Identify and describe one example of "one size fits all design" and one example of eco-effectiveness design.

This should consist of three paragraphs. Describe the "one size fits all design". Describe the eco-effective design. And provide an argument as to which is better. Give reasons.

This week we looked at the rise of automation and information in manufacturing and retail (in the case of WalMart). We begin to ask questions about Schumpter's idea of creative destruction, which we will look at in more detail next week.

In about 300 words, briefly describe an example of how some aspect of labor or consumption has changed due to the introduction of automation or information technology. You will need to provide some historical details. Best thing would be to create a brief timeline of 5 or 6 data points, and narrate that timeline, i.e. create an historical timeline and provide a narrative. Post on blog.

This week, blog 10 points (moments) in the history of an information technology.

Choose points which exemplify economic, political/social, and technological pressures that led to a particular innovation. (Indicate which point belongs to which kind of pressure.)

1964 - MIT, GE, and Bell start MULTICS; they wanted a system that was commercially useful and could grow by adding power, memory, etc.
1969 - MULTICS project had ended, but Ken Thomspon still developed the mainframe in order to play his game Space Travel; language started out in "assembly language"
1973 - assembly language replaced with C programming language to make software more portable (that is to say to make it compatible to a multitude of operating systems with little change to the source code); "Unix" name appears
1984 - Unix was bogged down by licensing restrictions - GNU OS appears, but never established a kernel and never took off
1987 - Andrew Tanenbaum established Minix as an academia friendly OS, but MINIX did not adjust favorably to Intel's new chips and architecture output
1991 - Linus Torvalds uses Minix as basis for Linux kernel, with which he tried to access large Unix servers of his university
1992 - Linus combines his kernel with GNU to pass by restrictions on commercial activity
1993 - With new licensing, Linux expands into a large scale operation with over 100 developers
1994 - Linus judges kernel to be "complete"; releases Linux 1.0

Briefly answer: Why is the study of cities and urban development crucial to our future?

Then: Identify and describe one technoscience that is crucial to the support of a "Global City" as Saskia Sassen defines it. In a following paragraph (not in list form, but as an argument) discuss various catalysts and corrosions of that technoscience to the function of a megacity like NYC or Lagos. 

For this week, you need to identify a technoscience of the Military.

• Write up one paragraph about the technology.
• Then, in one paragraph, describe 4 catalysts of how this technscience supports the existence, capacity, security, continuity of the military.
• Then, in one paragraph, describe 4 corrosions of how this technoscience undermines, corrodes, corrupts, makes insecure, or threatens the existence of the military.

See the example below. Again, the important element here is to identify aspects of the technoscience which support the development/construction/existence of the Military itself (as a catalyst) and identify aspects of the technoscience which erode/undermine/produce collateral damage/or otherwise make functional problems (corrosions) for the existence of the Military.


--- Example from previous student. 

A technology that continues to support the military is the armor piercing shell.  Theses shells are designed to be able to penetrate all sorts of armor.  There are shells designed to go through body armor, concrete, and also ones that can penetrate an armored tank.  This technology uses a strengthened case with a specially hardened and shaped nose to help penetrate the hardened armored targets.1  The military uses this in combat in hopes of receiving a "first-hit kill."

This technology catalyzes the military by giving them a distinct advantage over their opponent.  If one tank is equipped with armor piercing shells and the other is not, there is no question who will win.  This technology also may be used to go deeper into buildings.  This is good if there are layers of concrete and you know the target is inside.  Another reason this technology acts as a catalyst is because it may give the military a better sense of security when going into battle.

This technology also has corroding effects on the military.  If this technology falls into the hands of the enemy, your own armor may be useless.  A lot of money is will need to be spent on armoring tanks so they will not be affected by the enemy's armor piercing shells. Also, if this technology falls into the hands of the public, law enforcement may have a tougher time dealing with criminals.    

1 "Armor-piercing shot and shell -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 21 Feb. 2009     

For this week, you need to identify a technoscience of the State. Write up a brief few sentences about the technology. Then, list of 4 catalysts and 4 corrosions, like the example below. Again, the important element here is to identify aspects of the technoscience which support the development/construction/existence of the State itself (as a catalyst) and identify aspects of the technoscience which erode/undermine/or otherwise make functional problems (corrosions) for the existence of the State.

Catalysts to state building through mapping:

1.     Enhance the capacity for resource management
2.     Political identity and differentiation between inside and outside of state
3.     Intentionally misleading to those outside the State
4.     Provide a standard of transportation and shipping
5.     Visualization of infrastructure

Corrosions to state building through mapping:

1.     Used to push certain, perhaps dangerous, political ideologies
2.     Can inflame conflict between two nations and drive conflicts
   
3.     When misinformation is used poorly, it can be a detriment to economy
4.     Fail to properly communicate risks

For Friday, write a blog entry on the following: Identify and discuss a technology with powerful political elements. Choose a technology that has not been discussed in the readings.

1) Pick a technology and describe the functions of the technology.
2) Describe in what ways the technology is political (some possibilities are listed below):

• Differences in social, economic, and cultural arrangements
• Some people can afford, many others cannot
• Levels of education required to use a technology
• Differential outputs from same technology
• Different political systems will develop different technological strategies
• Accessibility of the technology
• Power differences between haves and have nots
• Can have unintended consequences
• Can have environmental spillovers
• Embody specific forms of authority and power