Discussion 112

112General Instructions:

Your discussions (presentations) should analyze the situation and use analogies and similar cases where possible. You will argue against the case, defense the case and evaluate the arguments and decide the case. Present the forum/group’s proposals and/or conclusions, supported by arguments

Questions236

1. Google has been pursuing an ambitious goal of collecting and providing vest amounts of human knowledge. Google’s projects have faced a variety of criticisms, some centered on the facts that it is a private company and that it is an American company. For example, Google’s databases and the wide use of its search engines give it more power over information than a private corporation should have. Google’s project of scanning millions of books contributes to American and English-language domination of world culture because it is scanning books in English.

Give arguments in support of these criticisms and agreements against them.

2. Some people who consider themselves capable of distinguishing reliable information from un-reliable information on the Web are concerned that most ordinary people are not educated, experienced, or sophisticated enough to do so. They are likely to believe lies, they might follow dangerous medical or financial advice, and so on. How serious a problem do you believe this is? How might it be addressed?

6. What are some skills, traditions, and/or social conventions that have been or might soon be lost because of computer, phone, and Internet technology? Include at least one that you think will be a real loss and include at least one that you think is not a problem. Give reasons.