Computers and Society essays

Computers and Society essays In "Africa Goes Online," Daniel Akst and Mike Jensen discuss the potential of the Internet in combating the "information famine" in Africa. In a country where there are little resources to spare for social services, virtual universities could bring learning to millions at a fraction of the cost of traditional schools. Educated residents in these countries would have a larger, global outlet to market their skills and services. The authors cite several case studies as examples of this potential. In Dakar, Senegal, for example, video link-ups allow medical students to study under a group of physicians from Brussels. Secondary students from Namibia are working on a website to showcase the important African entomological collections in the country's National Museum. An organization called SchoolNet Africa is teaching basic technology skills to children around the continent. Poverty and lack of infrastructure are significant problems, but activists are optimistic about their efforts. Much of the networks in Africa rely on technology like e-mail and newsgroups, though a growing number are using video and web technology. These networks allow people to exchange information about their services and their products or simply to keep in tough. A distant village in Uganda that only receives snail mail every few weeks, for example, now has a communal computer station that receives e-mail for every resident. More importantly, these technologies also have the potential to reach children in far-flung schools. By helping to ensure that the next generation of African children is technologically skilled, computers have much potential One thing that struck me about this article is the similarities and differences between Internet users in Westernized and African countries. ...

Temporal Lobes in the Cerebral Cortex

Temporal Lobes in the Cerebral Cortex Temporal Lobes The temporal lobes are one of the four main lobes or regions of the cerebral cortex. They are located in the largest division of the brain known as the forebrain (prosencephalon). As with the three other brain lobes (frontal,  occipital, and parietal), there is one temporal lobe located in each brain hemisphere. The temporal lobes play an important role in organizing sensory input, auditory perception, language and speech production, as well as memory association and formation. Structures of the limbic system, including the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and the hippocampus are located within the temporal lobes. Damage to this area of the brain can result in problems with memory, understanding language, and maintaining emotional control. Function The temporal lobes are involved in several functions of the body including: Auditory PerceptionMemorySpeechLanguage ComprehensionEmotional ResponsesVisual PerceptionFacial Recognition Limbic system structures of the temporal lobe are responsible for regulating many of our emotions, as well as forming and processing memories. The amygdala controls many of the autonomic responses associated with fear. It regulates our fight or flight response, as well as helps us develop a healthy sense of fear through fear conditioning. The amygdala receives sensory information from the thalamus and other areas of the cerebral cortex.  In addition, the olfactory cortex is located in the temporal lobe. As such, the temporal lobes are involved in organizing and processing sensory information. Another limbic system structure, the hippocampus, aids in memory formation and connecting our emotions and senses, such as smell and sound, to memories. The temporal lobe aids in auditory processing and the perception of sound. They are also vital to language comprehension and speech. An area of the brain called Wernickes Area is found in the temporal lobes. This area helps us to process words and understand spoken language. Location Directionally, the temporal lobes are anterior to the occipital lobes and inferior to the frontal lobes and parietal lobes. A  large deep groove known as the Fissure of Sylvius separates the parietal and temporal lobes. Temporal Lobes: Damage Damage to the temporal lobes can present a number of issues. Damage resulting from a stroke or seizure can produce an inability to understand language or to speak properly. An individual may have difficulty hearing or perceiving sound. Temporal lobe damage may also result in the development of anxiety disorders, impaired memory formation, aggressive behavior, and hallucinations. In some cases, patients may even develop a condition called Capgras Delusion,  which is the belief that people, often loved ones, are not who they appear to be.