Ben Dick
2004-11-29 21:13:39 UTC
This article deals more with why computers have the impact they do
instead of what that impact is. The purpose of this approach is to make
it possible to determine the social impact of a computer program at the
time it is created. Currently, the social impacts of computer programs
are determined using the wait-and-see method. The article outlines 10
factors of the social impact of computers. They are: ubiquity,
magnification, accessibility, reproducibility/distributability, lack of
accountability, temporality, spatiality, surveillability, shifting of
relationships, and illusion of precision. Ubiquity refers to the fact
that computers seem to be everywhere. Magnification refers to the
ability of computers to store an ever-increasing amount of information.
Computers provide much greater access to information than any technology
that preceded them. Reducibility has become a major concern of the
entertainment industry, since it is very easy to copy files. Lack of
accountability refers to the fact that it can often be difficult to find
a human to blame for a mistake that a computer makes. Temporality refers
to the ³speed-up² of modern society, which computers seem to be
responsible for. Spatiality refers to the fact that computers have done
more to connect the world than any other technology. There is no doubt
that computers have made surveillance much easier, which has raised
concerns regarding privacy. There is also no doubt that computers have
changed communications between people, which may affect relationships
between people. Illusion of perception is the unwillingness of some
people to believe that numeric data generated by a computer is correct.
instead of what that impact is. The purpose of this approach is to make
it possible to determine the social impact of a computer program at the
time it is created. Currently, the social impacts of computer programs
are determined using the wait-and-see method. The article outlines 10
factors of the social impact of computers. They are: ubiquity,
magnification, accessibility, reproducibility/distributability, lack of
accountability, temporality, spatiality, surveillability, shifting of
relationships, and illusion of precision. Ubiquity refers to the fact
that computers seem to be everywhere. Magnification refers to the
ability of computers to store an ever-increasing amount of information.
Computers provide much greater access to information than any technology
that preceded them. Reducibility has become a major concern of the
entertainment industry, since it is very easy to copy files. Lack of
accountability refers to the fact that it can often be difficult to find
a human to blame for a mistake that a computer makes. Temporality refers
to the ³speed-up² of modern society, which computers seem to be
responsible for. Spatiality refers to the fact that computers have done
more to connect the world than any other technology. There is no doubt
that computers have made surveillance much easier, which has raised
concerns regarding privacy. There is also no doubt that computers have
changed communications between people, which may affect relationships
between people. Illusion of perception is the unwillingness of some
people to believe that numeric data generated by a computer is correct.