*What*: Computer Science in the DPRK - Will Scott
*When:* Tuesday, Jan 13 at 12pm
*Where:* The Allen Center, CSE 203
Please join us for the first Change Seminar of winter quarter. We are
excited to have Will Scott from the networks lab in CSE come and talk
about his experiences teaching computer science at Pyongyang University
of Science and Technology in the fall of 2013 and 2014.
Please note that this quarter we will be meeting every other Tuesday so
the next meeting will not be until Tuesday January 27.
*Abstract:*
This talk will reflect on teaching Computer Science in Pyongyang over
the last two years, and look at how technology has been integrated into
civilian life in the DPRK. Remaining an extremely isolated country, many
people would be surprised to hear that cellphones have become
commonplace within the capitol, let alone that the country invests in
custom hardware and software. I'll talk through the current state of
desktop and mobile technology in pyongyang, and what's changing.
From redstar OS, a custom redhat-derived linux desktop and server
environment, to the arirang cellphone and tablet, technology in the DPRK
is different from what you are likely to see anywhere else in the world.
Most systems are not widely available, and exist as much in rumor as
reality. Partially from language barrier, and partially due to
restrictive import, export, and communication policies, there are large
gaps and large amounts of misinformation around most aspects of the country.
*About the speaker:*
Will Scott is graduate student in the networks lab in Computer Science
and Engineering at UW. He's research focus on removing the limitations
on information so the end user can have more control over their data and
applications. He has spent the last two falls teaching Computer
Science, specifically Operating Systems and Databases, to undergraduates
at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. In the course of
life in Pyongyang, Will has been able to observe the growing prevalence
of mobile technology, and get a first-hand look at the state of consumer
technology in the country.
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