2000/11/171 The Social Impact of the Computer J.A.N. Lee Virginia Tech

2000/11/172 A HISTORICAL APPROACH When did computers begin to have an effect on people? How have we been affected? What HAVE we done? Have we become too dependent on computers? What can we do about it?

2000/11/173 When did computers begin to have an effect on people? The early machines - one-off, isolated 1950: UNIVAC - the first multi-frame machine 1955: IBM the first University machine 1960: IBM the first College machine The period of the “priest-hood” of programmers

2000/11/174 Early Programming

2000/11/175 When did computers begin to have an effect on people? : Time sharing –1964: The first –“Personal computing” –Immediate feedback –Programming by trial and error The introduction of the mini-computer The beginning of the period of computing as a “public utility” - for the privileged few

2000/11/176 When did computers begin to have an effect on people? 1970s - The microcomputer for enthusiasts Computers in the office The IBM PC The Macintosh The period of the “HOME” computer And since then … The INTERNET For the Millions

2000/11/177 When did computers begin to have an effect on people? first computation over telephone lines 1960s - the MODEM and Timesharing 1970s - networking 1980s - ARPANet, NSFNet, BITNET, … –News groups, LISTSERVs, 1990s - The INTERNET - WWW –The period of ubiquitous computing

2000/11/178 Ringing the Changes Computer as a Number Cruncher Computer as a Utility Computer as a Communicator Computer as a general purpose system Computer as a Search Engine Computer as a Tool

2000/11/179 How have we been affected? The early days: –“computerists” became addicted – but proud and dedicated –to the public - the concept of the GIANT BRAIN –to the insiders - the dumb, recalcitrant, moronic computer

2000/11/1710 How have we been affected? 1950s - the emergence of the HACKER 1960s - the identification of the user –The computer replaces the slide rule –The job of the “future” –The era of job swapping 1970s - the connected user 1980s - the personal computer 1990s - the on-line millions

2000/11/1711 How have we been affected? Users have moved from being an elite “professionally responsible” to a community with widely varying attitudes Very high level applications allow anyone to develop a program Including the untrained, the untrainable, and the don’t-wannabe-trained

2000/11/1712 The stages of impact Direct replacement of an activity with little change in productivity Enhancement of activities by improvements in speed and efficiency Extending activities to those that could not be done previously

2000/11/1713 What HAVE we done? Created a “DIGITAL DIVIDE” –The have’s and the have’nots Between schools, between school districts Between the old and the young Between parents and children Between male and female Between rich and poor Between town and country

2000/11/1714 What HAVE we done? Look at almost any job description! Qualifications for a secretary : (1)...Working knowledge of standard office practices, equipment and word- processing software; …. Preferences given for experience with spreadsheets and graphics software, Microsoft Word, Word Equation and Excel;... experience editing and proofreading complex documents. (2) Preferences given for experience working on a Mac OS, experience with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Banner, experience maintaining a database.

2000/11/ IBM Advertisement

2000/11/1716 Yesterday, Marion was a billing clerk Today, she’s a whole department. Friden Advertisement 1965

2000/11/1717 What HAVE we done? WAREHOUSE SUPERVISOR: –Must be computer literate to include word processing, spreadsheets, web-based research, and . Must have a valid vehicle operator's permit and a good driving record. We have changed people’s lives For good or bad?

2000/11/1718 Informality vs the Archive The seemed so innocent. "Betty, hi," he remembers cheerfully typing to his colleague. "I haven't been successful reaching you by phone, so I'll try instead." And so Bill Lampton--then an employee of a large hospital--dashed off the rest of his note on some trivial office matter and hit the send button. Betty never got past the greeting. "I have no idea what you mean about my not returning phone calls," Lampton recalls Betty firing back. "To have you accuse me of ignoring your calls is unthinkable and inexcusable.... As to the purpose of the that you sent me, I prefer not to respond, as I dislike dealing with anyone who assumes the worst of me."

2000/11/1719 Have we become too dependent on computers? Have we become too dependent on: Steel? Cars? Oil? Electricity? Telephones? Plastic? Television? Housing? Airplanes? Clothing? Prosthetics? Society?

2000/11/1720 What have we done to Society? Collapsed time? Collapsed space? Broken down natural barriers? Intermixed incompatible attitudes? Invaded privacy? Made it vulnerable? Created an information overload?

2000/11/1721

2000/11/1722 What have we done to Society? Provided a new industry with expanding employment needs New life for old industries Improved communications Created tools that would otherwise be impossible Saved time Changed the “Atomic Age” into the “Information Age” For

2000/11/1723 What are the dangers? Using computers where simpler solutions exist Using software in critical situations –Safety critical applications –Mission critical systems BUT AREN’T THESE OFFSET BY ADVANTAGES?

2000/11/1724 What are the advantages? Using software in critical situations –Safety critical applications –Mission critical systems More easily upgradeable, replaceable Millions of new uses, new capabilities

2000/11/1725 What can we do about it? Should we become Luddites?

2000/11/1726 Should we have killed the railroad engine?

2000/11/1727 Should we NOT continue to develop the computer? We cannot go backward We have not had a MAJOR breakthrough since the integrated circuit What is the next big step going to be and where? What will be the effect?

2000/11/1728 Progress, Development, Evolution Whatever we do –We will not stop progress –We will not stop people using our products in ways that we do appreciate –And we WILL find new uses and applications that will be advantageous

2000/11/1729 Stopping Progress An Example

2000/11/1730 One last thought Martin Luther King: “Our technology is outstripping our spirituality”