Category: Reflections

In a recent article done by the UN Environmental Program, researchers have evaluated the boom in use of AI, and how this increased usage has both benefited and damaged ecosystems and environments. On the positive side, different governments around the world have began to utilize AI to help the environment, using it to help monitor harmful compounds such as methane to help limit international issues such as pollution and climate change. While AI applications in regards to the environment such as this monitoring initiative have had positive impacts, there have also been negative impacts on the environment associated with using AI. For example, a negative impact of using AI in regards to the environment is the consumption from AI data centres. Not only do AI data centres use high amounts of water, they also consume high amounts of fossil fuels contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, AI is rapidly growing technology, but many wonder when regulations will catch up to the increased usage.

As AI and the use of data centres have greatly expanded over the past 5 years, governments have been making efforts to ensure that the use of these facilities have been done environmentally friendly. To this day, between 190 and 200 countries thus far have implemented recommendations regarding the use of AI, with a few of them even introducing legislation of help mitigate the environmental effects of AI. In the future UNEP has made clear that they will support governments around the world to help navigate the complexities of regulating AI. Personally, I believe that governing bodies have done as good as they could have thus far to consider the environment with the expansion of AI. As AI is a relatively new phenomenon, governments have quickly adjusted to start implementing regulations surrounding the environment and AI. For me, at this point, the effort shown is good enough for me. As we continue to move forward in time, I hope to see the environment still being considered within technology, but I believe the timely response to this vast growth has shown good initiative.

After reading my blog post and the UN Environmental Program’s article on AI and the environment, I invite you to share your thoughts on what you think. Do you think that international governments have done a good job to limit the environmental impacts coming from AI? Let me know!

Sources/Resources Consulted

©koya979- Adobe Stock

https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/ai-has-environmental-problem-heres-what-world-can-do-about

For my reflection post this week, I will be reflecting on the The Government of Canada’s plans to test new technology within air travel to help make the process more seamless for individuals arriving by air from all around the world. In a news release by Transportation Canada, the release highlights the teamwork beginning between Canada and Known Traveler Digital Identity (KTDI). KTDI and their system have the main goal of expediting process for air travel, using their technologies to help individuals share their information through the simplicity of their smartphones. Transportation Canada has also shared projections for international arrivals by the year 2030, expressing that rapid growth within the area shows need for creating systems that can help the current infrastructure adapt.

One of the main questions that may arise with this new proposal is philosophical stances surrounding online information sharing. More specifically, addressing privacy and digital safety concerns surrounding sharing crucial information, and making sure that information shared is being used for good reasons. In my opinion, I believe that the shift towards the automation of travel experiences will prove to be an effective step in travel experiences. With a lot of new found advancements in technology such as the emergence of AI applications, I believe there are a lot of areas surrounding travel such as identification from governing bodies can be automated. While this may raise concerns for some people, I have trust and faith in the systems that are setting up these technologies, believing that my information will be used in a good way to help my future experiences at airports.

Another perspective surrounding this information is the cultural viewpoints that may be shifted due tot his new technology. In many individuals experience, traveling through the airport can be a stressful experience. Through the use of this new technology, I believe that there could be a cultural shift in the way that individuals view experiences at the airport. As this technology is set to make travel experiences more seamless, I believe it could prove to individuals that their travel does not need to be a hard time. Rather, individuals will be able to realize that their experiences can be more fluid.

After reading my blog post and learning about Canada’s new travel ideas, I invite you to share your thoughts. Are you worried that your information might be insecure when being shared online? Do you believe your cultural views will be shifted and your airport experiences will be more seamless? Let me know!

Sources/Resources Consulted

https://www.canada.ca/en/transport-canada/news/2018/01/the_government_ofcanadatotestcutting-edgetechnologiestosupportse.html

In a world of rapid technology advancement, it is important that individuals become aware of how to use developing technology in an ethical and effective way, to ensure that they gain competent skills to help them move through post-secondary school in BC and eventually into their future jobs. This framework provides context on different aspects of digital literacy, highlighting the importance of the ability to contribute digitally in a world of technology. Today, I will be exploring The B.C Post Secondary Digital Literacy Framework created by the B.C Government, and how I align with different aspects of digital literacy. 

  The first topic that I wanted to touch on is Technology Supports. Technology support can be defined as knowing what to use and when to use it in the context of different technological tools, as well as knowing when to use a new tool to help in what you are doing. After reading this section of the framework, there are some aspects of the framework that I believe I already practice on a daily basis. For example, I have extensive knowledge about the differences between hard drives and cloud drives, and when to use each one. Additionally, I am good at knowing where to find documents I have previously saved. Another aspect of Technology Support that I resonate with is always choosing a strong and unique password. Especially for my important accounts such as bank accounts, I understand the importance of choosing a password that is unlikely someone else will guess. As I have grown up using a lot of technology, I believe that I align with this section of the framework very well as I know how to use technology proficiently to support my school work. 

  On the flip side, a topic I believe that I am less proficient in but working towards proficiency comes under the digital scholarship aspect of the framework. Under the digital scholarship, literacy can be described as intentionally using different digital technologies for advanced efficiency. More specifically, I believe that I should work on participating in online learning opportunities. As I am starting to work on this, I expect that my new learning will help me in producing more efficiently. Another aspect of digital scholarship I believe I can improve on is identifying opportunities to digitally share my learning. I believe my first step in addressing both of these areas of growth for myself is joining this EDCI class. I believe that this class will help me in identifying different open access platforms to share my work, as well as using different online resources to learn about the digital world. 

  After reading my post and reading The B.C Post-Secondary Digital Literacy Framework, I invite you to share with me your thoughts on my post. I am curious where my readers align with this framework, identifying areas of strength and improvement on our collective journey of becoming more digitally literate.

Thank you for reading!

Sources/Articles Consulted

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/education/post-secondary-education/institution-resources-administration/digital-learning-strategy/bc_post-secondary_digital_literacy_framework.pdf