The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

THE GOOD:
The internet can be a very useful tool. In this YouTube video, a solider stationed in Afghanistan got married over Skype. After dating for two years they decided it was time to tie the knot and since they could not be together they did it while videochatting. They still got dressed up, read their vows and had their friends and family by their side. The internet has allowed people to stay connected no matter how far away they may be. Video chatting has made this marriage possible and I think that is truly amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM8bVkkTNPw

THE BAD:
With the internet, comes lack of privacy. This article is called Google's Spymasters Are Now Worried About Your Secrets. It discusses how "the most important data they will collect in the future is biometric information, which can be used to identify individuals through their unique physical and biological attributes. Fingerprints, photographs and DNA testing are all familiar biometric data types today ... With cloud computing, it takes just seconds to compare millions of faces... By indexing our biometric signatures, some governments will try to track our every move and word, both physically and digitally." It is scary to think that we have no privacy on the internet and anyone could have access to our personal information without us even knowing.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-scheer/googles-spymasters-are-no_b_3182712.html

THE UGLY:
The internet gives people anonymity which makes people believe they have the power to do whatever they want. Bullying can happen a lot more frequently because it is easier to say mean things to someone while behind a computer screen than it is to say it to their face. Fifteen year old Rehtaeh Parsons from Canada committed suicide after being bullied online and raped. A boy who raped her decided to post the picture which quickly went viral. The internet can be so dangerous. One picture taken without your consent or knowledge can end up going viral and destroying your life.

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/09/rehtaeh-parsons-suicide-bullying-rape_n_3044885.html

Cell Phones and Privacy

When I was in middle school my first phone was a prepaid phone. My parents did not want to commit to a cell phone contract since I was so young but they wanted me to have a phone in case of an emergency. Today, children are getting cell phones a lot earlier than middle school. Since they are still young and not very responsible, all they need to communicate with their parents is a prepaid phone. They are cheap so if the child broke or lost it, it would not be the end of the world. These phones are also good for families who do not have a lot of money and cannot afford a cell phone contract but need a form of communication. Prepaid phones make life a lot easier for people since you do not have to deal with a bill every month, you just pay as much as you want to for the phone.

However, I do see how these phones could be used for illegal purposes. To be able to have these phones and their owners on record I think that each phone should have to be registered so it can be tracked if need be. I do not think that these phones should be banned because they are a practical and affordable form of communication for people. 

Location Tracking

In my opinion there is a big difference between inserting a tracking device into an animal and then implanting one into a human. I think that the world we are living in is becoming so dependent upon technology and it is frightening. The idea of Big Brother always watching you is becoming more and more relevant to our lives each day. I think it is wrong for parents to implant a tracking device into their young children. First of all, they have no say in the matter since they are so young. It could also have serious health risks. Personally, the idea of having some device embedded within me freaks me out. Knowing that I would have no independence or freedom and knowing that I'm always being watched would make me very uneasy. Although it could make sense for these devices to be implanted into children so their parents never lose them, those children will eventually grow into teenagers. It could be a serious surgery trying to get the device out. I think parents should allow their teenagers to grow up with safe amounts of freedom. Teens who are constantly being monitored will most likely rebel in the long run.

The one instance that I could agree with is implanting these into Alzheimer patients. My Grandfather had this disease and one day he went for a walk and did not return. He was lost for four days with no food or water. He had no idea where he was or how to get home. If he had a tracking device we would have been able to find him a lot quicker.

I think that the GPS shoes are a safer and a much less invasive device that should be used instead of the chip. I also believe that humans should be allowed to live freely and independently.

Living in a Networked World

CS408 is a course that goes in depth about the networked world. It is interesting to think about how rapidly technology is changing and how much it affects our lives. I am very curious to see what big improvements will be made over the next few years. I am even more curious to see what kind of society our children will grow up in and how much technology affect their everyday lives.