Is Google making us stupid???

As I think back to class discussions throughout the semester, the topic about the Internet and Google is the most interesting to me, probably because I use the Internet so much. It is so easy to think that if you have a question about something: "just Google it". I've heard that phrase many times before. It is so convenient to go to the Google website and type in anthing. Immediately there are hundreds and hundreds of responses. But how reliable are the answers? Honestly, I never thought about this until this class. I just assumed what I was receiving was legitimate. Clearly, I was wrong and naive. Those responses are not always going to be valid. Finding accurate sources using a search engine is like a needle in a haystack. I've learned that is so important to look for true, valid sources because the results that pop up from a search engine have no depth. There is no hiearchy of information; all information is on one single level. So while Google provides quick and speedy information at our fingertips, I'm a little sketchy of its reliability.

What makes us human?

In most of the blogs there is a question that comes up in almost every argument. What does it take to be human? I think there are a lot of ways to look at this question. The first argument would be made for our d.n.a makeup. If that is it than our we the parts that make up our body?. Is it our cognitive ability? If that is the case then is it our brain that makes us human? Would someone who doesn't have these things be less human? Not to mention items of belief such as a spirit or soul. I believe that it isn't simple that's why these questions constantly come up. It is the combination of all these attributes that make us who we are. There can be things like us but we are so unique that nothing else can be human. Once we come to a clear understanding of what a human is it is easier to get a better perspective of other questions.

Koko

Watching the movie Koko today in class was very interesting and I found myself starting to rethink emotions that can be felt not just by humans. But after having the conversation about the emotions koko was feeling as being up to level with humans it still remains, that the emotions humans feel are different than that of animals or robots. We talked about how if a dog gets scolded or given a treat it either shys away because it got yelled at or it jumps around because it is excited over getting the treat. These emotions are instinct and happen in any animal whereas when humans feel emotions we feel and think deeply into our emotions. and those emotions can change. Yes it is remarkable that a gorilla can learn and have the ability to be as smart as a young child and this amazes me but it still is not the same level that humans are on when dealign with learning and handeling emotions.

Reflection of the class this semester.

I really enjoyed the class ethic and technology this semester with Dr. Langguth. We explored a lot of issues going on with technology today from the internet to robots. When I came into this class I didn't think my view on technology would change, but it did. I use to think that Google was the best thing that could of happened for a student because it would save people time by just looking up information on Google rather than going to the library and reading books to get more valid information. I learned from Nicholas Carr that Google is really hurting the intelligence of our society in the article Is Google Making Us Stupid? Also before I took this class I didn't know what device paradigm was or what focal practice meant. I thought that technology was great, but once I read Albert Borgmann novel Technology and the Character of Contemporary Life I began to notice that people are losing family traditions for example instead of sitting down at the table to eat dinner families order fast food and eat in seperate rooms watching television. I'm starting to see that in my own family and thats why I believe people should understand what device paradigm mean which is devices taking over focal practice and a focal practices consist of making fires, eating dinner at the table as a family, or making music. Those things are really being replaced by technology we see fake fire places in people bed rooms, people walk around downloading and listening to music on their ipods rather than make it themselves. Before I took this class I didnt believe that technology is hurting society, but now I realize it is. I also enjoyed talking about robots. I truely enjoyed my ethics and technology class this semester.

December 2, 2008

I found today's discussion in class very interesting. I think the episode in Boston Legal was indeed comparative to the idea of synthetic parts. I do not think that taking a drug is illegal if it helps a person study. To me, it is the same as coffee, if it is used as a means to stay up and focus. I think a drug should be illegal like in the case of steroids. Those help build muscle to make athletes stronger. To me, a medicine or coffee do not necessarily make a person smarter. It may just give them the capactiy to retain more knowledge. I do not believe that is cheating. It isnt as if the person has the answers to a test written on their hand. I personally have never used a medicine like Ritalin in order to do better on a test or say up late and focus for a test. I prefer to stick to coffee and sugar!!!!

Robot After Life

I wouldn't want to become a robot after life. I think it would just be harder to move on for others because if I lost someone important to me I would just want them gone so I could move on. It would just be strange to know that everything that person was is in front of me, but it really isn't them. The person that I love and the warmth they gave me died when they did and to have a figure to make up for it isn't going to help me move on, it would just make it worse.

Star Trek

While watching Star Trek the only thing that came to mind was that fact the Data was so life like. Which definitely made me rethink my views on the matter if robots will be be able to have rights. When a robot can think and have feeling in the way that Data did makes me consider him a life like as me. But I also think that it is going to awhile before there are such machines as Data walking around our world. And I also don't think we are ready for such machines around us. I think it will be years before we are comfortable for having machines walking around as one with humans.