Computers and Society

1
Computers and Society

• The Sorcerers Apprentice
• Predicting the Future?
• How many computers do we need?
• Todays Situation
• Benefits from use of Computers
• Problems with use of Computers
• Course Wrap up Schedule

2
The Sorcerers Apprentice

• In the cartoon movie Fantasia, Mickey Mouse uses
  magic to make a broom carry water for him. When
  the laboratory is flooded, he realizes that he
  doesnt know the magic spell to stop the broom.
  He hacks the broom up into small pieces, but each
  piece starts to carry water on its own.
• The sorcerer returns in the nick of time and says
  a magic spell to save the day.
• Who are the sorcerers to save us from the magic
  of our computers today?

3
Predicting the Future?

• Isaac Asimov a great science fiction writer wrote
  his classic Foundation Trilogy in the 1940s
• In it, he described space travel and a wonderful
  future human society across the universe
• However, he completely missed computers!!
• He had people who were specially trained in math
  (members of a guild) doing needed calculations
  in their head to guide interplanetary rocket
  ships

4
Predicting the Future?

• Quotes from the book
• Howard Aiken when he heard of plans to make and
  market more ENIAC computers felt that they
  would never sell more than a few of them
• Douglas Hartree We have a computer here in
  Cambridge there is one in Manchester and one at
  the National Physics Laboratory. I suppose
  that there ought to be one in Scotland, but
  thats about all. (1951)

5
Predicting the Future?

• More quotes from the book
• Berkely and Atanasoff recall hearing estimates
  that fewer than 10 computers would satisfy all of
  Americas computing needs.
• C.C. Furnas There is a real need for vest
  pocket radios weighing not more than half a
  pound, which a man can carry conveniently any-
  where he may go but there must be a decided
  improvement in the efficiency of tubes. (1936)

6
Predicting the Future?

• George Santayana
• Those who do not remember the lessons of history
  are condemned to repeat it.
• How many computers do you think we need?
• Do we have too few?
• Do we have enough?
• Do we have too many?

7
Todays Situation?

• How have computers enriched our lives?
• Discuss
• How have computers adversely affected us?
• Discuss
• What will they do for us or to us in the future?
• Discuss

8
Someday ?

• Mankind has always questioned the existence of
  God
• So people organized a huge project to build the
  most intelligent and immense computer in the
  universe
• After many innovations and a lot of hard work on
  the hardware and the software, they finished it,
  turned it on, and asked it the question
• Is there a God?
• After several hours, the computer finally
  answered
• There is now!!

9
Course Evaluation

• Please take the time to fill out a course
  evaluation form.
• Hand it to the student volunteer who will collect
  and turn them in at the Computer Science
  Department office.

10
Course Wrap up Schedule

• Next Class Session Review for the Final
• Via email, please send me any questions that you
  want me to cover for you.
• Final Exam Weds Dec 18, 2002 (Gold Lab)
• Section 1 1130 AM - 1245PM
• Section 2 100 PM - 230PM
• Familiar Format A disk with a Word file