Articles about the dubious uses of online private data

HOW CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SPARKED THE GREAT PRIVACY AWAKENING
https://www.wired.com/story/cambridge-analytica-facebook-privacy-awakening/


NETFLIX'S THE GREAT HACK BRINGS OUR DATA NIGHTMARE TO LIFE
https://www.wired.com/story/the-great-hack-documentary/amp.


Is Netflix’s The Great Hack the most important documentary of our time?
https://www.stylist.co.uk/long-reads/netflix-the-great-hack-facebook-cambridge-analytica-personal-data-hacking-scandal-documentary/281783

The conclusion of the final article on our list:

CA may have exposed voters to a carpet bomb of biased ads and news reports, but it didn’t force them to check those ballot boxes. They weren’t bullied, or threatened, or coerced into making the choices they did. Their agency was not wrested from them.

It has always been up to us to read beyond the headlines. To do more than skim through the comments on Facebook. To do our own research, to ask questions, to challenge our opinions. To, above all else, form a more well-rounded view of the world – one which allows us to see past the fakery and the falsities when they are forced under our noses by politicians, shady institutions and social media trolls.

We are much more inclined to believe statistics that support our point of view – something that scientists call the confirmation bias – and we’re very energetic in demolishing those that do not. As former NY Times editor Trish Hall previously explained to Stylist: “We are much more inclined to believe statistics that support our point of view – something that scientists call the confirmation bias – and we’re very energetic in demolishing those that do not.

“If we are going to become more cohesive and more able to move the world forward,” she continued, “then we need to understand other points of view. We can do that [by seeking] out media with which we do not agree.”

It is up to us to break the bubble. Because – while we can slap legislations on Cambridge Analytica, and while Facebook may have since updated its privacy laws – we will never be able to get at the whole truth if we allow ourselves to exist within echo boxes of our own making. People will always share their opinions, and we will always be exposed to fake news. And, unless we make smarter, savvier choices about the media we consume, we will always be susceptible to manipulation.

Unless we recognise this enormous responsibility, democracy will die – not with a bang, but with a whimper. And that, friends, is The Great Hack’s most important takeaway.

Technology in Education

Material provided by the Hellenic American Union for their 2014-15 essay contest:http://www.hau.gr/?i=examinations.en.info-for-the-new-contest 

Videos and Articles: The History of Technology in Education
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s 

8 Ways Technology is Improving Education
http://mashable.com/2010/11/22/technology-in-education/ 

Computers can’t Replace real Teachers
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/08/opinion/kopp-kids-real-teachers/ 

What will the School of the Future Look Like
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6HWl9UqOEo 

About flipped classrooms mentioned in the video:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flipped_classroom 

Flipped classroom or flip teaching is a form of blended learning in which students teach and switch roles with teachers. They also learn content online by watching video lectures, usually at home, and what used to be homework (assigned problems) is now done in class with teachers and students discussing and solving questions more personalized guidance and interaction with students, instead of lecturing. This is also known as backwards classroom, inverted classroom, reverse teaching, and the Thayer Method.

ECPE Challenge Unit 7: Science and Technology Videos

1. Watch this video by the Irish Stem Cell Foundation, offering a simple introduction to stem cell research.

2. And this on the biotechnology behind 'clean' meat and fish, and the future battle to win over the hearts and minds of the eating public

3. Looking forward to the essay, here's a BBC Newsnight report and debate on the pros and cons of GM crops:

4. Finally, we have read of the claim that GM crops are needed to help solve the problem of hunger in developing countries. Here are Greenpeace's objections to that argument.


 

TV and the Internet: Two inventions of the 20th century with dramatic impact

The 20th century, when technology overwhelmingly evolved, spawned a vast amount of new inventions, many of which have had a dramatic impact on contemporary life. Topping the list undoubtedly are television and the Internet, the advent of which triggered both positive and negative effects.

There are many significant reasons why television is a predominant invention of the 20th century. First of all, although TV constitutes a convenient means of entertainment and education, since there is a wide variety of programs and documentaries which provide us with the opportunity to have a window on the world, it is an undisputed fact that it has a handful of repercussions. More specifically, cultural globalization, which is the adoption of the same values, ideas and stereotypes by people around the world and consumerism, which refers to the compulsive habit of buying, are promoted, on the grounds that TV preaches a different gospel: seeing is believing. Subsequently, people's perception of the optimal life has been distorted. Lastly, the lure of televised image has persuaded people that words count for less. Of course, television does not just consist of pictures, but the commentary that accompanies them is so concise that t barely scratches the surface of striking issues, or at any rate helps anyone understand them. 

The other looming invention of the prior century is the Internet, which has had an enormous impact n modern life. Firstly, it is crucial we comprehend hat the Internet has an educational purpose, since we are offered with the chance to have access to a tremendous amount of information and alternative forms of teaching, for instance distant learning. Apart from that, entertainment is more convenient than ever before, because there are online social platforms, such as Facebook and Youtube, with the assistance of which everyone can spend their free time. In fact, the former contributes to the worldwide communication. However, the Net conceals many dangers. More specifically, cyber bullying (ie when unscrupulous people opt to trivialize other people's lives by unnerving them) and identity theft (ie when individuals pretend to be anyone they wish by creating a "cloned" online account) are encouraged. A case in point is that the two aforementioned phenomena may result in the psychological deviance of the victim, who may even want to commit suicide. 

Taking all this into consideration, there is no doubt in mind that despite the fact that neither television,  nor the Internet have had downright positive effects on our lives, they constitute the two inventions of the 20th century of which we can reap the benefits. Only if we utilize them wisely and in moderation, will we be able to eliminate their repercussions. 

Microchip Implants

Nowadays, many countries resort to rather stringent regulations concerning the identity cards that citizens need to carry. Topping the suggestion list are microchip implants, which not only contain personal digital data, but they are also minute enough to pass through the needle of a syringe. This specific device is know as RFIDs (i.e. radio frequency identification devices) and has the inclination to replace traditional ID cards. But, are RFIDs a blessing or a curse? From my point of view, their impact is detrimental.

There are many significant reasons why microchip implants should be abolished. First and foremost, although we surely live in a democracy, it is not guaranteed that it will exist perpetually. That is, if it gives way to oppressive regimes, speculative elite will have the ability to keep track of citizens in order to dominate them. Apart from that, since crime rates are estimated to escalate in the future, the opportunity to criminals to commit identity theft is provided. More specifically, only after perpetrators retrieve information on people's chips by using concealed scanners, is it straightforward for them to create a "cloned" chip, which would allow them to pretend to be anyone they wish. Lastly, as far as health is concerned, it is argued that RFIDs are perilous due to the radiation they emit.

Focusing on a different perspective, proponents of RFIDs claim that contrary to conventional ID cards, the sophisticated IDs are much more convenient and a fail-safe way of verifying our identity. Another case in point is that chips offer possibilities for new technology given that they can be accessed when they are in close proximity to a scanner. What seems to be erroneous about these arguments, though, is that monitoring people with RFIDs contributes to violating everyone's right to dignity and freedom on the grounds that the right to privacy is being eroded. Subsequently, coercion and intimidation will prevail and exert a harmful influence on society.

In a nutshell, there is no doubt in my mind that the disadvantages of RFIDs outweigh the advantages. As I see it, microchip implants unearth the "Big Brother" policy. Only if we refrain from utilizing them, will the shape of things to come not be ominous. 

Technology and some of its uses/Writing ideas ;)

Technology is an indispensable part of our daily lives, and will be a part of our future, as well. Even if we don't realise it, we use technology almost everyday in our lives. Here are some places where many products we use are generated by technology:

• Healthcare: Who knows what would happen if there wasn't some medicine discovered by using thecnology machines? Moreover, thing about the high-tech machines that make a better diagnosis or treatment. 
• Science: All of us know that we send some spacecrafts to the moon or to Mars and generally to to space in order to discover if there's any life in it. How could we do that if there weren't these fully equipped spacecrafts or the exploration cameras? There also many machines that help archeologists search many places without cause damages or destroy sensitice remains.
• Education: Technology has improved education in a high level. First of all, there are online lessons held behind a computer's monitor, so as to make education available for everyone who can't attend lessons in schools. Furthermore, we mustn't avoid the online free dictionaries, in which you can find every word you want to, instead of paying a large amount of money to buy one. And last but not least, we can not forget about the educational ways of learning, such as blogs! You can find many informative things in a computer if you search!
• At home: Every house has many tools that help in housework, for instance the electric vacuum, drills and many other thing. In addition, our kitchens are infested with technological machines; the oven, the fridge e.t.c
• Entertainment: Technology has improved the sector of entertainment, as well as al the other sectors. Radios that have been invented, cinemas and many other thing have improved our amusement.
• Communication: The ways that we can communicate with each other have been rapidly increased. Mobile phones, tablets, social media have been invented to make communication easy and available for everyone! Now, we don't need to send letters because we have the text messages

Essay on technology

Read Nassia's essay and think whether you agree with her or not:

http://girls-english.blogspot.gr/2013/09/technology-blessing-or-curse.html 

Books vs Ebooks: What is your pick?

Read this post and write a comment expressing your opinion:

http://markaki-students.blogspot.com/2009/09/traditional-books-vs-ebooks-what-is.html

Since you asked about where one can find free ebooks, here is a short list of ideas:

http://eflinks.wikispaces.com/Ebooks-+Audio+Books 

The mobile phone as the digital wallet of the future

Is what the video shows feasible? How would you feel if you could use your mobile phone in this way?