Chapter 7
Multiple-choice Questions (with answers and references to the text)
1. Which of the following is NOT a Neo-Luddite criticism of computers?
(a) Use of computers in schools thwarts development of social skills
(b) Computers separate humans from nature and destroy the environment
(c) Computers cause social inequity
(d) None of the above
2. Ken Olson, president of Digital Equipment Corp. in the late 1970’s, Thomas J. Watson,
chairman of IBM in the early 1940‘s, and Thomas Edison all made predictions about
technology that were extremely wrong. Which of the following explains why the
predictions of experts are often so far off?
(a) Lack of imagination about the uses people would find for technology
(b) Lack of imagination about what the public would like
(c) Lack of imagination about what the public would pay for
(d) All of the above
True/False
______ Simplifications and assumptions are always made when designing a computer model.
______ Providing new technology to poor countries is a matter of having enough money to buy
equipment.
Short-answer Questions
1. Give two of the Neo-Luddite criticisms of computer technology. Give one
counter argument for each
2. What three questions should we ask when evaluating computer models?
3. What are two software design and development factors which contribute to
system errors and failures? What are two management and use problems which
contribute to system errors and failures?
4. What is a significant criticism of Wikipedia?
Matching Questions
Essay Questions
1. Give three Neo-Luddite criticisms of technology? Provide one counter-
argument for each.
2. a. What are the three questions one should ask when evaluating a computer
model?
b. What might cause a computer model to inaccurately reflect a real-world
scenario?