Analysis of Computing News Story Actor Network Theory

Question: Describe about the Analysis of Computing News Story for Actor Network Theory. Answer: Introduction Throughout hominid history, the use of tools to amplify our physical abilities and subsequent mechanization enabled us to dominate the planet. In the process, we have been able to amplify our intellect and use our minds more effectively through the use of language and writing. However, the invention of computers heralded the birth of the ultimate mental amplifier-computing. As Edsger Dijkstra elucidated (Evans, 2011); In their capacity as a tool, computers will be but a ripple on the surface of our culture. In their capacity as intellectual challenge, they are without precedent in the cultural history of mankind. Edsger Dijkstra, 1972 Turing Award Lecture With computers able to mechanize any process imaginable and solving problems beyond human comprehension, computing is perhaps the most significant invention of the past decade. Computing involves designing and building hardware systems that process and manage a variety of information. According to (Computing Curricula, 2005) the definition is sometimes contextual sometimes involving making computer systems behave more intelligently or creating algorithmic processes that describe and transform information. For the above computing scenarios to be feasible, we need an assortment of computer software working in tandem with a collection of hardware systems. Software refers to an assemblage of computer programs and related data that give commands to the computer on what tasks to complete and how to complete them. A software is comprised of algorithms, procedures, programs and a set of documentation with regard to the operation of a specific data processing unit fragmenting software further into application software and system software. The former includes enterprise software, accounting software and media players that are essentially designed to aid the user perform a specific task whereas the latter are designed to manage and integrate the computers capabilities by controlling or operating the computer hardware. Hardware on the other hand refers to all the physical components of a computer system that are physically tangible and act as a collective in the computers operation (Denning, 1989 ). The Actor-Network Theory The Actor Network Theory (ANT) is a social theory developed by Bruno Latour, John Law and Michel Cohen that treats objects as part of a social network and seeks to map relations that are perceived as simultaneously material and semiotic. Controversially, it also holds that nonhuman entities are cable of participating and acting on networks or systems contradicts conventional and critical sociology. Its material-semiotic technical approach stresses linkages between materials/things or between concepts (Latour, 1987). The theorys relentless diffusion into various disciplines has not eased ANTs intimidating ontological complexity. Truth and falsehood. Large and small. Agency and structure. Human and non-human. Before and after. Knowledge and power. Context and content. Materiality and sociality. Activity and passivityall of these divides have been rubbished in work undertaken in the name of actor-network theory (Law, 1999). For instance, the theorys name Actor-Network Theory is an oxymoron that contradicts conventional understandings of agency and structure that have traditionally guided social thought. It also considers both human and non-human components in a network system as equal actants, thus an analyst will prescribe the same analytical and descriptive structure when handling either text objects, humans or machines. An actor in ANT is a semiotic definition an actant that is something that acts or to which activity is granted by anotheran actant can literally be anything provided it is granted to be the source of action (Latour, 1996) However, this approach presents an obstacle in creating evaluation frameworks for networks given the unique characteristics of individual network systems. This translates to disposing lists of inputs and outputs in favor of finding out what transpires in between the inputs and outputs which is counter-intuitive. On the other hand, ANT can has the potential to offer new methods of network appraisal by scrutinizing the diverse associations that establish networks and monitoring how networks are performed rather than only providing a list of inputs and outputs (Rogers, et al., 2001). Analysis Of Computing News Story Using Actor Network Theory STORY 1: Facebook's internet.org initiative aims to connect 'the next 5 billion people' In a bid to sustainably provide free access to basic internet services, the worlds leading social media network Facebook embarked on its most ambitious project yet-Internet.org. The initiative backed by the likes of Nokia and Samsung aims to connect the remaining 5 billion people to the internet for free. Launched in 2013, the global partnership has received acclaim and criticism in equal measure with the tech-giants intentions for the drive being the main point of concern to industry stakeholders(Zuckerberg, 2013). Internet.org now rebranded as Free Basics has of today been successfully rolled out in Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana and Columbia. However, its presence in India was met with condemnation particularly from net neutrality activists who flagged it as a shrouded proxy for the Facebook Economically Disadvantaged User Acquisition Department prompting the countrys telecoms regulator to block Facebooks Free Basics App. On the political scale, net neutrality is registered as an actant within the network system by acting on supporters of net-neutrality, who keep in check the government and Internet.org to sustain a non-regulated internet. (BBC NEWS, 2016). Since ANT explores the relationships between actants on a network, in Facebooks internet.org project, there is a disparity between the users and the system itself. Firstly, global internet access is non-existent in many developing countries despite being labelled a basic human right. Statistically for instance, about 12% of Ghanaians had access to the internet in 2013 compared to 84% of Americans during the same period. A vast majority of the unconnected people reside in developing countries in parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa which presents an obstacle to the success of Internet.orgs initiative (Nath, 2015). Moreover, (Talbot , 2013) elucidates that viewing Facebooks Free Basics plan as the ultimate saviour of the developing world is in the least suspicious and impractical. Although Talbot lauds the efforts to make internet access cheaper, he draws focus onto the complicated realities facing the unconnected. For instance, the social media networks roll outs since 2013 tend to deliver more data to people who already have internet access rather than improving and extending telecommunications connectivity to those who lack internet access. In essence, the company should first invest in network extension infrastructure in developing countries. The current model has obligated Internet Service Providers in the participating countries to incur extra costs at the expense of free internet access by users. Taking into account developing countries, although Facebook has a major online presence in Africa, Facebook has not set up data centers there, which translates the extra cost of channelling the data offshore via fibre-optic cable to the ISPs. Therefore, ISPs incur at least $100 every month for every megabit of traffic and to cut costs, they subsequently, transfer this surcharge to the consumer. Essentially, in a continent where only 16% of the people have access to the internet, Zuckerbergs ambition seems ingenuous(Talbot , 2013). In conclusion, the feasibility of Facebooks free internet access initiative suffers setbacks in its material-semiotic linkages. The exclusion of a majority of websites and social networking sites from the Free Basics initiative may discourage users from participating. Furthermore, Facebooks autonomous control of information raises questions on Free Basics net-neutrality whereas the absence of encryption protocols brings to light concerns on user data privacy and security. STORY 2: Yahoo Exec Shows Encrypted Email at SXSW In recent years, impact of encryption protocols, a digital actant, on computing has been a matter of concern to internet users, governments and ISPs. These computer assemblages have many levels, on which an actant can act upon at the practical level in the linkages by rendering a message (E-mail/SMS) readable only to the intended addressee. The Yahoo story reveals the technical obstacles of encryption protocols to, for instance in the Yahoo encrypted email, disconnect other actants. In this case, the encryption used is counterproductive as it inhibits the digital actant -email message" (if the date and time is also encrypted) from moving through the Internet. Moreover, human actants will have difficulties with the search option as encryption complicates the work of the algorithm used to search for text in the users email.(Yadron, 2015). On a cultural scale, we are able to identify from the story how encryption protocols and non-human actants have the capacity to change email culture in both desktop browsers and smartphone apps.Politically and economically on the other hand, the encryption protocol (non-human element) helps to connect humans (human element) to Yahoos business plan thus affecting how many customers are willing to sign up for a Yahoo account. They could respond positively given the recent privacy concerns arising from increased ability by the state and businesses to spy on peoples data illegaly. the WikiLeaks scandals, Snowden emails and Benghazi emails. In the age of big data, technologies like Microsofts differential privacy mathematically guarantees anonymity even in online social contributions. Apple built it into their new mobile operating system and almost immediately pitted the tech giant against the United States government. However, this technique has failed to gain traction among other tech giants. This could be due to the fact that these privacy-Sensitive Artificial intelligence systems are not completely impermeable. Peoples obsession with privacy saw the introduction of end-to-end encryption in messaging services, a phenomenon unusual for use in mass-market software before (Simonite, 2016). In both stories, user privacy stands out as a major determinant in the uptake of big data technologies. Socially, human actants will enjoy more connectivity whereas the digital actants face continuous improvements to their design thereby bettering connectivity and privacy in the long run. However, politically, governments may infringe on internet privacy through policy implementation and regulation further discouraging the use of the internet. References BBC NEWS, 2016. BBC.COM. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35522899 [Accessed August 2016]. Computing Curricula, 2005. The Overview Report:A volume of the Computing Curricula Series. United States: The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM). Denning, P. J., 1989. "Computing as a Discipline", s.l.: Association for Computing Machinery. Evans, D., 2011. Introduction to computing: Explorations in Language, Logic and Machines. Virginia: University of Virginia. Latour, B., 1987. Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers Through Society. s.l.:Open University Press. Latour, B., 1996. On Actor-Network Theory: A Few Clarifications. Soziale Welt, p. 337. Law, J., 1999. After ANT: Complexity, Naming and Topology. In: . J. Hassard J. Law, eds. Actor-Network Theory and After. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers., p. 3. Nath, T., 2015. Internet.org: What It Is and How It Works. [Online] Available at: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/021315/internetorg-what-it-and-how-it-works.asp [Accessed August 2016]. Rogers, J., Bozeman, B. Chompalov, I., 2001. Obstacles and Opportunities in the Application of Network Analysis to the Evaluation of R D. Research Policy, pp. 161-172. Simonite, T., 2016. MIT Technology Review: Apples New Privacy Technology May Pressure Competitors to Better Protect Our Data. [Online] Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602046/apples-new-privacy-technology-may-pressure-competitors-to-better-protect-our-data/ [Accessed August 2016]. Talbot , D., 2013. MIT Technology Review. [Online] Available at: https://www.technologyreview.com/s/522671/facebooks-two-faces/ [Accessed 2016]. Yadron, D., 2015. Yahoo Exec Shows Encrypted Email at SXSW. [Online] Available at: https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2015/03/15/yahoo-exec-shows-encrypted-email-at-sxsw/ [Accessed August 2015]. Zuckerberg, M., 2013. Is Connectivity a Human Right?. [Online] Available at: https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/t39.2365-6/12057105_1001874746531417_622371037_n.pdf [Accessed 2016].

The Different Kinds of Academic Papers

As a student or researcher working on an academic paper, you must have realized that there are various types of academic papers ranging from short essays to more comprehensive and elaborate academic pieces such as dissertations and thesis.Each one of these academic papers has its own particular attributes and characteristics that must be considered when creating content to ensure conspicuousness.Although the kinds of academic papers depends on​ various educational institutions,however there are certain typical paper types that include dissertations,thesis,research paper,case study based papers and essays. Essays These are the most common type of academic papers that are significant as they cater to almost all levels of academia especially high school and undergraduate levels. This type of paper provides an illustration of a certain topic through the amalgamation of key facts and opinions organized to create a coherent structure that provides a logical explanation of the topic. Most high school students often have to write essays on topics ranging from marketing and economics to business management, biological sciences, and technology. Such essays might be argumentative, descriptive or expository depending on the topic and paper requirements. Research Paper A research paper is an academic paper that is longer than a typical essay and usually entails more detailed research relative to the topic or subject matter that the paper encompasses. To highlight aspects regarding a specific issue, the research paper usually includes a literature review section that provides details of the researched facts to support the topic. Often, the paper may include a critical review of the researched material to provide a lucid understanding of the topic and research paper content. Thesis A thesis is a more comprehensive academic paper that provides more details with regards to a particular topic contrary to the dissertation. Such an academic paper usually​ has a higher word count and includes sections such as literature review, methodology, findings, and analysis among others. Such a paper may include both primary and secondary research methods to provide arguments to support the topic with an intent to define a solid conclusion. The thesis is usually applicable at the Masters and Doctoral levels as these illustrate the highest standards of academia. Dissertation A dissertation is an academic paper ranging from 7000 to 16000 words that include sections such as literature review, research methodology, analytical findings, and conclusions. Such a paper is used to provide a detailed analysis of the topic through the use of different forms of research techniques to provide qualitative and quantitative data to arrive at a conclusion. The paper may include a theoretical approach to justify the topic or hypothesis or an empirical approach to provide statistical analysis to derive critical inferences relevant to the topic. Dissertation writing is usually applicable at the undergraduate and doctoral levels. Case study A case study is based on the aspects regarding a certain entity such as an organization and its working. Case study writing involves the research related to a case study that describes a particular aspect of the entity relevant to the paper. The paper includes sections such as case study analysis, description, and conclusion including recommendation. For example, a case study regarding the marketing procedures of an organization may be analyzed in the paper and recommendations suggested based on the analysis. bags experienced and subject specialist writers who deliver best for the academic excellence. Customized and reliable writing services lead us to hold the prominent position in the industry where customers’ need and quality are given first priority.

Coursework Stories

Coursework Stories Coursework Stories Coursework Stories: Prepare Yourself Sooner or later, you will obviously be assigned with the task of coursework stories writing. This is an inseparable part of any studying process and diploma receiving. That is why in order not to be taken aback by coursework stories writing it is recommended to prepare yourself before it. Thus, coursework stories are those to be similar with simple essays writing, however, at this point, it should be stressed that the research is made much more thoroughly for coursework stories writing than for essay writing. The length of the work is much longer than that one of essay; that is why you have to present more information in it. The deepness of examining the subject of coursework stories also differs from that one of essay. The topic should be examined inside out and be fully disclosed in coursework stories writing: Assess Information In Your Coursework Stories However, you do not only have to present the information, which you have gathered with the help of conducting the research. Your own assessment of the topic is what your professor will look for in your coursework stories writing. Hypothesis, findings, conclusions, which you have made on your own are those to be included into your work. Without them, your coursework stories loose scientific value and become a simple rephrase of the information, which you have plagiarized from other authors. Coursework Structure and Story Writing Formatting The structure of your coursework is similar to the structure of essay: an introduction, a discussion, a conclusion. However, each of the sections has to be extended with more data as the length of coursework stories differs a lot from the length of essays. There is one more thing, which helps you to prepare yourself to coursework stories writing. This thing is called custom writing service. Within any custom writing you can find a lot of useful information devoted to the subject of coursework stories writing. Useful articles, which are full of tips and pieces of advice, are waiting for you within the measures of our custom writing site as well. Custom Coursework Writing Services Apart from presenting our customers with information, we are also ready to support our customers at any stage of their coursework stories writing. If you are going to have some difficulties with either introduction or conclusion, we are ready to assist you. Contact our custom writing representative and ask any question, which disturbs you concerning your coursework stories writing, and you are going to get professional help you are in need of immediately. Read also: Dissertation Paper Dissertation Expert APA Thesis Term Schools Papers about Gospel Music Term Papers Medieval Knights

Factory, Industry, and Plant

Factory, Industry, and Plant Factory, Industry, and Plant Factory, Industry, and Plant By Maeve Maddox An ESL speaker asks for a discussion of the nouns factory, industry, and plant in the context of the following: â€Å"mineral water factory,† â€Å"mineral water industry,† and â€Å"mineral water plant.† factory An earlier meaning of factory was â€Å"the employment, office, or position of a factor.† A factor, as in the word cornfactor, is â€Å"an agent who buys and sells, or transacts other business, on behalf of another person or company.† In the context of manufacturing, a factory is â€Å"a building or range of buildings for the manufacture or assembly of goods or for the processing of substances or materials.† The earliest OED citation of this meaning of factory (1618) refers to a facility for the printing and manufacture of books. industry The noun industry has several meanings. The relevant definition in this discussion is this one: A particular form or sector of productive work, trade, or manufacture. In later use also more generally: any commercial activity or enterprise. Also with modifying word indicating the type of activity or principal product: banking industry, car industry, film industry, heavy industry, service industry, tourist industry, etc. plant The noun plant has numerous meanings, but in the context of manufacturing, plant is often a synonym for factory: the premises, fittings, and equipment of a business; a factory, a place where an industrial process is carried out. In extended use: the workers employed at a business, institution, or factory. â€Å"A mineral water factory† can describe a place â€Å"for the processing of mineral water.† Perhaps more commonly, such a facility is called â€Å"a bottling plant.† The phrase â€Å"mineral water industry† connotes all the commercial activity that goes into the acquisition, preparation, and sale of mineral water. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Vocabulary category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:"Based in" and "based out of"How to Punctuate Descriptions of Colors75 Synonyms for â€Å"Hard†

WITHHOLDING INFORMATION CASE Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

WITHHOLDING INFORMATION CASE - Research Paper Example Negotiation process entails three primary ethical systems that provide the guidance for the parties participating; for instance, the ethics of purposes, ethics of principles or the ethics of the consequences. Ethics of purposes takes in principles in relation to the Aristotles views concerning the ethics. Aristotle argued that human beings are just naturally good and, as a result, will have no obligation to work with the objectivity of realizing the positive fruits at the end of the work session (Falvo, 2011). However, the same human beings must use the positive ways and means of getting to the conclusion of the matter before them. As result, such negotiations that tend to ignore the ethics presented in this view may not, in this case, reach the positive end of the matter. In the case of the ethics of principle, the principle presents its arguments in relation to the deontological ethics of Emmanuel Kant. Kant argued that human beings are always irrational and, as a result, will strive towards doing that particular activity that is right as the society expects that from them always. In addition, the human beings under this form of ethics will only adopt the use of the rational ways of doing activities and intern realizing what they intend to achieve their objective plans. Negotiators who go for the option of this principle apply the methodologies considered to be of rational and appropriate so as to find the solution to the problem (Cohn, 2007). The case of the ethics of the consequences takes care of the analysis of the possible outcomes of the present actions. As a result, this form of ethics finds it way of use among people in the evaluation of the actions from the positive outcomes of the most concerned parties in the negotiation process (Falvo, 2011). Consequential ethics, on the other hand, does not consider the importance of the means used to reach the goals.

Communicating at work Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Communicating at work - Essay Example Non verbal communication includes memos, emails, and other social softwares. To develop a perfect sort of communication at work it is necessary that some elements are kept into view. This brief would further take all these elements into view and provide with the related needs of communication at work and other places (Taylor 2001). To develop an effective interpersonal communication network at work it is necessary for the individuals to keep several factors in mind while communicating. Businesses nowadays usually are dependent upon the communication networks. For e.g. if an employee needs to get a particular good manufactured, it is necessary for him to contact the manufacturer to tell him what good does he need. Thus it is necessary that an effective network is made. To achieve this it is necessary for the person who is communicating to achieve clarity. By clarity here it is meant that the person who is communicating should be very clear in stating his thesis of the message. The words chosen by the communicator should be very precise which are clear enough for the other individuals intellect. Thus it is necessary that the communicator does not drag his message up to critical levels where the other listener gets confused by the message. This confusion can therefore lead to several other problems in the workpla ce (Kelly 1979 & Taylor 2001). The communicator should make it a point that he is direct when communicating at work. The communicator should not involve irrelevant messages while he communicates as these irrelevant messages can lead to errors at the workplace. The misconception about reaching the point in communication at workplaces is that the communicator usually thinks that adding up other points may give him an advantage but this rather creates an absurd image in which one can miss out the main points of the original message. So it can be concluded that in

Men & Women Age Differently Essay Example for Free

Men Women Age Differently Essay †¢ The average life expectancy is currently 78 years old, but was at 49 years at the turn of the century. †¢ There is a widening age gap between men and women, such that among women who are 65-69, there are 81 guys for every 100 girls in the population. †¢ NY Times stated that the prospects for men are brighter than women. †¢ Men that survive beyond the age of 85 are more likely than women to be in better health and to have more remaining independent life years. †¢ More men than women over the age of 85 are married than women, and women are more prone to disabling effects of chronic condition while men are prone to fatal and chronic conditions. †¢ 23% of women age 85 or older are at poverty level, while men are at 16%. †¢ The nation’s oldest and fastest growing population today is dominated by a disproportionately large number of unmarried women who are likely to be poor and impaired. †¢ Women value friendship more than men, thus when a man is widowed- it is likely that he is alone while his friends are still married. †¢ Men’s income after the age of 85+ seems to be substantially less than the income of women the age 85+. †¢ Men and women approach things differently, where women are more likely to ask for help and men are less likely to ask for help. †¢ So, there is a sample study that was done and the men in this sample study were more likely to be married, and less likely to be physically impaired – in contrast to the women who are more dependent for personal assisted living and closer with their children, where men are not! †¢ 3 Competencies required to adapt to community living such as exercising control over the physical environment, maintaining social integration, and sustaining a sense of well being and motivations.