Media+&+Tech

Before you make your final decision about a topic, get to know it a bit. Check out the books and articles in the large study room and/or follow a couple of the links included below.
=== Questions to ask when selecting a topic: ===
 * 1) How much information is available? Is it readily available or do I have to dig deep?
 * 2) Is the information credible? written by an expert? current?
 * 3) Is the information written on a level I can understand?

Could artificial intelligence be a threat to humanity in the no-too-distant future?
 * http://www.wsj.com/articles/does-artificial-intelligence-pose-a-threat-1431109025
 * http://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephen-hawking-warns-artificial-intelligence-could-be-threat-to-human-race/
 * http://cser.org/emerging-risks-from-technology/artificial-intelligence/
 * http://thebulletin.org/artificial-intelligence-really-existential-threat-humanity8577
 * http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/26/opinion/scoblete-ai-human-threat/
 * http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11703662/Threat-from-Artificial-Intelligence-not-just-Hollywood-fantasy.html

Is it possible to protect one's privacy and use the Internet and social media?

What recent tech inventions might help reduce the warming of the planet?
 * http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/07/02/study-home-efficiency-upgrades-pay/29649163/

What guidelines

Should more dollars and expertise be devoted to protecting government agencies from cyber attacks?
 * http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/09/09/cyber-attacks-doe-energy/71929786/
 * http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/federal-government-cyber-attack-breach-21-million-people-affect-119918
 * http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2013/cyber/timeline/EN/index.htm
 * http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/exclusive-secret-nsa-map-shows-china-cyber-attacks-us-targets-n401211
 * http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/234601-cyberattacks-on-government-hit-record-high

Does the government gather too much information on its citizens?
 * http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/01/14/nsa-computer-surveillance/4483433/
 * http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/04/07/dea-bulk-telephone-surveillance-operation/70808616/

How young is too young for a digital presence?
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/15/technology/personaltech/how-young-is-too-young-for-a-digital-presence.html?_r=0
 * http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/08/28/343735856/kids-and-screen-time-what-does-the-research-say

How can we judge the credibility of news in the digital age?
 * http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage®ion=TopBar&module=HPMiniNav&contentCollection=Science&WT.nav=page
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-19/judging-credibility-news-digital-age

How is technology transforming worldwide conservation efforts?
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-08-21/how-technology-transforming-conservation-efforts-worldwide

What are the benefits and risks of new wireless high-tech medical devices?
 * http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2014-06-26/boom-high-tech-health-apps-and-wireless-devices

Should the rating systems for television and film be revised?

Have journalists and the media helped shape or influence international events for the greater good?

Will widespread use of Google glasses improve society or not?
 * http://www.nbcnews.com/search/google%20glasses
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/17/technology/lawmakers-pose-questions-on-google-glass.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A8%22%7D
 * http://video.pbs.org/video/2365039733/

Is use of facial recognition software too big an invasion of privacy?
 * http://www.cbsnews.com/news/facial-recognition-technology-sparks-concerns-over-privacy/
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/02/technology/when-no-one-is-just-a-face-in-the-crowd.html
 * http://venturebeat.com/2014/03/25/this-military-grade-facial-recognition-software-is-a-security-win-a-privacy-nightmare/

Are there too many risks to social networking?
 * http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/counterintelligence/internet-social-networking-risks
 * http://www.wakehealth.edu/Health-Central/NMR/Reduce-Risks-of-Social-Media/
 * http://www.wakehealth.edu/Health-Central/NMR/Reduce-Risks-of-Social-Media/

Should employers monitor their employees' and job hunters' use of social media?
 * http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303825604579514471793116740
 * http://www.holdenlawgroup.com/blog/can-employers-ever-monitor-employees-personal-social-media
 * http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2013/09/29/new-ways-employer-spy/

Should individuals and/or companies be able to control the personal information that can be found on the web?

Can international cyber theft be stopped?

Should limits be placed on data brokers regarding the kinds and amounts of information they can collect?

Are the current limits on NSA (National Security Administration) data mining operations enough to curb excessive surveillance?
 * http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military/news/nsa-data-mining-how-it-works-15910146
 * http://www.msnbc.com/news-nation/does-nsa-data-mining-stop-terrorists
 * http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0607/NSA-data-mining-101-two-top-secret-programs-and-what-they-do

Are consumers better off putting everything on the cloud?

Should broadband Internet access be regulated as a public utility?
 * http://www.thewire.com/technology/2014/05/is-broadband-internet-a-public-utility/362093/
 * http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303939404579532054229366092

What role will online courses play in the future of higher education?

Do children have too much access to violence with media?
 * http://library.cqpress.com.proxy067.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2014021400

Are Americans paying too much or too little for media services (cable, TV)?

Should celebrities endorse products and medical treatments/products?

Should individuals do more to protect themselves from cyber thieves?

Is Wikipedia the ultimate research tool?

Is the concept of copyright outdated?
 * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129299939

Does Google’s plan to publish entire books on the web promote or inhibit authorship and the spread of information?

Should "open access" be promoted or limited?

Should the "graphic labels" required on cigarettes packs be required on other unhealthy or dangerous foods/products?

Are “sext” messages a teenage felony or folly?

Are online social networks eroding privacy?

Are new laws needed to regulate online social media?

Are Americans ready for self-driving cars? (NCLive: CQ Researcher)

Will drones likely become a part of everyday life in the near future?
 * http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/video/techbytes-google-developing-fleet-delivery-drones-25172298
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/01/technology/as-drone-technology-advances-practical-obstacles-remain.html?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar%2C%7B%221%22%3A%22RI%3A8%22%7D&_r=0
 * http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory/olympic-national-park-bans-drones-amid-us-order-25208963

Should drone use be regulated to ensure public safety?
 * http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/education-enforcement-seen-as-keys-to-drone-safety/article_b088e28f-3fdb-56e5-aa4f-7b1dce265fc7.html
 * http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/drones-sighted-near-n-c-airports/article_8f7b6fbd-1f42-5feb-a63a-2815ea17baf9.html
 * http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/cloudy-faa-data-skews-drone-threat/article_80e10858-3fbb-51ba-827c-e5fb55a26534.html

Should net neutrality be maintained? (few Internet restrictions; equal access service and pricing)
 * http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129171131

2013-2014 Topics
How is technology changing our brains? Are online social networks changing interaction for the worse? Has WikiLeaks endangered U.S. and world security?

2012-2013 Topics
Is the violence in video games a real problem? Internet Censorship Technology's Effect on on Nature How does advertising impact teen behavior? Is advertising good for both buyers and sellers? Does advertising have too much influence on our buying habits?

** 2011-12 Topics **
Is the U.S. adequately prepared to deal with cyber warfare? Is the growing use of robots helpful or harmful to society? How influential is reality TV?

** 2010-11 Topics **
Is technology helping or hurting people socially? Is technology in schools helping or inhibiting students? Should advertising for young children and adults be restricted or outlawed? Is technology enriching or trivializing our lives? Is technology bringing the world together or tearing it apart? Should media and technology use by young people be restricted by their parents and teachers?