Module 13

                What I have learned from this class.  First of all, I learned that there was a lot more to know about the emergence of the computer and exactly what they are capable of than I thought possible.  I knew that computers had come a long way since their inception, but to what extent was where I was lacking in knowledge.  I remember pretty clearly when our family bought our first computer.  It was the greatest invention since the electronic typewriter.  I remember sitting down and reading the owner’s manual and teaching myself how to use it.  I remember everything that was typed had to be saved onto a floppy disc.  I thought it was the neatest thing in the world.  I was now able to type up my homework and review it before I printed it out.  No more correction tape or fluid.  I never knew the computer’s true capabilities and just how powerful they really were until enrolling in this class. 

            I learned the real reason for out-sourcing and just why businesses were using this resource.  I never truly understood why it was being used.  I just knew that I was angry because work was being sent outside of the United States instead of being completed by Americans.  I thought that this type of business was hurting Americans and how dare businesses do this to their own people.  I learned that out-sourcing does hurt Americans in that it is no longer business as usual.  Americans now need to think outside the box and rethink career choices.  New skills need to be learned, but it is not hopeless situation.  I understand why businesses out-source and why this is such a valuable resource. 

            I learned that computers have made us very dependent upon them.  The fast growing technology of computers keeps the human race wanting more and those requests are being answered.  There is so much technology out there that is constantly changing on a daily basis.  There are so many “computer geeks” avidly seeking new challenges and developing new computer programs.  The possibilities are seemingly endless.  Programs are being updated or changed almost daily to work faster than the previous program.   Processors have become so fast that it is just mind blowing.  In comparing my laptop that I bought about five years ago to the new laptop I bought just months ago I am truly amazed at its capabilities.  The new computer is so much faster than my old computer.  Just when I was thinking that there is no way they can increase the speed of a laptop, a new computer comes out with a processor that will leave you wondering how I was able to get anything done on that dinosaur.  There are so many tech savvy people playing around with new ideas for new programs and how to improve upon what is currently out there.  I am truly amazed and stand in awe of them. 

            I found The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman to be a very interesting read.  At first I was unsure if I agreed with him about the world being flattened by computers, but little did I know to what extent the computer and internet have changed our way of life.  At first, I was not sure if the title was a proper title for this book.  After completing each reading assignment I began to understand exactly what he was trying to say and the title started to grow on me.  I found the information that he has in the book to be fascinating and informative.  I think that more people should read this book and maybe they will understand the true power of the computer in the internet.  The book explained away many of the fears that I had about where computers were going and why businesses were out-sourcing work to other countries.  I found that this was an easy read and I was able to follow along with his ideas and just how he came up with what he wrote. 

            I really enjoyed this class and learning more about the capabilities of the computer and what the possibilities are with computers.  I am amazed at the creativity of programmers and what they are able to do with a computer and some ingenuity.  The changes happening with the computer are astounding and what businesses are able to accomplish because of those changes.  Businesses are able to prosper because of the computer and the internet and getting information out of potential customers.  We live in an incredible time with endless possibilities that each of us should take advantage of.

Module Twelve

            The twenty-first century technologies are genetics, nanotechnology and robotics, GNR.  Genetic engineering alters the genetic make-up of plants, animals, bacteria, viruses.  Scientists are increasing the plants abilities to produce fruits and vegetables without the use of pesticides.   They are also discovering cures for many diseases, trying to find ways to increase our life span and cloning.  Genetic engineering has been able to provide many useful resources as well as some that are questionable to the human race such as cloning.  There are many ethical issues with art of cloning.  Joy’s major concern with genetic engineering is that it gives the power to create a White Plague.

            Nanotechnology manipulates matter on an atomic and molecular level and has the possibilities to create things in abundance at a much cheaper cost and be able to cure diseases or physical problems and nanoscale molecular electronics.  Joy’s fear of the nanotechnology is that it is easier to create destructive uses for nantotechnology than constructive ones.  Joy states that nanotechonology has clear military and terrorist uses and massively destructive devices that can be built to be selectively destructive, affecting only a certain geographical area or group of people who are genetically distinct.  Nanotechnology has the ability to destroy the biosphere which all life depends upon.

            Joy states that there are two dreams that come with robotic technology, first that robots will be doing all of the work for us so that we can spend our leisure time as we desire.  The second dream is that robotic technology will replace humans, becoming almost immortal.  Humans desire to have the work done for them so that they can enjoy the finer things in life.  The advancement of robotic technologies can lead to the extinction of the human race.  Humans want to look and feel younger without thought of what theirs desires could lead to.  In the quest to become perfect in every way, replacing a body part with a working robotic part becomes quite appealing.  Robotic technologies are advancing quickly and it is possible for intelligent robots to be fully developed and having the capabilities to evolve and duplicate oneself.  

            The advancements that have been made in GNR technologies are simply amazing.  When I think about what is actually possible now days as far as genetics, nanotechnologies and robotics and what the future holds and I am truly afraid.  There is so much power behind the technologies and what they are capable of.  I would compare it to the reactions of the bombing of Hiroshima and the massive destruction the atom bomb was capable of doing.  Humans have the ability to create life; however, it is quite apparent that humans can destroy life in a matter of seconds as well.  The highly destructive forces behind GNR technologies is frightening at best.  I would hate to think or what could happen if these technologies got into the wrong hands.  There would potential for mass destruction of life.  I fear for my children’s future and what they will be faced with.  It is frightening to think that by the year 2030, a mere 18 years from now, GNR technology will be advanced enough that our species can be replaced my machines.  Technology is great, but how far are we willing to go and at what risk?  Have we gotten so lazy as a society that we would not think twice about owning a robot to complete our daily tasks so that we can have more time for fun?  Granted, I have wished that I could clone so that I can get everything done that needs to be done so that I can have more time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, but I am not sure that I would actually want one.

I agree with Joy and the fears that he voices regarding GNR technologies.  I believe that his fears are justified.  I feel we will be faced with the possibility that robots will take over the human race.  If scientists are able to devise a way to take what is currently in our brains and transfer that knowledge into a machine and have that machine learn and grow, then I fear it is possible for the unthinkable to happen, the end of the human race as we know it.  I couldn’t even imagine a world where the robots are actually in charge.  I find it hard to believe that a piece of metal could actually have compassion for a human life.  Humans would become expendable and targets for destruction.  Our bodies are much more fragile than theirs.  Maybe I watch too many of the movies made regarding this subject, but we must ask ourselves, what if?  What would the world be like if this actually occurred?  Should we allow our intelligence to rule over our common sense?

I think that we should be afraid of what is possible with GNR technologies.  We should be actively involved in what is being developed and what these technologies are capable of.   We should be afraid of what is being developed.  I think if that we need to stand up for ourselves and ask the important questions such as how will this affect in the long term?

           

Module Eleven

            Minority Report is story based on a computer system that is attached to three psychic beings that are a part of a crime prevention unit called Precrime.  Precrime arrests people for crimes which they are about to commit not committed.  Precrime uses computers that are connected to the psychics to unravel the events of the crime that is going to be committed.  The captain of Precrime, John Anderton, uses gloves with special devices in them to control the computer program to go to certain scenes of the crime to uncover clues.  He can enlarge the picture and stop the scene to look at different areas of the scene.  He then gives these clues and instructions to his teammates to search the internet for answers to lead them to where the potential criminal is.  Once the location of the potential criminal is located the team is then deployed to arrest the person.  The whole system is working fine until Captain John Anderton uncovers the fact that he will be charged with the precrime or murder.  Now he is on a quest to clear his name and figure out why he would commit this crime. 

Precrime also employs the use of retina scanners to allow employees into certain areas of their department based on the retinal scan.  Retina scanners are also used identify people throughout the city, monitoring their every move.  When a person walks into a store they are immediately identified and greeted.  They are then asked a question about their last visit and the items bought preciously.  I believe this part of the story could actually one day be enacted as a ploy of the government to control the people.  The use of the retina scanner, in my opinion, is a horrendous invasion of our privacy and can expose the human race to unfair and undue treatment. 

            The use of computers is quite extensive in this movie.  It is petrifying to think that computers can and are that much a part of our lives.  A good portion of what is depicted about the role computers can have in our lived is either true at this point or will be in the foreseeable future.  I think the only part that may be in question, in my mind, would be the psychics in water and being hooked up to the computer and telling people’s future behaviors through the computers.  I guess that it could be possible to hook a human up to a computer in convey what is going on in their mind through the computer.  I know they can record brain waves, but to actually have what they see in their minds portrayed on a computer screen, I am not sure that is realistic at this point.  It may be possible in the future.  At the rate that technology is growing and expanding, I would not be surprised if someday that it could actually happen. 

            There are some very concerning issues that can come from these advancements that would have a huge impact on society and the freedoms that we enjoy now.  By requiring people to be subjected to a retinal scan for identification, can result in a loss of freedom and invasion of privacy.  People are easily identified, tracked in their daily lives, such as where they shop and what they buy.  All of their personal information becomes public knowledge.  This, in my opinion, would be extremely dangerous to society.  People would no longer belong to themselves.  People would be under the watchful eye of business owners and government. 

            The other concerning aspect is the thought of arresting a person for a crime for which they have not yet committed.  It is merely the predictions of a psychic saying that an individual is going to commit a crime.  A person no longer has their constitutional right of innocent until proven guilty.  They are being arrested and convicted of a crime that they have not yet committed.  Where is the justice in that?  Just because a person has a possible thought that they would like to take someone’s life does not actually mean that they would really commit such a crime.  The impact of a person being convicted of a crime they have not yet committed can destroy society as we know it.  It may be a positive thought at first to rid the world of crime and violence, but to what end.  Convicting a person of a crime that they have not committed is a travesty of justice and a violation of the constitutional rights we were given. 

            Minority Report was an interesting movie based on the use of computers and psychics to a crime before it happened.  I found the use of computers in this movie to be very interesting.  With the advances in technology, much of what was depicted in the movie is possible either now or in the foreseeable future.  The impact that the computer advancements would and/or could have on society is was is truly terrifying.   In my opinion, the human race would lose freedoms and the right to a fair trial - innocent until proven guilty. 

Module Ten

            The short story, A Logic Named Joe, was a difficult read for me.  I had to read the story twice in order to really grasp what the author was trying to say.  I am not sure if it was because of the grammatical text that was written as if the character was from a different region of the world and had an accent or if I was trying to make too much of the story.  I did, however, find it very interesting especially since it was written in 1946.  The author’s visions of what the computer would be or is capable of was astounding and his foresight was amazing.  He was able to accurately predict what the computer would be capable of in several instances and I found it quite intriguing.  If a person did not know which year this short story was written in, it is possible that it could have been written in the present day. 

            I found the authors choice words in which to name the computer confusing at first, but after analyzing what the author was saying it began to fit in place.  The personal computer’s name was “logic” and what I know to be the tower of a computer was called the “tank.”  The tower is the vessel in which information is stored and shared by the user of the computer system.  A person would ask “logic” a question and information would be relayed back to them just as it does today on the web.  In my opinion Google.com would fit as the information web site this portion of the story is referring to and the amount of data that is able to be accessed on a particular subject.  The possibilities are endless now days as far as the information that is available on the internet and this is referenced in his story.

            The author knew that one day parental controls would have to be incorporated into the system to protect children from having access to risky material.  This also has come to fruition.  There are so many sites that are on the internet that do pose a serious risk to our children and parental controls have been a huge tool in preventing accidental harm.  There are also references to web sites telling a person how to murder their wife or how to sober a person up after a night of binging on alcohol.  These sites currently exist and many more information sites that provide assistance to individuals seeking help in avoiding consequences of risky behavior such as testing dirty on a urinalysis test.  The information available for many subjects on the web is seemingly endless.  You can get almost any question answered that you are in need of. 

            The other fact I found interesting and has come to light is that all of our personal information is readily available for anyone to view.  Our lives are on the web and an inquiring person can locate whatever they would like to about a particular person.  This is the part of the computer that is frightening to me.  So much of our lives are no longer private and something that we can hide from other individuals.  Computers have opened a door that has allowed everyone access to the personal lives everyone around us.    

            The part of the story that has not come to fruition, in my opinion, is that of people being able to connect to another person by video conferencing at a request of a user.  I do, however, believe that this is possible in the near future.  Most computers are equipped with a video camera or one is readily available for purchase to attach to your computer.  This allows a person with the properly equipped computer to contact another person with the same capabilities using the program called Skype.  This is a video conferencing program that allows individuals to contact others via their computer and actually see them on their computer screen.  It is the next best thing to actually being there with the person. 

            The author’s reference to a single computer developing the abilities to connect to other computers and updating its knowledge and developing ideas that the human race has not thought of is still not possible.  The author spoke of removing that one offending computer and hiding it in a basement to prevent it from taking over is still a fantasy.  There may be a time that this may happen, but to date computers are not capable of bypassing their own programming and making cognitive decisions.  The idea that one day the world will be taken over by rogue robots that have the capability to learn and grow have been depicted in many movies and in my opinion this still may be possible. 

            The author also referenced that if computers were removed from the world that we could no longer function as a society.  I believe that this fact is very true.  The world has become reliant upon computers and their programs to run our daily lives.  The advancements that have been made using computers is simply amazing.  We are able to communicate world-wide with various individuals to conduct business in a way that was never possible.  Having recently experienced a system crash with the computers at work, I experienced the reliance on computers first-hand.  I was not capable to completing my daily tasks without the computer.  Most of what I do in a day’s work is on the computer and a large portion of what is done is stored on the computer.  I found it very frustrating not to be able to have my computer to complete my required work.  I do believe that the human race would be lost without computers.  They have become our life line and a source for completing daily tasks.  I believe that the human race is addicted to the internet and the freedoms that it allows in our daily lives.

            The short story was a difficult read, but the foresight of the author and the computer’s capabilities is truly amazing.  The author was one that thought outside the box and could see the possibilities associated with the computer.  The human race has become extremely reliant upon computers for their programming capabilities and the use of the internet for information at our finger tips.

Module Nine

 

            The building of a Dell laptop is quite an amazing process.  The customer calls into Dell’s call center and speaks with a representative about what they are looking for in a laptop.  The customer informs the representative of what they would like to computer to have as far as software based upon their needs and how they would like the computer to operate.  They inform the representative of the special features that they require for the computer.  The representative then processes the customer’s payment and sends the customer’s order to the Dell production team in Malaysia by email.

 In Malaysia the required parts for the computer are then ordered from the Supplier Logistic Centers near Pengang.  The suppliers get a signal that tells them what components are needed and immediately pull the parts for delivery.  The parts are delivered to the production team within ninety minutes.  The Supplier Logistic Center will make shipments to the Dell factory in Pengang every two hours.  The parts are received at the factory and are unloaded, bar coded, registered and placed in bins for assembly. 

A Dell team member in Pengang receives the order once all the parts for the particular computer.  The parts are pulled and placed in a special carrying tote designed to protect the parts.  A team member will then assemble the computer by hand and properly label each computer. The computer is then sent down the line for the software ordered by the customer to be loaded onto the computer.  Once the software is downloaded the computer is then sent down the line for boxing and labeling.   Once the computer is properly packaged it is then put on a plane for shipment to the customer.  The entire process from beginning to end takes only approximately thirteen days.  This is an amazing process that definitely encompasses the idea of the self-directed consumer.  Each computer is specifically designed for the every customer.  These computers are not like those that you can purchase in various electronic stores or warehouse conglomerates.  They are designed by the customer for the customer. 

I am of the firm belief that al-Qaeda doe have a supply chain.  As distorted and corrupt as it may be, there is obviously a supply chain at work.  They are able to recruit members world-wide and solicit funds for their cause by using the internet and satellite television.  Al-Qaeda is able to broadcast their ideas world-wide through the internet reaching every possible sympathizer. They are able to obtain funding for their madness and recruit willing victims for their suicide bomber tactics.   New suicide bombers are recruited and sent to Beirut for training as soon as one is sent out.

Friedman stated that instead of producing products and profit al-Qaeda is producing mayhem and murder.  Most supply chains are based upon the business of producing products and profit not causing the destruction of people as in the case of al-Qaeda.  Friedman further states that al-Qaeda uses the tools of collaboration uploading to raise money, recruit followers and stimulate and disseminate ideas; out sourcing to train recruits and supply-chaining to distribute the tools and suicide bombers to undertake operations.  Through their supply-chaining, al-Qaeda is able to spread their ideas and convince people to carry out bombings in various places around the world.  The flattening of the world has not only benefited the ambitious business person, but the underhandedness of al-Qaeda. 

The curse of oil is the monarchs and dictators run the oil states are getting rich by drilling natural resources so that they can stay in power forever.  These supposed leaders use the oil money to dominate all power in their state.  They control every aspect of the state such as the army, police and intelligence.  They have to be able to maintain control of the oil tap to remain in power.   They never have to tax their people; therefore, there is no representation for the people.  The dictators and monarch do not have to listen to the people or inform them of how those monies are being spent as the monies are obtained through taxes.  They remain in control.  The development of their country falls to the way side and the people are left behind.  The rich remain rich and the poor remain poor.  The states without oil have the most development and growth.  They are developing the skills of their people, developing freedoms for their people and relations for importing and exporting.  The states being held by the monarchs and dictators are being left behind and those that are not are developing and growing at fast pace.  They are taking advantage of the business of imports and exports.   

The flattening of the world through the internet has done amazing things for people around the world both good and bad.  The self-directed consumer is able to have a computer specifically designed for them and shipped right to their door step.  Whereas the ugliness of terrorism is also benefiting from the flattening of the world. 

Module 8

            My first semester in college after being out of school for twenty-six years was an eye-opening experience.  I took an anthropology class as one of my first classes.  Once I started reading the material that was required, I found it to be very intriguing.  What I also discovered was that there was so much information and terminology in the required text book that I did not understand.  There were topics that were not clear to me.  I pondered as to how to go about researching the information so that I could make sense of what I was reading.  I was thinking about the possibility of going to the library, the old school way of research, but then remembered that I had the internet readily available.  That is when I went to my laptop, opened the internet browser and began to research the topics that I needed clarification on.  Within seconds information on the subject matter came up, giving me many web sites to choose from.  I was able to review several web sites and clear up the questions that I had.

            Thinking back to when I was in school as a teenager and what our source for preparing our papers were.  Our medium was pen and paper or, if you were lucky, a typewriter.  I am amazed every time I think about it and how my school papers are prepared now.  There is so much information at our fingertips today.  Not having to go to the library to research the topic for the paper is a big time savings.  The resources on the internet are also larger and easier to research than going to the local library.  The library, depending on its funding, may not have particular books on their shelves that you need to complete your research.  Using the internet gives the person the ability to search many different sources in a short period of time.  I enjoy the ease of searching for information on the internet as it has drastically changed the way I researched the information for my papers.

            The computer has also changed the way the papers are prepared.  Preparation of school papers has gone from being hand-written and turned in to the teacher/professor to being typed on the computer using software programs such as Microsoft Word and emailed directly to the teacher/professor.  Preparing the papers using the computer has also cut down the time it takes to prepare the paper.  I have developed typing skills and I can type twice as fast as I can write.  By using the computer for preparation of these documents an electronic copy of the paper can be kept instead of storing the actual paper. 

            The computer has been a positive and welcome change to the way that my school papers are prepared.  Researching information with the internet has made the process of preparing the papers much easier.  There is so much information at our fingertips that the research can be completed in a more expeditious manner.  The use of computer software to prepare the papers has also increased the speed with which I am able to prepare my school papers.  The advances that have been made with computers are mind boggling to me.  A computer that I bought five years ago is obsolete and slow compared to what is being produced today.  The ability to surf the internet and gather information from the comfort of your own home is also a luxury that I quite enjoy.

Module Seven

            Comparative advantage is having the ability to produce an item at a much lower cost than anyone else.  The country/region that have well educated workforce, laborers with strong work ethics, lower taxes and offer incentives to potential customers are the most successful.  It is not just about the cheap labor anymore.  It is more about the quality and price.  The consumer is demanding a higher quality product for a much lower cost.  In order for a country/region to be able to provide this, it needs to take a close look at its way of conducting business.  According to Friedman, the country/region, its people and government need to engage in brutally honest introspection.  They need to determine to what extent they are taking advantage of the flat world in order to become more competitive. 

Successful businesses need to engage not only in wholesale reform but retail reform.  Friedman states that a country needs to focus on four basic things to develop, which are having the right infrastructure such as cheap internet, mobile phones, airports and roads.  The right educational system to get their people innovating and collaborating.  The right governance – a quality bureaucracy to channel, govern, and enhance the creative energies of a country.  The right environment – preserving the green spaces to attract the knowledge workers.  They need to adopt more market-friendly macroeconomic policies according to Friedman.  A country also needs to address retail reform as well.  The country needs to make it simple for a company to conduct business in order for them to be competitive in a flat world. 

Self-directed consumers, according to Friedman, are those that serve themselves in their own way, at their own pace, in their own time, according to their own tastes.  Consumers have learned that they can now control how they purchase items, from whom they purchase those items and the cost of those items.  The consumer has essentially now become the employee of the company they are seeking to purchase an item from and is paying that company for their products.  Businesses are having to change the way they do business in that they need to act like a small business and let the consumer believe that their product is being tailored from their needs and giving the consumer more options.  The consumer is now looking for the one-stop shopping experience.  They are looking for web sites that offer more than just one services. 

Being in control of how you are purchasing an item and at what price is a very addictive feeling.  The empowerment that you feel is very gratifying.  I have not fully grasp the idea of the self-directed consumer as of yet.  I am slow on the take-off, but I am getting there.  I have learned that I can have my bank pay my bills for me when I tell them to and I don’t have to worry about them.  This is an amazing discovery for me being a single mom who doesn’t have time to sit and write out checks for all the bills that I need to pay.  I love to sit down at my computer enter the bill to be paid and what date it is to be paid on  and leave it up to the bank to take care of sending it off.  The advancements in customer care and/or customer control are fantastic and give the consumer a feeling that they are in control of some aspect of their lives.

As globalization continues to grow, the perception that globalization is Americanization will diminish.  There are currently American made or produced items across the world such as McDonalds in Japan or being able to buy Coca-Cola products in many areas of the world.  This could lead to the misconception that globalization is Americanization.  I agree with Friedman in that there will come a day where the influence of other countries will be just as strong world-wide as America.  America had the advantage in that we were able to get a quick start, but as the other countries continue to develop and embrace globalization their cultures, songs, opinions, etc. will be known world-wide.

Module Six

            Free trade is the ability to freely trade goods and services with other countries without the intervention of the government. This gives American’s as well as other countries the opportunity to trade goods and services which would otherwise cost more if their country produced it.  It also increases the profit margins of the businesses involved.  Free trade may cause the loss of some jobs in America and abroad; however, the benefits of free trade outweigh the cost in loss of jobs.  The loss of jobs in one area can be made up in another area.  There needs to be a different way of viewing what possible employment opportunities are out there and the individuals need to be flexible in what is chosen as a career. 

            Free trade can give not only the American entrepreneur the opportunity to build successful business, but provide better opportunities for businesses in other countries.  I think that free trade is extremely important to America and other countries.  It gives everyone world-wide the opportunity to grow and succeed.  I think that sometimes Americans believe that they are entitled to certain privileges just because they live in America.  It is a privilege to live in America, but we cannot sit back and expect things to be handed to us and not have to put forth any effort.  Americans will be left behind if the attitude that I deserve this just because I live here is not changed.  There are many people in other countries fighting to come here for the opportunity to work.  They have the strong desire to work and will do what it takes to get the job.   I understand that a lot of people believe that free trade is ruining America and we need to buy more American products.  If there are ways to have items produced at a much lower cost why not purchase those products and gain a profit?   There are products that other countries produce that cost much less than if it were produced in America.  There are products that America produces at a much lower cost than other countries are able to produce it and this is where free trade comes in and gives the businesses the opportunity to make a profit.  There are advantages to items being produced at a much lower cost and Americans should not be afraid of the idea of free trade.  The false perception that Americans will go under if free trade continues is simply not true.    

            According to Freidman the new middler is someone who is not afraid to learn a new skill and develop that skill.  They have a passion for their work and curiosity that drives them to improve on an idea.  They are adaptable to various situations and hunger for something new.  They are led by ambition and a drive to know how something works and how to improve on it.  They have the ability to stay one step ahead of the latest computer improvements that are eliminating jobs.  The new middler can design a program that makes other individuals work faster and smarter.  They are able to continually design programs that make them untouchable. 

            The new middler has the ability to explain a product to a potential customer in a way that the potential customer can see that the product will benefit them and provide a profit to their business.  They have the ability to collaborate with others both inside their business and outside of their business to increase both profits and efficiency.  They have the ability to manage a highly efficient supply chain and maintain that efficiency.  The new middler also needs to be able to navigate the Web and use proper judgment in discerning the accuracy of the information needed among all the information that is on the Web.  The new middler is not afraid of change but welcomes it and has the drive to learn new skills.

            CQ+PQ>IQ, is curiosity quotient plus passion quotient is greater than intelligent quotient.  Employers find it far more profitable for them to hire an individual who has a higher curiosity and greater passion for what they are doing.  A person with the higher intelligence quotient is still important, but not nearly as profitable to a company, most times they do not have the passion and curiosity that is needed.  The individuals with the passion and curiosity seem to be more productive and are able expand their knowledge in many areas.  They will delve deeper into a situation and discover what works, what does not and what they can do to improve on it.  They thirst for knowledge and are not afraid to do what it takes to discover new and better opportunities.  These individuals are highly motivated and have a very strong desire to succeed.  These individuals are very valuable to a business and usually provide greater profits for a business.

            In this day and age an individual is able to take their curiosity to a much higher level as the tools they have at their fingertips are much greater.  The Web provides the individual with tools needed to gather information and discover new possibilities.  The curious individual is able to grow and learn at a much faster rate and with a deeper knowledge.  They are apt to keep themselves untouchable as they have the ability to adapt to new situations. 

            Free trade is a valuable tool in today’s flat world.  A business can increase its profit margin and allow better opportunities for other less fortunate countries by the use of free trade.  I think that those who grasp on to the idea of free trade will benefit most from it.  With all of the technology available the new middler is required to constantly change and grow in new ways in order to become the untouchable employee.  They need to stay on top of their game to avoid being replaced by computers.  They need to possess a strong passion for what they are doing with the curiosity to push them along. 

Module Five

There are three parts to Friendman’s triple convergence, the first part being when computers started performing duties that a human being used to perform. Around the year 2000 is when the first part of the convergence began to take effect. Businesses and individuals began developing skills to produce items more quickly and more efficiently. A person can now reserve a seat on his/her airline flight in the comfort of their own home with a computer instead arriving at the airport early to stand in line and be greeted by a ticket agent. As Friedman said, you, the individual are paying the airlines to be their employee. The consumer is now performing duties, using a computer, that a human being used to perform.

The second part Friedman’s triple convergence is the merger of the new playing field for doing business and the new ways of doing business. The use of computers to make our daily lives easier has opened up new opportunities world-wide. Companies are able to complete daily work in a much cheaper and expeditious manner. The work is now being done by computer programs instead of being complete by the individual. Businesses in the United States are able to employ workers from another country to perform the same duties as Americans at a much lower cost.

The third part of the triple convergence is China, India and the former Soviet Union emerging onto the playing field. The final part has given people around the world opportunities to play, connect, collaborate and create with people in a cost effective and powerful way. With the emergence of these three countries, the playing field became much more flat. Businesses now have the opportunity to collaborate with other businesses in other countries to produce an item at a much lower cost in a more equitable manner.

The triple convergence has made it possible for businesses to tap into a larger pool of highly skilled workers from all over the world. The cost of labor in a foreign country is much cheaper and the skill level of those workers remains high. Businesses are able to gain more profits here in the United Sates while giving workers in another country the ability to earn a good wage without having to leave their country. This type of business practices supports the progress of both countries.

In the India versus Indiana, it is my opinion that the exploiter is Gov. Joe Kernan and the exploited are the people of Indiana and India. The State of Indiana had the perfect opportunity to have a better computer system at a much lower cost, saving the taxpayers of Indiana a substantial amount of money. The fear that America is going to be taken over by another country ruled what was decided in this case. Fear of the unknown drives man to extreme lengths and this story is perfect example of that. There were obvious advantages for people in both of the countries to gain from the contract being fulfilled. Instead the politician took the information and distorted the end result and used it as a basis for his campaign to gain his seat in government. The politician immediately began to destroy the contract that was entered into with the company from India. He used this stage to strike fear in his constituent’s heart for his own personal gain. The possibilities that could have come from the collaboration with India were overlooked. The Engineers from Indiana had an opportunity learn from the engineers in India and vice versa. It could have been a win-win opportunity.

Intellectual property is a creation of the mind or invention such as computer software, music, and art. Intellectual property is the basis for the world as we know it. The computer and its programs are the foundation for businesses today. Without the inventions/ideas of the individual or intellectual property businesses would not be as prosperous as they are today. It gives businesses the ability to collaborate with people across the world to achieve a similar goal.

The ability for businesses to communicate and collaborate across the world was the result of the triple convergence. Allowing business to grow and earn profits like never before. Inventions being created and expanded upon to create a more competitive arena for businesses.

Module Four

            Vice President of Sales Engineering for Teletech was the position that my older brother held.  Teletech is a premiere Business Process Out-Sourcing company or B.P.O.  He designed computer solutions for businesses.  He would build entire dedicated systems which consisted of eleven-hundred servers that cost approximately twenty-nine million dollars to build.  They had thirty-two computer rooms with dedicated data bases to operate the system.  This system took his team two years to build.  He was also involved in designing and building the computer system for a call center.  They had two centralized locations, Denver, Colorado and Phoenix Arizona, which serviced the entire world.  Each centralized location had twenty-five hundred servers and three dedicated data base servers.  The call center had to have software for order entry.  The company out-sourced the building of the software to India, saving the company a large amount of money.  He designed the program using Windows as the base for the system and then used Fox Pro 1996, Oracle and Basic 2000 to help design the software around Windows.  He also had to build a C.T.I, or computer trust integration, into the system to connect the computers and the telephones.  This project took his team four years to finish.  He stated that computer technology doubles every eighteen months and they had to replace the computers to keep up with the changes in the speed and efficiency of the computers.   The cost to maintain these data base servers increased as well because the rooms that the servers were kept in had to be maintained at seventy-one degrees to keep the computers cool.  The computers run at such a high rate of speed that they need to be cooled down.

            He also designed Power Point presentations, system demos and mock-up demos to market their products and services.  He traveled all over the world showing presentations and demos to potential customers.  He also installed the systems he has helped design for various businesses and training their customers in the use of their products.  He has traveled to places such as Australia, Ireland, India, England and numerous states in the United States. 

            The other project that he was involved in was designing a call center for the 2010 Census.  They had seventy-four global centers, four mega data centers and seven hundred and fifty servers to support the 9.9 million calls that would need to be made.  There were eight thousand agents operating the telephones.  All of the hardware had to be converted from a premise base to a centralized base in order for the project to work properly.  

            The United States Department of Labor defines the duties of a sales engineer as a person who determines how products and services can be designed or modified to suit customer’s needs.  They also advise customers on how to best use the products designed for them.  They specialize in technologically and scientifically advanced products.  The sales engineer will help solve their customer’s problems after their product is installed.  They will also serve as a liaison between the customer and their company.  They may also be involved in market research.  The position of a sales engineer is very stressful as their job security depends on their success in sales and customer service.  Their positions often require them to work more than forty hours per week.  Their territories are normally large and require them to travel extensively.  They must also have excellent communication skills and must be strong in math.  A sales engineer is usually employed by companies that design and build technical products or work for independent sales firms.  The median wage that a sales engineer earns is $95,580.00 per year.

            The sales engineer position is a very fast-paced and demanding job as well as being highly competitive.  One of the downfalls of this job is the long hours that are required to complete a project.  My brother consistently worked more than the required forty hours per week in order to complete a project on time.  He is often gone on business trips for extended periods of time taking him away from his wife and children.     

            This is a highly competitive position that requires a person to keep up-to-date on the latest modifications to the computer systems and how they will affect their customer’s current programs.  There are many demands placed upon these individuals which require not only them to make daily sacrifices but their families as well.  The fast-paced world of high efficiency computers requires that they be updated every eighteen months.  Businesses need upgrade their computers every eighteen months in order to keep up with the demands of the world.

Module Three

            What are some key ideas that have changed business as we knew it?  One is off-shoring.  Businesses moving a factory from the United States to a foreign country, such as China, in an effort to cut costs for labor, taxes, health insurance and the cost of property.  Second, the development of a highly efficient supply chain that gives a company access to suppliers world-wide and product at the lowest cost.  Third, internet search engines such as Google, giving consumers immediate access to information, products and services they are in need of.

            When a company takes its factory and moves it from a location here in the United States to a foreign country such as China is called off shoring.  Businesses will make this move to not only decrease costs in labor, but to decrease their costs in health care, taxes and the cost of property.  The cost of living in other countries is less than that of the United States, providing savings to a business that chooses to operate off shore.  Businesses are finding huge cost savings utilizing off-shoring.  Those cost savings are essential for a small business to turn a profit. 

            Off-shoring differs from out-sourcing in that the actual factory is moved to a foreign country.  Out-sourcing is utilizing labor/services that are contracted outside the United States.  The concept of cost savings in labor/services is the same in out-sourcing and off-shoring, but the actual location of the company’s factory is different.  Out-sourcing is taking a function that is currently being completed by a business, such as research or taxes, and employing someone in another country to complete that task at a lower cost and then reintegrating it back into the business.  Off-shoring is a company taking their factory and moving it to a foreign country to produce the same product at a lower cost. 

            Freidman states that a supply chain is a large collaboration of suppliers, retailers and consumers to create the best value.  It is the ability of a retail company to collaborate with suppliers world-wide to obtain a product at a much lower cost and provide their stores with the product in a very timely manner.   There are many elements involved in creating an accurate, efficient supply chain.  A retailer needs to be able to locate a supplier that can provide the desired product at a much lower cost as well as lower shipping costs.  The company must then employ people to manage the supply and demand of the products.  Development of a system that can keep up with product demand in several locations and be able to get those items delivered timely to keep the shelves stocked and the store running smoothly takes careful planning. 

            Walmart has developed one of the most successful supply chains.  It has created a supply chain that can evaluate what product is in demand at which location and ship that product to that location quickly.  It has the ability to adjust what is being shipped to a certain location to prevent overstock.  If a product is not being utilized in a specific location that product is sent to a different location in which it is in demand.   Their system keeps overstock to a minimum and prevents them from losing profits.  They know what is selling in a particular location and when the supply is low and when a particular store needs a shipment.  They have a finely tuned supply chain that helps them operate very efficiently and at a much lower rate.

            Google.com is a large information system that can refer a customer seeking information about an item, particular service or product to a business located near that customer.  Google.com can refer the customer to several different advertisements for businesses that provide the requested service/product that they are in search of.  The consumer reviews the options given for their request, and chooses which company fits their needs.  Google.com is a form of advertisement for those businesses, providing businesses with access to potential customers.  Google.com also has the ability to adapt to their users and what they are in search of.  This gives the consumer great power to evaluate the information they are given, what they want and what price they want to pay.

            I have to agree with Freidman that one of the largest flatteners is Google.com and other search engines like it.  I personally use search engines on a daily basis and I am amazed at the information that is available at our fingertips.  These search engines have opened many doors that would otherwise be inaccessible. 

            I am fascinated by the business genius of U.P.S. and their ability to expand beyond just shipping products.  U.P.S. not only is a delivery company, but they have expanded their company to repairing computers and assembling products at their warehouses.  They have collaborated with many businesses seeking their expertise in shipping, repair and production.  They have collaborated with businesses such as Toshiba and Ford Motor Company.  I think what U.P.S. has done is simply amazing and a fine example of forward thinking. 

            The only item discussed in this section that I disagree with is the off-shoring.  I understand that it may be a great opportunity for American business now, but what impact will off-shoring have on the Unites States later?  Will off-shoring give China the advantage over the United States?  I feel that we will be hurt by off-shoring to China.  It has the potential to give Chine an edge on the United States.  The United States is losing precious jobs to other countries, such as China, because it costs a company too much to employ an American.  This is very concerning to me as we are giving away our job opportunities.  There may be a cost advantage now, but at what cost to the later generations of Americans?  I sincerely hope that America can remain strong and that Americans can remain employable.

            Business as we knew it in America has been expanded and we have been given many options to operate a successful business.  The development of the computer, the internet, off-shoring, out-sourcing, and highly efficient supply chains have greatly increased a business’ potential for success.

Module Two

            Software that allows employees within a company to have the ability to connect to the company’s data base remotely and conduct business from almost anywhere is work flow software.  This software allows the work to continue to flow day or night, from home, a hotel, or even a coffee shop.  Business can occur at a moment’s notice and from any place that wireless internet is available.  Access to the software is governed by a sign-in and password.

            I work for the State of Utah and we have a software program, VPN, that allows the IT department to connect to a computer state wide from their location at the Matheson Building in Salt Lake City to diagnose and fix computer and printer problems.  There was a time that the only way a computer or printer problem could be fixed was by IT sending a technician to your location to make the necessary repairs.  Now this can be done in a matter of minutes instead of a matter of hours.  This has decreased not only the costs in travel time for IT, but the cost of having a computer or printer inoperable for an extended period of time.  I for one am a huge fan of this software.  Sitting around watching your work pile up while your computer is inoperable was extremely painful.  This software is simply amazing.

            Open source software is both a cost saving and valuable resource.  Designing a program and then putting out on the internet for the other computer geeks to refine and expand upon is a concept of forward thinking.  There is no cost to download the software and if you use it as base for a product that you create to sell, all they ask is that they are given credit for their originating product.  Why wouldn’t you want your product improved upon for free?  The value of using the intellect of someone else for free is invaluable.  The perspective and ideas that another person can bring to a project is eye opening.  The other person is coming at it from a different direction and can add so much to a program.  I really like this idea of involving many programmers on the development of a software program.  This also shows to me that not everyone out there is greedy and that people do have the ability to share something amazing and not just be thinking of all the profits that will be gained.  It gives the intelligent, motivated individuals an opportunity to be a part of something that they may not otherwise have a chance to be a part of.  The end result is a much more powerful operating system for little to no cost.

            The use of skilled individuals across the world to complete tasks at a much lower cost is called out sourcing.  The idea that a business can employ someone from a remote country such as  India or China to complete a project at a much lower cost is a concept that many businesses here in the United States are starting to grasp.  The cost of living in other countries compared to the United States is much lower giving American businesses a chance to employ cheap labor and save money.  The fact that these countries are also in another time zone is time saving and cost savings for American businesses.  The projects are being completed in those countries while the American businesses are fast asleep.  Projects are able to be completed in a very timely manner with the collaboration of the employees here in the United States and the employees in other countries.  Our use of out sourcing not only strengthens the economy of the country that is being employed but increases the profits for the American businesses.  Although the use of out sourcing is a major benefit to the America, I can’t help but wonder just how it will impact the next generation.  Will out sourcing be the downfall of the blue-collar worker?  If we continue to out source work we consider to be boring and mundane, what type of work is left for the next generation?  What changes to our society as we know it, will come of out sourcing?  What image does this give the American people?  Are we too good to work for lower wages and that is why we have to out source jobs?  I guess when I sit and analyze this our children will just have to learn a new and different set of job skills.

            Although there are many questions for me about the use of out sourcing, the strides that have been made with the internet and all of its abilities are mind boggling.  It has only taken a few years for the world of computers to expand and grow to the level that it is currently at with more growth inevitable.  A person cannot just sit on their laurels and not expect to be left behind in the wonderful age of computers.

Module One - The World is Flat

Module One- The World is Flat

            Global integration is not a subject that I would have been interested in reading about; however, Freidman has the ability to put it words that are very easy to understand.  I found Freidman’s categorization of the three great eras as Globalization 1.0, Globalization 2.0 and Globalization 3.0 very fascinating.  Their titles remind me of a computer program or an application on a cell phone or iPad.  The way he describes how the eras are divided made a lot of sense and I found it easy to follow.  The concepts Freidman conveys in his book are enlightening as well as insightful. 

            Freidman classified the three eras in the following manner:

·         Globalization 1.0 covers the time period of 1492 to 1800.  This era took a large world and shrunk it to medium.  Freidman stated the key agent to change and global integration during Globalization 1.0 was how much brawn – muscle, horsepower, wind power, or later steam power – your country had and how creatively you can deploy it.  The countries and governments were working together for global integration.  The countries were flexing their muscle and showing their strengths and abilities.

·         Globalization 2.0 covers the time period of 1800 to 2000.  This era took a medium world and shrunk it to small.  According to Freidman, in Globalization 2.0 the driving force for global integration was multinational companies.  It was a time that multinational companies went global for markets and labor.  It was the age fueled by falling transportation and communication costs.  Friedman stated that the steam engine and railroad were the key agents in the lower cost for transportation.  The telegraph, telephones, PC, satellites, fiber-optic cable and the early world- wide-web were the key agents to the decline in the costs of communication.  During this era came the realization of the ability to have a global market and growth of global economy.

·         Globalization 3.0 covers the time period of 2000 to present.  This era shrunk the world from a small to tiny.  This era is vital in flattening the playing field.  Freidman stated that this is the era of individual power to collaborate and compete globally.  It produced what Freidman calls the flat-world platform, which is the product of a convergence of the personal computer with fiber-optic cable with the rise of work flow software.  This gave the individual more power to compete globally and be more successful.  This era differs from the others in that it is not just the Europeans and Americans that are successful.  Individuals of various race and color now have the ability to successfully compete in business.

            The Berlin Wall fell November 9, 1989, which according to Freidman, not only liberated the people from the Soviet Empire, but tipped the balance of power across the world toward democratic freedom and away from authoritarian rule.  Governments began to be run by the interests of the people rather that the whims of the leaders.  The doors were open to a global policy which paved the way for a single market, single ecosystem and single community.  Nations began working together instead of opposing one another and develop global policies. 

            The fall of the Berlin Wall also started the push for more freedoms which allowed more individuals greater opportunities.  It also paved the way for the development of common standards governing the economy, banking, accounting, and how personal computers are built.  According to Freidman, the adoption of the common standards flattened the playing field world-wide. 

            The development of the personal computer and then Window 3.0 were instrumental in allowing individuals to access, author, and share information world-wide.  Programmers were designing more applications to enhance a business’ productivity and increase profits.  Communication by email gave individuals the ability to correspond with others within their network and share information.  This communication was very limited as it was not able to cross over into another network successfully.  There was no guarantee that the person you sent the email to would actually receive it.  These systems were proprietary and prohibited users from sharing information with others outside of their network. 

            The creation of Netscape, a commercial browser, allowed communication between networks.  It was user friendly and allowed individuals to explore the internet with ease.  It opened up a new door for the general public.  It was the first system which had open standards to allow users to access information no matter which network they were on.  Netscape chose to remain public to ensure that information would remain accessible to everyone.  The developers wanted everyone to be able to access information and easily share it.  Soon others were able to see the benefits of having a public network, and being able to interoperate with other servers. 

            The growth of the world-wide-web and its abilities increased the potential of many people to compete in business globally.  It also gave America another source of inexpensive, efficient labor.  A business person now has the ability to out-source to other countries to accomplish a project at a more economic cost.  Businesses can to get a project completed by an individual in another country at a much lower rate with the same quality of work.  Many businesses that operate in America use out-sourcing to control costs.

            I found it interesting that tax returns for citizens of the United States were being completed out of the country through a VTR (virtual tax room), at a much lower cost.  Through global integration, there is a much larger resource of qualified individuals willing to perform duties at a much lower cost.  I did not think that there would ever be a possibility Americans would have this much competition for job opportunities on a global level. 

            The changes that have been brought about through global integration in a short period of time is astonishing.  No wonder a computer you just bought two years ago is now obsolete and is being replaced by a newer, faster computer.  Sharing information and being able to gather information globally is beneficial to all involved.  It is simply amazing what technology is capable of doing, and the doors that have been opened with the flattening of the playing field.  The benefits that can and will be gained from the global integration are seemingly endless.