Promise and Perils of Technology

Imagine escaping to a world where anything is possible. You can visit it anywhere or anytime. That notion is the promise of virtual reality. Using virtual reality in classrooms, students can visit Syrian refugee camps, have a tour of a college campus, or interact with artwork at the British Museum. Medical students can peer into virtual bodies and body systems in ways that they could not in the real world. Doctors can treat anxiety disorders. Besides virtual reality's benefits, this resource investigates the health concerns, privacy issues, and effects on social interactions for users.

Nothing people do online is ever completely private or anonymous. With each technological advance in the connectivity of the internet comes additional opportunities for cybercriminals to have immediate access to an individual's life. This volume explains how personal and private information is at risk for theft and what people can do to keep it secure from hackers who want to steal information, money, and even their identity. Teens discover not only what tools and strategies these hackers are using to get to their information but what steps they can take to stay safe. Readers will understand password protection and learn how to use Wi-Fi safely.

This insightful resource introduces readers to filter bubbles and explains how they form during social media use. It discusses their pros and cons, ethical implications, and how they affect individuals and society. Topics of interest to teens include cyberbullying and types of information collected by social media platforms. This volume thoughtfully considers likely future changes in filter bubbles, how they might be "popped" by individuals, and improvements planned by social media platforms such as Google and Facebook.

Many people have a specific idea of robots that comes out of science fiction movies, television shows, and books. In fiction, robots are made to resemble humans and are often shown as being heroic or villainous. Real robots rarely look anything like people. In reality, they are high-performing machines doing difficult jobs in places like factories, mines, and outer space. Technological advances have made surgical robots and self-driving cars a reality. This compelling resource explores many types of robots, how they are used, and their impact on jobs in industries ranging from manufacturing to law enforcement.

Most people associate artificial intelligence with IBM's Deep Blue playing chess against a world champion or Watson winning a Jeopardy competition, but AI is becoming a part of everyday life. This volume explores the applications of cutting-edge AI technology, incorporating examples particularly relevant to teens. It is used in facial recognition software in social media platforms, digital assistants on mobile devices, and fraud detection related to financial transactions. Autonomous vehicles and smart power grids are in development. The potential drawbacks of artificial intelligence, such as loss of jobs, privacy concerns, and bias in algorithms are also examined.

One of the most widespread online practices today is data harvesting, the collection of users, personal data and information about their activities. Data harvesting raises significant issues about the right to privacy. This informative narrative explains what data harvesting and data mining are and how they are carried out. The importance of privacy is covered, as well as two of the most common applications of data harvesting and data mining: the selling of products and services, and the influencing of people's attitudes toward political issues. Teens learn ways that they can safeguard their data to protect their privacy.

There is no doubt that technology can be advantageous in everyday life. However, in this ever-changing, increasingly connected world, technology can also open the door to danger and crime. Citizens of the computerized world need to be able to recognize digital threats in order to protect themselves. Threats include identity theft, cyberbullying, malware, and sock puppets. By illuminating the dark corners of the internet and emphasizing the use of critical thinking while online, this book will help train future denizens of the digital landscape to defend their data.