Required Textbook
We will use Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion
by Abelson, Ledeen, Lewis for reading assignments about the digital revolution. You are required to acquire this book, either
by purchasing it or by downloading PDF
copies of its chapters.
Reading Assignment
Read Chapter 4 of Blown
to Bits (50 pages). This chapter talks about Google and Search
and how the Google phenomenon has changed our lives.
Reading Questions
Post answers to the following questions on a Portfolio page. We will
discuss these in class.
- p. 117: "The architecture of human knowledge has changed as
a result of search." What does this claim mean? Do you agree?
- When you type a word or phrase into the Google search engine,
does it search the web? Explain.
- Think of a number between 1 and 100. If you tell me "too high" or
"too low" I can guess the number in 7 guesses. How come?
- p. 144: "Google emerged -- from this dilemma at least -- with its
pocketbooks overflowing and its principles intact." Do you agree?
- What do you think about the differences between Figure 4.10
and Figure 4.11?
Portfolio
Your answers to the above questions should be recorded on
a new portfolio page. Name it "Blown to Bits, Ch4" or something
similar.