Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is bullying on the internet using electronic technology. Examples of cyberbullying are insults and rumors sent through text messages or emails, posted on social networking sites, and also embarassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles. Kids who are cyberbullied are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, skip school, lower self-esteem and even commit a suicide. It is more difficult for parents to check on their kids now since teens tend to keep things to themselves and rather express themselves and tell others online through social network, which poses higher risk of cyberbullying.
As stated in the article "Girl's Suicide Points to Rise in Apps Used by Cyberbullies", "“It’s a whole new culture, and the thing is that as adults, we don’t know anything about it because it’s changing every single day,” said Denise Marzullo, the chief executive of Mental Health America of Northeast Florida in Jacksonville, who works with the schools there on bullying issues." 

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

AI and Robotics

I think robots can do most things that humans do and maybe even more efficient. However, robots are set up to perform tasks only in one way. Many tasks require not only to get the job done quickly and efficiently but also skills, experience and emotions put into it. The fact that so many things are done by machines now, people actually prefer to have handmade materials because human actually put thoughts into making it. Humans do get tired and make mistakes but errors can also have technological errors. When errors are made by humans, at least there will be someone to take responsibility for the errors made but when robots make errors, who will be blamed? The robots or the people who create them? Humans should also be responsible for the errors that occur in robots because they are created by humans. 
As stated in the article “Should we put robots on trial?” “With most robot-like machines that exist today, any serious problems can be easily traced back to a human somewhere, whether because the machine was used carelessly or because it was intentionally programmed to do harm.”