Module 11

The Technology of the Terminators:
Without a doubt, I knew the Terminator movies would be my movies of choice for this assignment. Not just one, but all of them as they are all apart of the same plot. Yes, I watched all four of them within the last week for the purpose of this essay. It was my pleasure! I'm sure that most of you have seen these movies before, so my writings of the plot will be minimal. My intended is to discuss the technologies used within the movies; real and science-fiction.
The terminator movies are my favorite sci-fi movies of all time. In a nutshell the plot is about an artificial intelligence, Skynet, that turns against it's own creators, humans. Skynet becomes so powerful that on Aug. 25, 2004 at 18:18 EST it takes over America's defense network and lunches nuclear assaults all cross the world leading to what is called Judgment Day. However not all humans are destroyed, and there is a mighty resistance that is lead by the movies protagonist, John Connor. Skynet builds terminators, or human like machines to deal with the survivors of Judgment Day and to terminate Connor. The premise of the first three movies is that Skynet sends three different terminators back in time, one per movie, to either try and terminate Sarah Connor, John's mother before John is born, or John himself. The resistance also sends back a human, Kyle Reese, in the first one, and two terminator T-800's in the second and third to protect Sarah and John from the other terminators. The two terminators send back by the resistance were captured  and re-programmed for the mission of saving John. The fourth movie happens after Judgment Day and as is more about the war with the machines after the catastrophic event . Of course Skynet still realizes Connor's importance and try's to take him out in this one as well.
These movies are saturated with computer technology. Everything from networking to artificial intelligence. I think the most important of these technologies would be the A.I. The idea of artificial intelligence has obviously been around for a long time. That was evident in our last assignment “A Logic Named Joe.” However since the writings of the shorty story, the idea of A.I. has made great leaps and bounds. It has been the basis of many movies, and the subject to many conspiracy theories. It has also given us something to think about as technology advances. I am not saying that I am afraid of the future of computers, however I am not unafraid either.
I was fortunate enough to have my son along side me watching and I noted one common question he asked in all of the movies, “Dad can that really happen?” Truth be told, I DONT KNOW! The more I think about it, I the more I believe that could A.I.could be possible. Maybe not probable, but possible. Look at it this way. We already have programs that type code for us. We have apps that can talk to us and do all kinds of things. Of course all of these technologies require some sort of human input. However, throw in some servomechanisms and maybe couple other technologies and bam, we have a computer system with the ability to learn. Once a computer can learn, it can become self-aware and start making decisions for themselves, leaving us humans out of the loop. That's a scary thought considering the choices, thoughts, and actions of Skynet.
Besides the terminators, laser-guns, and other machines made by Skynet, AI is really the only technology in the movies that doesn't already exist. Even at that, the military is working on Laser weaponry which will be a reality in the near future.
There is a gap of 25 years between the making of the first movie to the fourth movie and I have noticed real-life technology advancement within each of these movies. To start, the the visual effects only get better and better from the first to the fourth. In 1984 visual effects were very poor, in 1991 they are much improved. Of course the fourth installment has the best visuals, but the greatest improvements with effects is actually between the first and the second movies, 1984-1991.
Besides the visual effects there are a quite a few other advances in technology that are evident between the gaps of  the movies. In the first movie there are no computers used at all. There is a little talk about Skynet and networks. I honestly can not recall one computer that is actually used. In the second, the are many computers that are being used. I notice that John Connor uses an Atari Portfolio to hack into people's bank accounts so that he can steal money. The Portfolio was one of the very first PDA's ever made and was really advanced for 1991. I also notice that Miles Dyson, a sub-plot character who uses computers for his work. Still between the first and the second movies I note that there is no cell-phone or network technology being used. No modems or internet yet! However, less then 10 minutes into the third movie I notice the bad terminator uses a build in dial-up modem and a cell phone to connect to the L.A. School District's data base to locate the targets that she was sent back in time to kill. That a huge advancement! Finally in the last movie I notice the use of a USB drive to hold data. Also I notice that John Connor uses a Sony Vaio UX mobile phone for communication and for infiltrating Skynet's Head quarters in San Francisco. So the progress of technology in the movies advances from no use of computers to computers that are very powerful and small enough to be hand-held. Incredible!!!
I must admit that I really enjoyed this assignment and highly recommend the whole series if you have yet to see it. While all the movies are important in the plot, and they are all great, I personally think that Terminator Salvation is the best one! I am really excited for the fifth installment of the series; the story is not over!!!!

Module 10

 The prophecies in “A Logic Named Joe, “ are uncannily incredible! So incredible in fact that I had to reassure myself that this story was actually written in 1946. Admittedly, there are many phenomenons that I can not explain, but I will not give any credence to Murray Leinster as being a profit or having any psychic abilities; and since I do not believe in time travel, I have to conclude that the story to be the direct result of thorough contemplation, pure imagination, and many strange coincidences. Yet, despite my personal explanations or justifications to these prophecies, I find the coincidences so uncanny that they can not be ignored. I have taken them all and broke them down into three categories; the things that have already happened, the style of writing itself, and the suggestions of things to come.

First we have to remember the time frame that the story takes place, 1946. There were no commercial or home PC's then. According to the History of Technology Time-line (http://www.web-friend.com/help/general/tech_history.html ) the machine that most consider the first electrical computer, ENIAC, did not come out until February of '47, after the story was written.

First off, Leinster's notion about society's dependency on these computers or logics as he calls them was right on! How could someone in 1946 possibly know how important these technologies are today when they were non-existent back then. Then consider the size of the logics. The computers of the 40's were huge, the size of a room. The actual size of a logic is never mentioned in the story, however it's quit clear that they were small and portable. That in itself is a thought that is 30-40 years premature.

Then I have to account for his Carson Circuits in which we would call the internet and all the services that it provides. His idea that the logics could connect to tanks, and find the answers to practically everything from weather forecasts to how to kill your wife were incredibly accurate. The tanks represent a word search engine that would link you to data plates or web servers with the information that you are seeking. Also he mentions vision-phones and the ability to watch anything you want. That sounds very much like Skype and Netflix to me. For my last example of things that have already happened I reflect upon the pay logic he uses. Wow really? There aren't as many of these as there used to be due to the fact more people then ever have their own computers/smart-phones and internet connections can be acquired through 3G or 4G cell technologies. But still you can go into any truck stop and find a pay computer that allows you access to the net. Its very perplexing how someone in the 40's could even conceive this idea.

Another observation I had about the story was the style of writing that Leinster uses. Is it just me, or did he write this whole story using text lingo of today? Granted he doesn't uses acronyms like LOL or IDK, but I can not recall any novel or short story that uses words like kinda, coulda, or sorta. Not to mention Leinster abbreviates just about every word that ends in “ing” with “in'” These are not English words. Most writers would not write like this unless it was in parenthesis to give context to the dialect of the person speaking. So I wonder if he knew about that as well. One thing I am convinced of through the reading of this story is that the English language should stay intact. I found that Leinster style of writing made reading more difficult then it had to be.

Finally, its apparent that the lead character of the story is quit convinced that he saved the world! I take this as a reflection of Leinster's actual thoughts. Is he right? What happens when the wrong people obtain the wrong information. Friedman talks about this in his book as well. What happens when nuclear technology isn't so high-tech and top-secret?. What happens when anybody can read how to make an atom bomb? Does this sound like sci-fi to you? Maybe for now, but remember there was also a time when the internet and computers themselves were sci-fi. So is it only a matter of time until we have a bunch of terrorists with nuclear capabilities? Honestly its something I don't like to think about, but in all actuality it does need to be addressed.

Another important observation I noted is the Artificial Intelligence that Joe displayed. I believe that this is another great prophecy that has yet to happen, however I will have to leave you hanging on this as it is a major topic of my next module.....

module 9

The making of a Dell Computer is nothing more the a very complex supply chain. First an order is put in via phone or internet into “Dell's Order Management System,” which does the CC card checks and verifies other personal info. After, an email containing the order is send out is sent out to one of the six Dell Factories in the world. When this email is send out, an electronic signal is also sent to the factory's supplier logistics center (SLC) that details the parts specific to the order. The SLC's main job is to keep track of the inventory and keep up with the demand. The SLC's collaborate with many different suppliers from many different companies in many different countries. This cycle happens every 2 hours so that the manufacturing plant always has the “just in time” components it need to make the customized computer. If by chance the SLC is running low on a certain part, they let a Dell sales rep. know instantly, so they can offer a deal to the consumer for a better part. So now, not only is the consumer feeling like he/she is being well taken care of, Dell is actually helping themselves by making the transaction quicker, and making themselves look good, when in reality it is them that had a a slight glitch in the supply chain. This is pretty ingenious!!!

After the manufacturing plant has assembled the laptop, it is send down a conveyer belt were servers await to upload the consumers desired software. Then, it is packaged and sent on to its final destination, where ever that may be! That is a well orchestrated supply chain! But the lesson truly being taught by Friedman is his “Dell Theory,” which says no two countries in the same supply chain shall ever go to war, because their lives and economy has already been touched for the good, and going to war would only be a step in the wrong direction. The “Dell Theory” however only applies to countries and states, and not to terrorists groups which have no state. Al-Qaeda is a great example.

Al-Qaeda's has learned to collaborate on the internet just like any flattened country or company. However they use the internet to spread hate and fear. They use the internet to recruit their soldiers, and they use the internet use to outsource these soldiers to train them. Al-Qaeda does have a supply chain, not of goods, but of “ murder and mayhem.” This supply chain uses small networks that move their money through howalas. They recruits come from the alternative educational systems and like I mentioned through the net. This brings about the worst supply chain of all, the suicide supply chain. This chain is like any other, however instead of supplying goods, this chain supplies suicide bombers. Just as one bomber goes out and does his job, another is needed to replace him. This is sick, and thanks to the same internet that brings me my basketball scores, comes another suicide bomber that is more then willing to sacrifice his life in the name of jihad.

The the supply chains of Al-Qeada are not the only advantage they get from a flattened world, they also use the internet to research potential targets so the executions of the missions can be more precise then ever. This is a scary thought and proof that a couple of bad apples can ruin the whole bunch.

To switch gears to the curse of oil, to me it seems the people of the countries from which the oil is coming from, are the people most suffering from the curse. As long as the leaders of these countries can get rich from drilling oil they will never tapping into the talents of their own people. Most of these people are completely obvious to this because they feel they are being treated fair by their own country, when in fact they are being mis-lead; they have no representation, which leads to no or poor learning facilities. This leaves their own people out of the technological loop, and in the end when the oil does run dry ( AND THAT DAY WILL COME), they will have no other choice but to change, by then it could be to late. These conditions also cause  higher oil prices because the oil rich state is totally dependent on oil money, and where ever there is money to be made there will also be greed and corruption. Friedman theorizes that with the gas prices as high as they are, it only fuels us to arise to the challenge of renewable alternative fuel resources. I could not agree more!

For a long time now gas prices have been extremely high. I always hear people complain about it, and how inconvenient is it, typical Americans, sad but true! I on the other hand have always preached, “The high gas prices are not the problem, they are the solution.” I know that the prices are an inconvenience for us AT THE MOMENT, however we spoiled American's need to look at the bigger picture. Higher gas prices would force us to think different and do different. This is the least we can to for our mother earth; in which with out her, none of us would have life. I also agree with Friedman, that each of us has a moral price and responsibility to the air pollution that we cause, and because of this maybe gas prices should be even higher. Am I crazy?

Finally to conclude my reading of “The world is Flat,” I also have to agree with Friedman that even though the Flat World has brought us closer together, it also keeps us further a part. I am one of those people he describes as NOT SOCIALIZING. I'm that person with an MP3 player always in my ear. I am always turning down a visit or parties invites because I am at home on facebook. This part of the book really hit home because I realize how much FUN I am actually missing. I trade virtual people for real people all the time! I feel safer this way. But its more then that, facebook has a certain nature that is very addicting. I can remember when I used to make it a point to go to a friends house to watch a Jazz game. Now I stay at home and facebook that friend about the game during the game. This actually causes me to miss a lot of the game as I pay more attention to facebook then my beloved Jazz. This is a trend that didn't happen over night, this has been happening over the course of years, progressively getting worse. Thank you Friedman for pointing out one of my biggest flaws, I will work on it! Hopefully in one the the Wifi-free spots that he so enthusiastically speaks of!!!