Inspiration

Although no longer at university, one of my bugaboos during my time at university was the difficulty in speaking to lecturers or fellow students whilst doing an assignment at the same time. It usually entailed having to leave my workspace and finding a different medium through which I could communicate to my peers (typically, this was Facebook Messenger, on my phone). This project is an add-in in Microsoft Word that enables students to communicate with each other whilst doing an assignment. As with many (though not all) add-ins in Microsoft Word, this is programmed in HTML, CSS, JavaScript (nodeJS) as well as uses the Stream API. This add-in solves the problem of students having to dangle multiple means of communication whilst working on an assignment. Instead, students can communicate with each other as well as with lecturers/tutors within the context of Microsoft Word.

What it does

Requirements

It is advisable to have the following in order to run this program successfully:

• Stable internet (as add-ins are effectively websites within Microsoft, an internet connection is needed)
• Windows or Mac
• Microsoft Word (2016 version or later) with an active subscription
• NodeJS with version v18.12.1 (this program may not work on later versions of Windows)
• API key with Stream. You will need to register an account with them on their website.

How we built it

This was built using HTML, CSS, JavaScript (nodeJS) as well Microsoft's Yeoman Generator functionality.

Challenges we ran into

There is a "glitch" in the Stream website in that the drop-down menu does not refer to Stream having a JavaScript API. As a result, I almost did not take part.

P.S.: Sadly due to a last-minute glitch there was an issue with the add-in and so sadly there is no YouTube video available.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I'm proud to have learned more about Stream.

What we learned

I learned more about Stream, which I had never heard about until this hackathon.

For the Best Blog Prize

We shouldn’t fear artificial intelligence

“Artificial intelligence” (AI) are two words that have troubled a variety of people, from Bill Gates to Professor Stephen Hawking. The prominent entrepreneur Elon Musk, currently the owner of the social media platform Twitter, called it our greatest “existential threat”. Tyler Cowen, an economist, described the popular AI-powered software ChatGPT as posing a threat to our democracy. But what is AI and why has it caused so much worry?

AI basically describes robots displaying behaviour that would be considered “intelligent”. Have you ever seen a Hollywood movie with a theme surrounding robots destroying mankind? These robots exhibit AI and such movies portray the fears of men like Musk; that robots will soon become more intelligent than we are and will one day wipe us out. Other fears include the prospect of unemployment as more jobs are taken over by robots.

Frightening though these prospects may be, it is unlikely they will materialise. Though it is natural to consult industry experts like Gates on issues like this, it is also important to consider the views of philosophers.

The debate about AI is not new. A precedent can be found as early as the 18th century in the works of German philosopher Gottfried Leibniz, with what is now called “Leibniz’s Mill”. Further down the history of philosophy in the 20th century we find what is called the “Chinese Room” argument by Professor John Searle that dismisses AI.

Suppose you were in Beijing working in the drive-thru section of McDonalds. You have no knowledge of the Chinese language, spoken or written. Intermittently, a person slips a set of instructions underneath your door with Chinese characters along with English words explaining the various orders. Unbeknowst to arriving Chinese customers, you simply follow these instructions to fulfil their requests. To the Chinese customer, you seem to have a grasp of the Chinese language, but can we really say you understand the Chinese language when all you are doing is following instructions?

This was the thought experiment put forward by Searle to dismiss the view that computers will exhibit AI. They may appear “intelligent” to us on the outside, but they are ultimately not conscious of what they are doing.

The fears of men like Musk are based on a view of human intelligence called “functionalism” in philosophy: minds are defined by what they do rather than what they are. This view suggests that a processing unit that behaves like a human mind can be said to be equal to a human mind. This was not the view of philosophers such as philosopher and theologian St. Augustine, who added a metaphysical element to the concept of the mind: It is by being made in the image of God that our mind is truly special. Therefore, it is improbable that robots will ever develop a mind vastly exceeding our own. AI robots will always remain in the movies.

Built With

• css
• html
• javascript
• node.js
• stream-api
• xml