|
|
| Information |
|
|
The Social Implications of Computing
Directed by Mark Harrison, "Visions of Heaven and Hell" is a three-part cautionary tale come documentary commissioned by Channel Four, that warns of the impending infiltration of technology and pessimistically endeavours to communicate the sentient of an old Buddhist proverb which states "To every man is given the key to the gates of heaven; the same key opens the gates of hell." and within computerisation lies such a key thought a dismal set of apprehensive predilections. A not-so-distant possible future is portrayed by the predictions the from such techno-thinkers as Douglas Adams, Esther Dyson, Faith Popcorn, Lily Burana and John Naisbitt, in which technology thoroughly penetrates everyday life, displacing social relationships with a formless web of stratified information and global capital. The overriding philosophy demonstrated throughout these voids is that technology is bad, avoid it at all costs, it assumes theat just because one aspect of technology is unappealing or useless all of it is, but this attitude causes them to miss out on some of the finer enhancements to their lives that technology, through computerization, can add. As students of computer science we are expected to make rational agreements on subjects such as the social implications of computation technology based on current technology advances and palpable future developments. As the task asks for a synopsis, of the material, notwithstanding a highly unlikely series of events resulting in a series engineered to prove such though, this set of programmes dose not serve any such purpose. We should also be in a position where we can transcend ignorance and misconceptions about programable systems. This resource is commendable inasmuch as in conjunction with this assignment, it has the potential to force the practice of seeing both sides of a contentious subject. However, the probability of this situation being engineered is statistically insignificant, in which case it is a thoroughly oversimplified process to facilitate thought development, inasmuch as trying to understand the logic and in many cases the semantics behind the agreements put forward! In the words of William Shakespeare it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. (Macbeth) The series superficially considers statistically possible social changes that the explosion of new technologies could bring, it also warns that we should proceed with Technological change gradually, being careful that whatever the benefits, we should be aware of the social effect that much of this will bring and despondently attempts to answer questions of the less clear impact on individuals and societies resulting from technology, specifically "will the future be a technological heaven or a technological hell? However, as stated above its intonation is not conducive to the intrinsic nature the study expected from students of computer science. The first part "Selling the Future" appears to poses the question, "will new technologies free the individual or isolate him and create ever-increasing pressures?" Who are the winners and losers of the information revolution at the cost of selling us the idea of a better future and at the massive social change that new technology could bring. Technological advances that enable a fortunate few, maybe 20% of the population;. to watch films on demand, and play electronic games with users in other locations has also introduced new and more complex systems into all our lives which makes us more technically, inasmuch as we live in an increasingly artificial world where buildings, cars, telephone, TV, computers, isolate us from the natural world and natural human conversation. What about the huge reliance on technology. If the Internet connection fails, then all the facilities available through thatv connection will also be lost. At present, there is a manual replacement for most things: you can go to the video shop for a video, or go to the shops to buy some goods, or go the bank to perform a transaction, you know how to calculate figures manually if your calculator stops working. Technological systems must also provide an alternative to a centralised operation where many employees could carry out their work from home, this could enable the organisation to, at some point, not only downsize its physical assets, assuming the function they exist to provide can be provided by employees provided with interment access. The option of not going into the office offers significant saving on transportation expenses to and from the conventional office this in tern reduces the pollution of the environment because of less travelling needs to be done. This transferases of communication technology means workers are free to work from where they want and to live where they want, but this is no guarantee of happiness from a human point of view, a large amount of the social interactions which that is experienced at work is cut drastically. The same technologies that free us may also ensnare us in global competition where the Internet enables large and small companies alike to advertise their companies and services to a massive audience, for a small fee, companies will be able to be located around the world, that will contract other companies, to produce for them. This will reduce their overheads, and will lead to an increase in the co-operation between organisations. Many workers will work on a contract basis, perhaps for more than one employer at a time. But as he is employed on a periodic basis, he will no longer be able to guarantee source of income, pension or redundancy. In such a marketplace, day & night are interchangeable, everyone is directly or indirectly affected by the models of social behaviour and conditions that the technology makes possible but economic change makes accentual thus work becomes a continues activity where everyone is always on-line and never off-duty and working life is still repetitious but now its of based on acquiring knowledge. People also have social needs in which human interaction plays a very important role, the new system would create a working environment where human interaction is reduced to a minium due to many if not all tasks that would require generate contact with each other would be cut drastically. If the spread of technology is to be carried out successfully for all, then it will mean re-educating people away from the notion of a life long 9-5 job to a world with a different emphasis. If we continue to allow technology to take over the workforce without coming up with alternatives for people, then social unrest will continue to increase and what lies ahead of us isn't a very nice prospect. The second part "Welcome to the Jungle" appears to explore how new technologies are poised to drastically transform the way the individual lives and works, asking "who will be the winners and losers in the coming cyber-world and what will be the role of the Internet?" described as an info-future and proceeds toward a model of the new techno-state, Singapore, or what William Gibson glibly calls "Disneyland with death penalties." There is an impressive improvement in networking and communications technology underway. The growth in wireless communication can and will bring many advantages in the 21st century. The structure of societies, organisations and computer systems are all moving in one direction: away from top-down central control and towards flat, distributed, team- based webs. Computer technology sets us free and brings us together No technology is intrinsically good or evil, it is neutral, it is a force for democracy, it offers an opportunity for free debate and association which leaves behind traditional, national politics, and cuts across traditional social divisions. Computers are knowledge machines that have assess to the sum of human knowledge, which are available to everyone. Developed societies have lost much sense of community. We are isolated in travel, shopping and in housing. Technology can re-connect us to people we like, with similar interests regardless of place. This is a new, segmented global community. One of the most obvious negative effect of this proliferation of technology is that we must all require a greater skills base which may in turn mean that the low skilled work force that would up to a point be employed cannot easily be absorbed into such a fundamentally new employment situations, dealing with the more complex areas such as employment law, as apposed to the tasks of one area of expertise. This shift is the skill base required for a given job may have an effect on the employment opportunities in the long tem as, in time, this may displace all work forces, because technology developments are driven by commercial and political interests and the rich and poor will become richer and poorer as the rich buy information to become richer and the poor are excluded from technology based society. The third part "The Virtual Wasteland" appears to explore a future where technological advances have produced a divided and disconnected society. "Are the new technologies creating a world of the information rich and the information poor?". Some believe technology will inevitably erect bars before that window to isolate and protect a technological intelligentsia from a poor and excluded underclass. The information superhighway is being built to move information from place to place almost instantaneously. Computers will come Internet-ready. Televisions will become interactive through the Internet, for shopping, entertainment, research and working. The changes in technology can be predicted fairly well microprocessor technology has improved 25,000 times over the last 25 years. Today's computers are 100,000 times more powerful than the 1950's computers and cost 1,000 times less. This trend should continue, ("Moores Law " - Microchips double in power every two years), thus leading to reasonable predictions of computers running at 800Mhz and having 1Gb of ultra fast memory. What is less clear is the impact on individuals are society: will the future be a technological heaven or a technological hell? When technology developments are driven by commercial and political interests where massive amounts of time and money have been spent developing, purchasing, and implementing systems as was, is; and for ever more shall be the case, is not done in the name of progress but to facility business, and some panics is warned when doling with issues of commerce. Notwithstanding the fact that the Association for Progressive Communications, a world-wide organisation of like-minded computer networks providing a global communications network dedicated to the free and balanced flow of information. There is an fundamental element of fact in that in this instance computerisation is a driving rather a unifying force, there are already gaps between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. These gaps have always been there and look as if they will always exist. However it would appear that two classes of workers are emerging; those that provide information necessary to control an ever increasing range of industrial applications, and the information Recipients that use this information with little control over their working lives. The falling cost of technology should in theory make access to computers and networked information available to all classes in society. Yet there will be a growing gap between those countries which can develop high technology effectively by applying IT principles, and those which cannot. The existing divide between those people who simply make use of the computer as an effective tool, and those who can understand the computer is likely to grow. Developments in technology may lead to a widening gap between these broad social groups. I am the website administrator of the Wandle industrial museum (http://www.wandle.org). Established in 1983 by local people determined to ensure that the history of the valley was no longer neglected but enhanced awareness its heritage for the use and benefits of the community.
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news Myanmar's Suu Kyi to get family letters, news mags (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Detained Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has managed to wring small concessions from the ruling generals in the form of letters from her family and some international news magazines, her lawyer said on Friday. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (CBS News) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel 's current news flow, was picked up by a Google (NSDQ: GOOG) News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. After a lot of buck ... JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (The Philadelphia Inquirer) The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. Help News pick Stadium's greatest moment (New York Daily News) The News is marking the countdown to the final game at The House That Ruth Built by reflecting on Yankee Stadium's greatest moments - and we're asking you - the reader - to help us pick out the best of the best. SEC Looks Into UAL Stock Scare; Implications For Online News? (paidContent.org via Yahoo! Finance) A ton of digits have been devoted to this in other spots but the SEC's decision to investigate takes it to another level. The backstory: a six-year-old news story about UAL declaring bankruptcy made it into the Tribune-owned Sun-Sentinel's current news flow, was picked up by a Google News bot and, via a reporter for a newsletter, made it onto Bloomberg News. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. Site: news - Google News New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority - New York Times
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for ethics Charges against Queens assemblyman amplifies calls for ethics reform (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) In the wake of charges by a federal prosecutor that a Queens assemblyman solicited $500,000 in bribes from people trying to influence state government, reform groups Thursday renewed their calls for tougher state ethics laws. Ethics panel clears Gibbons (Reno Gazette-Journal) A Nevada Ethics Commission panel concluded Thursday that there's no evidence to support a claim by a state Democratic Party official that Republican Gov. Jim Gibbons pressured a county assessor to get an unwarranted property tax break. Charges against assemblyman spur call for tighter ethics laws (The Journal News) Following charges by a federal prosecutor that an assemblyman from Queens solicited $500,000 in bribes from people trying to influence state government, reform groups yesterday renewed their calls for tougher state ethics laws. Ethics complaint filed against Loux over salary hikes (Las Vegas Review-Journal) Assembly Minority Leader Heidi Gansert, R-Reno, filed an ethics complaint today against Nevada Nuclear Projects Agency chief Bob Loux. The complaint alleges that Loux improperly used his position to ?grant unwarranted privileges? to himself in violation of state ethics laws. House overrides ethics veto, 110-3 (Herald & Review) SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to override Gov. Rod Blagojevich's veto of a major campaign ethics bill. The question of whether to outlaw so-called pay-to-play politics now rests with the state Senate. Ethics complaint filed in pay raise flap (The Fresno Bee) The head of Nevada's anti-nuclear dump agency was hit Thursday with an ethics complaint filed by a legislative leader irate that the official gave himself and other staffers pay increases far above authorized amounts. Read comments Judge tells ethics luncheon 'Ethics is hard work' (Midland Reporter-Telegram) By Mella McEwen Oil Editor Ethics was the topic of Thursday's luncheon during the West Texas Geological Society's annual Fall Symposium. Ethics committee meets in secret (The Auburn Citizen) ALBANY - The New York Assembly's ethics committee met behind closed doors in an unannounced session Thursday involving a disciplinary case. Members wouldn't say if it concerned a colleague now facing federal charges of taking $500,000 in illegal payments, another accused of an extramarital affair with a legislative employee or a third accused of sexually harassing a woman. Ligon cleared of state ethics complaint (The Woodlands Villager) Attorney Brett Ligon, who defeated incumbent District Attorney Michael McDougal for the Republican nomination in the April runoff election, has been cleared of any wrongdoing regarding a complaint filed against him with the Texas Ethics Commission shortly before the runoff. Pelosi taps Va. Rep. Bobby Scott for ethics panel (Richmond Times-Dispatch) NEWPORT NEWS -- Virginia Representative Bobby Scott has been appointed to the House Ethics Committee. The Newport News Democrat said yesterday he was appointed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the committee, formally known as the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. He will succeed Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones, the Ohio Democrat who died Aug. 20. Site: ethics - Google News Ethics Overhaul Sought in Massachusetts - New York Times
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Do Organizations Serve Us Or Do We Serve Organizations We have seen an erosion in the confidence that society has in organizational leadership and its integrity recently with the numerous accounting scandals that have become public.Clearly this has led to the demise of several large organizations. Laws and Ethics?. Who's Kidding Who? Years ago I read an article by a renowned psychologist wherein he wrote his studies found one percent of all human beings would never lie, cheat or steal. One percent would always lie, cheat or steal and given the right set of circumstances, the rest of us would likely lie, cheat and/or steal. How To Build A Business Ethics Program Recent corporate financial scandals have highlighted the importance of business ethics and legal compliance. Yet a recent National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) survey of 280 corporate CEOs and directors found that "only one of three directors felt that they were highly effective in ensuring legal compliance". The Collapse of Enron: Managerial Aspects Executive summaryIts revenues made up US $139($184) billion, assets equaled $62($82) billion, and the number of employees reached more than 30,000 people in 20 countries around the world.While Enron Corporation was so highly praised by the outside observers, internally it had highly decentralized financial control and decision-making structure, which made it practically impossible to get coherent and clear view on corporations' activities and operations. Conflict: Not Necessarily a Bad Thing I got yelled at tonight. Not the type of yelling that someone does when you've done something to tick someone off, but the kind of yelling that was a swift kick in the pants about something that I'm NOT doing. Minding Your Global Manners To say that today's business environment is becoming increasingly more global is to state the obvious. Meetings, phone calls and conferences are held all over the world and attendees can come from any point on the globe. Is Good Neighborliness Good Business? [Note: This story is not a criticism of Buddhism. It is a story of neighborly love. Ethics in Business...A Lost Art While watching Face the Nation one Sunday earlier this year, Bob Schiffer discussed the airline industry, his mother and ethics in business. Like Bob, I think it is a sad commentary today, that we have to police businesses. The Views of Karl Marx VS Max Weber Compare and contrast the views of Karl Marx and Max Weber with regards as to what motivates people to work.Karl Marx:[1] Exploitation[2] Proletariat have to sell their labour-power[3] The machines of the industrial revolution eliminate creativity require only the workers own labour, work is alienated, workers alienated. Business Ethics: How The Sales Function Can Transmit Company Values I recently got a "thank-you" call from a man who read my new e-book Buying Facilitation."Boy," he said, "this method sure helps me close more deals and make more money. Is Your Management Style Lead By Intimidation? So many women make the mistake of thinking that they have to be these big mean diva bosses, to get respect and cooperation from their staff and colleagues. They walk around the office huffing and puffing, never showing satisfaction at the work their staff does. Diversity I know that diversity has been a big topic of conversation ever since the early 1990s when research supported the demographics that by the year 2000, 85% of the entering workforce would be female, African-American, Asian-American, Latino, or new immigrants. The fact that white males would be a minority entering the workplace was a wake up call for corporate America. Vice of Buggery at FTC At the Federal Trade Commission we have seen attorneys who suffer from the vice of buggery get promoted to higher and more important international divisions. Now then, are these attorneys who have personal sexual problems and are breaking the laws of sodomy not wanted in the main group of Federal Trade Commission Employees? Is the FTC worried about sexual harassment laws? Are they worried about on-the-clock Men's Restroom "Quickies" and the possibility of the need for an unflattering in-house employee investigation becoming public? Is the Federal Trade Commission afraid to fire these buggerists, for some employee unlawful termination suit? Is buggery so pervasive that the FTC has to invent new titles for these guys so they can be moved up in rank to other divisions? If so why doesn't the FTC adopt a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy" to prevent special treatment of those who suffer from buggery? Can't the FTC get psychological help for these men who thrust their penis up another man's rectum? Obviously these human organs were not set up to do that. The Need to Survive; A Death Knell For Organizations Changing the driving force upon which business decisions are based is crucial in order to not only restore ethics in business but to truly improve the lives of those whom they were meant to benefit: executives, employees and consumers. After all, weren't business activities meant to improve the state of existence of human beings on this planet?So what is this driving force that I am referring to? Well its the "fear of not surviving". Mind Your Own Damn Business Sexcess You have certainly heard the expression "mind your own damn business" used in a multitude of contexts. The most typical being the don't kiss and tell type statements, often uttered by responsibly private individuals about their love life. Communicable Corporate Diseases Hurting Business Sexcess! Enron Executive goes to prison for 10 years, Martha Stewart is under house arrest, and Bill Clinton averages $150,000 per speaking engagement.It all comes down to decisions on the fly, no pun intended. Top 10 Principles for Positive Business Ethics This morning, I read about a company using on-line auctions to defraud customers. Last week, I consulted on an ethics complaint where a business coach betrayed a client's confidentiality. Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Diversity And Success, In The Workplace This article relates to the Diversity in the Workplace Competency, commonly evaluated in employee satisfaction surveys. This competency explores whether your organization provides understanding and supports interaction among diverse population groups while respecting individuals' personal values and ideas. Business Ethics: An Oxymoron? Why do I believe good PR and business ethics are inextricably linked? It comes down to definitions. Ethics is learning what is right and what is wrong and then doing the "right thing. Selling Truth as a Differentiator The last few years have been a period of heightened scrutiny and scandal for the financial services industry. Most recently, the SEC issued a report on pension consultants regarding conflicts of interest and the objectivity of advice given to retirement plan sponsors.
|
| Home | Site Map | Resource Links |
