Module 10

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 10

            This story is about a maintenance man and is set in the future. His name is Joe, he works for the Logics Company and his job is to service logics. Logics are really just like the Internet nowadays. Except that the hardware is what they call the “tank”, and what we know as the Internet is a collection of computer networks to Joe and his workers. How it works is whatever you want to do requires you to punch in the information into the interface screen. This is practically what our Internet does today, with a computer to input the information and then the browser to find whatever it is you want.

            Continuing with the story, Logics can now be asked questions of how to do something if you’re unsure. One of Joe’s workers punches in “How can I get rid of my wife?” Just playing around to see what it says. Soon after the screen pops up with a question asking “is she blonde or brunette?” He then punches in “Blonde.” After a few minutes of waiting the screen says, “Hexymetacryloaminoacetine is a constituent of green shoe polish. Take home a frozen meal including dried-pea soup. Color the soup with green shoe polish. It will appear to be green-pea soup. Hexymetacryloaminoacetine is a selective poison which is fatal to blond females but not to brunettes or males of any coloring. This fact has not been brought out by human experiment, but is a product of logics service. You cannot be convicted of murder. It is improbable that you will be suspected." This is crazy because you can really type these things into the Internet now days and find out how to do terrible things. The story was without a question prophetic when it comes to what Logics does, and then what the Internet does now. You can ask the Internet, or even Siri on the IPhone direct questions and receive answers. This is cool because it is what the Logics system was doing.

            What is completely prophetic with the entire story of Logic and our Internet we all know and love today, is that if the Internet or Logic was shut down our society would not know how to live. This was even mentioned in the story. They stated that if they were to shut down Logics, then they would be sent back to a civilization they had forgotten how to run. This completely relates to todays technology and Internet. Imagine today’s society dealing with the loss of all communication and technology. It would completely shut down the world, as we know it. All that would have to happen for the collapse of the world is an EMP going off and taking out anything in the United States that has anything to do with electricity and power. If you think about this it is truly pretty scary. Imagine not being able to contact any of your family members, and not having any power to help us survive. We wouldn’t even be able to start up our cars to drive to family members, because every car uses a battery to start and run.

            This story was pretty amazing. The fact that they could predict pretty accurately what we have today is crazy. The only things we don’t seem to have today are computers that do everything for us. I will be looking for that in our future.

Module 9

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 9

            The building of a Dell Laptop consists of many different parts. First off production of the laptops are run throughout different countries to be built before they are shipped off to the United States. The first process of the building of Dell laptop consists of the customer going online to pick out their desired laptop with the specifications desired. After choosing the laptop of choice the customer will call a Dell sales representative, or complete the order online. Once the order complete and paid for it is shipped off to Taiwan to begin the building process. Once the Dell laptop is built it is then shipped off to the United States to be processed and sent to the customer’s home. Friedman explains that we are collaborating with different countries to successfully build the laptops. He also states that if we ended up going to war with these countries there would be major geopolitical damages. I definitely agree because going to war would shut down many of our countries ways for distribution, because almost every company now days relies on another country for the production of their products. If you think about everything you buy and how many of the products are made out of the United States it is almost all of them. Most everything I own was made in a different country. I think that we should make more of our products within the United States.

            Al-Qaeda does have a supply chain like we do in the United States. They use their supply chain as a way to create products of terrorism, which is pretty scary if you think about it. How affective supply chaining is results in good things for the United States, but it could used to produce terrorism against the United States with terrorist groups like al-Qaeda using supply chaining to their advantage. Even Friedman states that al-Qaeda uses all the functions of the flat world to their advantage. Al-Qaeda uses the flat world to send terrorism threats over video or message using the Internet. A perfect example of the flat world being used to send threats is just recently with ISIS. This terrorist group sent the United States a video of a new reported they had held hostage. Not only did they just show the news reporter, but sent a video of him being decapitated. This is disgusting and we need to find a way to stop things like this from happening, but with the flattening of the world their will always be a way for terrorist groups to send gruesome content to whomever they please. Knowing that terrorist groups are using the flat world to their advantage is a very scary thing.

            The curse of oil stated by Freidman is when the leaders of a country take advantage of the money coming in from drilling for oil instead of “drilling” the natural talents and energy of their people. Doing this keeps them in control, and or in office forever. The leaders use the oil money as a way to control all things used to create power. They do this so that they don’t have to share the power. This is where our country is so much different than the others. These other countries do not tax their people because of the ways that the leaders run things. This being why “the curse of oil” exists.

Module 8

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 8

            I would not have been able to get though my education so far without my computer. Now days there is so many important things that you need a computer for. In almost every class that you take their will be things you need to be able to browse the web for, or have a document that you can type up important assignments or essays onto. Many times classes require you to have a computer, and if you don’t their really isn’t a way to pass the class without going to a library or somewhere you can gain access to a computer. Kids who do not have a computer are at a major disadvantage with their education. Take for instance this class, without access to a computer how would I be able to finish and complete the essays that we are required to submit once a week? I can answer that; I would simply not be able to pass the class. I would not be able to finish college either.

            Now days it is a necessity to have a computer that you can access if you going to seek an education. If you plan to go to college without access to a computer in some form you will be at a huge disadvantage. I know that colleges have computer labs open for student access, but who has time to always go to a computer lab to complete an assignment? I know that I do not have time between work and my other classes.

            Personally for me having my own laptop computer has benefited me so far with college. I was able to buy an Apple laptop around last Christmas time and it has changed how I do assignments for school. I can now take my laptop anywhere I want to go and complete assignments wherever I need to get them done. Another great thing about having a laptop is that you can just take it to class and take notes. This is great because writing with a pen can take way to long, and you can get really tired if your writing for too long, but with a laptop you don’t get tired. You are able to just type as long as you need to and keep up with what is being taught in class. If I was not able to gain access to a computer then I would not be able to complete college classes with how they are set up now days. College classes are now set up revolving so much around computers and technology it is just as important to have a computer as it is to show up to class.

            Being able to have my own laptop has allowed me to become better with all of the applications and programs that are available. I know how to do things on the computer that I did not before, and I can get things done in a much more time efficient way. I am definitely glad that I have a computer to help me get assignments done, as well as for fun things like Netflix and downloading music. Without a computer I would struggle to get things done on time, as well as getting the grades that I desire.

            Technology has come so far in recent years, and I am excited to see how things will continue to get easier to use. The things that will change with computers in the lives of our younger generation will be incredible. If computers continue to change like they have in my lifetime, then it will be a lot of fun to see what will be the next greatest thing.

Module 7

Jayden Nyman

IST 1100

Module 7

            Friedman expresses that comparative advantage is the reason that some countries or regions are better at accomplishing things then some other countries and regions. Some countries are developed better because each country has different belief systems, education levels, and economic practices. Friedman explains that comparative advantage is there because of some countries lacking or being slower than other countries when it comes to social, political, and global change. It makes sense, because in today’s world it is obvious that some countries are struggling more than others. Education levels are so much different from country to country. I think that education is the easiest way to try and show comparative advantage because more people can relate to education and have experienced first hand what education is like in our own country. One country may be better at producing items, while another country is better at coming up with the idea to create the item. Each country has its own way of doing things and some countries do it better than others, this is comparative advantage.

            Freidman classifies people who use the Internet to their advantage to search, compare, and buy products as self-directed consumers. These people use the Internet to their advantage using it to research products and buy things online. A great example of something a self-directed consumer would use is Amazon.com, Ebay.com, and Aliexpress.com. My favorite though especially in Utah is Ksl.com. Ksl.com is used for people located around Utah to find, sell, and buy used and new products. This is great because it offers great prices to people who are being self-directed consumers and looking for a bargain. I know that I am without question a self-directed consumer. I use Amazon.com, Ksl.com, and Ebay.com on a daily basis. I use these websites to find good deals on products that I would like to purchase. Many of the products I find online are much cheaper than in the local stores. I seem to use Ksl.com more than any other website. I have bought and sold more things on Ksl.com than I can even remember. I have sold 3 cars and bought 2 off Ksl.com in the last 2 years. To me I am definitely a self-directed consumer. Now days I don’t know of many people who are not self-directed consumers, other than maybe my grandparents who don’t know how to properly use the Internet.

            Freidman explains that globalization means Americanization, but only in some ways. Not all of the things that have happened flattening the world have affected both globalization and Americanization. A lot of things have though, like American entertainers and American fast-food chains that were taking advantage of the flattening of the world. Freidman stated, “Globalization would have an American face, an American look, and an American Taste.” This meaning America was going to benefit from globalization and the flattening of the world.  

            This reading was very intriguing, but I really like the second essay question about self-directed consumers. This really described what I have been doing for the past few years. I never looked at it in this way until reading these chapters in the book. Freidman really puts his thoughts into a perspective that you can relate to and put your own thoughts around.