Anurag Jaiman
Introduction: Fro last few years Microsoft has been working on a
project named Palladium,
recently renamed NGSCB,
“Next Generation Secure Computing Base”.
The so called trusted computing being Microsoft will have serious public
policy implications. Introduction of
this so called “trusted computing” will make it make it very easy for software
and hardware vendors to control the products even after a user has “purchased”
the product.
This has been already
happening over last decade. Printer
manufacturers are making it difficult for users to use no name brand ink
cartridges. Car manufacturers are making
it difficult for car owner to get the car repaired at independent
mechanics. If you own a GSM cell phone
which is out of contract, you might not be able to use it on any cellular
network other than the company you originally purchased it from. You will have a hard time using a replacement
battery for your cell phone unless you use the high priced battery from the
original equipment manufacturer.
So far it has been difficult
for manufacturers to such barrier technologies.
Microsoft’s new standard will make it very easy for hardware, software
and content providers to control your computer which you thought you
owned. They will be able to get
information out of your computer which you, the owner, will not have access
to. They will control you computer in
ways you will not have access.
The Task: You are working on the staff of your congressman or
the senator from your state. You will
research the issue and then write a report for your senator. You will also make a Power Point
presentation. You will advise your
senator as to what position to take on the issue when it comes as legislation,
pointing out pitfalls and advantages of taking either side on the issue in
today’s political climate.
The Process: Start with the primary source article written by Ross Anderson of the
Follow
TIPS outline where relevant.
The Resources: Use various search engines like Google to expand your
search while researching the issue. It
will be hard to find any books on the subject.
Most of the relevant material should be available in electronic form on
the web.
The Evaluation: You report and the effectiveness of your presentation
will be evaluated. The report should be
as well written as Mr. Ross
Anderson’s paper, following the same format and with references.
For PowerPoint rubrics go to:
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/rubrics/
http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/rub.pres.html
Your presentation will be
rated by not only your teacher but also by your peers. Teacher evaluation will carry 60% weight. Peer evaluations will be averaged and given
40% weight.
The Conclusion: Legislations adopted on these issues in next few years
are going to be very significant important. You can compare them to patent and
copyright laws, which when adopted had profound economic and social
impact. Your senators and congressmen
make their decisions on well articulated advice of their staff. How the future unfolds is in your hands.
Mathematics, Science and
Technology
Standard 2: Information Systems
Students will access, generate, process and
transfer information using appropriate technologies.
Standard 6: Interconnectedness: Common Themes
Students will understand the relationships
and common themes that connect mathematics, science and technology and apply
the themes to these and other areas of learning.
Standard 7: Interdisciplinary Problem solving
Students will apply the knowledge and
thinking skills of Mathematics, science and technology to address real-life
problems and make informed decisions
Social Studies
Standard 5: Civics,
Citizenship and Government
Students will use a variety of intellectual
skills to demonstrate their understanding … the basic civic values of American
constitutional democracy and the roles, rights and responsibilities of
citizenship, including avenues of participation.
English
Standard 1: Language for
Information and Understanding
Students will listen, speak, read and write
for information understanding. As
listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover
relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from
oral, written, and electronically produced texts. As speakers and writers, they will use oral
and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English
language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.
Standard 4: Language for
Social Interaction
Students will listen, speak, read and write
for social interaction. Students will
use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the
English language for effective social communication with a wide variety of
people. As readers and listners, they
will use the social communications of other to enrich their understanding
of people and their views.