User:Jill kawakami

Jill Kawakami
Employer:	De Anza College
Occupation:	Student
Nationality:	USA
Languages:	English
Country:	USA

Signing up for this for my CIS2 course, but hopefully it'll inspire me to partake more in Wiki-ing!

Grand Challenges: Engineer Better Medicine

Advancements in medical technology are continuing to make our world a better, more healthy place, so why don't we keep on the up-and-up with our medicines? Pharmaceuticals are being ingested by people, chemicals are taken-up into the bloodstream, so they should be specific to each individual person who's taking them. I believe that we can engineer better medicine by personalizing pharmaceuticals for each patient.

http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/PrecisionMedicine/default.htm

Engineering "better" medicines, in my opinion, starts first with the ability to find what is better for each individual, and that all comes from the new aspect of personalized medicine. The difficulty in creating medication that is better for whatever diseases its treating is that everyone reacts differently to new chemicals being introduced to their body. Personalized medicine takes into account an individual's life history, environments, lifestyles, and genetics, providing that person with a medicine that's more tailored to his or her needs. 

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/promise_progress/engineering_cures_physicians_and_engineers_working_together_to_fight_cancer/engineering_cures

One of the most prestigious medical organizations in the nation, Johns Hopkins, recently announced their collaboration with top engineers in the fight against cancer. The collaboration between computer science and biological science bridges a gap that previously wasn't address: technology must be utilized in order to understand and treat these continuously mutating diseases. As the abilities of our technology becomes more and more advanced, we must update our practices and medicines, and the best way to do that is via collaboration between the two fields. 

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140627/Personalized-antibiotic-therapy-can-help-fight-antibiotic-resistant-infections.aspx

This article refers to one of the problems that is addressed on the Grand Challenges website, drug-resistant super bugs. As the article states, and as most people who've been treated by Western medicine know, when you develop symptoms of an illness and a doctor does an exam of you and decides to give you something for it, you're usually prescribed a "broad-spectrum" antibiotic, since the technology to quick and efficiently pinpoint a specific bacterial strain just doesn't exist. This flagrant usage of antibiotics has created these bacterial superbugs that are evolving to be resistant to them: the solution? We have to evolve our technology to design medications for future generations to survive and thrive.

Group Project Links & Summaries

Introductions

1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/19/social-media-makes-you-socially-awkward_n_5512749.html''' - This was an interesting article introducing the idea that social media is actually bad for social skills. As we spend more time staring at our screens and typing/reading only text with no inflection of tone, our younger generations may lose the skills of holding a verbal conversation with another person. 

2) http://www.pixuffle.net/the-importance-of-computers-in-our-daily-lives/''' - This is a solid article about how important computers are becoming to our daily functions. While it’s definitely more of a pro-computers article, it’s very true that computers, or some kind of device, are able to do practically anything for us: order products online, provide our news, watching TV programs, conducting business, even keeping in contact with family and friends. (My best choice)

3) http://www.hamariweb.com/articles/article.aspx?id=63505''' – This article gives both the pros and cons of relying on computers in our society. It references how the use of computers in our medical field has enhanced the experience of patients and medical professionals, as well as boosting economy by being a resource that businesses can use in a multitude of different ways. On the flip-side, it speaks of physical problems that computer users can be plagued with (like carpal-tunnel syndrome, neck and back fatigue, etc.), privacy concerns, and even cyberbullying.

Privacy and Freedom of Speech

1) http://web.eecs.umich.edu/~ackerm/pub/05e07/ackerman-mainwaring.pdf - Great academic journal/article on how privacy should be defined, its limitations and weaknesses, the difference between being aware versus having privacy, how subjective and socially dependent it is, etc.

2) http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/opinion/protecting-the-privacy-of-internet-users.html?_r=0 – The FCC proposed ‘common-sense’ privacy laws that Internet providers must follow to protect the privacy of customers. According to this article, and in my opinion, the most important aspect of the proposal is that these Internet providing companies would have to ask your permission before selling your data off to other companies. 

3) https://advox.globalvoices.org/2014/02/11/privacy-vs-free-speech-questioning-the-conflict/ - This was a beautifully written op-ed piece on the conflict between free speech and privacy: how as a society, we want both, but don’t understand the dichotomy of having them at the same time. This blog entry highlights the dangers of surveillance and censorship, and how it requires citizens to stand up for what they believe in to make change happen, on any front, but especially when it comes to our privacy. (My best choice) 

Intellectual Property

1) http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-getting-started/trademark-basics/trademark-patent-or-copyright - This website is useful for defining what types of licenses or rights you have to a specific piece of intellectual property. It also lists several types and is directly from the letter of the law, the US Patent Office.

2) https://classes.soe.ucsc.edu/cmpe080e/Spring05/projects/ip/ - This is an incredibly intense paper on the ethics involved in the intellectual property field. It gives a detailed history of IP, provides several high profile cases of IP, the public and how information is shared in cyberspace. (My best choice)

3) ttp://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-03-23/google-and-media-titans-clash-in-a-war-on-internet-piracy - This article is on big cyberspace companies butting heads with (mostly) entertainment companies. This could lead to creating a corporate ‘digital divide’ between the idea of content being offered to be shared versus paying the company directly for the content.

Crime

1) https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0009-taking-charge.pdf - Guide of what to do when you’ve been hacked! It gives you a great step-by-step checklist of things to do in regards to different types of identity theft, fraud, and it’s definitely a reputable resource, as it comes directly from the government.

2) http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/11/the-10-most-common-internet-crimes/cyber-stalking-forum-abuse - Thorough list of different kinds of crimes that can be committed by using computers, as well as the penalties that they incur. It’s fairly eye-opening as it brought up some crimes that I hadn’t even thought of such as non-delivery of goods and sports betting. 

3) https://www.aitp.org/news/98451/ - This is a thorough article regarding ethical issues of crime committed in cyberspace, especially hacking, and the difference between it and ethical hacking. Another aspect of it is theft of funds – employees would most likely be fired by their employers, yet time and again, that employee will be hired by competitors to work for them instead. (My best choice)

Employment, Education, and Entertainment

1) https://llk.media.mit.edu/papers/edutainment.pdf - This article was written by an educator about the negative aspects of edutainment in our society, and the problems of getting our children used to needing flashy, “fun”, in-your-face tactics to truly learn. It also speaks about the long-term damage of shaping children to believe that that’s the only way they can learn, and ultimately driving out the natural curiosity to want to learn new things. (My best choice)

2) https://www.k12blueprint.com/sites/default/files/choosing-device-for-digital-learning.pdf - There are hundreds of devices available to students, and advertising tells us that we need all of them to do the best work possible, but this article breaks down the factors of what you need to learn digitally. Ranging from accessibility of applications/software to the cost of the device, this article understands that using devices for learning is inescapable in this modern age of technology, and as a society, we have to adapt to that.

3) http://work.chron.com/impact-computers-employment-8551.html - This article addresses several issues and positives to the “main-streaming” of utilizing technology in the workforce. While advanced technology could potentially cause job-loss for people, the article notes that it could also motivate those individuals to continue their education and acquire new skills.

Grand Challenges (I chose my own topic –Engineer better medicine)

1) http://www.fda.gov/ScienceResearch/SpecialTopics/PrecisionMedicine/default.htm - Engineering "better" medicines, in my opinion, starts first with the ability to find what is better for each individual, and that all comes from the new aspect of personalized medicine. The difficulty in creating medication that is better for whatever diseases its treating is that everyone reacts differently to new chemicals being introduced to their body. Personalized medicine takes into account an individual's life history, environments, lifestyles, and genetics, providing that person with a medicine that's more tailored to his or her needs. (My best choice) 

2) http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/publications/promise_progress/engineering_cures_physicians_and_engineers_working_together_to_fight_cancer/engineering_cures - One of the most prestigious medical organizations in the nation, Johns Hopkins, recently announced their collaboration with top engineers in the fight against cancer. The collaboration between computer science and biological science bridges a gap that previously wasn't address: technology must be utilized in order to understand and treat these continuously mutating diseases. As the abilities of our technology becomes more and more advanced, we must update our practices and medicines, and the best way to do that is via collaboration between the two fields. 

3) http://www.news-medical.net/news/20140627/Personalized-antibiotic-therapy-can-help-fight-antibiotic-resistant-infections.aspx - This article refers to one of the problems that is addressed on the Grand Challenges website, drug-resistant super bugs. As the article states, and as most people who've been treated by Western medicine know, when you develop symptoms of an illness and a doctor does an exam of you and decides to give you something for it, you're usually prescribed a "broad-spectrum" antibiotic, since the technology to quick and efficiently pinpoint a specific bacterial strain just doesn't exist. This flagrant usage of antibiotics has created these bacterial superbugs that are evolving to be resistant to them: the solution? We have to evolve our technology to design medications for future generations to survive and thrive.

Evaluating and Controlling Technology

1) http://mashable.com/2013/08/18/digital-divide/#n__8.Y_nl5qc - This article was incredibly well written and I would certainly recommend others to check it out. It defines what the "digital divide" is, as well as citing statistics found in a report issued by the White House. It goes on to give examples of how important being connected to the internet is, as well as the possibility that the divide may be closing due to the uptick of the use of mobile devices. However, the article also provides a perspective I had never thought about before when it comes to the usage of mobile devices: individuals who rely solely on mobile technology may be creating a different kind of divide in that they aren't able to perform the same work on a computer or laptop as a phone.

2) http://www.wsj.com/articles/automation-makes-us-dumb-1416589342 - An interesting article about artificial intelligence and how our world is relying heavily on ‘automation’, causing a decline in technical skills that people have, but an uprising of computer skills. It also includes a historical account of automation evolution, and examples of automation in “high-profile” jobs like being a doctor, pilot, researcher, etc.

3) https://www.sans.org/reading-room/whitepapers/awareness/overview-security-issues-facing-computer-users-1399 - Although it’s a very technical article, it is incredibly thorough about general security issues that users face in using technology. It covers worms, viruses, lack of security in wireless networks, firewalls, and even password creation. It is written in a technical, yet casual tone which makes it easier for the non-techies to understand, and is a great introduction to how to control some aspects of technology that we use today. (My best choice)

Risks, Failures, and Responsibilities

1) https://www.technologyreview.com/s/526401/laws-and-ethics-cant-keep-pace-with-technology/ - There are risks to ethics and morals when using technology, and this article highlights the problems in the gaps of regulating technology. Advances in technology are happening at an exponential rate (new tech is appearing every year as opposed to every decade), and as a society, we run the risk of not being able to keep up regulating it. Since we have issues defining exactly what is ethical in regards to the Internet, creating legislation to protect ourselves from the dangers of technology is far from our grasp. 

2) http://wclp.sourceforge.net/documentation/userguide/ch03s02.html - This is an intensely thorough “user guide” on how to be a responsible computer user. It’s got a very bland layout but informative in a plethora of ways! The article talks about being a responsible computer user by scheduling their time on their devices appropriately, have a budget for technology expenses, even by being a smart online shopper. At the bottom of the page, it has a link to the next chapter which is a guide to safe computing on the Internet, and has great steps for being safe online! (My best choice)

3) http://www.computerworld.com/article/2476246/malware-vulnerabilities/-2-billion-air-traffic-control-system-failed-by-running-out-of-computer-memo.html – Failures of computer programs can cause detrimental problems in society, but this one really stood out: a $2 billion air traffic control system crashed, resulting in hundreds of flights being canceled at Los Angeles airport. The reason? The system ran out of memory. This is a huge deal that something so simple brought a transportation hub to a halt, and reminds us that the failure of our software programs and hardware devices can do extreme damage to the way our society runs.

Anytime, Anywhere

1) http://www.cio.com/article/2688098/big-data/ted-changing-the-world-one-15-minute-presentation-at-a-time.html - While this article doesn’t go on in length at how TEDtalks have changed the climate of conversation around innovation, it does show the diversity of social change that these conventions talk about. They’re inspiring, educational, and not to mention, they’re free! They’re also accessible literally anytime, anywhere, through their website on a computer or their application on your phone: everyone can be involved in a conversation about a world problem that may inspire them to do something about it.

2) http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-future-of-medicine-is-in-your-smartphone-1420828632 - This article is really eye-opening to how smartphones are pushing their way into every aspect of our lives, including the medical field. I knew that these days, patients could use their smartphones to log on to patient portals to make appointments, change their PHI, schedule an appointment, etc., but I had very little information on how smartphones are actually being used in the medical field. According to this article, devices you can attach/applications you can download to your cellphone can turn it into an otoscope, a heart monitor, etc., basically a diagnosing machine in your pocket! (My best choice)

3) https://etcjournal.com/2013/12/30/smartphones-friend-or-foe/ - This op-ed piece about smartphones being both a positive and negative influence on our lives. While we have everything we could ever need at our fingertips, this article cautions against the ability to tune into the Internet anytime, anywhere, replacing our ability to think for ourselves. 

Technology Advances, Social Trends

1) http://www.techrepublic.com/article/10-ways-virtual-reality-is-revolutionizing-medicine-and-healthcare/ - Virtual reality, especially in the medical field, is a new technological advancement. It can be used for training purposes in trauma centers, giving medical professionals "real-life" experience of how an ER works after a natural disaster (without actually having to wait for a disaster), during diagnosis for better visualization, rehabilitation for patients, as well as psychological care (such as PTSD and phobia treatment), even training for fledgling surgeons without the added pressure of a patient's life in their hands. I would love to see virtual reality become more mainstream and commonplace in medical facilities, see how better trained and prepared it could make emergency departments, how much more exact our surgeons can get (which in turn, will advance the kinds of surgeries that can be performed [eg; brain, heart, lung, vascular surgeries]), maybe even the decline in the amount of anxiety medications given to patients who have extreme phobias or debilitating PTSD thanks to them being able to confront their issues virtually. (My best choice)

 2) http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/11/19/searching-for-work-in-the-digital-era/ - While millions of Americans access the Internet everyday (sometimes practically every minute) for pleasure and entertainment, a crucial function of it is for job opportunities. A Pew Research Center survey found that over half of all adults have utilized online services to search for a job, and a little less than half having used the Internet to actually apply for a job (these percentages were 90% and 84%, respectively, for recent job-seekers). However, around a fifth of the surveyed group said that it would not be easy to create a professional resume as well as it wouldn't be easy to feature their job skills via a personal or social media website. I find this fact interesting since the disparity between those who use and those who know how to use is significant - using the Internet to fill out a job application is one thing, but being able to create a succinct resume to get a professional career is another. The data is presented throughout several pages in great depth, with visual bar graphs of surveys, as well as summarized bullet points, and comes from an incredibly reputable, unbiased source, so I trust it being truthful and not misrepresented.

3) http://www.instructables.com/id/Mind-Controlled-Robotic-Arm/ - The societal issue that this low-cost prosthetic could solve, is the divide between the rich and the not-so-well-off in getting the same quality of medical care as well as the same opportunities in life, no matter their economic status. Granted, I don't know how this prototype would stack up against the one being created by engineers and doctors at Johns Hopkins but the fact that someone out there is working on a mind-controlled prosthetic for a reasonable price is more than a start in the right direction. The option of a low-cost fully functional prosthetic could really combat the rising amount of medical debt in lower economic groups, and therefore open up more opportunities to lead full, meaningful lives. I really hope that our DIY/make culture coupled with advanced new technology will open up more avenues for medical care at low financial cost with a high return in patient satisfaction.