Question
Assignment: Computer Science and Technology in The Social Network
Instructions: Answer the following questions based on the concepts and technology portrayed in the movie The Social Network. Be sure to provide detailed explanations where required.
Part 1: Multiple Choice (10 Questions)
What programming language did Mark Zuckerberg use to build Facemash?
a) Python
b) C++
c) Perl
d) PHP
Which database management system is prominently mentioned in the film?
a) MySQL
b) PostgreSQL
c) MongoDB
d) Oracle
What was the purpose of the "crawler" script Mark wrote for Facemash?
a) To optimize page load speed
b) To collect images from Harvard’s directories
c) To analyze network traffic
d) To encrypt user data
Which of the following algorithms is discussed in relation to comparing photos?
a) QuickSort
b) PageRank
c) Elo rating system
d) AES encryption
How did the site 'The Facebook' initially manage user authentication?
a) OAuth tokens
b) Email verification
c) SMS verification
d) Cookie-based sessions
Part 2: Short Answer (10 Questions)
Explain how Mark's use of PHP and Apache helped him quickly develop and deploy Facemash.
Describe how DNS plays a role in the launch of The Facebook.
Discuss the concept of server load and how it became an issue for Facemash.
What is the significance of using an SQL injection technique, as seen in the movie?
Briefly describe the role of an algorithm in determining the ranking of photos on Facemash.
Part 3: Essay Questions (10 Questions)
Analyze the ethical implications of scraping data from university directories without permission.
Discuss the importance of scalability in the context of The Facebook's growth.
How did cloud hosting solutions differ in the early 2000s compared to modern solutions, and how would this impact The Facebook today?
How do security vulnerabilities, such as those exploited in Facemash, affect modern social media platforms?
Compare the technological approach used in The Facebook's initial development with how a similar project would be developed today using modern technologies (e.g., React, Node.js).
Discuss the role of version control in collaborative software development, particularly in a team setting like Facebook’s early days.
Explain how social graph theory influenced the structure of Facebook’s friend connections.
What impact did open-source software have on the development of Facebook?
Describe the legal and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy portrayed in the movie.
Reflect on how rapid prototyping played a role in Facebook's early success.
Submission Guidelines:
Please write your answers in a separate document and submit it as per your instructor’s guidelines.
Make sure to support your arguments with examples from the movie and real-world technology concepts.
(simple answers, one - two sentence each )
Instructions: Answer the following questions based on the concepts and technology portrayed in the movie The Social Network. Be sure to provide detailed explanations where required.
Part 1: Multiple Choice (10 Questions)
What programming language did Mark Zuckerberg use to build Facemash?
a) Python
b) C++
c) Perl
d) PHP
Which database management system is prominently mentioned in the film?
a) MySQL
b) PostgreSQL
c) MongoDB
d) Oracle
What was the purpose of the "crawler" script Mark wrote for Facemash?
a) To optimize page load speed
b) To collect images from Harvard’s directories
c) To analyze network traffic
d) To encrypt user data
Which of the following algorithms is discussed in relation to comparing photos?
a) QuickSort
b) PageRank
c) Elo rating system
d) AES encryption
How did the site 'The Facebook' initially manage user authentication?
a) OAuth tokens
b) Email verification
c) SMS verification
d) Cookie-based sessions
Part 2: Short Answer (10 Questions)
Explain how Mark's use of PHP and Apache helped him quickly develop and deploy Facemash.
Describe how DNS plays a role in the launch of The Facebook.
Discuss the concept of server load and how it became an issue for Facemash.
What is the significance of using an SQL injection technique, as seen in the movie?
Briefly describe the role of an algorithm in determining the ranking of photos on Facemash.
Part 3: Essay Questions (10 Questions)
Analyze the ethical implications of scraping data from university directories without permission.
Discuss the importance of scalability in the context of The Facebook's growth.
How did cloud hosting solutions differ in the early 2000s compared to modern solutions, and how would this impact The Facebook today?
How do security vulnerabilities, such as those exploited in Facemash, affect modern social media platforms?
Compare the technological approach used in The Facebook's initial development with how a similar project would be developed today using modern technologies (e.g., React, Node.js).
Discuss the role of version control in collaborative software development, particularly in a team setting like Facebook’s early days.
Explain how social graph theory influenced the structure of Facebook’s friend connections.
What impact did open-source software have on the development of Facebook?
Describe the legal and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy portrayed in the movie.
Reflect on how rapid prototyping played a role in Facebook's early success.
Submission Guidelines:
Please write your answers in a separate document and submit it as per your instructor’s guidelines.
Make sure to support your arguments with examples from the movie and real-world technology concepts.
(simple answers, one - two sentence each )
Answers
GPT-4o mini
### Part 1: Multiple Choice
1. **What programming language did Mark Zuckerberg use to build Facemash?**
- **c) Perl**
2. **Which database management system is prominently mentioned in the film?**
- **a) MySQL**
3. **What was the purpose of the "crawler" script Mark wrote for Facemash?**
- **b) To collect images from Harvard’s directories**
4. **Which of the following algorithms is discussed in relation to comparing photos?**
- **c) Elo rating system**
5. **How did the site 'The Facebook' initially manage user authentication?**
- **d) Cookie-based sessions**
---
### Part 2: Short Answer
1. **Explain how Mark's use of PHP and Apache helped him quickly develop and deploy Facemash.**
- PHP is a server-side scripting language that simplifies web development, allowing Mark to quickly write code for dynamic content, while Apache served as a stable web server to host his application.
2. **Describe how DNS plays a role in the launch of The Facebook.**
- DNS (Domain Name System) translates the user-friendly domain name into an IP address, enabling users to access The Facebook via a recognizable URL rather than a complex numerical address.
3. **Discuss the concept of server load and how it became an issue for Facemash.**
- Server load refers to the amount of traffic a server can handle; Facemash quickly became overwhelmed due to high traffic, resulting in slow performance and downtime.
4. **What is the significance of using an SQL injection technique, as seen in the movie?**
- SQL injection is a method to manipulate databases via malicious queries, highlighting vulnerabilities in web applications, which can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches.
5. **Briefly describe the role of an algorithm in determining the ranking of photos on Facemash.**
- An algorithm was used to compare and rank photos based on attractiveness, using metrics from user votes to create a competitive environment among student images.
---
### Part 3: Essay Questions
1. **Analyze the ethical implications of scraping data from university directories without permission.**
- Scraping personal data without consent raises privacy concerns, as it violates individuals' rights to control their information and could lead to potential misuse of their data.
2. **Discuss the importance of scalability in the context of The Facebook's growth.**
- Scalability was critical for accommodating rapid user growth, ensuring that The Facebook could efficiently handle increasing amounts of data and user interactions without performance degradation.
3. **How did cloud hosting solutions differ in the early 2000s compared to modern solutions, and how would this impact The Facebook today?**
- Early cloud solutions were less flexible and scalable, whereas modern cloud platforms offer robust capabilities for on-demand resources and high redundancy, allowing for immediate scaling in response to user demand.
4. **How do security vulnerabilities, such as those exploited in Facemash, affect modern social media platforms?**
- Security vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches, loss of user trust, and legal issues, making it essential for social media platforms to implement rigorous security measures and regular testing.
5. **Compare the technological approach used in The Facebook's initial development with how a similar project would be developed today using modern technologies (e.g., React, Node.js).**
- Today, a similar project would likely utilize frameworks and libraries like React for dynamic front-end development, and Node.js for efficient server-side handling, promoting better modularity and efficient updates compared to the monolithic approach used in The Facebook's early days.
6. **Discuss the role of version control in collaborative software development, particularly in a team setting like Facebook’s early days.**
- Version control allows multiple developers to collaborate seamlessly, tracking changes, managing code versions, and reverting to previous states, which is crucial in a fast-paced environment like Facebook's initial development.
7. **Explain how social graph theory influenced the structure of Facebook’s friend connections.**
- Social graph theory provides a mathematical framework for modeling relationships, allowing Facebook to represent users and their friendships as nodes and edges in a network, facilitating more meaningful connections and interactions.
8. **What impact did open-source software have on the development of Facebook?**
- Open-source software offered essential tools and frameworks for development, accelerating progress and allowing Facebook's developers to leverage collaborative resources from the broader tech community.
9. **Describe the legal and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy portrayed in the movie.**
- The movie highlights the potential for data misuse and privacy violations, raising questions about user consent and the ethical responsibility of tech companies to safeguard personal information.
10. **Reflect on how rapid prototyping played a role in Facebook's early success.**
- Rapid prototyping allowed the team to quickly build, test, and iterate on ideas, facilitating early user feedback and ensuring that the platform evolved based on real-world use and needs.
1. **What programming language did Mark Zuckerberg use to build Facemash?**
- **c) Perl**
2. **Which database management system is prominently mentioned in the film?**
- **a) MySQL**
3. **What was the purpose of the "crawler" script Mark wrote for Facemash?**
- **b) To collect images from Harvard’s directories**
4. **Which of the following algorithms is discussed in relation to comparing photos?**
- **c) Elo rating system**
5. **How did the site 'The Facebook' initially manage user authentication?**
- **d) Cookie-based sessions**
---
### Part 2: Short Answer
1. **Explain how Mark's use of PHP and Apache helped him quickly develop and deploy Facemash.**
- PHP is a server-side scripting language that simplifies web development, allowing Mark to quickly write code for dynamic content, while Apache served as a stable web server to host his application.
2. **Describe how DNS plays a role in the launch of The Facebook.**
- DNS (Domain Name System) translates the user-friendly domain name into an IP address, enabling users to access The Facebook via a recognizable URL rather than a complex numerical address.
3. **Discuss the concept of server load and how it became an issue for Facemash.**
- Server load refers to the amount of traffic a server can handle; Facemash quickly became overwhelmed due to high traffic, resulting in slow performance and downtime.
4. **What is the significance of using an SQL injection technique, as seen in the movie?**
- SQL injection is a method to manipulate databases via malicious queries, highlighting vulnerabilities in web applications, which can lead to unauthorized access and data breaches.
5. **Briefly describe the role of an algorithm in determining the ranking of photos on Facemash.**
- An algorithm was used to compare and rank photos based on attractiveness, using metrics from user votes to create a competitive environment among student images.
---
### Part 3: Essay Questions
1. **Analyze the ethical implications of scraping data from university directories without permission.**
- Scraping personal data without consent raises privacy concerns, as it violates individuals' rights to control their information and could lead to potential misuse of their data.
2. **Discuss the importance of scalability in the context of The Facebook's growth.**
- Scalability was critical for accommodating rapid user growth, ensuring that The Facebook could efficiently handle increasing amounts of data and user interactions without performance degradation.
3. **How did cloud hosting solutions differ in the early 2000s compared to modern solutions, and how would this impact The Facebook today?**
- Early cloud solutions were less flexible and scalable, whereas modern cloud platforms offer robust capabilities for on-demand resources and high redundancy, allowing for immediate scaling in response to user demand.
4. **How do security vulnerabilities, such as those exploited in Facemash, affect modern social media platforms?**
- Security vulnerabilities can lead to data breaches, loss of user trust, and legal issues, making it essential for social media platforms to implement rigorous security measures and regular testing.
5. **Compare the technological approach used in The Facebook's initial development with how a similar project would be developed today using modern technologies (e.g., React, Node.js).**
- Today, a similar project would likely utilize frameworks and libraries like React for dynamic front-end development, and Node.js for efficient server-side handling, promoting better modularity and efficient updates compared to the monolithic approach used in The Facebook's early days.
6. **Discuss the role of version control in collaborative software development, particularly in a team setting like Facebook’s early days.**
- Version control allows multiple developers to collaborate seamlessly, tracking changes, managing code versions, and reverting to previous states, which is crucial in a fast-paced environment like Facebook's initial development.
7. **Explain how social graph theory influenced the structure of Facebook’s friend connections.**
- Social graph theory provides a mathematical framework for modeling relationships, allowing Facebook to represent users and their friendships as nodes and edges in a network, facilitating more meaningful connections and interactions.
8. **What impact did open-source software have on the development of Facebook?**
- Open-source software offered essential tools and frameworks for development, accelerating progress and allowing Facebook's developers to leverage collaborative resources from the broader tech community.
9. **Describe the legal and ethical considerations surrounding data privacy portrayed in the movie.**
- The movie highlights the potential for data misuse and privacy violations, raising questions about user consent and the ethical responsibility of tech companies to safeguard personal information.
10. **Reflect on how rapid prototyping played a role in Facebook's early success.**
- Rapid prototyping allowed the team to quickly build, test, and iterate on ideas, facilitating early user feedback and ensuring that the platform evolved based on real-world use and needs.