1. The Social Impact of the Computer
J.A.N. Lee
Virginia Tech
2000/11/17

2. 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?
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3. 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
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4. Early Programming
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5. 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
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6. 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
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7. 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
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8. Ringing the Changes Computer as a Number Computer Cruncher as a Tool
as a Search
Engine
Computer
as a Utility
Computer
as a general
purpose system
Computer
as a
Communicator
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9. 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
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10. 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
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11. 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
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12. 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
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13. 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
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14. 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.
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15. 1970 IBM Advertisement
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16. Yesterday, Marion was a billing clerk Today, she’s a whole department.
Friden Advertisement
1965
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17. We have changed people’s lives
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?
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18. 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."
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19. Have we become too dependent on computers?
Steel?
Cars?
Oil?
Electricity?
Telephones?
Plastic?
Television?
Housing?
Airplanes?
Clothing?
Prosthetics?
Society?
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20. 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?
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21. 2000/11/17

22. What have we done to Society?
For
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”
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23. 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?
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24. 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
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25. What can we do about it? Should we become Luddites?
(See
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26. Should we have killed the railroad engine?
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27. 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?
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28. 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
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29. Stopping Progress An Example
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30. Martin Luther King: “Our technology is outstripping our spirituality”
One last thought
Martin Luther King: “Our technology is outstripping our spirituality”
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