to us, a pool that is largely shifting to an online platform. The problem with it is that we are able to make our information stream narrow more so now than ever. With the help of user tracking, platforms like Facebook and search engines "know" what content to show us. This doesn't mean we can only acquire skewed information, but we have to look a lot harder to branch out to differing opinions.

What is the "digital divide"?

This refers to the fact that some groups of people (the "haves") enjoy access to and regularly use various forms of modern information technology, while others (the "have-nots") do not.