Cognitive Science

Final / 2003

Modified: 2003-05-04

Instructions: Return completed test no later than 3:00 p.m., Thursday, 2003-05-15.

Use the CS main page, pages you find on your own, and e-mail sent to you as the source for your answers. To avoid problems, submit your answers as hard copy only.

Answers should be legible (i.e., not hand written), complete, thoughtful, and articulate. You may consult with me via e-mail twice as you develop your answers (probably a good strategy). Shoot for at least one page per question and do not simply copy and paste answers. Use quotes to indicate sources you found elsewhere and provide URLs or references where appropriate. Failure to properly cite sources may lead to a grade of zero for that item!

1. What are interaction devices? Review the history of interaction devices in computing and then describe two future interaction devices not yet available for purchase.

2. How to search engines and agents work together? What is the invisible Web? Why is it invisible? Do a Google search for two words that lead to less than a total of 100 hits. What were your search words and how many hits did you get? Print the Google page showing your search and attach to your test. Bonus: student who gets fewest hits with two words gets 5 more points!

3. Is the desktop metaphor dead? Defend or refute this thesis. Be sure to support your arguments with references.

4. Describe how encryption and decryption work. What is plaintext, cyphertext, and a public key. Why is encryption such an important topic?

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