Google offers online personal health records

This week’s blog will be the last for this school year. The article is not long, but it should lead you to think about the social and ethical issues involved. Google is now offering to store personal health records online. There are implications to this that involve security concerns and questions of accurate information. Go to the first link below and read the article. Then, go to the second link and view the tour of Google Health. Write a reflective comment that demonstrates you have read both Web pages and have addressed my questions.

Keeping personal health records on the Web has potential good and bad aspects. What do you think would be the greatest advantage to this system? What do you think would be the greatest disadvantage? What personal information would you be willing to put in your online personal health records and what would you want to withhold? How much control should your doctor have over your online records?

Google Health Article
Google Health Tour

Parents Are Unsure

This week instead of reading an article you will view a presentation that has been converted to a PDF format. To see this file you will go to the assignments section of our course on Blackboard. View the presentation, think about what it says, and write a reflective comment on this blog.

The presentation summarizes a survey of parents that was conducted by Common Sense Media and the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. As you read the results, think about how digital media use relates to you. Which of the parent opinions do you agree with and which ones do you think are wrong? Do you agree with the parents’ opinion about communication and collaboration and how well the Web helps students learn these skills? Respond to the following quote: “Our kids are adapting to change at breakneck speed. Adults who nurture children are trying to catch up to ensure that the new, ubiquitous digital diet is balanced and educational.” What can you do to help your parents? How should we help your parents understand the potential and the risks of digital media? Do you agree with the teachers’ opinions about video games, MP3 players, and cell phones? What recommendations would you make to educate parents and teachers? Can you think of any creative uses for video games, MP3 players, and cell phones in education?

Blackboard Link

Virtual College Fairs

Virtual College Fairs

The thought of going to college is exciting. It is a major change in your life and a de facto step toward independence in your life. The preparation for this requires research, resources, and resilience. Going to visit colleges is part of the process, but that can be expensive – especially if you want to visit a college that is far away. One company has a potential solution: virtual college fairs. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your thoughts about the topic.

How useful would a virtual college fair be to you? When would be the best time to have one? We missed the fair that was held in March, but there will be another one next fall. Go to the CollegeWeekLive website and look at the information that they offer on their Web pages. Identify some aspects of the website that would be beneficial and some that would not be worthwhile. What do they need to add to make their virtual college fair better? Should our school make students aware of this website? Seniors, even though you probably have already decided on a school, your input would be helpful for those who are coming after you. Would you recommend that students investigate this website?

Virtual College Fairs Article
CollegeWeekLive website

Video gamers keep spending despite downturn

Video games are popular with people of all ages. This week’s article may provide some surprising facts about gamers in light of recent economic changes. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your views about the topic.

Were the reports of software and equipment sales over the past year surprising to you? Have you played Grand Theft Auto? Do you intend to purchase Grand Theft Auto IV? Do you consider yourself to be an avid computer game player? What would you give up to purchase a computer game that you really wanted? Do you agree that these games are addictive? Are any of your friends addicted to some computer game? What do you enjoy as a form of relaxation to take a break from studying?

Video Gamer Article

Paper Ends Print Edition

Newspapers have long been a source of news and information for people around the world. However, technology has caused changes in the way that we communicate. People now have different expectations about when and how they get their news. This week’s article focuses on how one newspaper has changed. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the topic.

What do you see as the cause for the shrinking circulation of newspapers? What can they do to increase their print circulation? What is your opinion about the Capital Times’ strategy that combines Web-based and weekly print publications? What do you think will happen to newspapers around the world? What should the mission of newspapers be? Who should newspapers focus on as their core audience?

Newspaper Article

Roaming Fees in the Middle East

Having a mobile phone makes it easy to communicate with friends and other people. However, roaming fees are a nuisance and they can be expensive. This week’s article is about the actions of one company to address this problem and, in doing so, attract customers. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the article.

How much are you and the people you know affected by roaming charges? Will Zain’s decision make a difference in the number of subscribers that they attract? Would it cause you to change service providers? The program director for Zain states in reference to roaming charges that “It is something that should be replaced by more innovative stuff.” What innovations would you initiate if you were in charge of the company? What do you think will happen to mobile phone service on a global scale?

Roaming Fees Article

When Tech Innovation Has a Social Mission

Innovation in technology is not new. New ideas seem to be an inherent part of what defines technology in this day and age. This week’s article is about “social enterprises,” a combination of technology organization that pursues social missions and generates revenue. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the topic.

What social missions do you think should be addressed by social enterprises? How should social enterprises generate revenue from their operations? If you were going to start a business in technology, what would it be and how would you include a social mission with it?

Social Enterprise Article

Fear of Internet Traffic Jam

We complain about how slow the Internet is at school. Sometimes Web pages are slow to open. Streaming audio and video are usually not worth bothering to try. We all look forward to the day when things will be better, but will they? This week’s article paints a dark picture. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the topic.

Were you surprised by the fact about YouTube? How much do you think their consumption will be this year? How do you think the Internet traffic surge will affect your personal use in the next few years? If you agree with the article’s suggestion that the traffic congestion problem is local, what should be done here in Jordan to provide a solution? If the problem does get worse, what will you do to continue using the Web applications that you presently use?

Internet Traffic Jam Article

What Signals Are Your Clothes Sending?

RFID, radio frequency identification, has been in existence for many years. Recently the chips have begun appearing in new places where you might not expect them. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that answers my questions and expresses you views on the topic.

What sort of privacy guidelines do you think should be established regarding the use of RFID chips? What are some ways in which RFID chips could be used for good purposes? What are some ways in which RFID chips could be misused? Where do you think you will encounter RFID chips in the future?

RFID Article

Changing the Internet in Japan

The Japanese government is proposing a new law that will affect the Internet in Japan. This week’s article provides information about what the law will do and how it will change Internet use in Japan. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your views.

How much influence do you think the new law will have on Internet use in Japan? Do you agree with the government’s position or with the critics of the new law? Why do you feel that way? If you were an Internet user in Japan, how would you deal with the changes that this law will make? What do you think about the mobile-services filtering that is already in place in Japan?

Japan Article

Facebook: Checking Out Isn’t Easy

You have probably seen Facebook, the social networking site. You may even have a profile there. Have you thought about what happens when you want to delete your profile? This week’s article discusses the experiences that some people have had when they tried to delete their accounts. Go to the links below and read the articles. They have similar, but slightly different information. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the topic.

Do you know anyone who tried to delete their Facebook account and experienced the “bug” in the system? Was the office manager’s reaction appropriate? Should Facebook create a one-step "delete account" button, instead of using the form that they now have? Comment on Facebook’s use of Beacon. Should people have privacy concerns about using Facebook?

Facebook Article 1
Facebook Article 2

Google Tests Video Ads

It seems that almost everyone uses Google. Their system works well and people seem to get the results that they want. Google makes its money through advertising. The ads that we see when we search generally do not interfere with the process and are not obvious. This week’s article is about how that is going to change. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the topic.

Is it wrong for Google to change the format of its advertising? What sorts of things are appropriate for Google to include in its advertisements? Google introduced universal search last year. Can you think of an example of its effect that you have seen? Look at the comments below the article. Do you agree with people’s reactions? Will you stop using Google if the format of their advertising changes?

Google Article

Dating Sites Compete for Users

Online dating sites have been around for some time. Our article this week looks at how they have fared over time and influences that have affected them. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and expresses your opinion about the topic.

How do you feel about the idea of online dating? Is an online dating service something that you would consider trying when you are an adult? What concerns should people have about this sort of service? What do you think of Match.com’s tactic to get women to participate? Do you think that social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace are taking business away from Internet dating sites?

Internet Dating Article

Microsoft Bids Billions for Yahoo

Microsoft has announced plans to make a bid to purchase Yahoo. This week’s article looks at the reason for Microsoft’s effort to acquire Yahoo and the implications that this merger would have. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that addresses my questions and shows your understanding of the article.

Microsoft’s bid to take over Yahoo is considered hostile. If you were in Jerry Yang’s position, what would you do? Should Microsoft be allowed to purchase Yahoo? Should the government get involved with antitrust concerns about this merger and other mergers of large companies? If the merger does take place, how do you think it will affect searching and online advertising?

Microsoft Article

Getting Paid to Blog

Blogging is a popular activity. People share their souls in Cyberspace and readers vicariously enjoy the lives of others. This week’s article looks at the ethics of blogging for money. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that answers my questions and expresses your views on the topic.

Is it ethical to write about products for money in a blog that people read because they think you are sharing your honest opinion? Look at one of the author’s blog posting that are linked from the article. How much would you charge to write articles like those in the author’s blog? What types of paid blog articles are acceptable for people to write? What types of articles would you refuse to write? How should people determine the limits of their moral compromise in situations like this?

Paid Blogging Article

Google and Its Pledge

Four years ago, Google promised to use some of its money to “make the world a better place.” The philanthropy unit that Google has set up will spend up to $175 million in its first round of grants and investments over the next three years. Go to the link below and read the article about Google’s philanthropy. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read and thought about the article and answers my questions.

Do organizations like Google have a responsibility to “make the world a better place?” The company is like other companies in making grants. How do you feel about the untraditional things it will be doing? Which initiative do you think should be their highest priority and why? Is the comparison of deciding how to spend Google’s money like a saint wandering the streets of Benares, on the banks of the Ganges accurate or is the problem different?

Google Article Link