Information Technology in a Global Society

This article discusses how artificial intelligence systems can demonstrate both gender and racial 'bias'. Of course, this bias stems from unrepresentative training data - such systems are better at recognising white males because they are given more images of white males as training data. The article and video could lead to some interesting TOK discussions such as 'Can machines be bias?' and 'can we ever escape bias?".

Computer models can be used to predict the chances of wildfires breaking out, and the path they may take if they do. Wilder wildfires? Computing helps predict their path and fury gives a good overview of these models. Burning Question (The Atlantic) discusses why computer models of wild fires are becoming less accurate.

There are also several interactive computer models that students can use. Fire! is the most basic model, really little more than a visualisation of probabilities. However, it is useful for discussions on the accuracy of models. A Better Fire is a more advanced version that includes wind direction and strength, as well as forest density.

Military and civilian pilots alike make extensive use of flight simulators to hone their skills in safety. The following resources provide an insight into just what a fully-equipped simulator is like.

• Boeing flight simulator (video)
• RAF Valley Hawk simulator (video)
• Pilots train without taking off (BBC)
• Flight simulator pictures
• Video: Airbus simulator during a bird strike and engine fire.

Along with flight simulators, driving simulators are the canonical example of simulator software. They range from quite basic software driving simulators (video) that run on most modern computers, to full-blown simulators with dedicated full motion hardware. Racing teams also make extensive use of simulators, as demonstrated by the Red Bull F1 Simulator with Mark Webber, On Board with Lewis Hamilton in the F1 Simulator, and Trying out Fernando Alonso's Ferrari F1 simulator (video).

• Predicting earthquakes: Titan takes on the big one discusses the latest developments in earthquake prediction technology and the problems that still exist. A good example of why even supercomputing power cannot solve some problems.
• Alaskan Way Viaduct - Earthquake Visualisation (video) is a frighteningly realistic visualisation of the effect of a large earthquake in a downtown area.
• F1 Car - Engine and Radiator Flow (video) demonstrates Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) which are used by designers of many cars, aircraft, and space craft.
• Computer models predicts path of lost hikers (PhysOrg)
• Destroying drug cartels, the mathematical way (New Scientist) talks about a rather  unusual type of computer model.
• Microsimulation of Road Traffic Flow
• The Habitable Planet: Demographics Lab
• Orbital Motion - Kepler's Laws

Car crash models can be used to test the strength of different car designs, the effects of different safety measures, and the potential injuries to passengers and pedestrians. Car crash simulation is a comprehensive article that covers many aspects of car crash models and simulations. The following new articles and videos cover car crash models from standard road cars to racing cars:

• Car crash tests (video) shows how real (physical) car crash tests are conducted. It is good as an introduction to help students understand the level that computer models need to match.
• Simulating Safety is a good overview of how car crash models are created.
• Simulated Car Crashes Involving Pregnant Women (science Daily)
• Crashing Cars When They're Still a Gleam in the Designer's Eye (NYTimes)
• Car-crash Testing: Is It Accurate? (Desktop Engineering)
• Crashteams 'Crash reconstruction experts'
• FIAT Bravo Animation-front crash test (video)
• Toyota High-Tech Simulator Helps Racecar Safety
• Car crash simulator is a basic model of the forces at work during a car accident.
• Car crash software is a short video that discusses how computer models are validated.

These interactive activities model the spread of various diseases. They are great resources for exercises 8.1 and 8.2 in the textbook, and for understanding more about how computer models work and their potential limitations.

• NetLogo Models Library: HIV / AIDS model
• Disease spread model
• Spread of Disease computer model
• Epidemic Modelling
• Measles epidemic simulator

Supercomputing Super Powers (BBC) provides a graphical breakdown of the fastest supercomputers by speed, country, and operating system, while the TOP500 Supercomputing Sites is a regularly updated list of world's fastest supercomputers. The Green500 list is a similar concept, but instead of measuring raw performance, measures performance per Watt.

Cray - The Supercomputer Company have many examples of specifications and applications of supercomputers - the site is an essential read for this topic. Titan supercomputer is the world's most powerful (Telegraph) discusses the Titan supercomputer, while Building Titan: The 'world's fastest' supercomputer is a more in-depth analysis of it, including examples of how it will be used. In June 2013 this record was re-taken by China's Tianhe-2 supercomputer. What Is A Supercomputer? and The supercomputer behind the US nuclear arsenal give a good overview of supercomputers and the kinds of specifications we can expect them to have as of 2019.

For smaller devices, Pocket marvels: 40 years of handheld computers (ComputerWorld) has an interesting slideshow showing the developments in processing power, storage capacities, screen sizes, and input devices over the past 40 years.