GNST 1300 01

Internet: Past, Present, Future

Instructor: Karl M. Kindt III

314 335 1159

314 961 0987

kkindt@earthlink.net

GNST 1300 01
Internet: Past, Present, Future

The Internet has become the major influence in modern society and has transformed society in sometimes unimaginable ways. This great web of persons and ideas and things connected by invisible radio waves and transmissions has made life on planet earth so radically different than the past that it is hard to imagine life without it and the transformations it will still work on all of us are even more remarkable in our immediate future.

The Internet of the past and of today and of tomorrow links together not only knowledge and persons but things themselves.  Students will learn better how to use the internet to their advantage but also evaluate whether its use is always an advantage.

Course Objectives

Students, when through with the course, will be able to:

1. Explain how the Internet of the past came into existence and why it was transformed into the World Wide Web.

2. Explain what changes are imminent in the Internet within the next 5 to 10 years.

3. Explain how the internet use currently has changed the way institutions like schools, libraries, business, hospitals, religious organizations, governments function and interact with clients.

4. Explain how future changes in the internet are likely to change the way persons and institutions and governments will function.

5. Evaluate whether the internet has as a whole been a wholesome influence or negative influence on persons and societies and offer one’s reasoning.

Reading Requirements:
Weaving the Web by Berners-Lee
Suggested Reading:
The Internet: Opposing ViewPoints by Helen Cothran

Grading Criteria:

• Mid-Term Exam – 25% of grade will be based on the book by Tim Lee-Berends and the Lectures of Session 1, 2 and 3
• Final Exam – 25% of grade based on the book and on lectures from all sessions
• Class Participation in Discussion and In-Class Writing Exercises 15% of Grade and will be based on the student’s ability to ask questions and make deductions and listening to fellow student 5 minute presentations. 
  1. Each week some students will make a 5 minute presentation on a topic of their choice.  bring in a website that shows us how the web is being used in existing technologies or will be used in connection to existing or future technologies
  2. or a WWW new idea as to how the internet can be used with existing or new devices
  3. 5 minute maximum presentation
  4. Can just be a website that you find fascinating for some reason or other – but must be decent and explain why this website and its information is important to you and how you are linking this new knowledge into your ‘old’ knowledge
• Final Presentation of  five paper on a selected narrow topic regarding the Internet’s Influence – 35% of Grade

Exams will be based on reading material passed out in class and on the text book as well as lectures.  Final presentation of comments will involve the student research into a narrow topic of internet influence.  Comments will have to do with how the internet, for example, has changed the way persons meet each other and evaluate whether this change is on the whole for the better or on some other narrow topic of interest to the student.

Proposed Topic Ideas:

You may choose one of the below or submit a proposal for a project paper.

·          virtual museums of past, present and future - why they are in some ways better than the actual museums and how will they be shaped by future innovations regarding the web/internet?

·          universal document identifiers - but what about universal object identifiers - using 3d scanned images of objects that would be then identifiable by broadband wireless internet connections via a web enabled digital camera of the future - hence walks in woods to identify trees, animals, clouds, stars, etc - past present and future of objects being identified and methods used books, the web now as it helps us and the web of the future how it could help us.

·          satellite images linked to the above #2 and buildings and historical places so you could do deep map travelling in a place using the web and the links with broadband - is it being done now?

·          Universal object controllers - how have and are and will things be controlled via the internet? boarder patrol, military use, remote control of your home, nursing home/hospital control, operating machines by doctors, security in buildings, animal remote control like the roaches, pets, birds with web cameras attached, small vehicles to deliver things

·          has it changed the way people make connections for dates very much and who uses this service and how did these people do it before the internet

·          has it changed the way police officers work and if so how

·          firefighters

·          soldiers

·          teachers

·          nurses

·          being a patient

·          being a student

·          being a pizza delivery person

·          using a library

·          using a gas station

·          paying bills

·          making reservations

·          farming

·          selling things

·          buying things

·          celebrating events

·          communicating with each other

·          entertainment

·          writing / authoring

·          creating and distributing music

·          watching our children

·          controlling our pets

Word List and Abbreviation List