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 the Conclusion of Blown
to Bits (5 pages) and read the Scientific American article
Long
Live the Web: A Call for Continued Open Standards and Neutrality
by the creater of the Web, Tim Berners-Lee (7 pages).
Reading Questions
Post answers to the following questions on a Portfolio page. We will
discuss these in class. You should be prepared in class to summarize
and share your answers to the following questions.
- One theme of Blown to Bits has been that technology (in particular
information technology), like fire, is neither good nor bad -- its value depends
on how we use it.
The conclusion describes three issues where information
technology is bringing rapid change -- privacy, free
speech, and creativity. Choose one of these three
issues and:
- (1 paragraph) Describe the issue or issues raised by the authors.
- (1 paragraph) Describe your thinking on the issue, pointing out at least one
of its good and bad implications and giving your assessment about
whether the future will be positive or negative one with regard
to that issue.
- (1 paragraph) The article by Berners-Lee raises the issue
of siloing of the Web, or, as he puts it, the threat to the
Web's universality. Describe what is at issue here and whether
or not you agree with Berners-Lee that we should be concerned about
it.
Portfolio
Your answers to the above questions should be recorded on a new
portfolio page. Name it "Blown to Bits, Conclusion" or something
similar.