Questions and Answers
What was a significant catalyst for change in the Information Age?
Which of the following is NOT considered a product of the Information Age?
What role do high-speed communication networks play in the Information Age?
Which smartphone is mentioned as an example of a product of the Information Age?
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What is a current trend or technology associated with the Information Age?
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Which of the following describes a key feature of devices in the Information Age?
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What technological advancement has NOT emerged from the catalysts of the Information Age?
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What aspect of access to information characterizes the Information Age?
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What significant change occurred in bookkeeping as a result of mechanical calculators?
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Which factor contributed to the need for reliable information in large corporations during the Gilded Age?
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How did technology misuse by the Nazis relate to IBM's actions during WWII?
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What role did punched card tabulation play in the early 20th century industries?
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What was a key psychological impact of technology use mentioned in the content?
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What negative social issue arose from the convenience of automobiles?
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What technological milestone did the Arithmometer of de Colmar achieve in the 19th century?
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What was one of the primary functions of the cash register developed in the late 1800s?
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Which computing device is recognized as the precursor to commercial computers?
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What unintended consequence did new technologies pose for child safety with the advent of the web?
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Which aspect of Google's PageRank contributes to its search engine's high precision?
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What are the significant benefits of using cloud storage?
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Which of the following statements about copyright issues related to information technology is true?
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How does telecommuting potentially affect employees in terms of career advancement?
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What role does social media play in modern society, according to the information provided?
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What was one of the early challenges faced by N S F NET after the establishment of private networks?
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Which of the following statements about cloud computing is true?
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What characteristic of the codex contributed to its advantage over papyrus scrolls?
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How did newspapers affect public sentiment during the American Revolution?
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Which company released the first widely used graphical user interface called Microsoft Windows?
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What was a significant attribute of the hypertext system known as HyperCard?
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Which individual is credited with coining the term 'hypertext'?
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What was the main purpose of the National Science Foundation's involvement in the creation of N S F NET?
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What technological advancement was significant for the proliferation of internet-based file-swapping?
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What was the primary impact of Gutenberg's printing press on society?
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What was the primary advantage of the IBM System/360 over earlier IBM mainframes?
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What was a key feature of time-sharing systems in computing?
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Why did the microprocessor significantly impact personal computers?
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Which of the following statements is true about the development of BASIC programming language?
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What was the primary purpose of the Whole Earth Catalog in relation to personal computing?
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Which invention allowed for the seamless connection of typewriters and telegraph lines?
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Which of the following was a significant outcome of the advent of the telegraph?
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What was one of the prominent uses of early radio technology?
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What was the main focus of the ARPANET's design?
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Which development contributed significantly to the transition from large mainframes to personal computers?
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Study Notes
Introduction to the Information Age
- Characterized by unprecedented access to information due to low-cost computers and high-speed communication networks.
- Emerging technologies include smartphones, video streaming, voice-activated assistants, drones, and self-driving cars.
- Example: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus integrates phone, text, email, web, camera, and navigation features.
Evolution of Computing
- 1950: Very few electronic digital computers existed; the internet was non-existent.
- Today: Networked devices filled with embedded microprocessors; heavy usage in daily life.
- People create and adopt technology, which then alters social structures and individual behavior.
Social-Technological Cycle
- New information technologies emerge from social conditions and vice versa.
- Adoption of technology can lead to social changes, such as increased mobility due to automobiles or job outsourcing due to global communications.
Milestones in Computing
- Aids to Manual Calculating: Early tools like clay tablets, abaci, and mathematical tables that laid the groundwork for digitized calculations.
- Mechanical Calculators: Innovations by Pascal, Leibniz, and de Colmar transitioned calculations from manual methods to machine assistance, influencing bookkeeping.
- Cash Registers: Emerged in department stores to manage sales accurately and prevent embezzlement.
- Punched Card Tabulation: Allowed sorting and computation of vast data; utilized by organizations like the U.S. Bureau of the Census.
Historical Impact of IBM and Computing
- IBM's ENIAC was the first commercial computer, later becoming a dominant force in the mainframe market with its System/360.
- Programming advancements: Assembly language, FORTRAN, and COBOL defined early programming standards.
Networking Innovations
- Early telecommunication developments include the telegraph and telephone, which transformed communication and social structures.
- ARPANET, developed by the Department of Defense, marked the beginning of the modern internet era with its decentralized design and packet-switching technology.
- Email emerged as a significant communication technology with software created by Tomlinson and Roberts, leading to its widespread use.
Advancements in Cloud Computing
- Enabled by high-speed networks and virtualization, cloud computing offers remote resource utilization with services like SaaS and IaaS.
- Provides advantages such as economies of scale, flexibility, and simplified access to computing resources.
Information Storage and Retrieval Milestones
- Greek alphabet innovation allowed effective transformation of spoken language into written form, shifting cultures from oral to written.
- Gutenberg’s printing press revolutionized mass communication, facilitating the spread of ideas during the Reformation.
- Hypertext and the World Wide Web emerged as new forms of information organization and retrieval.
- Search engines like Google index and retrieve information from billions of web pages, using algorithms like PageRank to ensure relevance.
Current Information Technology Issues
- Increasing use of IT devices due to falling costs and rising capabilities.
- Intellectual property concerns arise from digitization enabling easy copying and distribution leading to piracy.
- Cloud storage raises questions about data security and ownership of personal information.
- The convenience of credit cards increases the risk of identity theft and poses questions regarding information ownership in transactions.### Loan Applications
- Determined primarily by credit history rather than personal interviews, streamlining the process.
- Offers lower interest rates but with reduced flexibility for borrowers.
Computers in Embedded Devices
- Raises questions of liability when system failures result in harm to individuals, highlighting ethical and legal implications.
Telecommuting
- Provides significant time savings and promotes flexible working hours.
- Potential concern regarding career advancement, as teleworkers may be overlooked for promotions compared to in-office employees.
Improved Global Communication Network
- Enables companies to reach a global market, expanding their potential customer base.
- Facilitates job relocation from the U.S. to other regions, which may lead to ethical concerns about working conditions in factories in developing countries.
Social Media
- Functions as a platform for promoting democratic ideas, enhancing public discourse.
- At the same time, can be exploited as a tool by totalitarian governments to control and manipulate public opinion.
Information Age Overview
- The modern era is identified as the Information Age, yet information technology has evolved through a rich history.
- Current technological advancements are the result of centuries of gradual innovations.
- Societal conditions influence the emergence and adoption of new technologies.
- The adoption of these technologies has the potential to significantly alter social structures and norms.
- Computing professionals are urged to consider their responsibility in shaping technology's impact on the future.
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Description
Explore the first chapter of 'Ethics for the Information Age' which discusses catalysts for change and milestones in computing, networking, and information storage. Understand the issues surrounding information technology that have emerged in the modern era.
