For class discussion, Feb. 26, 2009

"Grand Research Challenges in Computer Science in Brazil"
Computer, June 2008, pp. 59-65

1.  The paper discusses Brazil's agenda for CS research by identifying
some research challenges.  Describe the 5 research areas in your own words.
How were these 5 areas determined?


2.  Comment on "providing universal and participative access".  What issues
does this challenge cover?


3.  What does the author mean by a ubiquitous system?  What are some challenges
in creating one?


4.  What educational objectives are aluded to in the article?  According to the author, 
how should computer science research change in Brazil?


5.  Much of this article could have been written about any country.  What is
uniquely Brazilian about the article?  Are there important aspects of Brazil
not mentioned here?


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"Wiring the Wilderness in Alaska and the Yukon"
Communications of the ACM, June 2001, pp. 21-25

6.  Do you think the benchmarks for Internet access proposed in the
first part of the article are realistic?  


7.  Should people be provided with an Internet service they cannot afford?
What cost-effective solutions from the government are there to providing access?


8.  What do people use the Internet for in the remote north, versus elsewhere?
Can you think of examples of other opportunities for IT participation that were not 
mentioned in the article?