Computer Science | Grinnell College

The first CS Table of the semester will be a discussion of Facebook's new efforts to bring Internet to the world. In Facebook's words:

"At the core of our efforts with Internet.org are non-exclusive partnerships with mobile operators to offer free basic internet services to people through Internet.org. This is a set of basic websites and services to introduce people to the value of the internet, and that we hope add value to their lives."

Apologies for the many loose readings, but this issue is new enough that there isn't a good, canonical resource out there describing both sides. Come to lunch having skimmed the links below and some sense of what the Free Basics controversy is about, and we'll discuss!

• Facebook announcing the internet.org platform
• Internet.org website
• Read up on Free Basics and its underlying platform
• The service being banned in Egypt
• Controversy in India
• Criticism of its limited services

Computer science table (CS Table) is a weekly meeting of Grinnell College community members (students, faculty, staff, etc.) interested in discussing topics related to computing and computer science. CS Table meets Tuesdays from 12:00-12:45 in JRC 224C. Students on meal plans, faculty, and staff are expected to cover the cost of their meals. Visitors to the College and students not on meal plans can charge their meals to the department.

This Friday at CS Table, Josh and I will lead a discussion of health information technology in the global context. For readings, see http://foswiki.cs.grinnell.edu/foswiki/bin/view/Courses/HealthCareAndCom...