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If you want to remove asterisks that indicate the correct answers, use your word processor's search and replace function: search for 4 spaces and the * character, and replace with 5 spaces. As a convenience, article numbers are preceded by the # character to help your word processor's search function distinguish between article and question numbers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- #1. FIVE THINGS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE, NEIL POSTMAN AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Neil Postman discusses technological change in the twenty-first century and the effects of technology on religious faith. All technological change is a trade-off, he says; for every advantage it offers, there is a corresponding disadvantage. No new technology is an unmixed blessing, and there are always winners and losers in technological change. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. A new medium (technology), as observed in "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change": a. simply adds something. b. usually takes something away. *c. changes everything. d. changes nothing. 2. As stated in "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," in American society, the most significant "radicals" have always been: a. religious figures. *b. capitalists. c. socialists. d. educators. 3. As asserted in "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," there are always both winners and losers in technological change. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. According to "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," technology is: a. a natural and predictable part of God's plan. *b. a product of human creativity and hubris. c. nearly always good. d. nearly always evil. 5. As suggested in "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," the person who is _most_ likely to benefit from computer technology is a: *a. research scientist. b. dentist. c. musician. d. mechanic. True/False Question 6. Technological change, as noted in "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," always exacts a price. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. The author of "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change" states that "We need to proceed with our eyes wide open so that we may use technology rather than be used by it." What does he mean? _(we should not sleepwalk through technological change; it has a tendency to control what we do; we have been too willing to shape our lives to fit the requirements of technology, not the requirements of culture)_ 8. As discussed in "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change," what does it mean that technological change is "ecological," not "addictive?" _(technology is ecological in that it changes everything and is too important to be left in the hands of a few powerful enthusiasts who are biased in its favor, even if it is not truly to our advantage)_ #2. WHOM TO PROTECT AND HOW? ROBERT J. BLENDON ET AL. AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY The United States is now in the "Computer and Internet Revolution," the second stage of the "Computer Revolution" that began in the 1980s. The American public's assessments of the impact of the computer are examined in this article. The authors conclude that public pressure on the government to regulate specific parts of the Internet's content will grow. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS DIGITAL DIVIDE -- a term for the belief that access to computers widens the gap between the haves and have-notes. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As noted in "Whom to Protect and How?" the Computer and Internet Revolution is the second stage of the: a. Industrial Revolution. b. Postindustrial Revolution. *c. Computer Revolution. d. Information Revolution. 2. The major use of the Internet, according to "Whom to Protect and How?" is to: a. shop. b. pay bills. c. make investments. *d. get information. 3. As explained in "Whom to Protect and How?" most Americans have a negative view of the computer's impact on society. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As reported in "Whom to Protect and How?" the gap of computer access between the haves and the have-nots is known as the: a. Net gap. *b. digital divide. c. Web tear. d. micro-domain. 5. As examined in "Whom to Protect and How?" governmental efforts to regulate parts of the Internet will raise a number of issues about which constitutional amendment? *a. First b. Fifth c. Fourteenth d. Twenty-fourth True/False Question 6. As stated in "Whom to Protect and How?" most Americans believe that the government should help low-income people get access to computers and the Internet. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As discussed in "Whom to Protect and How?" identify at least three "threats on the Internet" that most worry Americans. _(availability of pornography to children; bomb-making information; dangerous strangers making contact with children; false advertising; availability of guns; loss of privacy; hate speech)_ 8. As explored in "Whom to Protect and How?" do you think that people who do not have access to computers and the Internet are disadvantaged (i.e., economically)? Why, or why not? _(answers will vary)_ #3. ON THE NATURE OF COMPUTING, JON CROWCROFT AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Jon Crowcroft asserts that computing is its own virtual world rather than a part of either engineering or mathematicsùor, in another sense, it is a virtual world in comparison to the world of natural science or the artificial world of engineering. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS "IN SILICO" EXPERIMENTS -- experiments conducted in the virtual world of computing rather than in an actual laboratory or test tube. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. According to the author of "On the Nature of Computing," the lack of a clear-cut connection in computing between the natural and mathematical worlds is most evident when: a. attempting to describe the connection between hardware and software. b. designing a new computer system. c. computers are used to conduct science experiments. *d. Ph.D. students select a problem for their thesis work. 2. As postulated by the author of "On the Nature of Computing," the three parts of the world of discourse are: a. mathematics, sciences, and computing. *b. natural, artificial, and virtual. c. sciences, arts, and computing. d. natural science, logic, and mathematics. 3. As noted in "On the Nature of Computing," the author studied computer science as an undergraduate at Cambridge University. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As defined in "On the Nature of Computing," within the discipline of computer science, virtualization represents: a. an abstract, rather than concrete, notion. *b. a first-class tool. c. the philosophical underpinnings of the discipline. d. one of several approaches to network engineering. True/False Question 5. The author of "On the Nature of Computing" states that he is comfortable endorsing the claim that computing is more worldly than cosmology. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. What does the author of "On the Nature of Computing" consider the clearest evidence to support his contention that computing is a wholly new discipline, and why? _(the clearest evidence that computing is a new discipline is to be found in the convergence of computer games and the movie industry; the world of entertainment does not impose natural or artificial constraints on what a system can do and is only constrained by the imagination of the system's creators)_ 7. As cited in "On the Nature of Computing," what virtual community is described by the author and what are its features? _(the author cites the U.K.'s e-Science program as an example of a virtual community of scientists with virtual laboratories and resources dedicated to "in silico" experiments rather than experiments in actual laboratories; this system includes virtual natural systems, such as the atmosphere, oceans, and plasma, as well as complex biological systems, such as genomes, proteins, and whole ecologies)_ #4. THE PRODUCTIVITY PARADOX, STEPHEN S. ROACH AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY The author holds that the current productivity surge is not simply a byproduct of the business cycle and suggests that Americans are not working smarter, they are working harder. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As stated in "The Productivity Paradox," productivity growth is sustainable when driven by all of the following _except:_ *a. downsizing. b. new technology. c. creativity. d. risk-taking. #5. THE BIG BAND ERA, CHRISTOPHER SWOPE AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Christopher Swope looks at the growing demand for high-speed Internet access by businesses and home users, a demand that some think state and local governments should meet, while others argue that these services should be provided by private enterprises. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS BPL -- Broadband over Power Lines. CIVICNET -- a plan, never realized, to wire the whole city of Chicago for broadband. WIMAX -- a new, very fast, wireless broadband service. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. The basic question posed in "The Big Band Era" is whether or not broadband internet access should be provided by: a. the federal government or individual state governments. *b. government or private suppliers. c. wired or wireless services. d. DSL or cable modem. 2. The author of "The Big Band Era" examines the approaches to broadband access in the cities of: a. Los Angeles and San Francisco. b. Boston and New York. *c. Chicago and Philadelphia. d. Atlanta and Houston. 3. As noted in "The Big Band Era," the United States is second only to Korea in its rate of residential broadband access. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As maintained in "The Big Band Era," in assessing the need for high-speed Internet access, it is important to note that one-third of the households in the United States do not have: a. a large city within 50 miles. b. school-age children. c. access to fiber-optic cables. *d. computers. 5. As quoted in "The Big Band Era," the mayor of Batavia, Illinois, likened the feelings of those citizens who voted down the broadband referendum to those a hundred years ago who saw no need for a: a. telephone system. *b. sewer system. c. highway system. d. electrical power system. True/False Question 6. According to "The Big Band Era," the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that bans against municipal broadband are constitutional. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As explained in "The Big Band Era," what effect did the dot-com boom have on the current need for broadband access in cities such as Chicago? _(during the dot-com boom, many telecom companies laid fiber-optic lines under city streets; although many of these companies later went bankrupt, the fiber-optic lines are still in place and could be used--although current providers need to find out where all the lines are and who, if anyone, has a claim on them)_ 8. As presented in "The Big Band Era," what arguments do private companies such as Verizon and SBC Communications make against government provision of broadband services? _(the private companies argue that the government should not be involved in areas where private companies offer consumers a choice; the private companies also note that broadband access is not a vital service; the private companies also object to government advantages, such as tax-free bond financing)_ #6. THE NEW GATEKEEPERS, GREGORY M. LAMB AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Gregory Lamb surveys the use of Internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo, noting that these tools serve as "information gatekeepers," deciding which results to show the user, and often including advertisements next to results. In Yahoo's case, sponsored links are also includedùsites that an advertiser has paid to have listed among the results of a search. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS PAID PLACEMENT -- advertising placed next to search results. PAID INCLUSION -- an advertiser's website included as part of the search results; a sponsored link. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As described in "The New Gatekeepers," the predicted "Big Three" of Internet search engines includes: a. Technorati, BrightPlanet, and the CDC. b. AOL, MSN, and AltaVista. *c. Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. d. Lycos, Ask Jeeves, and Google. 2. As noted in "The New Gatekeepers," people conduct nearly twice as many Google searches as ATM transactions every second, but still: *a. consume more cups of coffee. b. make more phone calls. c. eat more McDonald's hamburgers. d. more babies are born. 3. As related in "The New Gatekeepers," search-engine marketing has become the single largest contributor to online advertising revenue. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As stated in "The New Gatekeepers," the form of online advertising that has declined and become less effective in recent years is: a. spam e-mail. b. sponsored links. *c. banner ads. d. pop-up ads. True/False Question 5. As explained in "The New Gatekeepers," compared with companies that went public during the Internet boom, search engines were slow to begin taking in revenue. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As defined in "The New Gatekeepers," what are the differences between paid placements and paid inclusions on Internet search pages? _(paid placement refers to advertising that appears on the top or the side of the page of results generated by a search, while paid inclusion refers to an advertiser's website that is guaranteed to be among the results generated by certain searches; paid placements are guaranteed a particular position on the page, while paid inclusions are not guaranteed a specific position among the results; paid placements are also called "sponsored links" and are identified as such)_ 7. According to Duncan Witte of BrightPlanet, as cited in "The New Gatekeepers," what are the three perpetual complaints of Internet searchers? _(Internet searchers complain that they cannot find what they need; they complain that when they do find it, they do not understand how to access or interpret the data; finally, they worry about the quality of the data they are finding)_ #7. THE SOFTWARE WARS, PAUL DE PALMA AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY With numerous supporting examples, author Paul De Palma shows why people cannot understand their computers, particularly their software. Software's unreliability and unnecessary complexity are also explored. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS ACM -- the largest professional association of computer scientists. MOORE'S LAW -- that the computing power of microprocessors tends to double every couple of years. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As remarked upon in "The Software Wars," the stuff of legend in the world of computers is: a. the shrinking market in the United States. b. the perfection of hardware. *c. software's unreliability. d. the ability of people to learn and use new techniques. 2. The characteristics of software often cited as leading to failure, as given in "The Software Wars," include all of the following _except_ its: *a. high expense. b. complexity. c. free-floating nature. d. utter plasticity. 3. As detailed in "The Software Wars," software projects usually fail because of technical problems. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As stated in "The Software Wars," the promise of software is the promise of: a. complete freedom. *b. making something from nothing. c. outsmarting Microsoft. d. making the world better. 5. As claimed in "The Software Wars," a Microsoft product is distinguished by its: a. user-friendly configuration. *b. stunning, internal complexity. c. simplicity. d. low cost. 6. As described in "The Software Wars," software that meets the Vegematic Promise: a. is inexpensive. b. frequently breaks down. *c. has more features than could be learned in a lifetime of diligent study. d. fulfills a real need. True/False Question 7. As noted in "The Software Wars," hardware, by and large, works. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 8. As presented in "The Software Wars," why does the author believe that new software will not be reliable? _(first, programmers love complexity, love handcrafted systems; second, nobody can really oversee a programmer's work, short of reading code line-by-line; third, system specifications have a very short half-life because someone always has a new idea)_ 9. According to the author of "The Software Wars," how can software failure be avoided? Does the author believe this will be accomplished? _(keep it simple; avoid exotic and new programming techniques; know that an army of workers is no substitute for clear design and ample time; make only modest promises; no one will listen to this advice until computing is organized like engineering, law, and medicine through a combination of self-regulating professional bodies, government-imposed standards, and the threat of litigation)_ #8. BRAIN CIRCULATION: HOW HIGH-SKILL IMMIGRATION MAKES EVERYONE BETTER OFF, ANNA LEE SAXENIAN AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY The author contends that high-skill immigration benefits everyone, both in receiving countries and sending countries. The old dynamic of "brain drain" is giving way to what she calls "brain circulation" in today's global economy. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS BRIAN DRAIN -- the concept that immigration of highly skilled personnel represents a big economic loss to the sending country. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As stated in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," brain circulation means that: a. only high-skilled people will be allowed to immigrate to the United States. *b. high-skilled immigration increasingly benefits both the receiving and sending countries. c. immigrants must abandon their ethnic ties to be successful in another country. d. high-skilled people should immigrate regularly to share their talents with others. 2. According to "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," the primary focus of the ethnic-based organizations that have emerged among Silicon Valley's immigrants is: a. retaining their ethnic traditions. b. forging marital connections. *c. the professional and technical advancement of their members. d. creating stronger ties with other ethnic immigrant groups. 3. As asserted in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," the movement of skill and talent always benefits one country at the expense of another. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As explained in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," high-skilled immigration tends to lead to: *a. stronger trade ties between the receiver and sender nations. b. weak ethnic identification for the immigrants. c. more serious management problems in the companies where they immigrants work. d. higher unemployment in the receiving country. 5. The concept that emigration of highly skilled personnel represents a big economic loss to the sending country, as noted in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," is termed: a. brain circulation. *b. brain drain. c. zero-sum benefit. d. laissez-faire loss. True/False Question 6. As stated in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," the United States should be discouraging the immigration of skilled workers. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As discussed in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," what historically have been the strengths of the U.S. economy? _(openness and diversity)_ 8. As examined in "Brain Circulation: How High-Skill Immigration Makes Everyone Better Off," are high-skilled immigrants replacing native workers in the United States? Discuss. _(no; they are starting new businesses and generating jobs and wealth)_ #9. SOFTWARE, STEPHEN BAKER AND MANJEET KRIPALANI AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Stephen Baker and Manjeet Kripalani follow the stories of two computer science students, one in the United States and one in India, as they set out to succeed in a global technology industry. The authors explore trends in both countries that will affect the futures of these young students: in the United States, prospects for new programmers are uncertain, while optimism abounds in India about the possibilities that lie ahead. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As reported in "Software," the United States has been the world's technology leader for decades, thanks in large part to its dominance of: a. server technology. *b. computer software. c. computer hardware. d. memory and storage devices. 2. As noted in "Software," in the past three years, offshore programming jobs have: a. all but disappeared. b. come to completely dominate the software industry. c. been reduced by nearly half. *d. have nearly tripled. 3. The author of "Software" forecasts that the United States will maintain a strong hold on its software leadership for the rest of the decade. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As pointed out in "Software," application rates to computer science programs at elite schools have: *a. fallen by nearly a third in recent years. b. more than doubled in recent years. c. increased steadily for the past decade. d. fallen to nearly zero since the end of the technology boom. 5. As argued in "Software," one advantage that the U.S. technology market has over India is: a. versatility. *b. diversity. c. optimism. d. inexpensive labor. True/False Question 6. As suggested in "Software," many Indian entrepreneurs and technologists who lived in Silicon Valley during the years of the technology bubble have decided to stay in the United States to get the industry back on its feet, and now compete with American workers for jobs. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As explained in "Software," what types of software jobs are being moved offshore most rapidly? _(the less-creative software jobs, such as bug-fixing, updating antiquated code, and routine programming tasks that require many hands)_ 8. As made clear in "Software," what kinds of skills will be most valuable for American programmers in the future, and what positions do companies need people with such skills to fill? _(people skills; need people who can act as liaisons between customers and basic programmers and as managers to run teams of programmers scattered around the world)_ #10. LETTER FROM SILICON VALLEY, REBECCA VESELY AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Rebecca Vesely looks at the unemployment crisis in Silicon Valley, and the resultant political shifts away from the area's traditional laissez-faire attitudes. Santa Clara County, where the tech boom flourished and the resultant bust has hit hardest, has seen a drastic rise in unemployment and poverty. As a result, Valley residents have become increasingly concerned about workers' rights and more vocally opposed to outsourcing technology jobs to foreign workers. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As recounted "Letter from Silicon Valley," in November 2002, Californians elected: a. a Republican governor. b. Republicans to all eight of the top state positions. *c. Democrats to all eight of the top state positions. d. Democrats to a majority of the top state positions. 2. As cited in "Letter from Silicon Valley," Peter Leyden attributes changing political ideals in Silicon Valley to all of the following _except:_ a. backlash against globalization. b. reactions to corporate irresponsibility. c. terrorism. *d. the war in Iraq. 3. As mentioned in "Letter from Silicon Valley," Santa Clara County has the lowest number of immigrants in the Bay Area, according to U.S. Census data. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As noted in "Letter from Silicon Valley," of the people in Santa Clara County being fed by the Second Harvest Food Bank, those with college educations account for: a. almost all. *b. almost a quarter. c. virtually none. d. more than half. True/False Question 5. As pointed out in "Letter from Silicon Valley," due largely to the large number of people who have lost their sources of income, Santa Clara County is no longer one of the most expensive places to live in the country. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. Why does Pete Bennett argue in "Letter from Silicon Valley" that both American and foreign workers are harmed by the employment of foreign workers on H-1B visas? _(U.S. citizens are deprived of jobs by the hiring of foreign workers who will work for less, and foreign workers are deprived of a fair wage)_ 7. As Peter Leyden asserts in "Letter from Silicon Valley," why will the export of jobs that will become more automated over time be better for California workers in the long term? _(California workers can look forward to more creative and higher-paying jobs, such as those in biotechnology, nanotechnology, wireless, and sophisticated security industries)_ #11. WHEN LONG HOURS AT A VIDEO GAME STOP BEING FUN, RANDALL STROSS AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Randall Stross focuses on video-game developer Electronic Arts in examining the long hours worked by young people in the business of creating video games. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS E.A. -- Electronic Arts, a video-game developer. CRUNCHING -- putting in long hours at work. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As reported in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," a class-action lawsuit was filed against Electronic Arts by Jamie Kirschenbaum for: a. age discrimination in hiring. b. lack of healthcare and other benefits. c. discrimination against female employees. *d. failure to pay overtime compensation. 2. As related in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," Electronic Arts is the maker of video games based on: a. major league baseball, _The Terminator_, and _Star Wars_. *b. James Bond, N.F.L. football, and the _Lord of the Rings_. c. Austin Powers, the Mario Brothers, and _Resident Evil_. d. the Sims, N.B.A. basketball, and _Grand Theft Auto_. 3. According to "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," an anonymous post by "E.A. Spouse" on the Internet complained of workweeks in excess of 80 hours at Electronic Arts. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As detailed in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," in return for the long hours worked by employees, Electronic Arts offers perks that include: a. a company car and on-site day care. *b. free laundry service and free meals. c. liberal comp- and vacation-time policies. d. generous stock options and profit participation. 5. As cited in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," 43-year-old Carnegie Mellon professor Randy Pausch worked as a researcher at Electronic Arts and felt old compared with most of the employees, prompting him to liken the company's environment to the film: a. _Blade Runner_. b. _Planet of the Apes_. c. _2001: A Space Odessey_. *d. _Logan's Run_. True/False Question 6. As indicated in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," Electronic Arts has set a goal of hiring older, more experienced people in the next few years. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As defined in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," what is the meaning of "crunching" and how has this concept changed in recent years in the gaming industry? _("crunching" refers to workers putting in long hours; this practice used to occur especially in the crunch time before a new product was released but now is common practice all the time; overtime worked during crunch time used to be offset by comp time but at Electronic Arts the comp time has been scaled back to a token two weeks off per project)_ 8. As outlined in "When Long Hours at a Video Game Stop Being Fun," what might current employees of Electronic Arts expect from the company's stock options? _(employees who remain with the company for the four years required to become fully vested might have stock options equal to double their annual salary if the stock were to quadruple; however, the company recently cut prices on their core sports titles, making such a rise in the stock unlikely)_ #12. THE COMPUTER EVOLUTION, ROB VALLETTA AND GEOFFREY MACDONALD AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Rob Valletta and Geoffrey MacDonald examine the spread of computers in the workplace and the evolving wage differentials between individuals who use computers and those who do not. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS PCS -- Personal Computers. CPS -- Current Population Survey. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As explained in "The Computer Evolution," the wage returns associated with computer use at work are tilted sharply in favor of the: *a. highly educated. b. systems programmers. c. government workers. d. union workers. 2. As noted in "The Computer Evolution," 40-50 percent of another phenomenon during the 1980s that could be attributed to the wage returns associated with computer use was the: a. increase in repetitive-stress injuries. b. growth of the Internet. c. consumer spending on computer equipment for the home. *d. increased return to education. 3. As mentioned in "The Computer Evolution," the Current Population Survey used by the authors was conducted by researchers at Harvard University. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As presented in "The Computer Evolution," the authors used a regression model to estimate the effect of computer use on wages that controlled for observable characteristics that are related to wages, including all of the following _except_: a. age and education. b. race and sex. *c. height and weight. d. marital status and union status. 5. According to the common models of technology diffusion cited in "The Computer Evolution," new technology is adopted first by: a. Fortune 500 corporations. *b. individuals and firms with the most to gain. c. relatively small start-up firms. d. companies in which the majority of staff members are under the age of 30. True/False Question 6. According to "The Computer Evolution," the level of computer use is significantly higher for workers with bachelor's degrees than for workers without such a degree. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. How do the authors of "The Computer Evolution" explain the somewhat surprising finding that wage returns for individuals with college or graduate degrees continued to increase even after computer use among this group became widespread? _(the authors note that it is possible that production technology is changing rapidly and in ways that support increased rewards for workers with the skills needed for effective use of critical technologies such as computers; while computers in the workplace have led to increases in productivity, many advances in computer technology have enabled applications that require complex analytical and evaluative skills, and these skills are often acquired through advanced education)_ 8. What is meant by the distinction made in "The Computer Evolution" between the ability to use a computer as a "sufficient" condition and a "necessary" condition for higher wages? _(the authors conclude that the ability to use a computer may be a requirement or necessity for better-paying positions but that the ability by itself does not justify, or is not sufficient for, the higher wages--it is merely one of a set of necessary skills)_ #13. MAKING YOURSELF UNDERSTOOD, STUART CRAINER AND DES DEARLOVE AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Stuart Crainer and Des Dearlove discuss the importance of clear, careful writing in today's business world. With the proliferation of e-mail, web blogs, and instant messaging as means of business communication, the need for writing skills exists as much as ever. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS BLOGS -- web logs or online diaries. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As noted in "Making Yourself Understood," the dominant form of corporate communication is now: a. blogs. b. texting. *c. e-mail. d. conference calls. 2. According to "Making Yourself Understood," dubious spell-checking software has replaced: a. looking up words in dictionaries. *b. secretaries who once tweaked the executive's grammar. c. careful re-reading of e-mails and other computer documents. d. correction fluid and the backspace key. 3. As maintained in "Making Yourself Understood," the computer manufacturer Coleco went out of business because, although the company's products were fine, its product manuals were unreadable. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As recounted in "Making Yourself Understood," the story in which "a panda eats, shoots, and leaves" illustrates the importance of: a. correct spelling. *b. punctuation, including commas. c. not using abbreviations in writing. d. avoiding jargon. 5. As related in "Making Yourself Understood," an annual corporate letter that has become a media event, with the letter summarized in _Fortune_ and dissected by analysts, is written by: a. Donald Trump. b. Bill Gates. *c. Warren Buffett. d. Martha Stewart. True/False Question 6. As discussed in "Making Yourself Understood," corporate founder Jeff Skoll asserts that writing was important to the corporate culture of Google because its employees were spread around the world. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As set forth in "Making Yourself Understood," why should the shortcuts characteristic of e-mail and instant messaging be avoided in executive-level communication? _(shortcuts should be avoided because not everyone will understand them, so any time saved by using them will be lost by recipients who have to look up what they mean; shortcuts can obscure meaning and clarity is essential; careless e-mails can prove costly to companies)_ 8. As enumerated in the box feature in "Making Yourself Understood," what are some of the habits of effective writers? _(be practical; distill your message; know your audience; think before you write; decide on your angle or the story you are telling; use templates and style guides to make the job easier; start with a structure; keep it clear and simple by using short sentences; start with a powerful first sentence; keep your mind clear; edit it to fit the format; and make sure the message is delivered to your audience and arrives safely)_ #14. BACK-TO-SCHOOL BLOGGING, BROCK READ AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Brock Read notes the popularity of Web logs that allow prospective college students to meet others and ask questions before heading to college. The sites are especially useful for calming the nerves of incoming freshmen. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS BLOG -- informal term for Web log. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. The two schools with online discussions that incoming freshmen found helpful, as discussed in "Back-to-School Blogging," were Davidson College and: a. Williams College. b. UCLA. *c. Washington University in St. Louis. d. the College of William and Mary. 2. As noted in "Back-to-School Blogging," the creator of the Davidson blog was: a. a college administrator. *b. a sophomore at the college. c. a prospective freshman. d. an alumnus of the college. 3. As mentioned in "Back-to-School Blogging," one of the incoming students used the blog to try to set up a knitting party. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As explained in "Back-to-School Blogging," when Nora Goldberger asked about Davidson's laundry service, other students told her: a. avoid the service and use the local Laundromat. b. use the service but pay close attention to how much she was billed for it. c. avoid the service and take laundry home whenever possible. *d. use the service but wash delicate clothing herself. True/False Question 5. As described in "Back-to-School Blogging," the Davidson College blog was initially popular with upperclassmen and gradually discovered by incoming freshmen. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As detailed in "Back-to-School Blogging," why are Davidson College officials interested in the online discussion by prospective and existing students? _(officials monitor the site to find out what freshmen are most worried about; the director of residence life refers parents and incoming students to the site for answers to their questions; officials also see the site as an informal but effective advertisement for the school; the site provides reassurance to new students and their parents that the students look out for each other, help each other, and can take care of themselves)_ 7. As enumerated in "Back-to-School Blogging," what are some of the topics covered by the Yahoo discussion group that Anna Dinndorf joined? _(incoming students at Washington University in St. Louis ask questions about courses and dorm preparations; students post polls about political and personal opinions; the site contains contact information for students and allows instant messaging; the discussion group features chatting and jokes; Anna met one student online and, after meeting once in person, calls him her boyfriend)_ #15. STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION OF BLOGSPACE, RAVI KUMAR, ET AL. AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Ravi Kumar, Jasmine Norvak, Prabhakar Raghavan, and Andrew Tomkins document their research into more than 1 million bloggers, noting their demographics, friendships, and activity patterns over time. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS BLOGSPACE -- the collection of all blogs on the Internet, together with their links. BLOGROLL -- a sidebar within a blog listing other blogs the blogger frequents. BLOGGING COMMUNITY -- a set of blogs linking back and forth to one another's postings while discussing common topics. CLUSTERING COEFFICIENT -- the chance that two friends of a third person are themselves friends. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As asserted in "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace," more than 70 percent of the friendships among livejournal.com bloggers were explained by all of the following factors _except_: *a. similar level of education. b. similar ages. c. shared interests. d. similar geographic locations. 2. As noted in "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace," centers of computer activity featuring large numbers of bloggers include, in addition to the United States: a. Germany, France, the Czech Republic, and Korea. *b. Canada, England, Russia, and Australia. c. Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Japan. d. Ireland, Italy, Brazil, and China. 3. As defined in "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace," a "blogroll" is a blog discussion that continues for several days or longer. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As discussed in "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace," the authors describe periods of high interlinking activity on blogs as: a. bloggy. *b. bursty. c. busy. d. spacey. 5. As explained in "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace," the surprising category of 1 to 3 year olds with blogs reflects: a. users who incorrectly keyed their ages. b. a small community of extremely precocious children. c. users attempting to hid their real ages from other bloggers. *d. blogs created for pets and newborn children by others. True/False Question 6. The authors of "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace" found that interests listed by bloggers are highly correlated with their ages, so that the same age group tends to express interest in the same topics. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. How did the authors of "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace" identify communities and track periods of high activity among members of a community? _(communities of bloggers were identified by grouping blogs that had a high frequency of linking back and forth to each other; periods of high activity were identified by bursts of certain words, especially when hyperlinks were treated as words and bursts of the hyperlinks were found by use of an algorithm)_ 8. As defined in "Structure and Evolution of Blogspace," what are "interest clusters" and how do they correlate to age groups? _("interest clusters" are groups of interests that often appeared together in lists of interests given by individual bloggers; the authors found that these "interest clusters" were closely correlated to age groups, so that specific age groups tended to list similar interests; examples include dorm life, frat parties, college life, tattoos, and pre-med for bloggers aged 19 to 21, and kids, parenting, Bloom County, Doctor Who, geocaching, and herbalism for bloggers aged 31 to 33)_ #16. NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND OUR FEELINGS: ROMANCE ON THE INTERNET, CHRISTINE ROSEN AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY As adults find time more and more hard to come by in their busy lives, many are abandoning old fashioned ways of meeting eligible partners in favor of Internet-based matchmaking services. Christine Rosen points to the numerous limitations of these services and suggests that they may very well damage not only the way we find love in the world, but the very idea of love itself. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS EHARMONY -- Internet-based matchmaking service. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As reported in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," the most vigorous obituarists of courtship have been: a. unmarried men. b. married women. *c. feminists. d. the wealthy. 2. As noted in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," the invention that did most for unsupervised sexual exploration was the: a. Internet. b. telephone. c. motion picture theater. *d. automobile. 3. According to "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," Google is a reliable source of information about potential partners. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As discussed in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," the advantage of the traditional matchmaker over the technological one is: *a. being embedded in a community. b. access to more people. c. ability to persuade. d. encouraging adventuresome people. 5. As related in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," the motto of EHarmony suggests that: a. falling in love is more an art than a science. *b. people should fall in love for the right reasons. c. romantic instincts should be trusted. d. romance is more than love. 6. As observed in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet" Hector Jose Huyke contends that a particular danger posed by the proliferation of technologies is a tendency to: a. overvalue communication. b. avoid truth. c. multiply options to unmanageable levels. *d. devalue the near. True/False Question 7. As reported in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," half of the single adult American population claims to have visited an online dating site (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 8. As explained in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet," what are the two detrimental forces in modern relationships that are enabled and often promoted by modern technology? _(the demand for total transparency and a bias toward the over-sharing of personal information)_ 9. As described in "New Technologies and Our Feelings: Romance on the Internet" what is the fundamental misunderstanding about courtship fostered by new technologies? _(real courtship is about persuasion, not marketing, and the techniques of the laboratory cannot help people translate the motivations of the heart)_ #17. FROM VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES TO SMART MOBS, LANE JENNINGS AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Lane Jennings speculates on what the future may hold for a society held together by wireless communication technology. Jennings considers the claims made in Howard Rheingold's book _Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution_ that wireless communication in the form of various technologies, from cell phones to wearable computers, will spark a machine-driven social revolution. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS CYBORG -- cybernetic organism. P2P -- Peer-To-Peer computing. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As stated in "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs," psychologists have discovered that text messaging: a. impedes the emotional and social development of young people. *b. often feels safer somehow than speaking aloud. c. is a detriment to writing and reading skills. d. encourages cell-phone users to form mobs via waves of messages among virtual strangers. 2. All of the following are examples offered in "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs" of events in which wireless technology played a part _except_ the: a. September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. *b. acts of genocide in Rwanda between the Hutus and Tutsis. c. protests against the World Trade Organization in Seattle in 1999. d. spontaneous street demonstrations that forced Philippine President Joseph Estrada from office. 3. As cited in "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs," author Howard Rheingold asserts that many young cell-phone users come to consider anyone to whom are connected by phone as being present, even preferring phone exchanges to live conversation. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As described in "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs," self-styled "cyborg" Steve Mann uses his computer helmet as a: a. way to communicate with other such "cyborgs." b. barrier between himself and human contact. *c. defense against ever-greater intrusions on his personal space and freedom. d. means of expressing the essentially mechanistic nature of humanity. True/False Question 5. According to "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs," the smart devices promised to ensure comfort and convenience in our homes and public places could conceivably be turned into an inescapable net of surveillance cameras and hidden microphones directed by some Big Brother agency. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As summarized in "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs," what two other technologies, besides handheld wireless, are driving the social revolution anticipated by Howard Rheingold? _(computers and video gear designed to be worn like clothing or jewelry; microchips, equipped with sensors and communications devices, built into cars, buildings, and objects of every kind)_ 7. What are the two examples of peer-to-peer computing offered in "From Virtual Communities to Smart Mobs?" _(Napster and SETI home)_ #18. MAKING MEANING: AS GOOGLE GOES, SO GOES THE NATION, GEOFFREY NUNBERG AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY How Google ranks web sites may mislead people into thinking that what is popular is also true. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As stated in "Making Meaning: As Google Goes, So Goes the Nation," Google's search engine gives a higher rank to pages that: *a. are linked to by a number of other pages. b. originate in the United States. c. were posted during the current calendar year. d. have been developed by major media companies. #19. CONQUERED BY GOOGLE: A LEGENDARY LITERATURE QUIZ, NOAM COHEN AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY The power of the Google search engine has made it easier to solve the legendary literary quiz of the _Times Literary Supplement_. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As stated in "Conquered by Google: A Legendary Literature Quiz," a Google search has been able to solve the Author, Author quizzes: a. only about 10 percent of the time. b. nearly always. *c. at least partially, most of the time. d. primarily for British authors. #20. THE COPYRIGHT PARADOX, JONATHAN BAND AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Jonathan Band considers the arguments on both sides of the copyright debate. He focuses on the disconnect between the stated goals of stricter copyright protection legislation--to crack down on Internet piracy--and its actual effects. He argues that the Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act and the Digital Millennium Copyright Act will not actually prevent Internet piracy but will instead put a halt to fair-use practices by libraries, schools, and businesses. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS UCITA -- Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act. DMCA -- Digital Millennium Copyright Act. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As pointed out in "The Copyright Paradox," the available facts suggest that: a. Napster and Gnutella are responsible for the recent downturn in music sales. b. fewer people are buying music because of Napster and Gnutella. *c. the recording industry may be overstating the harm caused by Napster and Gnutella. d. Napster and Gnutella do not actually facilitate music piracy. 2. As reported in "The Copyright Paradox," the content industries have responded to the threat of Internet piracy by: *a. pushing for more stringent copyright-protection legislation. b. creating copy-protection technology that cannot be circumvented. c. lowering their prices to encourage consumers to acquire their products legally. d. repackaging content to be more readily buyable over the Internet. 3. The Internet facilitates piracy by allowing the widespread dissemination of lawful copies with no degradation in quality. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As explained in "The Copyright Paradox," devices designed for the circumvention of copyright are: a. only banned by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act if put to illegal use. b. permitted by the DMCA for the purposes of legal fair use. *c. almost all flatly banned by the DMCA. d. not addressed by the DMCA. True/False Question 5. As asserted in "The Copyright Paradox," libraries (and other high-profile entities such as universities and large corporations) are not likely to obey the laws and contractual terms that apply to them because they know that they are above prosecution for such minor offenses. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As argued in "The Copyright Paradox," why is new legislation unlikely to hinder Internet piracy? _(because the problem with Internet piracy is not the inadequacy of existing laws, but the high cost of enforcing any law against the large universe of infringers)_ 7. What is the more cynical explanation for the content community's pursuit of the new copyright protection legislation discussed in "The Copyright Paradox?" _(the content community pursued this legislation in part because it allowed the rollback of fair use, first-sale, and other user privileges that the content community has always opposed)_ #21. YOU BOUGHT IT. WHO CONTROLS IT? EDWARD TENNER AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Edward Tenner criticizes new measures on the part of software companies to prevent the illegal tampering with or dissemination of their products. The two possible strategies for controlling the use of software are accountability or incapacitation, he argues. Software companies, after years of trying to hold computer users accountable, are now simply making it impossible for them to misuse software, and thus infringing on their rights as users. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As recounted in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" in the early days of the PC software industry: a. software companies maintained control over their product through accountability, not incapacitation. b. software duplication was unrestricted by copy protection. c. the technology did not exist for the ordinary user to duplicate programs. *d. elaborate anti-copying systems blocked users from duplicating programs. 2. As argued in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" consumers have a long-standing right to: *a. legally improve a product that they have purchased. b. duplicate a product that they have purchased and give it away for free. c. modify a product that they have purchased and resell it at a profit. d. falsely claim to have created a product that they have purchased. 3. As described in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" the fall of Napster signaled the end of the war between file-sharing networks and copyright owners. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As asserted in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" sophisticated copy protection on music and videos results in: a. no audio degradation at all. *b. audio degradation that those with especially discerning ears might be able to detect. c. audio degradation so severe that the audio is impossible to listen to. d. very noticeable audio degradation. 5. As noted in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" some information technology experts contend that people's freedom to modify the technological products that they buy will be preserved by: a. government protection. b. corporate responsibility. *c. competition and market pressures. d. technological ingenuity and innovation. True/False Question 6. As claimed in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" Microsoft's Secure Computing Base could give Microsoft or other vendors the power to disable third-party software on their customers' computers, if they believe it circumvents rights management. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. What is the effect, as suggested in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" of technology allowing individuals to create CDs and DVDs and to store hundreds of hours of video and music on their personal computers? _(the consumer is becoming a low-cost rival manufacturer and, through Internet file sharing, an essentially zero-cost rival distributor)_ 8. What are two of the three reasons why a locked-down landscape of technology without independent software developers and vendors, as described by Jonathan Zittrain in "You Bought It. Who Controls It?" would disappoint its architects? _(incapacitation will not eliminate the costs of accountability but rather shift them to the level of enforcing bans against circumventing control schemes; protection may degrade data, if only subtly, and introduce bugs that may stain a brand's reputation and compromise its market share; forms of control that work through incapacitation will undermine the chaotic, dynamic society that made the personal-computing revolution possible in the first place)_ #22. ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEMS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE STUPID, BARBARA SIMONS AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Barbara Simons examines the currently available electronic voting systems, noting a number of flaws (some quite serious) that have been discovered in these systems. She also mentions several systems in development that could offer better accuracy, security, and accountability. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS DRES -- Direct Recording Electronic (voting systems). HAVA -- Help America Vote Act. COTS -- Commercial Off-the-Shelf (software). ES&S -- Election Systems & Software. DES -- Data Encryption Standard. SAIC -- Science Applications International Corporation. ITAS -- Independent Testing Authorities. BDFS -- Ballot Definition Files. VES -- Vogue Election Systems. OVC -- Open Voting Consortium. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As related in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," the problem with the electronic votes cast in the January 2004 special election in Broward County, Florida, was that 134 votes were apparently cast: a. for write-in candidates. *b. for no one at all. c. by deceased people. d. by people who voted twice. 2. As reported in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," the "Hopkins paper" revealed that electronic-voting-machine vendor Diebold uses a single DES key to encrypt all of the data on a storage device; this is a problem because: *a. an attacker with access to the source code could modify voting and auditing records. b. thousands of current and former Diebold employees know the DES key. c. different types of data must be encrypted separately to avoid contamination of results. d. even relatively inexperienced hackers could unscramble the key and shut down the system during elections. 3. As mentioned in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," the Miami-Dade Election Reform Coalition announced that computer crashes had deleted the election results from the September 2002 gubernatorial race in Miami-Dade, although backups on disk were eventually found. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. According to a June 2003 memo, as cited in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," the internal-auditing mechanism of voting machines made by ES&S contains a discrepancy that: a. causes the machine to count each vote multiple times. b. adjusts the audit reports so vote totals appear accurate after the machines had been reset to correct errors. c. causes different audit results to be generated depending on how requests for reports are input. *d. makes the audit reports unusable for auditing, recounting, or certifying an election. 5. As suggested in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," one system that provides better accountability because votes can be verified or recounted is a: a. paperless DRE system. *b. DRE system that prints optical-scan ballots. c. cryptographic voting system. d. online voting that records IP addresses from voters. True/False Question 6. As set forth in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," independent testing authorities generally test software for security flaws and attack the software to see if it can be compromised, as required by the Federal Election Commission standards. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As given in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," provide an overview of the problems associated with direct recording electronic voting systems. _(problems include that the software for such machines is proprietary; the certification testing process is secret and incomplete; test results are secret; the commercial off-the-shelf software used in such machines is not tested because the Federal Election Commission guidelines do not require it; DREs do not provide a paper ballot, so there is no way to verify the machine's reported vote totals and no way to do a recount in disputed elections; various DREs have been found to have insufficient security and errors in coding; the machines themselves must be securely stored between elections)_ 8. As described in "Electronic Voting Systems: the Good, the Bad, and the Stupid," what are ballot definition files (BDFs) and what are the current problems with BDFs in conjunction with electronic voting systems? _(BDFs are the files of candidates and issues information for each election; currently, BDFs are not independently inspected by an independent testing authority and often are not tested before the election by the voting authorities; if errors occur in the BDFs, there is no way to perform a recount with paperless electronic voting systems)_ #23. SMALL VOTE MANIPULATIONS CAN SWING ELECTIONS, ANTHONY DI FRANCO, ET AL. AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Anthony Di Franco, Andrew Petro, Emmett Shear, and Vladimir Vladimirov postulate that changing only one vote per electronic voting machine could change the outcome of a close election and note that the introduction of electronic voting machines makes such fraud potentially easier than ever before. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS DRES -- Direct Recording Electronic {voting machines). WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As suggested in "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," it might be relatively easy to change the results of an election by: a. changing the calculations that determine how electoral votes are cast. *b. making a small change to the system software in electronic voting machines. c. using a pulse generator to jam electronic voting machines in selected precincts. d. changing only the absentee or paper ballots in each state. 2. As put forth in "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," the authors attempted to determine the influence on an election of: a. agents of a foreign power. *b. a hypothetical adversary. c. third-party candidates. d. software viruses and worms. 3. As postulated in "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," not only can changing a single vote change the outcome of an election, changing just a few votes can change the margin of victory by a considerable amount. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As identified in table 1 and in text in "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," the five states with the closest margins in the 2000 election were: a. Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, and Michigan. b. Ohio, New York, Vermont, North Dakota, and New Mexico. c. Maryland, West Virginia, Iowa, Idaho, and Illinois. *d. Florida, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Oregon. True/False Question 5. As outlined in "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," the authors considered whether it would be possible to change the outcome of elections if no more than 50 percent of voters used electronic voting systems. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As explained in "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," what advantage would be gained by making small-scale manipulations in voting? _(despite being a small change, such a manipulation could change the outcome of an election; the proposed change to only one or two votes might evade detection, be dismissed as random noise if detected, be obscured by noise inherent in the voting process, or fail to prompt a recount even if discovered if the significance of such changes is underestimated or misunderstood)_ 7. According to the authors of "Small Vote Manipulations Can Swing Elections," what is the best protection against the kind of electoral fraud they describe? _(the best protection is a voter-verified audit trail, such as would be provided by the use of machine-produced paper ballots that are counted by a machine but personally verified by each voter and that can be recounted if necessary)_ #24. TO SIZE UP COLLEGES, STUDENTS NOW SHOP ONLINE, DAN CARNEVALE AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Dan Carnevale notes the importance of the Internet for students looking for information on colleges. Students go not only to the websites of the colleges that interest them, but also use online resources to help identify colleges that match their interests and preferences. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. According to "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," Drexel University plans to personalize its Web presence for potential applicants by: a. putting each one in e-mail contact with a faculty advisor. b. offering Web casts of classes to highlight different majors. *c. giving each one a Web page on the university's server. d. setting up blogs in which new students can select roommates who share their interests. 2. As reported in "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," one of the most popular college-match services on the Web is offered free by: a. Amazon.com. *b. the College Board. c. the National Association for College Admission Counseling. d. Barron's. 3. As portrayed in "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," Gina Antonini is especially excited about her plans to attend Middle Tennessee State University because of her longstanding interest in country music. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As explained in "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," after interviewing incoming students, Drexel University tweaks its Web site so that it will: a. display the most-requested information at the top of the page. *b. appear at the top of Google queries involving colleges whenever possible. c. contain images that students have found appealing. d. showcase their comments about why they chose Drexel. True/False Question 5. As reported in "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," one effect of student research into colleges on the Web is that prospective applicants are visiting the colleges without having made contact first. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As described in "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," what is the service offered by Destination-U? _(for a one-time fee of $49.95, Destination-U asks students about themselves and their learning styles before matching them with colleges; the service provides a range of choices based on how easy or difficult it might be for the student to be accepted; Destination-U also offers information about admissions, enrollment, graduation rates, and costs, as well as offering a service that lets students know when to turn in required information for their applications)_ 7. According to Claremont High School senior Britni E. Wilcher, as quoted in "To Size Up Colleges, Students Now Shop Online," why does she bypass much of a college's Web site? _(Wilcher says that she bypasses blogs and podcasts to find the information she considers important, such as what courses are available and who the professors are; she states that the Internet allows her to mold her own perception of a college)_ #25. FACING DOWN THE E-MAELSTROM, JEFFREY SELINGO AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Jeffrey Selingo portrays the downside of easy e-mail access to the presidents of universities, as these officials are deluged with complaints, advice, and requests. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As recounted in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," the president of San Francisco State University, Robert Corrigan, received hundreds of e-mails after students demonstrated against the: *a. presence on campus of military recruiters. b. impending tuition increase. c. use of animals for experiments in university laboratories. d. cancellation of a rock concert. 2. According to "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," e-mail or blog reports of incidents on campus are often taken out of context or just plain wrong because: a. they are based on rumor rather than eyewitness reports. b. students reporting them do not know or understand the whole picture. *c. the incidents are being used to advance political agendas. d. writers are intent on using the incidents for humor and do not intend to report them as news. 3. As mentioned in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," it is easier now than ever before for people to write to college presidents and faculty because e-mail addresses are often posted on college Web sites. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As recounted in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," the president of Tufts University, Lawrence S. Bacow, received hundreds of e-mails, including some he saved as "hate mail," in the wake of a dispute between peace activists and conservative students who were: a. raising money for George Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign. b. posting copies of the Patriot Act on campus bulletin boards. *c. attempting to paint an American flag on a cannon in the middle of campus. d. urging freshman students to join the ROTC. 5. As reported in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," officials at the Pennsylvania State University spent several weeks replying to e-mail protests after the College Democrats booked a speaking engagement featuring: a. Salman Rushdie. b. John Kerry. c. Edward M. Kennedy. *d. Michael Moore. True/False Question 6. As related in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," despite the deluge of e-mail protests, trustees at Rice University decided to go ahead with plans to downgrade the athletics program from Division 1-A of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As noted in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," how are some university presidents coping with the volume of e-mail they receive? _(although some try to reply to the e-mails they receive, and others select certain e-mails to reply to, a growing number of presidents have two e-mail addresses, one of which is given to the public; e-mails sent to the public address are read and responded to by an assistant or the public affairs office, with the president receiving summaries of the contents)_ 8. As explained in "Facing Down the E-Maelstrom," why does the traditional process used by presidents of universities to respond in a crisis no longer work? _(traditionally, presidents could gather facts and confer with others before issuing a response to criticism or questions about an incident involving the university, but today's e-mails and blogs require a more immediate response, although one administrator also stresses that the university must present the facts and retain credibility, especially because it is often difficult to trace rumors and correct errors)_ #26. POINT, CLICK...FIRE, JOHN CAREY, SPENCER E. ANTE, FREDERIK BALFOUR, LAURA COHN, AND STAN CROCK AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY John Carey and Spencer E. Ante outline the technological advancements that the military is using to take the upper hand in the war in Iraq. The keystone of this new military is communications technology that allows a constant flow of information. Thanks to this "tactical Internet," U.S. troops will have the most complete battlefield view that has ever been possible. As the conflict moves into the urban streets of Iraq, however, these advantages may be significantly less decisive. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS 3ID -- Third Infantry Division. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As anticipated in "Point, Click...Fire," as coalition forces enter a second phase of fighting in Iraq's cities: a. having the best sensors and precision weapons will prove a major advantage. b. they will switch to a considerably more low-tech tactical approach. c. they will encounter enemy fighters with more sophisticated technology. *d. high-tech gear will no longer give them such an overwhelming edge. 2. As argued in "Point, Click...Fire," armies that are reliant on technology are particularly vulnerable to attacks by: *a. hackers. b. biological weapons. c. naval forces. d. guided missiles. 3. As described in "Point, Click...Fire," the Army, Air Force, and Marines are all represented in the Joint Operations Center, which is remotely linked to the Naval Operations Center. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As explained in "Point, Click...Fire," the military's ability to carry out incredibly precise air strikes in their assault on Baghdad is hindered by limitations in: a. their intelligence information. *b. Iraqi willingness to locate targets in civilian structures. c. the capabilities of their surveillance technology. d. air quality in Baghdad. 5. As pointed out in "Point, Click...Fire," the glue that keeps the military's new networked battlefield together is: *a. the tactical Internet. b. precision weapons. c. air surveillance of the battlefield. d. the latest protective clothing. True/False Question 6. As quoted in "Point, Click...Fire," analyst Loren B. Thompson asserts that warfare is now more about pushing photons around on the battlefield than it is about men and machines. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. According to "Point, Click...Fire," how is the use of technology in the war in Iraq is different from its use in the 1991 Gulf War? _(now the military's sensors, weapons, communications systems, commanders, and soldiers are linked into a giant computing grid that gives U.S. troops the clearest picture of the battlefield that warriors have ever known)_ 8. As outlined in "Point, Click...Fire," what does the Army's Land Warrior project encompass, and what does it call for? _(everything worn, carried, or consumed by soldiers; it calls for a wearable computer, helmet-mounted information display, and wireless network system)_ #27. THE DOCTRINE OF DIGITAL WAR, STAN CROCK, PAUL MAGNUSSON, LEE WALCZAK, AND FREDERIK BALFOUR AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Stan Crock, Paul Magnusson, and Lee Walczak delineate the new war strategy favored by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and based largely on the United States' unmatched technological sophistication. As the war in Iraq gets under way, the authors reserve their conclusions about the future of this new kind of warfare until the outcome of the current conflict can be assessed. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As predicted in "The Doctrine of Digital War," if the Iraq intervention bogs down amid costly street fighting: a. U.S. troops will withdraw from Iraq. b. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's notion of "transformation" will be vindicated. *c. Rumsfeld will face a major setback. d. President George W. Bush will fire Rumsfeld. 2. As explained in "The Doctrine of Digital War," Donald Rumsfeld favors extensive use of special-operations troops, whose assignment is to: *a. go behind enemy lines to knock out targets. b. lead the frontal assault troops. c. gather intelligence before a frontal assault. d. carry out air strikes. 3. As noted in "The Doctrine of Digital War," the current Pentagon arsenal is in reality just a better-funded version of what the Clinton Administration crafted. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As argued in "The Doctrine of Digital War," Donald Rumsfeld wants to create a new military strategy that ensures that: a. war will be less necessary and less costly for all concerned in the future. b. the U.S. military is the largest in the world. c. U.S. troops will vanquish the enemy no matter what the cost. *d. U.S. technological might will be the ultimate weapon. True/False Question 5. The strategy favored by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is largely Rumsfeld's own innovation, a culmination of his own experience in defense. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As outlined in "The Doctrine of Digital War," to what does Donald Rumsfeld's notion of military "transformation" refer? _(a leaner, more technologically driven force that leapfrogs generations of Cold War weaponry)_ 7. As reported in "The Doctrine of Digital War," Secretary of State Colin Powell has argued that the United States should steer clear of wars, barring what three conditions? _(a mandate from the American people, a clear objective, and a force advantage of at least three times the enemy's troop strength)_ #28. WHY SPYWARE POSES MULTIPLE THREATS TO SECURITY, ROGER THOMPSON AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Roger Thompson notes that spyware is more than an annoying fact of life for many computer users; it also slows computer performance, can lead to identity theft and other crimes, and may pose a threat to national security in a variety of ways. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS SPYWARE -- any software intended to aid an unauthorized person to cause a computer, without the knowledge of the computer's user or owner, to divulge private information. RAT -- Remote Access Trojan. DDOS -- Distributed Denial of Service. COAST -- Consortium Of Anti-Spyware Technology. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As characterized in "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," spyware causes a "huge productivity sinkhole" because it: a. takes so long to find and delete spyware. *b. slows down computer performance so much. c. often wipes data from files. d. generates pop-ups in front of work being done on the computer. 2. As postulated in "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," the most important and least understood espionage tactic in use today may be: a. using pop-up windows to spread propaganda. b. the prevalence of spyware programs on computers used in federal offices. *c. theft through spyware. d. keystroke-logging programs. 3. As explained in "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," unlike a virus or worm, spyware is usually very obvious to the user. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As suggested in "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," a potentially damaging attack against key federal, state, or local agencies could be launched by: a. malware. *b. a spyware Bot Army DDos. c. an Internet worm targeting a buffer over-flow vulnerability. d. multiple adware programs. True/False Question 5. According to "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," even new PCs straight from the factory come loaded with thousands of pieces of spyware. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As enumerated in "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," what are some of the malicious actions spyware might take after being downloaded to a computer? _(spyware might send information about a person's computer and surfing habits to a third party so that the third party can spam the user or push pop-up ads to the user's computer screen; it might open a computer to a remote attacker; spyware might capture every keystroke of the user, including passwords and credit card or banking information; spyware might allow a computer to be hijacked and used to attack another victim's or a business' computer in a denial of service; spyware can probe a system for vulnerabilities that will allow a hacker to steal files)_ 7. As proposed in "Why Spyware Poses Multiple Threats to Security," what are at least two of the four lines of defense against the threat posed by spyware? _(the first line of defense is education and protectionùpeople must become aware of the threat posed by spyware and install anti-spyware software; the second is disclosure legislation, so that spyware cannot be installed without the user's knowledge; the third is aggressive prosecution of those who create and distribute spyware; the fourth is planning for the possibility of a massive spyware attack on government systems, including the possibility of a conventional attack being coordinated with a spyware attack)_ #29. TERROR'S SERVER, DAVID TALBOT AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY David Talbot writes about how terrorists use the Internet not only to recruit and communicate but also, though fraud, to finance their activities. Another disturbing trend is the use of the Internet to post horrific videos of beheadings, which are then downloaded and seen by millions. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS ISPS -- Internet Service Providers. PHISHING -- a scam in which con artists make their e-mails appear to come from a trusted source, with the goal of making victims reveal personal information such as bank account or credit-card numbers. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As stated in "Terror's Server," it is now possible to call al-Queda a global ideology because: a. its actions have been felt around the world. b. terrorist cells with ties to al-Queda have been discovered on every continent except Antarctica. c. its ideology has been adopted by other terrorist groups. *d. its online presence is now more potent and pertinent than its physical presence. 2. According to "Terror's Server," the Internet is used by terrorist organizations for all of the following purposes _except_ to: a. recruit members. *b. falsify identity documents. c. solicit funds. d. spread ideology. 3. As explained in "Terror's Server," terrorists tend to be poorly educated and unsophisticated about technologies such as the Internet. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. The author of "Terror's Server" points out the irony that, while millions watched videos of beheadings on their computers, the FCC fined: a. radio stations for playing Eminem's _The Real Slim Shady_. *b. CBS for broadcasting the exposure of Janet Jackson's breast. c. Fox for sexually suggestive material on the show _Married by America_. d. Howard Stern for discussing sexual practices on his radio show. 5. As described in "Terror's Server," the Site Institute is a nonprofit organization that: a. provides software designed to block Web sites with violent content. b. specializes in maps and GPS software used by the military to track terrorists. c. collects information from anonymous informants worldwide about terrorist activity. *d. monitors jihadist and other terrorist sites on the Internet. True/False Question 6. As noted in "Terror's Server," most Internet Service Providers have terms-of-service agreements that allow them to take down Web sites that have objectionable content. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As detailed in "Terror's Server," describe the patterns of Internet communications experts have found linked to terrorism. _(research suggests that terrorists tend to have a very tight circle of people with whom they communicate by e-mail or in chat rooms, whereas most people establish a wide variety of contacts online)_ 8. As explained in "Terror's Server," what are some of the reasons that content on the Internet is difficult to control? _(there are few government controls in place to regulate Internet content, and in the United States the need for regulation must be weighed against First Amendment rights to free expression; because the Internet is a worldwide phenomenon, content can originate from anywhere, so that even if one country passes laws to regulate content, that country will have little or no authority over content originating elsewhere; tracking and blocking objectionable content and activity on the Internet may require technology that does not yet exist)_ #30. HOMELAND INSECURITY, CHARLES C. MANN AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Charles C. Mann observes that Americans tend to turn to technology to solve problems, but technological security measures at best limit risks to acceptable levels. Furthermore, the consequences of going wrong are seldom considered. Mann contends that these realities have combined to make Americans far less safe since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS STRONG CRYPTO -- ciphers so powerful that they cannot be broken by any government. CRYPTOLOGY -- a specialized branch of mathematics with some computer science thrown in. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As noted in "Homeland Insecurity," the first thing to thing to determine about any new security proposal is: a. what problems might it cause. b. what will happen if it fails. c. how much will it cost. *d. what problem will it solve. 2. According to "Homeland Insecurity," the most common form of security vulnerability in the last decade has been: *a. buffer overflows. b. Windows 2000. c. the RSA algorithm. d. public-key encryption. 3. As stated in "Homeland Insecurity," face-recognition software can pick individual terrorists out of the mob in an airline terminal. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As asserted in "Homeland Insecurity," a mark of bad security is: a. use of passwords. b. compartmentalization. c. redundancy. *d. broad surveillance. 5. As observed in "Homeland Insecurity," all of the following are typically features of good security _except:_ a. cross-checking. b. "limber" reactions to the unexpected. *c. expensive. d. humans are most-important components 6. As explained in "Homeland Insecurity," the basic security problem with the September 11 terrorists was: a. their identities. b. the vulnerability of the cockpit doors on the aircraft. *c. their intentions. d. other passengers' fear. True/False Question 7. As reported in "Homeland Insecurity," cryptographer Tsutomu Matsumoto fooled fingerprint detectors by making fake fingers out of gelatin. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 8. As discussed in "Homeland Insecurity," what is wrong with the new high-tech security infrastructure that the U.S. government has been trying to implement since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001? _(these measures can be useful, but their large-scale application will have little effect against terrorism; their use may actually make Americans less safe, because many of these tools fail badly-they are brittle--and in the meantime, simple, effective, ductile measures are being overlooked or even rejected)_ 9. The author of "Homeland Insecurity" states that "the most critical aspect of a security measure is not how well it works but how well it fails." What does he mean? _(when something goes wrong with security, the system should recover well; in Seattle airport, for example, a single slip-up shut down the entire airport, which delayed flights across the nation)_ #31. THE VIRUS UNDERGROUND, CLIVE THOMPSON AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Clive Thompson profiles several well-known virus writers, attempting to explain the motivations behind their activities and the appeal of the virus-writing community and subculture. Most virus writers, he emphasizes, never intend for their programs to be unleashed, but in putting them on web sites for anyone to access, they give tacit approval for their use and are indirectly responsible for the havoc that they wreak. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS MALWARE -- tiny programs that exist solely to self-replicate, infecting computers hooked up to the Internet. TROJAN HORSE -- a virus that arrives in someone's e-mail looking like a gift. SCRIPT KIDDIES -- aspiring young hackers who do not yet have the skill to program computers but like to pretend they do. DMCA -- Digital Millennium Copyright Act. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As revealed in "The Virus Underground," the motivation of most virus writers is to: *a. acquire street cred. b. steal money. c. wreak havoc on the Internet. d. gain access to high-security computers. 2. As noted in "The Virus Underground," in most countries, writing viruses is: a. a crime with very minor penalties. b. a crime with very severe penalties. c. a crime that is rarely prosecuted. *d. not a crime. 3. As argued in "The Virus Underground," most of the top virus writers do not hesitate to release their creations on the Internet. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As described in "The Virus Underground," the "Ready Rangers Liberation Front" is a group of: a. young Bavarian virus writers. b. virus writers who create and release viruses for specifically criminal purposes. *c. international virus writers. d. "script kiddies" who do not write viruses but who set them loose on the Internet. 5. As pointed out in "The Virus Underground," the biggest concern for antivirus companies is: a. organized groups of traditional virus writers. b. script kiddies. *c. worms created for criminal purposes. d. cyberterrorism. True/False Question 6. The author of "The Virus Underground" reports that mobile-phone viruses are already a major problem in Europe. (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As defined in "The Virus Underground," what is the difference between a virus and a worm? _(a virus is a tiny program that reprograms parts of your computer when you run it, while a worm requires no human intervention to spread and is more a danger to servers and Internet service than to individual computers)_ 8. As reported in "The Virus Underground," why do many virus writers claim that they are making the world a better place? _(because they openly expose the weaknesses of computer systems)_ #32. THE FADING MEMORY OF THE STATE, DAVID TALBOT AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY David Talbot examines the challenges facing the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration in its attempts to save the mountains of electronic data generated in recent decades. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS NARA -- National Archives and Records Administration. ERA -- Electronic Records Archive. XENA -- XML Electronic Normalizing of Archives. GIS -- Geographic Information Systems. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As recounted in "The Fading Memory of the State," historian Eduard Mark lamented the lack of basic records, because they were electronic and had not been kept, for the: *a. U.S. invasion of Panama in 1989. b. Vietnam War. c. Iran hostage crisis of 1980. d. military action in Bosnia in the early 1990s. 2. As characterized in "The Fading Memory of the State," the technological challenge facing NARA in trying to preserve electronic records was likened by archivist Allen Weinstein to the: a. development of the Internet. b. invention of the printing press. *c. Moon shot. d. cure for polio. 3. According to one estimate reported in "The Fading Memory of the State," people will generate more data in the next three years than in the previous thousand years. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As presented in "The Fading Memory of the State," the data storage problems faced by NARA are also being faced, and addressed in part by a storage system known as DSpace, by: a. the White House. *b. MIT. c. the Pentagon. d. Microsoft. 5. As set forth in the box in "The Fading Memory of the State," the largest unit of measurement for information storage given is: a. petabyte. *b. exabyte. c. gigabyte. d. terabyte. True/False Question 6. As reported in "The Fading Memory of the State," Allan Weinstein discovered a clipping in his FBI file with a note penned by then-Director J. Edgar Hoover. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As explained in "The Fading Memory of the State," why might it be difficult to reconstruct political or military decisions made using electronic tools? _(future historians would need, although they may not be able to have, the same electronic data and the same software that was used by those making the decision in the first place; in addition, the electronic record may no longer exist because of storage problems)_ 8. As outlined in "The Fading Memory of the State," in addition to the sheer quantity of data, what are some of the other challenges facing NARA in its attempts to preserve electronic data? _(one of the major problems is that there are so many different formats in which data exists, including different software programs and different versions of those programs; additionally, the data has been saved on different media, including tapes, disks, and hard drives; however the data is saved, it must be available online and impervious to hackers or terrorists seeking to attack it; NARA will need technologically sophisticated curators who can deal with electronic media as well as making decisions about archiving materials)_ #33. FALSE REPORTING ON THE INTERNET AND THE SPREAD OF RUMORS: THREE CASE STUDIES, PAUL HITLIN AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Paul Hitlin surveys the differences between news on the Internet and traditional news and offers three case studies of how false reports are spread and persist on the Internet. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS SOCIAL CASCADES -- the effect created by groups of people who move together in a direction of one set of beliefs or actions. NTSB -- National Transportation Safety Board. FAA -- Federal Aviation Authority. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. According to Stephen O'Leary as quoted in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," people spread rumors via the Net for the same reason that the read their papers or tune into CNN--because they: a. can. b. have technology at their fingertips without the judgment of what to do with it. *c. are trying to make sense of their world. d. want to have something to talk about at work the next day. 2. Matt Drudge, creator of the _Drudge Report_ online, is quoted in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies" as saying that absolute truth matters less than: a. thoughtful interpretation. *b. absolute speed. c. an interesting spin. d. journalistic integrity. 3. As reported in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," Matt Drudge was able to produce court records in support of his allegations that Sidney Blumenthal had abused his spouse. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. Among the reasons listed in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies" for errors occurring in online news reporting are all of the following _except_: a. the need for speed. b. partisan political gain. c. an attraction to scandal. *d. misinterpretation by readers who post their errors elsewhere. 5. As brought out in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," it was eventually determined that the crash of TWA Flight 800 in 1996 was caused by: a. pilot error. *b. mechanical malfunction. c. a bomb on board. d. a surface-to-air missile. 6. According to "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," the spread of Internet rumors is a phenomenon that Cass Sunstein refers to as: *a. social cascades. b. rumor hosting. c. the telephone-game effect. d. unintended transmission. True/False Question 7. As explained in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," one effect of social cascades is that information appears believable simply because it has been repeated so many times. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 8. As discussed in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," why is a retraction in the case of Internet rumors about the death of Vince Foster unlikely to be as effective as the retraction in the case of rumors about Sidney Blumenthal? _(in the Blumenthal case, there was one site that could be identified as a source of the rumors; in the case of Vince Foster, the source of the rumors could not be identified, and the rumors then spilled over into newspapers, among members of Congress, and among the general public; even more than in the Blumenthal case, political partisans strongly opposed to Bill Clinton are motivated to keep the Vince Foster rumors alive)_ 9. As concluded in "False Reporting on the Internet and the Spread of Rumors: Three Case Studies," how could the accuracy of online reporting be improved? _(the best hope seems to be for news producers who report online to follow the same guidelines that conventional media sources have, including fact-checking and finding multiple sources to verify a story; online reporters are more likely to do so if the public begins to be more selective and critical about what they view online)_ #34. THE LEVEL OF DISCOURSE CONTINUES TO SLIDE, JOHN SCHWARTZ AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY The author asserts that PowerPoint presentations are often dull and sometimes misleading, as in the case of NASA's explanation about the shuttle Columbia's fatal reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. Critics of PowerPoint, as shown in "The Level of Discourse Continues to Slide," hold that its slide-show software: *a. can confuse rather than edify. b. should be licensed only to trained users. c. needs improvements before it will be used widely. d. should be taken off the market. #35. CHINA'S COMPUTER WASTELAND, BENJAMIN JOFFE-WALT AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Benjamin Joffe-Walt reveals the depressing world of rural Chinese wastelands where old computers are dismantled and burned, unleashing toxic waste into the air, water, and earth. With wages so low in China, it is cheaper for the United States and other countries to ship their discarded computers to China than to take responsibility for the waste. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS E-WASTE -- Electronic Waste. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. Both Luo Yuan Chang and He Ti Guang, workers interviewed by the author of "China's Computer Wasteland," react to discussions of the dangers of their work by saying that they: a. will find work in another province rather than risk their health. *b. need the money and will continue despite the dangers. c. are planning to sue their employers. d. believe the reports of dangers from toxins have been exaggerated. 2. As reported in "China's Computer Wasteland," the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conducted a pilot project to recycle computer monitors and found that: a. it was considerably cheaper to recycle them in the United States than to ship them to Asia. b. the recycling process failed to generate any parts that could be reused. c. legislation was needed to require manufacturers to build monitors with fewer toxic materials. *d. it is 10 times cheaper to ship them to Asia than to recycle them in the United States. 3. As noted in "China's Computer Wasteland," the United States is leading the way in legislation directing manufacturers to take responsibility for the recycling of computers they produce. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As mentioned in "China's Computer Wasteland," the author met with a boss of the e-waste business and pretended he was a: a. potential client with computers to dispose of. *b. potential buyer of bronze salvaged from waste computers. c. broker able to supply immigrant laborers cheaply. d. tax collector. 5. As disclosed in "China's Computer Wasteland," 80 percent of e-waste collected in the United States is: a. recycled. b. buried in landfills. c. still waiting for disposal. *d. exported to Asia. True/False Question 6. Ironically, as noted in "China's Computer Wasteland," many of the computers returned to China for disposal were originally built in China, too. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As described in "China's Computer Wasteland," how did the e-waste business grow in Guiyu? _(the area was not good for growing rice, so residents began picking up rubbish to look for valuables and gradually realized that computer rubbish was more valuable; gradually the local residents became wealthy business owners and hired migrant workers to handle the dangerous e-waste work)_ 8. As detailed in "China's Computer Wasteland," what are some the dangers from handling e-waste? _(computers contain lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, brominated flame retardants, phosphor, barium, and hexavalent chromium; some of the health problems that result from these toxins include lung problems, silicosis, heart attacks, and pulmonary edema; the workers complain that their stomachs hurt and their skin itches)_ #36. THE NEW FACE OF THE SILICON AGE, DANIEL H. PINK AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Daniel H. Pink visits India to meet the programmers that American IT professionals believe have stolen their jobs. Indian programmers may be sympathetic, but they are also embracing the opportunities offered by the boom in outsourcing jobs to India, and they are quick to point out the inevitability of change. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As reported in "The New Face of the Silicon Age," while in India the author frequently heard, in reference to the growing computing industry, the proverbial saying: a. tomorrow is another day. b. everything old is new again. c. do not count your chickens until they have hatched. *d. change is the only constant. 2. As described in "The New Face of the Silicon Age," the author wrote this article after a visit to India's biggest city, which is: a. Bangalore. b. Hyderabad. *c. Mumbai. d. New Delhi. 3. As related in "The New Face of the Silicon Age," Indian programmer Aparna Jairam pulls out a copy of _Who Moved My Cheese?_ when asked what she would do if IT jobs went to another country instead of India. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. According to "The New Face of the Silicon Age," when India considers its competitive position compared with China, what the article describes as its "killer app" is that in India: a. business relationships with U.S. firms have been in place for several decades already. b. the infrastructure for fiber-optic communication is already in place. *c. most of the educated people speak English. d. open-source software is much more readily available for programmers. True/False Question 5. As explained in "The New Face of the Silicon Age," some displaced American workers are lobbying to have U.S. laws changed regarding immigrant work visas. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As reported in "The New Face of the Silicon Age," what were the responses of Indian workers to tales of American who were angry about losing their jobs in the wake of outsourcing to India? _(Indian workers pointed out that they provide quality as well as a cheaper alternative; they believe that an improvement to their economy will benefit the United States by providing a market for U.S. products; Indian workers believe Americans displaced by outsourcing should adjust to change and that they are now free to do other work; some point out that there is no reason to assume that IT jobs belong to Americans more than anyone else in the world)_ 7. In the opinion of the author of "The New Face of the Silicon Age," what is the opportunity for American workers in the future, based on his observations of Indian IT workers? _(the author believes that Americans can still excel as creators and inventors, capitalizing on such skills as imagination, empathy, and the ability to form relationshipsùskills that cannot be outsourced; he describes the future as being in jobs that are high concept and high touch instead of high tech)_ #37. RESTORING THE POPULARITY OF COMPUTER SCIENCE, DAVID A. PATTERSON AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY David A. Patterson, a professor of computer science, writes of the declining interest among students in pursuing computer science as a major. Patterson argues that, despite fears generated by outsourcing of jobs, statistics indicate that the field is expected to grow. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS CS -- Computer Science. CSTA -- Computer Science Teachers Association. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As profiled in "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," the computer science major is in a decline in the United States, especially among: a. minority students. *b. women. c. men. d. foreign students. 2. According to "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," figures for IT employment and IT wages since 1999 show that: a. both are down. b. employment is up but wages are down. *c. both are up. d. employment is down but wages are up. 3. As described in "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," the newly formed CSTA, or Computer Science Technical Artists, hopes to recruit members from the hugely successful special-effects industry. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As maintained in "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," the author's opinion about why the number of CS majors is down among college students is that it is because of the: *a. negative impact of offshoring IT jobs. b. impression that the field is not as challenging as it once was. c. expected decline in IT salaries. d. lack of adequate academic preparation in high schools. True/False Question 5. As noted in "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," at one point universities were so overwhelmed with prospective CS majors that they erected academic barriers to keep students out. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 6. As cited in "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," what are some of the requests made by the author for assistance with the CSTA organization? _(the author urges CS teachers to try to counteract the impression that CS is not a good major for the future, perhaps by publicizing employment data; the author asks readers to urge pre-college teachers to join CSTA; he also asks for specific help on various committees)_ 7. As discussed in "Restoring the Popularity of Computer Science," what specific problems in regard to CS teachers were mentioned by South African Michael Chiles at a recent conference? _(Chiles noted that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is taking the lives of so many teachers that it is becoming almost impossible to replace them; not only are the teachers dying, but so many people in business are dying that industries are luring the healthy teachers away from the classrooms)_ #38. DOT COM FOR DICTATORS, SHANTHI KALATHIL AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Shanthi Kalathil discusses the ability of the Internet to change authoritarian regimes from within. The Net has long been considered a powerful tool against tyranny; its potential for creating meaningful, peaceful democratic change is also being recognized. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS ICTS -- Information and Communication Technologies. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As observed in "Dot Com for Dictators," the Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs): *a. can help authoritarian states govern more effectively. b. have no peaceful or positive use in countries led by dictatorships. c. are not allowed in authoritarian states. d. topple authoritarian regimes. 2. As noted in "Dot Com for Dictators," to stay ahead of online dissidents, authoritarian regimes are: a. embracing unfettered Internet access for everyone. *b. deploying sophisticated censorship schemes. c. cutting telephone service to individuals they distrust. d. refusing Internet service to everyone, even their own governmental personnel. 3. According to "Dot Com for Dictators," the government of Myanmar (Burma) requires citizens to register telephones and computers. (T) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As explained in "Dot Com for Dictators," the Multimedia Super Corridor for technology companies, which includes hands-off censorship policies for investors, exists in: a. Vietnam. b. China. *c. Malaysia. d. Singapore. 5. The Strong Country Forum, as reported in "Dot Com for Dictators," is an online feature provided by the government of: *a. China. b. Egypt. c. Cuba. d. Japan. True/False Question 6. All authoritarian regimes have realized that the Information Age requires them to relinquish a measure of control, as stated in "Dot Com for Dictators." (F) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As discussed in "Dot Com for Dictators," what are some of the initiatives that governments can take via communication technologies to improve the quality of life for citizens? _(reshape bureaucracy; increase direct communication between officials and the public; dispense education and health information; promote larger development goals)_ 8. As suggested in "Dot Com for Dictators," how can democracy be strengthened as a result of governmental use of the Internet? _(it inhibits bureaucratic secrecy--the medium promotes governmental openness, accountability, and transparency; it can help in achieving developmental goals such as disseminating health information)_ #39. WEAVING THE AUTHORITARIAN WEB, TAYLOR C. BOAS AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY Taylor C. Boas examines the ways in which authoritarian regimes can encourage Internet access while controlling the content available to their citizens. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS ARPANET -- a precursor to the Internet sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense. ISPS -- Internet Service Providers. ISU -- Internet Services Unit, a unit of the Saudi Arabian Internet governing authority. URL -- a web address. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As asserted in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," it is a mistake to assume that authoritarian regimes will try to exert control over the Internet by: a. use of filtering software. *b. restricting its diffusion. c. keystroke-logging programs. d. controlling ISPs within the country's borders. 2. As given in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," the two countries used as examples of controlling Internet access were: a. North Korea and Oman. b. Singapore and South Africa. c. Iran and Iraq. *d. China and Saudi Arabia. 3. As noted in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," despite the efforts of various governments to limit access to parts of the Internet, it is inherently impossible to do this because of the nature of the Internet. (F) CRITICAL ANALYSIS Multiple Choice Questions 4. As identified in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," the main concern in Saudi Arabia is to limit access to: a. terrorist-sponsored web sites. *b. pornography and material offensive to Islam. c. Western entertainment, such as American movies and television. d. gambling. 5. As stated in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," many Internet chat rooms in China feature censors known as: *a. big mamas. b. big brothers. c. moderators. d. overseers. True/False Question 6. As described in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," the Internet is less a single network of individual users than it is a network connecting separate networks. (T) GENERAL QUESTIONS 7. As explained in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," why is the goal for authoritarian regimes likely to be effective control rather than perfect control of Internet access? _(perfect control would indicate that the government could stop any user from accessing parts of the Internet deemed inappropriate, but evidence suggests that determined users can, in fact, reach those sites if they wish to; the goal of effective control is to keep most of the population from accessing forbidden material, such that the government's goalsùregime stability or the protection of local culture, for exampleùcan be met)_ 8. As outlined in "Weaving the Authoritarian Web," how does China's government make private enterprises responsible for implementing control over Internet access? _(China's Internet regulations make ISPs, Internet cafes, and chat rooms responsible for online content through the threat of sanctions and crackdowns; many of these private entities have installed filters and blocking software; they are also required to keep logs of Internet traffic and turn the information over to the government on request)_ #40. KABUL'S CYBER CAFE CULTURE, SANJOY MAJUMDER AE p. ARTICLE SUMMARY After years of Taliban rule during which Internet use was banned, the people of Afghanistan are logging on to communicate with friends, conduct business, and pursue their professional interests. To make up for lost time, Afghans use high-end wireless broadband technology with high-capacity lines and fast connections. KEY TERMS AND TOPICS ISP -- Internet Service Provider. AWCC -- Afghan Wireless Communication Company. WEB QUIZ QUESTIONS 1. As observed in "Kabul's Cyber Cafe Culture," most of the people using Kabul's Internet cafes are: *a. young men and women. b. business people making international deals. c. involved in political communications. d. children playing games. 2. As noted in "Kabul's Cyber Cafe Culture," Sabir Latifi's Internet cafe in Kabul: a. gives students free access. *b. is the least expensive in