CSE 301
History of Computing
Final Project: Web Essay

The final project is an essay, between 1000 and 1500 words, that explores a topic in computing such as the ones outlined below. The objective is to do research on a given topic, such as "Computing and Politics", relating what we have learned in class about the historical role of computing and the forces that shaped its evolution, and to extend those trends into the future, making predictions about the shape of computing at least a decade from now. The essay should not be merely an opinion piece - it should show substantial research reflected in the bibliography.

The essay will be submitted as a web page/web site, and may include relevant charts and tables for up to 10 points of extra credit. The data does not have to be original, but the charts and tables do. Instruction will be provided in the CS Multimedia Lab in the construction of the web page and charts and tables. The web essay and related files will be submitted on CD on the last day of class. The CD should have the student's name and SID # on it, and it will be turned in at the CS Multimedia Lab (CS 2205) at class time on the last day of class.

The essay needs a title, an introduction that states the thesis, the body of the essay including charts or tables of relevant data, and a conclusion (summary). A bibliography is also required.

Below are some topics to get you thinking; they are not exclusive of topics you could explore. Students who want guidance on an appropriate topic (or who have any other questions about the essay) should email the instructor at tony@cs.sunysb.edu.

• What types of computing communities have evolved with the advent of the technology? The Home Brew Computer Club, the Free Software/Open Source movement, Wikis and Blogs are all examples. But so are the corporate cultures of IBM, Microsoft, and Apple. What are the motivations of these groups? What are the trends for the future of software development and collaboration? What about intellectual property?
• The NY Times reported recently that the South Korean government had opened a recovery camp for teenage Internet addicts. Is the technology of computing so seductive that cyberspace is addictive? What kinds of social groups do online communities foster? Do they promote intimacy or alienation? How did this all get started and what are the trends for the future?
• Approximately 15 million Americans were victims of identity theft in 2006. Yet more and more people reveal intimate details about themselves on social networking sites, and engage in electronic financial transactions. Breaches of network security are regularly reported by companies, universities, and even government agencies. Meanwhile the Patriot Act has allowed the government to monitor phone calls and read email without a warrant. Employers even read employee email. What is the meaning of privacy in this new age? What are the roots of secrecy and spying in computing, and also of "cracking"? What does the future look like?
• Moore's law predicted a doubling in computing performance every two years, and so far this formula has held true. What are the factors that contributed to this beneficial price/performance ratio in the past? What are factors that may limit the growth in performance in the future? What predictions might be safe to make regarding cost, speed, and scale of computers in the future? What are the implications for the economy and for society?
• As we have seen through this semester, software has displaced hardware as the driving economic force behind computing, building the corporate fortunes of Microsoft and Google, for example, while IBM has dropped out of the personal computer business. We have seen major battles fought over something as inconspicuous as an operating system - Windows vs. Linux vs. OS X vs. Unix. Advances in programming techniques, such as object-oriented programming, and management techniques of software engineering have increased productivity exponentially. Yet news reports continuously chronicle the off-shoring of programming jobs to China, India, and Russia. Has programming become a sweatshop industry? What does the future of programming look like? What are the opportunities and the skills needed? Where will the next great business opportunities come from? Will there be an ubiquitous operating system and widely supported standards, or will proprietary technologies rule the day? What language(s) and programming environment(s) will be prevalent?
• Recently MIT announced the One Laptop Per Child initiative, spearheaded by Nicholas Negroponte from MIT's Media Lab. The initiative seeks to develop a $100 laptop that is designed for use in 3rd world countries to help them join in the information technology revolution by leapfrogging older technologies, such as land line telephone service. At the same time, the NY Times reports that millions of tons of e-waste (old computers, monitors, cell phones etc) are dumped in the 3rd world every year, leeching hazardous materials into water supplies. What is the relationship of the advanced economies and the developing world as regards information technology? Where do many of the exotic materials required by high technology come from? What can be said about computer literacy and income, even in America? What has been done to address the gap, and what should be done?