COMM 2381: Oral Communication

Driverless, autonomous, or self-driving cars are being tested widely.  They leverage GPS, odometry, radar, computer vision, and other techniques to sense what traditionally drivers have seen.  Questions of safety, ethics, and computer security persist:

• National Science Foundation awards grants to improve self-driving car safety.
• Scholars, legislators, and corporations debate the ethics of driverless cars.
• MIT Technology Review writes that self-driving cars can be easily hacked.

Drone technology has been harnessed by a variety enterprises, from commercial to educational, scientific to sportsman. 

• Investigate how drones have improved emergency response and law enforcement in dangerous situations.
• Understand legislation of drones by reading about current state laws compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures.
• Explore innovative artistic uses for drones or explore their use in scientific settings.

Hydraulic fracturing is a natural gas extraction method that remains controversial.

• The Environmental Protection Agency describes the extraction process here  and a "Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources" here.
• The Tennessee Environmental Council provides statewide policy and advocacy information regarding fracking.

Positive train control is an automated system that monitors and controls train speed and movements in order to enhance safety. Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) required implementation of PTC by December 2015, but many railroads have failed to do so.

• Catch up with a 2015 House of Representative hearing on "The state of positive train control implementation in the United States" http://purl.fdlp.gov/GPO/gpo63380
• Begin to understand how these systems work by viewing the patent for an automated real-time positive train control track database validation

• Whistleblowing Protecting Program

• Office of the Whistleblower

• IRS Whistleblower Law

• Declassified Snowden report