Personal and Professional Standards

I think our professional standards should reflect our personal standards. If our principles are inconsistent in just one aspect of our lives, our integrity is compromised. What is worth more to us: our character or career? Ideally we’d like to improve in both areas as much as possible, but that is difficult to achieve in the real world. Sometimes it seems like our standards could hold us back from advancing in our careers. What is unethical to us may be perfectly fine to a co-worker, and we fall behind because of it. The more frustrated we become with this injustice, the more tempted we are to compromise our standards. I believe that it's worth it to stick to your standards. At the end of the day, once your career is over, there will be more regret in going against your values than in missing an opportunity to get ahead.

Educate, Don't Shelter

Completely sheltering kids from the internet does not protect them. The internet is increasingly integrated into daily life, so if a child doesn't use the internet at home, they’ll surely encounter it elsewhere. Wouldn't you rather control how your child is introduced to it? I've lived in Utah Valley my entire life, so there are certain things I haven’t been exposed to very often. Sometimes when I visit other places and I encounter things I’m not used to, I don’t know how to handle them. It's not necessarily anyone’s fault that I'm not prepared for those situations; I just don't expect them. The internet is the same on one end of the country as the other, so parents not only have the ability but also the obligation to educate their kids. Of course, internet rules and filters should be used, but kids should ideally experience the internet in their own homes to be prepared.

The Traps of Gaming

I think by recognizing why and how video games are addictive, we can better avoid falling into their traps. Mobile devices are making casual gaming more popular and lucrative than ever. Even initially free game applications generate large revenues, especially for designers who know how to keep us playing. Games like Candy Crush are addictive because we have limited turns for a given amount of time. This encourages us to return in short bursts throughout the day, creating a habit. We may be so caught up that we start paying for extra turns. Once we realize this strategy, we can take a step back and look at the game for what it really is, rather than being clouded by how we feel while playing it. We can still enjoy these games, but should think critically about how they manipulate us; this usually makes it easier to limit our time spent playing.

Internet Organization

Many of the ways the internet has impacted society have been unanticipated both by creators and users. I believe that we have an opportunity to learn from previous examples and use the tools of the internet to intentionally influence the world. "Here Comes Everybody" by Clay Shirky explains the influence the internet has had on society. Specifically, it explains how groups can be organized without a governing structure, and how these groups can accomplish more because they aren't limited by procedure. Several real-life examples illustrate these changes; in each case, an organization was formed using one or more internet services, and some kind of social movement or change occurred. Most creators of such services did not anticipate the scale or scope of influence they could have, but the power of millions of voices using those services allowed groups to interact with each other in entirely new ways. Each new social tool has led to discoveries of not only the potential influence of groups, but also in how the use of these tools can help provide that influence. Those with specific causes can follow these examples, using the tool that will be most effective in their case. Not all of these endeavors will be successful, but the more the internet is used, the better we can learn to harness its power.

Being Willing to Discard

There are many unanticipated factors that sneak up on us when starting out on a new project. Once these issues reveal themselves, we can either continue struggling through them or rewrite code based on our new knowledge. I believe that being willing to throw work away and start over is essential in improving what we have. In this mindset, a programmer is less attached to what they write, and can quickly produce basic prototypes rather than focusing on details too soon; they don't try to perfect anything before anyone else sees it, allowing them to find more important issues early. In an open source environment, coders are passionate about their projects; that's how the community survives. Many of them are also willing to completely redo or remove their contributions to improve the project as a whole. This allows the software to improve rapidly.

Perceptions and Computer Science

I believe that perceptions built up across a lifetime are a major factor in dissuading or encouraging women to join computer science. While the industry was still new, Women had fewer ingrained impressions of it, and were more likely to jump on board. As time passed, however, women who might have otherwise enjoyed the field had come to associate it with certain stereotypes, and were dissuaded from joining. My dad is a computer scientist, so I grew up in an environment that encouraged me to learn programming. I was able to look past the stereotypes and just learn the material. I had no intention of majoring in computer science when I started college, but because I was familiar with it, I was open to trying it. If we want more women in computer science, we should introduce them to the field, not the stereotypes, at a young age.

Internalizing Information

With so much information and media available to us online, it's easy to consume it in mass quantities, then quickly forget it. I sometimes fall into the trap of saturating myself with a little bit of everything I want to learn or see; in the process, I don't internalize any of it. This is why I think we should prioritize fewer things we want to read or view, and then use technology not just to consume information, but to find the best resources available. Distilling our information choices will allow us to focus in on one thing at a time, rather than attempt to juggle many ideas at once. If we find another article that interests us along the way, we can always make a note to revisit it later. As we narrow our media consumption it may feel like we're slowing down, but in internalizing what we do consume, a smaller amount of information could have a larger impact on our lives.

Similarities Found in Differences

An ethical principle or idea that generally rings true is found in something people are willing to set aside their differences for. One example comes from The Cuckoo's Egg. The main character, Cliff, comes from a radical background, yet teams up with large government agencies to catch a hacker worming his way through sensitive data. Cliff chooses to forget his differences with these agencies in order to pursue the hacker; this chase is not his job, but because he feels it is his moral obligation, he follows it through to the end. Cliff is told both by his boss and the agencies to stop his efforts; this happens several times, but in his commitment to the chase he continues. The FBI and CIA eventually rejoin, and the case is solved. Some of Cliff's ethics and procedures are entirely different from those of the formal agencies, yet both work to protect information; the ideas of privacy and security ring true to all parties involved. Like Cliff, we often find our own moral footing as we realize our similarities with opponents; this is how barriers are melted and progress is made. At times the efforts put forth by opposing sides will vary; these bumps are expected. However, as long as at least one party continues to keep the cause afloat (and that cause is still worthy,) the others should eventually return to it. After surviving such a test, outsiders may begin to recognize truth in the idea, allowing more people to forget their differences and work to a common goal.  

Revolutions

The word "revolution" is used frequently in news about technology. Promising discoveries and inventions are always on the horizon. There is a difference, however, between new technology and a product that immediately impacts society. Revolution is not the technology itself, but the effect it has on the world. If not widely adopted, even something with great potential can fail to leave its mark; it may only be considered as an example for its successors. Apple's latest updates promise a revolutionary digital wallet; Google Wallet was introduced several years ago. Few retailers support Google's version, while preparations are already underway to meet the demands of Apple's customers.  Both use roughly the same idea, but one release has a larger sphere of influence and demand than the other, marking that one as revolutionary.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/opinion/the-digital-wallet-revolution.html

Family History Communities

Anyone can be part of an internet community as a researcher and collaborator; this allows group members to accomplish more together than they could as individuals. For example, family history sites connect personal genealogies, encouraging members to pool their information. Family Search's Family Tree allows millions of users to edit and view the same database of ancestors; many separately-researched family lines are connected, reducing duplication of both names and research. In this community, each contributor may share any detail; one tidbit may lead others to new sources or research ideas. Family lines become more accurate and new connections are made as community efforts continue. These and similar online environments foster a collaborative spirit, allowing users to learn as they contribute.

Technology and Knowledge

Advances in technology supplement and challenge previous knowledge, while also revealing what is yet unknown. One example comes from the jungles of Cambodia. Archaeologists have researched ruins of the ancient city of Angkor for over a century. Despite this lengthy study, laser technology has only recently revealed an underlying structure of the area; this includes an entirely separate ancient city, previously undiscovered. New information on such a large scale required re-examination of conclusions drawn from previously collected data; it also demonstrated the possible scope of further discovery. The success in Angkor will inspire others to consider the unknown and take the initiative to possibly make similar discoveries; this will inspire more advances in technology, and the cycle of knowledge will continue.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-29245289

Technology and Cooperation

Especially in this digital age, cooperation among multiple fields of study is essential to technology. Inventors combine information from various disciplines to create effectively. This process is simplified as new ways to collaborate are implemented. Today, collaborators have various means of communication and data sharing at their disposal. An abundance of online sources and media can be a useful in starting a project, but experts can provide essential insight. An engineer in the Netherlands recently created a remote-controlled falcon, which acts as a flying scarecrow. This invention required detailed knowledge of a falcon's look and movement; real birds would otherwise ignore it as a threat. The engineer could have created a simpler flying robot for the same purpose, but consulted experts provided the authenticity needed for success.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/16/tech/realistic-robo-hawks-clear-flight/index.html

Responsibility For Change

As creators of technology, we are accountable for how our work affects society. Exactly how our creations are used is out of our control, but we provide the means of great change. Every member of society, even indirect consumers and future generations, is affected by technology of many varieties. We will soon use our knowledge and resources to contribute to this technology. Because our efforts go beyond simply earning income, the outcome of our work is as important to consider as a potential employer or project. We are unable to predict all resulting scenarios, and some creations will have but a minor effect on society. However, in supporting forms of technology we believe can on the whole benefit the world, we will take pride in our work and contributions.