Tom Pleasanton 

Hussey, K.. The News Journal. Wilmington, DE.. September 7, 1998

Annotated Article

Sometimes the use of new technology fulfills a need that we might never have thought of , until that is, we see the new technology. This new technology was recently reported on in the September 7^th issue of the News Journal, Wilmington Delaware. The new technology is a telephone. A telephone unlike most. This phone is designed to be used in hostage situations. According to the article many times in a hostage situation the standard phone line in cut or damaged in the assault. If a cellular phone is used the possibility of the batteries going dead or others listening to the conversation in a real possibility. The solution to the problem, the Negotiator Phone. The phone is a direct line with 1000 feet of cord. The package is the size of a small suitcase and weighs twenty-four pounds. Since the inventor, Sam Hicks, had started marketing the phone in 1984, he has sold over 600 units at a cost of $4500 to $5500 each. Police departments agree that the phone system makes their job in a hostage situation safer and more effective, allowing for improved communication in a dangerous situation.

Themal, H.. The News Journal. Wilmington, DE.. September 7, 1998

Annotated Article

With all of the news about the Y2K bug and the potential effects it could have, many of us have developed a real concern, while others believe if it is really that important someone will develop a plan that will solve the problem before it actually becomes a problem. An article by Harry F. Themal in the September 7^th issue of the News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware, 1998, states that there is still a real threat to the daily lives of most people. In the article he goes on to state that the financial situations of many will be affected, namely by the IRS, and their inability to solve the internal problems that the bug will create. Mr. Themal also refers to a web site, "The Cassandra Project", which gives advice on making provisions for the "disaster". Some of the advice given is on things one would need for daily living such as food, cash money, water, and even some source of power- in the form of a generator. This all sounds rather extreme at this point in time, but as the day grows closer….

Ethics in cyberspace.sauders at www.cpsr.org [online] saunders@nevada.edu 1994

This article Ethics in Cyberspace by Laverna Saunders of the University of Nevada focused on the proper use of computer networks. The ethical use of these networks is dependent on the self-regulation and integrity of those involved. Saunders goes on to explain that the organizations that could suffer from the unethical use of this technology should be "proactive in the protection" of their resources. This in some way says that the people that have information, sometimes valuable information, on any network should expect some form of dishonest, unethical behavior from someone at sometime. Unfortunately this is probably an accurate assessment. She also goes on to identify the "Ten Commandments" from the Computer Ethics Institute in Washington D.C. . These commandments make reference to intellectual properties, respect for the work of others, and privacy; items that are not always held on the highest of orders in today’s technological marketplace. In summation, the author makes very good points for what we should do, but we don’t always do what we should do.

Daggett, W.. Education Must Change to Reflect America’s Technological Society. Focus, National Center for Manufacturing Sciences. 1994

This article was chosen in order to show how far we have come in the field of technology in the past four years. Daggett refers to the competencies needed in today’s workplace as being "rarely identified" in the classroom. In most of today’s classrooms the skills and competencies required for the workplace are of very special concern. The collaboration between industry and education that seemed to be lacking at the time of his article in now part of most high school curriculums in the form of work experience shadowing programs, School to Work internships, and cooperative work situations. The technology skills that the author feels are most important, but missing from the classroom, are now standard fare in most middle and high school course offerings. I believe Mr. Daggett would be happy with the path education has taken since the mid- nineties.

MacDonald, C.. The Ethics of Web Site Engineering. CMC Magazine. 1995

This article begins by drawing similarities between "real" space and cyberspace. The author makes some interesting points pertaining to the permanence of real space versus the constant change of cyberspace. The article then goes on to ethical issues of web site construction. He asks the question " Who should have access to the web?". This at first seems like a silly question. We think that the web should be open to anyone who desires to go there. The author defines full access as the ability not only to "surf" the web but also to publish. Now we might see some reason for the denial of certain material on the web. The author also speaks of the web becoming so popular, that it may become unpopular. What he means is the ease at which people are accessing the information on the web could eventually lead to constant and continual overloads, which will in turn make the web far less desirable. Although through most of the article negative points seem to be the focus, there are some positive points. The article states the economic advantages of constructing cyberspace as opposed to real space, and the accessibility of cyberspace over real space. The importance of the administrative element is stressed throughout the article. According to the author, the administration responsible for web site engineering should be the ones that maintain the ethical standards of the site. Overall the author makes good points on the ethical judgements we need to make in order for the web to function in a reasonable manner. The problem lies in the fact that these ethical judgements will most probably be administered on a very personal level.