IT Improving Health Care

Information Technology has improved health care in multiple ways. For example, IT allows doctors to share information to other doctors around the world to offer help and advice to help the sick. Also, the distribution of information is easier and quicker. When a doctor finds a cure for something or discovers something new, it is very easy for them to tell someone who is around the world the new information. The technology can also be used to keep track of medical information. Overall, IT has improved health care in ways that no other development can be compared to.

Source:

Health Care. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2014, from http://www.globalization101.org/health-care/

Reducing the amount of e-waste

There are a lot of “green” initiatives that promote sustainability and reduce the amount of e-waste. E- waste is discarded devices such as mobile phones, computers, and/or other hardware. Best Buy allows people to bring in their old electronics and ink cartridges so that they can be recycled. This helps the e-waste problem and decreases the accumulation of unwanted technologies. Products like solar-powered chargers and hand-powered chargers also help the environment.

Sources:

Morley, D. (2013). Understanding computers in a changing society (6th ed.).

Projects that are lessening The Global Digital Divide

Close the Gap is a non-profit association that donates previously owned computers to up and coming countries. Companies and big organizations give this group their computers and then Close the Gap members send the machines to those who didn’t have access to ICT before.

The School Sector Reform Plan is an organization that provides technology to those in the Nepal schools. The project started in 2009 and the main focus is to improve the education system by providing technology to the children.

Sources: 

Projects & Operations. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P113441/school-sector-reform-program?lang=en

 Mission Close The Gap. (n.d.). Retrieved November 22, 2014, from http://close-the-gap.org/discover-us/mission/ 

Apps that help visually impaired smartphone users

There are hundreds of apps that help visually impaired users use smartphones. One app is called Ariadne GPS, this is an app developed by Giovanni Ciaffoni. The app has maps that talk to the user and it tells the user close bus or train stops. The app is available in several different languages and can be linked to Google Maps.

Another app that helps visually impaired is called VM Alert – Video Motion Detector, which was developed by Adam Uccello. The app detects motion and tells the user when someone is near them by notifying them by sound or vibration.

One more app that really helps the visually impaired is called Color ID Free. GreenGar Studios created the app and when a smartphone is pointed at an object, the program announces what color the object is. It can also see the difference in the type of colors. For instance, it can tell one if yogurt is moldy or not or if the bread is still good.

Source:

Apps For The Blind And Visually Impaired: IPad/iPhone Apps AppList. (n.d.).

Retrieved November 22, 2014, from http://appadvice.com/applist_ipad_client_view/apps-for-the-visually-impaired

Arab Spring and Social Media

Social media played a huge role this revolution for many reasons. Arab Spring activists were able to tell the public was what was really going on within the government. The citizens were no longer afraid to voice their opinions about the dictatorship People were able to see what really went on within the countries and they were accurate depictions. The distribution of information to the public was easier because of the use of social media sites, people voiced their opinions with a lack of fear, and the hardships within society were easy to see.

Source: Twitter Revolution: How the Arab Spring Was Helped By Social Media. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2014, from http://mic.com/articles/10642/twitter-revolution-how-the-arab-spring-was-helped-by-social-media

Online Reputation

Personally, I manage everything I post on any of my social networks. As a high school student who is preparing to apply to colleges, I have to watch what I publish on this public websites. This is because anyone and everyone can see my posts. Even is someone’s account is on “Private”, people they don’t know can still see some of their posts. Also I have had some of my friends get in trouble because they’ve posted something they shouldn’t have. Some of these kids ultimate got suspended from school, in trouble with their parents, or lost their good friends. In my opinion you can’t get rid of your digital footprint. I believe this because everything you tweet, post, or like; anyone can see this and then report it. Therefore posting it on their profile so other people can see it. So even if you delete the original post, it really isn’t gone. After researching tops for managing an online reputation, a lot of sites suggested different things. One site suggested to never argue on a social networking site and to be polite and to remember that nothing is every truly deleted.

Source: 4 Tips to Manage Your Online Reputation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/tykiisel/2012/11/20/4-tips-to-manage-your-online-reputation/

The Lindsey Stone Situation

After researching the incident I found out that Lindsey Stone took a picture of herself with her middle finger up and pretending to yell while being in front of a tomb of a soldier and posted it to Facebook. She claimed that it was an inside joke with her and her friends. But in my opinion there is nothing funny about disrespecting the dead. Especially, disrespecting that died while protecting our country. So in this case it is fair for 30,000 individuals to have the power to determine the course of an individual’s life based on one poor choice made on a social networking site. This is a 30 something year old woman who posted this picture to Facebook. She should’ve known better whether it was a joke or not. She learned her lesson and the ultimate consequence was her termination.

Source: Kim, S. (2012, November 21). Prank Photo at Tomb of Unknowns Raises Free Speech Questions. Retrieved November 10, 2014, from http://abcnews.go.com/Business/veteran-defense-woman-prank-photo-tomb-unknowns/story?id=17777348