Presenter: Keely Coufal

Recorder: Lacy Lakner

Text: Killing Time by Caleb Carr.

Objective: 2 a.&b. To present a vision of future society that is controlled by high tech forces with the computer expertise for distorting information.

Summary:  Caleb Carr brings forth many troubling questions concerning how the future will adapt and utilize the changes made through the computer revolution and the Internet. He presents an unsettling future of deceit and destruction through the unbridled use of information that pours through society on the information highway. Without regulations both governments and corporations invent false information that benefits profit and power for their organizations. Consequentially wars, erupt, famines and disease run rampant, and the system of society breaks down.  This book gives one perspective on this subject, creating a bleak future that can move the masses and alter history with the stroke of a button.

Carr, Caleb. Killing Time. Random House, New York. 2000.

Adam Dunn, rev. of CNN.com. Book news. ‘Killing Time’ in the Future. Nov. 15,2000.

Clifford Stoll. Interview with Russell D. Hoffman. High Tech Today, radio show, WALE. May 24^th, 1995.

• Will it be likely that our future will be manipulated and falsified through the sophisticated abilities of technology and computers, and if so what do you think the ramifications will be?
• How could such an amazing leap in technology that brings forth unlimited amounts of information to the public become something treacherous among civilization?
• Should the Internet be regulated? Could the Internet be regulated?

After introducing the book Killing Time, and reading two passages that gave an idea of what the main character’s role was in the story I read the questions above for discussion.

Several thoughts were brought up concerning the idea of government’s role in context of the Internet. Joseph mentioned that it reminded him of the novel 1984 where big brother takes over. He also commented that no matter what the truth really is people will be influenced by only what they see and hear. I proceeded to use the example of the movie Wag the Dog to illustrate the notion of what a government might be capable of doing and one only wonder’s what sort of false information that companies and government might be capable of with all the new sophisticated technology coming up. Val brought up the point that already textbooks in public schools have presented false information laden with errors.

Thomas made the point that propaganda has always been prevalent with the media and well as Lacy’s comment that there is some information that we are never told.  On the thought of the media Dr. White believed that there is no deliberate attempt of conspiracy with the media; it simply gives the public what it will buy and read.

Classroom education was also brought up as an example of computer information that is being disputed. I mentioned Clifford Stoll, who is an avid opponent of classroom technology and several in the class observed that it is important the education should have face-to-face interaction with other people to be effective. Glenn said that MIT will have 90% of all courses on computers by 2005. There were concerns about how students may become less social with this movement more towards computers. However, Jeff stated that the older generation is afraid of change and that younger people are more open minded to the technical changes. I noted that I believed that the younger generation is surpassing the government when it comes to learning abilities of computers.

Lacy pointed out that society is becoming more and more dependent on computers and that that is not necessarily a good thing. I finalized the discussion by stating that we should not be afraid as much as we should be cautious when it comes to technology, or else we could lose control over some aspects of our lives.