Blog 13: Net Neutrality

The underlying issue of the net neutrality debate is simply the arguement whether the web should be available to everyone on an equal level, much like the phone network, or if providers should be allowed control traffic, much like cable tv. Content providers such as Google and political extremists are examples of pro-neutrality supporters. For content providers, their business is to provide customers with equal access to the web. They would like to provide equal service at high quality to keep their customers happy. Political or religious extremists are in favor of net neutrality because they are affraid of the posibilities that their messages may be sensored. On the other hand, telecomunications companies such as AT&T and libertarian groups are against net neutrality. For telecomunications companies, an open system would mean that they have to treat all customers and sites with equality and that they may be doing all the work while not making the profit. For libertarian groups, they see net neutrality as unneccesary government intervention that stiffles innovation. Personaly I am pro-net neutrality because I believe that the internet should provide equal information to all. Additionally, the posibilities of monopolization or government interference if the web became a closed system is even more scary than the arguement that keeping it neutral would be unneccesary government intervention.

Blog 12: AI

I do not believe the Turing Test is a good test for intelligence at all. First of all, I don't even believe intelligence to be an attribute of non-living objects. That being said, testing an object for intelligence is silly in my opinion. You could say that the Turing Test is a good test for the compitence of a program which is created by man and is therefore the intelligence of man. Sure we can be tricked by the Turing Test, but only to a certain point. Just because I might open spam mail, doesn't mean that I have completely been tricked by a computer. Humans have the intelligence to open the mail and immediately recognize that it is indeed spam. To say that a computer or a program has intelligence is to completely ignore the human intelligence behind the creation. Human language is so complex and operates on levels completely beyond the explaination or understanding that we have of it. Therefore, to accurately translate that into a program is impossible. Sure, we can get close, but it is nothing more than a simulation. This is easy to oncover after talking with a chatbot for more than a few minutes. And the BBC article makes a good point. Perhaps the integration of technology in our lives has detracted from human ability to communicate and therefore it is us failing the Turing Test and not the computers passing it. While a computer may have superhuman memory, it can not comprehend sarcasm, relate personality to text, or even have its own original thoughts. If the basis of intelligence is though, computers have none. All they do is compile data that has been programed into them. Obviously a computer doesn't have emotions. I do not believe there is any way to test the intelligence of a computer, as I do not believe computers to be intelligence. If a computer could give me advice, empathize with emotions, and express opinions, then maybe we could discuss its intelligence, but until that day a computer is nothing more than a man made tool to store and retrieve data.

Blog 11: Mashup Sites

CellReception.com is a site that uses Google Maps to locate cell phone reception. This site is interesting and usefull because it has a great databass of cell towers. You can search by area code, city, and state. The website will provide a Google map with markers for where cell phone towers are. Other users can also write comments about cell phone reception in specific areas. This could be very useful if planning a long road trip.
Apartmentratings.com is a site that also uses Google Maps. This is a very useful site if you are looking for an apartment. You can search for an area by zip code. This is much easier than craigslist because you don't need to sift through all the posts. You an just enter your price range, location, etc. and ApartmentRatings will create a map with all of the apartments available that match your search.
Dudewheresmyusedcar.com is a fun and practical site combining Google Maps with eBay Motors. Here you can search for a used car by location or by make and model. Like Apartmentratings.com, this is way easier than looking through all the classifieds on craigslist or in the newspaper.

Blog 10: Internet Privacy

It is somewhat disturbing to think about how freely I give out my personal information. I haven't thought more than 5 seconds about it before typing in my credit card information or even social security number to sites like USF connect, FAFSA, or internet shopping sites. Now that I think about it, the nature of the information I give out should influence what I am comfortable giving out. For example, I feel comfortable giving my credit card number to ebay because I trust that my information will be used only for purposes that I give permission for. With FAFSA or USF, I am comfortable giving my social security mostly because I have no other option, but also, these organizations should be more trustworthy and have a higher likelyhood of being repremanded if information was leaked. I would not give out my personal information to a website that hosted an organization that I knew nothing about or that did not look very professional. Networking websites are an example of an organization that I limit my information. I do not put my phone number or address on any webpages. The difference between myspace and ebay is that on myspace, giving out my address and phone number will not be(hopefully) released to the public. On myspace anyone can click on my page and see my address if I choose to give it out. I also chose not to get a gmail account because I do not want to recieve advertisements related to the contents of my email. It creeps me out not to mention I don't want advertisements. This topic is probably something that we should all think about more when giving out information about ourselves, but overlook because of convenience.

Blog 9: File Sharing

I have no problems downloading or copying any music. Because major record artists aren't making all of their money from selling records and the record label is who is making most of the money anyways, I don't feel like I am hurting the artist. Regardless, the ease would out way my guilt for cheating the artist out of a few bucks. Struggling independent artists usually put their music on the internet knowing that it will be downloaded. These artists, being struggling artists are probably illegally downloading music as well. Also, independent artists tend to have a more dedicated audience that will buy their music to support the band and not because they heard one hit single on the radio. As for downloading or copying anything I already own, well it's mine and I believe I should be able to do whatever I want with it so long as I am not selling it. I think it is a violation of my rights to say that I can't make a back up of a CD that I bought. It isn't illegal to make a tape of a CD that I own, so why should making a copy of a CD be illegal? Same goes for downloading a copy of a song I already own. There is little difference from importing a CD I bought and downloading the same CD I bought except for ease. Shoplifting a CD from a store is different. I wouldn't have a problem shoplifting from a corporate music store such as Best Buy or Circuit City because I don't agree with the systems of a large corporation and it would not be hurting their business significantly. On the other hand, I would never shoplift from an independent or local record store or music store because it would be hurting their business and I believe in supporting local business. I am going to download music no matter what, I don't need to make excuses like "I'm just trying it out". If I buy a CD it is more for the novelty of owning the CD, case, and booklet with it. Additionally I don't have problems sharing files publicly or to a group of friends. This just shows innovation and progress. If we can do it, why not? I don't believe it hurts anyone traumatically and even if it does, there is no denying that it happens and will continue to happen. So, record labels will just need to find a new way to make money. In fact, I think of file sharing as a sort of knowledge. It is like going to the library. If everyone does it, than the information is more accessible to others. In the way that we should all have access to free literature, we should all have access to free music. This is not to say that I am discrediting the artists. In fact, the whole system is messed up. Artists should be encouraged to make art by the government and should be given grant money as incentive. Plus, even with free and easy music downloading, people are still buying CDs. Just because we have libraries doesn't mean that people don't buy books anymore. People like having hard copies of stuff and will always be willing to pay for it.

Blog 6: Electronic Voting

The major concern with the Diebold voting machines is that there is no paper traceroute for each vote, the software can be hacked easily, and there is secrecy within the software. The machines are not secure because the software can be tampered with to produce a certain result before the votes have even been cast. There are many problems with the voting system. There should be no secrecy in the voting software, the voting machines should be the same thoughout the state, and to ensure fairness two systems of vote counting could be used. For example, electronic voting and paper ballots. The major problem is with the voting software. There is no reason that the cards should be able to hold any information other than the vote. By placing regulations on the voting software electronic voting could be more secure.

Blog 5: Outsourcing

From my knowledge, American students shy away from CS/IT because there has been a reputation built that computers and the Internet are way too cryptic and take very specialized people to work in those areas. The people who work it CS/IT have recieved reputations for being "nerdy" or "anti-social," regardless of whether there is any truth behind these reputations, they have not become very desirable to American students. While computers have been present in my life as long as I can remember, I have never felt that I understand how they work which makes them intimidating and frustrating. I imagine that this is true of most students and they have never considered CS/IT as a potential career. As I am an Art History Major, I am not too concerned that my potential job will become outsourced. Museums or galleries in America depend on worker who are knowledgeable in the arts and can communicate this knowledge with the viewers/customers.