Common sense computing: an approach to community outreach with IT

This poster paper describes a series of 2-3 minute radio segments called "Common Sense Computing" designed to provide common sense explanations of computing technology. Computers and computing touch the daily lives of most everyone today. However, the world of computing can be frustratingly complicated and arcane. "Common Sense Computing" is dedicated to making computing more interesting and relevant to individuals through straightforward analogies to the physical world. The motivation for this work is the observation that a growing segment of our society relies on computing technologies an appreciation for the limitations and risks. I describe the format and topics that I have found most effective over the past year of producing segments and airing them on a local radio station.