Name Victoria Terhaar Class time: 12 pm
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (EXCLUDING REFERENCE PAGE)
Author: Sara Baase
Date of Publication: 2008
Book: A Gift of FIre
Sections read: 8.1 & 8.2
1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
a. I couldn’t believe when I read about the sex offenders getting murdered because their addresses were posted online for the world to see, especially in the cases where the person attacked wasn’t actually the offender. (pg. 408)
b. When Baase talked about the problems that happened in voting systems on page 416, and I knew what she was talking about, I thought it was interesting because I felt a sense of connection to the information because I lived through it.
c. I thought learning about the Therac-25 was interesting because my father owns a cancer care treatment center, and they use a machine for radiation treatment similar to the Therac-25. I couldn’t imagine if there was a fatal result what would happen if that occurred at my father’s center. (pg. 425-430)
2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?
In chapter 8, Baase in the first section explains numerous situations where something has gone wrong because of a technological problem whether it either failed or caused errors. Baase categorizes each problem by the cause, the seriousness of the effects, or the application area. Baase begins by explaining some errors that have happened for individuals. This has included billing errors from businesses or credit agencies, and misread public data. She then gives examples of some failures and errors that have occurred to complete systems. Examples she uses are AT&T losing service for an extended period of time, a system called Warehouse Manager that completely messed up system information for dozens of companies around the United States, the problems in the voting systems, with hard to read ballots, or not properly stored machines, or missing ballots. Problems that have occurred in airports, with delayed opening, and failures in baggage systems, the waste of money on abandoned systems, old systems that won’t be able to be used anymore because they don’t have a “legacy”, and the problems that pilots had in whether or not to trust a completely computer run airplane (pg. 405-424). Section 8.2 focused specifically on a case dealing with a radiation machine called the Therac- 25. This machine was supposed to help patients with cancer get their radiation treatments to help cure them. The machine had bugs and glitches that weren’t tested and would give patients overdoses in radiation, and constantly show errors on the machine screen. This case ended up taking the lives of three people due to radiation overdose (pg. 425-430).
3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – BE SPECIFIC AND EXPLAIN?
One situation I have personally experienced was one Baase used in a positive light. Automatic interlock brakes when your car is sliding or skidding in the snow. Every single year when the roads are packed with snow I always drive carefully with my snow tires and four wheel drive on. However, that isn’t always enough. Sometimes your car can just hit a patch of black ice and your car goes sliding. Thankfully, my automatic interlock sliding brakes turn on and stop my car from running into another one or causing an accident. I am very thankful for this computerized system in my car and the amount of accidents it has saved me from. I do agree with Baase when she says that this is one piece of technology that has not failed us yet.
4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.
Several times a month, my family receives mail in our mailbox that is not for us. It may either be the family that lived here before us, or maybe a neighbor or ours, or someone who we don’t know at all. The error made here is one made by a person that has nothing to do with technology. The mailman has made a mistake in putting the wrong mail in the wrong mailbox. This error in judgment may not be on purpose, but it is still an error. So if sometimes our family does receive the wrong bill because it is completely not ours that would not be an actual billing error like Baase explained in the book that would be a human error in receiving the wrong mail.
5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?
I do agree with what is being said within chapter 8 because these technological errors Baase is describing are some things that people have to deal with every day. Whether it is a personal problem, such as an incorrect bill, or a problem that affects more people, such as the plane crashes that occurred due to faulty systems, or the deaths from the Therac-25, we live in a society based on technology. Trying to escape these problems are inevitable, they can only be found and hopefully corrected. I don’t think the answer is trusting technology, I think it is beating it. Finding the problems, or glitches, or bugs, and fixing them before they can do harm to our society.
6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?
This topic is definitely relevant in today’s society because as I stated earlier, at least with the Therac-25 case, my father has a radiation treatment machine just like that one in his cancer treatment center. If the same errors were happening in 1985-1987 today, there would be a major problem. The online ethics center for engineering and research saw this case as one with risks and errors made by the program software and the manufacturer’s attitude (http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/19049/therac25.aspx). The ignorance of the error messages and the low risk assessment’s factored into the death and overdose of radiation for the patients, and they should be held morally responsible for the deaths of those three people. The look of the Therac-25 model is similar to the one used in my father’s treatment center, but thankfully the results for my father have been dramatically different than that of the Therac-25 (http://50quidsoundboy.net/?p=71).
References
http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/19049/therac25.aspx
http://50quidsoundboy.net/?p=71
Monday, November 21, 2011
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Chapter 6-Part 2: Work
Name Victoria Terhaar Class time: 12 pm
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (EXCLUDING REFERENCE PAGE)
Author: Sara Baase
Date of Publication: 2008
Book: A Gift of Fire
Sections read: 6.4 and 6.5
1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
a. I learned that embezzlement means, “fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted.” (pg. 332)
b. I couldn’t believe when I read that 47% of retail losses are from retail store employees. I have never stolen anything in my life, let alone from my place of employment. (pg. 337)
c. I didn’t know that some places of employment took such extreme measures to keep track of their employees by using electronic surveillance badges to know their every location. (pg. 337)
2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?
In section 6.4, Baase discusses embezzlement, fraud and different ways an employee can sabotage their workplace using technology (pg. 332-335). In section 6.5 Baase goes into the different techniques companies use to monitor their employees. Baase explains the three most common issues in the three areas of electronic monitoring; details of performance, location and performance of scattered employees, and e-mail, voice mail, and Web surfing. Throughout these sections, Baase implicates the ethics involved with an employee’s right to privacy and an employer’s protection of property rights (pg. 335-344).
3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – BE SPECIFIC AND EXPLAIN?
At my work I have personally experienced my employer monitoring the web activity of employees at the workplace. If an employee tries to go on an unrelated website to work on one of the work computers the web page will not open. My employer has made it so certain websites are restricted access while connected to their internet and at their workplace. As Baase states on page 343, some people may feel this restricted access as an invasion of privacy because then your employer will know what websites you are going on. I agree with those who feel this monitoring is acceptable because going online at your workplace is on their property and on their time they are paying their employees for.
4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.
In chapter 6, Baase talks about retail theft and embezzlement by employees. Not in relation to computers, technology, or the internet, theft by employees at their workplace in general is still a pressing issue today. I have heard from friends at their workplaces who have stolen food if they work at a grocery store, or liquor at a liquor store, or appliances at a home store. None of these thefts have to do with technology directly but are still wrong. On page 334 Baase gives some reasons of why people may do this and I do this that they are related, mostly financial or just because the person wants to get back their boss.
5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?
I do agree with what is being said in the second part of chapter 6 because employee crime and employee monitoring are issues people still have to deal with today. Employers and employees have always had to deal with these issues because no workplace has ever been perfect. The issues have evolved with the technology, so now that there are new ways to steal from an employer, such as embezzlement, or to monitor your employees, such as looking through their e-mails and websites, the issue has only become more advanced.
6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?
I believe that this topic is relevant in today’s society because if you look at the rising statistics of today’s employee theft you will see the rate is consistently growing. According to The Schulman Center for Compulsive theft, spending, and hoarding, 75% of employees steal from their work and do so repeatedly, 30% of corporate bankruptcies resulted from employee theft, and 60% of inventory losses were due to employee theft. The FBI believes that employee theft is the fastest growing crime in America (http://www.theshulmancenter.com/facts.htm). These statistics show the seriousness of employee theft is America’s society today. The ethical issue raised by employee monitoring is the crossing the line between an employer protecting their property rights, and an employee protecting their privacy rights (Baase, pg. 342).
References
http://www.theshulmancenter.com/facts.htm
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (EXCLUDING REFERENCE PAGE)
Author: Sara Baase
Date of Publication: 2008
Book: A Gift of Fire
Sections read: 6.4 and 6.5
1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
a. I learned that embezzlement means, “fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom it has been entrusted.” (pg. 332)
b. I couldn’t believe when I read that 47% of retail losses are from retail store employees. I have never stolen anything in my life, let alone from my place of employment. (pg. 337)
c. I didn’t know that some places of employment took such extreme measures to keep track of their employees by using electronic surveillance badges to know their every location. (pg. 337)
2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?
In section 6.4, Baase discusses embezzlement, fraud and different ways an employee can sabotage their workplace using technology (pg. 332-335). In section 6.5 Baase goes into the different techniques companies use to monitor their employees. Baase explains the three most common issues in the three areas of electronic monitoring; details of performance, location and performance of scattered employees, and e-mail, voice mail, and Web surfing. Throughout these sections, Baase implicates the ethics involved with an employee’s right to privacy and an employer’s protection of property rights (pg. 335-344).
3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – BE SPECIFIC AND EXPLAIN?
At my work I have personally experienced my employer monitoring the web activity of employees at the workplace. If an employee tries to go on an unrelated website to work on one of the work computers the web page will not open. My employer has made it so certain websites are restricted access while connected to their internet and at their workplace. As Baase states on page 343, some people may feel this restricted access as an invasion of privacy because then your employer will know what websites you are going on. I agree with those who feel this monitoring is acceptable because going online at your workplace is on their property and on their time they are paying their employees for.
4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.
In chapter 6, Baase talks about retail theft and embezzlement by employees. Not in relation to computers, technology, or the internet, theft by employees at their workplace in general is still a pressing issue today. I have heard from friends at their workplaces who have stolen food if they work at a grocery store, or liquor at a liquor store, or appliances at a home store. None of these thefts have to do with technology directly but are still wrong. On page 334 Baase gives some reasons of why people may do this and I do this that they are related, mostly financial or just because the person wants to get back their boss.
5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?
I do agree with what is being said in the second part of chapter 6 because employee crime and employee monitoring are issues people still have to deal with today. Employers and employees have always had to deal with these issues because no workplace has ever been perfect. The issues have evolved with the technology, so now that there are new ways to steal from an employer, such as embezzlement, or to monitor your employees, such as looking through their e-mails and websites, the issue has only become more advanced.
6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?
I believe that this topic is relevant in today’s society because if you look at the rising statistics of today’s employee theft you will see the rate is consistently growing. According to The Schulman Center for Compulsive theft, spending, and hoarding, 75% of employees steal from their work and do so repeatedly, 30% of corporate bankruptcies resulted from employee theft, and 60% of inventory losses were due to employee theft. The FBI believes that employee theft is the fastest growing crime in America (http://www.theshulmancenter.com/facts.htm). These statistics show the seriousness of employee theft is America’s society today. The ethical issue raised by employee monitoring is the crossing the line between an employer protecting their property rights, and an employee protecting their privacy rights (Baase, pg. 342).
References
http://www.theshulmancenter.com/facts.htm
Monday, November 7, 2011
Chapter 6-Part 1: Work
Name Victoria Terhaar Class time: 12 pm
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (EXCLUDING REFERENCE PAGE)
Author: Sara Baase
Date of Publication: 2008
Book: A Gift Of Fire
Sections read: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
a. When I read that between 1993 and 2002, 309.9 million jobs ended, but in the same period of time 327.7 million jobs were added, I wouldn’t know whether or not to think this would be a positive or negative action because of the difference within the jobs. (pg 311)
b. I agree with Baase on page 315 when she states that the new technologically advanced jobs of the 21st century require at least a college degree with job training for a worker to be successful at that job.
c. When Alan Blinder states that 28-42 million jobs have the potential to become off shore jobs it makes me wonder if in the future that will happen and that amount of people will become unemployed in the United States. (page 321)
2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?
In sections 6.1 and 6.2 of this chapter, Baase begins by describing and listing all of the current and past jobs that have been taken over by technology. Baase explains that with the destruction of millions of jobs, there has been an equal or greater amount of creation of jobs. She gives the reader different explanations such as a countries economy, or social development that have factored into the change of jobs. Offshoring is an important section that explains how companies are taking their business to different countries for cheaper and leaving Americans unemployed. Baase gives both pros and cons and the ethics coincided with offshoring (pgs 308-327). In section 6.3 Baase introduces telecommuting, which is basically a mobile job, whether it be at home or one that can be done from a computer anywhere. She talks about the pros, cons, and restrictions within this business (327-332).
3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – BE SPECIFIC AND EXPLAIN?
One thing potential employees may find frustrating, but potential employers find helpful is the availability of a potential employees profile on a social networking site. I’ve seen this done personally because my father is the owner of a medical management company and he checks potential employees Facebook’s to see if they are suitable candidates for a job. This issue has become widespread throughout the United States directly affecting whether or not a person may or may not get a job. Some employers are open about using this tactic, which is why that research has shown that 24% of employers have hired a person based on their profile, while 33% have not (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151044/employers_admit_checking_facebook_before_hiring.html).
4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.
Baase consistently saying different examples throughout the chapter of jobs that have been taken over by technology ignited me thinking about certain jobs that don’t have to do with technology and wondering how and if those jobs could ever be taken over. One example would be classical music. I used to play the string bass and piano and there is no way a person can get that same sound of an orchestra by technology without people actually playing their instruments. People then wouldn’t get to enjoy sounds from orchestras such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Another job that I don’t think technology should completely take over is the teaching industry. Too many students learn more effectively from people rather than computers.
5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?
I do agree with what is being said within this chapter because just living my everyday life I can see what is being said affecting me personally. Just this past weekend I had a problem using my debit card out of town and the first number sent me to a machine operator, and the second to a foreign person. Whether or not that person was in a different country is unknown but that supports what Baase was talking about with businesses offshoring. It is obvious for people to see how technology is changing the future of the job market and business sector.
6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?
I absolutely think all topics within this chapter are relevant in today’s society. People can look right in front of them or in the newspaper, or on the television and see the changing market within today’s business economy. It is clear to know that the rate of unemployment is an issue that has been fluctuating for the past ten years now because of the recession within this country which has affected almost each individual person.
References
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151044/employers_admit_checking_facebook_before_hiring.html
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (EXCLUDING REFERENCE PAGE)
Author: Sara Baase
Date of Publication: 2008
Book: A Gift Of Fire
Sections read: 6.1, 6.2, 6.3
1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
a. When I read that between 1993 and 2002, 309.9 million jobs ended, but in the same period of time 327.7 million jobs were added, I wouldn’t know whether or not to think this would be a positive or negative action because of the difference within the jobs. (pg 311)
b. I agree with Baase on page 315 when she states that the new technologically advanced jobs of the 21st century require at least a college degree with job training for a worker to be successful at that job.
c. When Alan Blinder states that 28-42 million jobs have the potential to become off shore jobs it makes me wonder if in the future that will happen and that amount of people will become unemployed in the United States. (page 321)
2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?
In sections 6.1 and 6.2 of this chapter, Baase begins by describing and listing all of the current and past jobs that have been taken over by technology. Baase explains that with the destruction of millions of jobs, there has been an equal or greater amount of creation of jobs. She gives the reader different explanations such as a countries economy, or social development that have factored into the change of jobs. Offshoring is an important section that explains how companies are taking their business to different countries for cheaper and leaving Americans unemployed. Baase gives both pros and cons and the ethics coincided with offshoring (pgs 308-327). In section 6.3 Baase introduces telecommuting, which is basically a mobile job, whether it be at home or one that can be done from a computer anywhere. She talks about the pros, cons, and restrictions within this business (327-332).
3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – BE SPECIFIC AND EXPLAIN?
One thing potential employees may find frustrating, but potential employers find helpful is the availability of a potential employees profile on a social networking site. I’ve seen this done personally because my father is the owner of a medical management company and he checks potential employees Facebook’s to see if they are suitable candidates for a job. This issue has become widespread throughout the United States directly affecting whether or not a person may or may not get a job. Some employers are open about using this tactic, which is why that research has shown that 24% of employers have hired a person based on their profile, while 33% have not (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151044/employers_admit_checking_facebook_before_hiring.html).
4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.
Baase consistently saying different examples throughout the chapter of jobs that have been taken over by technology ignited me thinking about certain jobs that don’t have to do with technology and wondering how and if those jobs could ever be taken over. One example would be classical music. I used to play the string bass and piano and there is no way a person can get that same sound of an orchestra by technology without people actually playing their instruments. People then wouldn’t get to enjoy sounds from orchestras such as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Another job that I don’t think technology should completely take over is the teaching industry. Too many students learn more effectively from people rather than computers.
5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?
I do agree with what is being said within this chapter because just living my everyday life I can see what is being said affecting me personally. Just this past weekend I had a problem using my debit card out of town and the first number sent me to a machine operator, and the second to a foreign person. Whether or not that person was in a different country is unknown but that supports what Baase was talking about with businesses offshoring. It is obvious for people to see how technology is changing the future of the job market and business sector.
6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?
I absolutely think all topics within this chapter are relevant in today’s society. People can look right in front of them or in the newspaper, or on the television and see the changing market within today’s business economy. It is clear to know that the rate of unemployment is an issue that has been fluctuating for the past ten years now because of the recession within this country which has affected almost each individual person.
References
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/151044/employers_admit_checking_facebook_before_hiring.html
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