A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers1 PowerPoint ® Slides to Accompany A Gift of Fire : Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computers and the Internet (2nd Edition) by Sara Baase San Diego State University PowerPoint slides created by Sherry Clark Copyright 2003 Prentice Hall

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers2 A Gift of Fire Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers Computers and Community Information Haves and Have-Nots: The Access Issue Loss of Skills and Judgment Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology Prohibiting Bad Technologies

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers3 Computers and Community Some Observations Internet Use: May create isolation from family, in-person friends, and neighbors. Creates long-distance associations focused on special interests. Reduces or eliminates direct contact with customers and clients. Contributes to the formation of electronic relationships. Allows for teleworking from almost any location. May lead to Internet “addiction.” Q : In your opinion, does Internet usage have a negative impact on community?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers4 Computers and Community E-commerce vs. Downtown and Community Market Dynamics Issues: What do consumers want? How much are consumers willing to pay? What is the competition? E-commerce: What draws consumers to purchase products and services online? Local Business: What draws customers to purchase products and services at traditional stores and businesses? Q: Have you observed changes in your downtown and community brought on by e-commerce?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers5 Information Haves and Have-Nots The Digital Divide Factors contributing to access (or lack thereof) to computers and information systems: Developed country. Individual wealth. Age. Gender. Ethnic background. Politics. Q: Where in your community can someone who doesn’t own a computer access the Internet?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers6 Information Haves and Have-Nots Universal Service Guarantee Universal Access to the Telephone The Communications Act of 1934 requires telephone companies to provide telephone service to the poor. In the 1930s, access to the telephone was deemed necessary in order to function in society. Universal Access to the Net Advocates stress that access to the Net is necessary in order to function in today’s society. Critics argue that the cost to supply universal access to the Net for the poor is an unfair and unnecessary burden. Q : Should universal access to the Net be a liberty or claim-right?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers7 Information Haves and Have-Nots Trends In Computer Access Declining costs for hardware, software, and connectivity contribute to greater access. Easier to use and understand. Gender gap has vanished. Age gap is narrowing. Families perceive Web access to be important. Non-white households trail in access. Rural, isolated, or remote regions often have limited access. Some businesses offer home access as a benefit. Public-access becoming more common. Q : Identify a trend in computer access that is true for your community.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers8 Loss of Skills and Judgment Writing, Thinking, and Memory Computers Affect the Way We: Write in the form of spell- and grammar-checkers and desktop publishing. Research due to online archives, periodicals, and search tools. Think because a vast amount of data is available, quickly, from all parts of the globe. Communicate using text, graphics, audio, and video. Q : For each item, identify what skills are being lost.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers9 Loss of Skills and Judgment Abdicating Responsibility People may rely too much on computers for decisions about: Approval of loans or insurance coverage. Assessment of student, teacher, and school administrator progress. The arrest of certain individuals. How to make a particular business decision. The treatment of a disease with a particular medicine. Q : Recall a time when you did what the computer said, rather than exercise your judgment.

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers10 Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology The Neo-Luddite View Criticisms of Computer Technology: Causes massive unemployment and deskilling of jobs. We use them because they are there. Causes social inequality. Source of social disintegration; they are dehumanizing. Separates humans from nature and destroys the environment. Benefits big business and big government. Thwarts development of social skills in children. Solves no real human problems. Q : How would technology enthusiasts counter each criticism?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers11 Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology Accomplishments of Technology Some Benefits: Food prices have dropped worldwide. Raw materials are more abundant and prices of natural resources have declined. Wages and salaries have risen in both rich and poor countries. New substitutes for natural resources have been created. New forms of crop management. Improved transportation of food from field to table. More diseases now treatable or eradicated. Improved, safety-minded products for home, school, and work. Q : Who benefits most from these technological accomplishments?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers12 Prohibiting Bad Technologies Choice of Values Technology Advocates People can choose to use a technology for good or ill. Influenced by society, technology does more than it was designed to do. People adopt technologies that give us more choices for action and relationships. Technology Critics Technology is not “neutral.” Big business and governments make decisions about technology. Once created, technology drives its self. Q : Is it possible for society to prohibit certain technologies?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers13 Prohibiting Bad Technologies The Difficulty of Prediction Guessing the Consequences of Technology How will people use the new technology? How will people benefit from the new technology? Will people like the new technology? How much will people pay for the new technology? What problems will the technology cause?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers14 Prohibiting Bad Technologies The Difficulty of Prediction (cont’d) Example Objections to Speech-Recognition Systems “The problem is so enormous that only the largest computers will ever be able to manage it.” “…a speech-recognition machine is bound to be enormously expensive,…” “What can it possibly be used for?” “…a long step toward a fully automated battlefield.” Governments can use speech recognition to increase wiretap efficiency and effectiveness. Q : What are the counter-arguments for these early predictions?

A Gift of Fire, 2edChapter 9: Broader Issues on the Impact and Control of Computers15 Prohibiting Bad Technologies The Difficulty of Prediction (cont’d) The Decision-Making Process About Introducing New Technologies Should: Be decentralized and noncoercive. Produce what people want. Work well. Respect the diversity of personal opinions. Be relatively free of political manipulation. Q : How would different decision-making processes have affected the introduction of peer-to-peer file-sharing technology?