Computers and Society

Transcription

1 Computers and Society A dangerous Gift? 1 A Gift of Fire Just like fire, computers are a very powerful tool. It provides: Convenience Efficiency Options Also, just like fire, computers carry significant risks Examples? 2 Where are the Computers? Personal Computers Mainframes Embedded Devices: Cars Communication devices Entertainment Devices Kitchen Appliances etc. 3 1

2 Rapid Pace of Change 1940s: The first computer is built 1956: First hard-disk drive weighed a ton and stored five megabytes 1991: Space shuttle had a one-megahertz computer 2006: Pocket devices hold a terabyte (one trillion bytes) of data 2006: Automobiles can have 100- megahertz computers 4 Rapid Pace of Change: Discussion Question What devices are now computerized that were not originally? Think back 10, 20, 50 years ago. 5 Some Benefits Convenience New types of jobs More options for transactions Improvements in crime-fighting Small error rate Q: Which positive aspects of new technology have you experienced? 6 2

3 Some Negative Issues Unemployment Alienation Poor Customer Service Crime Loss of Privacy Errors Q: Which negative aspects of new technology have you experienced? 7 Sources for Solutions to Problems Technology Management Law Education The market Q: Describe how each of the above provides a solution to a problem created by new technology 8 Computer-based Problems Old Problems in New Contexts: Crime, pornography, advertisement, copyright infringement, etc. Are we troubled with the computer or with the problem in general? How do computers exacerbate/alleviate the problem? New Activities Global Communications Trade-offs Choices: personal and legal Conflicts between Negative rights (Liberties) and Positive rights (Claim rights) 9 3

4 Appreciating The Benefits 10 Benefits of Computer Applications Development of better peripheral devices. Time-saving Cost-saving Less effort than older technologies Development of better sound quality Creation of computer-generated art and special effects Improved accuracy Improved customer service/satisfaction Entertainment/fun Q: How have these benefits aided your peers? 11 Communication Non-invasive; read at recipient s convenience. Time-saving Access to vast amounts of information Text, graphics, and sound can be combined Much information on WWW is free Public forums not limited to geographic boundaries More independence More options for communicating Remote access available Traditional boundaries are no obstacle Q: How have these benefits aided small business? 12 4

5 Transportation Navigation Diagnostics Safety Hybrid engines Efficiency of fuel-burning Traffic pattern studies Q: How have these benefits aided our community? 13 Education and Training Language acquisition Spelling Literacy Distance learning Modeling Simulations Speech recognition Speech synthesis 14 Benefits of Computers in Fighting Crime Improved crime reporting Faster search of arrest records and fingerprint files Remote access to records and reports, e.g. from patrol cars Enhancement of records (fingerprints and photos) Access to numerous databases Improved sensors, monitoring, and surveillance equipment 15 5

6 Medicine Sophisticated imaging Reduced surgery time Patient monitoring Early ambulation Improved treatments Fewer errors 16 Computerized Patient Records More legible Better organized Accessible by many sites, simultaneously Available immediately Improved statistical research 17 Medical Diagnosing Streamlined diagnosis Improved accuracy Reduced need for biopsy Improved screening and predictions Q: How might the chronically ill benefit from computer-aided diagnosing? 18 6

7 Telemedicine Broad access to medical help Less expensive Expands consultations beyond rural/remote sites 19 the Disabled Disability-specific computer applications (e.g., a Braille printer) Control of household and workplace appliances. Mobility Control of artificial limbs Improved vision Access to adaptive educational equipment Improved communication Opportunity to return to work 20 Automation Organize and access large inventories Improved customer satisfaction Cost-saving Time-saving Tedious, monotonous work done by machine Improved workplace safety Q: What task would you like replaced by an automated system? 21 7

8 Identification Time-saving Accuracy Ease-of-use Cost-saving More secure Customizable Reliable 22 Computers Monitor Environment and Materials Temperature Acceleration Stress in materials Emissions Dangerous substances in the air Moisture Acidity 23 Applications of Computers in Tracking Rare plants and animals Migration habits Stolen goods Lost pets or people 24 8

9 Benefits of Computers in Reducing Paper Use and Trash Send/receive digital documents instead of hardcopy Read, write, and edit online Cost-saving; smaller storage needed Creation of toxic wastes at paper mills reduced Q: Have computers reduced paper use in your school or workplace? 25 New Developments Blogs (Word made up from web log ): Began as outlets for amateurs who want to express ideas or creativity Appealing because present personal views, are funny and creative, and present a quirky perspective on current events 26 New Developments (cont.) Blogs (cont.): Now used as alternatives to mainstream news and for business public relations Popular blogs have 100,000 to 500,000 readers per day and can peak at several million views per day 27 9

10 New Developments (cont.) Video Sharing: Rise of amateur videos on the web Boom of websites like Youtube and Myspace Many videos on the web can infringe copyrights owned by entertainment companies 28 New Developments (cont.) Cell Phones: Can now be used for travel, last minute planning, taking pictures and downloading music Talking on cell phones while driving is a problem Cell phones can interfere with solitude, quiet and concentration Cameras in cell phones and privacy issues 29 New Developments (cont.) Social Networking: First online social networking site was in 1995 Myspace, founded in 2003 had roughly 100 million member profiles by 2006 Facebook was started at Harvard as an online version of student directories 30 10

11 New Developments (cont.) Collaboration: Wikipedia, the online, collaborative encyclopedia Open Directory Project (ODP) Collaboration between scientists in different states or countries Watch-dogs on the Web 31 News Items An example of laws that need updating for modern technology: During Japanese election campaigns in 2005, candidates were afraid to use and blogs and to update their Web sites to communicate with voters because a 1955 law that specifies the legal means of communicating with voters does not, of course, include these methods. It allows post cards and pamphlets. 32 News Items Cameras in cell phones raise privacy issues that are not yet covered by laws. For example, the privacy laws in Pennsylvania were not sufficient to convict a man who used his cell phone to take a photo up a woman's skirt. (The man was found guilty of disorderly conduct.) The Pennsylvania legislature is considering amending its privacy law to cover such incidents

12 News Items When a man had a heart attack in a swimming pool in Germany, lifeguards did not see him sink to the bottom of the pool. An underwater surveillance system, using cameras and sophisticated software, detected him and alerted the lifeguards who rescued him. A similar system alerted lifeguards in a busy swimming pool in France when a man blacked out underwater. They saved his life. The software distinguishes normal swimming, shadows, and reflections from a swimmer in distress. It is now installed in many large pools in Europe and the U.S