Difference between revisions of "325--2011--Week 13 Questions/Comments"
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I too found the Global Graveyard slideshow really interesting. I never would have guessed how valuable these computers were in countries, in the way these people use them. "At the dump, the machines are dismantled and often burned to
extract metals for resale. The equipment in this digital
cemetery come mainly from Europe and the United States, sometimes as secondhand donations
meant to reduce the "digital divide"-the disparity in computer access between poor
nations and rich." (photo 5) I find this interesting that these people would use computers this way and not advance as much technologically. They would rather use the computer for parts to make money off the zinc and copper. In the Ross reading, I found it really interesting his comparison between the AIDS virus and computer viruses, both coming out seemingly at the same time. "Conscious attempts to link the AIDS crisis with the information security crisis have pointed out that both kinds of virus, biological and electronic, take over the host cell/program and clone their carrier genetic codes by instructing the hosts to make replicas of the viruses." (p. 327) The virus epidemics seemed to be taking America over by storm. But why were Americans really reacting the way they were about the computer viruses? Was it ONLY an issue of security? --Claire Brooks | I too found the Global Graveyard slideshow really interesting. I never would have guessed how valuable these computers were in countries, in the way these people use them. "At the dump, the machines are dismantled and often burned to
extract metals for resale. The equipment in this digital
cemetery come mainly from Europe and the United States, sometimes as secondhand donations
meant to reduce the "digital divide"-the disparity in computer access between poor
nations and rich." (photo 5) I find this interesting that these people would use computers this way and not advance as much technologically. They would rather use the computer for parts to make money off the zinc and copper. In the Ross reading, I found it really interesting his comparison between the AIDS virus and computer viruses, both coming out seemingly at the same time. "Conscious attempts to link the AIDS crisis with the information security crisis have pointed out that both kinds of virus, biological and electronic, take over the host cell/program and clone their carrier genetic codes by instructing the hosts to make replicas of the viruses." (p. 327) The virus epidemics seemed to be taking America over by storm. But why were Americans really reacting the way they were about the computer viruses? Was it ONLY an issue of security? --Claire Brooks | ||
| − | The fifth picture in “A Global Graveyard for Dead Computers in Ghana” says, “The equipment in this digital cemetery come mainly from Europe and the United States, sometimes as secondhand donations meant to reduce the "digital divide'' — the disparity in computer access between poor nations and rich.” By sending dead computers to this dump, wealthy countries are not decreasing the “digital divide.” There is nothing digital about the people of Ghana gathering old computer parts and using them as chairs or burning them for metals. In order to survive, these people have to search through dumps to find materials to sell. These photos were quite shocking to me. It really makes you stop and think that the computer you typed your wiki posts on could one day be lying in that dump in Ghana. | + | The fifth picture in “A Global Graveyard for Dead Computers in Ghana” says, “The equipment in this digital cemetery come mainly from Europe and the United States, sometimes as secondhand donations meant to reduce the "digital divide'' — the disparity in computer access between poor nations and rich.” By sending dead computers to this dump, wealthy countries are not decreasing the “digital divide.” There is nothing digital about the people of Ghana gathering old computer parts and using them as chairs or burning them for metals. In order to survive, these people have to search through dumps to find materials to sell. These photos were quite shocking to me. It really makes you stop and think that the computer you typed your wiki posts on could one day be lying in that dump in Ghana.—Samantha W. |
| − | —Samantha W. | + | |
I found Andrew Ross’s point about “technoliteracy” and the use of scary “illness” words to describe a virus very interesting. Whenever people hear the word “virus” in relation to a computer, there is always that instant of panic when you think, what if my computer gets a virus? How will I do all my papers? What about all of my files and pictures and music? As someone who has had a virus, I can say that it was somewhat scary that my computer had been taken over by some unknown virus/program. When it happened I called Norton Security and they were able to track it down and said that my entire system had to be deleted then reinstalled (forgive my ignorance of the proper computer terms). So I paid Norton $100 to “cure” my computer. I went from fear of this virus to anger at whatever hacker or program took over my computer. I could not help but think, why do people create viruses? Do they really have nothing better to do with their time? But back to Ross…. He claims, “While I am not comfortable with the ‘paranoid’ labeling, I would argue that such narratives do little to discourage paranoia” (343). Would people really be as afraid of viruses had society not incorporated panic into the image of a virus?—Samantha W. | I found Andrew Ross’s point about “technoliteracy” and the use of scary “illness” words to describe a virus very interesting. Whenever people hear the word “virus” in relation to a computer, there is always that instant of panic when you think, what if my computer gets a virus? How will I do all my papers? What about all of my files and pictures and music? As someone who has had a virus, I can say that it was somewhat scary that my computer had been taken over by some unknown virus/program. When it happened I called Norton Security and they were able to track it down and said that my entire system had to be deleted then reinstalled (forgive my ignorance of the proper computer terms). So I paid Norton $100 to “cure” my computer. I went from fear of this virus to anger at whatever hacker or program took over my computer. I could not help but think, why do people create viruses? Do they really have nothing better to do with their time? But back to Ross…. He claims, “While I am not comfortable with the ‘paranoid’ labeling, I would argue that such narratives do little to discourage paranoia” (343). Would people really be as afraid of viruses had society not incorporated panic into the image of a virus?—Samantha W. | ||
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| + | At first, I was a bit confused by this slideshow; it would seem as if computers and other machinery are being donated by Europe and the United States in order to “reduce the digital divide,” but it certainly doesn’t appear that the citizens of Ghana are using these donations in the way in which they were intended. Instead, the citizens of Ghana have decided that they would rather tear the machines apart, and extract copper, brass, and aluminum. My question is this: When the United States and Europe decided to make these donations did they honestly think that the citizens of Ghana were going to know how to use computers? Or did they know that the people were only going to want to tear the computers apart for their materials? Considering the U.S. and Europe intended to “reduce the digital divide,” this leads me to believe that they thought poor countries like Ghana would welcome the donations with open arms, and immediately begin their journey in becoming technologically savvy like the rest of the civilized world. This, in my opinion, is completely ridiculous. You cannot simply drop off a bunch of a bunch of old computers in a very poor country and expect the citizens to be able to use them. It almost seems as if the United States and Europe were only donating all of these old machines because they had no other place to put them, and could improve their image a little bit by acting philanthropic. Again, it is hard for me to believe that the U.S. and Europe didn't know what the citizens were really going to do with all of the machines, and so I wonder why the "hope for reducing the digital divide" statement was made in the first place. ~Kevin Gottschalk | ||
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| + | The slide that struck me the most was the one that spoke of how the computers in the dump were sent there to reduce the digital divide. I can see what Europe and America is trying to do but clearly the people living there need the money earned from the metal salvaged from the computers more than the anything they could get through the computer. It shows the differences between the cultures of America and Ghana. –Megan Mc. | ||
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| + | The connection between viruses of the biological and digital varieties, both in the descriptors used and also in titles such as "Invasion of the Data Snatchers," must have done a great deal to increase public fear by giving a terrifying face to a relatively unknown phenomenon. I found Ross' distinction between "viruses" and "worms" as relates to computers fascinating, particularly when he discussed intentionality--we as people do attribute all sorts of morality to the computer viruses/worms that afflict our computers and steal our data, when in fact they are intentionless, amoral things. --Nicole Steck | ||
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| + | The safety hazards of the electronics and computers that essentially go to die in Ghana, particularly the toxic levels of lead, PCBs, cadmium and others are shocking, particularly when one considers that a great deal of the products that are polluting Ghana's soils were sent there as so-called "humanitarian" gifts to bridge the electronic divide. Instead, these technological wonders are being treated much as First World castoffs have long been treated: they are broken apart for the parts and pieces that can be of use to developing countries, and in the process damaging--perhaps irreparably--the Ghanaian environment and its people. -- Nicole Steck | ||
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| + | It is quite a sight to see that computers are being used as seats. Personally, I think that the closing of a digital divide is an absolute joke. As far as that goes, the United States is constantly increasing how technologically advanced our computers become, so how does sending old computers help anothe nation catch up digitally? Furthermore, I think that it is funny that these old junked computers are sold for money, seeing is how they are outdated for what is really out there. Then again, you do what you have to if you want to survive in today's world. I just wonder what the buyers of the junked computer parts do with them. Maybe they re-sell it, because I don't think that somebody should buy old computer parts and then not even use them for an actual computer. --Patrick Kramer | ||
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| + | The computer graveyard slide show highlights many disjointed views about what foreign countries need to develop properly. One particular slide mentioned that the computers that were "donated" from other countries were meant to bridge the "digital divide." There is not only a digital divide between the developed and third world countries, there is also a severe lack of understanding about what is really needed for the latter's proper economic and social uplifting. Many of the people who received those computers just turned around and sold their components to provide for their basic needs. Now, while it isn't the responsibility of other nations to devote all their time and energy to helping other countries develop, there really does need to be a better outreach program in regards to how Europe and the U.S. interacts with these countries. - Scott | ||
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| + | It is interesting how nerds have become rather romanticized today, which is kind of what Ross was hinting at during his piece. However a problem with the romantization is the nerds tend to lead boring lives. Even the writers of the Social Network (some famous movie about facebook... never heard of it ;D) admitted to changing parts of Zuckerberg's life to make it seem more interesting on the silver screen. Yet we still are fascinated by these people, maybe it is because of the amount of time and dedication they put in to learning what most seem as extremely complex. Whatever the case computers have changed how we think and interact with the world. It has made us more connected with other people miles away, but at the same time it has made us more disconnected from those with out the internet. I think the NY Times slideshow showed that disconnection taking place. We give these computers to people in Africa, yet they don't use them in ways that we expect. They don't see as much value in the connection it brings compared to the money they can make from the parts. (It kind of reminds me of when the Europeans tried introducing their technologies to the Native Americans...)I guess it is another example of how sometimes people don't use inventions the way you expect them to. Just the way that computers weren't meant to be personal... - Jenn | ||
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| + | I feel like these people were trying to map uncharted waters in a way. There are both the technological and physical viruses that are trying to be understood, and all the while, the public watches. So everyone is hyperaware of these viruses as experts try to learn more. Here's this new, awesome technology that was just made public not too long ago, and now the public has to worry about the spread of technological viruses... and physical viruses, too. What did Americans learn about sex and computers in this time period? Always use protection. --Stephanie Lipscomb | ||
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| + | I found the connection when describing computer viruses, to aids to be interesting. I think the analogy worked well. I personally like to think of computer viruses as being meaningless. When my computer is affected by one it cause nothing but inconvenience. However, the author does a good job of pointing out the possible motives to creating computer viruses. The creation of a computer virus is completely motivated by the intentions of the creator. I was also interested to learn about the glamorization of the hacker. I believe this is true. Many of the popular movies released over the last few years have had a hacker character. -Kathleen Mead | ||
