Lecture #2 Closing Case Study 2: Google and Apple Know Where You Are, Maybe

Question 1:

Location-based tracking is common to all smartphones, for good reason or bad. The popular location-based service company Foursquare has an app so you can check in at various locations to receive discounts, become Mayor, and see who else might be there. DealLeak, which aggregates deals from the likes of Groupon and Living Social, needs your location in order to offer local discounts on products and services to you. How many location-based services to you have on your smartphone? How often do you use them and why?

Answer

          There are about 4 location-based service apps in my smartphone such as, Google Map, GPS apps, Foursquare and Facebook. I will only use them when I need to search for route to a particular destination and look for attractions in a strange place during my vacation. I seldom use them in most of the time.

Question 2:

Apple and Google defended their processes by stating that their privacy policies very clearly stated what information would be gathered, how that information would be gathered, how that information would be used, and how and with whom that information might be shared. When was the last time you read the privacy policy of any technology tool, such as a Web browser or app? Do you think very many people actually read these? Do the disclaimers in these privacy policies give the offering organization the right to do anything with your information?

Answer

          The last time that I read the privacy policy of any technology tool was about 3 months ago. Usually people seldom go through every single terms and conditions of that policy. Some people even straight away tick on the checkbox “I agreed” without reading it. Most of the disclaimers not willing to give the right to offering organizations to do anything with their information. They have forced to agree with that as they insist to use the apps.

Question 3:

What about location-based tracking in car systems like GM's OnStar? Those system know the car's location to give you driving directions and perhaps identify local restaurants or other venues. Are you comfortable with this? When was the last time you bought a paper map? /how much do you rely on your car's GPS system?

Answer

          GPS system can be operated without internet connection. It relies on satellite positioning. Our location is unable to track by any party as it does not require internet connection to function. It is quite safe and convenient to use GPS system while driving. I never buy any paper map before as I grew up in the digital age. I rely frequently on car’s GPS system.

Question 4:

What about smartphone tracking for parents who want to know where their children are and where they've been? Minors under the age of 18 have very few privacy rights, especially when it comes to parents' knowledge of where they are. Are parents going too far in wanting to know where their children are? What are the benefits of such systems for parents? For the children? What does the term "helicopter parent" refer to?

Answer

          Smartphone tracking system for parent is useful to track their children location. Most of the teens under the age of 18 are rebellious. This system help parents monitor their children closely. Appropriate freedom is given to teen to have their social life and do what they supposed to do, Parents have the right to know where their children are. This is also a mean of protection for children as the system is used by parents. Parents are able to ensure safety of their children. “Helicopter parents” refer to parents that pay extremely attention to their children.

Lecture #2 Closing Case Study 1: The Social Media Megaphone: Transparent Life Intensified

Question 1:

What do you think of Stacy Snyder's story? Should she be denied a degree for publicly endorsing drinking to her underage students? To what extent do you believe that potential employers should explore social networking sites to validate the "goodness" of potential employees? Is there anything on your Facebook page that might turn off potential employers? If so, are you going to take any action?

Answer

          As a public employee in education sector, she need to be careful about her attitudes. She may enjoy her life and having fun as others, but she need to take care of her image as being a teacher. Every acts of her may imitate by her student. She must aware of sharing information through social networking sites that might lead to serious issue for her. She should not be denied a degree as this is severely serious. She school may give her warning or demerit for her fault. Validate the “goodness” of potential employees through social networking sites by potential employers is not a good idea for employment. The information probably not reliable as information exhibits high quality only if it is pertinent and relevant. This only can be used as a reference for employees’ habits and attitudes. I seldom reveal personal life and information on Facebook to protect secrecy of own self. However, I will remove those things which will impair my career development.

Question 2:

The webcasting of funerals in an interesting example of the flatness of the world. Is this an invasion of privacy or do next-of-kin have the right to make such a decision? What other significant events in a person's life might be suitable for webcasting? Identify at least three such events and then do some research to determine if webcasting of those events is already taking place?

Answer

          In my opinion, webcasting of funerals is an invasion of privacy of the dead. They have to take in the consideration of is the dead people would like to reveal their funeral by webcast? What would you feel if your privacy has revealed? They have to put themselves in the same shoes. People who wish to offer their condolences supposed to attend the funeral. There are some events in a person’s life might be suitable for webcasting such as wedding ceremony, birthday celebration, travel, and so on. In wedding ceremony, there is always a profession assist in recording the whole event and share the most precious and sweetest moment in life to others. They were paid for the profession and they will act ethically such as won’t broadcast the video or photos to public unless approval was given to them. Quite a number of people carry out webcasting during their birthday celebration to share the happiness with their friends or family members who unable to attend the celebration. As recording devices become more and more user-friendly, people tend to carry them along their journey during vacation. They can share their wonderful journey with their friend immediately. Hence, nowadays all are considered as technology-literate knowledge worker.

Question 3:

Osama Bin Laden represents a very dark image for most Americans. His participation in the planning of the September 11th attacks will forever mark him as evil. Should people, like Rashard Mendenhall, who make positive or perhaps even neutral comments about terrorists like Bin Laden be fired from endorsement contracts? Can making such comments be considered grounds for termination of employment? May be dismissal from your school as a student?

Answer

          Everyone have the freedom to speak. We must respect to human rights. Although people have the freedom to speak, but they must be careful about the content they commented. They have to make sure they do not touch with sensitive issues or slander to any party. Otherwise, it will be unethical in speaking. I am totally disagree with people comments be considered grounds for termination of employment. Making such comments are not pertinent to their work, unless it is threaten the company.

Question 4:

Very a few people would question the service and commitment of military personnel to our country. The two sergeants who created the YouTube video openly criticized Delta Airlines for its charging of baggage fees to military personnel. Is this open form of criticism of business be more accountable to customer?

Answer

          It is actually an open form of criticism of business. Their practice of charging baggage fees to military personnel is not acceptable by public. However, from point of view in a company it is acceptable as company’s goal is profit maximization. We can see this as a type of feedback to the company. From this open form of criticism, they are able to gather information which free of charge. The company should seek this as an opportunity for improvement, thus the business will be more accountable to customers.

Question 5

The use of Facebook (or any other social networking site) can truly make a person's life transparent, available for the whole world to see. Should there be legislation regulating the openness of your life on the Internet? Can we expect society somehow to regulate this without any laws?

Answer

          There should be legislation to regulate information shared via internet. This is able to protect personal privacy of internet user. It is effective for society to regulate the use of internet, because any offense through internet is able to detect quickly with wide public connection. But without law enforcement, it may become less useful.

Lecture #1: Outrageous Industry Transformation: Cell Phones Doom Phone Revenues for Hotel

Question 1
When was the last time you used a pay phone? How often have you used a pay phone in the last year?

Answer

I cannot remember, probably a few years ago. I do not use pay phone in the last year.

Question 2

If you needed to use a pay phone, would you know immediately where one was located?

Answer

Pay phone can be easily found in some public areas such as bus station, shopping complex, tube station, food court, convenient shop and so on.

Question 3

When was the last time you used your cell phone? How often have you used your cell phone in the last day?

Answer

2 hours ago. About 2 hours I have spent to use my cell phone in the last day. I not only use my cell phone to make call and sms, but also internet surfing.