Computers, Programming, Addiction, False News, Alternative Facts

Dennis Allison
Stanford

Today's Internet is powerful and seductive. It's burrowed itself into the way we think, feel, and respond. We have come to depend upon the availability of organized, accessible, searchable information. But with the positive effects, there are negative factors as well, with unforeseen consequences, that change the very way we experience the world.

Archiving and indexing all of the world's information has changed the way we think, but it has its limitations. Very low cost communication and publication have both positive and negative effects. Interactive environments are compelling and sometimes addictive. Social interactions on the Internet are different than they are in "real life". Truth seems less important than it once was.

This talk will identify and explore a few of these issues. Interactive discussion will be encouraged.

Videos:

• Join the live presentation. Wednesday 4:30-5:45.  Requires Microsoft Windows Media player.
• View the Stanford Archive Lectures
• View video by lecture sequence in HTML5. Available after 8PM Pacific on the day of the lecture.
• View Video on YouTube. The YouTube video is uploaded the day following the presentation. You may need to disable your pop-up blocker for this link to work. Or use the direct YouTube link , which will be active a day or so after presentation.

About the speaker:

Dennis Allison is a Lecturer in Electrical Engineering and long-time organizer for the Stanford EE Computer Systems Colloqium. Back in the dark ages he was a founder of the People's Computer Company which introduced a generation or two of kids to computers. He also has worked in a wide variety of different computer related fields.

Contact information:

Dennis Allison
allison@stanford.edu