Knowledge and Society - Assignment Example

Knowledge and Society xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Name xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Course xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lecturer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Date Part 1 Electronic voting Introduction McGaley & McCarthy (2004) state that one of the main elements of electronic voting system is ethical concerns. Many countries all over the world are adopting the use of electronic voting system. The developed countries are leading in efficiency in use of electronic voting as Alvarez & Hall (2004) note. Electronic voting is widely accepted because of its reliability and efficiency. There are advantages and disadvantages that come with using electronic voting as discussed below. This essay also discusses the reasons why Australia is still using pencil and paper voting for the time being. Advantages of electronic voting system over pencil and paper voting Mercuri (2005) explain that electronic voting system allows voters to transmit their secret voted ballots to the officials in charge of the elections. This system is considered more secure than the paper work voting system. They have very low chances of manipulation, which is, rigging. Engineers have continuously improved the feasibility of this voting system (electronic voting system) in order to make it more user friendly and reliable system. Tokaji (2004) continues to assert that the system and software are well designed making it to be very convenient, this makes voters to use their own equipments using very little time and skills to finish voting. This system is very mobile, voters can vote any time anywhere, they are or they want to vote. This is enhanced by presence of mobile devices such as Samsung galaxy, ipad and iphone. Disadvantages of electronic voting system over pencil and paper voting Despites the obvious merits of this voting system, as Shamos (2004) allege that critics have been concerned with the security of electronic voting; vulnerable security is the main demerit of this system. Without proper back up, the system may fail to function thereby leading to failure in voting, this may bring the whole process to a standstill in case of security failure in general elections. Challener et al. (2000) unearth that, unequal access to internet sources is another disadvantage, not every person may have access to internet or even devices to access internet to vote, and low salaried persons may not afford equipments for the same. Illiteracy in use of electronic voting system may make this system to derail. Virus to the electronic equipments and system is rampant. In essence there is no electronic voting system that have ever been used alone in any country, it is usually backed up by manual or paper work voting system. McGaley & McCarthy (2004) point out that, this system of electronic voting is not reliable on its own due to the security failures. Reasons why Australia is staying with pencil and paper voting for the time being As Orr et al. (2003) point, Australia has experienced mixed reactions from use of electronic voting system. One of the reasons why it is staying with pencil and paper voting is the security concern that has rocked the electronic system. Kirkby (2012) explain that this has made the country to use the manual system as it focuses to improve the electronic voting system. Another reason is the frequency of voting in Australia. This country has frequent voting period whereby it goes to voting almost every three years for its different political and government structures. This is a very short time, which, according to the elections commission, favors the pencil and paper voting. Besides, the country has several levels and categories of voting, there are many posts of voting and this system is used for the lower levels that elections are held frequently. Electronic voting is widely used all over the world. However, Australia is not yet ready to use it. Behind the scenes, as Orr (2004) assert, the country is developing an electronic voting system that will be used in all voting categories and levels. With the merits that come with electronic voting, it is recommendable that Australia adopts and starts using electronic voting. References Alvarez, R, M., & Hall, T, E, (2004), Point, click, and vote: The future of Internet voting, Brookings Institution Press. Challener, D, C, Kelley, R, A, & Newman, P, E, (2000), U.S Patent No, 6,081,793: Washington, DC: U.S, Patent and Trademark Office. Kirkby, D, (2012), Alice Henry: the power of pen and voice: the life of an Australian-American labor reformer, Cambridge University Press. McGaley, M, & McCarthy, J, (2004), Transparency and e-Voting: Democratic vs. commercial interests, Electronic Voting in Europe, 47, 153-163. Mercuri, R. (2005), Electronic voting, URL http://www notablesoftware. com/evote. html (visited 2004, December 6). Orr, G. (2004), Ritual and Aesthetic in Electoral Law, The Fed. L. Rev., 32, 425. Orr, G., Mercurio, B., & Williams, G, (2003), Australian electoral law: a stocktake. Election Law Journal, 2(3), 383-402. Shamos, M, I, (2004, April), Paper vs electronic voting records-an assessment: In Proceedings of the 14th ACM Conference on Computers, Freedom and Privacy. Tokaji, D. P. (2004), the paperless chase: Electronic voting and democratic values. Life and legacy of the late Steve Jobs Introduction This essay discusses the life and legacy of the late Steve Jobs. It discusses his contribution to today’s world and how his ideas shape todays and tomorrows world. Steve jobs contribution Steve jobs was one of the most celebrated innovative persons in the world, it is just two years since he died but his legacy lives on with people feeling it every day, Beahm (2011). He is undoubtedly one of the most important persons on the technological world. He was one of the co founders of apple; he was one of the most influential and extra ordinary people to ever grace this world. Though the products that helped and engineered, he is remembered as if he is still alive today. Some of the products that he innovated are the original iPod, Pixar animation studio, toy story, and the iphone. Macintosh 1984 cannot be forgotten either, his work in this was outstanding and laid down the subsequent innovations that he come with after 1984, Sheff (1985). With his character and personality, he could turn his attention and hand to his intensity and almost anything and drive would after make it come to happen. The technology enthusiasts are extremely fortunate that all his interest were on using technology in order to improve lives of people. All his works hare an inspiration to people, the young people, for who he encouraged and challenged at the same time, have an example to follow out of his works and innovations. He had hands on approach to designing products; this came out as his favorite part of his work. He became famous during his industrial design lab when he gave his opinion and spent some quality time with designer’s team. It is during this time that he also gave guidance on the prototypes to the designers, Belk & Tumbat (2005). His workday involved product review, this session took most of his workday time. Together with Steve Wozniak, they founded the apple company. They are also the co inventors of the apple I and Apple II. Apple II is considered the first line of personal computers to be commercially successful. As said above they also founded the first home computer known as apple Macintosh computer, which had graphical user that could be driven by mouse. Conclusion One of his famous quotes that he gave is, Beahm (2011), “currently, companies opt to down size, and it may be the right thing to do for them to survive in the market. We (apple) chose a diverse pathway. Our belief is to put great products to the customers; they would continue to dish money out of their pockets to the products.” This indicted the risky path that Apple Company took in response to the changing needs of the consumers. This quote also went in line with the inventive nature of Steve jobs and Steve Wozniak. References Beahm, G, (2011), I, Steve: Steve Jobs in His Own Words, Agate. Sheff, D, (1985), Playboy Interview: Steven Jobs. Belk, R, W., & Tumbat, G, (2005), the cult of Macintosh: Consumption markets & culture, 8(3), 205-217. Part 2 Question 1 a) Descriptive statistics for these data   Student Attendance (/10%) Mid-semester Exam (/20%) Assignment (/20%) Final Exam (/50%) Total (/100%)                               Mean 7.61 11.86 14.51 28.25 62.25                 Median 8.9 12.25 15.5 29 63                 Mode 10 14 16.6 32.5 63   Dispersion           Range=Maximum- minimum Maximum 10 18.2 19.4 46.7 91 Minimum 0 0 0 0 0     10 18.2 19.4 46.7 91               Variance   6.58 12.03 17.88 85.91 250.32               Std Deviation 2.56 3.47 4.23 9.27 15.82 Mean = sum/ total number Median = the number in the middle of the set of the given data in respective sets. Mode = the most occurring number in the respective exam. (L + [(fm-f1) / (fm-f1)+(fm-f2)] x h) Range=Maximum- minimum Variance = the average of the squared differences from the mean. = Σ [(xi - x̅)2]/n – 1 Σ = Summation xi = Sample observation x̅ = the mean n = The sample size Standard deviation = the square root of the variance b) Histogram for the Total’s column of this data Bin Frequency 0 2 9 0 18 0 27 0 36 1 45 5 54 9 63 24 72 17 81 11 90 6 More 1 The classes are represented by the bins, as recommended in preparation of histogram. The bins are range in which the bins are at difference of nine (0, 9, 18, 36,45,54,63,72,81,90 and more). The frequency is the number of items in the bins. This then produces the histogram. c) Mid-point and relative frequency Bin Frequency Midpoint Frequency 0 2 4.5 0 9 0 13.5 0 18 0 22.5 0 27 0 31.5 0 36 1 40.5 1 45 5 49.5 0 54 9 58.5 5 63 24 67.5 5 72 17 76.5 5 81 11 85.5 2 90 6 94.5 0 More 1     Midpoint is the middle number between each bin/ range while the range is the number of times the midpoint is appearing in the bin range. Midpoint has been calculated as the sum of lower and upper limits divided by two. d) Histogram that uses the Bond normal grading boundaries Bin Frequency 0 2 49 9 64 30 74 19 84 10 More 6 e) Nature of this data set The nature of the data set that is presented in parts a – d shows the students performance in a unit, from three tests, mid semester assessment and final examination, the data are related. One very conspicuous relation is the test score and the attendance. Students who attend the lectures score high marks in the three tests. Another observable nature of the data is the score of the same marks by the students. Most of the students scored marks in the range of between 56 to 64 marks. More than three quarters of the students scored passed the exam. f) Strength of the relationship Participation, mid-semester exam   Column 1 Column 2 Column 1 1 Column 2 0.19632 1 Mid-semester exam and final semester exam   Column 1 Column 2 Column 3 Column 1 1 Column 2 0.468945 1 Column 3 0.808417 0.503958 1 g) Graphs Participation, mid-semester exam Mid-semester exam and final semester exam h) Relationships from parts f) and g) As the lecturer you can conclude that the class performed well, only eleven students would not pass the examination (their marks are below 49 per cent). Out of 76 stents 65 students passed, this is a good performance. You can also conclude that you are effective in your lectures; more than sixteen students scored a distinction. Those who passed may have been on their failure to attend classes and work ignorance. The relationship between the two data sets is linear. The two combinations of assessment items have linear relationship. Question 2 If a student is selected at random, what is the probability of the following? a) They own an iphone. [1 mark] = 184/421 =0.437 b) They are a Business student. [1 mark] = 199/421 =0.472 c) They are a Law student or have an Android phone. [1.5 marks] = (133/421) x (105/421) = 0.315 x 0.249 = 0.078435 d) They use neither an Android nor iphone, given that they are enrolled in an Arts degree. [2 marks] = 59/421 = 0.14 Read More