CS408 Lectures 1-45

Information Age

• The Information Age is the idea that access to and the

control of information is the defining characteristic of this current era in human civilization

• Computers are annoying us · • They are infuriating us · • They even kill a few of us.

• What do you get when you cross a computer with an Airplane?

• Computer + Airplane = Computer

• In December 1995, American Airlines Flight 965 departed from Miami on a regularly scheduled trip to Cali, Columbia. On the landing approach, the pilot of the 757 needed to select the next radio navigation fix, named “ROZO”. He entered an “R” into his navigation computer. The computer returned a list of nearby navigation fixes starting with “R” and the pilot selected the first of these, whose latitude and longitude appeared to be correct. Unfortunately, instead of “ROZO”, the pilot selected “ROMEO”, 132 miles to the northeast. The jet was southbound descending into a valley that runs north-south, and any lateral deviation was dangerous. Following indications on the flight computer, the pilots began an easterly turn and slammed into a granite peak at 10,000 feet. One hundred and fifty two passengers and all eight crewmembers aboard perished. Four passengers i d i h i i j i

computer with a Camera?

• Computer + Camera = Computer

• Thirty years ago, a 35mm Pentax Model H, had a small battery in it that powered the light meter. Like a wristwatch battery, I merely swapped in a new one every couple of years. Fifteen years ago, an electronic camera, a 35mm Canon T70, used two AA batteries to power its rather simple exposure computer and its automatic film drive. It had a simple On/Off switch, so that the batteries wouldn’t wear down needlessly.