Bring in a research article/piece from your field. Not just any article, but one that has significantly influenced your thinking, academic career, research, and/or professional career.  Specify how it has influenced you. Post your article under your personal files and post your answer to your personal blog.

During recent two decades, the famous system design principle called “The End-to-End Arguments” [4] has worked very well. However, because of ever changing technology, a lot of new Internet media come into being, namely, You Tube stream media, peer-to-peer Internet TV, and voice over Internet, end-to-end principle may be no long feasible in the years to come. After viewing some recent research papers, I find that there is no clear direction where to go right now so I am typically interesting about this article. There are several reasons that our future Internet needs to have some changes. The most important reason is that we are living in the untrustworthy network. One person does not trust another person or the third party. Under such circumstances, the initial idea with regard to checking end-points is longer reliable. Suffice it to say, this paper makes me think twice that if our future network becomes extremely unstable, our world will become a mess. I hope in the future I am able to come up with some good ideas to guarantee our next generation Internet, I call it Internet 2, will be a secure and a reliable network. It is now a hot topic in that it needs to have many researchers’ contribution to think a feasible way to go. 

1. Clark, D. D., J. Wroclawski, et al. (2005). "Tussle in cyberspace: defining tomorrow's Internet. Networking, IEEE/ACM Transactions on 13(3): p 462-475.

2.  Moors, T. (2002). "A critical review of "End-to-end arguments in system design"." Communications, 2002. ICC 2002. IEEE International Conference on 2: p. 1214-1219.

3.  Reed, D. P. (2000). "The end of the end-to-end argument"." from  http://www.reed.com/dprframeweb/dprframe.asp?section=paper&

4. Saltzer, J. H., D. P. Reed, et al. (November 1984). "End-to-end arguments in system design." ACM Transactions on Computer Systems (TOCS) 2(4): p. 277-288.

Response to Kevin’s post “What do you see as positive outcomes of e-mail and instant messaging? ”

I do not totally agree with the negative aspects that mentioned by Kevin. He points out that there is no definite way to know whether recipients received an e-mail or not. However, by looking at some popular software such as Outlook, Outlook Express, and Thunderbird, we can get into detailed setting to check the option of requesting read receipts. Once your friend received your e-mail, your friends will be requested to send an acknowledgement back to sender.

As to instant messaging (IM), I agree that the pop-ups window is a little bit annoyed while I am working. Nevertheless, my belief is that it is not a negative aspect in that you can go the “Tool” function and choose “Alerts and Sounds” option. Then looking at detailed options, you can check or uncheck display alerts in many occasions.

Still, E-mail does have some negative aspects. The most notorious one is the junk e-mail. If you have two or more e-mail accounts, you may have a need to cope with ample of junk e-mails by daily basis. Or you are likely to be inundated with junk e-mails. Imagine three or four hundred e-mails you receive every day, how many of them are useful or worth to look into the content? Not to mention that a lot of viruses or malicious software such as Trojan perfectly hided behind your e-mails. Indeed, you may say by using firewall or virus protection software you can detect these malicious virus or software. However, the fact shows that most people still not trust such types of software primarily because their computers are still likely to infect viruses due to various reasons.

IM does enhance our communication even better. However, nowadays an increasing number of children surf the Internet talking with their friends all the day. Their parents may be too busy to keep an eye on their children. IM can pull people even closer, but it could quietly steal people’s time without noticed by users. Simply put, technology itself can enhance our working or communication with no doubt as long as people are aware of what they are doing and have a sense of time elapsing.

Response to Jung Sook Lee-French’s “A popular online auction site is eBay. Have you ever purchased an item on eBay?”

I agree Lee’s point that eBay is an excellent place for people who do not have enough time to go out to shopping malls or outlets. By the feature of comparing price and commodities at eBay, people are able to buy and sell their things at any place that they want. However, one thing I do not completely agree with is that eBay is not the best place to have the best price. When it comes to the best price, people are supposed to compare prices among some famous online stores such as Amazon, Nextag, Buy.com, and so on. By doing so, people will be surprised how violent competition among these online stores.

I consent that the history of feedback for buyers and sellers is imperative. It is a great record to build trust between a buyer and a seller. Often I just take a look at sellers or buyers’ positive or negative feedback first to decide whether I am going to buy certain commodity. Negative feedback is not necessarily to say that a buyer or a seller is not trustworthy. You are supposed to look into detailed description of the feedback. Meanwhile, providing a buyer is not sure the quality of certain commodity or cannot tough it, reviewing feedback from former buyers is an excellent way to make a decision. Yet, people at times need to rely upon their instinct if no feedback exists. Before buying things, one needs to read or ask the returning policy first simply because no one wants to put his or her money at stake.

Sometimes, I just wonder why eBay cannot succeed in my country Taiwan. Possibly, it is about cultural difference. However, eBay is a good place for me to buy commodities and then sell them back to Taiwan. The eBay just made an acquisition of the famous Internet phone company – Skype last year. I am looking forward to seeing that a buyer and a seller are able to communicate immediately through the platform of Skype.

Response to Nathan Garrett’s “Circuit City has a relatively new service by which you can order an item via their Web site, and then pick it up at your local store. What advantages do you think this service provides? What disadvantages do you think this service provides?”

I do not assent to some words written by Garrett. I agree that the advantage of physical store is that people are able to touch the commodity and to feel you like it or not. Besides, you can compare similar products at physical store and ask sellers relating questions. However, how many commodities can be stored in a physical store such as Circuit City? What are potential risks and costs to store large amount of physical commodities? Indeed, today one can go to a physical store compare products, but the point is that how many products one is able to compare? Based on my experience, I need to go to many physical stores such as Best Buy, Circuit City, Fry’s, and so on to compare them. From my point of view, one evident advantage is that I can go to Circuit City to see whether I like it or not. Not only can I tough it, but also return it immediately if I do not like it. That is, I need not to pay shipping fee twice. One is for sending; another is for returning. Besides, I need not to wait for my refund or ask for a returning number.

Meanwhile, it is also free for one to pick up his or her thing at their convenience. In other words, one needs not to worry about losing UPS or FedEx’s delivery due to not being at home.

I have some gadgets. Among them is my PDA phone that I like most. To begin with, my PDA phone is small enough for me to put it into my pocket. I can install any small application on it such as English to English dictionaries, Microsoft Money, e-Book, calendar, weather prediction, and so on. Besides, I am able to use it as my navigation system. Moreover, I am able to watch movies through my PDA phone, though my screen is a little bit small. When I forgot to bring my laptop computer, it also gives me the ability to surf the Internet via a Wi-Fi card. As to typing, it supports Bluetooth technology so I am able to use a Bluetooth folding keyboard as my input interface. I believe that such kind of PDA phone will support even more applications and compatible hardware in the years to come. I can expect it will become a trend.

I do not have least favorite gadgets on hand mainly because if I dislike a gadget, I will sell it over eBay or return it immediately. But I can describe why I dislike a gadget. The most important point is that a gadget is hard to use. It cannot save my time or make me even more annoyed. Probably the problem is that I do not know how to utilize it.

1. Is "Soul of the New Machine" a qualitative study based on the six criteria outlined in "The Enlightened Eye?"

It is intriguing to leverage the six features of a qualitative study based on “The Enlightened Eye”. Some qualitative features are not exactly evident in the book “Soul of the New Machine”. Still, from the class discussion last week and the content of the book itself, it is proper to say that the Soul of the New Machine is similar to a qualitative study. The first feature is field focus. I assume that Track Kidder is a researcher. Qualitative researchers employ ways of interview, description, interpretation, and observation to carry out field research. Kidder observed team members such as Carl Alsing, Steve Wallach, and Jim Veres to build a computer to write his book. Besides, he also described key person’s working style together with developing a new computer so the book meets the first qualitative feature – field focus. The second feature is that a researcher himself is an instrument. That is, a researcher is able to perceive and interpret subtle objects and knows the overall domain. The terms sensibility and schema are used to account for this feature.  Kidder realized the essential schema relating to building a new computer and had sensibility of knowing the complex process of building a new computer. The third feature is interpretation. Of this feature, Kidder evidently accounted for the reason Data General (DG) called for building a new computer called “Eagle”. Because DG needed to invent a new machine to challenge Digital Equipment’s VAX computer. It is primary motivation for DG to build a new machine. The forth feature is expressive language. It is the way for readers to experience the real situation. Kidder employed Wall Street, Fortune 500 these popular terms to persuade readers that it is a real story. In addition, detailed depiction of the process of building a new computer does usher readers into the story. The fifth feature is attention to particulars. Computer terminologies, vivid characters of roles, and a unique event of competition between DG and DEC draw readers’ attention to particular. The sixth feature is persuasive because of its coherence. As I mentioned above, utilizing well-known names such as IBM, Wall Street, and Fortune 500 with detailed description all make readers to believe it is a real story. In sum, from a big picture to look into Soul of the New Machine, it basically meets the six features of qualitative research.

2. What are the similarities and differences between non-fiction, documentary films, and naturalistic social science in explaining knowledge about every day life?

I found the definition between non-fiction and documentary films is vague because film history has evolved. What can be certain is that both of them have narrative elements, telling people a story of a place, an event, and a person. What might be different is that documentary films tell people genuine people and events in the history; however, non-fiction films put creative ingredients, which might be artificial people or events, into real events or people. The similarity between documentary cinema and naturalistic social science is to enhance people’s understanding as to varying levels of social life. Selecting reality and presenting accounts can be found on both of them, though naturalistic social scientists may obtain limited feedback as to their research. On the other hand, naturalistic social scientists investigate and collect selected aspects of social life that could become good sources or ideas for documentary films.

1.     Why is the book titled "Soul of a New Machine"?

In my view, the term “Soul of a New Machine” can be deemed as two parts. The first part is “New Machine”, meaning that ever-progressing computers have been invented during these decades. To me, the exhilarating story of Soul a New Machine written by Tracy Kidder is similar to the currently violent competition of Intel and AMD, two leaderships of the microcomputer. The second part is the term “Soul”, meaning that the heart (CPU) of a new machine. Without a central processing unit (CPU), it is like a new machine without its soul. Though, it was written many years ago, I still amaze Tracy Kidder’s special vision, knowing that what is required by most consumers today. That is, a simple, sweet, cheap, efficient, clean, and hassle-less computer is needed by most users.

2.     How would you characterize Tracy Kidder's writing style?

The story begins with a boat sailing in an ocean, which is like a time machine ushers readers into the history of the legend of Data General Corporation. Tracy Kidder’s writing style combines with some real companies such as IBM. On the top of that, he also employs the terms such as profit margins, Wall Street reports, and Fortune 500 business, to convince readers that they are reading a real story. I agree that Kidder’s thought. Computer industries were like a gold rush in that many computer related companies made lots of money during the early period of time around 1970-1990. Track Kidder looks inside every aspect of computer design from general ideas such as cheaper, quicker, reliable, and durable computer to specific ideas such as packet, circuit, chip, time-sharing, ring number, memory address, and instruction set. I believe he must inquire many experienced people to write such technical things to persuade reader that it is not a pseudo-story.

3.     Who is your favorite character and why?

It is Steve Wallach that I like most. There are two reasons why I like him most. Firstly, I admire his extensive computer knowledge, for many employees regard him a walking dictionary and encyclopedia of computers. As a knowledge worker of computers, everyone knows that computer-related knowledge is changing very fast. With this in mind, Wallach should learn and work very hard and smart so that he is just able to become a walking dictionary and encyclopedia of computers. Secondly, he knew what he wanted in his early time. The story talked that Wallach was always looking for the buck. He would get the M.B.A., then going back to New York. But he did not to do so mainly because he had a strong desire to build computers. Sometimes, I also stray in somewhere. That is, I do not know what I really want, going out to work so as to make money or going to secure a higher education. Even I know where to go, I need to select the research topic that I am in favor of, or I need to select the research topic in which I am able to graduate as soon as possible. So many things hover over my mind.

What reaction do you have to the concept of rapid cognition, particularly as it influences your activity as a scholar?

As I reminisced, seven years ago I was still an undergraduate student, a student who had totally no idea where to go next step. Occasionally, I was listening to a speech held by my college department.  If I am not wrong, the speaker was from the famous company called Trend Micro. Prior to the end of his speech, he was asking us an intriguing question. In common sense, a butterfly should fly lower than a bird. Surprisingly enough, a normal butterfly was able to fly much higher than a bird or ever higher than an airplane. Why this happened, he was asking? At that moment, every kind of answers came into being; the answers, however, were all not what he wanted. After all, he just said that the butterfly was able to fly higher than anything else in that no one has talked to him how high he could fly. The answer implies that we cannot underestimate our ability. Meanwhile, the answer also gave me the first impression that all what I am supposed to do right now is to chase my dream with the aid of my relentless efforts and determination. The speech is just like "raid cognition" that inspires me that I need to find a way to go no matter what I do. With this in mind, I decide to go higher education with a view to gaining much more invaluable knowledge. I wish one day I am able to become a qualified scholar so as to contribute my knowledge to my college or to my country.

What is your favorite story/example in the book?

There are seven stories in the book, Blink, because the conclusion also incorporates a short story related to a musician. Among them is the last story that I like most in that I played the instrument - baritone when I was a senior high school student. As the story depicted in the book, the trombone was deemed as a "male" instrument which is a kind of stereotype or prejudice. Too often, most people embrace the conviction that seeing is believing. In reality, however, we are very likely to judge a book by its cover including me. Maybe it is just like the book told us: the only true way to listen is with your ears and your heart rather than your eyes. Sometimes, closing my eyes is able to make me think of things even clearer, for things that can influence my thinking are largely reduced. I also like the second lesson of the blink, that is solving the problem whenever you are confronting the problem. In sum, by illustrating several small stories, it is much easier for people to go one step to understand the notion of rapid cognition.

Which CGU scholar is mentioned in the book?

On page 139-140, the book mentions a CGU faculty in Social Psychology. His name is Dr. Stuart Oskamp.

--Justin