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Questions and Answers
What are the key catalysts for change in the Information Age?
Which of the following products is NOT mentioned as a typical product of the Information Age?
Which technological advancement is identified as part of the modern era?
What role do low-cost computers play in the Information Age?
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Which of the following statements accurately describes the impact of high-speed communication networks?
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How do new technologies contribute to the Information Age?
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The Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus functions in various capacities. Which of the following is one of those capacities?
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What is a characteristic of the Information Age mentioned in the content?
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What is the primary function of a search engine?
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Which of the following is a benefit of cloud storage?
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What does PageRank measure in the context of search engines?
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What is one of the significant concerns regarding the use of credit cards?
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What issue arises from the digitization of copyrighted content?
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What impact did the adoption of calculators in the late 19th century have on bookkeeping?
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Which technology is credited with facilitating the rapid industrialization and economic expansion during the Gilded Age?
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How did the advancement of technologies like the web create new societal challenges?
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What is a consequence of technology altering society post-adoption?
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Which feature of cash registers was specifically designed to tackle embezzlement in department stores?
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What role did early computers like I.B.M. machines play during the Nazi regime in Germany?
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What transition occurred due to the increasing efficiency brought about by mechanical calculators?
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Which innovation allowed categories to be sorted and subtotals calculated effectively during late 19th century data processing?
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What was a significant advancement of the E.N.I.A.C. compared to previous computing models?
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What was a primary benefit of the IBM System/360?
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Which programming language was primarily designed for scientific applications?
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What main advantage did integrated circuits have over individual components?
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What significant role did the Homebrew Computer Club play in the development of personal computers?
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Who invented the microprocessor and when?
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What technology did the telegraph primarily replace?
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What was a notable impact of the telephone in society?
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Which product was notable for its spreadsheet capabilities during the rise of personal computers?
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What advancement did packet-switching provide over circuit-switching?
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Which of these was an early use of radio technology?
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Who contributed to the early development of email functionality?
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What technology did the National Science Foundation primarily develop?
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Which factor has contributed significantly to the rise of cloud computing?
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Which country currently has the highest typical broadband speed?
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What was the primary purpose of Gutenberg's printing press?
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Which of the following best describes the main impact of newspapers during the American Revolution?
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Who proposed the concept of hypertext and coined the term itself?
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What significant advancement did the introduction of the codex provide compared to earlier methods of book storage?
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Which of these is an example of Infrastructure as a Service?
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What was a significant result of the printing press during the Reformation?
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Study Notes
Introduction to the Information Age
- Characterized by unprecedented access to information facilitated by low-cost computers and high-speed communication networks.
- Emerging technologies include smartphones, video streaming services, voice-activated assistants, drones, and self-driving cars.
Milestones in Computing
- Early calculators included tools like clay tablets, the abacus, and mathematical tables.
- Significant advancements were made with mechanical calculators in the 17th to 19th centuries, impacting industries such as insurance.
- The rise of new corporations in the Gilded Age necessitated reliable information, increasing calculator sales and leading to "deskilling" of bookkeeping roles.
- Cash registers developed in response to department store needs for accurate sales tracking, helping root out clerical fraud.
Advancement of Data Processing Technologies
- Punched cards were adopted by early institutions like the U.S. Bureau of the Census for data tabulation.
- The development of commercial computers began in the 1940s, with machines like UNIVAC predicting election outcomes.
- Programming languages evolved from machine language to higher-level languages like FORTRAN and COBOL, enabling broader applications.
Network Development
- Innovations in telecommunication began with the invention of the telegraph, which expanded to a vast network by the late 19th century.
- The telephone blurred public and private life boundaries, ushering in new social dynamics.
- Networking technology evolved significantly in the 20th century with ARPANET's inception leading to the development of the Internet.
The Role of Cloud Computing
- Cloud computing emerged as a service model, allowing remote access to computing resources.
- Key enablers include high-speed internet, virtualization, and massive data centers benefiting from economies of scale.
- Examples include Microsoft Office 365, AWS, and Google Cloud, providing flexible and scalable computing solutions.
Milestones in Information Storage and Retrieval
- The Greek alphabet marked the transition from oral to written culture, paving the way for more efficient communication.
- The codex and printing press revolutionized book storage and distribution, enhancing literacy and mass communication during significant historical events like the Reformation.
- Hypertext, graphical user interfaces, and the World Wide Web transformed how users interact with information digitally.
Search Engines and Cloud Storage
- Search engines revolutionized information retrieval, with Google indexing billions of web pages and employing algorithms like PageRank for efficiency.
- Cloud storage allows remote access to data across devices, with services like Dropbox and Google Drive offering convenient and scalable storage solutions.
Information Technology Issues
- The digitization of content has led to widespread issues with copyright infringement and illegal downloading.
- Cloud storage introduces concerns regarding data security and the ownership of information, particularly for financial transactions.### Loan Applications
- Credit history serves as the primary basis for loan approval, eliminating the need for personal interviews.
- Offers lower interest rates but with reduced flexibility in terms of repayment options.
Computers in Embedded Devices
- Questions arise about liability when embedded systems fail and cause harm to individuals.
Telecommuting
- Provides significant time savings and allows for more adaptable work schedules.
- Potential risk of teleworkers being overlooked for promotions compared to in-office employees.
Improved Global Communication Network
- Enhances companies' ability to market their products worldwide.
- Facilitates the outsourcing of jobs outside of the U.S.
- Raises ethical concerns regarding the working conditions in factories in developing nations for IT consumers.
Social Media
- Acts as a platform for promoting democratic ideas and civic engagement.
- Can also be utilized by authoritarian regimes to suppress dissent and maintain control.
The Information Age
- Characterized by a rich history of information technology development, reflecting centuries of progress.
- Social conditions often inspire new technological advancements.
- The impact of technology adoption can lead to significant societal transformations.
- Computing professionals bear the responsibility of being mindful of their role in shaping future technology and its implications.
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Description
Explore the foundational concepts introduced in Chapter 1 of 'Ethics for the Information Age.' This chapter discusses the catalysts for change in computing, networking, and information storage, emphasizing the unprecedented access to information in the modern era. Dive into the milestones and issues that define our technological environment.
