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
28
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.
All of the following are mentioned by the author as having chips inside EXCEPT ______.
选项
A、remote controls
B、alarm clocks
C、watches
D、microwave ovens
答案
D
解析
从第二段第二句话“…from remote controls to alarm clocks to wristwatches”可知A、B、C三项都对,因此选D。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/nzHO777K
0
研究生英语学位课统考(GET)
相关试题推荐
Howmuchpaindoanimalsfeel?Thisisaquestionwhichhascausedendlesscontroversy.Opponentsofbiggameshooting,forexam
Youmusthavetheexperiencethatyoufindyourvoice______onthetelephone.
Thecar,andtheroadsittravelson,willberevolutionizedinthetwentyfirstcentury.Thekeytotomorrow’s"smartcars"wil
Fastfood,amainstayofAmericaneatingfordecades,mayhavereachedaplateauintheUnitedStatesasthematuringbaby-boom
Giventheadvantageofelectronicmoney,youmightthinkthatweshouldmovequicklytothecashlesssocietyinwhichallpaymen
InthefirstyearorsoofWebbusiness,mostoftheactionhasrevolvedaroundeffortstotaptheconsumermarket.Morerecentl
Tousitseemssonaturaltoputupanumbrellatokeepthewateroffwhenitrains.Butactuallytheumbrellawasnotinvented
Tousitseemssonaturaltoputupanumbrellatokeepthewateroffwhenitrains.Butactuallytheumbrellawasnotinvented
Toparaphrase18th-centurystatesmanEdmundBurke,"Allthatisneededforthetriumphofamisguidedcauseisthatgoodpeople
(复旦大学2010年试题)Businessandgovernmentleadersconsidertheinflationratetobeanimportantgeneralindicator.Inflationis
随机试题
患者男,63岁。因“前臂近端掌侧疼痛1个月”来诊。查体:屈拇指末节功能障碍,示指、中指末节屈曲运动乏力,不能做拇指与示指的指甲对指甲的持物动作,捻指征(+),做患侧前臂旋前对抗试验或拇指、示指、中指末节屈曲对抗试验可诱发疼痛。X线片未见异常。最可能的诊
少尿的概念是指每天的尿量是
马斯洛将人的基本需要分为五个层次,由低到高依次为
某国际工程合同额为5000万元人民币,合同实施天数为300天;由国内某承包商总承包施工,该承包商同期总合同额为5亿人民币,同期内公司的总管理费为1500万元;因为业主修改设计,承包商要求工期延期30天。该工程项目部在施工索赔中总部管理费的索赔额是(
美国东北部大城市带(亦称波士华城市带)是世界上形成最早、发育最为成熟的大城市带。下图为“1970--2008年波士华城市带五个大城市中心城区人口增长率变化和城市带人口增长率曲线示意图”。完成下列问题。影响Ⅳ一V阶段波士华城市带各大城市中心城区人口变化
我国外贸体制的主体是()。
在宋代,不仅是民间艺人使用的白话话本小说的写作发展到了新的高峰,并且出现了专门叙说历史故事的书场“瓦舍”,与专事歌舞表演的场所“勾栏”__________,被时人合称为“瓦舍勾栏”。填入画横线部分最恰当的一项是:
下列有关E-R模型向关系模型转换的叙述中,不正确的是()。
树L中度为1、2、3、4、5和6的结点个数为6、4、3、3、5、1,则L中叶子的个数是【】。
Ireceivedane-cardforChristmasfrommybrothertowhomIhavejustfinishedmailingacard.Iunderstandthatsometimesiti
最新回复
(
0
)