white group thoreau’s observation does not apply to i.t. white group “…so with a hundred other...

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

White GroupWhite Group

“…so with a hundred other ‘modern’ improvements .... our inventions are wont to be pretty toys which distract our attention from serious things. They are but an improved means to an unimproved end …”

Henry Thoreau 1818-1862

Thoreau’s observation DOES NOT apply to I.T.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

The White TeamThe White Team

Speaker 1: Barry Redmond

Helpers: Gareth Sheffield

Speaker 2: Ronan Tunelty

Helpers: Conor Smith

Speaker 3: Mark Fagan

Helpers: Gillian Smyth

Rebuttal Speaker: Richard Ryan

Helpers: Andrew Williams

Other Tasks

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

The MotionThe Motion

“…so with a hundred other ‘modern’ improvements .... our inventions are wont to be pretty toys which distract our attention from serious things. They are but an improved means to an unimproved end …”

Henry Thoreau 1818-1862

Thoreau’s observation DOES NOT apply to I.T.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

What is IT?What is IT?

Information Technology is all technology associated with information transfer and processing.

Telegraph/Radio/Television/Telephone/ Networks/The Internet

Computers/Technology based on the Micro-Processor.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

The “End” and the “Serious Things” are one in the same.

The “END”, as Thoreau used the word, refers to the reasons that we live! Our Goals Our Happiness The Benefit of Society Our Health Our Education The Human Condition The Things We Want From Life.

““Serious Things”Serious Things” & & The “End”The “End”

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

The Motion - AgainThe Motion - Again

In GENERAL – I.T. is improving our “END”.

I.T. can improve our Health I.T. can improve our Education I.T. can help us achieve our goals I.T. can help us and society to better oursleves.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Our ArgumentOur Argument

Speaker 1 : Barry Redmond Definition of The Motion IT and Assistive Technology

Speaker 2 : Ronan Tumelty Health

Speaker 3 : Mark Egan Media/Communications IT in the 3rd World

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Assistive TechnologyAssistive Technology

Assistive technology is any piece of equipment or system that helps people bypass, work around or compensate for learning difficulties.

http://www.pluk.org/Pubs/ATguide4LD_419k.pdf

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Assistive TechnologyAssistive TechnologyInput

Alternate keyboards Interface devices Joysticks Keyboard

modifications Keyboard additions Optical pointing

devices Pointing and typing

aids Switches with

scanning Scanners & optical

character recognition Trackballs Touch screens Voice recognition

Processing Abbreviation/expansion and

macro programs Access utilities Menu management

programs Reading comprehension

programs Writing composition

programs Writing enhancement tools

(i.e. grammar checkers)

Output Braille displays and

embossers Monitor additions Screen enlargement

programs Screen readers Speech synthesizers Talking and large

print word processors

http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Screen ReaderScreen Reader

IMPROVED END.htm

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

White GroupWhite Group

“…so with a hundred other ‘modern’ improvements .... our inventions are wont to be pretty toys which distract our attention from serious things. They are but an improved means to an unimproved end …”

Henry Thoreau 1818-1862

Thoreau’s observation DOES NOT apply to I.T.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Speaker 2Speaker 2

Speaker: Ronan Tumelty Use of IT in medical treatment, monitoring and research.

Organisation, accessing information New scanning technology Human Genome Project, folding@home,

nanotechnology

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Organisational SystemsOrganisational Systems

Computerised databases on patients/diseases/treatments

Home access to clinical information via the Internet

Exchange of medical information between medical institutions.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

DatabasesDatabases

Doctors can catalogue diseases, symptoms and treatments.

Others can easily access this information. 55% drop in adverse drug effects since the

introduction of computerized physician order-entry.

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Information ExchangeInformation Exchange

In-depth information can be transmitted in seconds Previously it would take weeks for such information

to be transferred This helps curb outbreaks such as the SARS virus

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Computer-Aided ToolsComputer-Aided Tools

Scans/Tests CAT scans (Computer Axiated Topology scans)

- Takes multi-angled images of the body MRI scans (Magnetic Resonance Imaging scans)

- Cross-sectional images of internal organs Laparoscopic (Keyhole) Surgery

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Magnetic Resonance ImagingMagnetic Resonance Imaging

Can take cross-sectional images in many planes

Non-intrusive methodology No radiation exposure Used to map brain – possible

insight to brains, potential cure for brain damage?

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Laparoscopic SurgeryLaparoscopic Surgery

AKA keyhole surgery Minimal intrusiveness (5-

15mm incisions as opposed to 20+cm)

Camera transmits digital image to computer via fibre optic cable

Minimises operative blood loss and post-operative pain

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Medical ResearchMedical Research

Protein folding (folding@home project) Nanotechnology (nanomachines < 100 nanometres long) Human Genome Project (Maps the standard human

DNA blueprint or “genome”)

Offers solutions for presently incurable diseases?

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

folding@homefolding@home

Project to map the folding of protein strings

Uses SETI@home technology (distributed computing)

Provide greater understanding of how protein folding affects us

Believed to hold solutions to diseases caused by misfolding of proteins (BSE, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cystic fybrosis, etc.).

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

NanotechnologyNanotechnology

“The purposeful creation of structures 100 nanometres or smaller”

Will allow medical interaction at a microscopic level

May cure AIDS, cancers, protein misfolding disorders

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

Human Genome ProjectHuman Genome Project

“We, after 4 billion years, are a life-form that is reading its own set of instructions.”

Computers used to map the human “genome” (DNA blueprint)

Huge amount of data – impossible to do without IT Genome Browser: online software anyone can use to

view genome Provide understanding of genetic disorders/help

prevent their prevalence

White Group Thoreau’s Observation Does Not Apply to I.T.

The MotionThe Motion

Again, IT is not just a pretty toy. Thoreau’s end: reasons we live

Medical advancement results in saving and prolonging of life

No higher end than the preservation of life