IS 376 Ubiquitous Computers: Issues and Effects Dr. Musonda Kapatamoyo November 6,

Contemporary State of Computers Invisibility, integratedness and embeddedness into a variety of real-life situations. High degree of connectivity. Cheap and miniaturized. Applied to everything. 2

Issues and Themes Crime Loss of privacy Errors Alienation and customer service Unemployment 3

Information Revolution Rapid technological shifts started in the second half of the 20 th century. Some of its characteristics are: Production focus has shifted from goods to services & information. Creation, distribution and consumption of information have become the dominating activities in society. Computers are the key tools (digitization of information). Growth and domination of the information (new) economy. The hallmarks of the information revolution are the personal computers, tablets, Smartphones and the almighty Internet. 4

Post-Industrial Society The dramatic rise in the service sector and the decline of the manufacturing sector in the information age has led some to call it the post-industrial society Information, knowledge and creativity are the key raw materials of the post-industrial society Prominent role of science and engineering in society Elevated importance of the technological intelligentsia ( Nerds rule! ) 5

Access Everywhere 6 President Barack Obama receives the Presidential Daily Briefing from Robert Cardillo, Deputy Director of National Intelligence for Intelligence Integration, in the Oval Office, Jan. 31, Part of the briefing was done using a tablet computer. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

What’s Next? The second information revolution perhaps? That will be the center of technological innovation for the next several years. Also called Web 2.0 While the first information revolution greatly expanded the amount of information in society, the second information revolution focuses on easy access to high- quality and highly customized information to users anytime, anywhere, and in a manner of the user’s preference. Key terms include: cloud computing, wikis, file sharing, social everything, etc. 7

Web 1.0 Vs. Web 2.0 Web 1.0 referred to static web pages that provided information, supported by the use of as a means of communication. Some referred to Web 1.0 as the read-only web. Web 2.0 (the read-write web) refers to how the Internet is used as a platform to create social networks and online communities, as well as online services and interactivity. 8

Web 1.0 Vs. Web 2.0 In a Web 1.0 environment only technically savvy individuals could author (create) content, but Web 2.0 makes it easier for anybody to contribute and participate in creating content on the Internet without having any web design or technical skills. Web 2.0 is therefore characterized by sharing, discussion, and collaboration. New terminology that presents this phenomenon are Social Software, Social Media, and Social Computing. The key word is ' Social '! 9 9

Collective Intelligence Web 2.0 era businesses harness the collective intelligence of people through: Hyperlinking Portal Organic growth Critical mass (users and buyers) User engagement Trust in content creation (e.g. Wikipedia) Folksonomy (using collaborative categorization of key words, tagging) Viral marketing 10

Data Ownership Who owns the data ? Data is monetized. In Web 2.0 environment, Companies who control data are the success stories (or powerful – see NSA). For example: MapQuest, Google, Amazon, eBay, Facebook, etc. 11

12 Future of the Workplace  Optimistic Outlook:  The educational system adapts rapidly to create newly trained workers.  Technology can be used to retrain displaced workers.  Pessimistic Outlook:  Advanced software will eliminate many jobs requiring high skills.  Automation and the Web will lead to mass unemployment.

13 Effects on Employment  Some jobs have been eliminated.  Some skills have been outdated (deskilling)  Other jobs have been created.  Repetitious or boring jobs are now done with computers.  There is more time for creativity.  Some workers “telecommute.”  Employers can better monitor their workers.  Health issues have been associated with computer usage.

14 Unemployment  Computers and Unemployment:  Automation leads to loss of jobs.  Computerization eliminates some jobs.  Computer efficiency means fewer jobs.  Increasing volume of online shopping reduces the need for store clerks.

15 Employment  Computers and Employment:  The need for computer designers, builders, graphic designers and programmers creates jobs.  Growing computer networks creates jobs for administrators.  The need for training, sales and technical support creates jobs.  In general, computers make many products affordable to more people. Thus, more jobs are created to make those products.

16 Technology Takes the Blame  The Industrial Revolution in the 1800s  The Luddites burned weaving for fear that they would take away jobs. But this did not happen.  The Great Depression in the 1930s  Historians and economists attribute the depression to these factors: “business cycles,” Federal Reserve’s manipulation of interest rates, and corporate “greed.”  Likewise, Neo-Luddites fear technology will eliminate jobs in the 20 th century.  The US population is now about 4 times as high as that at the start of the 20 th century. However, unemployment rate has dropped from about 9.5% (of people over the age of 14 seeking employment) to under 6% (of people over the age of 16 seeking work).

17 Globalization of the Workforce  Some jobs moved from wealthy countries to less wealthy ones.  Pay rates are lower in less wealthy countries.  Outsourcing—not only in the manufacturing industry but in telecommunications and IT as well.  Implications for current workers and future prospects.  The Internet and Web reduce the need for transportation of people (e.g. teleconferencing) and paper (e.g., and attachments).  The Internet and Web make it easier for information technology (e.g., software updates) and some service jobs (e.g., technical support) to be far from customers or employers.

Flexible Work Arrangements  Virgin workers to take as much vacation as they need. 18

19 Telecommuting  Benefits:  Flexible schedule and work options.  Reduced overhead.  Where satellite offices are used, rents are cheaper in the suburbs than downtown.  Reduction in transportation and parking resources.  Problems:  Less productive or overworked employees.  Lack of belonging & lack of visibility (social isolation).  Potential distractions are counter-productive.

20 Impact on Communities  IT allows people to take a more active role in their community affairs.  Or will they?  Zoning and labor laws.  Hard to enforce?  Home businesses are harder to regulate and tax.  Headache for politicians.  Dispersed workers are harder to organize.  Challenge for unions.

21 Effect on Businesses  Smaller businesses  More independent consultants and contractors  More self-employment  Small businesses operating globally  Multi-national (stateless) corporations and mergers  Decline in number of employees per firm  Flattened hierarchies  Empowered workers  Or are they?  Use of at work makes it easier to communicate with all levels of management.