Read the following essays in the collection:
True Names by Vernor Vigne
How is the NII Like a Prison by Alan Wexelblat
The Right to Read by Richard M. Stallman
Cryptography and the Politics of One's True Name by Leonard N. Foner
On Tuesday, April 10th at the beginning of your lecture section, you
need to turn in a paper based on your reading of the specified essays of
the collection, as well as the other readings and materials for this course.
This is an INDIVIDUAL assignment.
- Write the paper using a word processor, double-spaced in 12-point font
with 1 inch margins. The paper must have a header or footer with
automatic page numbering and your name.
- Make a cover page that has your name and your section number, and your
University ID number. Be sure to staples all pages together securely.
- The paper is divided into individual questions (given below). For
each question, you need to write a two to three page answer. Each
answer must begin at the top of a new page. In other words, use
a page break between your answer to question 1 and your answer to
question 2, another page break between your question 2 and question 3
answers.
- Spelling and grammar do count. If the paper is difficult to follow
due to bad grammar or organization, it will receive a lower grade.
-
You are required to use at least one resource besides
the "True Names" book.
You are expected to have specific references to back up the claims
in your paper.
In general, references to real-world events are better when you can
references sources such as news articles that discuss these events.
When you reference a specific point from the book, you must indicate the
page on which it was discussed by placing the page number inside of
parenthesis at the end of the first sentence in your paper which mentions
it.
Use references of the following form: (TN P.190) to refer to page 190,
(TN P.183-185) to refer to pages 183-185.
When you refer to points from another source you must fully indicate this
within your paper and give a full citation for that reference in the
bibliography.
- Minimal work will receive a minimal grade.
Answer each of the following based primarily upon material presented in
the book and class discussions:
-
Discuss the cryptographic techniques and resources available
to protect privacy and establish security, the ways in which
they can be (and are) used on today's Internet, as well as
some of the potential dangers you see these presenting.
Your explanations need to demonstrate an understanding of the
material and should be able to be understood by a casual Internet
user who has not taken this class.
Provide descriptions using your own words, and use practical
examples to assist in your explanations.
-
In the context of today's information-centric society, how would
you categorize the "haves" and "have nots" in this country?
Do you think current mass digitization projects and/or freely
available strong encryption software plays a role in defining
these categories?
Discuss the consequences or potential consequences of being a
"have not" in our society.
Discuss the concept of Gandy's "Panoptic Sort" and how you think
it can be used in a discussion of our current technology uses.
Explain your answers to these questions in a neutral tone, and in
a manner that any student here at the University could understand.
-
All of the readings are between 6 and 26 years old.
Which of the concerns mentioned in the readings do you think have
become today's reality?
Based on the readings, the class readings and topics, and your own
knowledge of the use of computer systems in today's everyday life,
discuss (a) a potential major risk that you think is realistic fear
for the coming decade, and (b) who you think should be safeguarding
us from this risk as well as what type of power you think that
group should be given to do protect us.