DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY - Filestore.scouting

DIGITALTECHNOLOGY

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICAMERIT BADGE SERIESDIGITALTECHNOLOGY“Enhancing our youths’ competitive edge through merit badges”

Requirements1. Show your counselor your current, up-to-date Cyber Chip.2. Do the following:a. Give a brief history of the changes in digital technology over time. Discuss with your counselor how digitaltechnology in your lifetime compares with that of yourparent’s, grandparent’s, or other adult’s lifetime.b. Describe the kinds of computers or devices you imaginemight be available when you are an adult.3. Do the following:a. Explain to your counselor how text, sound, pictures,and videos are digitized for storage.b. Describe the difference between lossy and lossless datacompression, and give an example where each mightbe used.c. Describe two digital devices and how they are mademore useful by their programming.d. Discuss the similarities and differences between computers, mobile devices, and gaming consoles.e. Explain what a computer network is and describe thenetwork’s purpose.4. Do the following:a. Explain what a program or software application or“app” is and how it is created.b. Name four software programs or mobile apps you oryour family use, and explain how each one helps you.c. Describe what malware is, and explain how to protectyour digital devices and the information stored on them.4    DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

5. Do the following:a. Describe how digital devices are connected tothe Internet.b. Using an Internet search engine (with your parent’s permission), find ideas about how to conduct a troop courtof honor or campfire program. Print out a copy of theideas from at least three different websites. Share whatyou found with your counselor, and explain how youused the search engine to find this information.c. Use a Web browser to connect to an HTTPS (secure)website (with your parent’s permission). Explain toyour counselor how to tell whether the site’s securitycertificate can be trusted, and what it means to use thiskind of connection.6. Do THREE of the following. For each project you complete,copy the files to a backup device and share the finishedprojects with your counselor.a. Using a spreadsheet or database program, develop afood budget for a patrol weekend campout OR create atroop roster that includes the name, rank, patrol, andtelephone number of each Scout. Show your counselorthat you can sort the roster by each of the following categories: rank, patrol, and alphabetically by name.b. Using a word processor, write a draft letter to theparents of your troop’s Scouts, inviting them to atroop event.c. Using a graphics program, design and draw a campsiteplan for your troop OR create a flier for an upcomingtroop event, incorporating text and some type of visualsuch as a photograph or an illustration.d. Using a presentation software program, develop a reportabout a topic approved by your counselor. For yourpresentation, create at least five slides, with each oneincorporating text and some type of visual such as aphotograph or an illustration.e. Using a digital device, take a picture of a troop activity.Send or transfer this image to a device where the picture can be shared with your counselor.DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY   5

f. Make a digital recording of your voice, transfer the fileto a different device, and have your counselor play backthe recording.g. Create a blog and use it as an online journal of yourScouting activities, including group discussions andmeetings, campouts, and other events. Include at leastfive entries and two photographs or illustrations. Shareyour blog with your counselor. You need not post theblog to the Internet; however, if you choose to go livewith your blog, you must first share it with your parentsAND counselor AND get their approval.h. Create a Web page for your troop, patrol, school, orplace of worship. Include at least three articles and twophotographs or illustrations. Include at least one linkto a website of interest to your audience. You need notpost the page to the Internet; however, if you decide todo so, you must first share the Web page with your parents AND counselor AND get their approval.7. Do the following:a. Explain to your counselor each of these protectionsand why they exist: copyright, patents, trademarks,trade secrets.b. Explain when it is permissible to accept a free copy of aprogram from a friend.c. Discuss with your counselor an article or a news reportabout a recent legal case involving an intellectual property dispute.8. Do TWO of the following:a. Describe why it is important to properly dispose ofdigital technology. List at least three dangerous chemicals that could be used to create digital devices or usedinside a digital device.b. Explain to your counselor what is required to becomea certified recycler of digital technology hardwareor devices.6     DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

c. Do an Internet search for an organization that collectsdiscarded digital technology hardware or devices forrepurposing or recycling. Find out what happens to thatwaste. Share with your counselor what you found.d. Visit a recycling center that disposes of digital technology hardware or devices. Find out what happens to thatwaste. Share what you learned with your counselor.e. Find a battery recycling center near you and find outwhat it does to recycle batteries. Share what you havelearned with your counselor about the proper methodsfor recycling batteries.9. Do ONE of the following:a. Investigate three career opportunities that involve digitaltechnology. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discussthis with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.b. Visit a business or an industrial facility that uses digitaltechnology. Describe four ways digital technology isbeing used there. Share what you learned withyour counselor.DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY   7

.Digital Technology ResourcesDigital Technology ResourcesScouting LiteratureDrafting, Electricity, Electronics,Engineering, Game Design, GraphicArts, Inventing, Photography,Programming, and Robotics meritbadge pamphletsVisit the Boy Scouts of America’sofficial retail website at http://www.scoutstuff.org for a completelisting of all merit badge pamphletsand other helpful Scouting materials and supplies.Organizations and WebsitesAmerican Society forEngineering EducationWebsites: http://www.asee.org andhttp://www.engineeringk12.orgComputer and InformationTechnology OccupationsOccupational Outlook ation-technology/home.htmThe Computer History ainment Software AssociationWebsite: http://www.theesa.comEnvironmental Protection AgencyWebsite: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/index.htmIEEE (Institute of Electricaland Electronics Engineers)Website: http://www.ieee.orgIEEE Computer SocietyWebsite: http://www.computer.orgInternational Game DevelopersAssociationWebsite: http://www.igda.orgInternational IntellectualProperty AllianceWebsite: http://www.iipa.comLibrary of CongressWebsite: http://www.loc.govRecording Industry Associationof AmericaWebsite: http://www.riaa.comU.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeWebsite: http://www.uspto.govWorld Wide Web ConsortiumWebsite: http://www.w3c.orgFor more information andresources about digitaltechnology, go to http://boyslife.org/digitaltechnology.DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY   91

Digital Technology Resources.E-Waste ResourcesCall2RecycleWebsite: http://www.call2recycle.orgEarth911Website: http://earth911.comTerracycleWebsite: http://www.terracycle.com/en-USAcknowledgmentsThe Boy Scouts of America gratefully acknowledges the team thathelped update this edition of DigitalTechnology, which replaces theComputers merit badge pamphlet:Celeste Rance—DigitalTechnology merit badge lead;coauthor, Programming merit badgepamphlet; software developmentmanager, PearsonRick Folea—Eagle Scout;Programming merit badge lead;coauthor, Robotics merit badgepamphlet; AutomationDirect.comLaszlo Hideg—Ph.D., P.E.—Transmission Algorithms and Control,GM Powertrain; coauthor, Robotics andProgramming merit badge pamphlets;FIRST Robotics competition judgeand volunteerSteve Petersen—Eagle Scout;BSA Cyber Chip codeveloper; Webdevelopment professionalRobert J. Caruso, CISSP—Information security architect, BattelleMemorial Institute; inventor andsoftware product developer; U.S.CyberPatriot mentor and lifelongScouter; coauthor, Programming meritbadge pamphlet; BSA CyberChip codeveloper92    DIGITAL TECHNOLOGYSteve Wincor—Chief systemsarchitect, Lockheed Martin; BSANova Awards mentor; coauthor,Programming merit badge pamphlet;BSA Cyber Chip codeveloperDr. Philip Stahl, Ph.D.—EagleScout; senior optical physicist, NASA;2014 president, SPIE (Society of PhotoOptical Instrumentation Engineers)Thanks also to Eagle ScoutChristopher Hideg for his assistancewith sidebars for this meritbadge pamphlet.We appreciate Scott Stuckey forwriting the previous edition of theComputers merit badge pamphlet,upon some of which this new pamphlet is based. Mr. Stuckey is a formereditor of Boys’ Life magazine.The BSA is grateful to theComponents, Packaging, andManufacturing Technology Societyof the Institute of Electrical andElectronics Engineers, in particularlongtime national Scout jamboree staffmember Ralph W. Russell II, IEEEPrecollege Education CoordinatingCommittee, for their assistance withprevious editions of the Computersmerit badge pamphlet that formed thebasis for much of this revised edition.

Computers merit badge pamphlet: Celeste Rance—Digital Technology merit badge lead; editor of coauthor, Programming merit badge pamphlet; software development Components, Packaging, and manager, Pearson Rick Folea—Eagle Scout; Programming merit badge lead; Electronics Engineers, in particular coauthor, Robotics merit badge pamphlet .