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The schedule of readings will almost certainly change during the course of the semester, depending on the interests in the class. We may not discuss all readings in class, but you should be prepared to discuss the readings if and when they come up in class discussions.
Week 1 (Jan 25-27): Course
Introduction and Concepts
Cybernetics, communication, codes, and control.
Begin Wiener, Human Use of Human Beings Preface and Ch 1
Week 2 (Feb 1-3): Feedback
HUHB chapters 2-4
Response 1 (on negative feedback)
Week 3 (Feb 8-10): Homeostasis
HUHB chapters 5-8
Response 2 (on homeostasis)
Week 4 (Feb 15-17): the 2nd Industrial
revolution
HUHB chapters 9-11
Response 3 (on 2nd Industrial Revolution)
Week 5 (Feb 22-24): Technological Singularity
Vernor Vinge, "Technological
Singularity."
TED Talk: Kevin
Kelly on How
Technology Evolves (2005)
Essay 1 due
Feb 24
Week 6 (March 1-3): Predicting
the Future
Kurzweil, The Singularity is Near Prologue and Chapter 1
Response 4 (on predicting future trends)
Week 7 (March 8-10): Technological Progress
TSiN chapter 2 and chapter 3 (sections "The Computational Capacity
of the Human Brain" and "The Limits of Computation")
Response 5 (on the life cycle of a technology)
Week 8 (Spring
Break)
Week 9 (March 22-24): Mind and Machine
TSiN chapter 4 (sections "Reverse Engineering the Brain," "Is
the Human Brain Different from a Computer?" "Interfacing the Brain
and Machines," and "Uploading the Human Brain."
Response 6 (on uploading the human brain)
Week 10 (March 29-31): GNR
TSiN chapter 5
TED Talk: Tan
Le, A
Headset that Reads Your Brainwaves (2010)
Essay 2 due March
31
Week 11 (April 5-7) Impacts and Identity
TSiN chapters 6-7
Response 7 (on identity)
Week 14 (April 26-28): Synthesis
Using & Citing Sources
Week 15 (May 3-5):
Exam Prep
Peer Review of Research paper, May 3
Research Paper due
May 5
Final Exams
Section 005: Thursday May 12, 10:30-1:15
Section 004: Thursday May 12, 1:30-4:15
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