If I commit to purchasing your book, will you give me extra credit?

Honestly, I am just kidding over the title, only in a perfect world I could talk my professor into easy points for a class. It is highly unethical but, just for a good laugh, I figured I would ask.

At first, I did not know what to think of this class. I got a cheap book, and a fairly easy read about flattening of the world. It came across as if Friedman was on drugs, but then after some thought, and figuring out what he meant by his metaphor, it all made sense. In a way, the world has been shrinking. In a way that with the help of industrialization, new technologies, and globalization, our world has gotten smaller, in a technical sense. We now have ways to connect faster, and easier to other areas of the planet for a relatively low cost.

This class has helped me find a new appreciation for technology, and the world we live in today. I always was a tech nerd, but only with media and entertainment aspects, but now with a more productive view on technology and our world, I have begun to appreciate it even more. Even as I sit here at work, updating this blog while in incognito mode, I am able to finish my final assignment. I don’t have to worry about transferring anything to a flash drive, or email it to my personal email for to ensure I upload this to my blog in a timely matter. Those are the least of my worries, right now as I sit at work, my biggest worry is having a supervisor see what I am doing and write me up for doing something that would be considered a violation of security. Thank you Google Drive for allowing me to open a document, and have it automatically save as I type, very convenient for trying to submit an assignment just before it is due.

Overall, the most that I have learned from this class is Globalization, and how it has affected our life and how we keep in contact with the world. The difference between outsourcing and offshoring were two big things that I had a negative political perspective on, this class had helped for me to better understand the benefits of both, if they are not abused and overdone.

On our last class, one of the most interesting things I could have learned about technology was the 3D printer, and the possibilities it has for our future. The thought of what could come about a 3D printer is something that I am sure at one point would be considered science fiction. With the rapid advancements in technology, what was once thought of as nothing more than a dream, is quickly becoming a reality.

This class came as somewhat of a surprise to me, I 

thought of it as an easy A but realized I learned more that I 

had originally thought. My appreciation of technology is now 

greater.

GNR (no not Guns N Roses)

Module 12
Fearing the takeover of technology, and the existence of human-kind is a debate that surfaces quite often in the history of electronics. Bill Joy, largely being respected in the Computer Industry, argues this and I think it holds merit. Even though this was written in April of the year 2000, at the time I would see some people thinking him as a crazy. Much of his argument seemingly sounds like it came straight from a science fiction film. Reading his article now, his prophecies hold a little truth. I too think at one point in my lifetime, computers will hold knowledge comparable to the human mind, but I am not convinced this as being something to be feared, but more of as an opportunity and reason to learn from what we have created and stay on top of our creations.
A big fear of mine with the rise of technology and the relevance of man, comes down to laziness. Technology and the rapid growth is killing basic functions in the world, and increasing the laziness of humanity. It’s like we are sloth-ing ourselves in the wake of our creations. Instead of studying and learning about something out of a book in a traditional manner, I have a computer in my pocket to work the answer for me, thus killing the necessity to think for myself.
“Our most powerful 21st-century technologies — robotics, genetic engineering, and nanotech — are threatening to make humans an endangered species." GNR, as Bill Joy refers it. Joy talks of genetic engineering in terms or agriculture in raising productivity being able to cut out pesticides.  Genetic engineering will be able to create cures for diseases, and help us all live longer.  The manipulation of genes can bring on problems that Joy talks about. Cloning and stem-cells both raise important ethical issues. Joy also brings up the factor of certain safety issues.  For instance in genetically engineered crops there could be mutations and dangerous side effects.
Nanotechnology would be the study and work of matter on the smallest level.  It is the bottom-up science that is heavily involved in medicines, electronics, energy production, electronics and biomaterials. Joy warns of the incredible and destructive power that this technology holds. While manipulating these atoms on such a small level, one could help in medical situations in rapidly encouraging the re-growth of cells.  Used wrongly this could be detrimental.
Robotics, of course we already see this in today’s manufacturing. I could agree that it has replaced humans in manufacturing and production industries, just not completely.
Overall, I agree to Joy’s thoughts on the relevance of human-kind and machine. Though not completely, maybe it’s because I give man too much credit in the hopes that instead of rolling over and let it happen, humanity will learn from the technology provided and stay on top.