Discussion questions for April 23, 2009

energy aware.pdf
"Energy-Aware User Interfaces and Energy-Adaptive Displays"
Computer, March 2006, pp. 31-38

1.  Why does this article emphasize the user interface?  What do 
    the terms energy-aware and energy-adaptive mean?


2.  What do the authors find currently lacking in many user
    interface technologies?  What do they propose?


3.  Discuss the authors' display usage experiment.


4.  What are some software features that can reduce energy usage
    on a handheld device?  Are there possible side benefits to
    these innovations besides saving energy?


5.  Are there down sides to the hardware & software approaches
    described in the article?

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green it valley.pdf
"How Green is Your IT Valley?"
E Week, Jan. 21, 2008, pp. 46-53

6.  What seems to be a primary motivation for a business' IT
    department to adopt environmentally friendly practices?  
    Why do some drag their feet to make changes?
    
    
7.  What are example tactics that firms use to "go green" ?
    Be on the lookout for specific terms, and look up what they
    mean, for example:  "virtual host" and "thin client".
    
    
8.  Do these two articles suggest any advice for what
    ordinary users can do themselves to save energy?
    Also, are there user pitfalls that may unintentionally
    undo the energy-saving measures described?