1 / 17

Social Context of Computing

Social Context of Computing. Chapter 7. Digital Divide. Technological inequalities Impact of communication technologies Radio Television Press Post offices Cell phones Computers Connectivity to internet Society’s social, economical, political and cultural institutions.

conroy
Download Presentation

Social Context of Computing

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Social Context of Computing Chapter 7

  2. Digital Divide • Technological inequalities • Impact of communication technologies • Radio • Television • Press • Post offices • Cell phones • Computers • Connectivity to internet • Society’s social, economical, political and cultural institutions

  3. Digital Divide • Debatable Issues • Is there such a thing as a digital divide • What indicators measure it • How to close the divide • Five indicators of the digital divide.

  4. Indicators of Digital Divide • Access • Technology • HumanWare • Infrastructure • Enabling Environment

  5. Access • Geography – statistics tell the story • 88% Internet users in 1-2 dozen wealthy countries • 4% in developing world • 40% of developed world • 90% of worlds population in undeveloped countries • Within US • Urban vs suburb • Income • People with income > 75K • 4 times more likely to have online and computer access • People earning < 15K • 19% have computer access and 12.7% have online access • People earning < 25K • 32% of population of US • 9.7% online

  6. Access • Ethnicity • In U.S. African Americans and Hispanics are ½ as likely to have Internet access • Age • Highest use 18-49 year olds • Lowest use for those <9 and > 50 • Direct relationship between higher education and Internet usage

  7. Technology • Hardware • Quantity, quality, maintenance big challenges • Unreliable power supplies • Most hardware for underdevelopment countries comes from donations • Replacement parts hampered by cost • Software • Humanware limited for local development • Outsourcing very costly • Software generally donated and doesn’t meet needs

  8. Humanware • Humanware (Human Capacity) • Providing equipment not always the answer • Need technical knowledge • Lack for trained workers for maintenance • Lack of teachers and institutions to train • Technology needs to meet and serve the local need • Issues • Creating awareness of potential of IT to meet needs • Creating, developing and strengthening capacity to use local inputs • Creating, developing and strengthening capacity to add local value • Provide knowledge and information sharing • Prevent local capacity from being drained

  9. Infrastructures • Infrastructure related to access • Infrastructure not directly related • Electricity • Telephones • Good roads • Airports • Basic communication infrastructures

  10. Enabling Environments • Politics • Good political environment ensures • A climate of democratic rights and civil liberties • Respect for the rule of law and security of property rights • Investment in human capacity • Low levels of government distortions • Public policy and management styles • Streamlined regulatory policies • Uniform enforcement of laws • Competitive policies for telecommunication and energy • Regulatory policies efficient , predictable and easily understood • Licensing bodies need to be efficient and staffed with professionals

  11. ICT in the Workplace • Electronic Office • Mobility of the Modern Office • Virtual Office • Home Worker

  12. Management Styles • Theory X • Autocratic • Control from top • Theory Y • More fait and empowerment in the hands of employees • Fear Management

  13. Workplace Privacy and Surveillance • Those who see monitoring as good • Increase productivity • More accurate assessment of employee performance • Greater organizational control over employees • Immediate feedback on individual employee • More flexibility in work location • Those opposed • Invasion of employee privacy • No national right to privacy

  14. Is Electronic Monitoring in Workplace OK?

  15. Electronic Monitoring • Measure quality and usually the quality of work • Measures effectiveness of worker • Measures workers’ habits on and off the work premises

  16. Effects of Electronic Monitoring • Effect measure of performance • Amount of useful feedback • Relationship between employees • Relationship between employees and managment

  17. Consequences of Electronic Monitoring • Reduced task variety • Lack of individual initiatives • Reduced or no peer social support • Lack of self-esteem • Lack of interest in the job • Lack of trust • Alienation

More Related