Does IT Improve Human Existence? Michael Simonetti Oliver Yu Jason Miller Dandan Ren Stephen Nedl

Does IT improve human existence? Humans, as a whole, do not benefit Humans, as a whole, do not benefit The entire world is not included The entire world is not included Main beneficiaries are: Main beneficiaries are: North AmericaNorth America Western EuropeWestern Europe JapanJapan The rest of the world falls further behind The rest of the world falls further behind

Underdeveloped Countries Underdeveloped countries are countries not equipped with the latest technologies Underdeveloped countries are countries not equipped with the latest technologies Most of AsiaMost of Asia Most of AfricaMost of Africa Latin AmericaLatin America Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Does IT improve human existence? Majority of world’s population does not benefit Majority of world’s population does not benefit 70% have never used a PC70% have never used a PC 10% have Internet access10% have Internet access “There are more hosts in New York than in all of Africa.” Kofi Annan “There are more hosts in New York than in all of Africa.” Kofi Annan

Negative Impacts As developed countries get wealthier because of IT, underdeveloped countries become more impoverished As developed countries get wealthier because of IT, underdeveloped countries become more impoverished Lack of economic wealth increases likelihood of: Lack of economic wealth increases likelihood of: Unstable governmentUnstable government Civil WarCivil War Widespread hunger and diseaseWidespread hunger and disease In modern times, underdeveloped countries are havens for terrorists, drug smugglers, and warlords In modern times, underdeveloped countries are havens for terrorists, drug smugglers, and warlords

Socio-economic Issues Both global and domestic Both global and domestic Global Consumer Advisory Board finds the following problems: Global Consumer Advisory Board finds the following problems: Cost for individuals and small businessesCost for individuals and small businesses Cost of peripheral devices, software, services, and accessoriesCost of peripheral devices, software, services, and accessories Digital Divide effects consumers more each dayDigital Divide effects consumers more each day

Globalization As A Threat Large businesses are bringing in IT workers from India and China who work for a fraction of the cost. Large businesses are bringing in IT workers from India and China who work for a fraction of the cost. In the United States - small businesses fail and jobs are lost because they can’t compete. In the United States - small businesses fail and jobs are lost because they can’t compete. Extremely labor intensive work must be done just to compete against outsourcing. Extremely labor intensive work must be done just to compete against outsourcing.

Globalization As A Threat Discourages some people from pursuing degrees in the IT fields. Discourages some people from pursuing degrees in the IT fields. Discourages some people from starting their own businesses. Discourages some people from starting their own businesses. Larger firms control the suppliers who make it within information technology. Larger firms control the suppliers who make it within information technology.

Advance in Information technology leads to jobs being cut.

Lost Manufacturing jobs More than 43,000,000 jobs disappeared between 1979 and More than 43,000,000 jobs disappeared between 1979 and Percentage of workers in manufacturing dropped from 35% in 1947 to 12% in Percentage of workers in manufacturing dropped from 35% in 1947 to 12% in 2002.

Lost White-Collar jobs Secretarial and clerical positions eliminated Secretarial and clerical positions eliminated Spreadsheets and software packages reduce the need for accountants and bookkeepers. Spreadsheets and software packages reduce the need for accountants and bookkeepers.

For example: The economic recovery of Large number of white-collar, middle management jobs were eliminated, even as the economy grew Large number of white-collar, middle management jobs were eliminated, even as the economy grew most of them had at least college education most of them had at least college education most of them were making more than $50,000 most of them were making more than $50,000 Only 35% were able to find jobs that paid as well Only 35% were able to find jobs that paid as well Median household income dropped 3% between 1979 and Median household income dropped 3% between 1979 and 1994.

More recent example In early 2000 “Dot-Com Bust”: 862 high-tech start-ups going out of business between 2000 and high-tech start-ups going out of business between 2000 and 2002 High technology industry shed half a million jobs High technology industry shed half a million jobs Unemployment rate among American computer science professionals raised to 5.1 percent. Unemployment rate among American computer science professionals raised to 5.1 percent.

Working harder, Making less Between 1970 and 1990, the number of hours spend at work increase by 163. Between 1970 and 1990, the number of hours spend at work increase by 163. Caused by corporate downsizing, which is facilitated by information technology Caused by corporate downsizing, which is facilitated by information technology Makes it easier for people to bring work home to continue working Makes it easier for people to bring work home to continue working

De-evolution of social skills Instant messaging Instant messaging – Office and personal – Office and personal Online Dating Online Dating Overall Social interaction Overall Social interaction

Instant Messaging 180 m users in m users in 2004 This site also predicts that 60 percent of all real-time online communication will be driven through instant messaging technology This site also predicts that 60 percent of all real-time online communication will be driven through instant messaging technology Kids have abandoned general phone and personal interaction to favor instant messaging and Kids have abandoned general phone and personal interaction to favor instant messaging and These services lack voice patterns and emotional overtones These services lack voice patterns and emotional overtones s/software/article.php/ s/software/article.php/756111

– Office and Personal 90% of AOL’s subscribers use 90% of AOL’s subscribers use also lacks emotion and voice patterns also lacks emotion and voice patterns People favor however it prevents them from interacting in person with their boss at work sometimes for weeks at a time People favor however it prevents them from interacting in person with their boss at work sometimes for weeks at a time

Online Dating Are you kidding? Are you kidding? Best example of de-evolution of S.S. Best example of de-evolution of S.S. 7 million registered 7 million registered 48% of men, 53% of women have used this 48% of men, 53% of women have used this What happened to old fashioned pick up lines at bars? What happened to old fashioned pick up lines at bars?

Social Skills De-evolution Online dating, instant messaging, and have come on to the scene and promoted the loss of social skills in people who would have otherwise talked to these various people via telephone or in person. Online dating, instant messaging, and have come on to the scene and promoted the loss of social skills in people who would have otherwise talked to these various people via telephone or in person. Future generation run the risk of having poor social skills in the work place and in the dating scene, possibly giving rise to a generation of intorverts. Future generation run the risk of having poor social skills in the work place and in the dating scene, possibly giving rise to a generation of intorverts.

Advancements in Crime Cyber Crime Cyber Crime Identity TheftIdentity Theft Fastest growing crime in America Fastest growing crime in America 1 in 20 adults affected1 in 20 adults affected Cyber TerrorismCyber Terrorism Advancements in technology have paved way Advancements in technology have paved way Compromising national securityCompromising national security Other forms of cyber crimeOther forms of cyber crime