Module 7

How have computer been relevant in my education? It would probably be a lot easier to tell you how they have not. All throughout school I have had to utilize computers for many different purposes. For instance in college, you apply online, you register for classes and online, and you can even take classes purely online. How would any of this be possible without utilizing computers, exactly it wouldn't. I am extremely grateful for computers in my education because I take advantage of them by taking mostly online classes since by life seems crazy busy enough. Trying to balance a full time job, a family and school at once can seem at least overwhelming, but because of computers I have been able to get my education all while not leaving the comfort of my own home, which makes it seem less demanding. I am so grateful for all the technologies that have made communicating with teachers easier, so that any questions I have working from home can be answered. Programs like canvas, and this blog help me to stay on top of my school work, all while not having to worry about getting to class on time. 

It seems as though every part of my education is interlinked to computers and technologies. I have to type all my assignments from my computer. I have to post my assignments online to my professors, all on a computer. I have to go to school to take tests all of which are on a computer. It is remarkable that computers can basically run our lives and keep them organized. My computer has a calendar which reminds me when I have assignments due. Without my computer I probably wouldn't be able to pass my classes because I can't seem to remember anything on my own with out my computer or cell phone.

It is hard to imagine having to go through school without computers and all the accessibility that they bring us. They allow  us to research for projects, communicate with classmates and teachers, type assignments, turn in assignments and keep our education on track. I myself am grateful to get to go to school today and have all the help that computers have brought. 

Module 6

            It is amazing that through the process of combining all the flatteners together we were able to make things even more accessible. The triple convergence allowed for easier convenience for both the company and the costumers. The first convergence allowed for costumers and companies to work hand in hand because of the availability of computers, bandwidth and know-how. Southwest and Konica were two of the first companies to take advantage of this. The second convergence was the platform, since we had now made an equal playing field, or a flat platform, it made it allowed for companies to not only do business the old way, but also find new ways to do business with their customers.  This breakthrough is what gave Wal-Mart the ability to communicate with their shippers across seas to make sure that they were able to keep up with the demand of their customers. The third convergence was getting the whole world involved. Once the Berlin Wall came down it allowed for even more people to become part of the flat world. All the new technologies were now available all over the world, making it a more level playing field for companies and people everywhere.

            The case of India vs. Indiana is very interesting and I don’t think there is a clear black and white answer to who is being exploited and who is doing the exploiting. I think that both sides were taking advantage of each other. It is definitely comical to me though that the state’s employment center was accepting work from outside the United States. By taking advantage of the lower costs of India they were benefiting themselves and hurting themselves all at the same time. I believe that India was definitely taking advantage of the skills that they had been taught and would do whatever they could to bring the work to them, because what good is their education if they aren’t able to use it. Unfortuantely I think this same sort of thing is happening all over still between states and outsourcing. It is hard to provide the adequate products at reasonable prices here in the United States because of the costs, but then again we are giving away work that could be helping out those in our country. 

            Intellectual property are the things that people think of to help better the country. They are ideas and inventions that are used to make advances in society. It is hard to say though who can own what and who has to share ideas. If all intellectual property was kept to oneself we wouldn’t be able to make all the advances that we have thus far. I think that it is important that we allow some things to be kept to oneself because I think that sometimes it forces us to think of newer, better ways to solve problems then just already accept a solution that has already been found. I think that is important that people are compensated for their intellectual property if they have to share and disclose it otherwise there would be no incentive for them to keep progressing and making things easier. People wouldn’t care to work hard to find a better way if they weren’t being rewarded for it. 

Module 5

            It is amazing that through the process of combining all the flatteners together we were able to make things even more accessible. The triple convergence allowed for easier convenience for both the company and the costumers. The first convergence allowed for costumers and companies to work hand in hand because of the availability of computers, bandwidth and know-how. Southwest and Konica were two of the first companies to take advantage of this. The second convergence was the platform, since we had now made an equal playing field, or a flat platform, it made it allowed for companies to not only do business the old way, but also find new ways to do business with their customers.  This breakthrough is what gave Wal-Mart the ability to communicate with their shippers across seas to make sure that they were able to keep up with the demand of their customers. The third convergence was getting the whole world involved. Once the Berlin Wall came down it allowed for even more people to become part of the flat world. All the new technologies were now available all over the world, making it a more level playing field for companies and people everywhere.

            The case of India vs. Indiana is very interesting and I don’t think there is a clear black and white answer to who is being exploited and who is doing the exploiting. I think that both sides were taking advantage of each other. It is definitely comical to me though that the state’s employment center was accepting work from outside the United States. By taking advantage of the lower costs of India they were benefiting themselves and hurting themselves all at the same time. I believe that India was definitely taking advantage of the skills that they had been taught and would do whatever they could to bring the work to them, because what good is their education if they aren’t able to use it. Unfortuantely I think this same sort of thing is happening all over still between states and outsourcing. It is hard to provide the adequate products at reasonable prices here in the United States because of the costs, but then again we are giving away work that could be helping out those in our country. 

            Intellectual property are the things that people think of to help better the country. They are ideas and inventions that are used to make advances in society. It is hard to say though who can own what and who has to share ideas. If all intellectual property was kept to oneself we wouldn’t be able to make all the advances that we have thus far. I think that it is important that we allow some things to be kept to oneself because I think that sometimes it forces us to think of newer, better ways to solve problems then just already accept a solution that has already been found. I think that is important that people are compensated for their intellectual property if they have to share and disclose it otherwise there would be no incentive for them to keep progressing and making things easier. People wouldn’t care to work hard to find a better way if they weren’t being rewarded for it. 

Module 4

For the assignment this week I decided to contact my  uncle. He is a computer programmer for a local school district. He has been working this job for over 10 years, and over time it has become more and more demanding. Now that all of the schools that he works with have a wider access to computers and more per facility he is kept a lot busier. His job requires a lot of knowledge, many things which were above my head when he was explaining them. He is responsible to make that sure all the correct programs are installed on the computers and he also make sure that they all have filters installed so that the kids can’t go onto websites that aren’t allowed. Not only is he responsible for keeping the portable computers working so that every class can use them when needs be, but he assists the teachers when they are having problems with their computers.

In order to stay on top of all the new programs and running systems he is required to take a couple classes each year, to learn all the new improvements, that way he can stay on top of them so he is able to help with the new problems. Through all his experience he has learned the ins and outs of the computers and what kind of memory, processor and such is necessary to run the programs that are needed for the school.

Not only does he make sure that that computers are working properly but he also teaches the kids and teachers how to use them appropriately. At the beginning of the year he teaches classes that show how to do the simple things that are needed to know in order to complete assignments for the year.

There were a lot of things that he talked about with their system for the district, where they have programs that allow the teachers to access the same documents so that they are able to adjust them for their own schedules and assignments but all have the same format. He is also responsible to help keep their emails all linked and working which is how they easily share documents with the other teachers.

Although to him he thinks his job is pretty basic and easy to do, to the average Joe like me it is not so easy. I am like one of the students that he teaches how to do the basics on the computer so that you are able to get your work done. I can’t do a whole lot beyond opening up a word document and typing what I need, and since starting college I have learned to submit an assignment online. I am so grateful that there are people that are able to program computers in order to keep them working for people like me.