Computer Ethic

As professor mentioned, I am going to talk about “Computer Ethic” in my blog. According to Wikipedia, Computer ethics is a branch of practical philosophy which deals with how computing professionals should make decisions regarding professional and social conduct. The term "computer ethics" was first coined by Walter Maner in the mid-1970s, but only since the 1990s has it started being integrated into professional development programs in academic settings. The conceptual foundations of computer ethics are investigated by information ethics, a branch of philosophical ethics established by Luciano Floridi. Computer ethics is a very important topic in computer applications.
I have search couple of articles which relate to our topic Computer Ethic. “The iPhone Hacking Kit, step by step” is the one I like because iPhone is the hottest topic recently. The author teaches everyone hacking iPhone step by step. People can install other applications after unlock the iPhone. It is free software, just taking 30 – 45 minutes.
This is good news for publics, who have iPhone, but it is painful for AT&T. Publics will be more flexible about using their phone; however, AT&T will lose the ability to hold their customer using their service.
Reference link:
http://iphone.macworld.com/2007/08/the_iphone_hacking_kit_step_by.php

Negotiation

According to Wikipedia.com, broadly speaking, negotiation is an interaction of influences. Such interactions, for example, include the process of resolving disputes, agreeing upon courses of action, bargaining for individual or collective advantage, or crafting outcomes to satisfy various interests. Negotiation is thus a form of alternative dispute resolution.
Last class we did negotiation in class. Professor gave us 1 group assignment which divided by 2 steps. First of all, each individual had their own values sheet. Everyone knew which solution the best for his/her is. After discussion, because we wanted to make us to be “win-win” status, our group decided to share our value sheets and use Microsoft Excel to calculate one best solution which makes everyone to get maximum value. However, we had a problem. There was one student’s score having a very low score. Excel gave us two best solutions for solving our question. First one the score average was great. It was 4.7. Two of us got around 9 points, but one of us just got 2 points. Second one, the average was 4.3, but the two guys’ 9 points changing to be 6-7 points. The one who got only 2 points in the first method got 4 points. Because this problem, we did grouped negotiation. Finally, the lower score student decided chose the first one. She wanted to keep other student with a high score.
Later, professor gave each group another values sheet. Students tried to use the same strategies as the first step. We shared the value sheets importations; however, this time the rule had changed a little bit. The score was based on the difference of the each group’s choice. Based on this rule, we used a lower score. Fortunately, we got a nice score at the end of this class.
Through this class, we learned that negotiation involves three basic elements: process, behavior and substance.
The process refers to how the parties negotiate: the context of the negotiations, the parties to the negotiations, the tactics used by the parties, and the sequence and stages in which all of these play out.
Behaviors to the relationships among these parties, the communication between them and the styles they adopt.
The substance refers to what the parties negotiate over: the agenda, the issues (positions and - more helpfully - interests), the options, and the agreement(s) reached at the end.Skilled negotiators may use a variety of tactics ranging from a straight forward presentation of demands or setting of preconditions to more deceptive approaches such as cherry picking. Intimidation and salami tactics may also play a part in swaying the outcome of negotiations.

Systems Development Life Cycle

Last class professor mentioned about program life cycle. It is a very interesting topic. Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC) or sometimes just (SLC) is defined by the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) as a software development process, although it is also a distinct process independent of software or other information technology considerations. It is used by a systems analyst to develop an information system, including requirements, validation, training, and user ownership through investigation, analysis, design, implementation, and maintenance. SDLC is also known as information systems development or application development.
I searched some articles about SDLC. “Using the Program Life Cycle Can Increase Your Return on Time Invested” is one which shows the benefits of SDLC. It truly describes how SDLS works and increases the return on time invested. It gives some examples about each SDLS steps to explain why SDLC is worth. It claims that maximizing the quality and quantity of programs is key to an Extension educator's success. I believe this is a very helpful article for who is first time touching SDLC and who is developing a software.

Reference:

http://www.joe.org/joe/2001june/a2.html

Brigadoon Bed and Breakfast

The most interesting thing I learned in this week is Brigadoon Bed and Breakfast. Two teams pointed out lots of problem they have. There is one problem I am really interested in which is Website homepage. Theirs homepage just simply has Links to other Brigadoon Ads, Request more info on Brigadoon B&B, and How to find us. It is a very boring and unfriendly homepage. They are refusing customers who want to order room through WWW. I look up other hotel’s homepage such as Sheraton. They offer on-line reservation and vacation ideas. It makes customer more satisfied and friendly. People even have not been there, they have already experienced home feeling. Sheraton’s homepage uses orange as the main color. It make people feel warm even thought it’s now winter. In contrast, Brigadoon Bed and Breakfast still using blue and gray as the main color. We have to say that Brigadoon B&B does not pay attention on their image and customer service.
These two website are good for people or travel agency who want to order room, because they can directly get information from these two web pages. It is good for Sheraton, but Brigadoon B&B. Sheraton will gain more customers since their homepage.
Inference link:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/index.html?PS=GWS_aa_Google_sheraton_hotel_122505

Time Warner agrees to carry National Geographic in high definition

During the last class, peers discussed about Time Warner. Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), formerly two separate companies as Warner Communications, Inc. and Time Inc. before the Time-Warner merger in 1990, is the world's largest media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered in New York City, with major operations in film, television, publishing, Internet service and telecommunications. Among its subsidiaries are AOL, Home Box Office, New Line Cinema, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, Turner Broadcasting System, The CW, Warner Broos Entertainment, Cartoon Network, and CNN. After class, I have searched some articles about Time Warner. “Time Warner agrees to carry National Geographic in high definition” is the latest one new. Time Warner Cable San Antonio has added National Geographic HD to the company's digital line up.
I totally agree with them to add one more channel for their customers because Time Warner has lost a lot of money since 2000. They need to build up strong product and customer service; therefore they can get more market share and make more profits. This article is good for some stock holders. Stock holders can get clew from every new.
Reference:
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2007/11/19/daily31.html

Collecting Information

First of all, I believe this method is good for companies such as Google or Apple. But here, I want to give an example to explain. Professor Vragov gives us an assignment which is talking about HP’s EPS price. I have searched couple of website and some news about them. To be honest, I have no idea about which I am going to buy, because I might miss some comment or news which are very important. After all, I decided use our whole class’s search result to make my decision. I analyses the trend of exchanging. In the first day, basically it was 50 & 50. Now, there is a huge difference between green tickets and red ticket. It seems 60 & 40. Someone offers 10 green tickets for 15 red tickets. In this case, I think that I am doing information aggregation.
Based on study, I feel that there is no correct answer for information aggregation. Every answer is opposite. In my opinion, I think we can use some information to estimate the future sales or profits. However, it is not always correct. People now make the prediction but use the information gained months ago or years ago. There are considerable errors. Also, in this brutal business battlefield, lots of fake information makes you get in a trap. People do not have any tool to judge the reliability of information. For example, the information I got from our student Blackboard could be fake. Perhaps the student wants to people get in the green and he gets the red. Then he can obtain the largest benefits.
For building a system for collecting information, first of all, the system must have a search engine. System can automatically search the relevant information about key words. This system also needs a filter. Filter is very important, because there are too much fake or unvalued information on the Internet or the real word. The system can analyzes information well and truly. It will save lots of money and time for the collectors.
For building this system, we still need a very strong hardware system such as a huge storage device and huge memory system and processor, besides the hardware, software is more important. We need a stable system to running for 24 hours because we have different time zone. I recommend Linux system as the operation system. Last, we need the collecting information system which we designed in last paragraph.

United HealthCare Now Enrolling Providers for EPS

The most interesting thing I learned this week is that United Healthcare uses Electronic Payments & Statement (EPS). Since naturally a lot of people do not believe pay money through internet or other electronic system, I have searched couple of articles about this system. “United HealthCare Now Enrolling Providers for EPS” is the most interesting one. Electronic Payments and Statements (EPS) is a practical solution to provide delivery of electronic claims payments and remittance advice information. Hospitals, laboratories, physicians and other health care professionals receive and reconcile thousands of claims payments and paper. Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) each year, creating countless stacks of checks and paperwork, resulting in hours of staff time spent on manual processing and reconciliation. EPS allows for easier reconciliation, less paperwork and greater efficiency. Since United HealthCare has some problem about their claim processing, they do need a better system to improve their service to their clients. I agree about this article, because I can see they want to enhance efficiency. This article is good for suppliers and the companies who are focusing in producing EPS system.
Reference: https://www.navinetclaims.com/content.html?story=UHC-EPS.story