Are we Too Reliant on Technology?

The only time I have not used the internet was while I was training in Fort Leonard Wood for Army basic training. That was the longest period of time I have ever gone without using the internet, and while I was unable to use it, I was always looking for ways to receive the same amount of information I was so accustomed to having. In my mind, having constant access to the internet and technology is a huge benefit to our society. I believe that we are as a society reliant on technology. And here’s why, without a constant access to technology we would be unable to provide correct information that could be used to improve upon our products. As a society we are the test subjects for technology, for instance the improvements needed for the Oculus Rift would be impossible to accomplish in the time they are moving at currently without the input from their users. It’s necessary for people to test out the newest technologies to see what’s beneficial to society and what can be discarded. Personally I wake up every single morning, roll over, and check my notifications. Too see what I’ve missed, and what I can expect to go on in the current day. Technology is an everyday use for the majority of the population, and there are some things that can still be improved upon. For instance wearable technology, this type of technology can only be improved with the constant stream of opinions and views of the customers. The applications that can be applied through this new popular form of technology is endless. With ideas such as smart glasses, interactive t-shirts, Bluetooth Gloves, interactive watches, and wearable sensors are all a part of the vastly developing wave of wearable tech. I personally do not know of anyone who has to use technology for medical purposes, but it’s easy to see how much it can help benefit an individual. For instance the LifeAlert button, without it countless old men and women alike would be plagued with not being able to reach their telephone in a dire situation. And at the simple click of a button, medical assistance is on the way. The technological innovations we are experiencing in our modern society are the foundations for the future. I cannot wait to see the new types of technology this generation will produce in the years to follow. 

Should Autonomous Weapons be Banned?

Should Autonomous Weapons be banned? It is not exactly an easy question to answer. There are multiple reasons to support both sides of this dilemma. For example one side of the conversation could support the use of autonomous weapons by saying how they would prevent the death of a country’s soldiers on the battlefield, while still being able to complete missions and help win the war for the country. This would also limit the use of humans in a battlefield, and usher a new age onto the battlefield. Leaving robots and drones alike to fulfill the missions and duties of the soldiers who would usually put their lives on the line in the same situations. This would more than likely become a very popular choice among the country, but what if the opposing country was to obtain the same information on how to produce these types of weaponry? Then it would essentially be a battle between machines, the only possible ending to a war of this caliber would be due to the limitations of the countries productions of such weapons. Leaving only the most technologically advanced countries to continue on with the wars. A reason to ban autonomous weapons would be due to their ability to decide on their own without the interactions of humans. Leaving them fully operational on the amount of programming they were instilled with. If one problem arises within the code, a misjudgment could result and cause a more significant problem than what it was supposed to solve. For example the autonomous weapons would be given the algorithms to decide if the initial target is truly a target, and if the program was mistyped, the wrong person or building could be compromised and a lot of people could die as a result. Which would be a major problem within the dependability of the machines. But in the long term of things these types of weapons are only limited to the amount of time we are willing to dedicate to improving upon and developing new forms of autonomous weaponry. If we abandon the idea of autonomous weapons, that leaves the chance for other rival nations to gain an upper hand. But at the same time, it’s only right to set up a list of regulations and expectations that each country must oblige by in order to continue on with the development of such weapons. In the end, these types of weapons will be produced without the consent of the public either way. The only thing the nations can do is vote on the regulations and laws that could potentially limit the growth or the use of the weapons.

How has the internet influenced you?

Ever since I can remember I have always had a computer within a close proximity where I was able to explore the many capabilities of the internet. I was constantly exposed to computers through my fathers work, which helped me learn from a young age what computers can do. From learning how to build a website to getting a understanding of how a computer operates were some of the first things I learned as a child. This exposure is essential in my development as a person who is born in a computer based society, it is crucial to be able to operate a computer in the modern world. It is a privilege that many people overlook, to be able to pull information from all over the world with just a single click of a mouse. Everywhere you look people are always connected to the internet, having the newest updates streamed directly to their smartphones and laptops every second. I personally use the internet every single day of my life. From getting the information I need for my college courses to looking at the most recent updates my friends post on social media. The internet allows us to stay interconnected with one another, helping us maintain constant access to the people involved in our lives. No matter what the distance might be, we are still able to keep close contact. We are allowed to do this through a multiple set of ways. A few being Email, Social Media, Online Games, Instant Messaging, and applications that provide face to face communication through a webcam. All of these ways of communication are all made possible through the use of the internet. Without the internet, our ways of communication would be much different from how they are now, and would affect the way that majority of us are already accustomed to living. Without the internet ideas wouldn't be able to be spread across a country that could provide the information for a break through in medicine or the next big thing in technology. While on a smaller scale it could limit how a family is able to make sure their child is safe when out in the world without their protection. The internet provides an unlimited amount of advantages for a person to exploit. From conducting research to updating a status. The internet gives everyone the power to cause a direct impact on the world.

Pattern on the Stone Review

The Pattern on the Stone, is the first book my computer science class assigned for us all to read. The book was written by W. Daniel Hillis, A very intelligent man. Throughout the entire book, he manages to explain the processes of how computers work in a incredibly easy and understandable format. For me personally I noticed how instead of over complicating the ideas that make computers work, simplified it down to its smallest form. While explaining how the certain idea helps run a computer and how each component works together to work as a single unit. Not once while reading this book was I not intrigued with the information, the format of the book helps keep the reader wanting to learn more. Simply because the author describes the general process of the idea, creating a desire to read and learn more. Intriguing the reader to expand their own research on the concepts. For example, at the beginning of the course I was interested with how algorithms operate, and help process information, and how they are guaranteed to complete any specific goal. Further finding out that while in some cases a specific algorithm can be the best choice for certain set of information, but could be the worst case for another set of information. Leaving it up to the programmer to interpret what would be the best case for the information. Now before I took this course, and before I even cracked open this book for the first time, I had no clue how a computer worked. Not even a clue, but with the help of this book I finally have obtained enough information to give me a general idea on how a computer works, and how code can influence a computer to do anything the writer tells it to preform.  The way he relates the processes a computer operates in to general objects and information that the reader can use to help better understand the process, makes the information in the book easier to retain. This book is perfect for any one who is even remotely interested in how computers operate, and how the language used can create anything imaginable. I would recommend this book to anyone who shows interest in this field, the entire reading process was easy and incredibly informative. Speaking for myself and my fellow classmates, this book has helped us beyond measure. And started what I believe is a great start to a promising year of computer science.