Chapter 8 (8.1,8.2)

Name: Chelsie Suttell Class time: 11 AM
KEEP THIS TO 1-3 – PAGES LONG (EXCLUDING REFERENCE PAGE)

Author: Sara Baase
Date of Publication: January 2008
Book: A Gift of Fire
Sections read: Chapter 8 (8.1, 8.2)

1. (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
a. Computer data glitches
b. Are computer-controlled devices too unsafe to use? (405)
c. Therac-25 gave massive overdoses of radiation (425).

2. (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?

What is being discussed in chapter 8 is how computer-controlled devices can sometimes inconvenience society. We only think of how beneficial the devices can be, but this chapter points out the disadvantages of having so many computer-controlled devices such as Therac-25. Therac-25 was a computerized radiation therapy. Therac-25 involved massive overdoses and resulted in deaths and serious injuries. For more info go to: http://courses.cs.vt.edu/cs3604/lib/Therac_25/Therac_1.html



3. (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – BE SPECIFIC AND EXPLAIN?

A similar situation that I have experienced with these glitches is something that involves my father. My father was born 100% deaf. He cannot hear anything and he does not speak. He has a voice, but because of his inability to hear sounds he cannot pronounce words or letters therefore he must use sign language. Doctors have always wanted him to test out the new and improved cochlear implant. Finally we convinced my father to try it out just to see if it would improve anything for him. They tried the cochlear implant on my father, but it did not go over so well. He was in severe pain everyday because he was not used to the everyday noise that we hear. I felt so sorry for him because a simple sound like a car driving by sounded to him like he was standing next to 100 fireworks. When he went back to the doctor he asked to have the implant taken out because he’d rather be deaf than have to deal with that kind of pain every single day. I did not blame him. This just goes to show that even though technology is progressing a lot nowadays, it doesn’t mean that everything is going to be perfect.


4. (Analysis)Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading? Try to connect what you have by reading this article and how it applies to the stages in Bloom's taxonomy in 2 full sentences.

Something similar to this situation that doesn’t have anything to do with technology is saving money in your piggy bank instead of the bank. You don’t feel like going to the bank every time you get your paycheck so you just end up saving your money in your own little homemade piggy bank. Everyday you count your money and there is the same amount everyday until one day you realize that instead of saving more money, there is less money in the piggy bank. You can’t remember if you may have taken money out of the piggy bank to use it in case of an emergency. You recount all the money and put your next paycheck in and realize that again you have less money than you did when you counted it the week before. Now you begin to wonder if you are miscounting it yourself. Then you start to think if someone is stealing your money when you’re not around so you hide the piggy bank in another spot. Eventually the money saving becomes consistent and you realize that your little brother or sister has been stealing your money all along and now that they cannot find where you have hidden it this time, they can’t steal any of your money. This compares to bank statements. Sometimes the computer glitches cause your account to have more many than you thought you had or it can cause your account to be overdrawn and you will be charged for going over your balance. Sometimes you just never know if you are making your own personal mistake or if it is the computers that have made the mistake. This applies to Bloom’s taxonomy because when using computer-controlled devices you have to be extra careful to make sure that you are not making any mistakes and make sure that the computer as well isn’t making any errors. Even though computers do things faster and easier, it doesn’t always mean that they are right.

5. (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS)? What new conclusions can you draw about this (or other topics) after reading this material?

I do agree with what is being said in this article because we rely so much on computer-controlled devices to do everything for us and we don’t realize how many errors can be made. Many people have suffered from the inconveniences of these devices such as the people of the Therac-25 incident. They called Therac-25 the “fatal dose” because in1985 the radiation-treatment device began blasting holes through patients’ bodies and many suffered injuries and deaths of this device. I found more information at this site: http://www.ccnr.org/fatal_dose.html

6. (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Evaluate why you are viewing the topic in this manner based on your experiences. What ethical evaluations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) or decisions were made/can be assumed from this chapter? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter?


This topic is most definitely relevant in today’s society because I think the more advanced technology gets the more we rely on computer-controlled devices. I don’t think that we realize the disadvantages of the devices because we depend on them so much to get things done quicker and easier. After reading chapter 8 I realized how unsafe these devices could be to not only us, but to our environment as well. I, myself love technology such as my cell phone and laptop, but at the same time is it benefitting me as much as I think it is? After reading this chapter, I think not! I realized that these devices have caused a lot of havoc in this world and we need to take a step back and re-think our processes before we dig ourselves into a deeper hole and can’t get out. Our society needs to be a little more independent when it comes to relying on technology devices for EVERYTHING!