Chapter 1: End of Chapter Materials

1.	This chapter listed a number of ways in which knowing about computers (or becoming computer fluent) will help you. How much do you know about computers? What else would you like to know? How do you think learning more about computers will help you in the future?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
2.	How are computers used in the profession you are in or plan to enter? Can you think of any careers in which people do not use computers? Can you imagine computers being used in these careers in the future? How?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
3.	This chapter briefly discussed data mining, a technique retailers use to study sales data and gather information from it. Have you heard of data mining before? How might a company like WalMart or Target use data mining to better run their business? Can you think of any privacy risks data mining might pose?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
4.	As you learned in the chapter, nanotechnology is the science revolving around the use of nanostructures to build devices on an extremely small scale. What applications of tiny computers can you think of? How might nanotechnology impact your life?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
5.	This chapter discussed various uses of biomedical chips. Many biomedical chip implants that will be developed in the future will most likely be aimed at correcting vision loss, hearing loss, or other physical impediments. But chips could also be developed to improve physical or mental capabilities of healthy individuals. For example, chips could be implanted in athletes to make their muscles work better together, thereby allowing them to run faster. Or, your memory could be enhanced by providing additional storage capacity for your brain. a. Should biomedical implant devices that increase athletic performance be permitted in the Olympics? What about devices that repair a problem (such as blindness in one eye) but then increase the level of visual acuity in the affected eye so that it is better than normal vision? b. Would you be willing to have a chip implanted in your brain to improve your memory? c. Would you be willing to have a VeriChip implanted under your skin? What privacy risks do devices such as the VeriChip pose?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
6.	Artificial intelligence is the science that attempts to produce machines that display the same type of intelligence that humans do. Do you think humans will ever create a machine that can think? In your opinion, what are the ethical and moral implications associated with artificial intelligence?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.
7.	IT careers are suited to a wide range of people at different points in their lives. a. Would an IT career have advantages for a single parent? How? b. Would an IT career be able to help someone pursue a later career in a nontechnical field? c. How might an IT career assist someone in completing a college degree?   To create paragraphs in your essay response, type <p> at the beginning of the paragraph, and </p> at the end.