An Analysis of PositiveCyb

PositiveCyb addressed an issue present in many environments such as in the workplace, a learning environment, or in a public environment. The knowledge of merely the app's existence can deter others from messing with a supposed victim through the mere threat presented by the app owner. The most appropriate thing I found about the idea was that it could prevent many illegal or violent incidents from occurring or assisting the capture of anyone involved in it. However, I find it being exploitable into being unfaithful for its intended purpose. The unknown possibility of spying on the app owner can lead to uncertainty that may be akin to how George Orwell's "1984" employs the method of "Big Brother." "Big Brother" employs a methodology that manipulates how we interact each other. PositiveCyb assumes that it will only use the data in a useful way, and starts to record audio after a word or phrase is said matching its filter. The lack of a possible income source and the vulnerability of how user data can be used will deter possible consumers from installing the app. The app emits the idea of intrusion into our daily lives that many would dislike. For example, an individual may commonly swear or joking say inappropriate words to a significant other or friend. As a result, this may trigger the app's recording and in turn may communicate with the wrong people due to a misleading situation. Although it was stated during the presentation that the app would differentiate between an aggressive and joking tone, I find it difficult it would able to do so without recording audio. This audio can be sold to third parties such as marketing companies in order to cater to people who say similar things. Although the concept itself has a good promise and possibly good intentions for the victim, but I find the vulnerability of the app's spy-ability to be too great to maintain, and I do not think PositiveCyb is a proper method to treating bullying in real life situations.

PositiveCyb

     The two presentations that I saw this week were interesting, however PositiveCyb captured my attention the most. This app would stop everyday and cyber bullying. Your mobile device would record the people around you and what they say. If something is heard that sounds like bullying then higher authority would be contacted. My only problem with this is that everyone would have to give consent to the app because if not that is an invasion of privacy, which would lead to legal issues.
    I like the idea of the app, but it seems like another way for the government to spy on society. I don't understand the option of turning the camera and microphone off because that is the whole purpose of the app.

PositiveCyb

The app PositiveCyb was created to address the issue of bullying. In our society bullying has taken a form of social attack with verbal degrading of another person, and people watching through forms of social media. This is sad but true to our society today. PostiveCyb basically takes your social media and goes through it and when any negative comment is said, it sends the authorities. I think the thought behind this app is amazing and i do agree that something should be done, but i personally feel as though this app is not the way. There is always the thought that kids are joking and are not trying to harm anyone. Yes, people always say you should not say those things, but it does not stop children from being children. Also, people have the right to say what they want. An opinion is an opinion and you cannot control the speech of others. I think there were a lot of good aspects to the app itself, but overall the app is too complicated and does not consider the counterattacks it may get.

Pillow Talk

The app Pillow Talk, was created as a safe haven for rape and sexual assault victims and potential victims. The app basically alerts the authorities whenever a victim is in a situation where they feel they are going to be harmed in any way. The app then sends a text asking if the victim is okay, if the victim does not respond within the time limit of 2 minutes then dispatchers are sent to the victims location. It also allows for every person who owns the app to scan their location and surrounding areas for registered predators. The app is an amazing way to keep people safe in a world of technology and also educate people on sexual assault. A lot of the times victims of sexual assault just think of it as rape or vicious crimes, when in actuality sexual assault can be other things as well especially if a predator is doing anything to make you uncomfortable and feel unsafe about your body. I think the app should be tested on college campuses such as CBU or U of M, I personally believe U of M would be a great start due to the high ratings of assault on campus.

PositiveCyb

The issue of bullying was tackled in this presentation, with the given solution being the app PositiveCyb. The app offered several features in the name of tackling bullying. Though the app has good intentions and a solid issue that it seeks to address, the way that the app collects and records data is much too invasive in my mind. As the presenters said, the app would monitor and run through all forms of social media and other apps that the user could be harassed through, which is a bit alarming that it would have such a power. But the truly disturbing aspect of the app was that it would turn on and record a video when it detected any inappropriate or angry language that could be labeled as "bullying", and then send it to the authorities or any other people that the user selects it to be sent to. Now, bullying is a serious issue and impacts a lot of people at some point during their lifetime, however when it comes to just verbal abuse and bullying, there is also the matter of free speech that can be argued for here. If a bully says something aggressive, but does not necessarily constitute as a threat or an offensive in the eyes of the authorities, then nothing will be accomplished and could possibly provoke the aggressor even more. Another thing about this is that the app is supposed to be able to pick up on the differences between truly aggressive language and playfully aggressive banter. This also caught my attention, because not every bully takes the same approach, some may address their victims with a more calm tone or some other form of speaking that the app does not recognize as a threat, or could record and register a playful dialogue as hostile and get the wrong person in trouble for it. In my opinion, the best feature of the app was the option to join a support group or groups. This would be very beneficial to victims of bullying. To have a support system right there at their fingertips whenever they needed it is a very thoughtful and fantastic idea. In conclusion, the app could cause controversy in its intrusiveness and encroachment on people's right to free speech, but it is a great start to finding an effective solution to the issue of bullying.

White Bear - Justice

Another episode of the series Black Mirror, is called White Bear. The first character we see is a woman who is confused about her whereabouts. She walks out of her assumed house to see people in windows video taping her. She has no idea whats going on and is screaming asking why and what is going on. Then we see a gunman show up for is going after only her and trying to kill her. She gets away and finds a woman she thinks she can trust who explains to her that the government has created a system that has took over everyone's mind and they are going after the people who were not effected it. As they get a way they find refugee in a man that is thought to be good, and she begins to remember random things, like the fact that he was going to take them to the woods. Once they get there the man they had trusted pulls a gun on them and attempts to add them to his collection of people he has killed. They finally get away and the girl leads them to "White Bear" where she thinks they are going to turn off the system and save the day. When they get there she soon finds out that it is all and act and that this is a justice system. It is a park that holds her because her and her husband murdered a child, and it is a public display of her punishment. She is shocked at night so she does not remember the day before and has to go through it all over again. I personally disagree with this display of publish torture.

The Panopticon

The Panopticon is essentially a prison like system that creates a sense of paranoia. The jail-like system is set up with a tall lighthouse type figure in the middle and the cells set in a circle around it. The Panopticon's light shines through the cells of each inmate all day everyday, creating a sense of unknown. The Prisoners have no idea if there is a guard there watching their every move, and have no idea when they are getting out. The rooms are set up to always be open and there is no way they could hid from the light on the panopticon. The system is brilliant because it forces a sense of control and respect over the prisoners or sadly drives them mentally insane. I agree with the idea of the panopticon because the fear of the unknown is a fear that all humans have and sadly is a great way to gain control and somewhat a sense of trust over each inmate. The downside it does not respect their mental health. I personally believe that is wrong because though gain respect their should be a sense of care when it comes to the well being of each inmate.