Catalysts for Change - Ethics for the Information Age - page 42

25. How is a hypertext link similar to a citation in a book? How is it different?
26. The Apple Macintosh succeeded in the marketplace, while the Apple Lisa failed. Give
two reasons why this happened.
27. In what fundamental way is an Apple HyperCard stack different from the World
Wide Web?
28. Berners-Lee decided to build the World Wide Web on top of the TCP/IP protocol. Why
did this decision help ensure the success of the Web?
29. Name four popular Web browsers in use today.
30. What is a search engine? Describe the two types of search engines.
31. What is information technology?
32. Name three inventions described in this chapter that were created for a military appli-
cation.
33. Give four examples from the topic of how a social condition influenced the development
of a new technology.
34. Give four examples from the topic of a social change brought about by the adoption of
a new technology.
Discussion Questions
35. Think about the last piece of consumer electronics you purchased. How did you first
learn about it? What factors (features, price, ease of use, etc.) did you weigh before you
purchased it? Which of these factors were most influential in your purchase decision?
Are you still happy with your purchase?
36. Do you tend to acquire new technological devices before or after the majority of your
friends? What are the advantages of being an early adopter of a new technology? What
are the advantages of being a late adopter of a new technology?
37. Have you ever gone camping or had another experience where you went for at least a
few days without access to a phone, radio, television, or computer? (In other words,
there was no communication between you and the outside world.) What did you learn
from your experience?
38. Are there any technologies that you wish had never been adopted? If so, which ones?
39. Some say that no technology is inherently good or evil; rather, any technology can be
used for either good or evil purposes. Do you share this view?
40. The telephone eroded traditional social hierarchies. Has email had the same effect within
colleges and universities? Do students send emails to people they would be uncomfort-
able talking with personally? Are these emails effective?
41. Is the cell phone changing our views about polite and impolite behavior? For example,
is it polite for someone to be talking on their cell phone while ordering a drink at
Starbucks?