CMN 170V MIDTERM UC DAVIS, SPRING 2026, PROF. HILBERT | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What is ICT? - (ANSWER)Information and Communication Technology
True or False. The invention of the telephone was not the world's first "tele-communication" or
"distance communication" device, smoke signals can and were used for distance communication -
(ANSWER)True
How has communication evolved? - (ANSWER)Smoke signals → Trumpet, horns (100 B.C.) → News
paper (1502)→Chappe Telegraph (1794)→Electromagnetic Telegraph (1837)→Telephone (1876)→Radio
(1918)→TV (1927)→Cellular (1973)
How has information storage evolved? - (ANSWER)Wall-painting→Chinese paper (105 A.D.)→Printing
Press (1450)→Punch cards (1801)→Magnetic disk (1956)→CD-Rom (1982)
How has computation evolved? - (ANSWER)Abacus calculator → Mech. Calculator (1500 A.D.)→Relay
(1935)→Vacuum tube (1942)→ Transistor(1959) → Microprocessor(1973) → Laptop (1975) → Mac
(1981)
What three areas have converged into ICT? - (ANSWER)Communication, information storage, and
computation
Who is Claude Shannon? - (ANSWER)Father of the information and digital age
"Digital convergence" or "ICT convergence" on the bit refers to the fact that... - (ANSWER)Three
previously separate technologies trajectories (Communication, Information Storage, and Computation)
converges on the digital paradigm
True or False. Time online has dramatically decreased. - (ANSWER)False. Time online has dramatically
INCREASED.
True or False. Technology is a tool and a means to an end. - (ANSWER)True.
,CMN 170V MIDTERM UC DAVIS, SPRING 2026, PROF. HILBERT | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What is technology determinism? - (ANSWER)Technology determines the outcome
Is this an example of technology determines or social construction of technology? Example: internet
implies freedom and democracy, the internet is inherently good, or, technology implies a informational
dictatorship, total control, surveillance, internet is inherently bad - (ANSWER)Technology determinism
Is this an example of technology determinism or social construction of technology?
Example: "The internet increases productivity" - (ANSWER)Technology determinism
What is social construction of technology? - (ANSWER)technology has different outcomes and they have
to be socially constructed, technology is a tool like a hammer
Is this an example of technology determines or social construction of technology?
Example: "The internet can be used in a way to increase productivity" - (ANSWER)Social constructivism
What is the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)Frame of reference that enables us to sort out the intricate
relationships between information and communication tech. and development
What does the Cube Framework focus on? - (ANSWER)-interdependency among technology
-policy interventions
-socioeconomic sectors
What are the horizontal layers of the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)-Infrastructure: tangible like
hardware, computers, mobile phones, cables
-Generic services: software, apps, email services, social networks
-Capabilities, skills and culture: ability to use it
What are the vertical layers of the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)•Different sectors like e-commerce, e-
health, public admin.
, CMN 170V MIDTERM UC DAVIS, SPRING 2026, PROF. HILBERT | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
•The prefix "e-..." implies that part of the involved information processes take place in electronic format
What are the diagonal areas of the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)•Policy
•Positive and negative feedback: the modification of a process or system by intervention
True or False. The first fundamental necessary condition for digital development consists in: Hardware,
software and human capital - (ANSWER)True
"Politicians and entrepreneurs alike have claimed that the Internet is a tool for total control. Digital
communication and interactions are recorded, monitored and analyzed by secret services, national
security agencies, and private enterprises as part of their surveillance practices." This attitude is an
example of:
a) Technological determinism
b) Social constructivism - (ANSWER)a) Technological determinism
The first computing device that ever existed was enabled by the monumental invention of the transistor
and microprocessor in the 1970s, which also sets the starting point of the "Information Age"
A) True
B) False - (ANSWER)B) False
How can we think about global digital development? - (ANSWER)Technology is a tool that has to be
guided and technology is not automatically good or bad
True or False. In regards to guiding intervention, positive feedback is like adding fuel to a fire and
negative feedback is not too much, not too little - (ANSWER)True
Technological change is represented by the... - (ANSWER)3 horizontal layers (Infrastructure, Generic
Services, Capabilities)
Social change is represented by the... - (ANSWER)e-sectors or vertical layers
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What is ICT? - (ANSWER)Information and Communication Technology
True or False. The invention of the telephone was not the world's first "tele-communication" or
"distance communication" device, smoke signals can and were used for distance communication -
(ANSWER)True
How has communication evolved? - (ANSWER)Smoke signals → Trumpet, horns (100 B.C.) → News
paper (1502)→Chappe Telegraph (1794)→Electromagnetic Telegraph (1837)→Telephone (1876)→Radio
(1918)→TV (1927)→Cellular (1973)
How has information storage evolved? - (ANSWER)Wall-painting→Chinese paper (105 A.D.)→Printing
Press (1450)→Punch cards (1801)→Magnetic disk (1956)→CD-Rom (1982)
How has computation evolved? - (ANSWER)Abacus calculator → Mech. Calculator (1500 A.D.)→Relay
(1935)→Vacuum tube (1942)→ Transistor(1959) → Microprocessor(1973) → Laptop (1975) → Mac
(1981)
What three areas have converged into ICT? - (ANSWER)Communication, information storage, and
computation
Who is Claude Shannon? - (ANSWER)Father of the information and digital age
"Digital convergence" or "ICT convergence" on the bit refers to the fact that... - (ANSWER)Three
previously separate technologies trajectories (Communication, Information Storage, and Computation)
converges on the digital paradigm
True or False. Time online has dramatically decreased. - (ANSWER)False. Time online has dramatically
INCREASED.
True or False. Technology is a tool and a means to an end. - (ANSWER)True.
,CMN 170V MIDTERM UC DAVIS, SPRING 2026, PROF. HILBERT | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
What is technology determinism? - (ANSWER)Technology determines the outcome
Is this an example of technology determines or social construction of technology? Example: internet
implies freedom and democracy, the internet is inherently good, or, technology implies a informational
dictatorship, total control, surveillance, internet is inherently bad - (ANSWER)Technology determinism
Is this an example of technology determinism or social construction of technology?
Example: "The internet increases productivity" - (ANSWER)Technology determinism
What is social construction of technology? - (ANSWER)technology has different outcomes and they have
to be socially constructed, technology is a tool like a hammer
Is this an example of technology determines or social construction of technology?
Example: "The internet can be used in a way to increase productivity" - (ANSWER)Social constructivism
What is the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)Frame of reference that enables us to sort out the intricate
relationships between information and communication tech. and development
What does the Cube Framework focus on? - (ANSWER)-interdependency among technology
-policy interventions
-socioeconomic sectors
What are the horizontal layers of the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)-Infrastructure: tangible like
hardware, computers, mobile phones, cables
-Generic services: software, apps, email services, social networks
-Capabilities, skills and culture: ability to use it
What are the vertical layers of the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)•Different sectors like e-commerce, e-
health, public admin.
, CMN 170V MIDTERM UC DAVIS, SPRING 2026, PROF. HILBERT | QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION
•The prefix "e-..." implies that part of the involved information processes take place in electronic format
What are the diagonal areas of the Cube Framework? - (ANSWER)•Policy
•Positive and negative feedback: the modification of a process or system by intervention
True or False. The first fundamental necessary condition for digital development consists in: Hardware,
software and human capital - (ANSWER)True
"Politicians and entrepreneurs alike have claimed that the Internet is a tool for total control. Digital
communication and interactions are recorded, monitored and analyzed by secret services, national
security agencies, and private enterprises as part of their surveillance practices." This attitude is an
example of:
a) Technological determinism
b) Social constructivism - (ANSWER)a) Technological determinism
The first computing device that ever existed was enabled by the monumental invention of the transistor
and microprocessor in the 1970s, which also sets the starting point of the "Information Age"
A) True
B) False - (ANSWER)B) False
How can we think about global digital development? - (ANSWER)Technology is a tool that has to be
guided and technology is not automatically good or bad
True or False. In regards to guiding intervention, positive feedback is like adding fuel to a fire and
negative feedback is not too much, not too little - (ANSWER)True
Technological change is represented by the... - (ANSWER)3 horizontal layers (Infrastructure, Generic
Services, Capabilities)
Social change is represented by the... - (ANSWER)e-sectors or vertical layers
