1. Slides prepared by Cyndi Chie and Sarah Frye A Gift of Fire Third edition Sara Baase Chapter 7: Evaluating and Controlling Technology

2. What We Will Cover Information, Knowledge, and Judgment Computers and Community The ‘Digital Divide’ Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology Making Decisions About Technology

3. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment Evaluating Information on the Web: Expert information or ‘wisdom of the crowd’? –Daunting amount of information on the web, much of this information is not correct –Search engines are replacing librarians, but Web sites are ranked by popularity, not expert evaluation –Wisdom of the crowd - ratings by public of website –If millions participate, the results will be useful

4. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Evaluating Information on the Web (cont.): Wikipedia: –Written by volunteers, some posts are biased and not accurate –Although anyone can contribute, most people do not –Those who do are often educated and experts in certain areas

5. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Evaluating Information on the Web (cont.): Wisdom of the crowd –Problems of unreliable information are not new over the centuries, people have distributed false information for their own purposes –The Web magnifies the problems –Rating systems are easy to manipulate Vulnerable viewers –Less educated individuals & children Responsibilities of site operators: –Should identify user-supplied content –Make clear which information has been verified

6. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Evaluating Information on the Web (cont.): Manipulation of images: –Movies and videos use special effects to add creativity and enjoyment of entertainment –People can use technology for deception and fraud –Ease with which anyone can modify digital images and video Should news agencies modify images and videos? Faking photos is not a new phenomenon; more people can do it now because it’s easy

7. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Writing, Thinking and Deciding: New tools have displaced skills that were once important Abdicating responsibility –People willing to let computers do their thinking –Reliance on computer systems over human judgment may become institutionalized –Fear of having to defend your own judgment if something goes wrong “the computer is always right”

8. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Computer Models: In general, a model is a simplified description or representation of an object or system A mathematical model, in particular, is built using data and equations Models are widely used today: –weather prediction –stock market analysis –epidemic simulation

9. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Computer Models: Evaluating models: –don’t turn off your brain! How well do the modelers understand the underlying science or theory? –Models necessarily involve assumptions and simplifications of reality –How closely do the results or predictions correspond with the results from physical experiments or real experience?

10. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment (cont.) Computer Models (cont.): Why models may not be accurate –We might not have complete knowledge of the system we are modeling –The data describing current conditions or characteristics may be incomplete of inaccurate –Computing power may be inadequate for the complexity of the model –It is difficult, if not impossible, to numerically quantify variables that represent human values and choices economists regularly face this problem

11. Information, Knowledge, and Judgment— Discussion Questions How do you evaluate the reliability of information you find on the Web? How do your evaluation methods compare to the way you evaluate information from other sources? Some computer models are better than others. What types of models work well? What types don't? Why?

12. Computers and Community It is human nature to form associations based on common interests Some feared early technologies, such as telephones, thinking communication would be de-humanized Computers and the Internet were blamed for the decline in community involvement and memberships in clubs and organizations The Internet provides communities focused on specialized interests or problems –e.g., Facebook group: “I enjoy square watermelons”

13. Computers and Community (cont.) The Internet brings people together from all over the world E-mail and the Internet provide convenient and cheap ways for families and friends to stay in contact New trends include social-networking sites such as MySpace and virtual environments such as Second Life

14. Computers and Community Discussion Questions How convincing is the argument that electronic commerce threatens small (“brick and mortar”) community businesses and thus the health of small communities? –might it have an effect on the success / failure of businesses in Sackville? Do you think that communicating by text messaging and via social-networking sites depersonalizes or dehumanizes your relationships with friends?

15. The "Digital Divide" Trends in Computer Access: New technologies only available to the wealthy The time it takes for new technology to make its way into widespread use is decreasing Cost is not the only factor; ease of use plays a role Entrepreneurs provide low-cost options for people who cannot otherwise afford something Government, businesses and non-profit organizations fund technology in schools As technology becomes more prevalent, the issues shift from “haves” vs. “have-nots” to level of service

16. The "Digital Divide" (cont.) The Global Divide and the Next Billion Users: Approximately one billion people worldwide have access to the Web; approximately five billion do not Non-profit organizations and huge computer companies are spreading computer access to people in developing countries Bringing new technology to poor countries is not just a matter of money to buy equipment; PCs and laptops must work in extreme environments Some people actively working to shrink the digital divide emphasize the need to provide access in ways appropriate to the local culture

17. Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology The Neo-Luddite View of Computers, Technology, and Human Needs: Computers cause massive unemployment No real need — we use technologies because they are there, not because they satisfy real needs Computers cause social inequity Benefit big business and the government Do little or nothing to solve real problems Computers separate humans from nature and destroy the environment

18. Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology (cont.) Accomplishments of Technology: Prices of food are down and raw materials are abundant Real buying power is up Food supplies and GDP are growing faster than the population Dramatic impact on life expectancy Assistive technologies benefit those with disabilities

19. Making Decisions About Technology (cont.) The Difficulty of Prediction: Each new technology finds new and unexpected uses The history of technology is full of wildly wrong predictions (e.g., flying cars) Weizenbaum argued against developing speech recognition technology –Mistaken expectations of costs (too expensive) and benefits (what is it good for?) –Should we decline a technology because of potential abuse and ignore the benefits? –New technologies are often expensive, but costs drop as the technology advances and the demand increases

20. Making Decisions About Technology (cont.) Intelligent Machines and Super-intelligent Humans - Or the End of the Human Race? Technological Singularity - point at which artificial intelligence or some combined human-machine intelligence advances so far that we cannot comprehend what lies on the other side (takes on a life of its own) We cannot prepare for aftermath, but prepare for more gradual developments Select a decision making process most likely to produce what people want

21. Making Decisions About Technology Discussion Questions If you could decide what technologies should be developed, what would you develop? Why? Does the prospect of super-intelligent robots scare you?