#eid100

For my final Blog Post of the semester, this is my "Best of CEID100"!

Dear Visionaries,

The digital age has brought a new era of increasing innovation and interconnectedness. As we come upon an extraordinary technological revolution, we must ask ourselves: how can newer technologies be utilized to build a future that empowers humanity, creates equality, and preserves our planet? After reading Module 11, here are three different pathways to help shape a more positive digital future:

1. Embracing Interoperability for Global Connectivity Interoperability—seamless communication across various devices and platforms—can offer unprecedented opportunities to connect people and ideas. By expanding cloud-based computing and Software as a Service (SaaS), we can establish fair access to digital tools regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers. This could create an environment where students in remote areas connect to global classrooms, and small businesses have access to sophisticated tools once utilized only by large corporations. Open standards and collaboration must drive this kind of vision, reducing silos and creating a more interconnected world.

2. Tackling Information Overload with Ethical AI The rapid growth of data demands more advanced solutions to manage and filter information. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning can be used to create personalized, ethical filtering systems that focus on quality over quantity. These systems can help reduce digital noise while also promoting transparency and diversity in the content we consume. Furthermore, integrating augmented reality and prevalent computing into education and public services can also improve accessibility, making information not only extensive but meaningful and actionable.

3. Building Sustainability through the Internet of Things (IoT) The IoT provides an opportunity to address pressing environmental challenges. Smart cities, supplied with sensors to help optimize energy use and reduce waste, can greatly decrease our ecological footprint. Other devices such as smart grids and appliances can transform resource management, getting communities to use energy more efficiently and react adaptively to changing needs. By focusing on sustainability, we could make sure that technological progress aligns with the preservation of our environment and planet.

So, let us innovate with intention, utilizing our powerful tools to create a digital future focused on equity, sustainability, and shared progress. Together, we can make sure that technology is a force of good, creating a world where humanity will continuously improve.

For my blog this week for Module 10, I took the CourseAcademy beginner “Learn HTML” course, which highlights the importance of programming languages and their role in translating human-readable instructions into machine-executable code. It introduces programming as a connection between human expression and computer functionality, emphasizing the structured, precise nature of various programming languages compared to the uncertainty and overabundance of natural languages.

In Module 10, this week we discussed HTML (Hypertext Markup Language), a fundamental web development language, and its historical evolution. Although it’s not a “true” programming language, HTML is the foundation of the web and allows browsers to display webpage content through tags and elements. It assists in linking (hypertext) and displaying structured information (markup). Over time, HTML has advanced through various iterations, leading up to HTML5, which standardized web development in 2014. As discussed in Module 10, HTML5 goes over key challenges like video integration and cross-platform functionality, making it important for modern web design.

After there was a shift from online to remote education, prompted by recent global events, it has presented both opportunities and challenges in creating engaging and personalized learning experiences. Although digital learning platforms are easily accessible, students still face issues with motivation, feedback, and adapting to the different paces at which they learn. Here’s where Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically adaptive learning AI, could improve remote education.

Imagine there was a remote education platform powered by adaptive AI. This platform could customize learning experiences based on individual students’ strengths, weaknesses, and various engagement levels. Unlike traditional e-learning platforms that usually provide a one-size-fits-all experience, an AI-powered system could assess students in real-time, recognize where they’re struggling or improving, and adjust the different lesson plans accordingly. For example, if a student is going through some difficulty with a specific math concept, the AI could respond by providing additional exercises, interactive visuals, or even video tutorials, progressively increasing the difficulty only when the student demonstrates readiness.

By utilizing deep learning and natural language processing (NLP), this AI program could also provide immediate, personalized feedback on students' written assignments or interactive assessments. The NLP-driven feedback would not only showcase the errors made but also explain main concepts, helping to create a deeper understanding. Additionally, sentiment analysis—a tool in NLP—could detect frustration or disengagement in written responses or interactions with chatbots, prompting the AI to adjust its approach or alert instructors who could intervene with support or encouragement.

A pro to this system is its capability for unsupervised learning: as students interact with the platform, the AI would identify patterns over time and continuously refine its approach. This self-improving mechanism would help ensure that each student benefits from an increasingly tailored educational experience, promoting a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

Spotify has redefined the music industry by recreating the idea of traditional consumption. As a pioneer in the digital age, Spotify’s innovative approach to streaming has changed how we listen to music. Rather than just buying individual tracks or albums, users can now have access to a large library for a low subscription fee. This shift not only changed traditional sales models but also attracted users who had previously relied on illegal downloads or expensive physical media.

One of the key factors in Spotify’s success is its approach to patent collaboration. Instead of engaging in costly patent disputes, Spotify collaborates with other tech companies through patent pools. This strategy helps them to sidestep legal battles and create a smoother integration with new technologies into their platform, ensuring ongoing innovation without the risk of expensive lawsuits.

Spotify’s use of both proprietary and open-source technologies is another innovative strategy. While it controls essential elements like its recommendation algorithms, the company also embraces open-source solutions. This allows for collaboration with the broader tech community, helping Spotify stay agile while revising its essential features.

The company’s freemium model, offering free, ad-supported access as well as premium subscriptions, has been a game changer in lowering the barrier to entry. By attracting a large user base with the free tier, Spotify effectively convinces users into paying subscribers, generating revenue while keeping operational costs low.

This week in Module 7, we learned extensively about cybersecurity, breaking it down into key components like endpoint security, network security, disaster recovery, and information security. In correlation to the activity with PBS’s Cyber Lab Game, which was to teach us about cybersecurity through various challenges, the information from Module 7 significantly increased my understanding of the topic and how I can react to certain situations when it comes to cybersecurity.

In the game, I was tasked with defending systems from various cyberattacks, similar to how endpoint and network security function in real-world scenarios. The concept of endpoint security, as described in Module 7, was especially useful when identifying malicious threats and employing antivirus measures during the gameplay. Understanding the analogy of the “electrified perimeter fence” allowed me to visualize how antivirus software and other defenses work in protecting end-user devices.

Additionally, the disaster recovery section was also helpful. Throughout the game including these scenarios where players must respond to breaches effectively, it helped to reinforce and remind me of the importance of having a well-prepared response plan.

This week, in Module 6, it was discussed how Photoshop has revolutionized image creation and manipulation; specifically in entertainment, fashion, and journalism. It is agreed that although some level of enhancement can be expected in aspects of product marketing, the application of Photoshop to human images raises significant ethical concerns. In fashion, models are consistently altered to fit an unrealistic standard of beauty, which then impacts society’s perception of body image, especially among young people. This has led to a lack of diversity in media representations and harmful self-perception trends, such as “Snapchat dysmorphia,” where users modify their images to resemble distorted, filtered versions of themselves.

The ethical considerations go beyond entertainment and beauty standards into the realm of photojournalism. Here, manipulated or selectively edited images have the power to shape public perception, sometimes at the cost of truth. A key responsibility of photojournalists is to showcase the truth through imagery, as seen in the controversy surrounding the World Press Photo of the Year 2013. Though accusations of image manipulation were cleared, the suspicion raised important questions about journalistic integrity.

In my group’s Public Service Announcement (PSA), we discuss some more tragic instances, such as the deaths of Liam Payne and Kobe Bryant, where the ethical boundaries of media and photojournalism were further tested. As explained in the video, TMZ’s quick release of images related to Liam Payne’s death and their reporting on Kobe Bryant’s helicopter crash before family notifications were met with major public outrage. These situations represent the delicate balance between reporting news and respecting personal privacy and dignity, specifically in times of grief. The use of Photoshop to enhance or alter images in such sensitive contexts becomes especially controversial.

In conclusion, while Photoshop can be a powerful tool, its use in journalism and media needs stricter ethical guidelines to ensure that the truth is preserved, and individuals’ privacy and humanity are respected during vulnerable moments.