EOTO 1: Presentation Reflection

One of the EOTO’s that was presented to us was the VCR. Since the VCR  isn’t as popular now as it once was, it was cool to learn a little bit about it and how it came to be as a whole. The VCR is a machine that plays tapes like movies and tv shows. VCR’s became available to people in the 1990s and early 2000s. The VCR was invented by Charles Ginsburg in 1956. The VCR changed how people looked at social media and how they interacted with others. Before mainstream VCRs, television was restricted to a small range of channels. You were at the mercy of whatever the broadcaster wanted to play, including when they wanted to broadcast a show. In other words, home entertainment options were limited, and the viewer had no control over this. VHS tapes changed matters because you could buy a movie at the store, and rather than going to the cinema, you could create your own entertainment.

Post #5: Privacy

Online Privacy: Why It Matters in the Digital Age

In today's digitally connected world, online privacy has emerged as a critical issue for citizens, governments, and businesses alike. With our lives growing more and more linked to the internet—ranging from social media and banking to healthcare and education—our private information is being gathered, stored, and in many cases, shared without our complete knowledge or permission. Online privacy, the ability to control what private information is made available and to whom, is not simply an issue of technological possibility but an inherent human right.

Large-scale data collection by corporations and tech firms is perhaps one of the greatest dangers facing online privacy. The Google, Facebook, and Amazon platforms harvest significant amounts of users' information for building elaborate ads-related profiles. Although this allows companies to target ads more accurately, it also sparks concern about how much monitoring and exploitation is happening. Most consumers have no idea how much information is being collected, and they accept terms of service without looking at them. Thus, their internet history, location data, purchasing behavior, and even personal messages can be tracked and dissected.

Another crucial concern is the protection of the data itself. Data breaches have become dauntingly regular, affecting millions of users annually. When companies fail to protect their users' information, it can lead to identity theft, financial scams, and other harmful consequences. In high-profile instances like the Equifax breach or Cambridge Analytica scandal, the general public were reminded of how their personal information can be abused. These occurrences highlight the need for stricter regulation and greater cybersecurity.

Governments also occupy an ambivalent role in the debate regarding privacy online. Governments must secure citizens' rights and apply privacy laws. Governments, however, require access to private data in order to utilize for surveillance under the pretense of national security. This establishes an opposition between safety and privacy. Such legislations as the USA PATRIOT Act or other global spy programs have been criticized for crossing the line and infringing upon civil liberties.

Despite these challenges, individuals can act to protect their online privacy. Secure, complex passwords, two-factor authentication being turned on, and caution when posting information online all help. Privacy-respecting search engines and web browsers, like DuckDuckGo or Brave, offer alternatives to mass-market options focusing on user tracking. Encryption programs, virtual private networks (VPNs), and encrypted messaging programs like Signal can also enhance privacy by keeping data out of the hands of third parties.

At the same time, deeper systemic change needs to happen. Governments and regulators must implement more robust data protection laws and hold companies accountable for irresponsible behavior. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a clear model of how legislation can make users powerful, companies transparent and accountable. It is being replicated in other nations, but so much more work needs to be done to bring about a universal standard for internet privacy.

In short, online privacy is not just a personal concern—it's one of us. As technology progresses, distinctions between public and private life dissolve, and it gets harder to protect individual rights. It is essential that people are aware of how their data is being used, corporations act responsibly, and governments find the right balance between security and liberty. In the age of the internet, privacy cannot be treated as a luxury, but a fundamental right that all individuals must have guaranteed to them.

Living In The Age Of AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think, learn, and solve problems and answers brought by humans. These machines are designed to mimic cognitive functions such as reasoning, learning from experience, understanding language, recognizing patterns, and making decisions. AI has evolved rapidly over the past few decades and now plays an integral role in various aspects of modern life.

At its core, AI can be divided into two main categories: narrow AI and general AI. Narrow AI, also known as weak AI, is designed to perform a specific task. Examples include virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa, recommendation systems on streaming platforms, and fraud detection systems used by banks. These systems may appear intelligent, but they operate under predefined rules and lack the broader understanding or consciousness of human intelligence.

In contrast, general AI (or strong AI) refers to a type of AI that possesses the ability to understand, learn, and apply intelligence across a wide range of tasks—similar to the capabilities of a human being. As of now, general AI remains a theoretical concept, and no system has achieved this level of intelligence.

AI works by using algorithms, data, and computational power to identify patterns and make predictions. One of the most prominent subsets of AI is machine learning (ML), where computers learn from data and improve over time without being explicitly programmed for every scenario. For example, an email spam filter learns to identify unwanted emails based on data from previously labeled messages.

Another major field within AI is deep learning, which uses neural networks modeled after the human brain to process data. These networks are especially effective in tasks like image and speech recognition. Applications of deep learning include facial recognition software, language translation tools, and self-driving car technology.

The impact of AI spans numerous industries. In healthcare, AI helps doctors diagnose diseases, recommend treatments, and analyze medical images. In finance, it is used to detect fraudulent transactions and provide investment insights. In manufacturing, AI enables automation, predictive maintenance, and supply chain optimization. Even in creative fields like music, art, and writing, AI tools assist in generating new content and ideas.

Despite its benefits, AI also raises important ethical and societal concerns. Issues such as privacy, bias, job displacement, and autonomy are at the forefront of public debate. AI systems are only as good as the data they are trained on, and biased or incomplete data can lead to unfair outcomes—especially in areas like hiring, policing, and lending. Moreover, as automation continues to grow, many fear that AI could replace human jobs, especially in routine or manual labor sectors.

To address these challenges, governments, researchers, and organizations are working on frameworks for responsible AI development. This includes creating transparent algorithms, ensuring accountability, and incorporating ethical considerations into AI systems.

In summary, artificial intelligence is a powerful and transformative technology that continues to shape the world around us. While it offers countless opportunities to improve efficiency, innovation, and quality of life, it also requires careful management to ensure it is used ethically and equitably. As AI continues to evolve, its success will depend not just on technological advancements, but also on how society chooses to guide its development and use.

Values of Free Expression

 All of the theories of speech are so important to our First Amendment rights, they hold all of our essential values and protect free expression. They analyze how free speech is essential for a successful democracy and clears the way for Americans to participate in our civil duties of holding our government responsible. Not only does free speech keep our government stable it also keeps society sane, and it allows us to find ourselves. 

1. Marketplace of ideas (Discovery of truth): John Milton's idea that truth will prevail when it can compete with falsehoods is still highly spoken about today. The media is bigger today than it ever has been, that said there is more false information than ever as well. Milton's idea is that when you let the people speak freely the truth will always come out on top. In the past this has not been the case, Misinformation and false news have spread like wildfires regarding politics, celebrities, and just about anything you can think of. This theory has been studied for years and a new topic circulating is Ai. The question is could Ai be the discovery of truth? Some researchers say no,  AI is not capable of doing this based on flaws and possible misinformation simply due to the information environment. I believe that there will truly always be false information spread but it is up to the viewer to find reliable and unbiased sources. 

2. Participation in Self-Government: Alexander Meiklejohn, who was an American philosopher, was a big contributor in studying the relationship between free speech and self-government. This is such an important factor in a democracy and is a major key part in keeping it running the way it is. While reading Meiklejohn's theory, it was clear that he wants us Americans to understand our government and constitution. He expresses how important it is to protect the freedom of speech to ensure Americans can truly have an understanding of what our politicians hold as their values and beliefs so that we can make decisions for ourselves. I find this to be very important in today's world of politics as debates get far more heated than in the past. The freedom of speech is so important but we must also protect one's intentions by not manipulating one's speech and making it something it is not. 

3. Stable Change (Safety value): Benedict Spinoza, who was a 17th century philosopher, had an idea on venting. Venting is something that people do everyday with other people. Spinoza suggested that a government is actually more secure when it allows people to express their grievances openly rather than forcing them into secrecy. If citizens can "vent" their frustrations, they may feel heard and be less likely to take radical or violent action. Furthermore, when dissent occurs in the open, the government can monitor and understand the concerns of potentially dangerous groups rather than driving them underground, where they may become more radicalized.

   
   

   4. Individual Self-Fulfillment (Self-Actualization): C. Edwin Baker's theory idea is that the primary justification for free speech is for one to be capable of finding themselves, I also feel like this relates to the participation in self-government. I think that a lot of the time us Americans want to complain about our government as we rightfully should but, we also forget how incredibly lucky we are to live in a country that allows us to criticize, voice our thoughts, and even speak. There are countries where you will be killed for doing so. This is not just a political tool, it's so that every American can be who they want to be and discover their identity.

EOTO 1: The History of Paper

Paper is one of the most significant inventions in human history, helping revolutionize the way people, record, share, and get their information. The history of paper dates all the way back to ancient civilization and has undergone numerous transformations to become the essential material that we use today. 

Before the invention of paper, early civilizations used various materials to record information. They used clay tablets to inscribe cuneiform writing while the Egyptians developed papyrus, made from the pith of the papyrus plant. Papyrus was widely used in the Mediterranean world for centuries, but it was fragile and difficult to produce in large quantities. 

About 2,000 years ago inventors in China took communication skills to the next level, crafting cloth sheets to record all of their drawings and writings. After that, paper as we know it, was born. Paper was first made in Lei-Yang, China by Ts’ai Lun, who was a Chinese court official. What he did to first create paper was by mixing mulberry bark, hemp and rags with water, then mashed it into a pulp, pressed out the liquid and hung the thin mat to dry out in the sun. During the 8th century, about 300 years after Ts’ai’s discovery, the secret traveled to the region that is now the Middle East. Yet, it took another 500 years for papermaking to enter Europe. One of the first paper mills was built in Spain, and soon, paper was being made at mills all across Europe. In 1690, the first paper mill was built in Pennsylvania At first American paper mills used the Chinese method of shredding old rags and clothes into individual fibers to make paper, but, as the demand for paper grew, the mills changed to using fiber from trees because wood was less expensive and more abundant than cloth.

https://www.afandpa.org/history-paper

At first American paper mills used the Chinese method of shredding old rags and clothes into individual fibers to make paper. But, as the demand for paper grew, the mills changed to using fiber from trees because wood was less expensive and more abundant than cloth.

By the 19th century, paper production became fully mechanized. The invention of the Fourdrinier machine in 1806 allowed continuous paper production, making it faster and cheaper. Wood pulp replaced rags as the primary raw material, making paper widely accessible for newspapers, books, and packaging. 

https://paper.gatech.edu/papermaking-united-states-america

Now paper is used for almost everything when it comes to businesses, sports, statistics, and more. One of the most important things that paper is currently used for is contracts for business people and professional athletes. Even though technology like computers and phones are still very much on the rise, paper is still being used every single day. The history of paper is a story of innovation, cultural exchanges, and technological advancements. From its intentions in ancient China to its roles in the modern world, paper has played a crucial role in shaping the way human civilization uses paper for everything today including communication, like they would do back in ancient China.

The Founding Era

 

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial system in the country, tasked with knowing the Constitution through and through, making sure that our laws and policies observe the Constitution and its amendments.

What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn’t already know?

One thing I learned about the Supreme Court is that it didn’t have a permanent home until the year 1935. For nearly 150 years after its establishment in 1789, the court met in many different locations, including the U.S. Capitol and even a basement chamber. 

What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

One key takeaway from the video is that the Supreme Court serves as the highest authority in the United States government. It hears cases related to the Constitution and has the power to strike down laws that are deemed unconstitutional. This ensures that all laws align with the nation's founding principles.

What was the most surprising thing you learned?

The thing I found the most surprising was by the number of cases received compared to the number considered by the court. The Supreme Court receives over a hundred new cases every week and about 7,000 a year, most of these arriving as petitions for certiorari. Of the approximate 7,000, the court only accepts about a hundred of them for full consideration each year. Newly arrived petitions and written arguments in cases that have already been accepted are sent to the justices one time a week. This surprised me because I thought a hundred was very few compared to the thousands of cases received yearly. 

How did the video change the way you thought about the Supreme Court?

After watching the video, it didn’t really change much on how I thought about the Supreme Court and was kind of a reflection on what I already knew from past classes in high school. The only thing that really stuck out to me was finding out how many cases they typically receive every week.

Top 5 News Sources

 

1. Friends and Family: While I am away at college I tend to miss things that are happening back at home, so when I call my parents every day I always ask what has been going on back at home over the last few days. The things we talk about vary from family surrounded business, to sports, and to real world news.

2. Instagram: While Instagram isn’t usually the most reliable or main used source of news, I find the majority of my information on instagram, especially news surrounded around sports. Instagram is a good source to find news about certain things just based off of who you follow and what news sources you follow on Instagram. (Instagram Mobile App)

3. FOX: For me, FOX is old reliable for me since they range from political standpoints, current world events, and then to sports with their FOX Sports websites. FOX is one of the more reliable news sources when you are trying to find out more information on political races and standpoints that can be really noteworthy. FOX News Channel is of the main sources that is used during the presidential debates and spreading world news. (https://www.foxnews.com/) (https://www.foxsports.com/)

   

   
   

  4. Tiktok: While TikTok isn’t one of the greatest places to get your news information, TikTok is always up to date with current world news. News on TikTok is spread through pictures, stories, and videos to millions of people around the world on their “For You Pages”. News that is spread on TikTok varies from sports to world news and even to political events. TikTok is another one of those sources that even if you aren’t following a certain news source, you will still get videos based off of the videos that you tend to like or interact with to keep you in the loop. (https://www.tiktok.com/)

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5. YouTube: While YouTube isn’t one of the best places to get news information, it is one of the easier apps to just look up information on just about anything. If you ever need help building a certain thing, you can throw it right into the search bar on YouTube and it will bring up the most looked at or interacted with video that will be able to help you. YouTube also has its own news standard section right on the website that can help you with more information regarding real world events. (https://www.youtube.com/)