Week 4 [30.11-06.12.2015] Cyber Security - do you use any of that practices?

Hi everyone!

I would like to share with you article about Cyber security.

There are many cyber crimes witch was reported. In 2001 when there was 17,8 million attacks, did you it could be increase to 800 milion in 2014?

It is very importat think, to wondering about security in your company. Dp ypu think that is connect only for big companies?

Have you got any of that strategies for protecting your company?

- SSL certificates

- Two-factor authentication

- Hire the right people

In my company we have many cyber security preventions like: IPS, Firewall, SSL certificates of servers, two factor authentication for users and policy to manage users passwords.

Do you have this same security level in your company?

http://www.computer.org/web/computingnow/security/content?g=53319&type=article&urlTitle=practical-strategies-for-enhancing-your-company-s-cyber-security

Week 4 [30.11-06.12.2015] Has science gone too far?

The topic of artificial intelligence started to fascinate me since I watched 'Matrix' back in 2000.

Observing this movie plot, as every sci-fi story read, turned out to be a moment when as a teen I jumped into questioning of the capabilities of perceived realities and asking myself questions like would it be possible in near future, who would govern and control computers and machines, or would machines would be able to control humans - almost materializing movie's 'profecy'?

Since then I've been always curiously observing the latest findings and achievements in the AI area and neural networks. 

Over the past few years, all of us must have experienced evolution of devices (e.g. from brick size feature phones to thin palm size smartphones with touch screens), miniaturization of each technology, through the first self-control yet programmable home appliances to remote control drones. All of them still innocent looking and considered as really helpful devices as being controlled by us. 

Few months ago, I came across on an article where one of the greatest visionaries of our times (Hawking, Musk and Gates) voiced their concerns about Artificial Intelligence. 

I felt that it's just a matter of time someone would merge all of these concepts and create a leap-frog achievement. Like Atlas robot (the one you could watch in embedded movie in the article) but equipped with the latest results in the area of image recognition enagaging neural networks and learning algorithms.

Last week while reading my daily portion of news, I watched one of the latest achievements in this area and I must admit it amazed me and creeped me out at the same time. Most probably I had "a man is eating hot dog in the crowd"-face while watching it.. realizing the time is now..

It looks like humanity is one step before its greatest achievement, but no one is able to address the most intriguing and inevitable question if.. 
“(..) the artificial intelligence will evolve to a point at which humanity will not be able to control its own creations, leading to the demise of our entire civilisation."

Has science gone too far? Do you see AI as “our greatest existential threat”? Or the opposite?

Week 4 [30.11-06.12.2015] “Digital Games” for Health

Hello,

Some of you may already know I am interested a bit in health games.
Today I would like to recommend you an article about few fields where such games are used.
http://utminers.utep.edu/asinghal/Wang-Singhal-%202014%20chapter%20on%20Digital%20Games%20DK-AS-GK%20Book.pdf

Personally, I play one of them - SuperBetter, which helps to achive goals and be more motivated.
The game was designed by Jane McGonigal, game designer, during her recovery after an accident.
Playing SuperBetter helps in depression, anxiety and during tough sickness, but also can be useful to loose weight or quit smoking.
Here you can find more information:
http://www.gamesforchange.org/play/superbetter/
or
https://www.superbetter.com/about

Do you like playing games? Do you have a  favourite one?
Did you play any of the games mentioned in the article? What do you think about that kind of games?
Do you know any other fields where games are used not only for entertainment?

Week 4 [30.11-06.12.2015] Understanding IT GRC in Higher Education

Hello,
I would like to present an article about risk management. In this particular case, about risk management in Higher Education. Why do you need risk management? You can save a lot of money if you avoid risk in a proactive manner. Minimizing project threats allows you to deliver your project on time. If you are well prepared you won't exceed your project budget and you will deliver product with high enough quality. Last but not least, your team members will be happy working in the normal hours of work.
Few point that could help you with risk management:

1. Don't be ignorant, embed risk management in your project from the begining.
2. Do a brainstorm. Talk to your team to identify risky scenarios.
3. If you aren't project manager, but a "common member" don't hesitate to show risks to your manager. Communication is very important.
4. Assign ownerships, if uncertain event occurs you will know who is going to deal with it.
5. Never treat all risks equally, prioritize. There is always something more important than broken coffee maker.
6. Plan risk responses and track them if they occur.

Enjoy reading:
http://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/2/understanding-it-grc-in-higher-education-it-risk
My questions:

1. Have you ever heard about risk management in IT?
2. If you are working, does your company have risk management policies or procedures?
3. What IT risks would cause the university to fail to achieve its institutional goals and operational excellence?

Week 3 [16.11-22.11] Can machines read our emotions?

Computer systems and machines are becoming the foundation in every domain of the human life. Up until now there has been a strict, practical division between what is the human and what is the machine domain and in a way the two stood in contradiction to each other. Human means emotional, irrational, intuitive, social. Machine-like, on contrary, is purely logical. But is it really?

Computer engineers and scientists are looking for ways to incorporate human features into machines, especially in the domain of robotics. I am very curious to know where are the limits for this. In the Human Centered Multimedia laboratory a group of designers is simulating human-like behaviour of robotic agents, exploring how these can understand the social signs and emotions and react to them just like a human would do. They have created eight different expressional designs for the emotions of Anger, Sadness, Fear and Joy - these emotions are separated into Body Movement, Sound and Eye Color ans, subsequently, incorporated into robotic design and tested against humans.


Please read the article:
https://www.aldebaran.com/sites/aldebaran/files/casestudy_hri_augsburg_0.pdf

and answer the following questions:


1. Are human emotions really that simple that they can be put apart into logical elements and easily learned by a machine?

2. Can we do the same with our intuition? What could the design of intuition look like?

3. If our "human components" are that easy to put into logical elements, how are we different form machines?

Week 3 [16.11-22.11] Social media in education

Hi,
I found an article on using social media in higher education:
http://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/9/tweeting-in-higher-education-best-practices
I graduated couple of years ago, when even nasza-klasa did not exist. Most "social" media in my education were email and ssh.
To be honest I found blog a strange way of English classes at first, but now I find it quite convenient. I use twitter for learning new technologies, programming frameworks, knowing about new publications or researches. I started couple of year ago when my colleague kept sending some interesting stuff found on Martin Fowler's twitter and I realized that serious IT guys also use it apart from teenagers.
But there are two, in my opinion big and important downsides of social media: first, everybody can tweet/post so you have to be careful who you follow; second, sometimes there is too much information to read all (despite I follow less than 10 accounts).

I wonder if  you follow any researchers on twitter? Or maybe an account on some technology/programming language/research topic/etc?
Do you use other kinds of social media for educational purposes or work?

Week 3 [16.11-22.11] Interoperability between IoT systems.

Hello everybody,

Today I would like to present quite interesting topic about interoperability in Internet Of Things environment. For me this topic is very interesting because I would like to do some research in this particular area and finish my PHD.

The most interesting thing is fact that companies which want to enrich our lives stops further research and development in this field. They doing this by inventing their own solutions. In IoT filed the most important thing is cooperation between companies, but it's not exactly their way.

http://readwrite.com/2015/06/29/internet-of-things-11-trillion-obstacles-open-source

Below you will find some questions:

1. Will interoperability between devices (made by different companies) enables easier and wider access to Internet of things stuff? 
2. Will IoT enrich our lives or will it spoils us? 
3. What do you think about fact that some devices made specially for helping you in everyday tasks, are sending over 70% of gathered data to its manufacturers and this companies are using this data in business fields (for example they are preparing special advertisements for you)?

Other stuff (not required):
http://embedded-computing.com/guest-blogs/the-big-shots-of-iot-interoperability/ 

Have a nice week
Tomek

Week 3 [16.11-22.11] Modern education

I would like to present an article on a topic that is especially close to my heart - education and what we should teach kids at school.

Due to rapid development of technology, modern word changes very quickly while our schools don't. They were designed for a different era. More and more voices rise that schools no longer fulfill their role or even that they are counterproductive. It is possible that we are wasting potential of kids and killing their creativity instead of nurturing it. Seems like an urgent reform is needed.

Please read what an expert in creativity and education Ken Robinson has to say about it. I also encourage you to watch his speech on TED conference (it is most seen TED in history). Hope you enjoy the subject and discussion :)

http://www.businessinsider.com/ken-robinson-education-should-be-like-farming-not-manufacturing-2015-7.html
 

1.What do you think about nowadays schools? What they are teaching us? What are your memories from school - did you enjoy the process of learning?

2. In your opinion, how modern education should look like?

3. What does being creative mean to you? Do you agree that we can teach/develop creativity? Do you know any techniques to do that?

Week 3 [16.11-22.11] "Effective Communication"

hi,

I would like to present an article: "Effective Communication, Not As Easy As It Seems"

This article isn't scientific, but I hope that will be interesting for you. You can find this in:

http://er.educause.edu/articles/2015/8/effective-communication-not-as-easy-as-it-seems

In this article we find about what is effective communication and what it gives to people, businesses or organizations who use it.

I wonder what are your feelings about information in this article and I have some question for you:

1) Do you think that now the communication is effective?

2) What do you feel is necessary for effective communication?

3) What are the methods of effective communication brought you in your company? (hypothetical company)

Good week!

Wiesiek

Week 2 [02.11-08.11.2015] Calatrava

Hi,

My article is not related to IT and it is not too much scientific. But still I hope you will find it interesting.

Let me present you my favorite artist active in architecture and sculpture Santiago Calatrava:

http://www.calatrava.com/projects.html?all=yes

His projects give rise to a lot of emotion and controversy.

You can find quite a critical article here :

http://www.fastcodesign.com/3039658/santiago-calatrava-the-worlds-most-hated-architect

It is enough if you read it until “But then, every so often, you set foot in one of Calatrava’s works.”

I wonder what are your feelings  about what you have just seen and read.

1) Has anyone seen any of Calatrava’s buildings or bridges somewhere? Did it impress you or maybe they only look pretty on the pictures ?

2) Do you think Calatrava’s projects are worth money spent on them ?

3) Do you think it would be good to have something similar in Poland ?

Wish you a very good week,

Asia

Week 2 [02.11-08.11.2015] Keep Your Digital Home Secure in the 21st Century

I would like to once again open discussion about safety of our future home environment. In this article http://er.educause.edu/blogs/2015/10/keep-your-digital-home-secure-in-the-21st-century there are mention only fundamentals of our home security. Problem is that in many cases we are well experienced and educated in best case to avoid most of threats in our life but we don't have certainty if our child have this knowledge. The are many problems like viruses, advertisements, identity thefts, espionage, pornography and many many more threats. How you answer your five years old child what is sex intercourse and is it safe to copulate with six's time older neighbor from internet? In my opinion there are plenty maybe not as radical questions to answer before we safely decide to open our child gates to technology. Can we be sure to secure this kinds of media?

Future can bring lot of security issues in your home fortress. Can you name few of them? Did you familiar with emerging Internet of Things concept? How it will help us in future and what are the dangers of implementing this technology? Should we defend our precious childs from surrounding technology or should we try to adapt?

Please answer above question and I hope to have plenty of arguments to discuss.