Published By: NBC News, 4/28/2017

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Summary

Google has set up its own Internet servers in Cuba for the first time. Though the move will not increase the number of Cubans who have Internet access, the servers will allow those who already have Internet access to have a faster, better experience when using Google products and services (such as YouTube). (Note: Despite the article title, speed will improve only for Google’s services.)

Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level of Article: 10.4

Extended Discussion Questions

• How does the Internet impact or influence your life?
  • How different would your life be without the Internet?
  • How would school be different without the Internet? Without Google (specifically)? Without YouTube?
• Is the Internet a basic necessity in the U.S. today? Why or why not?
• How does the Internet impact the world or society at large?
  • How much impact do you think this improvement to Google’s services will have on Cubans’ daily lives?
• What are some disadvantages of the Internet?
• The article points out that this infrastructure will not increase the number of Cubans who have access to Internet connections (it’s just making it faster to use Google services).
  • Are there ways it could indirectly benefit those who don’t yet have access?
  • Are there ways it could indirectly make things worse for those who don’t yet have access? (For example, could it widen disparities?)

Relating This Story to the CSP Curriculum Framework

Global Impact Learning Objectives:

• LO 7.1.1 Explain how computing innovations affect communication, interaction, and cognition.
• LO 7.3.1 Analyze the beneficial and harmful effects of computing.
• LO 7.4.1 Explain the connections between computing and real-world contexts, including economic, social, and cultural contexts.

Global Impact Essential Knowledge:

• EK 7.1.1M The Internet and the Web have enhanced methods of and opportunities for communication and collaboration.
• EK 7.1.1O The Internet and the Web have impacted productivity, positively and negatively, in many areas.
• EK 7.4.1A The innovation and impact of social media and online access varies in different countries and in different socioeconomic groups.
• EK 7.4.1C The global distribution of computing resources raises issues of equity, access, and power.
• EK 7.4.1D Groups and individuals are affected by the “digital divide” — differing access to computing and the Internet based on socioeconomic or geographic characteristics.

Other CSP Big Ideas:

• Idea 6 The Internet

Banner Image: “Network Visualization – Violet – Offset Crop“, derivative work by ICSI. New license: CC BY-SA 4.0. Based on “Social Network Analysis Visualization” by Martin Grandjean. Original license: CC BY-SA 3.0.