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