computers and society ist 2710 section 006 class #12: 4/16/08

Computers and SocietyIST 2710

Section 006

Class #12: 4/16/08

http://www.is.wayne.edu/drbowen/casw08

4/16/08 24/16/08 Computers and Society, Class 13 2

Agenda

• Announcements• Computer programming• The Long Tail• Review of reading (Chapter 8)• Review for Final

o Topics handed out last week, see me if you need a copy

• Lab 13 – programmingo From handout last week, see me if you need

a copy


Grade What-If• Excel spreadsheet to estimate your course

grade• Download from course website• Save to local storage to preserve and

update• Can get grades from Online Grade

Reports• Danger in leaving grades blank if not done• You can ask for an Incomplete if grade

would be low otherwise


After the Semester is Over

• Reminder: after course is over, you can still improve your grade byo Turning in missing worko Redoing assignments

• Up to one calendar year after the end of the semestero Until the end of Winter 2009 semester

• I do not expect a big bunch of work at the end.o Turn work in as you do it.


Staying for Lab

• Two or more labs or assignments behind, must stay during Lab to get 100% attendance credit tonight - 8 labs in, and 7 assignments in. Who must stay:oEVERYONE, except for Centra Smith, unless

you have turned more in tonight.oHowever, if Lab 13 is not turned in tonight, it

may not be included in the regular grade.


Social Issues - Essay• Due last week• From “Social Issues” handout on website• Topics for short homework essays and

semester essay, and on Quiz 2 and final• Review of semester Essay (handout in first

class)o 3 – 5 pagesoOne one of the social issues from web pageoMust use course materials and discussionoNot a research assignment


Upcoming Assignments

• This week, April 9oMakeup for Quiz 2o Last regular class, lab in class

• Handout last class, see me if you need a copyoAll work to be counted in regular grade must

be in (*)oReview for Final

• Next week, April 23: Final Exam


Opportunities for extra helpwith the Final Exam

• Review Session tonight• 5 – 6 PM on April 23 (day of the Exam)• Telephone, email, set up an appointment• IM (WSU Web Guy)• Final is cumulative – see Topics sheets for

Quiz 1, Midterm, Quiz 2, and Final


Seeing your test floppy diskette

• See me if you want to see your test floppy diskette for the regular Quiz 2, or for the second Midterm makeup

• You can look at them tonight only, in class• Must be returned before you leave tonight

4/16/08 10

Opening Files in Office

• By default, each Office application shows only its own file types in the File Open dialogo For example, Word does not show Excel,

Powerpoint or Access files, by default• To see files of other types, change “Files

of type:” to “All Files (*.*)”oUsually will not make sense if you open themoBut in Lab 13, you have to, will make sense


Phishing for the big ones• A story in today’s New York Times

describes a new type of phishing attackoSpecifically going after executivesoSays they are summoned to appear before a

courtoClick to download software to read summonso Instead, or along with, installs a keyboard

logger and something that sounds like a Trojan Horse

o There is software to protect against such downloading


Computer Programming #1

• A computer program is: a list of binary instructions for the computer to executeoAlso often means a list of instructions in a

computer language, to be translated into binary for use by the computer

• How is a computer program developed: the list of instructions is written by a programmero In a computer language


Computer Programming #2

• Steps in programming:1. Describe what the program will do2. Break down the task into a list of specific

steps – this is the “algorithm”o In English, not yet in a computer language

3. Write the computer program in a computer language

4. Translate into binary – computer does this5. Debug – find and correct errors

• May have to do 3-4-5 many times


The Long Tail #1

• 2006 Book by Chris Anderson• Computers and the Internet drastically

reduce costs of selling information – books, music, pictures

• Previously (1970s) could only afford to stock major hitsoSales records from then never broken

• Now, everything sells at least a little


The Long Tail #2

• Everything sells at least a little bitoCosts very low – store it on a hard driveo 10,000 choices in 1970’s largest music storesoNow many music distribution sites

approaching one million choicesoNeed to help customers navigate this

• Search• Genres• Recommendations from customers and databases


The Long Tail #3

• In 1970s, you had to buy the whole CD• Now, buy what tracks you want• Customers much more satisfied• So total sales are higher, even if individual

tracks do not sell at the 1970s hit levels


Review of Chapter 8

• “PC of the Future”• Hardware – new inputs and outputs

oSmaller, flexible, secure• FOLED, projection keyboard, vein reader for ID,

voice recognition, miniature projectors, video headpieces

o Faster, larger capacity• Holographic disk drives store throughout disk• Smaller microprocessor mean higher speeds• Optical and quantum computers


Chapter 8

• Faster, more secure InternetoMore options

• Wireless: convenient, getting faster Be careful with security

• Broadband over Power Lines In addition to present cable, DSL & satellite options

oConvergence – expect all information to move to Internet


Chapter 8 - Software• Artificial Intelligence

o Traditional Definition: actions which, if performed by a human, would be considered intelligent• But we are raising the bar on this

oBut maybe we should look for a different type of intelligence from computers

oExamples:• Games – chess is the best exampel• Checkers – computers now will never lose to a

human


Chapter 8 - Software

• Artificial IntelligenceoMore Examples

• Intelligent agents – new interface• Expert systems – diagnosis, design, advice

Find out what rules humans use, program them into computer

• Neural Networks – another decision-making model that can learns from training runs

• Robotics – able to figure their way around a room, for example


Chapter 8 - Software• Virtual Reality

oMake or project a visual environment that seems real• Tour houses• Entertainment• Education, especially for courtroom, operating

room

• MedicineoArtificial limbsoRemote diagnosis and operating

• Tiny incisions, faster recovery


Chapter 8 - Software• Medicine

oRemote monitoring• Military

oCommunicationsoRemote sensing

• Social effectsoRapid change can be unsettlingo Fears about social control, balance with

opportunities

Review for Final

Lab 13 Afterwards


Lab 13

• Printing a problem with QBasic• Must import program into Word, print

from Word1. Save program to floppy diskette or C:\

o Extension is .bas

2. Open program in Wordo Change “Files of type” to “All files”

3. Add name and description of what program does, then print as usual from Word


Lab 13

• These program all change the way the keyboard is used

• Command line – programs just sit there until you type something

• Question for each is – what does the computer do when you typeoNeed to try some different things – experimento Then describe this in Word listing – one line is

OK

computers and society ist 2710 section 006 class #12: 4/16/08

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