User:Vtaylor/Computers and Society/10. Technology Advances, Social Trends


 * Technology is changing the society in which we live. There are many new and exciting innovations introduced each year to benefit the people of the world.

Learning outcomes
 * learn about work in progress and how it could impact the lives of millions
 * understand the importance of innovation and creative thinking
 * identify areas where technology is advancing
 * imagine technologies for future Tech Awards

Keywords
 * innovation, technology advancement, smart materials, nano-technology, social media, smart...

Study notes
 * What are some of the new and exciting benefits that technology is bringing to society?
 * Is there a limit to the innovation in technology to benefit society?
 * Do we each have a role to play in ensuring that technology is used for good?
 * Are you aware of applications of technology that are causing serious problems? What is being done about these? How can you help?
 * What would be a great candidate for ta future Tech Award?

== ==


 * KLA-Tencor, A Pattern of Achievement; Talent (video 5:19)- technology company promotion. What's important is their emphasis on flexibility and lifelong learning.
 * How Robots Will Change the World (video 40:17) - Robotics is the art and commerce of robots, their design, manufacture, application, and practical use. Robots will soon be everywhere, in our home and at work. They will change the way we live. This will raise many philosophical, social, and political questions that will have to be answered.


 * How World of Warcraft Could Save Your Business and The Economy - Learning guru John Seely Brown is not being even slightly ironic when he says that he’d hire an expert player of World of Warcraft (the massive multiplayer online fantasy videogame) over an MBA from Harvard.


 * Spreading Technology in Africa


 * Engineering a New Face After Injury - An engineering method used in the optimization of spaceships and airplanes may guarantee the full recovery of patients suffering from craniofacial injury


 * Can we make things that make themselves? self-assembly -- the idea that instead of building something (a chair, a skyscraper), we can create materials that build themselves, much the way a strand of DNA zips itself together.


 * the four key stages of any viable technology: setting the right price, gaining market share, displacing an established technology and, finally, becoming ubiquitous.


 * The Tech Awards honors individuals, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies who are using technology to significantly improve human conditions in 6 awards categories. The technology used can be either a new invention or an innovative use of an existing technology.


 * UCLA targets malaria with online gaming


 * Wearable Tech


 * 32 Innovations That Will Change Your Tomorrow


 * Collaboration and Group Projects

== Assignments==


 * 1) Before you start the reading and the assignments, take a few minutes to think about what you already know about the topic - Technology Advances, Social Trends . Write a sentence or two about this in the I know... discussion.


 * 1) Read the Study notes for an overview for the topics that will be covered.


 * 1) Read, view, listen to the selections in the Selected media list.


 * 1) If you have not completed your Community Service Learning work, do it now. Then, provide a summary of your hours worked, and work that you did for the community partner. Describe the "learning" part of your Community Service Learning work. Post your summary to the Community Service Learning - Summary discussion.

Please provide a more detailed analysis of the topic you select. What are the important points made? Is the author providing a balanced representation of the facts? Are the conclusions reasonable? Support your argument with examples. This should be in your own words. What do you think is important? What do you expect will result from the interactions between technology and society? Will it be good or bad? What do you hope will be the outcome? Post the web address of the item selected, a description and your analysis in the Future of Computers discussion topic. Read other students' post and comment on discussion Future of Computers. What questions does this raise? Provide another viewpoint or add additional information. Your responses should be 2-3 sentences.
 * 1) This week we are going to be looking at the future of computers and society. In the Selected media, find an item that suggests different outcomes or directions for computers and society. This could include anything from education and work to wearable computers. Find ONE (1) that you think is particularly interesting. Write 2-3 paragraphs about the social issues discussed and why these are important.


 * 1) More than just the facts - Find some interesting data related to technology and society. Why are these numbers interesting? Are they changing over time? How does this relate to the course? How is the quantitative information represented? Does the presentation help make the message clearer? How might the data be misinterpreted?  Post your facts, a link to the source, and your analysis to the Interesting Quantitative Facts discussion. Review and comment on 2 others.


 * 1) The Tech Awards honors individuals, non-profit organizations and for-profit companies who are using technology to significantly improve human conditions in 6 awards categories. The technology used can be either a new invention or an innovative use of an existing technology. Read through the information about the awards and recent winners and honorees. Of these, which one do you think will be viewed as making a significant impact for the greatest number of people? Why will that be the case? Post a link to the honoree or award winner and your reasons for making your selection to the discussion Tech Awards with major impact.


 * 1) Select one of the discussion topics from any discussion in previous modules (modules 1-9). Read through the posts and write a short summary of the important ideas discussed. Now that you have read the whole discussion, what questions do you have about the topic that were not answered? All the posts in the discussion make up a conversation about the topic. Try to give the reader the general idea about one or two important points that are made in the discussion. This should not include direct copy of the discussions posts. This is a summary that you write in your own words. Your summary should be 2-3 sentences in length. Post your summary to Discussion Summaries discussion.


 * 1) Have you seen some new and exciting technology that we haven't talked about? Looking to technology today and beyond, there are new applications, new software tools and new directions in information technology. Select a web site that is an example of where we are going. Is there some new application that you and your friends have just started using? Is there new software that has been in the news as the hot new thing? Are there uses of technology that you would like to see? How will this have a big impact our lives and our use of technology? Post a link to the site and describe your selection in the What's new and important? discussion forum.


 * 1) Final Project - Start working on the Final Project work. READ THE FINAL PROJECT ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION. Select your work group - 2-3 students. Start organizing your individual work. Find your group's section on the group page and add your links and descriptions. The Final Project is only one topic but there is a lot of work to do. And you are working with 1-2 other people. This takes extra time and cooperation. Start NOW.


 * 1) In preparation for working in small groups on your final project, review  Collaboration and Group Projects and complete the Final Project preparation Quiz. You can start thinking about who you want to work with and pick your group in the Final Project Group groups choice.


 * 1) Throughout the quarter, watch for news items about computers and society. For extra credit, post a link and a 1-2 sentence note about why you think that this news item is applicable to this class to the News Items discussion and submit the information to the X. News Item assignment.


 * 1) I wonder... revisited - Revisit your previous I wonder... assignments. Pick one topic that you want to research a bit more. Find at least one additional source of information that addresses your questions. Summarize you findings and post it along with the link to I wonder revisited discussion.  Your response should be two or three paragraphs. ALSO submit to I wonder... assignment.

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