Paper # 5- Robotics

Robotics

     Technology is advancing as fast as ever and this is especially true in the field of Robotics. Robots are able to replace humans for certain tasks, either making it easy or doing stuff that we just don't want to. iRobot is developing a robot that can replace you at the office through telepresence(iRobot). There's even a robot that mows the lawn for you, the Lawnbott! 

     Robots such as these have great benefits to society. Being able to essentially work from home all the time will save a good chunk of money, as well as cut down on gas emissions. There is also less chance of car accidents happening. Also having robots doing tasks like mowing your lawn will leave you with more free time, allowing for more time with family or work. 

     Naturally there will be problems with the robots. Robots break down and need to be fixed costing money and time that might have otherwise been saved. They also can't do everything humans can do. Unless programmed and designed for a certain task, there's a high possibility it can't do that certain task, like cleaning fragile or small items. The iRobot telepresence robot won't be able to do everything you could if you went into the office itself. 

     An issue that might arise when employers start buying robots instead of hiring humans, an increase in the unemployed. Sometimes it's better for a human to do the work. Another issue would be malfunctions that technology inevitably has. Having a robot malfunction during a meeting or when you're changing the mower blades can lead to adverse consequences that may result in legal ramifications. But having robots inevitably breaks means they also need someone to fix them, offering job possibilities.
     Robots are great helpers for humans, able to do most of things we can better or just a lot safer. They have become an important source of labor for society with many uses. Although they can never replace humans completely, robots will always be a major help for certain tasks that humans are at risk doing or just don't want to do.

Sources: 

http://www.cnbc.com/id/101025221

Scratch

Using the Scratch program we created a little game that kept score of how many other sprites the main sprite ate while changing looks and making a noise when "eating."

4- Copyleft and Copyrights, Paper #4

Marcus Sellner

Introductory to Computers

12/2/13

Copylefts and Copyrights

     The idea that humans need to protect their intellectual property has been around for quite awhile. People like to take credit for their achievements. That's why Copyrights emerged, represented by a circled capital C or by a (C). This symbols presence on whatever software or item means that it is intellectual property of the author and copying or distributing of the item or software without the author's consent may lead to legal ramifications. Copyleft, represented by a backwards C in parentheses, means that the item or software is "free" as well as any modified or extensions of the item or software to be free as well. Free does not mean free of cost, but free as in being able to be modified freely. The use of copyleft means that the author surrenders some of the rights that are available under copyright laws, but giving up some of them that would usually be protected by copyright laws.

     Copyrights are in place to protect the authors incentive to create. If all the credit and rewards from a program went to someone who wasn't the author, the author themselves would have no reason for creating the program in the first place. However, excessive restrictions due to copyrights will lead to hampering of progress, so there is a limited amount of information that can be copyrighted. Basically, copyrights are in place to credit the author as much as possible while avoiding hampering the spread of the software or idea.

     Copyleft works within the copyright system to promote spreading, modifying, and distribution of the software while giving some protection to the author of the work. However, the author cannot claim exclusive rights to a copylefted work. Anyone can work or build upon the work. Copyleft has many benefits, but one main goals is to promote innovation in a work. A problem with copyleft is that the author themselves have to choose to make their work licensed copyleft. 

     Both copyright and copyleft licensing have their benefits. Copyright licensing allows for due credit and rewards and copyleft allows for creative twists on programs that would otherwise be unfounded. However copyright licensing can be too restricting, haltering the progress of the spread of the program. Copyleft can take away the motivation for creating programs by putting less emphasis on the author and more on the public. But having both types of licensing available is beneficial to society. Having just copyright licensing available would impede modifications and extensions on programs that need them. And having only copyleft would lead to less motivation for creating programs due to lack of credit.

Sources:

Tracy & Jong Law Firm

Acceity