首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
At PARC, we have lived with ubiquitous computing for almost ten years. Early on we confronted the question of how to do this wor
At PARC, we have lived with ubiquitous computing for almost ten years. Early on we confronted the question of how to do this wor
admin
2013-05-29
48
问题
At PARC, we have lived with ubiquitous computing for almost ten years. Early on we confronted the question of how to do this work most ethically. We concluded that it is vitally important for everyone, scientists and consumers alike, to remain alert to the ethical issues we may face as the world becomes filled with embedded, invisible computers.
Computer chips have been inserted into everyday objects since the earliest days of the microprocessor. Today, an average home might have 40 chips in various devices, from remote controls to alarm clocks to wristwatches. This fact has raised few new ethical issues. But as computers become more and more ubiquitous, and less visually obvious, three questions arise. Firstly, will these chips thinking for us make us forget how to think for ourselves? Secondly, will an "information underclass" without access to these devices be created? And thirdly, will these chips invade our privacy?
The goal of ubiquitous computing is to make technology invisible and, by embedding computers into everyday things, make the things themselves smarter. But will this lead to dumber people with less control over their technology? Automobiles, for example, use embedded computers for a host of functions that improve their performance and reliability. But fewer people now know enough about their car to be their own mechanic. Should this loss of a once common skill concern us? I think not. Ever since the first pre-human shaped a stone into an axe, we have been improving our technology. The invention of the axe did represent a loss of control, because some people were better at making axes than others. But the axe also made life easier, so we had more time to develop other skills, like agriculture, art and writing. As another step along this continuum of invention, ubiquitous computing won’t make people dumber; it will give them time to get smart about other things.
I believe, however, that everyone should be given an equal opportunity to get smart about other things. In this regard, there is legitimate concern that the new ubiquitous computers won’t be equally available to everyone, thus driving a wedge between high-tech "haves" and "have-nots". But it is important to realize that the prime mover behind the latest technology is not the technology itself, but an agreement—the Internet.
Agreeing on low computers should talk to one another on the internet has tremendous advantages for exchanging information, decreasing the cost of technology and creating new market opportunities. If all chips are able to relate to each other, then information can be shared cheaply. This means that Internet access may eventually cost only a dollar or two. If the trend towards ever cheaper, more widespread access to information continues, there will be no information underclass.
Ubiquitous computing will make our lives more convenient, but it will also allow computers to know everything about us. Private actions, such as reading the newspaper, may be shared with other computers—and their owners—all over the world. When computers know so much, whom will they tell?
If a computer runs your toaster, for example, it knows when you make toast, and how many slices. By correlating toast-making activity with the license plate numbers of cars parked in front of your house, a computer could determine if a guest had spent the night. But if you were a married politician, and even if you were not, your might want to keep this information secret.
Democracy is based on the principle that if people have enough information, wise decisions will be made. In an age in which embedded computers will provide us with ever more information, it is vital that the ethical implications of this new technology be openly debated. With a little vigilance and planning, we can reap the benefits of this new technology without compromising our intelligence, our opportunities or our freedom.
The author’s attitude toward ubiquitous computing can best be described as ______.
选项
A、cautious optimism
B、unreserved approval
C、grave skepticism
D、adamant opposition
答案
A
解析
从全文尤其是最后一段,可以看出作者的态度是既审慎又乐观的(cautious optimism),故选A。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/IzHO777K
0
研究生英语学位课统考(GET)
相关试题推荐
Heisa/an______andwell-behavedchild,buthisparentsworryabouthimforhetalkstoolittle.
For150yearsscientistshavetriedtodeterminethesolarconstant,theamountofsolarconstantenergythatreachestheEarth.
ThedevelopmentandwidespreaduseofcomputertechnologyandtheInternethavetransformedhowwecommunicate,howwecommunica
ThedevelopmentandwidespreaduseofcomputertechnologyandtheInternethavetransformedhowwecommunicate,howwecommunica
Attheendofeverychapterinoursciencetext,thereisagroupof______questions,intendedforstudentswhowishtogomored
Aparticularareainwhichassumptionsandvaluesdifferbetweenculturesisthatoffriendship.FriendshipsamongAmericansten
Thequestionofwhydinosaursbecameextincthaspuzzledpaleontologistssincethefirstdinosaurfossilwasfoundalmosttwoce
Thenaturalbalancebetweenpreyandpredatorhasbeenincreasingly______,mostfrequentlybyhumanintervention.
Tousitseemssonaturaltoputupanumbrellatokeepthewateroffwhenitrains.Butactuallytheumbrellawasnotinvented
(复旦大学2010年试题)Businessandgovernmentleadersconsidertheinflationratetobeanimportantgeneralindicator.Inflationis
随机试题
设有3个作业,其运行时间分别为2h、5h、3h,假定它们同时到达,并在同一台处理机上以单道运行方式运行,则平均周转时间最小的执行顺序是()。
下列组件中,属于计算机硬件系统的有()。
试述回归分析与相关分析的区别与联系。
男性,58岁,急性昏迷,轻度黄疸,双侧肢体肌张力对称性增高,瞳孔等大,尿蛋白及糖定性均阴性,尿酮体阴性。下列措施无效的是
血府逐瘀汤的功用是:复元活血汤的功用是:
男,28岁。在气温34℃时,负重跑步5公里后突发意识不清伴痉挛、抽搐2小时。查体:T41.5℃,P166次/分,R28次/分,BP100/42mmHg,瞳孔等大等圆,心尖部第一心音低钝。四肢肌张力高。最关键的治疗措施是
企业生命周期的()阶段,企业的主要目的是获得高速成长的市场机会,企业具有强烈的创新愿望。
只有充分发挥公安机关党委的领导和保证作用,才能实现党对公安工作的绝对领导。()
卡尔森以前只有宾馆管理经验而无航运业管理经验,但在他被聘为美国泛美航空公司的总裁后,短短三年,就使这家亏本企业成为高盈利企业。下述四条说法中______有明显错误。
2005年11月,吉林省爆发了震惊全国的松花江污染事件,这件事又再次凸现了环境保护问题的严峻性,特别指出的是,此次污染事件由于松花江经黑龙江流域流经俄罗斯而变成一个地区性的事件。一国河流污染,影响邻国饮水,一国大气污染,造成邻国遭受酸雨灾害,一国二氧化碳排
最新回复
(
0
)