Overview

Over the last few weeks, we have discussed issues related to Intellectual Property, Connectivity, and Artificial Intelligence. For this fourth project, you are to work in groups of 2-4 to produce artifacts that further explores the following topics:

  1. Oracle's lawsuit against Google regarding copyright violations in Android's Java implementation.

  2. The scarcity of broadband providers.

  3. Hollywood's portrayal of artificial intelligence.

For this project, no personal reflection is required.

Option 1: Oracle v. Google

For the first option, you are to investigate the Oracle v Google copyright case:

  1. EFF: Oracle v. Google

  2. Ars Technica: Oracle v. Google

  3. Here's The Scariest Thing About The Oracle-Google Software Copyright Battle

  4. Can Copyright Protect a Language?

After doing some exploring, provide a group report in the form of a podcast or video presentation that answers the following questions:

  1. Provide a summary of background and context of the lawsuit by summarizing the history leading up to the case.

  2. Describe Oracle's claims against Google.

  3. Describe Google's defense against Oracle.

  4. Discuss the current rulings and what it means for both companies.

  5. Finally, discuss the potential impact this lawsuit on the wider computing industry. Is this a proper use of intellectual property rights or is this a dangerous precedent? Should APIs and programming languages be protected by copyright?

Option 2: Broadband Options

For the second option, you are to investigate the broadband internet options where you live or where you plan on living in a few months.

After doing some exploring, provide a group report in the form of a podcast or video presentation that answers the following questions:

  1. What options are available to you (each group member)? Is there a wide variety or are the options limited?

  2. How do these options compare? What are the pros and cons of each one? Do these options come bundled with additional services? If so, which ones?

  3. Which option do you plan on choosing?

  4. Have you considered cord cutting? Why or why not?

  5. Is the current broadband situation acceptable? How does the range of options impact net neutrality?

  6. Finally, how should the government encourage innovation and competition? Is municipal broadband a good idea?

Option 3: AI in the Movies

For the third option, you are to watch a movie that explores artificial intelligence:

  1. Ex Machina

  2. 2001: A Space Odyssey

  3. I, Robot

  4. The Terminator

  5. Bicentennial Man

  6. Moon

  7. Ghost in the Shell

  8. Her

  9. Blade Runner

  10. Matrix

  11. Artificial Intelligence

After watching the film, provide a group review of the movie in a podcast or video that answers the following questions:

  1. Describe the role did artificial intelligence play in the movie. Was the AI the villain, hero, or simply a supporting charachter?

  2. Discuss aspects of the AI were believable and what parts seem unrealistic. Is this merely an imaginative work, or is it representative of future possibilities.

  3. Discuss how humans reacted or related to the AI. Were humans scared of AI? Welcoming? Unconcerned?

  4. Discuss how the AI reacted or related to the humans. Was the AI hostile or friendly?

  5. What was the final message or theme of the movie? What insight into the nature of humanity did the AI expose?

  6. Finally, what was your overall impression of the movie? Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Submission

Your project is due at 11:59 PM Thursday, April 14, 2016.

To submit your project, one group member should post the artifact to their blog. Everyone in the group should then reference it their reflection of the project.