Module 11

By Hunter DeVries

            Funny what a kid with a passion for always trying to raise the bar can do. The only thing is the higher you climb up the ladder in intelligence, the harder the impact will be once you fall. For example when an extra intelligent kid decides to break a code on a very private server because he already had hacked the school’s computer system, little does he know the code he is breaking would be War Operation Planned Response.  This is the control center for all nuclear weapons in the United States arsenal. If you haven’t guessed already, I am talking about War games.

            Don’t count out the little guys, and especially those that can hack the United States Military system, and start a nuclear war competition instead of a game of chess. Thanks to a super cool 80’s technology filled man cave, and the idea to download a new video game before it is released, this teenage prodigy really gets himself in some trouble. But luckily he is able to receive some help from some friends and deescalate a nuclear war. Today these threats haven’t gone away, but simply have continued in different ways and forms.

            Throughout the year, we have seen many reports that the Chinese have attacked our Nations networks or in other words the Chinese Cyber Attacks. The purpose of this attacks is to immobilize our nation’s defense, which are dependent upon the finest technology. But when you are in a war against the country that manufactured a good portions of the technology that you have, you have to wonder, is it secure?  We have created a great and resourceful way of living with technology, but it does have an Achilles heel. The question is when will it be exploited? And how much damage will be done? We don’t have the answer for that, but rather the passing of time will tell that unpredictable answer.

 As of right now we have to recognize that we carry powerful computers in our pockets, and that makes life scarier for all of us. We have taught ourselves to be dependent on this small technology. Dependence is something that can cripple us as society, because how private are we when we surf the internet? Stealing someone’s identity within seconds of just passing by someone, or just tracing the “cookies” that comes with using public wifi. Dangers come with any endeavor, but at this time we believe the benefits out weight the risk. The advancements of security procedures and systems come with the millions of failures, which are found on the way to the finished product.  That being said, I think we just need to use common sense and take the proper precautions to stay technology safe.

It's just a game, right? Not in the least, we need to take serious precautions to be able to keep us from the dangers of technology. But once we identify the dangers and use the steps necessary to keep us technology safe, we can enjoy the conveniences that it can provide while remembering the guidelines.  Technology provides us with fun and exciting games, but the safety of technology is no game.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

MODULE 10

By Hunter DeVries

            Wow. The imagination is thought of once to be impossible is actually a gateway by which many people will endeavor to make a reality. From the once “mythical” flying machine which was turned into our modern airplane, or even the “horseless” wagon or in other words the automobile. In this essay, it really brings that idea full circle. I would like to take the time to comment on the interesting and almost frightening things that I was able to find in “A Logic named Joe.”

            “Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday.” – Steve Jobs. But sometimes technological advancements hinder the way society should be. Much like any great idea, it is typically made to help the common good. Rather most of the time it makes compromises that we don’t often realize. In this story, the Logics are known for performing a variety of tasks that were once commonly performed by humans. After a period of time this convenient computer became something that all humans started to depend on the Logics. Much like in our days, we are very dependent on our technological advancements. Like how our phones are able to answer problems that we only found on computers, or before that in a book or at the local library. This convenience is something that we hold dear and wouldn’t be able to let go easily. The thing is though, Easy Street isn’t as easy as it sounds.

            Everything comes at a price. In the story one of the Logics was manufactured with a defect which can bypass the security protocols which protects any harm to human kind. This defective Logic is called “Joe”. The defects start to effect other Logics which creates a great and unlimited knowledge given to all people. To which ends you could know how to murder someone without being suspected, or know how to find someone who doesn’t want to be found. To be able to fix issue, Ducky a maintence man from the company that manufactures Logics, needs to find the source of the defect or system issue and remove it.

            Luckily in this story it has an ending, in which Ducky identifies the faulty computer and removes it to bring balance back to the story. Now take a step back and look at our society that we live in now. We are constantly seeing newer and newer gadgets to help us improve as society but we created many weapons in the process. Unlike the story, it doesn’t end now but rather continues to get worse and worse.  The home in which use to be a refuge for the family, now has the options of letting outside voices dictate how it should live. Thanks to social media such as and not excluded to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or Snapchat. There is a lot of great methods such as Public Education through media or up to date news to keep us prepared for anything in our way. How we use technology is a personal decision on a daily basis, the question is do we always make the correct one?

            I was very impressed by how this story has come to life in our own days, from WikiLeaks to Cyber Attacks between countries. Will it stop? Who knows, but in the mean time we have such a great opportunity to help one another through the means of our technology advancements. I believe if we were able to think of this great technological advancement, we can also create a great solution. The question isn’t if we can, but rather “by when will we have it?”

Module 9

By

Hunter Darren DeVries

            All good things must come to an end. The last nine weeks have helped to open my eyes to a few of the recent business advancements. It has been a great educational experience, and I would like to take the time to explain a few of the key concluding arguments or finds from Thomas L. Friedman. I will take the time to explain about the process of building a Dell Laptop, the Al-Qaeda supply chain, and the curse of oil.

            “The keystone of successful business is cooperation.” – James Cash Penny. I believe this quote definitely encompasses what Dell does in the way they make their own laptops. From the time that you make an order (whether over the phone or online), is the “first step” of many towards the finished product. This process includes processing the order with any credit card service and then from their Dell orders all the parts from their supplier logistics centers or SLC’s. These centers then make and ship out the parts to one of Dell’s facilities which puts together all the parts from its suppliers. Now when I talk about suppliers, I speak from everything from the Intel processor to the touchpad. Each of the parts come to make the product that actually wrote this paper. Funny what happens when you cooperate and schedule with other businesses.

            When we are so focused on making something for the common good, it is then opening the gate for those opposed to the common good. Unfortunately when you “flatten” the playing the ground, you also make it easier for people to use that playing ground against you. That is what Al-Qaeda did. They were able to basically mimic the same kind of evolving system of communication to be able to fuel their cruel war desires. This “fuel” is other people that think the same as Al-Qaeda, which creates a variety of options to create their acts of terror. Thankfully, the counterfeits are never as good as the originals.

            Greed is something that is a never ending plague and we see it constantly in the business world. It is something that can drive a business into the ground instead of the fast lane. One of the many resources in the world that makes any country go crazy, is oil. It is this resource that was able to make the major countries in the world what they are today. Oil is one of the many resources that in some ways can make or break a country’s economic system. That is why I believe it is a curse because you can’t live with it and can’t live without it. The power struggle will continue for as long as oil exists, but that will be a long while.

            Although these past few chapters have come to an end, it doesn’t apply to our business world. Business is business and it doesn’t matter who thinks they are on top, the fight will always continue to be better, faster, and more consumer loved. Now I know that I don’t know everything when it comes to business but I do know, the information is just a click away thanks to a “flat” and information driven world.