Return-Path: <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost.nifl.gov [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.8.7/8.8.5) with SMTP id PAA27344; Wed, 17 Dec 1997 15:59:33 -0500 (EST) Date: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 15:59:33 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <5138D4D6326@novell-1.lsue.edu> Errors-To: lmann@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Gregory Dupre" <GDUPRE@novell-1.lsue.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:121] Re: Techno Tyranny X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Status: RO David, I am currently a student at small campus in south central Louisiana. Our computers have nothing to prevent the students from installing their own software, which happens quite often. Problems 1-Some software packages cause memory conflicts with others. The program that you need for school no longer works because someone has installed their own software, rendering your program useless. 2-Some programs, as they install, will simply erase anything that gets in their way. Once again, you have been using WordPerfect, but find it has now been overwritten by an interactive tutorial. Try teaching a WordPerfect class without WordPerfect. Try teaching your kid to ride a bicycle without a bicycle. 3-Whose software is it. If it belongs to the instructor, chances are that he has already installed it once on his machine at home. If he installs it again on the machine used by the school, this makes the school liable for copyright infringement. To use your example: If instructors are installing anything they want into computers used in a city sponsored program, the city is legally responsible for any consequences. Are you willing to send the city in question an affidavit offering to pay the costs of any copyright infringement lawsuits? If not, you seem to be awfully easy with other people's money. 4-What EXACTLY is being installed. I am reminded of a story that made the newspapers down here. It seems the Clerk of Court's office for one of the parishes was switching over to computers to allow people internet access to parish records. They had a member of the staff who was extremely knowledgeable about computers. This gentleman spent many long hours on the project, often working late into the night. Everyone was amazed at his dedication. Then one day the FBI came to call. It seems Mr. Computer Expert had been spending taxpayer money installing special programs that allowed him to download pornography. In addition to regular old ho-hum pornography, he had been downloading CHILD pornography. Now Mr. Expert is in jail, and the clerk's office is a LOT more careful about what is installed on their machines. Nuff said. Gregory Dupre > Date sent: Sat, 13 Dec 1997 14:25:40 -0500 (EST) > Send reply to: nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov > From: David J Rosen <DJRosen@world.std.com> > To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-technology@literacy.nifl.gov> > Subject: [NIFL-TECHNOLOGY:112] Techno Tyranny > NIFL-Technology colleagues, > > I have recently come across an example of an organizational practice that > I would term _technology tyranny_ and I wonder if others on this list have > run into such practices. > > A teacher told me that they have a new network of terrific pentiums at > her program which apparently is connected to a Wide Area Network. Her > program is one of several adult literacy programs sponsored by a city > agency. The WAN/LAN administrator(s) have a policy that no software > may be installed or used on any of the computers unless it is first > approved by a central committee downtown. > > What's bad about this? From a teacher's point of view, it's intimidating, > prevents one from using tools one is familiar/comfortable with, prevents > use of small, creative programs which might only be useful for some > specific purposes in a particular class, discourages teachers' creating > their own software for use with their classes, and.. gives everyone the > the "Big Brother" chills. One colleague, outraged by this practice, > thinks its analogous to book censorship. > > What do you all think about this? Is this typical where you are? Is this > not all that unreasonable from your perspective, and if so, why? Are you > outraged by this? Why? > > David J. Rosen > >
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Tue Jan 11 2000 - 13:27:05 EST