User:AProffitt

Abigail Proffitt
Employer:	DeAnza College
Occupation:	student
Country:	USA

1. Introductions

Evaluating Internet Resources | Georgetown University Library[1](Favorite)

This source from the Selected Media list provides concise and clear guidelines for distinguishing credible academic sources from non academic-materials. It establishes important criteria in selecting sources for coursework which is immensely helpful throughout this class.

Smithsonian Digital Volunteers[2]

The Smithsonian Transcription Center is a great way for people to volunteer remotely. Participants can transcribe all sorts of historical documents from the Smithonian's collections. I love seeing ways the public can engage with museums and history, so this website puts a smile on my face!.

2. Privacy and Freedom of Speech

A techie's rough guide to GDPR[3](Favorite)

This website from the Selected Media list presents an explanation of the General Data Protection Regulation in plain language with very helpful examples of how the law works. the GDPR made major changes to internet privacy law in the EU, and understanding those changes is crucial to understanding the evolving online landscape.

Do you Know the Signs of Identity Theft?[4]

This website from the Selected Media list explains what to do if your credit card information is stolen. Identity theft can seriously damage a person's finances and life very quickly, so knowing what to do if the worst happens before it happens is extremely important.

3. Intellectual Property

How to Effectively Transfer or License Your Work | Digital Media Law Project[5](Favorite)

This source from the Selected Media list provides a clear and understandable explanation of the various ways to license intellectual property. Understanding licenses is vital knowledge for any creator in any medium.

Active Learner -- How developers keep learning[6]

This website from the Selected Media list explains the active learner philosophy when it comes to software development and why such a mindset can be far more constructive that what the author terms the "expert beginner" mindset. This mindset is applicable to all areas of life, not just computer programming, and this website is a valuable resource beyond the scope of this class.

4. Crime

Hacked Email | FTC Consumer Information[7](Favorite)

This website, courtesy of the FTC, describes how to know if your email has been hacked, and what to do if it has been hacked. Hacked email addresses are frustratingly common, but can pose serious issues if not dealt with swiftly. This article is clear and very useful in understanding how to proceed in such a situation.

Crime on the Internet[8]

This pick from the Selected Media list defines the major categories of internet crime in an easily understandable way for someone new to the subject. There is quite a lot of terminology that can be confusing, so this is a great explanatory introduction to the subject of cybercrime.

5. Employment, Education and Entertainment

Working Remotely: Pros and Cons of Remote Work(From Hotjar)[9](Favorite)

At time of writing, This article from the Selected Media list, that explains what remote work looks like, the good and the bad, could not be more applicable. This workplace model is going to be very common in the coming months, so it is great to see an example of remote work that runs smoothly and efficiently.

The Case for More Recess - John Spencer[10]

Free play is essential for minds of all ages. Free time allows for mental decompression and undirected thought that spawns the most innovative and creative thoughts and ideas. Recess in particular gives kids the time to build social and emotional skills, as well as create and think in whatever direction they want. When discussing labor, and technology's influence on our idea of it, we also need to talk about the flipside, when we don't work.

6. Midterm - Grand Challenges

Applying Human-Centered Design to Refugee Challenges in Dadaab, Kenya | International Development Innovation Network[11](Favorite)

This source from the Selected Media list presents an interview with a software developer who teaches computer development skills to refugees in Kenya. She teaches skills based on human-centered design, which focuses on meeting real needs for people in ways that actually work for them.

The Water Project - A Charity Providing Access to Clean Water in Africa[12]

This source from the Selected Media list demonstrates one organization helping communities build infrastructure necessary to provide clean potable water. The Water Project is a great example of seeing a problem in the world and working to fix it.

7. Evaluating and Controlling Technology

How we need to remake the Internet | Jaron Lanier[13](Favorite)

This Ted talk selected by Jasmine Atwal for the Computers and Society Video discussion verbalizes very clearly the major problems with online culture as it exists, and why changing how we interact with each other over the internet is so important to maintaining a functional society. This particular video stands out for the speaker's fervent belief in the possibility of a better future, as many similar talks tend towards defeatism.

A Simple Explanation Of 'The Internet Of Things'[14]

This article from the Internet of Things discussion explains in plain language the basic structure of the IoT and the multitude of problems it would pose to both security and the function of our everyday lives. It is a good introduction to the conversation around smart devices and the ways in which the IoT would change society.

8. Risks, Failures and Responsibilities

Internet Safety | Common Sense Education[15](Favorite)

Selected from the Risks, Failures, and Responsibilities Keywords discussion, this website provides invaluable information about online abuse, and how to discuss it with kids and teens. There is so much misinformation and misunderstanding about how online abuse works, and this article clearly explains what usually happens, and how kids and teens can avoid risky situations.

ZigZag: S4 EP08: The Weird Kids at The Big Tech Party On Apple Podcasts[16]

This podcast on the Selected Media list discusses Mozilla, the organization that runs firefox browser, and prioritizes free access to software and the internet. With the tech industry and especially the browser market being dominated by just a few behemoths, taking a look at a smaller, freer option is great, especially if you are worried about your privacy online.

Creativity is rejected: Teachers and Bosses don't value out-of-the-box thinking[17]

This article from the Selected Media list discusses the acceptance, or rather lack of acceptance for genuinely creative ideas in Western Society, despite our hero worship of inventors and innovators. Interestingly, the author also posits that the rejection that creative minds often face is itself part of the creative process.

9. Anytime, Anywhere

Kriti Sharma: How to keep human bias out of AI | TED Talk[18](Favorite)

This video was chosen by Faith Gibson on the Virtual Lecture discussion. Sharma very eloquently explains how engineers have trained artificial intelligences with biases like sexism and racism, why this is such a huge problem, and what developers can do to stop this from happening.

Beginners Guide to Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) | Class Central Help Center[19]

This article selected by multiple students for the Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) discussion provides introductory information on what MOOCs are, how they work, and the various applications of such educational tools. While not very in depth, this article is clear and explains some drawbacks as well as the benefits of MOOCs.

10. Technology Advances, Social Trends

Technology Adoption - Our World in Data[20](Favorite)

This website, posted to the Interesting Quantitative Facts discussion by Fantazya Kemnitz presents the adoption of various technologies by American households over time. This is very interesting data, especially the data on technologies like flush toilets and indoor plumbing, which most Americans take for granted nowadays.

Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused, and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information | Pew Research Center[21]

This article posted to the Interactive Quantitative Facts discussion discusses the results of a survey on Americans's understanding of data privacy and how they felt about what information is available online. This is an important topic, as internet citizens cannot advocate for their safety and privacy without understanding the current state of such things.

Grand Challenges

https://rfcx.org/our_work Rainforest Connection’s system provides real time audio monitoring of rain forest ecosystem. The data they collect has a number of incredible uses in protecting and preserving the environments the organization monitors. They can detect the sounds of illegal logging and deforestation, as well as sounds associated with poaching, protecting both the animals and their habitats with a single system. The recordings can and have also help scientists protect endangered species by monitoring their behavior through their vocalizations. This project records a huge amount of data that is then available for researchers to use in their work, all while providing real time alerts for when and where illegal deforestation and poaching happen.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378112716000219 GPS monitoring of logging sites prevent deforestation and improve infrastructure, making sustainable conservation possible. GPS and lidar allow for improved monitoring of the real impacts of logging over time, which provides data on the state of partially harvested areas of tropical forests. This data can tell scientists about rates of forest regeneration, and carbon density before and after logging. The key to preventing further deforestation is knowing what rainforests remain intact, and monitoring systems as described in this paper provide invaluable information about the state of impacted areas. Knowing what areas of forests are most affected by deforestation lets conservationists direct their efforts most effectively.

http://www.terra-i.org/terra-i.html Terra-i is an AI designed and trained to monitor changes in the vegatation of Latin America. It knows the normal cycles and ranges of how vegetation behaves, and can alert in case of a major change that deviates from norms. Scientists can use this data in conjunction with other information such as where crops are grown and harvested and the natural distribution of plant life to accurately understand what is happening to the rainforest, and make the best possible decisions to preserve it.Terra-i can monitor a massive amount of land, such a large area that scientists can use the data collected to reliably assess patterns. This information can help conservationists figure out where illegal deforestation is occurring so they can put a stop to it.