The Switch that Killed

In June of 2010, a bill was introduced to the government. Its was title the Internet Kill Switch, its purpose it to give the President the power to personally have control over the nation's computer system and shut it down in the midst of a "national cyber emergency."

According to the news website, cnet.com, Republican staff director, Brandon Milhorn, "We're not trying to mandate any requirements for the entire Internet."

To me, this bill sounds unnecessary and ridiculous! The small fact that it will be soley in the hands of the President, seems as if it is unconstitutional. Where would the checks and balance be if he or she has the only power to alter the citizens' use of the internet during a crisis. The most important time, when we as concerned citizens, want to know what is going on around us we will be lost and uninformed.










http://news.cnet.com/8301-31921_3-20029282-281.html

Technology Moves Thru the People

I find it very interesting that where Whites are more likely to have a home desktop, Blacks and English-speaking Latinos, are more likely to have a portable laptop computer instead. The Whites hold a steady 65% with the desktops and African Americans trail behind with a 51%, according to the study done by Pew. When reading the study, 3 trends are highlighted and focused on; 1) the broadband population among diversity groups, 2) the desktop vs. laptops, and 3) the use of the social aspects that the internet provides.

In most cases, minority parties lag behind the White majority, but within trend 2 they over exceed the majority. As well as with trend 3, and how the Black and (English-speaking) Latino groups favor using the internet for governmental use and updates. The minorities seem to want to connect with there community in quick efficient ways over the Whites, and that seems to be an interesting find to me. It could be because that is the easiest way to get into contact with the higher ups, when you live in places with less interaction from other communities within the area or the government agencies that are suppose to represent these people.

Study: Technology Trends Among People of Color
   Pew Internet and American Life Project