Fall
1999 Course # STSS-4961 Tues 6:30 - 9:50, Jonsson
Engineering Center rm 3210. Instructor: Ron Eglash. Course webpage:
www.rpi.edu/~eglash/eglash.dir/future.htm
Description:
This
course will examine the future of information technology, including its social
and cultural ramifications. While advances in communication, computation and
control technologies have dramatically transformed many aspects of society,
impoverished living conditions and diminished social power still exists for
many individuals and communities. How might information technology be deployed
in ways that address these problems?
To
contact instructor:
Office
Hours: Thurs 12:00-2:00 and by appointment, 5114 Sage. Email: eglash@rpi.edu,
phone: 276-2048. Course webpage: www.rpi.edu/~eglash/eglash.dir/future.htm
Requirements:
Evaluation
will be based on the two exams (30% each), the research project (30%), and
class participation (10%). You are required to bring the reading to
class so that we can discuss the text in detail.
The
research project:
Each
student will have an individual research project in one of 7 groups. Each group
will give a “state of the art” presentation during the semester, and a
“futures” presentation at the end of the semester. The groups are: (1) Smart
objects/nanotechnology, (2) Economics, (3) Communication/privacy, (4) VR/MUDs,
(5) Artificial Intelligence, (6) Artificial Life, (7) Cyborg Societies.
Texts:
economic
world.
Reading, Mass. : Addison-Wesley, 1995.
Course
Schedule:
Jan
11: lecture on STS, IT and the future. Film clips. Lecture: modern to
postmodern in IT and youth subculture.
Jan
18. reading: Kelly ch 1-2. lecture on biological determinism.
“State-of-the-Art” group signups. Film: GATTACA.
Jan
25 reading: Kelly ch 3-4. lecture on labor in postmodernity. Film “Out of
Control”
Feb
1 reading: Kelly ch 5-6. lecture on chaos theory. Film “Chaos”
Feb
8 reading: Kelly ch 7-8. lecture on systems theory. Film on global warming.
Part
II: IT in society at large
Feb
15 reading: Kelly ch 9-10. “State of the Art” presentation from Smart
objects/nanotech group. Film clips from Star Trek.
Feb
22 no class (RPI follows Monday schedule)
Feb
29 First Midterm exam. Lecture on
AfroFuturism. Film clips: “Solo,” “Brother from Another Planet.”
Mar
7 Kelly ch 11-12. “State of the Art” presentations from Economics and
Communication/privacy groups.
Mar
14 no class – spring recess
Mar
21 reading: Kelly ch 13-14. “State of the Art” presentation from VR group.
Film: “Johnny Mnemonic.”
Mar
28 reading: Kelly ch 15-16. “State of the Art” presentation from AI group. Film
“Bladerunner.”
April
4 reading: Kelly ch 17-18. “State of the Art” presentation from AL group. Film
clips from Karl Sims.
April
11 reading Kelly ch 22-23. “State of the Art” presentation from Cyborg group.
Film
“Alien Resurrection.”
Part
IV: Futures
April
18 Second Midterm. Student “futures” presentations.
April
25 Student “futures” presentations.