The World is Ready for More

As future innovators and hackers of the world, we have a moral expectation to be honest and charitable in our dealings with our fellow men. Although we have the skills to destroy business reputations, internet applications, financial stability, and much more, it does not mean that we should. The skills we gain are for making a difference for the greater good. Instead of taking advantage of what damage we can cause, we should spend time innovating, perfecting, and experimenting in cutting edge technology that would make the world a better place. The impact that we can inflict now is incomparable to what has been done in the past. We are in a time and place where the potential for innovation is prime.

Don't Blame Computer Science

Although computers are our education and future careers, what we do for leisure is our choice. Online gaming, chatting, and viewing entertainment are not expected results of constant work on computers. Gaming addictions are formed by small, but significant choices of exploring the virtual world.  These choices are made independently of what our studies are and acted upon by one's own free will. The lifestyle of a person has more of an affect when it comes to online gaming. If a person grew up with video games, he or she will most likely enjoy online gaming. It does not mean that they will most likely pursue a computer science major. Likewise, a person pursuing a computer science major does not mean that they enjoy video games. It is important to remember that having a computer science major does not increase risk of online gaming addiction.

Exposing Personal Information

Here Comes Everybody

        Communicating a message to society has never been so easy. Spread of thoughts and ideas are no longer a challenge with communicative technology around. One does not need have courage and bravery to make a statement with the internet. Boisterous behavior is not needed to motivate a crowd in a cause. Society has never before concluded with a depreciation in physical interaction in such situations. Communicative technology has exponentially decreased the traditional amount of

work to raise awareness.  Presently, the internet is providing communicative interaction for people. 

People do not need to expand their comfort zone by writing blogs, posts, or messages on the internet. Communicative technology is changing people's attitude about spreading an idea,creating a movement, and making a difference. 

        Joining a cause on the internet has become a simple process. Different groups are at a
person's disposal to view and study. Information of groups on the internet are exposed with purpose 

to increase membership within groups. Although some groups require a joining process, this only 

involves typing information where internet access is provided. Physical arrival to any of the group's 

main location is not required or necessary. This simplified process of joining a group has influenced 

society's attitude about joining groups with causes in such a way that it easily invites user to join. 

Because it is simple, joining a group becomes a quick process. The small amount of time it takes to

join a group is almost negligible to a person. Therefore, more people are joining online groups. 

        Being part of an online group creates personal value to a member. Each member is able to 

see the progress of the group in real time and be part of what is happening. Individual members 

can take action within the group by writing their own posts and messages, therefore they can 

make personal influences. By being personal in the group, members add personal value into 

the group. Members gain a sense of importance and thus increase member activity. When each 

member has the option of becoming influential, the opportunity of being valuable in a group is the 

same for each member. In conclusion, each member has the opportunity to make their own difference.

        

        

Women Do What They Want

Despite the current controversy over the rarity of women in the sciences, the reason most women do not study in the sciences is because they do not choose careers like men do. Most women do not have the same drive as men do to become financially successful. Success is important to women, but success to them is working in a field they are passionate about. The fields women choose need not be financially rewarding as the sciences. It need only be an enjoyable experience. Most men do what is necessary to become most  financially successful. Most men are responsible for financially supporting a family, therefore make such decision that allow them to deliver. Women choose careers with intention of nurturing their inner desires. Most Women simply feel they cannot have that fulfillment in the sciences.

The More the Merrier

Presenting an application to multiple users for the purpose of testing will quicken error detection in a program. Since the presence of bugs in software applications can can cause irreparable loses, especially in critical fields like stock market reporting, medical diagnosis, and airplanes and air traffic control, it is of utmost importance that extensive testing is made, but quickly achieved in software applications. Increasing the number of users that test the program will reveal weaknesses that otherwise would have taken a longer time to detect. As each user adds stress to the program differently, the program reveals different hidden errors. As Linus's Law states, "More users find more bugs." Introducing the program to different situations will expose defected parts of the program and inconclusively get fixed!

A Rapid Medium

Technological growth is not alone. It is a medium that the light of Christ uses to touch the hearts of people around the world in different ways. It brings scripture, articles, and talks by church leaders to those who are not geographically near these resources. Technology enables the spread of the gospel quicker than men hand delivering messages to people's homes. It brings the church's messages to the comfort of homes all around the world. Technology allows these resources to go into member and non-member homes and is given without time limitations. Any person can have the luxury to study, view, or use material at any moment. Although technology growth may seem rapid, it is only spreading the gospel of Christ along with it.

Innovators are Protected

Although patents have had issues in the past, they are ultimately a source of protection for inventions. Similar to the idea of copyright, they help prevent a new idea from getting sold and miscredited.  For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, when company A spends billions of dollars to produce a new drug, it is important that they are protected by a patent because company B may avoid spending billion of dollars to produce the same product by stealing the invention. This does not mean that the invention cannot get used or sold, rather it protects from others using or selling it.  Although certain jurisdictions hold in each country about patents, they are ultimately a source of protection for inventions all around the world . Patents ensure by law that your property remains yours.  

The Introduction of Security

Computer security was not always something to be aware of in the tech community. Principles of computer security only came about as hackers proved faultiness in its architecture. Security holes found by hacking quickly became a problem when classified information began to be exposed. Therefore strengthening security needed to take place. Now, what was thought as security decades ago is only a fraction of what security is today. Although security has strengthened dramatically, the principle of strengthening computer security was only first introduced with Stoll’s experience in The Cuckoo’s Egg.

The idea of being a target may not occur to us due to “valueless” information our system holds. Therefore sometimes precautionary steps are not made to ensure protection. It is possible that may be true, but not probable to an intruder. Our systems might just be the medium to something priceless. It is important that security is ensured regardless the value we assume it has. To a hacker, our server may be the key to a whole dangerous operation waiting to happen. It is up to us to make sure operations like that do not even become likely.

Although it is evident unsecured connections create vulnerability of being monitored, the case is the same with any connection. An undetected monitoring device through a server does not guarantee client invisibility. Any client can be monitored. This is emphasized by Stoll’s undetected printing of a hacker’s movement through a server. It has even become analogous to today’s sniffers and rootkits. Undetected through the server, they can monitor from the wire and intercept any call detection of their presence. Despite their undetection, we must still become aware of the possibility of being monitored.

Computer security is something we are still working on to improve, but it is important to remember the foundation of where it all was introduced, The Cuckoo’s Egg.

Technology, A Financial Problem

Although wearable technology is taking off, families have not realized this means more spending. Usually a family can buy a desktop and keep it around for all to use, but wearable technology means that technology becomes more personal. Just as every family member needs their own pair of shoes, technology is going to become so personal that this will be the case with it as well. Furthermore, as families update their closets, so will the need be for their wearable technology. It does not help that this technology is increasing so rapidly. It not only means purchasing for each family member, but constant spending for updates as well. As exciting as this increase of technology may be, this will be a financial problem for families.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/strap-computer-wearable-tech-taking-off-20427621

Evolving?

Each bit of technological progress makes a difference in our lifestyles. Not addictively, but ecologically. As technological settings change, we adapt. The greater technology is valued, the quicker it becomes the norm. As more technology becomes part of the status quo, the more it becomes part of us. It affects our social contact with others, our ability to communicate, the way we approach problems, and how we solve them. Our adaption affects our co-workers, friends, and family. Although infectious and dangerously contagious, it is gracefully becoming part of our history. In fact, it is changing history. Our traditions and customs before technology are being pushed out of our lives and technology is moving in. In consequence, active heritage is decreasing, and it will continue to do so unless we are cautious.

For the Greater Good

When we hear that the National Security Agency has a new generation of programs that “revolutionize” data collection and analysis, we become excited. When we learn that it is for the purpose of unlocking as many secrets about individuals as possible, we become alarmed. It is important to recognize that the NSA’s work centers their activities on counter terrorism, counter proliferation and cyber security. Instead of fearing our countries’ leaders and their innovations for protecting this country, we must trust in their purpose. We have not climbed to the top of the mountain without fear of instability. Danger of terrorism is growing, and any future attack can bring us tumbling down. Joseph Smith stated, “The time will come when the destiny of the nation will hang upon a single thread.” With this in mind, any efforts to thicken the thread should be acknowledged and valued . The United States of America has never needed more uniting. Trust in the people trying to protect this nation will replace the fears we may have of their revolutionized methods and strengthen our country. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/us/nsa-examines-social-networks-of-us-citizens.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=technology

Changing the Weather

Advancement in technology has been a drive of exponential success for industry. The innovation and increase of software has been in motion since the Information Age began. In consequence to the growth of software companies and availability, several companies are tied down with making decisions of how to stitch together different bits of software received from different technology providers.  Although it is recognized, soon this will be solved by having only three to four big suppliers to choose from. But what will determine these main suppliers? The cutting edge of this change is cloud computing, where software installations will be replaced by faster and less expensive cloud-computing services which will insure updated products. It is an exciting shift that will enhance the user experience. Just as companies are moving forward and staying up to date with technology, it is up to us to do the same when we choose where to make our careers. 
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/23/technology/companies-that-spend-big-on-tech-face-a-glut-of-choices.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0&ref=technology

Idle and Ignorant

Idleness is a seductive and cunning inclination that easily encapsulates every technologically literate person. As information availability grows rapidly, our generation is losing determination to seek truth in what is at our grasp. We kindle our idle behavior when we deliberately spend qualitative time on web entertainment. It is an ignorant action with a consequence of ignorance. We need to expose our minds to useful and current information on a consistent basis. In the case technology disappears, how useful will our minds be in daily doings? What difference will we establish among family and peers?