The study of the material offered in this class was rather enjoyable for me. “The World is Flat” was an excellent book to read, it re-invented new thoughts in my mind that up to this point, really never entered it, or thoughts that I never took time to stop and think about. Although the title of the book left something to be desired in my opinion, it offered up plenty of material that allowed me to view the world economies in a different manner. World economies are defiantly very much intertwined whether you like it or not. We live in an age where communication is very complicated or simple, depending on your perspective, and if you fall behind in technology, you are simply missing the boat. Technology is an essential part of most everyone's lives, not only are we connected in on a local or national platform, it virtually encompasses the entire world, and as the title of the book suggest, minimizes the shear size, and makes us all feel we can simply reach out and touch anyone or anything at the touch of our fingers.
The Netscape story was an interesting read for me, this, is some fashion is where it all began. As I look back at what was then Netscape, and where we are today, it's simply overwhelming to think about. Back when Netscape was developed, sure computers were around, and they were a nice convenience, today they are simply essential, and what I once had sitting in my computer room, that sold for close to $2000 before the turn of the century, now I hold in my hand in the form of a smart phone, which is also mobile.
The concept of outsourcing, offshoring, and free trade were one's that I always approached with mixed emotions. Friedman went into great detail and explained the cons as well as the pros of all concepts, and he gave real world examples of how each operated. I appreciated his devotion and time he has spent on this book, and his research. I felt for the most part, it was well written and very beneficial to anyone who choose to study his work. The one thing that I did find very interesting about Mr. Friedman, is he always knew the right people in the right course of study.
Id have to say my favorite part of this class is the papers we had the opportunity to write on research with computer networks and how computers have effected our education. It's always enjoyable when your able to take a subject that you really enjoy, and expand on it.
Another very interesting part of this class was the study of why are some countries or regions are better at doing some things than other countries or regions. This was fascinating to me, the reasons Friedman points out have really never occurred to me, nor had I really ever stop to think about them. After giving them some thought they made perfect sense, they changed my view on
developing oil rich countries, and to the reason they really never can get out of there own way. Really it is very sad that the people of those countries must suffer at the hands of these dictatorships, where they could have so much more to offer and develop for themselves.
The movie review was wonderful, I really enjoyed taking the opportunity to watch the film “War Games” again, this was a childhood favorite of mine, but as I stated in my paper, one I really never fully grasped at that age. This class afforded me the opportunity to watch it again and really think about how realistic the movie presented itself, and what was purely science fiction.
Having the opportunity to read others post about the same material I had study was a great benefit, it offered a different perspective which I believe is always a good idea. In closing, I'd have to state that this class has certainly offered new perspectives on the world economy as a whole, and just how small the world has become with all the technology that we enjoy today. It has taught me that I am not only competing with people in my area, I am also competing with people potentially all around the world, and as such I need to fine tune my skills to continually keep up with this ever demanding, and changing world.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Module 12
As I began reading this article, I couldn't help to think that this is going to dive into another science fiction story, like all the movies that Hollywood has come out with depicting computers, robots, and technologies in general taking over the world. The author of this article, Bill Joy, appears to be a very intelligent individual. He claims he was already reading by the age of 3, which is something very hard to imagine given that I myself have a 4 year old who is just beginning to learn her letters. Not only did he begin to read early, he skipped a grade and immersed himself into books. While growing up, he was very interested in science and technologies, and excelled in mathematics. While attending the University of Michigan as an undergraduate student, he discovered computers and found something that was much more interesting. He described computers as “a machine into which you could put a program that attempted to solve a problem, after which the machine quickly checked the solution. The computer had a clear notion of correct and incorrect, true and false”.
Mr. Joy defines GNR, which stands for genetic, nanotechnology, and robotics, and is claimed to be potentially so powerful that it can spawn entire new classes of abuse and accidents. He theorizes that robots could conceivably, one day, be an upgrade to the human body, and that humans could begin to resemble robots. This is a little far fetched in my opinion. Yes, prosthetics could conceivably play a larger part in medicine, giving the opportunity to some individuals of a better standard of life, but to suggest that we may all one day become part robots is a quite improbable.
Genetic engineering is also on his road-map for what the future may hold. Crop engineering increases crop yield, and by the same token, reduces harmful pesticides. This could bring about the creation of new plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses. These changes in biological science are immense, and could bring about real change to what we consider to be life. We must determine to what extent we should explore such innovations. To me, this is a very valid concern; who knows what the limits of genetic engineering may be, or to what extent they may change life as we know it. Where is the line in the sand drawn to conclude science has gone far enough, and what governing body will govern this revolution?
The nuclear, biological, and chemical agents created in the 20th century have produced weapons of mass destruction and have primarily been the product of government and military laboratory deployment. Now that we have arrived in the 21st century, this has become commercialized as science has shown clear commercial use. Anyone can appreciate its potential for destruction. Even in today's world, the thought of such technology falling into the wrong hands is a terrifying prospect, and one that is very real.
The numerous concerns that Mr. Joy lays out are well founded. As technology marches on, and new inventions streamline our modern world, concerns as to where they may take us, and what dangers might await us are real issues that will, and must, be addressed. In the article, it referred to President Reagan's missile defense system called Star Wars, which was conjured up to protect us from our own destructive inventions. This was a shield that would reflect away any attempt by the Soviet Union to launch a nuclear attack on the United States. As we all know, this was never actually implemented, but is serves as a stern reminder of how destructive our own inventions could be, and the steps that may be necessary in the future to protect us from our own inventions.
The world and technology will continue to march on, and for each new invention, or the progression of existing technologies, there will inevitably be good and bad that arrive from both. What mankind chooses to do with those technologies is totally up to us. In my view, there is real concern for what the future may hold, and how governments will meet the challenges of these problems. But, as in anything, the hope for a better tomorrow and an improved world will, hopefully, be the outcome as we move into the future.
Mr. Joy defines GNR, which stands for genetic, nanotechnology, and robotics, and is claimed to be potentially so powerful that it can spawn entire new classes of abuse and accidents. He theorizes that robots could conceivably, one day, be an upgrade to the human body, and that humans could begin to resemble robots. This is a little far fetched in my opinion. Yes, prosthetics could conceivably play a larger part in medicine, giving the opportunity to some individuals of a better standard of life, but to suggest that we may all one day become part robots is a quite improbable.
Genetic engineering is also on his road-map for what the future may hold. Crop engineering increases crop yield, and by the same token, reduces harmful pesticides. This could bring about the creation of new plants, animals, bacteria, and viruses. These changes in biological science are immense, and could bring about real change to what we consider to be life. We must determine to what extent we should explore such innovations. To me, this is a very valid concern; who knows what the limits of genetic engineering may be, or to what extent they may change life as we know it. Where is the line in the sand drawn to conclude science has gone far enough, and what governing body will govern this revolution?
The nuclear, biological, and chemical agents created in the 20th century have produced weapons of mass destruction and have primarily been the product of government and military laboratory deployment. Now that we have arrived in the 21st century, this has become commercialized as science has shown clear commercial use. Anyone can appreciate its potential for destruction. Even in today's world, the thought of such technology falling into the wrong hands is a terrifying prospect, and one that is very real.
The numerous concerns that Mr. Joy lays out are well founded. As technology marches on, and new inventions streamline our modern world, concerns as to where they may take us, and what dangers might await us are real issues that will, and must, be addressed. In the article, it referred to President Reagan's missile defense system called Star Wars, which was conjured up to protect us from our own destructive inventions. This was a shield that would reflect away any attempt by the Soviet Union to launch a nuclear attack on the United States. As we all know, this was never actually implemented, but is serves as a stern reminder of how destructive our own inventions could be, and the steps that may be necessary in the future to protect us from our own inventions.
The world and technology will continue to march on, and for each new invention, or the progression of existing technologies, there will inevitably be good and bad that arrive from both. What mankind chooses to do with those technologies is totally up to us. In my view, there is real concern for what the future may hold, and how governments will meet the challenges of these problems. But, as in anything, the hope for a better tomorrow and an improved world will, hopefully, be the outcome as we move into the future.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Module 11
The movie I chose to watch is War Games. This is a movie that I really enjoyed watching as a kid, but one that I did not fully grasp or follow at that age. After watching the movie again, the plot and story line made much more sense with my background in computer science.
The story begins with a simulation of a nuclear attack against the United States from the Soviet Union. A large computer named the “WAPR” sits at NORAD and monitors and simulates WWIII, and how to respond to such an attack. A teenage boy named David, who is a computer junkie, breaks into his school database via a dial-up connection and changes his grades, along with his friend Jennifer's, after hacking the password from the principal's office. He also breaks in to the Pan-AM database and creates reservations for himself and Jennifer to fly to Paris just for fun. His computer is constantly dialing phone numbers, and finds a response from a computer in Sunnyvale, California which has a list of games to play. However, he is unable to access them due to being unable to get past the security. He visits a couple of his computer programming friends and they suggest the concept of a back door; one that is placed to bypass front end security and is simply accessed by a password of the programmer's choice. David researches the developer of the program, Professor Falken, and finds out he is deceased, and that his family was killed in an auto accident. He also learns his child’s name is “Joshua” and uses that as the password and successfully enters the back door.
He begins interaction with the computer, as it is one that can think for itself, much like we as humans can think and make decisions on our own. He suggests playing a game, “Global Nuclear War”, and the computer begins by asking him if he would like to be on the side of the United States or the Soviet Union. He responds he would like to be on the side of the Soviet Union, and that he would like to launch a missile attack targeting Las Vegas and his hometown of Seattle. This sets off a fury of excitement at NORAD, as they don’t know this is a simulation and are preparing for an actual attack by the Soviet Union.
At this point, “Joshua”, the program running the whole operation, has stolen the launch codes from NORAD, and is simply waiting for Death Con 1 which is required to launch the missiles. David and Jennifer find out that Professor Falken is actually still alive, and pay him a visit at his home on a small Island off the coast of Oregon, as they believe he is the only one who can stop “Joshua” from going through with the game and launching the nuclear missiles. “Joshua” begins another simulation that launches 300 missiles, which takes NORAD to Death Con 1, and enables a full scale nuclear response. Professor Falken and David make an entrance into NORAD just in time. As all the gates and doors are closed, they convince the general that this is simply a simulation and not an actual attack by the Soviet Union. As the screens at NORAD reflect missiles striking the United States at various points, it becomes clear that this is just a simulation. Eventually, David and Professor Falken convince “Joshua” to play a game of tic-tact-toe and teach “Joshua” the notion of futility. This is an important concept of the movie, as when Professor Falken programmed “Joshua”, he was unsuccessful in teaching “Joshua” this concept. This concept is what is necessary for “Joshua” to understand that not all games are winnable.
The use of computers in the movie are for the most part realistic. Back in 1983 when this movie came out, computers and networks were rather elementary compared to today's technologies, but in my estimation, hacking of computer equipment and causing problems was a real problem, just as it is today. The back door notion that was suggested by David's friends is also realistic. This is a concept I have heard of quite a bit though my education in computer science. What classifies as fiction in the movie, is the depiction that a program could actually be developed that can think and make decisions on its own. Even today, I believe this is out of the scope of what technologies are capable of.
The social issue this movies brings up is security. Even though this was simply a game that a young teenager wanted to play, the impact of such a breach of the nuclear network is very frightening. In today's world, with essentially all major components of life tied to networks, databases, and computers, the possibility that an essential infrastructure such as the electric grid being exposed by a terrorist, or a criminal network, is very real, and one that government and business alike should take very seriously. It has been discovered recently that Iran's nuclear program has been compromised by the efforts of US and Israeli personnel who devised a virus to penetrate the Iranian networks and set their nuclear program astray. This is an example of how hacking technologies actually benefit us, but that same virus and technology could just as easily be used in creating destruction. There are already concerns that now the Iranian breach has gone public, this virus could be studied by terrorists to create their own destructive plot against the United States.
The story begins with a simulation of a nuclear attack against the United States from the Soviet Union. A large computer named the “WAPR” sits at NORAD and monitors and simulates WWIII, and how to respond to such an attack. A teenage boy named David, who is a computer junkie, breaks into his school database via a dial-up connection and changes his grades, along with his friend Jennifer's, after hacking the password from the principal's office. He also breaks in to the Pan-AM database and creates reservations for himself and Jennifer to fly to Paris just for fun. His computer is constantly dialing phone numbers, and finds a response from a computer in Sunnyvale, California which has a list of games to play. However, he is unable to access them due to being unable to get past the security. He visits a couple of his computer programming friends and they suggest the concept of a back door; one that is placed to bypass front end security and is simply accessed by a password of the programmer's choice. David researches the developer of the program, Professor Falken, and finds out he is deceased, and that his family was killed in an auto accident. He also learns his child’s name is “Joshua” and uses that as the password and successfully enters the back door.
He begins interaction with the computer, as it is one that can think for itself, much like we as humans can think and make decisions on our own. He suggests playing a game, “Global Nuclear War”, and the computer begins by asking him if he would like to be on the side of the United States or the Soviet Union. He responds he would like to be on the side of the Soviet Union, and that he would like to launch a missile attack targeting Las Vegas and his hometown of Seattle. This sets off a fury of excitement at NORAD, as they don’t know this is a simulation and are preparing for an actual attack by the Soviet Union.
At this point, “Joshua”, the program running the whole operation, has stolen the launch codes from NORAD, and is simply waiting for Death Con 1 which is required to launch the missiles. David and Jennifer find out that Professor Falken is actually still alive, and pay him a visit at his home on a small Island off the coast of Oregon, as they believe he is the only one who can stop “Joshua” from going through with the game and launching the nuclear missiles. “Joshua” begins another simulation that launches 300 missiles, which takes NORAD to Death Con 1, and enables a full scale nuclear response. Professor Falken and David make an entrance into NORAD just in time. As all the gates and doors are closed, they convince the general that this is simply a simulation and not an actual attack by the Soviet Union. As the screens at NORAD reflect missiles striking the United States at various points, it becomes clear that this is just a simulation. Eventually, David and Professor Falken convince “Joshua” to play a game of tic-tact-toe and teach “Joshua” the notion of futility. This is an important concept of the movie, as when Professor Falken programmed “Joshua”, he was unsuccessful in teaching “Joshua” this concept. This concept is what is necessary for “Joshua” to understand that not all games are winnable.
The use of computers in the movie are for the most part realistic. Back in 1983 when this movie came out, computers and networks were rather elementary compared to today's technologies, but in my estimation, hacking of computer equipment and causing problems was a real problem, just as it is today. The back door notion that was suggested by David's friends is also realistic. This is a concept I have heard of quite a bit though my education in computer science. What classifies as fiction in the movie, is the depiction that a program could actually be developed that can think and make decisions on its own. Even today, I believe this is out of the scope of what technologies are capable of.
The social issue this movies brings up is security. Even though this was simply a game that a young teenager wanted to play, the impact of such a breach of the nuclear network is very frightening. In today's world, with essentially all major components of life tied to networks, databases, and computers, the possibility that an essential infrastructure such as the electric grid being exposed by a terrorist, or a criminal network, is very real, and one that government and business alike should take very seriously. It has been discovered recently that Iran's nuclear program has been compromised by the efforts of US and Israeli personnel who devised a virus to penetrate the Iranian networks and set their nuclear program astray. This is an example of how hacking technologies actually benefit us, but that same virus and technology could just as easily be used in creating destruction. There are already concerns that now the Iranian breach has gone public, this virus could be studied by terrorists to create their own destructive plot against the United States.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Module 10
First off, I will have to say this was a very difficult read for me. The grammar left much to be desired and I had to read the first few paragraphs multiple times just to figure out what the author was talking about. Joe appears to be a futuristic robot that was not yet invented, and merely a story derived from someone's imagination long ago.
Logic appears to be the internal workings of the robot, the “Motherboard” in terms of today's technologies. It provides all of the thinking and decision making for the robot, and processes the inputted information to a state that is comprehensible to the users. This seems to coincide a lot with today’s modern computer. The logic also appears to be capable of input from something similar to a keyboard, as the author eludes to “It looks like a vision receiver used to, only it's got keys instead of dials and you punch the keys for what you wanna get”. I interpreted the tank to be a big database, possibly connected to other databases, that provides information on any subject matter you would like to explore, and even provides current information such as the weather. This appears to me to be a direct relationship with the thought of having information at the touch of your fingertips, which would have been very convenient for someone to conceive that notion long ago. Of course we know this to be very true today; it's called the world wide web. Yesterdays imagination has becomes today's reality. The author also points to a "Station SNAFU" which appears to be like today's modern web cam. This device enabled the robot to connect to other robots across a network and appears to allow live viewing in some fashion or another.
I found it interesting that even back at the time this was written, they were talking about counterfeiting, and the demand for it was one of the popular searches. This is probably something we would think of today as modern Google searches, and while tracking the most popular subjects searched for on the web, counterfeiting seems to come out on a consistent basis. However, we all know this popular search is much different than counterfeiting.
Online baking also appears to be a foretold tale, as there is an instance where circuits are are transferring credit card balances from bank to bank, possibly causing people to go bankrupt. I would have to think that credit cards probably existed back then, or at least the notion of them, but this story goes a step further in the assumption that credit card use was wide spread, maybe to the extent they are used in modern times. This also fits right in with the modern day hacking of computer equipment. Someone appeared to be breaking into the “tank” causing destruction to the banking system. The tank is ordered for immediate shutdown, but it just can not happen. The tank has been doing the computing for businesses for years. This reminds one a lot of today's networks. The loss of technologies or the network to a business would be catastrophic. We have grown so accustomed to technology that our daily lives are immersed in them, so you have to wonder if society could carry on if for some reason it all disappeared one day. It certainly would have a profound effect on the economies of the world, and it may be thought of in terms of large natural disasters like the Great Depression.
Logic in this story is not compatible with what we deem to be computer technologies; it seemed to have a mind of its own, like something that you might consider in a science fiction story of a robot being created that can think and make choices on its own. I'm sure there are programs advanced enough to begin this process, but they are not wide spread and leave a lot to the imagination about the future. It's interesting to think of how advanced and technology driven the world is today, then after reading a story like this, thinking of what someone thought the future may look like, and comparing it to what we may have to look forward to, is just mind boggling. It's hard to imagine that in 50 years we may look back at today’s technologies and laugh at them.
Logic appears to be the internal workings of the robot, the “Motherboard” in terms of today's technologies. It provides all of the thinking and decision making for the robot, and processes the inputted information to a state that is comprehensible to the users. This seems to coincide a lot with today’s modern computer. The logic also appears to be capable of input from something similar to a keyboard, as the author eludes to “It looks like a vision receiver used to, only it's got keys instead of dials and you punch the keys for what you wanna get”. I interpreted the tank to be a big database, possibly connected to other databases, that provides information on any subject matter you would like to explore, and even provides current information such as the weather. This appears to me to be a direct relationship with the thought of having information at the touch of your fingertips, which would have been very convenient for someone to conceive that notion long ago. Of course we know this to be very true today; it's called the world wide web. Yesterdays imagination has becomes today's reality. The author also points to a "Station SNAFU" which appears to be like today's modern web cam. This device enabled the robot to connect to other robots across a network and appears to allow live viewing in some fashion or another.
I found it interesting that even back at the time this was written, they were talking about counterfeiting, and the demand for it was one of the popular searches. This is probably something we would think of today as modern Google searches, and while tracking the most popular subjects searched for on the web, counterfeiting seems to come out on a consistent basis. However, we all know this popular search is much different than counterfeiting.
Online baking also appears to be a foretold tale, as there is an instance where circuits are are transferring credit card balances from bank to bank, possibly causing people to go bankrupt. I would have to think that credit cards probably existed back then, or at least the notion of them, but this story goes a step further in the assumption that credit card use was wide spread, maybe to the extent they are used in modern times. This also fits right in with the modern day hacking of computer equipment. Someone appeared to be breaking into the “tank” causing destruction to the banking system. The tank is ordered for immediate shutdown, but it just can not happen. The tank has been doing the computing for businesses for years. This reminds one a lot of today's networks. The loss of technologies or the network to a business would be catastrophic. We have grown so accustomed to technology that our daily lives are immersed in them, so you have to wonder if society could carry on if for some reason it all disappeared one day. It certainly would have a profound effect on the economies of the world, and it may be thought of in terms of large natural disasters like the Great Depression.
Logic in this story is not compatible with what we deem to be computer technologies; it seemed to have a mind of its own, like something that you might consider in a science fiction story of a robot being created that can think and make choices on its own. I'm sure there are programs advanced enough to begin this process, but they are not wide spread and leave a lot to the imagination about the future. It's interesting to think of how advanced and technology driven the world is today, then after reading a story like this, thinking of what someone thought the future may look like, and comparing it to what we may have to look forward to, is just mind boggling. It's hard to imagine that in 50 years we may look back at today’s technologies and laugh at them.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Module 9
The Dell laptop build is rather interesting, and one I have often wondered about with the amount of business I perform with them in my job. Dell computers are in constant change to keep up with the changing technologies in the industry. The laptops are engineered and redesigned approximately every twelve months. These Dell engineers are referred to as “original design manufacturer” (ODM). These teams design computers to meet the needs of Dell's customers.
Dell has six factories throughout the world, which are located in Limerick, Ireland; Xiamen, China; Eldorado do sul, Brazil; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; and Penang, Malaysia. These factories are closely tied to a supplier logistic center (SLCs), which are owned by suppliers that Dell contracts with and are staging areas for the various parts that make up Dell computers. A Dell laptop begins with a customer order either by phone, or by Dell's website. As soon as that order comes in, the SLCs are aware of it, and prepare what needs to be delivered to the factory based on the components needed to build that specific order. Because of the quantity of Dell computers ordered every day, those suppliers are required to deliver parts to the Dell factories every two hours to keep up with the demand. The various parts that make up a laptop come from hundreds of manufacturers and range from power cords, to motherboards, to wireless cards, and so on. The laptop is then assembled manually by teams within the factories where all the parts are put in place, and any appropriate labeling is placed on the laptop. The laptop is then sent down a conveyor to be burned, this refers to the actual downloading of the operating system, and any software that was ordered with the laptop. Dell has huge banks of servers supplied with the latest software and operation systems it uses to build their computers. The laptop is then placed in protective foam, boxed up and placed on a pallet, and a specific shipping manifest is labeled on the box to detail which pallet it will be on and what the customer's shipping address is. Dell has large 747 aircraft carriers that ship out six days a week from Penang, Taiwan to Nashville, Tennessee, and deliver around 242,506 pounds of computers on a daily basis. The laptop is then shipped to its final destination via UPS.
Unfortunately, Al-Qaeda has benefited from supply chaining in an effort to spread terror to countries and people of the world. Their destructive forces have been brought out largely on the fact they have been so successful in building their terror networks through mobile, self-financing mutant supply chains and collaboration. These supply chains have raised the money necessary to recruit followers, and to stimulate and disseminate ideas for terror. They have also brought upon tools to undertake their acts of violence. Thanks to the internet and satellite, Al-Qaeda has been able to solidify the Muslim identity and solidarity within Muslim countries. This has brought about sympathy for Al-Qaeda and new recruits for its cause of destruction of the western world.
The curse of oil refers to countries who are underdeveloped, anti-democratic, and opposed to drilling the talents and energies of the people. These monarch leaders do not get their revenue from the people through taxation, they simply get it from drilling, so this makes the relationship between ruler and rules highly distorted. Countries who do not focus on tapping the resources of the people have weak, or nonexistent institutions. Countries who do focus on tapping the resources of the people have real institutions, property rights, and the rule of law. It was interesting to read the quote from Nancy Birsdsall in the essay “Saving Iraq from Its Oil” as she points out that “34 less developed countries now boast significant oil and natural gas resources that constitute at least 30 percent of their total export revenue. Despite their riches, however, 12 of these countries annual per capita income remains below $1500” (pg 626). Friedman's argument that countries that have rich oil supplies are cursed because of their lack of effort and resources put in the people, and not solely on the oil, is one that has never really entered my mind. After reading this chapter, I agree with Friedman's assessment that these monarch's will likely continue to thrive with disregard for their people, and without the people benefiting from the natural riches of its resources.
Dell has six factories throughout the world, which are located in Limerick, Ireland; Xiamen, China; Eldorado do sul, Brazil; Nashville, Tennessee; Austin, Texas; and Penang, Malaysia. These factories are closely tied to a supplier logistic center (SLCs), which are owned by suppliers that Dell contracts with and are staging areas for the various parts that make up Dell computers. A Dell laptop begins with a customer order either by phone, or by Dell's website. As soon as that order comes in, the SLCs are aware of it, and prepare what needs to be delivered to the factory based on the components needed to build that specific order. Because of the quantity of Dell computers ordered every day, those suppliers are required to deliver parts to the Dell factories every two hours to keep up with the demand. The various parts that make up a laptop come from hundreds of manufacturers and range from power cords, to motherboards, to wireless cards, and so on. The laptop is then assembled manually by teams within the factories where all the parts are put in place, and any appropriate labeling is placed on the laptop. The laptop is then sent down a conveyor to be burned, this refers to the actual downloading of the operating system, and any software that was ordered with the laptop. Dell has huge banks of servers supplied with the latest software and operation systems it uses to build their computers. The laptop is then placed in protective foam, boxed up and placed on a pallet, and a specific shipping manifest is labeled on the box to detail which pallet it will be on and what the customer's shipping address is. Dell has large 747 aircraft carriers that ship out six days a week from Penang, Taiwan to Nashville, Tennessee, and deliver around 242,506 pounds of computers on a daily basis. The laptop is then shipped to its final destination via UPS.
Unfortunately, Al-Qaeda has benefited from supply chaining in an effort to spread terror to countries and people of the world. Their destructive forces have been brought out largely on the fact they have been so successful in building their terror networks through mobile, self-financing mutant supply chains and collaboration. These supply chains have raised the money necessary to recruit followers, and to stimulate and disseminate ideas for terror. They have also brought upon tools to undertake their acts of violence. Thanks to the internet and satellite, Al-Qaeda has been able to solidify the Muslim identity and solidarity within Muslim countries. This has brought about sympathy for Al-Qaeda and new recruits for its cause of destruction of the western world.
The curse of oil refers to countries who are underdeveloped, anti-democratic, and opposed to drilling the talents and energies of the people. These monarch leaders do not get their revenue from the people through taxation, they simply get it from drilling, so this makes the relationship between ruler and rules highly distorted. Countries who do not focus on tapping the resources of the people have weak, or nonexistent institutions. Countries who do focus on tapping the resources of the people have real institutions, property rights, and the rule of law. It was interesting to read the quote from Nancy Birsdsall in the essay “Saving Iraq from Its Oil” as she points out that “34 less developed countries now boast significant oil and natural gas resources that constitute at least 30 percent of their total export revenue. Despite their riches, however, 12 of these countries annual per capita income remains below $1500” (pg 626). Friedman's argument that countries that have rich oil supplies are cursed because of their lack of effort and resources put in the people, and not solely on the oil, is one that has never really entered my mind. After reading this chapter, I agree with Friedman's assessment that these monarch's will likely continue to thrive with disregard for their people, and without the people benefiting from the natural riches of its resources.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Module 8
With the ever increasing population of computer technology, it is almost impossible to find an educational establishment that does not use them in one fashion or another. Computers are becoming more important within education as a learning tool for students and educators alike.
As an IT Manager, computers serve a very useful and meaningful purpose in my career, as well as in my day to day life. As my career began about six years ago, I was but an employee, not unlike any other, who was simply doing his best to perform his responsibilities to the best of his ability. I had always had a passion for computers and networks, and desired to work in the field, but with little to no education in the field, the positions I applied for never amounted to much. After a few years of working at my present company, another employee who was primarily responsible for the IT, was let go. The day after he was let go, I was asked to step in and fulfill the void that was now there. I promptly accepted the position, and hit the ground running. It soon became apparent to me that I was truly struggling with the day to day operations that I was confronted with, and knew that I would need to gain a better understanding of the new responsibilities in order to be successful. I decided to go back to school and work towards a degree in the computer science field. I felt this would not only help me with the current challenges I faced at work, but also ensure that I would have a solid foundation for the future, and keep me in the field that I had come to enjoy so much.
As I began my education, I took classes that would prepare me for the A+ exam. These classes were entry level and taught me the fundamentals of hardware and software of the modern computer. Even though I had thought these classes were not necessary for me, I truly learned many different concepts that I might not have ever learned otherwise, and they also gave me a better understanding of troubleshooting concepts that I had been lacking up to that point. After certifying in A+, I moved on to more in-depth classes pertaining to Microsoft, the client and server relationships in Windows XP, and Server 2003. These classes taught me concepts such as implementing and deploying Active Directory policies, DHCP, DNS, FTP, TCP/IP Web Servers, file sharing, TCP/IP and much, much more. These were enjoyable classes as they really dug into the advanced management of the Microsoft operation systems.
As my education continued, I took classes to suit networking and security requirements. These classes, although difficult at times, gave me the knowledge and understanding to tackle and implement networks and security across my environment. The toughest part for me to grasp were the concepts behind symmetric-key and asymmetric-key cryptography, as there are a multitude of different algorithms, hashes involved in encrypting data, and remembering them all and how they function was a real challenge for me. In some of my more recent classes, I have been challenged with programing in C++, Visual Basic, HTML, Java and Java Script. At one point, I felt that it would be a good idea to take an in-depth course on Java, since it seems there is an ever increasing demand for Java developers. However, as one of my professors told me, there is just too much to learn and it would be best to stick with one side of the field. I completely agreed with his assessment, and quickly moved on from that thought in my mind. Even though programming is not my core course of study, I do use and continue to study HTML and Java scripting, as I develop the company's intranet site for the employees.
Up to this point, I would have to say that my favorite class has been studying the open source community, and more specifically, Linux. The class actually had to do with a kernal that I had never used before called Fedora. Although different from Ubuntu, which is the kernel I am used to using, many of the concepts and commands used in Fedora were a great benefit to me. I still refer back often to the notes and key concepts I learned from that class. Mysql, Apache, SAMBA, and SSH are all open source technologies that I have been fortunate enough to study. They have served me well since the core software my employer uses was developed and runs in these environments.
A higher education institution, such as Weber State University, is a great way to gain an education in computer science, but I have come to learn that, at least for me, even with all the education in the world, it's tough to actually implement without the day to day interaction with the terms and concepts that are taught. In this modern age where information that seems to be everywhere, it's hard to discount the opportunities to enhance one's education with books and resources across the web. I have completely taught myself many things that I use today, such as SQL, and continue to do so in other areas that I know will only benefit me down the road. I often tell my coworkers that without my decision to go back to school, I would not be able to perform the responsibilities my job places on me each day, and I am grateful I made the decision to do so.
As an IT Manager, computers serve a very useful and meaningful purpose in my career, as well as in my day to day life. As my career began about six years ago, I was but an employee, not unlike any other, who was simply doing his best to perform his responsibilities to the best of his ability. I had always had a passion for computers and networks, and desired to work in the field, but with little to no education in the field, the positions I applied for never amounted to much. After a few years of working at my present company, another employee who was primarily responsible for the IT, was let go. The day after he was let go, I was asked to step in and fulfill the void that was now there. I promptly accepted the position, and hit the ground running. It soon became apparent to me that I was truly struggling with the day to day operations that I was confronted with, and knew that I would need to gain a better understanding of the new responsibilities in order to be successful. I decided to go back to school and work towards a degree in the computer science field. I felt this would not only help me with the current challenges I faced at work, but also ensure that I would have a solid foundation for the future, and keep me in the field that I had come to enjoy so much.
As I began my education, I took classes that would prepare me for the A+ exam. These classes were entry level and taught me the fundamentals of hardware and software of the modern computer. Even though I had thought these classes were not necessary for me, I truly learned many different concepts that I might not have ever learned otherwise, and they also gave me a better understanding of troubleshooting concepts that I had been lacking up to that point. After certifying in A+, I moved on to more in-depth classes pertaining to Microsoft, the client and server relationships in Windows XP, and Server 2003. These classes taught me concepts such as implementing and deploying Active Directory policies, DHCP, DNS, FTP, TCP/IP Web Servers, file sharing, TCP/IP and much, much more. These were enjoyable classes as they really dug into the advanced management of the Microsoft operation systems.
As my education continued, I took classes to suit networking and security requirements. These classes, although difficult at times, gave me the knowledge and understanding to tackle and implement networks and security across my environment. The toughest part for me to grasp were the concepts behind symmetric-key and asymmetric-key cryptography, as there are a multitude of different algorithms, hashes involved in encrypting data, and remembering them all and how they function was a real challenge for me. In some of my more recent classes, I have been challenged with programing in C++, Visual Basic, HTML, Java and Java Script. At one point, I felt that it would be a good idea to take an in-depth course on Java, since it seems there is an ever increasing demand for Java developers. However, as one of my professors told me, there is just too much to learn and it would be best to stick with one side of the field. I completely agreed with his assessment, and quickly moved on from that thought in my mind. Even though programming is not my core course of study, I do use and continue to study HTML and Java scripting, as I develop the company's intranet site for the employees.
Up to this point, I would have to say that my favorite class has been studying the open source community, and more specifically, Linux. The class actually had to do with a kernal that I had never used before called Fedora. Although different from Ubuntu, which is the kernel I am used to using, many of the concepts and commands used in Fedora were a great benefit to me. I still refer back often to the notes and key concepts I learned from that class. Mysql, Apache, SAMBA, and SSH are all open source technologies that I have been fortunate enough to study. They have served me well since the core software my employer uses was developed and runs in these environments.
A higher education institution, such as Weber State University, is a great way to gain an education in computer science, but I have come to learn that, at least for me, even with all the education in the world, it's tough to actually implement without the day to day interaction with the terms and concepts that are taught. In this modern age where information that seems to be everywhere, it's hard to discount the opportunities to enhance one's education with books and resources across the web. I have completely taught myself many things that I use today, such as SQL, and continue to do so in other areas that I know will only benefit me down the road. I often tell my coworkers that without my decision to go back to school, I would not be able to perform the responsibilities my job places on me each day, and I am grateful I made the decision to do so.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Module 7
Friedman begins chapter 10 in reference to how once productive countries, such as Mexico, at one time had a tight lid on their exports to the United States. Since the flattening of the world, Mexico has seen a sharp decline in typical goods Americans were accustomed to being seen as Mexican imports. These have now been replaced with exports from China. The same holds true in Egypt, where the fawanis, which has long stood as a traditional lantern in that country, has now been replaced by a Chinese export that is of higher quality and cheaper price. This begs the question, why has China taken a strangle hold on exports to foreign markets? Mexican and Egyptian markets both have cheap labor, so why can they not duplicate China's success? Freidman begins by stating that countries need to be honest with themselves. It's a bit like attending an alcoholic anonymous class; they must first admit to themselves that they have a problem and that they have underperformed in the global market.
Friedman states to answer this question, it really comes down to a country's decision to develop when the world becomes flat. There are four major aspects to accomplish this. First, a county must have the right infrastructure to connect to the rest of the world. The second is the right education system to get more, and the most, out of its people. The third is the governance of the people, meaning the correct fiscal policies and the rule in law must be in place. This one actually makes a lot of sense, but at the same time, China is not a country I associate with having perfected the science of human rights, and getting the most out of its people. The fourth is having the right environment. Countries that preserve their environments, in other words lean towards being “green”, have a much higher probability of attracting knowledgeable workers who are decisive in turning around developing countries. One quote from the book that resonated well was me is “Productivity, growth and, hence, the way out of poverty, is not simply a matter of throwing resources at a problem, say Klein and Hadjimichael. More important, it is a matter of using resources well” (pg 412). I think this holds true in many aspects of a flatter world, and is a simplified answer to why some countries outperform others.
"And the big shall act small” is a quote from Friedman's rules about how companies shall cope. In this respect, companies need to be increasingly mindful about customization on the consumer's part. By “enabling their customers to act very big”, giving the consumer choice is what Friend refers to as the “self-directed consumer”. To answer the question, am I a self-directed consumer? The answer is a resounding yes. The very first thing that enters my mind when I think of this philosophy is Burger King, “have it your way”. Just the other day, I was given the assignment of purchasing some color printers for a couple of our branches. The two main things I was interested were that it could print color, and that it could scan to an FTP site. As I did some comparisons on just one brand (Brother), searching for those features I was in need of, I went through the list and there must have been 30 different models with those options. I thought to myself, why are there so many? This simply complicates my decision. Customization is found in a lot of things we buy, from computers and cars, to food at the grocery store. The options seem to be endless, and I think we, as consumers, demand these type of options in today's flatter world.
In the little bit of international traveling I have done, I did see familiar sites that resonate with American culture, such as McDonalds, Coke, and Hollywood. I would have to say at this point in time, “globalization” does mean “Americanization”. But as Friedman writes, uploading is a powerful tool, one that will continually evolve the way people interact with others at all levels, and I believe this could be a factor in changing the so called “Americanization” in global markets.
Friedman states to answer this question, it really comes down to a country's decision to develop when the world becomes flat. There are four major aspects to accomplish this. First, a county must have the right infrastructure to connect to the rest of the world. The second is the right education system to get more, and the most, out of its people. The third is the governance of the people, meaning the correct fiscal policies and the rule in law must be in place. This one actually makes a lot of sense, but at the same time, China is not a country I associate with having perfected the science of human rights, and getting the most out of its people. The fourth is having the right environment. Countries that preserve their environments, in other words lean towards being “green”, have a much higher probability of attracting knowledgeable workers who are decisive in turning around developing countries. One quote from the book that resonated well was me is “Productivity, growth and, hence, the way out of poverty, is not simply a matter of throwing resources at a problem, say Klein and Hadjimichael. More important, it is a matter of using resources well” (pg 412). I think this holds true in many aspects of a flatter world, and is a simplified answer to why some countries outperform others.
"And the big shall act small” is a quote from Friedman's rules about how companies shall cope. In this respect, companies need to be increasingly mindful about customization on the consumer's part. By “enabling their customers to act very big”, giving the consumer choice is what Friend refers to as the “self-directed consumer”. To answer the question, am I a self-directed consumer? The answer is a resounding yes. The very first thing that enters my mind when I think of this philosophy is Burger King, “have it your way”. Just the other day, I was given the assignment of purchasing some color printers for a couple of our branches. The two main things I was interested were that it could print color, and that it could scan to an FTP site. As I did some comparisons on just one brand (Brother), searching for those features I was in need of, I went through the list and there must have been 30 different models with those options. I thought to myself, why are there so many? This simply complicates my decision. Customization is found in a lot of things we buy, from computers and cars, to food at the grocery store. The options seem to be endless, and I think we, as consumers, demand these type of options in today's flatter world.
In the little bit of international traveling I have done, I did see familiar sites that resonate with American culture, such as McDonalds, Coke, and Hollywood. I would have to say at this point in time, “globalization” does mean “Americanization”. But as Friedman writes, uploading is a powerful tool, one that will continually evolve the way people interact with others at all levels, and I believe this could be a factor in changing the so called “Americanization” in global markets.
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