To Play, Or Not To Play?

Video games are not evil. When played responsibly, they can be a wholesome recreational activity. Problems arise, however, when we escape into a virtual world that becomes our reality in place of real life. It's possible to have fun and play games while still being responsible about it; it takes personal discipline and a keen awareness of what matters most in life. By limiting the time spent in front of a computer screen, we can find the appropriate balance between needed relaxation and experiencing life in the real world.

My Position on Women in Technical Fields

The Power of Ordinary People: Insights from Clay Shirky's Here Comes Everybody

Modern technology is transforming the social landscape of our world. Social media enables widespread collaboration and collective action that was impossible just a few years ago. For a long time, we have depended on hierarchical management structures and large institutions in order to accomplish tasks of global significance. Now, however, ordinary people with access to a computer and the Internet are able to publish their opinions and have their voices heard. When many people interact online despite geographic separation, those opinions become palpable. The advances in technology did not create those opinions; it enabled them to be seen. As social technology continues to permeate our society, we see the need for traditional organizations to adapt. The thoughts of ordinary people throughout the world can no longer be ignored, because increasingly complex and important projects are being carried out without the financial and managerial backing of traditional institutions. Considered individually, the actions of one person may not seem important, but taken collectively, the influence of a group of like-minded people can literally change the world.

Education—Important for Women and Men

Although their responsibilities in the family are important, women can and should pursue knowledge and understanding of subjects that interest them. Just as it is wrong for a man to turn down viable educational opportunities, it is a tragedy for a woman to neglect her mind and talents to in the name of putting the family first. At the same time, however, family responsibilities must be met by both men and women. It is as wrong for a man to focus on learning pursuits to the neglect of his family as it is for a woman to do so. As David O. McKay said, "no other success can compensate for failure in the home." This applies equally well to both men and women. The unique combination of these competing priorities in our individual lives requires the active use of personal agency and revelation.

A Great Responsibility

Technology alone cannot further the work of God. The growth of the Lord's church depends upon the righteous use of agency—how we choose to use the tools Heavenly Father blesses us with. As members of the church, we don't have to let fear or the easiness of the way keep us from using computers and the Internet to spread the gospel message. We can act in faith to share light, truth, and love. As we show Heavenly Father that we are willing to use His gifts righteously, He entrusts us with more technologies and inventions to expand His kingdom on the earth.

The Freedom to Innovate

The overabundance of patent lawsuits that companies keep flinging back and forth is making it harder to innovate without stepping on someone's toes. While it is important to reward creativity and original thought, the legal exploits of many corporations are quickly becoming a game that defeats the opportunity for continued generation of new ideas. The purpose of copyrights and patents is to promote innovation and creativity, not to stifle them. When innovators are forced to think inside an intellectual vacuum, the cultural progress of society is stinted.

Open Source: Many Hands Make Light Work

The ideology of large-scale cooperation that comes from the Open Source movement should be applied to more projects. The story of Linux demonstrates that complex software can be successfully developed by people all over the world. What could we accomplish if we applied that idea to other worthwhile endeavors? No one person knows and sees everything; encouraging collaboration makes the work easier, faster, and better. In addition, making individual contributions to a meaningful cause endows one with a feeling of ownership and purpose. To accept the ideas and contributions of strangers requires courage, but a determined and organized group of people scattered across the globe can truly make a difference by working together.

The Human Face of Technology: Insights From Cliff Stoll's Cuckoo's Egg

Technology is more than mere bits on a wire or pixels on a screen. As the Internet continues to expand and we become virtual neighbors with people of different races, nationalities, and beliefs, we are forced to see how human each of us is and how important the viewpoints and feelings of others are. Networks aren't just emotionless pieces of hardware. We are the network. With every Facebook or blog post, with every web page and wiki entry, we expose ourselves to the world, placing an innate trust in other people.

When hackers use the Internet to break in and steal information or write viruses that cripple others, they betray the mutual trust that is inherent in the network. Invading someone's computer is just as wrong as breaking into someone's house. Better security and antivirus programs, although they help, are not the ultimate solution. We need to change as a society. The problem is not in the technology; it's in the choices of people that use it. The best security system is the personal responsibility that allows us to confide in each other.

The Origin and Purpose of Modern Technologies

Many of the modern technologies that have been developed are divinely inspired, and as such have a divine purpose.  Although the Internet is plagued with the depravity of pornography and inundated with time wasters, it is intended for spreading truth and light.  God wants us to use technology to share the gospel's message of peace and to seek out our ancestors.  As we bless others, we begin to understand the true reason for the gifts He gives us.  As children of the information age, we need to comprehend the opportunities for good that technology affords us.

Buying Electronics is Not a Sin

The working conditions at some of the factories in China that produce electronics truly are deplorable, and something needs to be done.  However, it is an overstatement to claim that consumers are inherently to blame for the situation.  Any decent human being would be willing to pay extra for gadgets if it meant a better quality of life for someone else.  The truth is that we as consumers have relatively little that we can do to affect the working conditions in the factories because there are larger, more complex economic forces at work.  Given that our actions, however well-intended, cannot guarantee a direct improvement in factory working conditions, much of the recent media hype isn't necessary.

I Am A Hacker

In today's society, the term "hacker" is often used with a negative connotation.  I've read in a few different places about hacker culture and what it truly means, or at least meant, to be a hacker.  This article about Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, explains the concept fairly well.  I identify with the idea of taking things apart, digging deeper to discover how things work, and always yearning to make things better.  Hacking is not about writing viruses or breaking into someone's private information to steal credit card numbers.  The true hacker is characterized by a vigorous pursuit of knowledge and a stubborn unwillingness to settle for mediocrity.  As one whose curiosity about the world around him never seems to be satisfied, I am a hacker—in the original sense of the word.

Copyright Issues

I heard about the hullabaloo related to the Megaupload raid, and so I read this article to see what all the hype was about.  Honestly, I don't know yet what to think.  When it comes to copyright laws, I think there has to be a balance.  I feel that piracy is a legitimate concern, and copyright holders for music, movies, etc., have a right to pursue adequate protection of their content.  At the same time, however, expecting site owners to be responsible for everything users post on their site can be ridiculous if taken to the extreme.  With debates about SOPA and PIPA fresh in the air, I think we all have adequate fodder for deep thought related to these issues.  In my opinion, there has to be a solution that marries the idea of giving credit to the original authors or producers while still allowing legitimate use of technology.  One of the underlying issues that has to be faced is the personal integrity of individuals in our society.  Regardless of the outcome in the specific case of Megaupload, it will be interesting to see how all of these copyright issues blow over.

Is Technology a Good Thing?

Ever since I was very young, I have been fascinated by technology.  From the glasses I wear to the smartphone I carry in my pocket to help keep me organized, I am an avid user of technology, and am likely to remain so.  I read an article recently about technological change that pointed out some of the negative effects that the development and acceptance of new technologies have had over the years.  While I believe that the author makes some valid points, I am of the opinion that technology as a whole is, or can be, a very good thing in society as long as it is used judiciously.  I think of the blessing it is to me to see clearly, to access information on hundreds of different topics, etc., and I cannot help being grateful for many of the technologies that have shaped our culture.  At the same time, however, I feel that with any great blessing comes an inherent responsibility to use it wisely.  Our society, and my generation in particular, has developed a habit of wasting time on the Internet.  With all of the time that technology can save us, it is important to be wise stewards of the gifts of technology and be cautious that our use of technology does not cause us to forget what is most important in life.